< No evidence required >
While Mr. Cheolgu was eating, I finished eating first and went for a walk in the garden with my mother.
Taesung Group’s security guards stood guard near the main gate and garden.
I gave a belly bow to the bodyguards.
“Gentlemen, you must be suffering from the cold while protecting us. Please go inside, eat, and warm up your bodies.”
The bodyguards smiled broadly.
“I went to the warehouse and saw that there was quite a lot of firewood piled up. Should we light a warm fire?”
“Thank you, sir.”
Thanks to that, my mother and I were able to sit on the garden bench and enjoy a campfire.
“If you make a bonfire, you should cook and eat things like this.”
Mother smiled brightly as she put the potatoes and sweet potatoes into the fire.
“It looks like you came to visit. The stars are twinkling so much.”
Mother sat on the bench, raised her head and looked up at the sky.
“I bet the stars would have appeared like this every day on my way back home after selling all the vegetables. How could I have never thought of looking up at the sky during that time?”
It’s because I don’t have any free time in my heart.
It must have been hard to make a living.
As a young woman with nothing, she gave birth to me and raised me alone.
You must have had a very hard time.
“Our house is really nice. Isn’t it?”
“yes.”
“I didn’t notice it during the day, but it has a special charm at night. It looks like a lot of care was put into decorating this garden.”
Of course. How much money is there in cash?
Not only the lawn and flower beds, but even the garden trees and ornamental bonsai are all the result of money-grubbing.
Not only the garden stones, but also the huge axes that flaunt their majesty everywhere, and even the stone slabs laid on the floor.
It must have been carefully crafted by a first-class gardener, using only the most expensive items.
“Jeonghyeok, you met your grandfather earlier. How was it?”
“What do you mean? I feel bad because you disrespected my mother.”
“That shouldn’t be the case. Mom was happy that there were many people in the world who would love Jeong-hyeok.”
“He sold his father to start a business, and tried to kick out his mother because of that business. I don’t need a grandfather like that.”
“But what Grandpa said is right. Compared to Dad, Mom······.”
They say that if you follow your mother, you will have a long and difficult life.
That old bastard really spoke really harshly.
“So you want me to follow Dad? Can Mom live without me?”
“······.”
“Look at that. You can’t answer. I can’t live without my mom either.”
I hugged my mother tightly.
My mother patted me on the back.
“If you follow Dad, you’ll be able to live a comfortable life. You’ll have nice clothes, a nice car, meet good teachers, go to college, and live a comfortable life without worrying about money. You’ve had a hard time because of Mom.”
“What’s so special about being a rich family? Do you think that if you have a lot of money and power, you’ll automatically be happy?”
I shook my head.
“I can earn money and build up my own strength. If I can’t protect my family, I don’t need money or strength.”
I accumulated money and power to protect my family and my household.
“Actually, there’s only one thing I’m curious about. Does Mom still love Dad?”
“huh.”
“little?”
“No, not a lot.”
“Then you want to marry Dad?”
It was a bitter expression.
My mother gently stroked my head.
“No matter how much you love someone, there are cases where you can’t get married. That’s because your mother is lacking in many things.”
What my mother lacks is money and family.
Since when did people from wealthy families start bringing people into their homes based on their character and abilities?
‘I can’t do anything about my mother’s family, but I think I can solve the problem with money.’
I opened my mother’s scarf.
‘My mother said, ‘I should send her off in a flower palanquin.’
If my father, whom I’ve never seen in my entire life, kicks me out, there’s nothing I can do.
At that time, I didn’t even look at my father and just took care of my mother.
Still, we must keep the possibility open until the end.
‘I can’t even imagine letting my mother live as my in-laws. I make her my precious daughter-in-law and only receive favors.’
There’s nothing you can’t do.
‘Why am I suddenly so motivated?’
The perfect opportunity came at a time like this.
In that sense, I was anxious to meet Mr. Cheolgu soon.
* * *
As if it were a lie that he staggered even while being supported by Taesung Group’s bodyguards.
Mr. Cheolgu quickly became cheerful.
“Hahahaha, I feel like I’m finally getting some life! I thought you were going to die from hunger.”
The reason he looked so haggard and listless was because he was starving.
A body that is strong enough to withstand even the torture of the central government, and a spirit that will not be broken even in death!
I like it.
“Kkeu-eok-! I ate well! As expected from the top-notch Japanese chefs at Taesung Hotel! Their skills are really amazing!”
The chefs at Taesung Hotel look proud, as if they have brought a dying beggar back to life.
Mr. Cheol-gu is busy giving thumbs up and hearts to the chef corps.
The cleaning helpers are united in one mind and one heart to cheer and praise Mr. Cheol-gu’s workplace.
Even the mother handed fried bread in a paper bag to Mr. Cheolgu.
I let out a long sigh as I looked at the warm and cozy atmosphere in the house.
“Phew······.”
You gentleman, this is not the time to be idly chatting away!
“mister.”
“Okay. Let’s go, let’s go!”
I dragged Mr. Cheolgu outside again.
I’m going to take a walk in the garden to help with digestion.
A chilly winter wind blew, and the bonfire burned beautifully.
“Ugh, it’s cold! Little one, you must have eaten a lot. Why don’t you listen while supporting your back on the warm floor?”
“People will be coming and going frequently while I’m fixing and cleaning the house. Is that okay?”
“Oh, the chilly night air is just right! It clears my mind.”
Mr. Cheolgu took out a freshly fried dry bread from a paper bag and took a bite.
It was an inhuman appetite, as he had just been stacking plates and eating until just now.
He even whetted his appetite by stirring the potatoes and sweet potatoes he had put in the campfire with a poker.
“Sir, I need more information that isn’t written here.”
I took the paper out of my pocket and shook it.
The thing that Chairman Cha and Secretary Kim want.
It was a page cut out of Woo Kwang Construction’s bribery ledger.
< There is suspicion, but no evidence?>
I tapped that part with my fingertips.
“Evidence is enough. It doesn’t matter if there is no physical evidence.”
This time, Mr. Cheolgu tapped on the empty space left by him.
“Information that I can’t write down here because there’s no evidence. The circumstances and evidence that led to the old man’s conviction. That’s what I want.”
“Kid, in the adult world, evidence is more important than circumstantial evidence.”
Mr. Cheolgu let out a long sigh.
“I have no ties to Taesung. So, at least I have to bring some solid evidence so that the high-ranking officials of Taesung will at least pretend to listen and move their heavy butts.”
The old man frowned deeply.
“Woo-kwang blocked it so well that there was no such thing as an iron wall. The media ignored it, the central government took action, the whistleblower inside Woo-kwang Construction died, and the traitor in Tae-seong went into hiding.”
He seemed to be feeling for a cigarette as he rummaged through his pockets.
“Thanks to our diligent research, we were able to narrow it down to two places.”
There are two places I would choose as well. Sir?
“Damn, if only Kim Gwang-pil of Wookwang Construction, who embezzled the bribe ledger, hadn’t died! He asked for personal protection, saying that he would meet with me to discuss the details, but that night, Kim Gwang-pil was found dead at home······.”
Why did you stop talking so fluently?
“Okay. Just pretend you didn’t hear that. I’m talking nonsense with the kid. Anyway, kid, just get out of here.”
“It’s too late. I’m already involved. Did you see that earlier? The chief secretary who serves the Taesung Group chairman came to me and asked for this.”
I shrugged.
“I even took a bribe. But if you hand it over like this, what do you think will happen?”
“······You little brat, you’re really going to get screwed.”
No way. No way?
I think there won’t be any problem if I just give this blank piece of paper to Secretary Kim.
What Secretary Kim originally asked me to do was cut out the three pages.
Whether it’s a blank sheet of paper or not, it’s not my responsibility.
Besides, I’m not the one who wrote the bribe ledger.
But Mr. Cheolgu is different.
‘It’s not me who’s being manipulated by Secretary Kim, it’s you.’
Mr. Cheolgu said solemnly.
“Don’t worry, kid. This old man will come and find the evidence by tomorrow or the day after. That’s fine.”
This gentleman is making a big mistake now.
“Sir, just a moment.”
“huh?”
“If you think about it, it’s not your job to fact-check and resolve this issue, right?”
“what?”
“That’s Secretary Kim and Chairman Cha’s job, and it’s Taesung Group’s homework. Then shouldn’t Taesung be the one to find the evidence?”
“······Huh?”
“Sir, all you have to do is give Chairman Cha and Secretary Kim a reason to understand the seriousness of the situation and take action. That’s enough.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Did you see that earlier? How did you end up with this connection with Taesung Group? And Taesung even offered a bribe to solve the problem first?”
“I see?”
“Okay?”
“Okay? Hahahaha! This is really done? Now it doesn’t matter if there’s no evidence?”
yes.
‘Rather, it would be difficult if Mr. Cheol-gu came forward and stirred up Taesung Group to get solid evidence.’
Who would like it if the central government blatantly tried to interfere with a business?
What about the falling stock prices? What about other people’s attention?
‘What will he say if the Blue House asks him why? Since Woo-kwang embezzled Tae-sung’s money and spread bribes in all directions, it cannot be said that Tae-sung and Jung-jung are cooperating to conduct their own investigation.’
The government is cracking down on corruption and strictly prohibiting bribery by high-ranking public officials.
Those who received bribes, those who gave bribes, and those who were involved in them will all be executed without mercy.
Taesung also cannot avoid responsibility because he failed to manage the money properly.
Chairman Cha’s anger will be directed at the culprit who exposed the corruption.
I stepped forward to prevent that terrible situation from happening.
I smiled broadly.
“So from now on, sir, you have to fill this place properly.”
If you just write it down roughly, I’ll fill in the missing parts.
While working at a pawn shop, I also learned the skills of forging handwriting.
I put the Mont Blanc fountain pen that Secretary Kim had left behind into Mr. Cheol-gu’s hands.
“Directly. In my own handwriting. The evidence and circumstances that solidified my conviction, as well as the inferences and predictions. Everything I know. Even the signature and stamp are clear.”
“good night!”
Mr. Cheolgu winked one eye.
“Loyalty, loyalty! You’re right! Whatever it is, it’ll work out somehow. As for what happens next, I’ll just say, ‘Oh, I don’t know, whatever happens, happens.’”
Then he started writing it down obediently.
‘What is this? Why is it flashing again?’
Why does the shabby gangji suddenly start flashing golden light?
What kind of great secret are you writing down?
‘Huh? This is information I didn’t know either. This is how it was connected?’
What I know is the footsteps of Taesung Group.
That is, the information is a result, with the process completely skipped.
But what Mr. Cheolgu was writing down was the cause and the progress of the incident.
‘No, how on earth did this guy know this?’
Now that I look at it, this wasn’t just a 2 billion won bribe that Woo Kwang had used.
In the future, will two subsidiaries of Taesung go away or not?
Should we helplessly miss the construction of Subway Line 2 or not?
It was an issue that involved the question of whether or not 3 billion won in private funds would be confiscated.
‘I was just thinking of going after the maggots swarming around Taesung Construction, but is this going to get any bigger? It smells like money!’
Why was the golden light flashing so brightly?
This one was really asked properly.
As expected from Mr. Cheolgu! I believed in you!
< No evidence needed > End
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