Securing Evidence 3
I casually tossed a few photos onto the table.
“What do you think? Stunning, right? Wouldn’t you call this a breathtaking view?”
The saying goes, “Once bitten, twice shy,” and that was exactly the case here.
As soon as I threw the photos, he snatched them up in a hurry. But when he saw the white sandy beach and the sun setting over the horizon, Director Jung let out a sigh of relief.
“Wow, it’s beautiful.”
“This is Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia. It’s a world-famous resort destination.”
“But why are you showing me these pictures?”
“Wouldn’t it be nice to spend about five years relaxing there?”
“Me?”
Director Jung looked back and forth between the photos and me, his expression one of disbelief.
“We’re planning to build a fantastic resort there by the end of this year. It’ll take three to four years from design to opening, and a good five years to get it running smoothly. I’m suggesting you go there and manage the finances, your specialty.”
His eyes darted around nervously, and it was time to sweeten the deal.
“Quietly liquidate all your assets and hide them well. You can trust Miracle Investment to keep them safe. The returns will be much better than any bank.”
“Are you suggesting I run away?”
Ignoring his question, I continued.
“Until the resort opens, you can stay in a hotel or rent a luxurious villa. Oh, and the place is swarming with bikini-clad beauties all year round. They’re incomparable to any office worker you’re seeing now. As the resort’s top manager, they’ll be the ones trying to seduce you.”
Free-spirited backpackers wouldn’t miss the chance to stay at a luxurious resort for free. Haven’t you seen it in movies?
“Of course, since you’ll be working abroad, you’ll receive a generous special allowance. You can save up your doubled salary. You left without even hearing this great offer, so I had to send that email.”
His expression changed slightly.
The fear in his eyes disappeared, and the redness from embarrassment faded. The furrowed brow smoothed out completely.
World-famous resort, manager, bikini beauties, special allowance, double salary.
These sweet words must be swirling in his head.
“Why are you telling me all this?”
“Just meeting with a competitor’s HR and receiving a scout offer has already put you under suspicion. It’s not unusual, really. Competitors poaching people is nothing new. But why is there special attention on you?”
It’s a question he wouldn’t dare answer himself.
“You’re already marked as someone who might betray us. You handled the vice chairman’s special slush fund, so they won’t let you go easily. You know how ruthless Sunyang Group can be in these matters.”
“S-slush fund? I don’t know anything about that…”
“I hate wasting time. Save the innocent act for your wife. Like when you deny having an affair!”
Mentioning infidelity made his face flush again, and he clammed up.
“During the IMF crisis, the vice chairman stashed away a billion won. I think you know how that money was siphoned off during such a massive crisis.”
“W-wait a minute. A billion won? No, I just sold a paper company worth five hundred million…”
Ah, so he sold a non-existent ghost company to Sunyang Construction.
“That paper company was probably written off as a loss immediately. With the IMF crisis, they had a good excuse to dispose of bad assets.”
Realizing his mistake, Director Jung remained silent. It seems he only knows about the five hundred million. The other five hundred million must be known by Executive Director Lim Jong-yoon.
“Just bring me the documents you used to play with that paper company. Then I’ll ensure your safety. The resort offer still stands, of course.”
He said nothing. He was thinking hard, but it was clear which side he’d choose.
The side that supports him, or the side that suspects him.
Finally, he spoke.
“May I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
“Isn’t Vice Chairman Jin Dong-ki your uncle? Why are you trying to dig up his weaknesses?”
Is this just curiosity? Or is he looking for a reason to betray?
“You know I’m selling Sunyang Card to the vice chairman, right?”
“Yes, I heard you’re selling it.”
“Why do you think I’m selling it?”
“What?”
“It’s a company that makes billions in profit annually. It’s like a goose that lays golden eggs. Why would I sell it? And on credit, no less?”
“How would a salaried employee like me know the deep reasons?”
“There are many reasons, but it’s essentially a takeover. An uncle taking over his nephew’s company for next to nothing. Shouldn’t I have something to fight back with?”
Director Jung let out a long sigh and reacted unexpectedly.
“Damn, I’m caught in a trap.”
A precise expression. He’s caught in a real bind. That’s why you need to prepare an escape route when you get involved in dangerous business.
“If you don’t want to get caught in the crossfire, you should run. Head to Kota Kinabalu. It’s comfortable, peaceful, and safe there.”
“What if I didn’t have the documents?”
“No salaried worker doesn’t keep an insurance policy. If you weren’t smart enough to do that, you wouldn’t have been involved in the vice chairman’s affairs.”
“You know a lot for someone born with a silver spoon.”
Perhaps feeling he had something to hold onto, his tone grew rougher.
“Don’t mess with me, you bastard! It’s nothing to ruin your life. I’ve seen plenty of people who thought they were successful after getting a little money. How many of them do you think lived happily until the end?”
I had to crush his spirit early. If he ran to the vice chairman claiming loyalty, it would be a disaster.
“I’m the benefactor offering you a life in a paradise-like resort instead of a ruined life. Who do you think you are?”
“I-I have the vice chairman’s slush fund documents!”
“You’re bluffing. You only know half of it, right? There’s someone else. If I offer that person ten times the deal I offered you, they’d lick my toes. And you? You’d just be a cheating husband who betrayed the vice chairman. Does your wife have a forgiving nature? Would she overlook an affair?”
Director Jung’s fingers began to tremble, realizing his predicament.
“What are you doing?”
“What? Uh…”
“Go get the documents. My offer is only good for today. If you bring the documents now, you’re still the manager of the Kota Kinabalu resort. Hurry!”
Director Jung shot up and dashed out.
Watching his retreating figure, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
I was wrong. Or rather, I was half wrong.
Adding fear to the flames of desire makes them burn faster.
Or is fear the priority? Is desire an effective catalyst for accepting threats?
“Is this it?”
“Yes. We created a ghost company related to resource development in Eastern Europe and sold it to Sunyang Construction. They immediately wrote it off as a bad asset. It’s a classic method.”
What’s astonishing is that this method will still be rampant ten years from now. Despite how frequently it happens, hardly anyone gets caught.
Big thieves always slip through the legal net.
“There’s still five hundred million left, right?”
“The proceeds from selling the Eastern European ghost company were deposited in the UK. The rest was deposited in the US, so the ghost company is probably somewhere in South America.”
“Is it also related to resources in South America?”
“Probably.”
Oh Se-hyun tossed the documents aside in disbelief.
“If it’s in the US, it’s a life sentence.”
“Here, it’s three years with a suspended sentence.”
“Damn. I thought Vice Chairman Jin Dong-ki was a bit better among your uncles, but this… To think they saw the financial crisis as an opportunity to siphon money. Chaebols are all the same.”
“Their consistency works in my favor. Do you think Vice Chairman Jin Young-ki wouldn’t have done the same?”
Oh Se-hyun’s frown didn’t ease.
“What about that guy? Are you really going to let him live it up in a resort?”
“He’s just a pawn, isn’t he? He was just following orders, so I can’t punish him. But I won’t let him live in comfort. I’ll work him hard.”
“Speaking of which, are you really going to proceed with the resort?”
“I’ll follow the local survey team’s results. If they conclude it’s viable, we’ll proceed. If not, we’ll just build a villa. My uncle can use it occasionally.”
“Just hearing about it sounds nice.”
He finally cracked a smile.
“So, what’s next? Are you going to track down the remaining five hundred million?”
“Yes. Executive Director Lim Jong-yoon probably handled it. He received the rights to run a manpower company in return, so it’s certain.”
“Executives aren’t easily swayed by ordinary temptations. You know that, right?”
“Yes. I’ve learned that well this time. I tried to achieve what I wanted through mutual benefit and smooth transactions, but… I’ve seen that sometimes showing strength is faster. I’ll try using force with Executive Director Lim.”
“Do I have a role this time? I mobilized HW Construction executives for Director Jung’s case.”
“I’ll handle it with force. It’s fine.”
“What kind of force? That Executive Director Lim is a close aide to Vice Chairman Jin Dong-ki. He’ll probably see you as a child.”
“Uncle, what do you think Sunyang Group executives fear the most?”
“What else? The two vice chairmen.”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“The chairman. There’s only one, not two.”
“You’re not thinking of involving Chairman Jin, are you?”
Oh Se-hyun’s mouth fell open.
“No. I’ll just use his name subtly. I can’t drag my grandfather into this.”
“Thank you for coming all this way. I know it must have been inconvenient.”
“Not at all. Aren’t you one of the three pillars of Sunyang? Even if you are the shortest and thinnest one.”
Oh, a little jab there. Seems like he’s been around the block a few times.
“Oh, please, a pillar? That’s too generous. I’m just holding the fort temporarily. It’s more than I can handle, really.”
I decided to play humble.
“Holding the fort? What do you mean?”
“You must know, right? We’re about to hand over Sunyang Card. Other financial companies will soon follow suit.”
Executive Director Im’s eyes gleamed with interest.
“Are you suggesting this is a tax maneuver?”
“How would I know? It’s all up to my grandfather.”
“Chairman Jin?”
“Yes.”
As expected, my grandfather still holds absolute sway.
Just mentioning him changes Executive Director Im’s posture. He uncrosses his legs and sits up straighter.
“So, is what you have to say to me also from Chairman Jin? I couldn’t quite figure out why I needed to be here.”
“No, I was debating whether to report to my grandfather or not, but I thought it best to speak with you first.”
“Report? About what?”
“I stumbled upon something interesting. And it involves you, Executive Director Im.”
“Me?”
“Yes. It seems a company has been monopolizing Sunyang Construction’s day laborers. And it turns out that company belongs to your family…”
Executive Director Im’s expression begins to shift.
“You know my grandfather’s policy, right? Every two years, he rotates people in lucrative positions. Since you can’t stop the under-the-table dealings, he figures everyone should get a turn to earn some pocket money.”
No executive in charge of subcontractors, procurement, or logistics has lasted more than two years. It’s my grandfather’s way of ensuring everyone gets their share and then moves on.
“But your family’s company has held a monopoly for over three years now…”
“What authority do you have to make such accusations? This is all under the Vice Chairman’s orders…”
His panic is evident. His voice rises.
“Did Vice Chairman Jin Dong-ki say it was okay to pocket ten billion won a year?”
Now, instead of shouting, he falls silent.