Chương 105: Chapter 105: The Dawn of Counterattack
Yoon Hyung-min sat in the Seoul District Prosecutor's office, sipping coffee with a smile on his face.
Bae Beom-gyu, trying to hide his discomfort, spoke up.
"I didn't think you'd get involved personally, President Yoon."
"Neither did I. Who would've thought the Prosecutor's Office would go after a businessman like this?"
"Going after you? From what I've been told, the charges are pretty clear."
"Oh, really? Then I guess we should follow the law. I probably shouldn't be here, I should be in an interrogation room."
Bae Beom-gyu frowned and responded.
"Why are you doing this, President Yoon? You know better."
"Let's not play games. We both know this is on Lee Yong-hyun's orders. I'm aware of the situation, and it's not like I have a bad relationship with Cheongpung Group. But what parent can oppose their child when they're stirring up trouble?"
"Ahem."
Bae Beom-gyu cleared his throat awkwardly, picking up his coffee cup as Yoon Hyung-min's words hit too close to home.
Yoon Hyung-min smiled without a sound.
"Well, since you know, I won't beat around the bush. I'll keep him detained for a few months, just enough to stir things up. Maybe this is a good chance to sweep up Kim Mu-hyeok as well. Just a fewmonths, no more."
"Ha! My son would have my head. Deals like this are our specialty, but this time there's no room for negotiation."
"President Yoon…"
Ignoring Bae Beom-gyu, Yoon Hyung-min calmly took another sip of coffee.
With a slightly twisted expression, Bae Beom-gyu spoke again.
"I understand Japan plays a significant role in Yun & Jang's profits. So why are you doing this? Don't you realize who's behind Cheongpung Group?"
"I do. But my instincts tell me Kim Mu-hyeok is an even bigger cient than Japan. I think we're done here, so I'll be taking Mu-hyeok with me now."
Yoon Hyung-min placed the coffee cup down and stood up. Bae Beom-gyu, despite his conflicted expression, followed suit.
Just as Yoon Hyung-min was about to leave, the door swung open.
In walked Yoon Chang-ho, the Prosecutor General.
"Prosecutor General? What brings you here…?"
"Why so cold? Am I not allowed here? The place looks different now. Is it to your liking?"
Yoon Hyung-min bowed respectfully to Yoon Chang-ho, who was leisurely taking in the room.
"It's been a while."
"Oh, I heard you were here, so I thought I'd drop by. Are you leaving already?"
"Since you came all the way here, I suppose I should stay a bit longer."
Yoon Chang-ho nodded, naturally seating himself at the head of the table, with Yoon Hyung-min following suit.
It was a strange sight, the Prosecutor General and President sitting, while the actual office holder, Bae Beom-gyu, remained standing.
"What are you waiting for? Sit down too."
Reluctantly, Bae Beom-gyu took a seat, his face stiff.
"So, what brings you here, Prosecutor General?"
"Do you really not know? You arrested one of my juniors, and you thought there wouldn't be any backlash? Do you have any idea how hard it was to stop everyone at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office from rushing over here?"
"What…?"
"Bae, if you're going to take a shot at me, at least aim properly. Stop shooting in the dark."
"You're mistaken."
"Mistaken? You're the one who transferred all the Korea University alumni out of the Seoul office, weren't you? You seem to be getting along well with the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs."
Bae Beom-gyu's face twisted involuntarily.
He and the Senior Secretary were from the same school, same year.
"Personnel decisions are my authority, Prosecutor General."
"I know. That's why I didn't say anything. But you're crossing a line here. Can you handle it? I know Cheongpung Group is backing you, but Cheon Tae-san's Chairman isn't deet."
Yoon Chang-ho's casual remark made Bae Beom-gyu's face harden.
"That old loan shark? Without Cheongpung Group's protection, he'd be rotting in prison by now."
"Tsk. You still don't get it. Watching you is like seeing my younger self, so let me give you some advice."
Clicking his tongue, Yoon Chang-ho turned to Yoon Hyung-min.
"Ah, my apologies, President Yoon. We've been discussing prosecutor business and left you out."
"No, no. I found it quite interesting."
"That's the Prosecutor's Office for you. They don't even report things to me anymore. They treat me like a relic."
"You're still as sharp as ever, Prosecutor General."
"And you're here to defend our junior, aren't you? You must be working hard."
"What can you do when your son keeps pestering you?"
"Ha ha ha, no parent can win against their child."
For a while, the conversation meandered, excluding Bae Beom-gyu entirely.
Finally, unable to hold back, Bae Beom-gyu spoke up.
"What exactly are you doing?"
"We're talking. What does it look like?"
"Why are you having this conversation in my office? State your business and leave."
"Ha! Did you hear that, President Yoon?"
With a smug grin, Yoon Chang-ho shook his head, but the smile vanished in an instant.
"Release Kim Mu-hyeok. That's an order."
"I can't do that. He's implicated in organized crime, even accused of orchestrating murder. He's a serious criminal."
"Do you have evidence? Get a warrant, arrest him properly. Why are you doing things that'll come back to haunt you? Do you want to drag the entire Prosecutor's Office down with you over your own greed?"
Bae Beom-gyu's face darkened as he responded.
"This is about your own safety, isn't it?"
"Maybe. But starting today, the Supreme Prosecutor's Office will begin an audit of you. Go ahead, do your worst."
"We won't just sit back either."
"Ha, fine. Let's see who falls first. I've already made it to Prosecutor General. I've got nothing to lose. Let's see how this plays out."
Just as the tension was rising, a knock came at the door and a junior prosecutor entered.
"Prosecutor General, Chief Prosecutor, you have a visitor."
Bae Beom-gyu snapped, shouting.
"Who told you to come in without knocking! Do you have a death wish?"
"Watch your tone, Prosecutor Bae."
In stepped none other than Cheon Tae-san, supported by Chief
Everyone in the room, including Yoon Chang-ho, stood up in surprise.
"Chairman."
"It's been a while, Prosecutor General. And you too, President Yoon. Bae, it's been even longer."
Bae Beom-gyu's face twisted further. Both Yoon Chang-ho and Cheon Tae-san referred to him as secutor,' not 'Chief Prosecutor.'
"Chairman, what brings you here? You don't look well."
"Ha ha, I'm just an old man waiting for the end. But I wouldn't have come unless you'd called me here, Prosecutor Bae. May I sit?"
"Please, take this seat."
The Prosecutor General quickly vacated his seat at the head of the table.
"Thank you, Prosecutor General."
"You're too kind, Chairman."
Cheon Tae-san took his seat, his showing signs of fatigue.
"Everyone, sit down. I don't have the strength to keep looking up."
"Yes, Chairman."
Everyone sat down, the atmosphere growing colder.
The frail old man sitting at the head of the table was no longer just an elder. He was the Chairman of Cheon Tae-san, a man who naturallmmanded the room.
"Bae, do you know who you've summoned?"
"The charges against Kim Mu-hyeok are undeniable."
"Is this on Yong-hyeon's orders?"
"If he's innocent, he'll be free to go."
Cheon Tae-san's face hardened as Beom-gyu continued his defiant responses.
"Are you sure about this?"
"Yes."
"Yong-hyeon must have ignored my warning. I told him, while I'm alive, no one touches my grandson."
"Chairman, without the backing of the Cheongpung Group, you wouldn't still be in power. Everything you have is thanks to them."
Cheon Tae-san looked at Bae Beom-as if he'd just heard something amusing, then turned to Yoon Chang-ho.
"Prosecutor General, I'll be sending something interesting to your office soon."
"Excuse me?"
"You've got less than a year left in your term, don't you?"
"That's right, Chairman."
"Go out with a bang. I'll give you a list of everyone in the Prosecutor's Office who's taken Cheongpung Group's money. Bae's name is on it too."
"Chairman!"
Bae Beom-gyu's face turned pale.
But Cheon Tae-san didn't even blink.
"Whose money do you think it was? All of it was mine. I'm a businessman. You think I wouldn't keep records of who I'm paying? Yong-hyeon ignored my warning, so now I'm just returning the favor."
Yoon Chang-ho's expression also stiffened. He, too, was implicated.
But Cheon Tae-san remained unfazed, sng. No one else in the room could manage a smile.
"I won't give you the original. I'll just send over the names of Cheongpung Group members. If you don't want to take care of it, I'll find someone who will."
"No, Chairman. I'll handle it."
"Looks like I'll be spending the rest of my days in a prison I've never set foot in. Ha ha ha."
Chief Ha remained silent, but the sadness in his eyes was evident as he looked at the Chairman.
With a serene expression, Cheon Tae-san added.
"Either release my grandson, or go all the way. Tell your boss to make a choice. I'll be waiting."
Bae Beom-gyu glared at Cheon Tae-san, then grabbed his p and hurried outside.
"President Yoon, did you come here yourself?"
"Ha ha. He's like a son to me. Of course, I had to come in person."
"Thank you."
After that, Cheon Tae-san leaned back in his r, exhausted, and closed his eyes. Yoon Chang-ho, Yoon Hyung-min, and Chief Ha all watched him in silence.
Not long after, Bae Beom-gyu returned, his face full of humiliation.
"We'll release him now. It seems we were mistaken. I apologize, Chairman."
Only then did Cheon Tae-san slowly open his eye
He spoke heavily to the bowed Bae Beom-gyu.
"Bae, don't think for a second that you could've kept Mu-hyeok if I hadn't come here. He's not someone you can hold onto."
"…"
"Myung-hoon, let's go."
"Yes, Chairman."
Chief Ha helped the Chairman to his feet.
Unable to meet Cheon Tae-san's cold gaze, Bae Beyu averted his eyes.
"We'll be going now."
"Take care, Chairman. I'll come visit you after I retire."
"Ha ha, sure."
Cheon Tae-san slowly walked away,h Chief Ha matching his pace.
* * *
"Hah… Shit. Just leave already."
"If anything like this happens again, contact Yun & Jang first."
"Yeah, yeah, just go!"
I left the interrogation room with Yoon Jae-ha, ignoring the irritated head prosecutor.
As we reached the parking lot, Manager Ma came rushing over.
"Are you alright?"
"I wasn't in there for long."
"The Chairman came by."
"Grandfather?"
I widened my eyes at the unexpected news.
"Yes, he already left."
"Even though he's not in good health…"
"Shall we head to Pyeongchang-dong?"
"Yes, we should."
I turned to Yoon Jae-ha beside me.
"You did well today. I'll treat you to a drink next time."
"Make it an expensive one."
"Ha ha, sure."
After saying goodbye to Yoon Jae-ha, I got into the car.
As the Seoul District Prosecutor's Office slowly receded from view, the car felt slower than usual, probably because I was worried about Grandfather.
"Where's Grandfather?"
The moment I entered the house, I asked Chief Ha.
"He's resting. He seemed very tired."
"How did he know to come? I didn't even tell him."
I hadn't mentioned anything because I didn't want to worry him unnecessarily.
But he came all the way to the Prosecutor's Office himself.
"I tried to stop him, but he insisted."
"Could you really stop him? What did the doctors say? Is it still the same?"
"Yes. They just blame it on old age. Worthless quacks, the lot of them."
Chief Ha, clearly worried about the Chairman's health, looked frustrated.
"Please stay close to him. You're the only one I can trust."
"I haven't left his side recently. But are you alright?"
"I wasn't in there long. I'll settle the score soon."
"Do you have a plan?"
"Wait and see. I'll start by shaking up Cheongpung Group's backing."
Chief Ha nodded at my cold words.
Leaving him behind, I headed to my room with Manager Ma.
"Manager, what about Go Mi-ju?"
"She's hosting a drug party at a hotel in Gangnam tomorrow."
"You go personally. Don't delegate it to anyone else."
After Manager Ma left, I immediately called Han Gyeong-yeong.
"Hyung, what did Rubin say?"
― "Ah, Mu-hyeok? At first, he was completely against it, but when I told him most of the profits would go to Wall Street banks, and reminded him of your deal, he reluctantly agreed. But he wants us to be careful."
"Both Japan and Korea are key to the U.S. They won't want both to fall."
― "True."
"Let's move up the timeline."
― "What? Why?"
"They made the first move."
After explaining what had happened over the past few days, Han Gyeong-yeong cursed.
― "Those idiots can't tell shit from gold. Just expose everything and be done with it."
"Do I have to explain again?"
― "…Fine. So when do we act?"
"Coordinate with Wall Street. Let's move as soon as possible. One of Japan's banks just went under recently. They'll be shaky, making it easier to strike."
― "Alright, I'll head to Korea when everything's set."
"No, you handle Japan. I'll take care of things here in Korea."
― "Got it."
After hanging up, I stared at the phone for a moment.
"Time to wrap things up."
A few days later, I headed to meet Go Ho-seon, the CEO who had taken over the actual control of Goryeo Daily after the honorary chairman, Go Eung-soo, stepped down.
In the car, Manager Ma handed me a folder containing photos of Go Mi-ju.
"You captured everything well."
"The videos are even worse. Want to see?"
"No need. I can already imagine."
The pictures alone were enough to paint the full picture.
Soon, I arrived at Goryeo Hotel, owned by Goryeo Daily.
"Welcome. So, what's this about? You said you had something interesting to show me."
Go Ho-seon, clearly unaware of the situation, greeted me with a relaxed and curious expression.
"I've got something that'll catch your interest, CEO."
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