Seok-won slipped off his shoes and stepped into the private room, guided by a female staff member through the sliding door that opened smoothly.
Seeing him, Choi Bok-rak—who had arrived earlier and was waiting—rose to his feet.
"You arrived before me. I'm sorry for being late, Assemblyman."
"Not at all. I just got here ahead of schedule."
Choi Bok-rak had secured a seat in the National Assembly without contest after receiving the
New Era People's Council nomination, thanks to Seok-won's help in the by-election for Dong-gu in Gwangju, held alongside the presidential election.
After exchanging a light handshake, Seok-won removed his jacket and handed it to the female staff member, then sat down on the plush cushion across from Assemblyman Choi.
Kneeling gracefully, the woman poured tea into a cup and asked in a gentle voice:
"Shall I bring the food now?"
"Yes, please."
"Of course. Just a moment."
Once the woman quietly slid the door shut and left, Seok-won turned to Choi with a warm smile.
"How are you finding life in Yeouido?"
"It's going well, sir. Thanks to you, I've been blessed with this golden badge beyond what I deserve. I'm truly grateful."
Choi bowed his head slightly as he spoke, his tone sincere.
"You were more than qualified—that's why you were nominated."
Choi gently shook his head in response.
"I know the nomination practically guaranteed victory, which is why so many others were vying for it. Without your support, someone like me—without a political resume or backing—wouldn't have even dared to hope."
"You say you had no backing? Come now, you've got me behind you."
"Haha, when you put it like that, it makes perfect sense."
Choi smiled faintly at Seok-won's reassuring words.
"Just as you did when you were at the Board of Audit and Inspection, I believe you'll do great things in the National Assembly for the good of the country."
Meeting Seok-won's gaze, Choi replied with solemn resolve:
"I'll do everything I can to live up to your trust."
"I just hope you never lose sight of your original intentions."
Just then, the female staff member returned with a soft knock, set the table, and brought out the first dishes.
The meal began with pumpkin porridge and a flavorful appetizer of fermented flatfish.
Choi, placing a bit of the flatfish over rice wrapped in seaweed and taking a bite, let out a satisfied hum.
"This is my first time here, but the food is excellent."
"The appetizers are good, but the real highlight is the fresh sashimi."
"That makes me look forward to it even more."
Soon after, the main course—wild-caught red spotted grouper sashimi—was brought in, and Choi's eyes lit up with anticipation.
"Just looking at this is making my mouth water."
"But before anything else, let's have a drink."
"Haha, thank you."
The two men lightly clinked their glasses.
Assemblyman Choi Bok-rak downed his drink in one go, then picked up a piece of sashimi with his chopsticks and placed it in his mouth. He nodded repeatedly in approval.
"As you said—it just melts in the mouth. I can see why you recommended this place."
"I'm glad it suits your taste."
The two of them continued to enjoy the dishes as they arrived, chatting casually between bites.
Once they had eaten their fill, Seok-won glanced at Choi sitting across from him and opened the conversation again.
"I asked to see you today because I have a favor to ask."
Assemblyman Choi adjusted his posture and replied with a noticeably serious expression.
"What is it?"
Instead of answering, Seok-won picked up a thick envelope that had been sitting beside him and placed it in front of Choi.
"…"
A flicker of tension crossed Choi's face as he stared at the envelope.
He had long known that Seok-won hadn't spent all that money to help him become a member of the National Assembly out of sheer goodwill.
Of course, there would be expectations—and as long as he wore the golden badge, he would have to keep repaying the debt.
It weighed heavily on him, but this was something he had accepted from the moment he agreed to the nomination. With quiet resolve, Choi reached out and took the envelope.
Watching every movement without missing a beat, Seok-won smiled as he saw Choi pick up the envelope without hesitation.
"This is evidence that Chairman Woo Yong-gap of the Donghae Group secretly moved not only his personal assets and slush funds but even company funds overseas just before the group went bankrupt."
"…!"
Choi had assumed the matter would relate directly to Daheung Group or perhaps to Seok-won
himself. He looked up in surprise, caught off guard by the unexpected subject.
"While delaying payments to subcontractors, they inflated raw material import costs by tens of millions of dollars to siphon money overseas. They even withdrew cash from the U.S. branch's corporate accounts and stashed it away. It was a calculated effort to funnel out the money."
Adjusting his glasses, Choi glanced around nervously before asking cautiously:
"What do you want me to do with this?"
"Although the foreign exchange crisis was a national catastrophe, I believe the primary responsibility for Donghae Group's collapse lies with its chairman, who mismanaged risks and ran the company recklessly."
"…"
"But don't you think it's completely unjust that, while the employees lost their jobs overnight and are now struggling to survive, Chairman Woo and his family get to live comfortably off the money they stashed away in advance?"
"…Yes, I do."
It was an uncomfortable truth, but during the IMF crisis, a significant number of large corporations that went bankrupt or entered court receivership had already engaged in so-called "bankruptcy preparation"—transferring assets overseas or placing them under the names of spouses or children, just like Chairman Woo Yong-gap.
Thanks to these measures, the owner families continued to live in luxury even after their companies collapsed, without the slightest inconvenience.
"I'd like you to hold a press conference in the National Assembly to expose Chairman Woo Yonggap and his family's immoral conduct. Then, please push for proper punishment and work to recover the assets they smuggled out."
Seeing the astonishment still on Choi's face, Seok-won continued.
"This will become a high-profile issue that draws national attention. It'll also help boost your political recognition, which is something you need right now."
In politics, name recognition often determined both one's survival and influence. Politicians did everything in their power to make their names known to the public.
There was even an old saying that any press—good or bad—was welcome, so long as it wasn't their obituary.
From that perspective, this was a golden opportunity for Assemblyman Choi Bok-rak, whose political base and visibility were still weak.
Sure enough, Choi fidgeted slightly in his seat before asking carefully:
"But why are you suddenly trying to expose Chairman Woo Yong-gap's crimes?"
Seok-won took a sip of the warm sake and set the cup down calmly before replying.
"Because people who do wrong should be held accountable."
"…"
Then, he looked directly at Assemblyman Choi.
"And because I have a personal history with Chairman Woo and Donghae Group."
The moment he heard this, Choi recalled an incident from before the financial crisis—how Woo Yong-gap had tried to forcibly take over control of the Mido Department Store by buying up shares.
That alone was more than enough reason for Seok-won to want revenge, and it made his motives perfectly clear.
Only then was Choi finally able to let go of the doubts and anxieties that had lingered in the back of his mind.
"You're absolutely right. We can't just let someone like that go unpunished. I'll make sure this becomes a major public issue and see that he receives the punishment he deserves."
It wasn't a shady or illicit request—in fact, it would greatly enhance his political career. Choi's expression brightened, full of newfound motivation.
Seok-won, watching him, smiled gently.
"Back when you were at the Financial Supervisory Service, they used to call you the Grim
Reaper of stock manipulators. I have no doubt you'll handle this well too."
After wrapping up their pleasant meal, Seok-won parted ways with Assemblyman Choi Bok-rak and stepped out of the Japanese restaurant alongside his personal secretary, Han Ji-sung.
A black luxury Mercedes-Benz sedan glided smoothly to a halt in front of them.
Han Ji-sung promptly opened the rear door, and Seok-won climbed in with practiced ease, settling into the back seat.
As the plush leather cushions embraced him in comfort, Han Ji-sung gently closed the door and made his way to the passenger seat.
At the wheel, Ju Geunseong glanced at the rearview mirror to look at Seok-won and spoke.
"We're departing now."
Seok-won gave a slight nod, and Ju Geunseong lifted his foot off the brake. The large sedan rolled forward as smoothly as it had arrived.
Leaning back into the leather seat, Seok-won stared out the window at the passing streets, his expression unreadable. Then he reached into his inner pocket and pulled out his phone.
He pressed a speed-dial button and raised the phone to his ear.
The call rang just briefly before Landon answered.
[Yes, boss. I'm listening.]
Seok-won spoke in a calm but weighty voice.
"Start the operation, just as I instructed last time."
[Understood.]
"Make sure everything is handled cleanly. I don't want anything blowing back on us."
[I've hired proven professionals. There's nothing to worry about.]
"Good. Once the job is done, report back to me."
[Yes, sir.]
Ending the call, Seok-won slid the phone back into his pocket and turned his head again to the window, his face still devoid of expression.
***
Nassau, Bahamas
Under the blazing afternoon sun, Woo Ho-geun stormed into the spacious living room in a bad mood, draped in a silk robe over his swimwear.
Beyond the massive floor-to-ceiling glass windows stretched a breathtaking emerald sea. Beside it, three slender women in bikinis—each no larger than a palm—were playing in the elongated infinity pool.
It was a scene any man might dream of, but Woo Ho-geun's eyes were fixed on a newspaper article clenched in his hand.
[Suspicion spreads over Chairman Woo Yong-gap of Donghae Group embezzling company funds right before bankruptcy!]
"Damn it!"
Cursing aloud, Woo Ho-geun roughly snatched up the receiver and dialed a number.
Rrrring. Rrrring.
The dial tone seemed to stretch on endlessly, making his frustration grow.
"Why the hell isn't he picking up?!"
Just then, the call connected, and the familiar voice of Manager Oh Gi-cheol came through.
[Hello?]
"It's me. Put my father on the line. Now."
His tone was sharp—laced with irritation and urgency.
It was no surprise. The matter that once seemed buried amid the chaos of the financial crisis and the collapse of several large corporations had suddenly resurfaced—dominating headlines across Korean media.
[The Chairman is unavailable to take calls right now.]
Woo Ho-geun's face contorted in fury.
"Are you kidding me? I said get him! Now!"
As Woo Ho-geun shouted furiously into the phone, Manager Oh Gi-cheol—who had long served Chairman Woo Yong-gap alongside Chief Secretary Jeon Hae-cheol—let out a troubled sigh.
[The prosecution has issued a summons. He's currently in discussion with our legal advisor.]
Realizing that the situation was more serious than he had thought, Woo Ho-geun's expression turned grim.
"Is it really that bad?"
[Yes. There's a strong chance the Chairman will be formally investigated. It's best if you avoid contacting him for now.]
Still holding the receiver, Woo Ho-geun bit down hard on his lower lip.
[I'll contact you again once the situation has calmed down.]
Without waiting for a response, Oh Gi-cheol ended the call.
Beep... beep... beep.
The sound echoed in Woo Ho-geun's ears. Enraged, he flung the phone to the floor in a fit of rage.
"Damn it!"
His face red with fury, Woo Ho-geun let out ragged breaths and stomped angrily toward the pool.
Just then, a slim, blonde-haired beauty approached him with a gentle tone.
"Something bothering you?"
On any other day, his gaze would have instinctively dropped to her nearly bursting chest, but not today. Agitated and in no mood, Woo Ho-geun snapped at her.
"None of your business."
Unfazed, the woman smiled seductively and held out a can of beer.
"Drink this and come play with us. It'll take your mind off whatever's bothering you."
Already feeling suffocated, Woo Ho-geun snatched the beer from her hand and chugged it down in big gulps.
"Huh?"
The moment he pulled the half-empty can from his lips, the world suddenly began to spin. His vision darkened.
And with that, Woo Ho-geun collapsed to the ground like a sack of bricks, unconscious.