I ignored Noh Ikseon’s constant pleas for rcy and pressed the bell to summon Manager Ma.
When he entered, I ordered,
“Manager. Take this bastard sowhere quiet and strip him of everything. Don’t leave him a single pair of underwear.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Boss, please, just one more chance!”
“You’re noisy as hell. Take him away.”
Manager Ma called in subordinates waiting outside.
They entered, bowed to , then hauled Noh up. He resisted to the end, screaming.
“Boss! You can’t do this to !”
Manager Ma struck his neck rcilessly. Noh collapsed unconscious.
“Finally, so peace.”
As the n dragged him out, Ma turned to follow.
“Manager.”
He stopped and looked back.
“Once you’ve collected everything—”
I drew my thumb across my throat.
He bowed in silent understanding and left.
The door shut. I turned my gaze on the only one left—Kim Hosik.
He sat trembling, head lowered.
“Raise your head. Why are you sitting like that?”
“I’m sorry. Please kill .”
“Do you really want to?”
At the softer tone of my voice, he raised his head. But his restless eyes and fidgeting hands betrayed his unease.
“I’ve always liked you, President Kim.”
“...Thank you.”
“You know all those presidents outside were your recomndations, don’t you?”
“Yes, Boss. You told to recomnd trustworthy n, and I did.”
I stroked my chin, nodding slowly. Those words weren’t worthless.
“Indeed. They’d had experience in Myeongdong, and they handled the businesses well enough. I was more or less satisfied.”
“...”
“But were you planning to stab in the back from the beginning?”
“No, never.”
“Then why did you do it? Don’t tell ‘I committed a grave sin.’ I can understand Noh Ikseon. But you—I can’t.”
Kim swallowed hard before speaking.
“To be honest, greed.”
“Greed?”
“Who are the people that co to us? Those rejected everywhere else. Because we follow lending laws, many are screened out.”
Since the Loan Business Act had forced them into legality, he had tightened lending standards more than in the old loan-shark days.
So even those who would once have borrowed were now denied.
Naturally, he grew frustrated.
“They’re still custors, but we had to turn them away. That frustrated greatly.”
“Not satisfied, then.”
“No. I am satisfied. But human greed has no end. I realized that too late. Noh’s coaxing sounded tempting. I made a wrong choice. I’m sorry.”
I looked at his face as he confessed everything.
Unable to et my eyes, his head hung low. I sighed.
“Trust is hard to earn, but harder to restore once broken. And you risked it all for petty greed? A learned man like you...”
Still, he didn’t raise his head. I shook mine slightly.
“Don’t you understand why I’m doing this? It’s for your sake. Thugs must have their own playground. That’s why I passed them the filthiest jobs. Thanks to that, you entered Gangnam smoothly. But what happens if they find out about your tricks? They won’t act because of , but resentnt will build.”
Illegal loans would never vanish.
After 1st, 2nd, and 3rd tier banks all said no, the last place people went was to the illegal moneylenders.
If we didn’t handle it, soone else would. That’s why I handed it to Cheonha Group.
Everywhere outside Myeongdong and Gangnam was under their control, along with any illegal debts from our companies.
Even a mutt will bite if you threaten its food.
Gangsters hadn’t stayed quiet because they feared Myeongdong lenders, but because of my grandfather. Later, because of .
But touch their food supply now, and they’d definitely start growling.
With around, they wouldn’t move imdiately. But soday, it could explode into war.
“Kim. If that resentnt piles up, sothing will eventually happen. Even I couldn’t protect you then.”
And in such a war, without , the lenders would be crushed.
“Where did the money co from?”
“I don’t know in detail. I put in five billion myself. The others about one each. The biggest contribution ca from Doksah.”
A much larger sche than I thought.
“Well, you’re rich then. Dropping five billion on this.”
“...No.”
“Where did Doksah get his share?”
If he put in the most, he had a backer.
“Doksah couldn’t possibly have over five billion. The books are clean, so he didn’t touch company funds. You really don’t know?”
I stared at him suspiciously. He shook his head.
“I don’t. I’ve told you everything. I invested, but Doksah handled everything directly.”
“Why did you trust him with this? Five billion isn’t pocket change.”
“Shaful as it is, I trusted you, Boss.”
“This is insane.”
Such was the terror of greed. Even the smart lost their sense.
I erased the suspicion in my gaze, sighed deeply, and spoke.
“Kim, I don’t want to kill you.”
“Please spare . I’ll never stray again. Just one more chance.”
“Hmm...”
I weighed his fate.
I’d first thought to kill him along with Noh, but he knew lending better than anyone.
So I decided to give him one last chance. But not without cost.
“You said five billion, right? That was your stake?”
“Yes.”
“Then think of that money as gone.”
“...”
“Is that hard to accept? Is it worth more than your life?”
“No. I’ll forget it.”
“Think of it as expensive tuition. When I take over Doksah’s bonds, I’ll pass them all to Cheonha. Forget this ever happened.”
“You’re sparing ?”
His voice trembled. The thought of survival made him ease.
“Sparing... I’m not sure. I wonder if I can leave a man who broke trust in place. So don’t forget how Sledgehamr died. I never spare traitors. Work to earn my trust again.”
“Thank you. I’ll never betray you again.”
He banged his head hard against the desk, over and over.
Thud, thud. The sound filled the office.
“Raise your head.”
Slowly, he lifted it. His forehead was bleeding.
I frowned and handed him a handkerchief.
“Wipe it.”
“Thank you.”
As he dabbed at his wound, I continued.
“But I can’t entrust you blindly anymore. One of Manager Ma’s n will shadow you. Every move watched. And your company’s accounts will be audited regularly. You brought this on yourself. Don’t resent .”
“Yes, I understand.”
Grateful just to be alive, he didn’t object.
“You’re not hiding anything else, are you? If I find sothing new later...”
I left the threat hanging. He shook his head frantically.
“No, nothing. Truly.”
“I’ll believe you one last ti. Don’t disappoint again.”
“Yes, yes. I understand.”
“If you want to be a father your daughter can be proud of, and don’t want to make her suffer losing you, just do your job. You’ll be well rewarded.”
I pressed the bell again.
“Kim Hosik can go. And assign one man to shadow him by next week. Report his daily actions to , and anything unusual imdiately.”
“Yes.”
Even with his fate decided, Kim remained silent.
“You may go now.”
He bowed deeply.
“Thank you again for sparing .”
I waved him off without answering. He glanced at Ma, then backed out, closing the door.
“Manager. Sit.”
He answered softly and obeyed.
“You felt slighted earlier, didn’t you? I’m sorry.”
“No, Boss.”
“I just wanted to show the others I don’t overlook faults, even in my own n.”
“I understand. It was my mistake.”
“You’re overburdened with work, that’s all.”
He already carried too much. Naturally, so things slipped.
“For now, I’ll focus more on the lending side.”
“I’ll prepare accordingly.”
His steady answer made nod slightly.
“You’re the one I trust most. So when I seem harsh in front of others, believe there’s a reason. Understood?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Has Attorney Hong arrived?”
“He just got here and is collecting the presidents’ shares.”
Hong was sharp; he’d manage without further orders.
“Tell them not to expect their money back. If they step aside now, I’ll forgive them.”
“I’ll pass it on.”
“Where’s Doksah?”
“We took him to the villa in Hanam. I’ve sent n to his company ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) in Samseong-dong to seize all bonds and ledgers. Others went to his house.”
That was Ma for you. His reliability made smile.
“Strip him of everything. And it seems there’s another backer behind him. Find out who. Even if it takes torture.”
The smile vanished. My voice went cold.
I needed to know who dared bring money into my territory.
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