CH84 | MCT

Geumsan Hotel Banquet Hall (5)

Tae-soo quietly murmured under his breath.

"Kim Gwanghyun, Sung Yeonjae, Lee Heejung, Yoon Hyungon, Yang Geumseop, Hwang Jiwon, Park Youngjoo, Lee Manjong, Hong Hyunkyung, Choi Jaemoon, Ha Jaewook, Jeon Wooseok, Kang Yushin, Cho Chanik, Park Suyeon, Kim Suhwan, Jang Seungwan…"

These were the names of the people Han Ilkwon had hospitalized with injuries requiring more than 12 weeks of treatment.

"None of those names ring a bell," Ilkwon shrugged indifferently.

"Do you really expect me to remember the names of those pathetic bugs?"

Shameless. That’s what he was.

"Bae Sujin, Ahn Jooyoung, Lee Yeonju, Lee Hyunkyung, Kim Isook, Seo Yoonjin, Lee Eunji, Jung Yuran, Kim Yooji, Seo Heejung."

These were the women Ilkwon had sent to the obstetrics department.

"Still not a single familiar name. You must have a lot of time on your hands, memorizing such useless lists."

To men like Ilkwon, even if hundreds of victims gathered, it meant nothing.

"Disappointing, Kang Tae-soo. You think you can bring me down with that?"

Ilkwon raised his whiskey glass as well.

'How the hell did he find out? How deep has he dug? I was sure I cleaned everything up…'

Outwardly, he maintained a calm facade, but his throat was parched. He drank to wet his lips.

Ilkwon leaned in close to Tae-soo, whispering so no one else could hear.

"My father is Chairman Han Cheonho, head of the Cheongil Group. You know what that means? I can bury things like this as much as I want."

His only faith lay in his father's power.

"There’s no evidence, the witnesses have been bought off, and if anyone starts making noise, I’ll stomp them down again. You think I’m afraid of that?"

Ilkwon chuckled, his shoulders shaking.

"It’s not that hard to throw pitiful trash lives into the gutter. Do you think any of those insects can bring me to justice? How? Ha!"

He was stuck in the mindset of the 1970s, believing that with enough power and money, any crime could be covered up.

In the 21st century, with CCTV cameras, smartphones, and black boxes everywhere, even Ilkwon had to act more carefully.

But the younger Ilkwon in front of Tae-soo had no such restraint. He rampaged freely.

"That might have worked until now. But Han Ilkwon, you’d better watch yourself from now on. I’m watching you."

Just because there were no cameras didn’t mean justice couldn’t be served.

Criminals had been punished long before the time of Hammurabi.

'If this era calls for new methods, then I’ll make sure he pays in the way that fits this era.'

If power could be used to cover things up, it could also be used to put people behind bars.

In a world ruled by dictatorship and military regimes, the one with strength ruled.

And Tae-soo was building his own power.

"Shall I show you a place you’ve never seen before?"

Tae-soo continued with a cold smile.

"You’ve never been to prison, have you?"

Because of those nameless 'bugs' you treated so lightly, you’re going to rot behind bars.

"Who could possibly send me to prison?"

"I, Kang Tae-soo," Tae-soo said, swirling his whiskey glass leisurely.

"If you don't believe me, shall we make a bet?"

The venom bloomed within his smile.

"I'm confident. I'll make sure you get a full tour of prison life, and experience life at the very bottom."

Cheongil Group? I'll tear it down myself.

"When someone with money, power, and connections ends up wallowing in the filth at the bottom of society, life becomes a living hell. Don’t you agree?"

"That’ll never happen. Not even in my next life. I’m Han Ilkwon, heir to Cheongil Group!"

"Everyone says that — right up until the moment they fall."

Ilkwon clenched his fists tightly.

Just then—

Click.

The door opened, and Han Cheongho stepped out.

Everyone gathered in the fifth-floor hall turned their heads toward him.

But Han Cheongho’s eyes were fixed only on Kang Tae-soo.

"Kang Tae-soo…"

"You’re here," Tae-soo said lightly. "Did you have a good talk inside?"

"You’ll be left with nothing but trash, Kang Tae-soo."

"Ah, Cheongil Refinery? I couldn't care less."

Tae-soo shifted his gaze from Han Ilkwon to Han Cheongho.

"From now on, everything you hold dear—everything you treasure like your own life, everything you can’t bear to lose—I will take all of it from you."

He raised his whiskey glass and smiled.

"So it doesn’t matter if you call all of it trash. After all, trash only recognizes trash. I get it."

Han Cheongho clenched his fists so tightly that the blood drained from them.

"Kang Tae-soo… You’ll regret this moment. I won’t go down without a fight."

He sneered.

"So you’d better be ready to embrace it and die along with it."

With that, Han Cheongho brushed past Tae-soo.

Tae-soo called after him, returning the words with a calm smile.

"No matter how much you insist it's trash, the essence doesn’t change."

He chuckled softly.

"By force, against your will, with no choice—you've already lost Cheongil Refinery to me. You lost. No matter how much you deny it, the outcome won’t change."

Han Cheongho ground his teeth in rage.

"In the end, the one who laughs last is the true victor. You’re smiling now, but just wait. Even if you take Cheongil Refinery, you won’t be laughing for long. I’ll make sure of that."

It was the ugly thrashing of a defeated man.

Turning to Han Ilkwon, Han Cheongho barked.

"Let’s go! From now on, you’ll have your hands full. There’s a lot you need to learn, a lot you must do!"

It was a declaration that he intended to raise Ilkwon as his successor in earnest.

Watching Han Cheongho make the worst possible choice with such conviction, Tae-soo smirked in contempt.

On the other hand, Ilkwon’s face lit up with joy.

'Father finally acknowledges me! I’m back—back in Cheongil Group!'

Han Ilkwon also turned and followed after his father.

Once the father and son had left, murmurs rippled through the fifth-floor hall.

"What on earth happened there?"

"Look at Han Cheongho of Cheongil walking out like that..."

As soon as he left the room, Lee Byungchun, the head of Samcheong Group—who had been locked in discussion with his subsidiary CEOs about petroleum supply rights—approached Tae-soo.

"Thanks to you, Samcheong was able to navigate this crisis smoothly. I’m grateful."

"It’s nothing, really."

"But judging by Han Cheongho's face just now, it looks like he’s seething with poison. You’d better be careful."

Lee Byungchun pulled out a blue business card from his pocket and handed it to Tae-soo.

Blue, symbolizing the sky, the sea, and the forest—wide, high, and deep.
It was the color representing Samcheong (Three Blues).

"If you ever need help, don’t hesitate to call."

"Thank you very much."

The card was so lavish, it felt wrong to even call it a business card.
From the material to the design, the lettering, even the size—it surpassed the usual standard.
It was closer to a high-end invitation.
Just like Lee Byungchun, who only dealt with luxury from top to bottom.
It was a rare item, rivaling the golden card of Geumsan.

At that moment, Cha Ki-beom opened the door and stepped out.

"Chairman Lee of Samcheong, His Excellency requests your presence."

"Then I’ll take my leave now."

Lee Byungchun handed over the card and turned away.

Cha Ki-beom then approached Koo Jakyeom of Lucky Seven and delivered the message.

"Chairman Koo of Lucky Seven, His Excellency is calling for you."

Koo Jakyeom also pulled out a card, as white as snow, from his pocket.
Having started his business with products like Lucky Seven toothpaste and Dongdongguri-mu cosmetics, white was the symbolic color of his group.

Compared to the flashy cards of Samcheong or Geumsan, his was starkly modest for someone of his stature.
It was a simple contrast.

Koo Jakyeom handed the card to Tae-soo.

"I won’t say much. Just use it wisely when you need it."

"Thank you, sir."

Cha Ki-beom now turned to Park Tae-joong of Pohang Steel.

"President Park of Pohang Steel, His Excellency requests your presence."

"Hmm. I suppose I’ll head in now. Let’s meet again later."

Park Tae-joong also stepped inside the room.

Cha Ki-beom followed close behind him, and the door closed behind them.

‘Looks like it’s time for me to leave, too.’

Tae-soo turned around and made his way out of the fifth-floor hall.

At the entrance, Park Chulwan was waiting for him with a grin.

"Boss, I heard you turned the whole third floor upside down while I was just in the restroom?"

"Is that so? I don’t recall doing anything like that."

He hadn’t been there long—barely enough time to throw trash into the bin when someone handed it to him.

"The daughters of the chaebol families haven’t stopped talking about you. You’re like a celebrity now."

Park Chulwan shook his head in disbelief.

"One of them recognized me as the vice president of Taeyang Construction, and before I knew it, I was swarmed and grilled with questions. I barely managed to escape."

"Sounds like I accidentally dragged you into this mess. Anyway, I’m heading out now."

"I’ll go with you. I can’t stand another second with those girls hounding me."

Park Chulwan shuddered and gave a visible shiver.

The two of them started walking together down the corridor, heading for the stairs—when suddenly, someone called out to Tae-soo from above.

"Excuse me. Just a moment."

It was a woman’s voice.

Turning around, Tae-soo saw a lady leaning casually against the railing on the stairs leading up to the sixth floor, looking down at him.

"Kang Tae-soo of Taeyang Construction. I’ve heard about you from my father. You’ve returned from Saudi Arabia, haven’t you?"

Park Chulwan recognized her at once and quickly leaned in to whisper in Tae-soo’s ear.

"She’s the President’s daughter."

Tae-soo didn’t need the reminder.
Not only did he know who she was, but he also knew exactly what she would become in the future.
How could he not recognize that face?

Park Kyung-hye descended the stairs with sharp, clicking steps from her heels.

"Let’s have a little chat."

Tae-soo cut her off firmly.

"I’m afraid I’ve had a bit too much to drink. Let’s save it for another time."

With a polite bow, Tae-soo turned on his heel—and bolted.

"Hey, wait! Just a minute!"

"I’m not feeling well, so I’ll be off now!"

Tae-soo bolted down the stairs at full speed.

"Hey! The restroom is this way—! Hey, you!"

Thud-thud-thud.

In the blink of an eye, Tae-soo had dashed all the way down to the first floor, bursting out of the Geumsan Hotel without even glancing back.

"That was too close."

Just thinking about how badly things could have gone sent a chill down his spine.
There was no way—absolutely no way—he’d ever get involved with her. Not now, not ever, not even for a second.

Tae-soo hurried toward the hotel’s parking lot.

"Ah, right… I had whiskey."

There was no way he could drive in this state.

And if he wanted to call a cab at this hour, he’d have to go back into the hotel.

It was only then that he realized—in his rush to escape, he’d left Park Chulwan behind.

"Um… Tae-soo oppa?"

A woman’s voice called out, and a cold sweat broke out down his back.

Could it be? Did Park Kyung-hye actually follow him all the way here?

Tae-soo forced himself to turn around and face the voice.

"It’s me. Jung Yoona."

There she stood—Jung Yoona.

Tae-soo let out a sigh of relief.

"What brings you here?"

"I’m working as a part-time helper today. The pay was supposed to be really good."

So, she’d taken on a temp job for the event.

"How’s your acting class going?"

"Great! Thanks to you, I’ve been studying every day with a really skilled acting coach. I’ve been busy but I’m learning so much. I’ve improved a lot since we last met."

She beamed at him, her smile bright and clear.

"You were right, oppa. If I’d debuted back then, people would’ve called me a terrible actress for sure. I was so embarrassed during my early lessons—you have no idea."

Blushing a little, she tucked her shiny bobbed hair behind her ear.
Cute as ever. Like a little squirrel, Tae-soo thought.

"Actually… I volunteered for this event because I thought there was a chance you might show up."

At the Geumsan Hotel, a grand anniversary celebration and banquet was underway, drawing powerful figures from every sector of society.

Even celebrities and models had been invited to add glamour to the occasion.

"The hotel recruited part-time helpers through my acting teacher," Yoona explained.

Among the students and theater troupe members attending acting classes, many possessed striking beauty.

Geumsan Hotel had specifically requested attractive assistants to help manage the event.

And for young theater members and students who hadn’t yet made their debut, the generous pay proved an irresistible lure. One by one, they accepted the offer.

Among them, Jung Yoona shone as the undisputed number one beauty.

"So… is your overseas assignment all wrapped up? Are you back in Korea for good?" she asked.

"No. I just came back temporarily for something important," Tae-soo replied.

Something as monumental as bringing down Cheongil Refinery and swallowing it whole.

"Ah…"

Yoona’s disappointment was obvious; she couldn’t quite hide it.

"Oppa, it feels a little sad to part ways like this… how about we grab a beer—"

"Shh!"

The sharp click of high heels echoed from the other side.

It was an impatient, almost irritable sound.

"How could he just run off like that while someone was speaking? So rude!"

It was Park Kyung-hye.

Tae-soo quickly grabbed Yoona’s hand and pulled her close.

He gently pushed her head down, forcing her into a crouch.

Then, slipping behind a nearby car, he pressed them both into hiding.

Meanwhile, Park Chulwan was being dragged along by his tie, coughing as he stumbled forward.

"Kyung-hye, I can’t breathe. Let go of this, will you?"

"Chulwan oppa, where’s that guy’s car? Where did he go?"

Park Chulwan’s eyes flicked around—and landed directly on Tae-soo, crouched behind the car.
Their gazes locked.