Chapter 3: The Ruthless and the Cunning
“This is getting interesting, isn’t it? Or is it more like a seismic shift?”
In Hak-jae’s mind, the tasks Chairman Jin had assigned him were swirling like a chaotic dance. The most recent task, transferring the medical foundation and the human resources development center to Jin Yoon-ki, the youngest son, stood out.
Perhaps this inheritance wasn’t for the son but for the grandson. Yet, questions lingered.
These weren’t subsidiaries that generated significant profits or held controlling shares in the group. Why these, then? What was the reason?
“Fortunately, Miracle, with its solid financial backing, is a steadfast ally of the chairman. This crisis might just turn into an opportunity.”
Hak-jae refocused on the matter at hand, ignoring the unnecessary chatter around him.
“We need to know how much Da-a Construction stock we can secure and the current liquidity status of Miracle.”
Hak-jae spread several documents in front of Chairman Jin.
“Here’s the shareholder status of Da-a Construction. President Kang’s family holds 23%, the executives 7%, the banks 20%, other institutions and major investors 35%, and individual investors 10%. Miracle has already secured 5%.”
“The 10% circulating in the market should be easy to scoop up, right?”
“Yes, indeed. Everyone’s eager to sell before the company goes under.”
Chairman Jin surveyed the room.
“How about it? Isn’t this a good time for some financial maneuvering? If we gather up the individual investors’ shares and sell them after stabilization, it’ll be quite profitable.”
It was a win-win: securing management rights and generating additional income.
The people in the study struggled to contain their grins.
“The banks and institutions will be favorable if Miracle secures the shares… All that’s left is to handle President Kang’s family’s shares.”
President Hong spoke cautiously, and Chairman Jin laughed heartily.
“That’s Miracle’s job. We’ll just provide support from the sidelines while you go and take over Da-a Construction. Ha ha.”
Hak-jae found the prospect of watching who would become the true owner of Da-a quite intriguing.
“The best course of action now is to lay everything bare and hope for leniency. You know that, right?”
”…”
President Kang Mu-seong gritted his teeth as he listened to the young prosecutor’s taunts in the interrogation room at the Western District Prosecutor’s Office.
“Our prosecutors… We’re overworked and underpaid, poor souls. They say the documents from your company filled two 2-ton trucks. How are we supposed to go through all that? It’s a waste of taxpayer money.”
“This is an unjust, orchestrated investigation. It’s a conspiracy by competitors waiting for our company to fail.”
“Conspiracy? We have evidence of your approval right here! And isn’t your company on the brink of collapse anyway? Who’s the competitor? It’s laughable. Ha ha.”
President Kang didn’t even glance at the file the prosecutor tossed his way. He knew he had approved the foreign exchange transactions.
“I don’t remember. I don’t recall approving anything.”
The prosecutor sighed and stared at President Kang for a moment.
When he spoke again, he dropped the formalities.
“Don’t remember? Want me to help you remember?”
“What… what do you think you’re doing? How dare you!”
The young prosecutor, who looked barely old enough to be his son, spoke informally, making Kang’s face turn crimson.
The prosecutor stood up, shoved his hands deep into his pockets, and kicked the chair Kang was sitting on.
“You bastard. While the country might be going under, you’re busy siphoning money and planning to flee overseas. People like you deserve the death penalty without trial. You traitorous scum!”
As the chair toppled over, Kang had no choice but to stand.
At that moment, the prosecutor picked up the file and struck Kang on the head.
“You bastard! What do you think you’re doing? Using force? Call your superior! You punk!”
Kang shouted in humiliation, but it only added fuel to the fire.
“Superior? Want to meet the chief? Fine. I’ll let you meet him. But before that, since I’m already going to be disciplined for using force, I’ll make sure you remember this. If I don’t break one of your legs today, I’ll change my last name. Brace yourself, you bastard.”
While Kang Mu-seong endured all sorts of indignities, there was also a prosecutor who tried to coax him with sweet words.
“Even as an executive, you’re just a salaried employee, right? Why throw yourself into the fire?”
“Prosecutor, I really don’t know anything about this.”
“Oh, come on. Your approval stamp is right there. And listen carefully. The country is on the brink because there’s no foreign currency. But you siphoned it off when the exchange rate spiked? This isn’t just a violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act. It’s treason. The judge might give you the maximum sentence. Otherwise, you might get lynched by the public.”
Kang hesitated, unable to tell if it was a threat, a warning, or an attempt to persuade him, and the prosecutor’s expression changed.
“You must have gotten some crumbs from the pie, right? Had some fun with the fake documents and foreign exchange transactions? Should we confiscate everything and leave you penniless? Huh?”
“Prosecutor, it’s not like that…”
There were also many subordinates who, to prove their innocence, spilled everything they knew, claiming they were just following orders.
“Prosecutor, I’m in charge of importing high-end interior materials. I know the import list inside out. These import documents are all fake. Only a few samples came in. As you know, Da-a specializes in plants and large buildings. We’ve only built a few affordable apartment complexes. Where would we use such high-end materials?”
“Don’t they use them in office buildings? There are many high-end buildings these days.”
“Only in the lobby. And each floor is sold as a shell. The tenants handle the interior themselves, right?”
“What about the foreign remittances? Your ID copy is attached to the bank documents.”
“Prosecutor, does the president handle bank remittances personally? Isn’t it natural for a low-level employee like me to prepare the documents?”
“Then take a look at this. Is this everything, or is there more?”
The employee didn’t even open the file the prosecutor handed him.
“There are at least three or four more boxes like this. I’ve practically lived at the bank since last fall.”
The prosecutor smiled, thinking he might get to leave work on time today, having found an easy target.
When a middle-aged man entered the interrogation room, President Kang’s eyes welled up as if he were seeing his deceased parents.
“Manager Lee, you heartless man, why are you only coming now?”
“Oh dear, President Kang. But why is your face…?”
Kang’s cheeks were swollen and red like balloons.
As Kang glared at the young prosecutor with tear-filled eyes, the chief prosecutor kicked the junior prosecutor’s shin.
“You idiot! Do you know who this man is? How dare you treat him like a common criminal… Get out! You fool.”
The junior prosecutor bowed repeatedly and left the interrogation room, and President Kang grabbed the chief prosecutor’s hand.
“Manager Lee, please save me. I’ll never forget your kindness.”
“Let’s sit down first.”
Gently shaking off Kang’s grip, the two sat facing each other.
“I’ve received all the reports and reviewed the records. But…”
That ominous word: but.
“Let’s skip the small talk. Miracle first approached Da-a Construction five days ago, right?”
“Yes. Can you believe it? How can this happen in a civilian government, not during a military dictatorship?”
“Exactly. How is this possible in a civilian government? In just five days?”
From Manager Lee’s expression, Kang realized something serious was happening.
“Are you saying this is all directed by the Blue House?”
Manager Lee shook his head.
“The inauguration is just days away. What power does the Blue House have?”
“Then who?”
“Who do you think holds the most power in our country right now?”
“Are you saying the next administration is…?”
“No. Right now, the one controlling the dollars is king. You know Kang De-shi, right? The IMF chief. That bastard is controlling the country with just 2 billion dollars.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“Miracle Investment is holding the dollars and negotiating with the transition team. They’re offering to release the dollars in exchange for taking over the failing Da-a Construction. You’ve become their prey, unfortunately. Do you understand?”
Kang’s vision blurred, and he couldn’t see anything.
Typically, acquisitions target bankrupt companies. The fact that they didn’t wait for it to go under suggests another motive.
“And the evidence of you siphoning money is too clear. There are testimonies from executives and employees, and the documents are undeniable. There’s nothing we can do.”
The words “nothing we can do” snapped Kang back to reality.
“Does that mean they’re going to indict me?”
“If you want to avoid that, you know where to align yourself.”
Manager Lee slid Kang’s phone across the table and stood up.
“Decide quickly. It doesn’t take long to go from a witness to a suspect.”
Left alone in the interrogation room, Kang sat in a daze for a while.
“Is there a better offer for you, President?”
It was hard to tell if President Kang, looking half out of it, was even listening to me, but negotiations had to proceed.
“Make sure you have enough money to live on. You don’t need to flee the country in the dead of night, and you can return whenever you want. Or better yet, you could just settle down in your hometown in Korea.”
Across the table, two investigators were enjoying their seolleongtang and boiled pork, keeping a close eye on CEO Kang Moo-sung. In contrast, Kang sat with untouched food in front of him, not even lifting his spoon.
“Have you thought about your kids? The money you transferred in their names is illegal, so you can’t touch it. You know all your employees have testified, right? They said your children never showed up for work. The salaries paid to them are also illegal gifts, so we’ll be reclaiming that money for the company.”
“So, what do you want from me?”
“Bring back every penny you siphoned from the company. Then we’ll buy out the shares your family holds. With that money, you won’t have to worry about your retirement.”
“And the investigation?”
“Naturally, it will be closed.”
Kang looked haggard and much older, perhaps from not eating properly. Yet, there was no sympathy for him.
If you’re the founder of a company, shouldn’t you be like the captain of the Titanic, rescuing passengers and crew first and going down with the ship if necessary?
Someone who tries to save himself by smuggling out the ship’s valuable equipment deserves to face the consequences, not sympathy.
“Let’s get up. It seems you’ll need to see the interrogation room, the holding cell, and then the prison walls before you make up your mind.”
As Kang hesitated, Oh Se-hyun snapped at him, prompting Kang to wave his hands frantically.
“No, no, Mr. Oh. I’ll do it. Just keep your promise.”
“You should have agreed sooner.”
Oh Se-hyun raised his hand to call over the restaurant owner.
“We’re done eating. Could you clear the table, please?”
He placed a notebook on the now-clean table.
“Write it all down. Every asset you and your family own, and the overseas accounts under false names. If you’ve buried gold bars in your front yard, list those too. If even a single penny is unaccounted for later, you’ll be eating prison food until your funeral. Consider yourself warned.”
With a grim expression, Oh Se-hyun spoke firmly, and Kang Moo-sung picked up the pen with a defeated look.