Chapter 33: What’s Your True Identity?

"Who are you? I've never seen you before."

Those were Lee Sa-seong's first words as he entered the lawyer's visiting room.

Lee Sang-geun stood up and greeted him.

"Boss Park Dong-su sent me. I'm Attorney Lee Sang-geun. Please, have a seat."

Lee Sa-seong eyed Lee Sang-geun closely before sitting down, his demeanor wary.

After confirming Lee Sa-seong was seated, Lee Sang-geun exchanged a glance with the guard.

Seeing this, the guard nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him.

"Dong-su sent you?"

"Yes."

Lee Sang-geun, now seated across from Lee Sa-seong, offered him a cigarette.

He then took one out, put it in Lee Sa-seong's mouth, and lit it for him before continuing.

"Boss Park Dong-su was recently attacked by the Busan crew, including Heo Ki-hoon and Byeon Seong-ho. You're aware of this, right?"

"What are you talking about? Dong-su was attacked? Well, I'll be."

Lee Sa-seong feigned surprise, but his eyes betrayed him, trembling slightly.

"Looks like Dong-su's not managing his boys well if he's getting attacked by his own underlings."

Lee Sang-geun caught the tremor in his eyes.

"The attack was fully repelled without any harm to Boss Park Dong-su. In the process, Heo Ki-hoon was left crippled, and Byeon Seong-ho… committed suicide in detention."

Lee Sa-seong flinched at the mention of suicide.

Lee Sang-geun paid no attention to his reaction.

"Those men claimed they were acting on your orders…"

As Lee Sang-geun trailed off, watching his expression, Lee Sa-seong immediately flared up.

"What bullshit! These bastards, dragging me into this? Does Dong-su believe that crap? Is that why he sent you?"

"Yes, I don't know the full story, and frankly, I don't care. What matters is that you apparently turned a blind eye to it."

Lee Sang-geun continued speaking with an impassive face, and Lee Sa-seong's complexion grew increasingly pale.

"And because someone who shouldn't have gotten hurt did, we're in quite a pickle. Byeon Seong-ho was dealt with directly by your side. Boss Park Dong-su couldn't even intervene."

"You fucking bastards! Hey! Who the hell are you? There's no way Dong-su would do this to me. Who sent you? Which asshole? Are you trying to drive a wedge between me and Dong-su? You sons of bitches, we're not the kind to split over something like this!"

At those words, Lee Sang-geun smiled.

"I'll relay Boss Park Dong-su's exact words to you."

"…"

"Brother Sa-seong, just go. I'll make sure your wife and family are taken care of so you can live on. Don't complicate things. If you refuse, it'll get messy, and I won't be able to look out for you anymore."

Lee Sa-seong dropped the cigarette he was holding to the floor.

"…Did Dong-su really say that?"

"Yes, word for word. I'll add this… It would be best if you accept. This is the most Boss Park Dong-su can do for you."

Lee Sang-geun watched Lee Sa-seong, who couldn't respond, and lit another cigarette, handing it to him.

"Dong-su really said that? Our Dong-su…"

It was unclear whether he was asking a question or talking to himself.

After confirming that he had finished smoking, Lee Sang-geun stood up.

"Think it over carefully. If we don't hear from you within a week, we'll take it as a refusal. I advise you not to reject the boss's kindness."

"…Give me one more cigarette."

Lee Sang-geun, who was about to turn away, pulled out another cigarette at those words.

"Stay until I finish this. Do you work with Dong-su?"

"Yes, I've just started working with him."

A sense of regret was evident on Lee Sa-seong's face as he smoked quietly. He no longer muttered to himself.

After silently finishing his cigarette, Lee Sa-seong stood up and looked at Lee Sang-geun.

"Tell Dong-su his brother's sorry. He'll know what to do, so don't worry and please take care of my family."

"Understood."

A few days later, Lee Sa-seong was found dead, hanging from the prison bars.

It was a bitter end for a man who once controlled the underworld of Busan.

* * *

In a dimly lit room,

I was in my grandfather's study.

My grandfather, who had been sitting at his desk lost in thought, suddenly looked up at me.

"I hear the government's acting strange. Mu-hyeok, did you expect this?"

"What do you mean?"

"High-ranking economic officials have suddenly vanished. Some took extended leave, others claimed to be on overseas business trips. But not a single one has actually left the country. That means they're secretly up to something, something even the Chief Economic Advisor doesn't know about. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Domestic conglomerates ranking within the top 10 and several financial companies had already noticed the suspicious atmosphere.

Even if everything had been prepared in secret, it would be stranger if they hadn't noticed anything given the officials' sudden disappearance.

I nodded, maintaining a calm expression.

"It's probably the real-name financial system. Didn't they try to announce it once after the Jang Young-ja promissory note incident during the 5th Republic? It faced strong opposition from the privileged class, and even the President himself wasn't free from political funds, so it was eventually scrapped. Having witnessed that, the current President had no choice but to proceed in secret."

Grandfather sighed, as if he had expected this.

"It looks like they might announce it with next year's New Year's address. What do you think, Mu-hyeok?"

I pretended to ponder for a moment before responding, deliberately pausing.

"Given the President's personality… There's a high chance he'll do it before August 15th. Now that high-ranking officials' assets have been disclosed, there's no point in dragging it out. The secret won't be kept for long anyway."

"Huh… Isn't that too soon?"

"It is quick. But that's precisely why they'll think it's the perfect timing. They want to make the announcement when no one expects it."

Grandfather seemed to think for a moment before shaking his head.

"It's too early. Sure, it was in his campaign promises, but even if he manages to announce it despite the opposition from the privileged class, passing it through the National Assembly will be tough. Would the President take on such a political burden? They'll probably implement it next year after sufficient discussion. Am I wrong?"

Right now, all other conglomerates and politicians are probably thinking the same thing.

And when the real-name financial system is implemented by presidential order on August 12th, they'll all be shocked.

Further persuasion seemed futile.

"Still, I've made preparations just in case."

"Ha ha ha, yes, I've done some organizing based on what you said."

"Keeping money in accounts is fine, but… directly withdrawing and storing it might be an option too."

"All that money? In cash? Impossible. Absolutely not."

Faced with my grandfather's firm refusal, I had no choice but to nod.

"I see."

"Still, I've sent that 400 billion to the U.S. I received the account from Chief Ha, had it cleanly laundered, and sent it over. Now, let's see how well you can manage it."

"Thank you, Grandfather."

I said with a smile on my face.

A faint smile appeared on my grandfather's lips as well.

As I came out of the study, Chief Ha was waiting.

"Have you finished your conversation?"

"Yes. Could we talk for a moment?"

Chief Ha and I went up to my room.

After closing the door, I sat on the bed and spoke to Chief Ha.

"Please, sit down."

"No, thank you."

I ended up addressing Chief Ha, who remained standing stiffly in the middle of the room.

"About… the U.S. account. I'll be sending someone to America at the end of this year. Please hand everything over to that person."

"You mean all of the money?"

"Yes."

"…Is this person trustworthy?"

His question made my lips twist involuntarily.

"I don't trust people. I trust money. They'll be sufficiently compensated. I'll establish an investment company, put everything in there, and I'll own most of the shares."

Chief Ha seemed to think for a moment before nodding.

"Understood. I'll prepare to transfer everything as soon as you give the order."

"Thank you. And I'd like to have a meeting with all the Myeong-dong bosses… Can you arrange that?"

My words seemed unexpected, as Chief Ha asked again.

"The Myeong-dong bosses?"

I nodded.

"We need to clearly determine whose side they're on. Dragging this out will only complicate things."

"…I understand. If you have a preferred date, please let me know."

The week after the real-name financial system hit seemed appropriate. That way, I could move them in the direction I wanted.

"Late August or early September would be good."

"Understood."

The conversation came to a halt.

"If you have nothing more to say, I'll take my leave."

I stopped Chief Ha as he was about to leave after paying his respects.

"…Chief."

"Yes?"

Chief Ha patiently waited for me as I hesitated a bit before speaking.

"…What's your true identity?"

"Pardon?"

"No matter how I think about it, from the way you handled Hammer to how Grandfather trusts you completely, I have many questions. I'm curious about your true identity. Can you tell me?"

Chief Ha stood there, unable to answer, as if my question was quite unexpected.

I was studying his expression.

"I now understand that the loan shark business is dirtier and tougher than gangsters. I thought that for Grandfather to have no relations with any violent organizations, your power must be enough to suppress them all."

Chief Ha's face hardened.

I felt as if his eyes were searching me, trying to understand why I was asking such questions.

His face said he needed to know why I was asking this.

'He must be conflicted.'

In the past, after Grandfather passed away, Chief Ha remained as my secretary until the end but didn't provide any help.

He simply handled the tasks I instructed without issue, fulfilling his role as a secretary, but I never knew about the power he possessed.

'It was strange from the start that Chief Ha died in a mere traffic accident.'

Both Grandfather and Chief Ha – the two I'm seeing now are completely different from the ones I knew in the past.

Chief Ha stared at my face for a long time with a stiff expression before finally opening his mouth.

"Is that important?"

"Very much so. Can I trust you, Chief Ha? Someone who has secrets they can't tell me?"

"I care for you as much as the Chairman does."

"So you're saying if Grandfather turns his back on me, you'll do the same?"

"Yes."

Chief Ha's resolute answer, without a moment's hesitation, left me momentarily speechless.

His loyalty to Grandfather was even higher than I had thought.

"Wow, isn't that a bit too blunt?"

"I am the Chairman's man. That will never change. If you act against the Chairman's wishes, I will move according to his will. All the goodwill I show you is the Chairman's will."

I became even more curious about his past.

"So you're saying you can't tell me?"

"If the Chairman orders me to tell you, I can. But… I don't think the Chairman will allow that either."

"Hmm…"

"I'm sorry."

I stared intently at Chief Ha, but his expression remained as firm as if it were carved in stone.

I had no choice but to give up.

"Well, at least you're saying you'll never betray Grandfather. I get it."

"Thank you."

Chief Ha's deeply bowing figure seemed even more trustworthy.

"Um… I have one more favor to ask."

"Please go ahead."

"Could you introduce me to someone trustworthy? Someone who could do whatever I ask, just like you do for Chief Ha?"

"…"

"I guess you need Grandfather's permission for this too?"

"Yes."

"So I can take that to mean such a person exists?"

"…"

Ah! This frustrating man!

"You can go. I'll ask Grandfather."

"Yes, I'm sorry."

After Chief Ha left, I lay alone on the bed, staring at the ceiling and thinking.

'If someone like that were my man…'

* * *

"Ha ha ha ha!"

The study was filled with Chairman Cheon's laughter. Chief Ha stood before him with his hands clasped.

"Myung-hoon, you must have been quite flustered?"

"…Not at all."

"So, what do you think? If I hand you over to Mu-hyeok, will you pledge your loyalty to him?"

"I will follow your orders, Chairman."

Chairman Cheon shook his head, laughing as if it was out of the question.

"No, you're not that kind of person. You wouldn't truly follow him in your heart. Don't I know you?"

"…"

"Do you have a smart kid to introduce to Mu-hyeok?"

"Yes."

"Then introduce them. Winning that kid's heart will be up to Mu-hyeok's abilities."

"Understood."

"Still, that rascal Mu-hyeok must have been a bit shocked? You too, I should have seen his face! Ha ha ha!"

As Chairman Cheon burst into laughter once again, a slight smile appeared on Chief Ha's face as well