Chapter 1: The Snake’s Head
“That’s nonsense!”
Though she spoke with conviction, Grandma couldn’t meet my eyes.
It wasn’t because she believed me. She simply couldn’t judge whether I was right or wrong.
The most effective way to blow up a situation is through politics, but Grandma doesn’t understand how politics work. She’s just an ordinary old lady who never really paid attention to the news or read the papers.
“Shall I tell you something else? The absolute worst-case scenario?”
If it were Uncle, I wouldn’t even need to say this. He’d get it right away.
“The moment the opposition party accuses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of being involved in smuggling art from Sunyang Gallery, it becomes a diplomatic issue between Korea and the U.S. Do you think the U.S. would ever suspect a country like Korea of smuggling? Grandma, you must have used that to your advantage.”
Could this really be Grandma’s idea? Someone must have tipped her off.
“Now, the U.S. has a handle on us. They won’t cover this up. They’ll start investigating Wentworth Art Gallery… and I’ll claim all those paintings are fakes.”
“The paintings are real!”
“I know. But who would believe Sunyang Gallery, known for smuggling? A special investigation will likely start examining the Sunyang Art Foundation’s collection. Then, the forgeries will come out, replacing the secretly sold originals, and Wentworth’s claims will be validated.”
Sunyang Gallery, holding fake paintings.
This will become global news, and the art world will be in an uproar. The clients who secretly bought from Sunyang won’t stay silent either.
There’s no stopping the international lawsuits that will follow.
“Oh, and it’s in the contract, right? The penalty is three times the transaction amount of six hundred million dollars. But that’s fine, the insurance will cover it.”
Finally, Grandma realized the magnitude of the situation. Her clenched hands wouldn’t stop trembling.
“Did you do all this just to get the penalty money?”
“Of course not. There are plenty of ways to make money. Didn’t I tell you? In negotiations like these, the first step is to find out what the other party wants.”
“So, what do you want?”
“Let me tell you one more thing. The one holding the cards doesn’t need to reveal their desires first. If you want to know what I want, you should start by telling me what you can offer. That’s the order of things.”
No need to say more. There’s still something I need to find out. The real thing I need to know.
“I’ll give you some time to think. Consult with your smart subordinates or your proud son. That way… the country won’t be thrown into chaos.”
I stood up, knowing that the one who leaves the study first is the stronger one. Before leaving, I threw one last comment at Grandma, who was frozen in place.
“Isn’t it a bit harsh not to offer your grandson a cup of coffee when he visits? Are you really my grandma?”
I walked out, taking a slow look around the garden as I left the house.
As soon as Kim Yoon-seok and the staff, who had been waiting anxiously, saw me, they hurriedly got out of the car and ran over.
“Get more people. From today, we need to monitor everyone coming in and out of this house. If anyone unfamiliar shows up, follow them to the end. Identify every single one of them. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then please take care of it.”
The first one to arrive will be the brains behind Mrs. Lee Pil-ok.
Mrs. Lee Pil-ok, biting her lip and pacing the study, picked up the phone. She knew she couldn’t handle this chaotic situation on her own.
“Director Chun. It’s urgent. You need to come to the house right away.”
About thirty minutes after she made the call, a middle-aged man appeared.
“What’s going on, Chairwoman?”
“Ah, Director Chun. Come in.”
Director Chun, who had rushed over, didn’t even have time for a glass of water before he had to listen to Mrs. Lee Pil-ok’s story.
“Jin Do-jun? Are you saying this was all a trap set by him?”
“It seems so. Look at this.”
Mrs. Lee handed over a copy of the contract.
“He had this in his possession. It doesn’t seem like he’s lying.”
Director Chun Sang-pil of the Sunyang Art Foundation frowned as soon as he saw the English contract copy. Having reviewed it dozens of times, he could tell at a glance it wasn’t fake.
“Did he say he’d leak this to the opposition party?”
“Yes. He threatened with talk of special investigations, hearings, and diplomatic issues.”
“Not the media, but the opposition party? Well, well… ha.”
Director Chun let out a laugh, seemingly incredulous.
“He’s a smart one. He knows how to get the most out of the weapon he’s holding.”
Mrs. Lee’s eyes narrowed.
“Did I call you here to hear you praise him?”
“I’m sorry. Jin Do-jun hit the nail on the head, and I couldn’t help it…”
As Director Chun bowed his head and fell silent, the study was filled with silence.
Unable to bear the silence any longer, Mrs. Lee spoke up.
“Tell me one thing. If he leaks this to the opposition, will it really become a big diplomatic issue?”
“The domestic issue is more serious than the diplomatic one. For the opposition, which lost the general election, this is the best opportunity. They’ll try to blow it up even more.”
“Even with me, the mistress of Sunyang, watching with my eyes wide open?”
“There’s a by-election next year. If the opposition wins, they can break the ruling party’s majority. The ruling party is only ahead by two seats, so a reversal is possible.”
“So, what he said is true?”
“Regrettably, yes.”
“Alright. You can go.”
“Yes, Chairwoman. I’ll meet with Jin Do-jun.”
“Of course, you should. Don’t think about seeing my face until it’s resolved.”
Director Chun bowed to Mrs. Lee, who didn’t even look at him, and left the study.
“Wow, this kid. Setting a six hundred million dollar trap to catch Grandma?”
Chairman Lee Hak-jae clicked his tongue after hearing my story.
“Your grandma’s in big trouble now. This is beyond what Sunyang Group can cover up. She won’t avoid appearing at the prosecutor’s office in a wheelchair, and if the opposition makes noise, it’s a prison sentence. The only way out is a suspended sentence or bail for health reasons. It’s a dead end. Haha.”
“The Sunyang Art Foundation will have to close, right?”
“That’s just a bonus.”
Chairman Lee stopped laughing and spoke seriously.
“But it could take years to go through all three trials. If your grandma’s case fizzles out after the by-election next year… and if she sorts out her shares in the meantime? You won’t gain anything.”
“I need to wrap it up before it goes to trial.”
“Do you have a plan?”
“Grandma has a fixer. Take a look at this person.”
I handed over a photo. It was taken at night, so it wasn’t clear, but you could make out the face.
“Do you know who this is?”
Chairman Lee studied the photo carefully and thought for a while.
“Ah! This guy. Chun… Sang-pil. Yes, Director Chun Sang-pil.”
“Do you know him?”
“Yes. He left quite a while ago, didn’t he? He was a director at the Art Foundation, I think?”
“Where’s he from?”
“He was in the group’s legal team before being transferred to the foundation. He was a smart guy, but he left after only a few years. I heard he left because he was pushed out as a non-mainstreamer.”
“So he’s a lawyer, then.”
“Probably, yes? But why this guy?”
“As soon as I declared war on Grandma, he was the first to rush over.”
“Really? Then he’s the closest confidant?”
“The brains, I’d say. Just like you were the first person Grandpa turned to when he was in trouble.”
Chairman Lee chuckled as he looked at my pointing finger.
“If you cut off her limbs, Mrs. Lee Pil-ok won’t be able to move. She doesn’t have any spare limbs.”
“And only one head, right? Director Chun is the brain. It’d be troublesome if there were more.”
Chairman Lee shook his head.
“You’re ruthless. Planning to cut off Grandma’s head and attach it to your hand?”
“Why? It’s not like Director Chun Sang-pil has the kind of power you do, right?”
“Power is relative. The power to control the Sunyang Art Foundation at will, instead of a puppet-like Grandma, isn’t much different from when I was the second-in-command at Sunyang. No, it’s even greater. I was the dragon’s tail, and Director Chun is the snake’s head.”
I’ve got all the information I need.
“To cut off a dragon’s tail, you need a large expedition to catch the dragon, but to cut off a snake’s head, one hunter is enough. That’s the limit of a snake’s head.”
“Do you have a hunter?”
“Yes. A terrifying hunter. Haha.”
Chairman Lee waved his hand dismissively.
“Just go. Watching you makes me grateful I was the dragon’s tail.”
A sudden call from an unfamiliar number. I had a feeling.
This guy, he’s the snake’s head.
“Yes, speaking.”
I momentarily forgot Grandma’s habit of passing all troublesome matters to her subordinates.
For something this significant, it’s only natural to move someone who can resolve it in one go, and that person is the brain, not the limbs.
“Whoever you are, let’s start with some basic manners. Who are you?”
I need to make sure the snake’s head knows the knife is in my hand.
“Chun Sang-pil? As far as I know, there’s no director by that name at the foundation. Who are you?”
He’s a slippery one, like a snake.
“Alright then. Consider yourself your grandmother’s representative. Think carefully about how much you need to bring, discuss it with her, and get back to me. Goodbye.”
I hung up, but I could almost hear the snake’s head grumbling, “Where did that young punk learn his manners?”
Now, we’ll see just how big my grandmother’s and the snake’s bowls really are.
I rented a room at the Sunyang Hotel. I figured it would be easier for the snake to slither around without anyone watching.
Chun Sang-pil, who looked to be in his mid-fifties, had a sharp look that didn’t quite match the image of a sly old fox.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Jin Do-jun. Chun Sang-pil, right?”
“Yes, Jin Do-jun. Please, have a seat.”
“You know your stuff. I see you even prepared a private room. Ha ha.”
“I thought I’d try my hand at imitating those dramas with chaebols. Glad you like it.”
As he sat down and noticed the coffee cups on the table, he chuckled again.
“Wouldn’t a glass of whiskey suit the occasion better than coffee?”
“If the numbers you brought please me, I’ll send you a whole case of Balvenie whiskey.”
“You really do know your stuff. Looks like I’ll be loosening my belt for a big drink today.”
“Let’s skip the pre-celebration and hear those numbers first.”
Chun Sang-pil’s smile vanished in an instant.
“I’m here to find out what you want. If it’s just numbers, I don’t see why you’d dig such a big trap. Someone who spent 600 million dollars on a trap wants money? Let’s cut the jokes.”
I looked him straight in the eye and said, “I guess I didn’t convey my thoughts clearly during our sudden call.”
“Now we’re getting somewhere. So, what is it you want?”
“I do want numbers. Just not the ones you think. I meant for you to bring the numbers you want, Director Chun.”
For a moment, Chun Sang-pil couldn’t muster a witty remark or a sharp look. He just blinked, speechless.