December.
Everyone’s attention was focused on the end of the 20th century.
Not just the internet, but mainstream dia were running major stories about the Y2K bug and doomsday predictions.
An era of confusion.
But contrary to that atmosphere, stock prices of IT companies on NASDAQ in the U.S. and KOSDAQ in Korea were soaring, again and again.
It was a critical ti for investors—but I had taken a step back from it all for a while.
“Grandfather.”
His health was worsening by the day, and now there were more and more monts where even I wasn’t recognized.
I sat beside him as he slept, gently holding his now thin and frail hand.
He didn’t respond, but I stayed there for a long while, watching his face before quietly leaving the bedroom.
“Manager Ha. Chief Ma.”
Ha Myeonghun and Chief Ma entered the study through the door.
Since Grandfather was no longer able to leave his room, I’d begun handling most affairs from here.
I had received his permission to do so back when his mory briefly returned.
“What happened with the gardener?”
“It’s been taken care of.”
It had been confird that the gardener, who had worked under Grandfather for years, had received money through a borrowed na from Cheon Sooman.
He’d claid he couldn’t refuse Sooman’s request, having known him since childhood, but in the end, it was the money from Ilseong that made him do it.
There was no reason to forgive.
And after Cheon Sooman was exiled to Australia, Cheon Jiwon and Cheon Jisoo—who hadn’t shown up even once—finally ca to visit.
They likely ca because they’d sensed Grandfather’s condition was serious.
There was no longer any way to hide it.
“Cheon Sooman is returning to Korea?”
Manager Ha answered in his place.
“Yes... It was the Chairman’s order.”
Perhaps weakened by his fading strength, Grandfather started asking for Sooman and Suhan whenever his mory faltered.
And when he briefly ca back to his senses, he made a request to .
He said he wanted to see his son before he died.
It was a request I couldn’t refuse.
“Manager Ha, keep an eye on Sooman. Chief Ma, you’ll likely be busy with other matters. Even if Sooman returns next week, I’m not letting him into the house. Give him a warning as well.”
“Understood.”
Even if he re-entered Korea, Sooman’s actions were limited—but the damned law was a problem.
No matter how much influence I had over the court cartel, I couldn’t outright ignore sothing done legally.
For now, dragging things out was the best I could do.
“If they learn of Grandfather’s condition, they’ll imdiately apply to declare him incompetent or partially incompetent. Ilseong will surely help with that.”
Ilseong had scholarship recipients in the court too.
Most senior positions were still under Oh Jungseok’s influence, but many of the judges who delivered rulings on-site were backed by Ilseong.
I was scheduled to et with Yoon Hyungmin of Yoon & Jang today to decide how to handle the matter.
“Have Grandfather taken to the hospital tomorrow. Don’t allow any visitors except Sooman’s family and Jiyoung. Manager Ha, you’ll stay there and make sure no one else can get close.”
We had reached the limit of what we could do caring for him at ho.
He had already forgotten how to chew, so he ate only thin porridge every al. His primary doctors were still making visits, but it was no longer sustainable.
“Manager Ha, go get ready to escort him. Chief Ma, get ready to head out.”
“Yes, boss.”
I leaned back in the study chair Grandfather had always used and fell deep into thought.
How ruthless I’ll need to be depends on Sooman’s choices. Please—if there’s any humanity in you, act like a son should to his father, at least once.
I no longer thought about killing Cheon Sooman.
Maybe it was because ti had passed. Maybe I’d gained so breathing room.
But I still couldn’t predict what Sooman would do.
“Boss. We’re ready.”
While I was calming my mind, Chief Ma knocked on the study door and spoke.
I composed myself and stood up. It was ti to prepare for battle.
“Father, it’s been a while.”
“Co in.”
When I arrived at the representative office of Yoon & Jang, Yoon Hyungmin welcod warmly.
“How’s Chairman Cheon doing?”
“That’s exactly why I ca. His condition has deteriorated significantly.”
“I see... How bad has it gotten?”
“His mory is /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ fading. The symptoms started a few months ago, but now they’ve worsened to the point where he can’t even eat properly. We’re admitting him to the hospital tomorrow.”
“...He must be in very bad shape.”
There was a brief silence.
This ti, I spoke first.
“Sooman is returning to Korea soon. I intend to let him be there for Grandfather’s final monts.”
“That’s the right thing to do.”
I believe the reason Grandfather’s health was declining so rapidly was because of the emotional scars.
The illness had co faster and harder than in the previous life.
The only difference now was that the Sooman brothers were not by his side.
“I ca because I believe once he’s back and sees Grandfather’s condition, he’ll imdiately apply for incompetency.”
Yoon Hyungmin nodded calmly.
At a firm like Yoon & Jang, which represented the powerful, this kind of thing was probably routine. It wasn’t surprising.
“If the Chairman’s mory is unstable, that would be their only option. Especially if his in-laws are from Ilseong. I hear you hold quite a bit of Ilseong Group stock yourself.”
“Yes.”
“To Chairman Seo, you must feel like a thorn in his side. He has succession to think about, and your shares are in the way. You could challenge them at any ti.”
Even with just a small hint, Yoon Hyungmin went straight to the core.
“Declaring him incompetent, huh...”
He murmured to himself, then let out a long sigh and spoke.
“If you apply for incompetency first, they’ll just challenge it. Even Chief Justice Oh Jungseok can’t arbitrarily rewrite what’s in the law.”
“I’m aware.”
“The best we can do is combine my influence with Chief Justice Oh’s and delay things.”
He shrugged slightly and continued.
“Start by filing the application yourself. We’ll get Chief Justice Oh to push through a ruling as quickly as possible. When they file a challenge, we’ll drag it out through legal debate.”
I nodded slowly.
That was the approach I’d already planned on.
“But even that has its limits. First, block the dia as much as possible. Ilseong will interfere, and even with your power, you won’t be able to stop all the press.”
“I can definitely block Koryeo Daily.”
“Right, that’s the biggest one. If you can do that, it’s a decent start.”
Yoon Hyungmin clicked his tongue and furrowed his brows.
“People love sensationalism. The kind of people we represent thrive on shaping public opinion. Sotis it helps when attention is on us, but other tis it can be fatal. Use the dia wisely—that’s how you increase your odds.”
He was right.
If the dia started covering the inheritance dispute among the relatives of the Myeongdong Loan Shark King, it would beco the talk of the town for ages.
“What about the will?”
“He has a dedicated lawyer. They’ve been together a long ti, so I don’t expect any issues. Everything was recorded and finalized while he was still lucid. I haven’t seen the contents myself.”
After entrusting everything to , Grandfather had quietly called in his lawyer to prepare the will.
I could’ve found out what it said if I really wanted to, but I didn’t want to force my way into sothing he hadn’t voluntarily shared.
Yoon Hyungmin nodded, relieved.
“Then the will won’t be an issue. Once he’s admitted tomorrow, we’ll file for incompetency imdiately. Just get the dical certificate. I’ll handle the rest.”
“...It doesn’t feel great having to go this far.”
“There’s no other choice. Steel your heart. Maybe it’s different overseas, but in Korea, things are a little dirtier. Everything you have could be taken from you in an instant.”
Honestly, I didn’t see Sooman himself as much of a threat.
More like an annoying fly?
But with Ilseong Group behind him, that was a different story.
If they backed him, I was ready to go to war.
If I crushed Ilseong Group, there’d be no one left in Korea who could stand against .
“No one escapes ti. Even Chief Justice Oh is showing his age.”
“Yes. I saw him recently too. He’s definitely getting on in years.”
“A whole generation is disappearing. I’m just in the middle of the generational shift. Soon, it’ll be your ti.”
Yoon Hyungmin looked bitter.
I offered so comfort.
“You’re still going strong, Father.”
“I’ll grow old soday too.”
Then, thinking the topic pointless, he changed the subject.
“The general election isn’t far off.”
Yoon Changho had launched a new party called the Moderate Party.
With around 30 sitting lawmakers from both the Progressive and Conservative Parties joining, they’d imdiately gained negotiation rights in the Assembly.
Right now, the approval ratings stood with the Progressive Party in first, the Moderate Party second, and the Conservatives third.
But the gaps weren’t huge, and competition was heating up.
Candidate nomination screenings by each party were about to begin.
“Do you think Chief Yoon will do well? Or I guess it’s President Yoon now.”
“Yes. He has great political instincts. He’s received solid recomndations for candidates, and he plans to recruit those who fail nominations in other parties but still have potential.”
Thanks to Yoon Hyungmin and Oh Jungseok’s introductions, we were able to bring in respected candidates.
And because we’d been repeatedly bringing up the Moderate Party in the dia, barring any major variables, we were projected to win between 50 to 80 seats.
“At this point, all I can do is believe. I’ll need your help too, Father.”
“Understood.”
I didn’t think this was dirty.
That’s just how elections are.
Lawsuits and gang involvent were standard fare.
“But for now, Grandfather’s situation is more urgent. I hope Sooman acts rationally...”
My voice trailed off. Yoon Hyungmin didn’t reply either.
But we both had the sa feeling.
Back ho, I lay in bed and called my grandmother.
“Grandma. Are you feeling okay?”
—Don’t worry about . Worry about your grandfather-in-law. I’m fine.
“...Still...”
Maybe I sounded a bit down, but she comforted , telling to focus on Grandfather.
“If you feel unwell, promise you’ll tell .”
I repeated the request several tis before we hung up.
The next day.
Manager Ha accompanied Grandfather and admitted him to Korea National University Hospital.
When I visited that afternoon, he was asleep in his hospital bed.
The hospital director greeted with a somber expression.
“How is he?”
“Unfortunately... there’s been no change.”
“His lucid monts are getting shorter and shorter.”
“His condition is already quite advanced. There’s nothing left but decline. I’m sorry.”
“How much longer does he have?”
“His life could be prolonged if we try... but I don’t know if that would truly benefit the Chairman. At least, not the Chairman I knew.”
He had been Grandfather’s attending physician for many years.
He’d stopped after becoming the hospital director, but still knew him better than most.
“If we force it, he won’t be able to eat anymore. We’ll have to provide nutrients another way. But if we do, he’ll just beco skin and bones...”
“I understand. We’ll monitor him for now.”
“Yes.”
Unable to control my expression, I covered my face with my hand.
The hospital director waited patiently as I sighed.
“...Cheon Sooman will be arriving in Korea soon. When he does, he might ask you questions.”
“What should I tell him?”
“Tell him the Chairman has at most a year.”
He looked slightly puzzled.
I knew it might be pointless—but I wanted to give him one last chance. For Grandfather’s sake.
“I want to see how he acts.”
“Understood.”
A few more days passed—and finally, the day ca.
Cheon Sooman set foot on Korean soil once again.
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