Secret Gallery 5

Back in Korea, I was just waiting for the art authentication to be completed.

Oh Se-hyun was likely busy in New York, moving money around to transfer it to the Virgin Islands account as soon as the authentication was done.

I secretly hoped one of the pieces would turn out to be a forgery, but after nearly two months, I received word that they were all genuine.

And then, I got a call from Oh Se-hyun, grumbling as usual.

“Hey! I wired 600 million dollars. I spent a lot cleaning that money. Don’t do anything stupid and handle it well.”

“Thank you, Uncle.”

“My job’s done, right? I’m heading back now.”

“Not to Korea, I assume?”

“Of course not. I need to relax by the clear sea.”

“Didn’t you get enough rest in New York?”

“You brat. I couldn’t even relax because of the work you gave me!”

“Ah, yes. Please rest well when you return. And buy lots of gifts for Auntie at the duty-free shop. She must be quite upset with you for being away so long.”

I heard a sigh through the phone.

“You should get married soon. In thirty years, you’ll understand. A husband doesn’t buy gifts because he was away for a long time. He buys them because he’s coming back home.”

After listening to the lament of a middle-aged man, I ended the call.

The stage was set, and it was time to start the main act.

First, I called in Vice President Jang Do-hyung.

“You need to use all your connections in Yeouido and Myeong-dong, including Sunyang Securities, to find out something.”

Perhaps sensing the seriousness in my expression, Vice President Jang swallowed hard.

“Someone will likely be buying up Sunyang Group stocks under various names, especially in electronics, heavy industries, construction, trading, and commerce.”

“What? Are you saying someone is attempting a hostile M&A?”

“No, the goal is simply to secure stocks. With over 600 billion won in play, it will definitely attract attention.”

He swallowed hard again.

“600 billion? Who on earth?”

“That’s what you need to find out.”

“Ah, yes.”

“There will be multiple accounts under different names. You need to track them. Can you do it?”

We have to uncover illegal transactions through illegal means.

Using connections at various securities firms to obtain personal information on those buying up large amounts of Sunyang Group stock is clearly illegal.

But Vice President Jang didn’t complain.

Having faced a crisis, he realized that everything we do is directly tied to survival.

We’ve crossed a point of no return, and if we survive to the end, we’ll claim a kingdom of wealth. Committing a little illegality to gain a kingdom is a trivial matter.

“No problem. We’re not looking for ants; we’re tracking a 600 billion won transaction. Even if it’s spread across a hundred people, that’s 6 billion each, all in Sunyang Group stock. It will definitely stand out. I’ll get the full list.”

“You must find them. Then I’ll make all those stocks mine.”

Grandmother can’t create new accounts for 600 million. She’ll definitely use existing ones, and those accounts will hold not just 600 billion but also stocks she’s secretly amassed.

I wonder how much my grandmother has if we shake her pockets.

A month later, Sunyang Group’s main subsidiaries’ stocks began to rise slightly.

Bringing in a massive sum like 600 million dollars in just a month means there’s a highly skilled person under Grandmother. If we tap into the accounts, that person will reveal themselves.

It takes a long time to quietly accumulate stocks without drawing attention to the rising prices. This skilled person also has great patience, slowly gathering Sunyang Group stocks so that it doesn’t make the economic news.

“Is it difficult to identify the accounts?”

Unlike my concern, Vice President Jang seemed relaxed.

“It just takes time, but identifying them isn’t a problem. When a hundred or so accounts move, patterns emerge. Plus, since we’re only looking at Sunyang Group stocks, it’s not that difficult.”

“Are you sure?”

I asked again, but Jang nodded without hesitation.

“I’m confident. You don’t need to worry.”

Having spent a lifetime in this field, I have to trust him.

Shall we start moving?

---

Standing in front of the gate, I felt a wave of nostalgia.

I used to visit this house often, but this was my first time since Grandfather’s funeral.

I wished the owner of this house would forever be Grandfather, but in reality, it had become Mrs. Lee Pil-ok’s house.

When I rang the doorbell, the door opened. Usually, I would drive up to the entrance, but today I walked in slowly. The garden trees and flowers, which I had never paid attention to, were well-tended, and the soft glow of the stone lanterns lit up the summer night.

When I used to walk with Grandfather, I never noticed these things. Now they seemed fresh, but without Grandfather by my side, the beautiful garden felt sad.

As I entered the living room, I found Grandmother scolding the staff with a face full of anger.

“Letting anyone in without my permission? Are you out of your mind?!”

The staff, unsure of what to do, kept bowing their heads.

When Grandmother met my eyes, she spoke through gritted teeth.

“How dare you come in here? Get out immediately!”

Grandmother never showed even a hint of affection. Though we shared blood, she never offered a kind word, only cold stares.

Moreover, I retained memories from my past life.

This old woman was more Grandfather’s wife than my grandmother, and she was a complete stranger who once tried to kill me.

I smiled slightly and said, “I have something to discuss quietly. Shall we move to the study?”

“Be quiet. Get out now!”

It’s impossible to show the demeanor of a polite grandson to a grandmother with such an attitude. I’m forced to get straight to the point.

“I’m a customer who bought 600 million dollars’ worth of goods. Isn’t a cup of tea the least you could offer? Customers who meet such demanding conditions aren’t common, are they?”

Seeing Grandmother’s face turn pale, I realized I might have gone too far. She’s old, and if she collapses, it would be a disaster. I still need to find the stocks in the secret accounts and the hidden money.

Fortunately, Grandmother, who prides herself on her health, only showed a loss of color.

“There’s no need to air the dealings between a grandmother and grandson in front of the staff, is there?”

“You… you…”

Ignoring her inability to speak, I addressed the kitchen staff.

“Could you bring me a cup of coffee? To the study.”

Without looking back, I headed to the study. Grandmother, knowing exactly what I meant, would surely follow.

Though it was a place where I had many conversations with Grandfather, unfamiliar items were scattered around, making it feel strange. It seemed Grandfather’s presence had vanished under Grandmother’s touch.

As I settled in and waited, Grandmother entered. When she tried to sit in Grandfather’s chair, I glared at her and said, “We’re going to discuss something important, so why don’t you sit across from me? I’m not here to report to a superior. You know what I mean, don’t you?”

Biting her lip, Grandmother turned and sat across from me.

“What do you want to say?”

“You already have an idea, don’t you?”

“You insolent brat! How dare you act so arrogantly?”

It’s amusing to see how long that pride will last. Today, I must completely break it.

“Who would have imagined? The grand matriarch of Sunyang Group selling off paintings and filling a gallery with forgeries. This would be a massive scandal.”

“Hmph! I don’t even understand what nonsense you’re spouting.”

“Still can’t figure it out? Or are you pretending not to know? The deal with Wentworth Art Gallery in New York was a trap I set. Beth Porter was a puppet dancing to my tune. The 600 million dollars for the paintings came from my pocket.”

”…”

“Grandmother, it’s already over. I have the secret contract you signed. I also remember the secret account number in the Virgin Islands. In situations like this, it’s better to find out what the other party wants rather than feigning ignorance.”

“Be quiet. Where did you hear such rumors to come and threaten me?”

She tried to glare at me with a bold front, but her trembling fingers betrayed her.

I tossed a copy of the contract in front of her.

“You embezzled assets worth billions from the foundation, smuggled paintings to the U.S., and set up a ghost company overseas to siphon money, violating foreign exchange laws. I assure you, with this, you won’t need to shop anymore. You’ll spend the rest of your life in a prison uniform.”

“You… you…!”

“Grandmother, you don’t really know this grandson, do you? Or maybe you do? That I’m just like Grandfather, without a drop of pity or tears? I have no qualms about taking you to court and sending you to prison. Do you know why?”

At the mention of prison, Grandmother’s hands trembled even more.

“It’s not because you tried to kill me with a truck. It’s because you keep trying to take away what Grandfather left me.”

Her lips, pale and trembling, couldn’t have anticipated the truck incident coming from my mouth.

“Grandfather knew everything. But he buried it, saying it was his fault. He even told me to forgive you. So I erased it from my memory. But since you’re trying to push me out of Sunyang Group, I have no choice. We must see this through to the end.”

Reading my firm expression and tone, Grandmother remained silent for a while.

Perhaps she needed time to regain her composure.

When she finally spoke, she returned to her usual self.

“So, you really think you can do something to me? Even if you try to expose whatever evidence you have to the world, it won’t go as you plan. The power of Sunyang Group isn’t in your hands; it’s in my son’s. Not a single line will make it to the newspapers or broadcasts.”

“You must be proud of your son.”

My sarcastic remark seemed to go unheard as she continued to boast about her son’s influence.

“You’re the one who’s going to suffer. The Virgin Islands? We’ll make that account look like yours and have you arrested. You’ll be painted as the scoundrel who embezzled six hundred million dollars.”

It’s not entirely impossible.

If my uncles pull every string and throw money at the media to keep them silent, they might just succeed.

While my grandmother turns this into a bloody battle between me and my uncles, she could quietly liquidate her shares and flee overseas.

But there’s one thing she hasn’t considered. Nothing is ever that simple. Everything is interconnected, leading to unexpected outcomes.

With no real-world experience, she can’t see the bigger picture.

“Even if Sunyang Group pours all its wealth into it, you won’t be able to silence the media. Because this will turn into a political battle.”

My grandmother furrowed her brow, not understanding my words.

“I’m not taking this to the media. I’m taking it to the opposition party. After losing the general election, they’re itching for a chance to attack the ruling party. And you, Grandmother, have involved the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A ministry dabbling in smuggling. Do you think the opposition will just sit back and watch? There will be special investigations and hearings.”

Her expression changed once more.

“No matter how much money Sunyang has funneled to opposition politicians, they won’t cover this up. They have to survive too.”

I smiled at her flustered face.

“Isn’t it exciting? Thanks to you, Grandmother, the whole country will be in an uproar. Haha.”