"Yes, yes, I don't understand why I have to do this. Goodbye."
I hung up the phone with a disinterested tone, shaking my head. I had been politely answering every call, playing the role of a kind and hardworking self-made entrepreneur. Maru, puzzled by my sudden change in attitude, asked,
"Why were you so dismissive?"
"It was my extended family. They haven't learned their lesson, even after my warning."
Maru chuckled.
"Are they asking for money again?"
"If only it were that simple. They're saying my success is all thanks to our ancestors' blessings. And then they ask for money. Are they insane?"
"Hehehe."
I sighed, listening to Maru's laughter.
"Relatives are useless. I hear other business owners hiring their family members, but I don't have a single relative who's worth anything."
"It's nothing new. Just ignore them."
"I intend to."
I put my extended family out of my mind, stretched, and said,
"Now that the jackpot money has arrived, shall we establish the foundation?"
"Koreans are surprisingly stingy with donations. 40 billion won is causing such a stir."
The news of a 40 billion won foundation had created a bigger impact than I expected.
According to my research, there were fewer than ten foundations in Korea with assets exceeding 100 billion won, and 40 billion won was enough to rank within the top 30.
And among foundations established by individuals, not corporations, it was among the top five.
And in these times of economic crisis, with everyone hoarding cash, it was even more noticeable.
"Who contacted us?"
"Well, National Assembly members, of course, and everyone from city council members to the mayor."
Politicians were always eager for attention-grabbing issues to boost their image and chances of re-election.
And the story of a self-made young entrepreneur, who had won a jackpot and was establishing a foundation with his personal wealth, was a perfect opportunity.
"Exclude the city council members. Invite only National Assembly members and higher-ranking officials to the founding ceremony."
"Why exclude them? It would be good to build relationships with everyone."
I shook my head at Maru's suggestion.
"Do you think we'll be praised for holding a large-scale ceremony in these times? We need to focus. We'll invite only influential figures and keep it small. And it's difficult to manage too many people."
Maru asked, puzzled,
"Manage? What do you mean?"
"Managing connections. When else will we have an opportunity like this? We need to grease the wheels."
Maru said with a disapproving look,
"You're thinking about taking advantage of people even when you're doing a good deed?"
"Of course. Honestly, do you think these high-ranking officials would even have a meal with a lowly junkyard owner like me if it weren't for this opportunity? We need to make our move while we're still in the spotlight."
"Hyung, we just built a good image. We could ruin it if we're caught offering bribes."
"That's the problem. National Assembly members aren't stupid. They won't accept a bribe from a stranger."
The path to becoming a National Assembly member was brutal.
Even city council members, whose existence was barely known to the public, were seasoned politicians who had survived internal power struggles and fierce elections. And National Assembly members were on a whole different level.
Unless they were incredibly lucky, they had overcome countless obstacles to reach the top. They were the elite among hundreds of thousands of aspiring politicians.
They were careful about accepting bribes and favors to protect their positions.
"It would be easier if they asked for bribes directly, but they won't do that. They're also cautious."
If I were operating in the shadows, politicians and high-ranking officials would have probably tried to extort money from me, using the jackpot as leverage. But I was currently in the spotlight, portrayed as a good Samaritan. It was too risky for them to ask for bribes directly.
"How about doing things by the book? We build relationships with them gradually. They'll come to us eventually as we grow. There's no need for us to be so eager."
"Should we?"
"Chunha Trading is still growing rapidly. I think it's best to just make acquaintances and leave a good impression at the founding ceremony."
"Hmm, I'm not sure."
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
"Sir, it's Park Jong-bum."
"Come in."
Park Jong-bum entered, slumped onto the sofa, and said,
"I've handled all the deliveries for today. Whew."
"Good work."
I asked him, seeing him massaging his neck,
"You came at the right time. I need your opinion on something."
"An opinion?"
I explained the situation with the founding ceremony, and Park Jong-bum said with a strange expression,
"Bribes, huh."
"It doesn't have to be bribes. The goal is to build connections with National Assembly members."
Park Jong-bum smirked.
"That's my specialty. Leave it to me."
***
Park Sol, the CEO of Chunha Trading, and five local National Assembly members were standing at the photo line for the Park Sol Foundation's founding ceremony, smiling brightly.
"So that's the guy who won the jackpot. He's amazing. If it were me, I would have quit my job, bought a building, and lived off the rental income."
The man looking at Park Sol enviously was Yoon Seok-hyung, a level-9 secretary for Lee An-jin, a two-term National Assembly member.
A National Assembly member's office usually had about six aides. Yoon Seok-hyung was the youngest and had accompanied Assemblyman Lee as his driver.
"I'm so envious."
He felt insignificant compared to Park Sol, who was much younger but had already built a successful business and was donating hundreds of millions of won.
He wasn't the only one. The other aides were also looking at Park Sol with envy.
Yoon Seok-hyung approached an aide he knew, who worked for another Assembly member from the same party.
"How have you been?"
"I've been well."
"Isn't Park Sol amazing? It's not easy to donate such a large sum of money."
The aide said suspiciously,
"I don't know. I've seen all sorts of things in this business. I'm always suspicious. There are so many people who pretend to be good Samaritans in public but do dirty things behind the scenes."
Yoon Seok-hyung nodded.
"That's true."
Assemblyman Lee An-jin, whom he worked for, received at least hundreds of millions of won in bribes every month.
And that was just what he, a low-level secretary, knew. He couldn't imagine the actual amount.
He clicked his tongue.
"It's a different world. Will we ever be like that?"
The aide smiled wryly.
"I hope so."
Yoon Seok-hyung had entered politics, hoping to contribute to his country. He had been an active party member, participating in all their activities, but the reality of politics was harsh.
He had finally become a level-9 secretary for Assemblyman Lee, but that was it.
"Excuse me, are you Secretary Yoon Seok-hyung?"
He turned around at the voice calling his name.
"I'm Park Jong-bum, director of Chunha Trading."
Yoon Seok-hyung took the business card Park Jong-bum offered him and said,
"Yes, I'm Yoon Seok-hyung. What do you want?"
Park Jong-bum smiled.
"I came to greet you and ask for your help in the future."
"Ah, yes. I look forward to working with you."
"It's not polite to just stand here and talk, so how about having dinner together after work?"
Yoon Seok-hyung said coldly,
"I don't think we have anything to discuss."
He had experienced this many times.
People trying to curry favor with the Assemblyman's staff since they couldn't reach the Assemblyman himself.
Park Jong-bum smiled brightly.
"I don't mean anything by it. I just wanted to ask about donating to the Assemblyman's support group."
Yoon Seok-hyung said firmly,
"You can inquire about that by calling the office."
"And our foundation is planning to hold a donation ceremony soon, with donations worth billions of won. We need to coordinate the schedule with the Assemblyman. I think we should meet and discuss it in person."
Yoon Seok-hyung's eyes wavered at the mention of "billions of won."
An Assemblyman's main duty was legislative work, but they also had to be active in their constituencies to win the hearts and minds of the voters.
And one of the easiest and most effective ways to do that was to attend events hosted by reputable foundations. If the Park Sol Foundation was holding a donation ceremony worth billions of won, it was an event Assemblyman Lee, as the representative of the Ansan district, couldn't miss.
"You can discuss that with the chief aide."
Park Jong-bum put on a pitiful expression.
"To be honest, I'm a bit intimidated by the chief aide, so I wanted to talk to you first. We're new to this, so we made some mistakes, and the chief aide scolded us. I just want to ask for your advice and buy you dinner in return. It's nothing shady, so can you please help us?"
Yoon Seok-hyung felt sorry for him.
The chief aide, the Assemblyman's closest confidant, had been working for him since his first term and often acted as if he were the Assemblyman himself, with a condescending attitude.
He had probably nitpicked everything, from cleaning to event planning.
'It's a company donating 40 billion won, I can help them out.'
"If that's the case… alright. I'll contact you after work."
***
"I worked so hard!"
Yoon Seok-hyung couldn't escape Park Jong-bum's clutches. He was a master manipulator, a veteran of countless business dinners.
He was so good at finding people's weaknesses and flattering them that the drinks kept flowing, and Yoon Seok-hyung was soon completely drunk.
"You must have had a hard time."
"800,000 won a month… and I lose my job if the Assemblyman loses the election! What am I even working for… Don't you think so, Director Park?"
"Of course. It's a shame that such a talented person isn't an Assemblyman. Our country needs people like you."
Yoon Seok-hyung, his eyes half-closed, smiled and said,
"Right? You think so too? If I were an Assemblyman, I would clean up all the corruption!"
He looked at his empty glass.
"Director Park, can I have another drink?"
Park Jong-bum's eyes gleamed as he refilled his glass.
"Ah, that's good."
"By the way, your CEO is incredibly lucky, isn't he? Who would have thought he would win the jackpot?"
"I know, right? I'm so envious. 50 billion won. I would be on my knees, thanking heaven."
"What would you do if you won the jackpot?"
Yoon Seok-hyung, imagining his sudden wealth, said happily,
"I would buy a building! And a nice car! I would have so much money! Wow!"
"50 billion won is enough to do anything you want."
"More than enough. More than enough."
Park Jong-bum nodded with a satisfied smile.
"But Secretary Yoon, you said your salary is 800,000 won? That's too low, isn't it? It would take you five months to save just 4 million won."
It was a strange conversation, but Yoon Seok-hyung was too drunk to notice.
"Five months? That's 4 million won, right? I think so."
He mumbled incoherently for a while and then collapsed on the table, snoring.
Park Jong-bum smiled slyly, took out a wad of cash and a recorder, and said,
"Now, let's do some editing."