CH139 | Heir

As a five-term lawmaker, he had secured an office in the heart of Gangnam.

The aides working under him were also highly capable individuals.

“Assemblyman! I believe you should take a look at this article from Jeil Ilbo.”

“Bring it here.”

Yoon Hyun-gil put on his magnifying glasses and began reading the newspaper.

The article reported allegations of illegal political funds involving a five-term assemblyman.

“This article is targeting me.”

“You are the only five-term assemblyman preparing for the presidential election.”

“Why would Jeil Ilbo publish such an article? If their intention was to target me, there’s no reason they wouldn’t mention my name directly.”

“Jeil Ilbo is a newspaper friendly with Taewoo Group. It’s likely they acted under Taewoo Group's instructions.”

Yoon Hyun-gil tapped the newspaper lightly with his finger.

The content of the article itself wasn't a major concern.

It was merely speculative, without any concrete facts or names mentioned — something he could easily ignore.

However, the last sentence of the article caught his attention.

‘We will continue to follow up on additional allegations.’

It was a clear indication that there was more to uncover — a message filled with unsettling implications that made Yoon Hyun-gil uneasy.

“Is there anyone still in touch with Chief Aide Park?”

“We lost contact with Senior Park two years ago. Ever since he failed in the city council election, he’s been off the radar.”

“Could Taewoo Group have reached out to him?”

“We can't rule out the possibility. There’s virtually no place in Korea untouched by Taewoo Group's influence.”

“So… they really want to go head-to-head with me? The world has changed. Back in the day, businesspeople wouldn't even dare to look me straight in the eye.”

Yoon Hyun-gil had been in politics since the military regime era.

There were times when he had summoned the heads of major corporations and berated them without hesitation.

That was why he still viewed corporate executives as beneath him.

“Still, it wouldn't hurt to have a conversation with Taewoo Group — just in case. If you'd rather not step forward yourself, I can arrange a meeting.”

“It's about time you took on tasks like this directly. Once I run for president, you'll inherit my district seat — and you'll need to learn how to handle businessmen.”

“I'll contact Vice Chairman Kim Min-jae instead of Chairman Kim Tae-jung. It would be more appropriate.”

“Be prepared — young brats like him are often arrogant. I've never seen a third-generation chaebol with proper manners.”

Ju Kang-tae had been Yoon Hyun-gil’s aide for 12 years.

It was already decided that he would run for the National Assembly in the next election, inheriting Yoon's constituency.

In his mind, he was already a lawmaker.

Having always been close to the heart of power, Ju Kang-tae believed he was on the same level as Kim Min-jae, the vice chairman of Taewoo Group.

***

That evening

At a small restaurant near Yeouido, Ju Kang-tae sat waiting for Kim Min-jae.

When the appointed time came, the restaurant door opened — but the person who entered was not the one he had been waiting for.

“Nice to meet you. I'm the Chief of Planning at Taewoo Group.”

“Vice Chairman Kim Min-jae isn't coming in person?”

“He’s an extremely busy man. He doesn't have time to attend meetings like this.”

Twitch!

A vein bulged on Ju Kang-tae's forehead.

Not only had Kim Min-jae failed to show up, but a mere department head was now speaking down to him.

He wanted nothing more than to throw water in the man's face — but there had to be a reason behind this insult.

“Well, I suppose it's only natural for the lower ranks to handle practical matters. We're both busy men — shall we get straight to the point?”

“We have nothing particular to say. We're merely defending ourselves from the attacks.”

The Planning Director’s voice was cold.

He harbored deep hostility toward Assemblyman Yoon Hyun-gil — the man who dared to target the figure he respected the most, Chairman Kim Tae-jung.

“You're being far too emotional. How can we have a proper conversation like this? We have nothing to lose. Isn't it a lawmaker's duty to expose corporate corruption in the interest of the public? The next allegation we'll be reporting is regarding Taewoo Construction’s slush funds... Are you alright with that?”

“Then we'll have no choice but to defend ourselves. And slush funds… well, they can only be countered with more slush funds, don't you think? Drunk driving, ties with Chinese construction companies, real estate speculation, military service exemption… the list is quite long. It would probably take two days just to go through it all.”

“W-What… what did you say?”

Ju Kang-tae’s face went pale.

He had assumed that Taewoo Group had only managed to dig up dirt by flipping a former aide.

But now, they were listing off corruption scandals he himself wasn't even aware of — the kind of allegations that could end not only Yoon Hyun-gil's political career but his own before it even began.

“You're just throwing out baseless claims without evidence.”

“The problem isn't the lack of evidence... it's that we have too much. We're still debating which piece we should release first.”

The Planning Director casually tossed a few photographs onto the table.

The first photo showed Yoon Hyun-gil personally receiving an envelope of cash.

The second showed an aide loading a box filled with money into a car trunk.

Ju Kang-tae swallowed hard.

With photos like these, they wouldn’t even need video or audio recordings — the visuals alone would be more than enough to destroy a politician’s career.

“H-How… how did you get these?”

“Do you really think we'd only have photos? We have audio recordings, videos, ledgers, and documents — all overflowing with evidence. Taewoo Group’s Planning Office has been quite bored lately, with no one daring to take a shot at us... so we should actually thank you for giving us the opportunity to showcase our skills.”

In reality, most of the evidence had been secured by Vice Chairman Kim Min-jae himself, not the Planning Office.

But there was no need for Ju Kang-tae to know that.

The more fear the Planning Office instilled, the better.

“Illegally obtained evidence can’t be used in court.”

“Since when do politicians fight battles in court? This is more than enough to sway public opinion.”

“...Would it really benefit a corporation like Taewoo Group to go head-to-head with a lawmaker?”

“We didn't start this fight — we're simply defending ourselves.”

“Then why would you need this kind of evidence to defend yourselves?”

“Haven't you heard the saying? The best defense is a good offense. I'm surprised someone like you wouldn't know that.”

Ju Kang-tae's mind was spinning.

Right up until he'd walked into the restaurant, he had been certain he held the upper hand.

He had expected Taewoo Group to bow their heads — believing that a corporation so reliant on public image wouldn't dare clash with a lawmaker.

But he had made one critical miscalculation:

Public image was just as vital to politicians as it was to corporations.

“So… you're really planning to go all the way with this? There are plenty of rival conglomerates dying to tear Taewoo Group apart. If we join hands with them, it won't be Taewoo Group that comes out on top.”

The Planning Director smirked.

“I could say the exact same thing. There are plenty of politicians who would love to bury Yoon Hyun-gil alive. If we join hands with them... who do you think will be in trouble?”

Ju Kang-tae clenched his fists under the table.

He knew exactly how deep Taewoo Group’s influence ran.

No major corporation in Korea operated without political connections.

And Taewoo Group — the #1 conglomerate in the country — had ties to politicians on both sides of the aisle.

“Are you threatening me right now?”

The Planning Director’s eyes narrowed.

“If that's how you'd like to interpret it... then feel free.”

“And why do you keep acting like you're the victim here? We weren’t the ones who started this fight. Ah, and by the way— the evidence I showed you today... that was just the weakest piece we have. We also have material that could not only end your political career — but your entire life. Just keep that in mind.”

“......Understood. I'll discuss this with the assemblyman and contact you again.”

“Feel free to take the photos with you. We can always print more.”

Ju Kang-tae hurriedly gathered the scattered photos.

He didn't even have the luxury of feeling embarrassed about how pathetic he must have looked at that moment.

***

The first thing Ju Kang-tae did was rush straight to Yoon Hyun-gil’s office.

He reported everything he had heard at the restaurant, handing over the photographs without leaving out a single detail.

Smack!

Yoon Hyun-gil’s palm cracked across Ju Kang-tae's cheek.

He knew full well that his aide wasn't to blame — but right now, he needed someone to unleash his fury on.

“How dare they say such bullshit!”

“I apologize, sir... I truly didn’t expect Taewoo Group to gather so much information in such a short time.”

Yoon Hyun-gil's hands trembled as he picked up the photos again.

“This doesn't make any sense… Taewoo Group is a conglomerate, not an intelligence agency. How could they possibly obtain pictures like these? This is something only the old Information Agency from Namsan would be capable of.”

The "Information Agency" he referred to was the Korean CIA — a relic of the military dictatorship era.

Yoon Hyun-gil had survived those days by keeping his head low and his mouth shut... but he still remembered what true surveillance power looked like.

His carefully crafted image of a calm, composed politician was starting to crumble — revealing the paranoia-riddled old fox beneath the surface.

“It seems they've secured more than what they showed us... Information like this would be impossible to obtain without government cooperation.”

Yoon Hyun-gil's eyes narrowed.

“The government, huh...? Is that what this is?”

He stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment — his mind racing through every connection, every backroom deal, every enemy he'd made.

“Of course... That's why they're bold enough to threaten me.”

It wasn't just Taewoo Group moving behind the scenes —

It was the current administration pulling the strings.

The sitting president's approval ratings were already in free fall — the lame duck phase was just around the corner.

Yoon Hyun-gil had been waiting for that moment — biding his time like a snake in the grass.

“With all due respect... wouldn't it be wiser to lie low until the administration loses power?”

“Hmph... You're right. By this time next year, the presidency will be a rotting corpse. That's when the real fun begins.”

A cold smirk slowly crept onto Yoon Hyun-gil’s face.

He was still seething — but now his anger had been swallowed by calculated patience.

A gentleman’s revenge is never too late — even if it takes ten years.

Yoon Hyun-gil always thought of himself as a gentleman.

Never mind the fact that he was the one who had started this whole fight —

In his mind, he was already preparing for revenge.

“Should I arrange another meeting, sir? I could approach the Planning Director... suggest some sort of reconciliation.”

“Do it.”

Yoon Hyun-gil lit a cigar, the gray smoke swirling lazily through the room.

“Go to them with your tail between your legs... pretend to beg for forgiveness.”

He exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing.

“Those corporate bastards are all the same... They’ll cling to any deal that minimizes their losses. They might have the upper hand now... but they'll let their guard down the moment they think they've won.”

Ju Kang-tae nodded.

“And in the meantime... I'll dig deeper. If there's even a scrap of dirt on Kim Tae-jung or his son... I want it. I don't care how long it takes — I want evidence so devastating that Kim Tae-jung will be on his knees, begging me to save him.”

Ju Kang-tae's face twisted into a cruel grin.

The two men locked eyes — an unspoken vow passing between them.

Politics was never about justice.

It was about who could bury the other first.

While the Planning Director was meeting with Yoon Hyun-gil’s aide...

I was sitting across from Chairman Jang Kyung-joon at a small, old restaurant tucked away in Yangjae-dong — not far from Hyundai's headquarters.

“This was one of my father’s favorite restaurants. The owner lady was planning to close it down, but I convinced her to keep it running.”

“I take it you helped with the renovations? The outside still looks run-down, but the interior is surprisingly clean.”

Chairman Jang chuckled softly, his wrinkled eyes narrowing.

“You can't hold on to people with words alone. I paid for the renovations — and bought the entire building. I let her run the place rent-free.”

There was something different about him today.

The fierce, razor-sharp tension that had always lingered between us... was gone.

Up until recently, we'd had a common enemy — Chairman Jang Young-joon.

But with that problem taken care of, it felt like Jang Kyung-joon was trying to redefine our relationship from scratch.

“You look... worn out.”

He let out a heavy sigh.

“There were too many mourners. I barely had a moment to rest... but I'm doing better now.”

He paused, swirling the amber liquid in his glass.

“I'll have to thank Chairman Kim Tae-jung properly sometime. I'm ashamed I couldn't offer him a proper meal when he came to pay his respects.”

“You may not have served him food... but you gave him something better.”

I pulled out a small folded note from my pocket and slid it across the table.

It was the very same note Chairman Jang Young-jun had given me before his death.

[Yoon Hyun-gil & Jang Kyung-joon Contact]

Chairman Jang's fingers froze midair, hovering over the note.

His eyes flicked toward me — sharp, calculating.

For a split second, the gentle old man mask he'd been wearing slipped.

Underneath was the same cold-blooded predator who had survived half a century in the business world —

A man who had seen more funerals than birthdays.

“......Where did you get this?”

His voice was low, but there was an unmistakable edge behind it.

“From your brother.”

Chairman Jang finally picked up the note.

His expression didn't change — but I could tell his mind was spinning.