Chapter 155: Give and Take 3
“So, is the investigation still ongoing?”
“We’ve requested her to appear as a witness. But…”
“Don’t hesitate, just tell me. Is there a problem?”
“They’ve unexpectedly started poking around Miracle Investment. Rumor has it that you have a close relationship with them.”
“Close? Hardly. They’re the ones systematically stealing my companies. Ha!”
The prosecutor could tell from Chairman Jin’s laughter that there was no malice behind it.
“Even if they dig, they won’t find anything there. What about my daughter’s mess? Is it difficult to clean up?”
“No, sir. Your daughter is, after all, a victim who lost a significant amount of money. Regardless of the process, the company’s funds have been restored. Unless the shareholders make a fuss, it won’t be a major issue.”
Jin Seoyun had sold her personal shares to cover the loss. The shareholders had no reason to intervene, and Miracle was the major shareholder anyway.
“So, if you don’t issue any special orders, what happens? Are the Eastern and Southern District Prosecutors’ Offices going to engage in a proxy war?”
“They’re colleagues from the same company. That won’t happen. They’ll just verify the facts each has uncovered and come to a conclusion. They’ll discuss it among themselves.”
“Then there’s no need for you to worry too much.”
“Actually… there’s one thing that’s been bothering me, and I’d like to confirm it with you, Chairman.”
“Go ahead.”
“This investment company, Miracle. Are you really not connected to it?”
“Why does that concern you?”
Chairman Jin asked, looking directly at the prosecutor.
“Ajin Group, Sunyang Motors, Dae-A Construction… and now even Sunyang Department Store Group. They’re being swallowed up one by one. Judging by the share changes, Miracle holds quite a bit of Sunyang’s shares. It’s not something that could happen without your consent.”
“The car company was sold during the IMF crisis because we couldn’t pay off the hot money in dollars, and the department store was taken because my foolish daughter made a mistake. There’s no such thing as consent.”
The prosecutor’s tone became a bit more formal.
“You might not be aware, but the Financial Supervisory Service has started keeping an eye on Miracle. It’s clearly foreign capital, but its nature is ambiguous. Whether it’s speculative or solid capital…”
“Money is just money. It doesn’t have a color. Tell them to stop wasting their time.”
“It’s speculative capital that made a killing during the IMF crisis and then pulled out. It’s only natural to be cautious.”
Chairman Jin shook his head with a faint smile.
“I know those guys well. They’re not speculative capital. Think about it. They came in with dollars, took over failing companies, and even paid the overdue wages of the employees. Do you think speculators would do that?”
“So, you’re saying there’s no problem even if the Financial Supervisory Service starts an investigation.”
The smile disappeared from Chairman Jin’s face.
“They’ve already started.”
“Yes. I understand they’ve even sent a request for cooperation to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.”
“They’re really making a fuss, aren’t they? Ha.”
The prosecutor quietly watched Chairman Jin’s hollow laughter before standing up.
“I understand your position, Chairman. I’ll keep an eye on things and contact you if anything significant arises.”
“Alright. Sorry for the trouble.”
“Not at all, Chairman. Then…”
As the prosecutor bowed and left, Chairman Jin glared at the firmly closed study door, frowning.
“How much did that guy take from Young-gi?”
Lee Hak-jae gave an awkward smile.
“Sorry, it’s hard to track the pocket money that goes back and forth.”
“What about the Financial Supervisory Service?”
“We’ve confirmed that Vice Chairman Jin Young-gi has been stirring things up.”
“Ah, for someone who’s lived long enough, why is he so scared… Tsk tsk.”
Lee Hak-jae looked serious as he watched Chairman Jin click his tongue, thinking of his eldest son.
“Isn’t the opponent terrifying? It’s a situation where you can’t let your guard down for even a moment. If it were me, I’d want to nip it in the bud before it grows.”
“When you face a formidable opponent, rushing is a loss. The right move is to wait for the opportunity. Anyway, make sure the head of the Financial Supervisory Service and the prosecutor step down after the general election. If they’re swayed by Young-gi, they’re too lightweight.”
“Are you saying to make it look good?”
“Yes. Provide ample election funds and give them a hint.”
Even if it seems like he’s stepped back, ginger is still ginger. It’s not just spicy; it’s potent.
The way to stay in Chairman Jin’s good graces is simple: stand by his side or stand by no one’s side.
“So, are you planning to leave Do-jun alone? If Vice Chairman Jin Young-gi keeps pushing, he’ll have to respond to a summons from the prosecution at least once.”
“If he’s aiming for this position, he’ll have to visit that place countless times in the future. A little preview won’t hurt.”
Chairman Jin tapped his large leather chair as he spoke.
“He’s a law student, but instead of going to work, he’s going to a summons. Ha ha.”
Lee Hak-jae’s joke lightened Chairman Jin’s stern expression a bit.
“He’s something else, isn’t he? Our youngest?”
“Indeed. I was surprised too. At first, I thought it was just a coincidence, but after three incidents in a month, I realized it was Yoon-gi’s doing.”
“How did he come up with the idea to cover up the department store owner’s scandal with entertainment news?”
“People love it. It’s not the first time a corporate owner has siphoned off money. It’s old news now.”
The two brothers shared a laugh rather than frustration, finding their younger brother’s counterattack quite ingenious.
“The prosecution is pleased that the burden has lessened. Hanseong Ilbo gave them a reason to investigate, and with so many eyes watching, it’s easier to handle things quietly now.”
Nothing has changed, so Jin Young-gi was at ease. The name Sunyang being in the media was a negative for him too.
“But I heard a rumor that the Eastern District Prosecutor’s Office is investigating you. Is it true?”
“Seoyun asked her husband for a favor. The key positions in the Eastern District Prosecutor’s Office are filled with Choi’s connections.”
“This… I feel bad that you’re going through this alone. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“I know you don’t really mean it, so stop with the empty words. Just put some pressure on the people lined up under you. Let’s really dig into Miracle this time.”
“Alright. I can do that. Let’s wrap it up before the general election.”
As the brothers joined forces to take down their nephew, I headed to the Southern District Prosecutor’s Office.
The prosecution was quite considerate. They took me straight from the underground parking lot to the 7th floor, Room 710 of the Financial Investigation Division 2. It wasn’t because I was difficult, but because they feared my grandfather’s watchful eyes.
“Shouldn’t I be in an interrogation room, Prosecutor?”
“We just need a few statements from you as a witness. Why? Do you have something important to confess that requires an interrogation room?”
“How would I know what’s important? If you ask something significant, I’ll do my best to answer within my knowledge.”
Prosecutor Lee Kang-sik began to feel his temper rise as the young man in front of him showed no signs of tension and kept catching him off guard with his words.
“Times have changed. In the past, we’d have you stand against the wall and reflect first. Then the conversation would flow smoothly.”
Starting with a show of force?
Well, he had no connections, no wealthy in-laws, and had clawed his way up here relying solely on his brains. Seeing a kid with a Seoul National University pedigree, a chaebol grandfather, and blessed looks sitting in front of him, anyone would think the world was unfair.
They say the best way to become friends is to fight and then make up. Should I provoke him a bit?
“Prosecutor, do you have a complex?”
“What?”
“Calling in a witness and treating them like a criminal right off the bat, showing off your power… it just made me wonder. Why is someone with the greatest authority in Korea so on edge?”
“Hey!”
I spoke softly to the prosecutor, who was shouting so loudly that the small meeting room attached to the prosecutor’s office seemed to shake.
“Prosecutor Lee Kang-sik, lower your voice. Yelling won’t change the fact that you’ll be transferred to the Cheongju District Prosecutor’s Office next month.”
”…!”
This time, he couldn’t shout, only widening his eyes in surprise.
“Why are you so shocked? Prosecutor appointments in Korea aren’t state secrets. Oh, and slipping a rich friend out of a DUI and pocketing some cash… is that a secret only among prosecutors? It’s not really a secret, is it? That’s why you’re being sent to the provinces.”
“You… you…!”
A groan escaped through his clenched teeth. A witness who knew his weaknesses inside out. He’d never encountered such a situation before, so he couldn’t think of a way to respond.
“Investigations are the prosecutor’s authority, but anyone can conduct an inquiry. If you compare the background check you did on me with the one I did on you using my financial resources, my file would be two or three times thicker. Let’s not waste energy and wrap this up quickly. You won’t find a speck of dust on me anyway.”
Prosecutor Lee Kang-sik couldn’t easily open his mouth.
Inside the prosecutor’s office, the one holding the knife was always the prosecutor. But today, there were two knives in the room. Realizing that the knife I held was pointed at his neck, he was visibly at a loss.
This was not the prosecutor Lee Kang-sik, but the human Lee Kang-sik.
It’s natural to be flustered by the unexpected, but the key is how quickly you shake it off.
The prosecutor stared at me for a while, then calmed his breathing and spoke.
“I thought you were just a reckless kid, but you’re a scary chaebol grandson. Looks like you’ll be visiting the prosecutor’s office often.”
“Aren’t you saying it the other way around?”
“Reckless kids get off with a summary indictment. But you… you’ll cause big trouble, like embezzling 140 billion won.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. If there’s nothing else, may I leave now?”
As I shifted in my seat, the prosecutor pressed down on my shoulder.
“We’ve got evidence that Jin Seo-yun treated the company’s funds like her personal piggy bank. And when she tried to cover it up, the shares of Sunyang Distribution magically ended up with a company called Miracle. She claims it’s a coincidence, but I’m not buying it.”
“Coincidence? Hardly. She used company money and sold the shares to cover it up.”
When I gave him the answer he wanted, Prosecutor Lee Kang-sik seemed a bit taken aback.
“She funneled the company’s money into a shell company and then paid it back. She probably didn’t include the interest for those few months, so a fine should settle it. Now that I’ve given you what you wanted, I’ll be on my way.”
I brushed his hand off my shoulder and stood up.
“No matter how hard you dig, all you’ll find is a few specks of dust. This is a sham investigation against a conglomerate family that practically runs the country. If things go south, the backlash could be severe, so they probably handed it off to a non-mainstream prosecutor like you to just go through the motions. The person who requested the investigation isn’t your average Joe.”
“Enough!”
“If anything goes wrong, you’ll take the fall, while the big shots remain untouched.”
I handed him my business card, staring him down.
“You’re in luck, Prosecutor Lee Kang-sik.”
He just looked between my eyes and the card, not reaching for it.
“Take it. Think of it as grabbing a strong lifeline instead of a family tree. This is the card of someone who might become a major player worth billions.”
He still didn’t take it, but his eyes had changed. He was trying hard to maintain his pride.
I shoved the card into his pocket.
“Come find me when you need to. I’ll show you how different I am from someone like Vice Chairman Jin Young-ki.”
You always start with the small fry. Who knows who they’ll bring along?