VDN Ch 168

“Currently, the factories in Suwon and Yongin have stopped production. The research center has also been closed, and the branch office construction has been postponed until next month.”

“The workshop.”

“As per your instructions, we have set up four beds. We’ve captured three guys in Incheon and are bringing them to Seoul now. The work will start as soon as they arrive.”

“Hmm….”

The man with white hair let out a soft exhale. His wrinkled index finger tapped against the armrest of the chair, creating a small noise. Director Yoon pushed up his glasses and spoke again.

“…This time, the situation seems unusual. As you know, that detective is highly motivated because of the incident that happened.”

“Haha, that’s right. Until now he has been struggling and refusing promotions just to catch me.”

Chairman Seok shook his head as if it was pitiful.

“What a pitiful life. How could someone become such a wreck just because he lost a brother? After all, it is the natural order for all people to return to the earth.”

Chairman Seok stood up from his seat and stood in front of the window. Past events flashed through his mind.

About 6 years ago, Chairman Seok, who was interested in genetic medicine, approached employees of a pharmaceutical company and offered them a large sum of money to encourage them to transfer to his research institute. But somehow, a young detective caught wind of it and started investigating him.

At first, he didn’t pay much attention to it. He had seen countless incompetent police officers driven by ambition to catch a big fish. As long as he had money to give to the higher-ups, everything would smooth out. That dog-like detective would soon lose interest in his affairs.

However, contrary to his expectations, the police investigation became more persistent as time passed. Chairman Seok could no longer stand that annoying fly in front of his eyes and decided to get rid of the detective.

The method was an accidental death, something Chairman Seok often used. He saved a person who was about to be buried in debt and put him forward as the driver of a dump truck.

Late at night, while driving on a quiet road, Detective Jang’s sedan was hit by the dump truck that ran a red light. The car crashed into the guardrail and went off the road. The driver of the sedan was killed instantly, and the truck driver was seriously injured. Everything would have ended well if not for the truth that was revealed later.

The one who died at the scene of the accident that day was not Detective Jang, but his youngest brother. He had been driving his brother’s car without his knowledge and had gone out to play.

Tsk, if only that matter had been handled properly, I wouldn’t have to work harder.

I saved his useless life and he couldn’t even do his job properly and made a mistake. Even though he was Chairman Seok, he was wary of causing two accidents one after another. While thinking about whether there was no other way, luckily, the situation was resolved. Detective Jang, who had lost his family, took leave on his own and became a wreck.

From then on, he was able to focus on his research on the drug without any disturbances.

Chairman Seok’s dreams came true one after the other. He made one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Korea, Jonghwang Pharmaceutical, fall into a crisis and recruited many researchers from that company. Chairman Seok’s business prospered day by day.

And now, he had reached a point where he could easily laugh off the investigations involving Detective Jang.

Chairman Seok waved his hand as if it was bothersome.

“Leave that small fry alone. The rotten bait I had given him has already decided. More importantly, the money?”

“There’s not much left.”

“Gather up the remaining money and stuff it into the prosecutor’s pocket. Make sure to keep those rookie prosecutors in line so they don’t get too ambitious.”

“Chairman, but it seems like it’ll be a little difficult to raise funds. The men in Yongcheon-dong have repeatedly ruined businesses and clubs, and the cost of restoration has been high. And even if we just include the expenses for the research center this time…”

“Director Yoon.”

At the sound of the cold voice, Director Yoon raised his head. The cold, lifeless gray eyes of Chairman Seok stared at Director Yoon. He unconsciously swallowed his saliva and fell silent.

“Do you know why I’m tolerating Director Yoon right now?”

“……”

“It’s because Director Yoon is a person with a strong sense of responsibility.”

Director Yoon held his breath in the eerie atmosphere that seemed to spread out through the room. He was a man who had worked under Chairman Seok for years, he strained his nerves to understand the meanings in his words. His glasses slowly lowered due to the sweat on his nose. A calm voice continued in front of Director Yoon, who was very nervous.

“Who is taking full responsibility for this matter?”

“…I am, sir.”

“Yes, Director Yoon, you are the one responsible for this. Then, who should take the blame when things go wrong?”

“……”

Director Yoon’s face suddenly paled. He slowly raised his eyes and saw Chairman Seok’s cold face. Although his face was no different than usual, he felt a sense of murderousness. Perhaps because of that, Director Yoon stuttered uncharacteristically.

“Chairman, I, I have only been to the Chairman…”

“Yes, I know how hard you have worked. That is why I pretended not to know that you have been taking money from the middle.”

“……”

Director Yoon’s shocked face caused Chairman Seok to burst out laughing. Haha, what a face. The loud laughter echoed through the silent office. After laughing for a while, Chairman Seok smiled and spoke.

“Why are you surprised that I know? I’m the one who’s surprised. To think you’d embezzle the money and even use your people as a distribution channel. I thought you were a loyal dog and kept you by my side, but now you don’t know your place and are eating up your master’s property?”

At the chilling tone at the end of his words, Director Yoon firmly shook his head.

“Chairman! No, I didn’t! I truly didn’t know about this! I swear, I never touched your money!”

“Director Yoon, as you know, I don’t like lies. Do you think it would be any different for you?”

Haah, haah. Before he knew it, Director Yoon, who was now drenched in sweat and panting heavily. Chairman Seok held his phone and pressed a contact firmly.

“Workshop.”

Director Yoon’s whole body trembled as he looked down at the words on the screen. He didn’t understand why there were four beds when there were three people caught. But now he understood. The remaining bed was his. The moment he left this place, he would be dealt with in a cruel manner.

Director Yoon gasped for breath as if hyperventilating and fell face down at Chairman Seok’s feet. Chairman Seok didn’t even glance at the man who bowed his head like a sinner. A trembling voice continued from below.

“Ch-Chairman…! I-I made a mistake. I was suddenly possessed by something… I was wrong, Chairman! Please, just show me your mercy once… I, Yoon Kang-won, have been working as your right hand for ten years.”

Chairman Seok glanced at the man, who was sobbing with his shoulders trembling, and then slowly sat back in his chair. Then Director Yoon hurriedly turned to face Chairman Seok’s shoe and rubbed his forehead on the cold marble floor.

Chairman Seok roughly brought down his shoe on top of Director Yoon’s head and took out a cigarette. Then he spoke calmly.

“So, then how are you going to resolve this problem?”

At the word ‘resolve’ that came out of Chairman Seok’s mouth, Director Yoon’s body trembled in fear. Chairman Seok smoked his cigarette slowly, pressing Director Yoon’s head down. When the cigarette butt reached the filter, Chairman Seok’s awaited words came out along with the suppressed breath.

“I-I will accept any responsibility that comes my way.”

“…Yes. That’s why I like you, Director Yoon.”

Chairman Seok chuckled and patted Director Yoon’s shoulder.

“You’ll soon meet with the police, so it would be best to straighten yourself out first. Tell them that everything was embezzled by you.”

Chairman Seok affectionately patted his shoulder. Director Yoon trembled, scratching the floor with his fingertips. His anger was evident in his widened eyes, but as he kept his head bowed, Chairman Seok didn’t see it. Chairman Seok, who was smiling contently, tightened his lips once again.

“But before that… we need to get rid of those bastards who don’t know their place.”

He raised his phone to his ear and spoke in a cold voice.

“Yes, where is my son right now?”

***

Nam-woon anxiously paced in front of the store and looked out onto the street. It wasn’t a date with Seo-oh… but dinner time was approaching. He picked up his cell phone and checked the time. It was 5:15. There were still about 45 minutes left until the appointed time.

Nam-woon placed his palm firmly on his chest. It was strange. I’ve had meals with Kwon Seo-oh more than once or twice, but why am I so nervous today? There’s still a lot of time left. Nam-woon rubbed the area around his heart and tilted his head toward the street.

At that moment, the phone’s notification sound rang.

[Seller, I think I’ll be a bit late.]

Only then did Nam-woon step away from the roadside. He pulled the black bag that was slung over his shoulder closer to him. His eyes widened in panic as he saw the contents of the bag clearly exposed.

“Oh no, I left the zipper open!”

He quickly zipped it up. With a pale face, Nam-woon anxiously looked around. He was worried that someone might have seen what was inside the bag. Fortunately, the people around him didn’t seem particularly interested in him.

Phew… After letting out a sigh of relief, he logged into a second-hand trading app to check the sales post he had typed earlier in the day.

[Seller / Location: Gimcheon / Active

I’m selling toy handcuffs and related items.

Price is negotiable.]

As soon as he posted it, messages started flooding in within seconds.

[Can I buy it?]

[Sure, how old are you?]

[I’m a senior in high school! LOL]

[You’re still wet behind the ears, go study at home.]

[What? I was planning to connect the handcuffs to the armrest of the chair and give the key to my mom so I could study.]

[Aren’t you using it for something else?]

Are all our country’s students crazy? Nam-woon shook his head and added another note to the post.

[No minors, only adults, ID checking is required.]


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