The quiet building buzzed with the arrival of new employees. Both Taek-gyu and I were assigned secretaries, and a new COO office was set up on the 37th floor. Although on a different floor, it looked identical in size and structure to the CEO’s office.
“Congratulations. You can go to your office now.”
“What should I do there?”
“Just hold the fort.”
Taek-gyu lounged on the sofa.
“It was fun traveling in the U.S. and working in the prosecutor’s office.”
I nodded.
“Yeah, it was.”
Back then, we really worked tirelessly.
Taek-gyu sat up abruptly.
“Oh! I just remembered something I have to do.”
“What is it?”
“I have to assemble my plastic models and Lego, set up my gaming console, and maybe order a new display shelf.”
Is it similar to our chairman’s hobby of growing bonsai trees or plants?
After consulting with Taek-gyu and senior Sang-yeop, I decided to have an end-of-year party that would also serve as a modest year-end gathering for the staff who had worked hard and a welcome for the new employees.
Ellie suggested something additional.
“Shall we include Golden Gate as well? Since we collaborated on the recent acquisition.”
“Oh! I’ll talk to my sister about it.”
Upon hearing the suggestion, Hyun-joo eagerly agreed.
“That’s a great idea.”
Therefore, it was decided that the year-end party would be a joint effort between OTK Company, K Company, and Golden Gate.
I called in one of the employees to my CEO office.
“Mr. Jung Gi-hong, it’s the chairman looking for you.”
As new employees come in, Manager Jung is now the team leader.
Senior Gi-hong showed impeccable manners within the company. Many of the new employees are graduates of Korea University, and there are also several senior colleagues from the business administration department.
It is important for them to set a good example first because there is a risk of manners getting lax.
This is the same for Senior Sang-yeop. Except when we are together, he and Taek-gyu use honorifics with us when with other staff.
“We are thinking of having an end-of-year party.”
I explained the rough plan.
“Please take charge of it, Manager Jung.”
“But, can we find a venue now…?”
As half of December had already passed, most hotel banquet halls would likely be fully booked.
“As there are empty floors in the building, if we can’t make a reservation, we can arrange one of those floors as the banquet hall. Just hire a professional event company and catering service for it.”
Senior Gi-hong showed determination.
“I will do my best.”
He has a successful track record of leading OT and MT as a business administration department head.
He will do well, won’t he?
***
We all had lunch together for the first time in a while.
At a hotel restaurant, I, Taek-gyu, Noona Hyunjoo, Ellie, Senior Sang-yeop, and Henry gathered around a revolving circular table with various dishes laid out, and each ordered their rice and noodles separately.
“How does it compare to a Chinese restaurant?”
Taek-gyu said while slurping down his jjajangmyeon.
“Not great. The Chinese place we ordered from before was much better.”
Senior Sang-yeop nodded in agreement.
“Eating ramen at a comic book store and jjajangmyeon at a pool hall is the best.”
I wasn’t the only one who thought that way. Eating jjajangmyeon in a comfortable place with a casual atmosphere and posture is the best.
Senior Sang-yeop asked, “Is the party preparation going well?”
“I think Senior Gi-hong is working hard on it.”
“He’s good at that kind of thing. By the way, it’s already year-end.”
Ellie said with a smile, “There have been a lot of things happening this year.”
“Indeed.”
Thanks to Brexit, we made billions of dollars, invested in the US auto industry, and got Ronald elected as president.
We faced illegal surveillance by the National Intelligence Service, got caught by the prosecution, and even had to hold a press conference, revealing our identity.
We built a luxurious mansion in the heart of Gangnam, bought a house, and now we are actively growing the company from the front lines.
We may have grown dozens of times over the year, but in a way, we have just laid the foundation.
Making money made me realize that the world is vast and money is plentiful. And there are many people with money and power.
Conglomerates, major banks, investment banks, hedge funds, private equity funds, sovereign wealth funds, and more.
We have only just earned enough chips to play on that stage. We still don’t compare to the top five conglomerates in Korea, and our influence in the Korean market is extremely limited.
“We did well this year, but next year is the real challenge.”
$25 billion was poured into the automobile industry.
With that money, they were acquiring Chrysler, developing technology, and building factories all over the Rust Belt.
The automobile industry is in its early stages now. It’s an uncertain job to predict how much more money will be needed for technology development, new car launches, and the commercialization of driverless vehicles.
As they expand their factories, if new releases are delayed or sales don’t meet expectations, they will incur huge losses.
On the other hand, it could also lead to a huge success.
Hyunjoo said, “It’s going to work out well, so don’t worry too much.”
***
After finishing our meal, we returned to the company.
Despite the cold weather, people holding picket signs were standing by the main entrance of the OTK Building. The number varied from day to day, averaging around five individuals.
These were people engaging in solo protests.
While rallies or demonstrations require permits, a solo protest can be done without one. Therefore, individuals began showing up in front of the building holding picket signs about a month ago.
[“Awaken, OTK Company!”]
[“Get the Mega-Capitalists Out of Tax Havens!”]
[“What’s wrong with the National Intelligence Service and the Prosecution? Arrest financial criminal Kang Jinhoo!”]
[“Punish the pro-North leftist scum!”]
[“President Park Si-hyeong, stay strong!”]
[“We love you, Mr. President!”]
Sangyeop senior clicked his tongue.
“Shouldn’t we just leave them be?”
“South Korea is a country with freedom of expression. People should be able to speak their minds.”
It’s not really bothering anyone.
Taekgyu said, “It wasn’t instructed by the government, was it? There are rumors that the National Intelligence Service ordered controlled demonstrations.”
During an investigation of illegal surveillance, it was revealed that the National Intelligence Service financially supported a specific group to gather and protest in front of critical media outlets or organizations.
It’s a form of hired demonstration.
The NIS and organizations like Parent Union, who are known to have received money, denied it, but based on the evidence so far, the exchange of money and orders was clear.
However, despite numerous evidence, the prosecution showed no intention of investigating, creating an atmosphere of sweeping things under the rug.
Park Si-hyeong had shown what happens when one challenges the government multiple times in the past.
If the top priority target for the current regime is to be selected, it would undoubtedly be me.
Would I have faced illegal surveillance and even arrest and investigation under those circumstances?
Thankfully, with Ronald’s election, I was able to resolve it without much trouble. I didn’t take any further action afterward, and the authorities remained silent.
But this situation is unlikely to continue. The regime and Eunsung-cha are still at odds, and we are standing against Eunsung-cha.
At some point, won’t we have to face each other again?
“Why are you here cheering for the president? Shouldn’t you do that in front of the Blue House?”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
“They say ‘step down every capital.’ What does ‘every capital’ mean?”
“It’s a derogatory term.”
In Korea, the perception of OTK Company is not good. It was established as a tax haven and has repeatedly swindled the financial markets.
Pro-government conservative media continuously published negative articles, contributing to this perception.
Chojung Daily recently released a special feature article titled “X-Cop’s Acquisition War Stained with Corruption and Irregularities.” It highlighted how a certain company engaged in various illegal activities in the legitimate bidding process, and it was clear which company was being referred to.
“That man is holding a sketchbook that says ‘I am Kim Seokbeom. I am here to meet Chairman Kang Jin-hoo.’ The name sounds familiar. Do you know Kim Seokbeom?”
“Huh?”
I exclaimed in surprise.
“Stop the car!”
At my shout, Senior Sangyeop quickly hit the brakes.
I opened the door and got out of the car. In front of the company, a middle-aged man in shabby work clothes and a crumpled hat was standing with a sketchbook in hand.
“Mr. Seokbeom!”
The middle-aged man widened his eyes as he looked at me.
“J-Jin-hoo!”
“Mr. Jin-hoo!”
Joyfully, I grabbed his hand tightly.
“Why are you standing here in the cold?”
“T-to meet you…”
“Then, let’s talk in the lobby.”
“Um, I heard I had to wait a long time.”
As it became known that I was becoming famous and earning a lot of money, people who wanted to meet me overflowed. Therefore, at the reception desk, I left my name, contact information, purpose of meeting, and after reviewing it, decided whether to meet them.
“I-I was worried that you might not see this.”
“I’m glad. I almost missed seeing you.”
The hand that wasn’t wearing gloves was as cold as ice.
I grabbed that hand and led them.
“This is not how it should be, let’s go inside quickly.”
***
DHK Engineering was a small company with about 10 employees.
Most of them had been working together for over 10 years, so it felt like a family. When I visited the factory as a kid, the men in work clothes would playfully hand me a few thousand won to secretly buy snacks behind my father’s back. Among them, Mr. Seokbeom especially doted on me.
I escorted Mr. Seokbeom to the CEO’s office.
“This is my friend, Taekgyu. You might have seen him before.”
I had visited the factory a few times with him when we were in middle school.
Taekgyu bowed his head in greeting.
“Hello. I’m Oh Taekgyu.”
“Oh, you’re that friend from back then.”
Mr. Seokbeom nodded as if he remembered.
Perhaps from standing in the cold for so long, his lips had turned slightly blue. Mr. Seokbeom looked around the CEO’s office with a surprised expression.
“Now that you’re the chairman, I-I don’t know how to address you.”
I chuckled and said, “You can treat me as before, like you did with the employees.”
The secretary brought coffee.
“It must be cold, please have some.”
“Uh-huh.”
Mr. Seokbeom took a few sips of coffee from the cup.
“How have you been all this time?”
“I, I got a job at another company with Jongsoo.”
“Jongsoo? Why didn’t you come together then?”
Mr. Seokbeom seemed to muster a weak smile at my words.
“It would have been nice if we did. I-I can’t believe how shocked I was watching the press conference. You, the chairman of such a huge company.”
“If you had seen, you would have called me right away, right?”
Mr. Seokbeom bowed deeply.
“I, how can I contact you with any pride? Our, our boss passed away, everyone just left to make a living, and no one has made contact since then. People should have some sense of shame…”
“What are you talking about?”
After the company went bankrupt, the employees scattered.
When income stops, it becomes difficult to make ends meet. It’s inevitable for people to seek new jobs to survive.
“When my father passed away, you came to the funeral home and stayed till the end. I’m grateful just for that.”
“T, thank you. H, how is Madam?”
“She’s doing well. She would be delighted to know you’re here.”
Something felt off as we conversed.
Mr. Seokbeom is usually cheerful and good at jokes. However, there was no lightness in his expression and voice. His speech was hesitant, stuttering.
At first, I thought it was because of the cold, but it’s the same now.
Mr. Seokbeom cautiously took off his hat.
Taekgyu and I were shocked. The left side of his head was caved in. It looked as if his skull was buried… no, not ‘as if,’ it was actually sunken in.
Among the sparse hair, scars from an apparent wound on the scalp were visible.
“A, are you alright?”
Mr. Seokbeom awkwardly touched his head.
“Does it look bad? I had surgery, it’s okay now.”
“What happened? Was there an accident?”
“T, that…”
Tears fell down his wrinkled hands.
With a trembling voice, Mr. Seokbeom spoke, “Jinhoo, help me. I know it’s shameful, but you’re the only one I can ask. I came here to live, to survive. Before I die, I felt like I had to do something… I’m scared of becoming like Jongsoo…”
“….”
What on earth are you saying?
A sinister premonition brushed through my mind.
“Why, what happened to Mr. Jongsoo? What’s going on?”
“He… he’s dead.”
I was taken aback.
“He’s dead?”
“Sob… sobbing!”
Mr. Seokbeom couldn’t say a word, just bowed his head and cried bitterly.
