Living the Good Life 1
“I want to say thank you, but it’s a bit embarrassing.”
“That’s more than enough, Uncle.”
“I do have ears, you know. I heard your father offered an extra 200 billion won?”
“Yes, but I was more afraid. The heir of Sunyang is truly intimidating.”
Jin Dong-ki gave a wry smile.
“He may seem ruthless at first glance, but that can be an asset when leading a large organization. My brother knows how to use that to his advantage. It’s worked so far.”
“It didn’t work on me, though.”
“That’s because you’re not a subordinate. Sure, by family ties, you’re quite distant, but he can’t accept that you’re on equal footing. That fear got to you.”
Is this what they call interpreting dreams rather than dreaming them?
I just made a casual remark, but seeing him agree and explain further, Vice Chairman Jin Young-ki’s nature seems more complex than I imagined.
“Now, shall we handle the most important part of the contract?”
“The slush fund, you mean?”
“Yes.”
Uncle nodded with a smile and slid a document envelope across the table.
“Everything you need is in there. Just open an account in Labuan and transfer it.”
“Online banking isn’t an option, right? Haha.”
“If that’s a joke, it’s not very funny. It’s all analog there. To leave no trace.”
“So, it’s money I can’t touch unless I visit in person.”
“If you don’t have what’s in your hand now, you won’t even get into the bank in Labuan. Keep it safe.”
I fiddled with the envelope and spoke quietly.
“Uncle.”
“Yes?”
“Could I ask for one more favor?”
“A favor?”
“Yes. Instead of just giving me the fish, could you teach me how to fish?”
The fish is what’s inside the envelope.
“Haha. You’re quick to learn.”
I asked about how to create a slush fund, and Uncle answered with a laugh.
“For someone like you, it’s a bit tricky. Financial companies have complex structures. You can’t just branch out sideways or downwards with subsidiaries.”
“Even the executives say in passing that as the network systems advance, everything becomes more transparent. They say it’s only a matter of time before the tax office can see right through the company.”
“Do-jun, don’t get caught up in slush funds. Focus on making your own money.”
Is this advice for my sake? Or is he trying to lure me into the allure of money? Well, let’s take it positively for now.
“It’s more important to turn the money the corporation earns within the bounds of the law into your own.”
The simplest way is to receive a massive salary.
Or collect year-end dividends.
In the end, it’s about pocketing money without paying taxes.
“Isn’t that something you have to do gradually, step by step?”
“Exactly. You’re still young. Don’t be too greedy and prepare little by little.”
“So, was this made in that way too?”
I shook the envelope slightly.
“No. If it were money made within the legal boundaries, I’d have proudly deposited it in my name in a local bank.”
“Then…?”
“It was made outside the legal boundaries. And it was made all at once. That’s why it’s buried on a remote foreign island without a name tag.”
“That’s possible?”
“Normally, it’s impossible. It’s only possible when a big storm hits, and everyone is swaying, making it hard to monitor what anyone is doing.”
A big storm, huh…
I see. It was made during the IMF crisis.
What method did he use?
“It won’t be easy. You need an external shock and the right timing…”
“And you need to write a good script. Haha.”
“Did you write the script yourself, Uncle?”
“I’m the producer. The script is written by smart people putting their heads together.”
Are the smart people the finance team? Or the planning office?
“It’s another role of the planning office to gather trustworthy talents.”
“The numbers the planning office sees and the numbers the finance team sees are different. You’ll find out soon enough.”
He means the finance team did the work. Once I got what I needed, Uncle clammed up. Maybe he thought he said too much.
He probably shared this much information because I became an accomplice by receiving the slush fund. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have spoken so freely.
“Then hurry to Labuan, Malaysia. We need to wrap up the acquisition.”
“Yes. I’ll leave first thing tomorrow.”
Uncle patted my back with a laugh.
He seems to think we’re allied for now.
It’s true we’ve formed an alliance until 2003, so I gave him a bright smile in return.
“You could have just given instructions over the phone. No need to go through the trouble…”
“Is it troublesome? Meeting me?”
“No, I was just concerned it might be inconvenient for you, Director.”
“Important matters should be discussed face-to-face, and if they’re important enough to leave a record, they should be documented. But the work you’re doing, Director Woo, can’t be documented, can it? That’s why I wanted to meet in person.”
A brief smile flickered across Director Woo Byung-jun’s face.
Watching him, I asked a question that had been on my mind.
“This must be your first time here, but you don’t seem interested in looking around.”
Most first-time visitors to this Yeouido office would curiously glance around at the sparse interior, with just a small table and a few chairs.
But Director Woo walked in and sat down naturally, without once glancing around.
“I knew. I understand you prepared this place for discreet conversations.”
“But this is your first time seeing it in person?”
“Yes.”
His expressionless response left me at a loss for words.
Is he hiding his emotions, or is he simply uninterested in unnecessary things?
I should probably set aside my personal curiosity about this man.
“That was a pointless question. I apologize.”
“No need.”
His voice remained dry.
“What I need is someone’s weakness.”
“Who might that someone be?”
“The heads of the finance team and directors of Sunyang Construction during the 1997-98 IMF period.”
“What level of weakness are you looking for?”
“Enough to hand over materials related to Vice Chairman Jin Dong-ki?”
“That would require a critical weakness.”
The mention of Jin Dong-ki seemed to make his eyes twitch slightly.
“Is it difficult?”
“No. But…”
I encouraged him as he hesitated.
“It’s okay. Speak freely.”
“Are you okay with this, Director?”
“What do you mean?”
“Once you start this kind of work, it becomes a back-and-forth until both sides are hurt. Just as I’m investigating them, Vice Chairman Jin Dong-ki’s side might dig into your past.”
It’s not the idea of targeting Vice Chairman Jin Dong-ki that bothers him. It’s the fear that I might be targeted in return.
“Are you planning to show yourself when investigating Sunyang Construction’s finance people?”
“No. It’s a background check, as I said. The problem is, once we have the finance people’s weaknesses, we’ll demand something related to Vice Chairman Jin Dong-ki, right? It could be me, or you might do it yourself… Eventually, Vice Chairman Jin Dong-ki’s side will find out.”
“So, you’re saying Vice Chairman Jin Dong-ki will dig into my past?”
“Exactly.”
“Do you know the people working on that side well?”
There must be someone like Director Woo close to both of my uncles. Could they have a close relationship with Director Woo?
“I don’t. Our work is structured to prevent leaks, so it’s hard to know who anyone is. But I do know that their staff could uncover your past ten years in a week.”
“How long would it take you to dig into my past ten years?”
“A week would be enough for me too.”
“Then I’d like to see my past ten years in a week. Can you do that?”
Even someone like him gets surprised by unexpected instructions. Seeing Director Woo’s surprised expression for the first time gave me a slight sense of satisfaction.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. Joking with you isn’t fun because you don’t react. So I decided early on not to joke.”
“Then give me ten days. A thorough investigation would be more helpful, wouldn’t it?”
Does he think I’m testing him? He’s unexpectedly eager.
“Alright. I’m looking forward to it.”
“I’ll make sure to meet your expectations.”
This time, he even showed a faint smile. He must find it amusing.
Investigating the past of someone you serve, and will serve for quite some time, isn’t a common task.
“Now, back to the main topic. How long will the task I mentioned earlier take?”
“Two people, a team leader and a director, so ten days each, twenty days in total. If more time is needed during the investigation, I’ll report back.”
“Then start with me first, and then move on to the two of them.”
“Yes, Director.”
“And don’t worry about Vice Chairman Jin Dong-ki’s retaliation. I’ll just hold onto the investigation results without revealing or threatening anyone.”
“A sword in its sheath is still a threat. You know that well.”
“I’ve learned that much. Haha.”
I stood up with a laugh. I couldn’t keep someone busy tied up any longer.
“I’m heading to Malaysia tomorrow. I’ll be back in exactly ten days, so let’s meet then.”
“Yes. I’ll be ready and waiting.”
He smiled again. He’s starting to seem more human.
Director Woo Byung-jun, I’d like to dig into his past too.
Would he accept if I ordered it?
“Khalifah Al Tortelier?”
Oh Se-hyun, who was examining the documents, CD, and card I handed over, murmured the bank’s name with a puzzled look.
“An Arab bank, do you know it?”
“No. There are so many banks like this, how could I know? But you’re leaving tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“You should have given me some time to find out what kind of bank this is.”
“Please look into it. I’ll be there for ten days.”
“Huh? That’s quite a long stay.”
“I’m just trying to enjoy a little vacation for once.”
“Vacation? Seriously? You don’t have some other scheme up your sleeve, do you?”
Oh Se-hyun’s skeptical eyes scanned my face.
“No schemes. I’m serious. I’ve booked a resort in Kota Kinabalu. I’m planning to relax there for over a week and then stop by Labuan on the way back.”
“Really? That’s a good plan. Might as well kill two birds with one stone.”
Oh Se-hyun chuckled as he pulled out a few documents.
“When you get the money, transfer it here. It’s a bank in Kuala Lumpur. If you find it a hassle to go back and forth, I can set you up with a trustworthy friend. You can hand it over to them once you retrieve it.”
“That’s not necessary. I’ll just verify a few things and be done with it.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“I’m not planning to withdraw the money. I’m leaving it in that account. I don’t have any use for it anyway.”
“You’re just going to leave it in Vice Chairman Jindong’s account?”
“Yes. According to my uncle, without the documents, CD, and card, no one can find it, so it’s fine to leave it.”
“You’re just going to bury the money? Labuan banks don’t even pay interest. They just hold it.”
“There’s no need to delete an account linked to my uncle just to earn some interest. What could be more important evidence than this?”
“Evidence? What evidence… Wait, are you…?”
The look of shock on Oh Se-hyun’s face suggested he finally caught on.
A billion won in tax evasion, or perhaps something even bigger. Embezzlement, maybe.
I have the evidence in my hands, and destroying it would be foolish.