DP Episode 100

Deep Pivot, Episode 100

What could possibly be wrong with Cha Yeon-woo’s salary account?

Did the loans taken under his name already lead to a seizure?

It’s been a while since I defaulted.

He never intended to repay them diligently.

Cha Kyung-soo, who knew little but would go after any financial opportunity, could only come to one conclusion with his limited understanding.

This was a chance to uncover the exact details of his son’s salary and, with luck, even embezzle it.

“Cha Yeon-woooo, if the account’s locked… only option’s to use a proxy account.”

Humming a tune, Kyung-soo entered the hotel lounge, adjusting his clothes. They were just sportswear he had stolen from Yeon-woo’s house, with a padded jacket that had ripped seams.

“Ah, if I’d known I’d be coming here, I would’ve dressed better.”

That ungrateful Cha Yeon-woo didn’t even buy his father a decent suit.

He looked around the lounge and noticed a man elegantly seated at a table by the sunlit window, looking outside. It was the Awakener he’d seen at Yeon-woo’s house.

He couldn’t ignore the man’s striking appearance, with neat black hair, clean, pale skin, and a well-fitted suit radiating wealth.

Almost lost my calf to that guy last time.

Wary that it might be a trap, Kyung-soo scanned the area carefully, mentally preparing himself. If things went south, he could always run away again like last time. He even emptied his pockets just in case.

For the past three days, he’d neglected his calf to meet this guy, leaving his mind rusty. Still, to get his hands on his son’s blind money, he’d need to accept a bit of risk and discomfort.

Get it together, Cha Kyung-soo.

Clearing his throat, Cha Kyung-soo approached the man, sniffing his itchy nose. Feeling the gaze, the man turned his head slowly away from the window to face him.

“…”

I’m the elder here, yet this arrogant kid isn’t even standing up.

Cha Kyung-soo glared down at the man, who remained unaffected and calmly nodded to the seat opposite him.

“Have a seat.”

Does he think he can intimidate me?

After all, he’d been through a lot, surviving a close call with loan sharks that cost him a kidney. He wasn’t about to be scared off by some young punk.

“So, what’s wrong with my son’s bank account?”

Despite trying to sound intimidating, he couldn’t help but stutter due to his itchy nose.

The man suddenly smiled.

“There’s nothing wrong with Cha Yeon-woo’s account.”

His perfectly handsome smile could rival a celebrity’s. Annoying as he was, Kyung-soo couldn’t deny his striking appearance.

His face twisted with frustration. Any normal person would pause when confronted by a smiling face, but Kyung-soo had no such courtesy.

“Are you joking? Making a busy man come all this way for nothing?”

Raising his voice for effect, Kyung-soo growled threateningly, drawing the attention of others in the hotel lounge. The man glanced around before curling one corner of his mouth.

That arrogant brat.

Kyung-soo glared at the man, who leisurely lifted his teacup and took a sip. Unfazed by the intense stare, the man enjoyed his drink before finally speaking.

“Real name: Choi Young-jin. Born June 3, 1974. Hometown: Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Moved to Seoul in ’99.”

“What nonsense are you—”

“Credit score in the 980s, no loan defaults, no criminal record, no employment restrictions, no travel ban.”

The man continued, disregarding Kyung-soo’s objections. Leaning back, he looked Kyung-soo straight in the eyes.

“This is the identity you’ll have after today, Mr. Cha.”

“What are you—”

“This is your last chance to be reborn as a new person, except for that single kidney.”

Kyung-soo sniffled and tried to compose himself as his face twitched with nervousness.

What is he talking about? How much does he know about me?

The man clicked his tongue impatiently, glanced at his watch, and turned back to Kyung-soo.

“You may not realize it, but Cha Yeon-woo is a national treasure. We need to protect such a valuable asset. We have to get rid of any pests around him and clean up their mess.”

“…”

“So, we’re cutting you out of his life, Mr. Cha.”

Listening to the man’s words, Cha Kyung-soo tried hard to make sense of it all with his rusty mind. If only he could smoke something to clear his head, but that wasn’t an option right now. He had no choice but to force his brain to work.

So, here’s the gist:

Cha Yeon-woo and his brother Cha Jeong-woo will be given new identities, and Cha Kyung-soo will be erased from their lives as if he never existed.

Naturally, he would lose his parental rights, and their familial relationship would cease to exist. From today onwards, he would no longer be able to access their personal information or approach them physically.

“In a way, Mr. Cha, you’re benefiting greatly thanks to your son.”

Assuming, of course, that he’d sever ties with him.

This might mean throwing away the goose that lays golden eggs.

Although starting fresh with a clean identity was a tempting offer, was it worth giving up his relationship with his son?

Family ties are sacred. How can they be severed so easily?

What if Cha Yeon-woo turns out to be a source of wealth in the future? The people behind creating new identities must be quite powerful. It means that Yeon-woo is a significant asset.

“I can’t quite understand this.”

The man’s sharp eyes twitched slightly. His irises were gray, which Kyung-soo found odd. Yeon-woo’s hair had turned white after becoming a Guide, so maybe this man had naturally gray eyes.

“I’m still his father, after all. Isn’t this treatment a bit much? Does Yeon-woo know about this? He wouldn’t turn his back on his father like this. I need to talk to him—”

“Didn’t I just mention this was a pest control job?”

Does he not understand that he is the pest?

Cha Kyung-soo blinked dumbly, not immediately realizing the insult. By the time he understood, it was too late to respond with anger.

“Of course, severing ties with your dear son isn’t easy. But surely, a reward fitting for the sacrifice is in order.”

The man maintained his polite demeanor.

“No, I don’t need a new identity. Even if you offered me a fortune, I can’t give up my son. What kind of crazy parent would exchange their child for a new identity?”

Without a word, the man pulled out a pen and paper from his suit pocket and wrote something down. He then placed a paper with just the number “3” written on it in front of Kyung-soo.

Ah… I just need one quick hit before continuing this conversation.

“I wrote down my favorite number.”

Kyung-soo hadn’t gone three days without drugs before and was now jittery from withdrawal. He looked up at the man, drawn by the sound of his pen tapping on the table.

“All you have to do is add zeros after it.”

The black pen was handed to him.

“…As many as you want.”

Almost reflexively, Kyung-soo took the pen, tapping his leg nervously while trying to calculate the right amount. He couldn’t gauge how much the man was willing to give.

Ordinarily, he would have greedily written down a large sum, but in this case, he couldn’t afford to overstep.

If they could erase “Cha Kyung-soo” entirely, nothing would stop them from eliminating his body too.

It’d be easier to make me disappear quietly. This doesn’t make sense…

With his instincts warning him, the pen shook as Kyung-soo carefully started adding zeros:

3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

This should be a good start, right? Kyung-soo glanced up, eyeing the man’s expression. The man simply raised an eyebrow.

“You’re selling your son for 300 billion.”

Cha Kyung-soo, is your son worth less than a kidney?

You should be asking for more. His teeth chattered nervously as he sniffled and added another zero to the figure.

3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

“…”

Again, the man only raised an eyebrow with a cryptic expression. Kyung-soo had tried gauging his reaction by adding zeros one by one, but it was impossible to read his face.

Should I just go for it?

No, no… The new identity, Choi Young-jin, comes with debt relief in the billions. If I overstep and they find me ungrateful, they might get rid of me.

But this catch was too good to let slip away.

After some careful thought, he added more zeros. The number made his heart race, and he felt dizzy at the thought of handling that much money. It was an amount he’d never imagined in his lifetime.

“Done?”

Looking for any signs of disapproval, Kyung-soo set the pen down. The man’s ambiguous smile remained, but he nodded calmly.

“I’ve said this many times, but it’s all thanks to Cha Yeon-woo. I personally hate unnecessary hassle and would prefer an easier way.”

Even in his muddled state, Kyung-soo’s survival instinct remained sharp. He immediately understood what the “easier way” meant.

“But then, Cha Yeon-woo would be sad.”

Because even a pest like you would evoke pity in him.

Despite the obvious contempt in the man’s words, Kyung-soo couldn’t muster his usual defiance. The man stood up, and Kyung-soo nervously looked up at him.

Oddly, there was warmth in the man’s eyes for a brief moment.

“And thank you for bringing Cha Yeon-woo into this world.”

The fleeting warmth vanished, leaving only cold disdain. Kyung-soo couldn’t move from his seat until the man had disappeared from view.