Golden Spoon Investment Portfolio - Chapter 237

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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237. Why are you giving me such an opportunity?

When the wall clock on one side indicated quitting time, Manager Choi, wearing horn-rimmed glasses, covered the documents he’d been reviewing and spoke.

“Everyone, start wrapping up and head out.”

Then Bae Myung-uk, a Securities Supervisory Authority employee seated on the left, finally stretched his arms upward with a satisfied expression and let out a loud yawn.

“Aahhhhh.”
“Wow, that’s quite a sound.”

When Moon Chang-seok chided him from the adjacent seat, Bae Myung-uk rubbed his stiff shoulders and spoke.

“Ugh, I’m dying. I’ve been sitting so long my backside’s probably covered in heat rash.”
“Stop exaggerating. Heat rash in the middle of winter?”
“Well, that’s just how it feels.”

Bae Myung-uk mimicked drinking with one hand and grinned mischievously.

“Anyway, tomorrow’s a holiday—how about some soju and braised short ribs?”
“Sounds good.”

Then Bae Myung-uk turned his head and asked the manager, who was putting on his jacket from the coat rack.

“Manager! We’re going for drinks—you’ll join us, right?”
“There’s nothing waiting for me at home anyway, so why not.”
“Miss Kwon’s coming too, right?”
“I’m sorry, but I have a prior engagement, so I’ll have to pass this time.”

Kwon Suk-hee, with her short hair, politely declined, and Bae Myung-uk teased her with a mischievous grin.

“Oh, is it a date or something?”
“No, really, it’s not.”
“Sure it is—what else could it be!”

Moon Chang-seok, standing beside him, nudged Bae Myung-uk with his elbow and gestured with his chin toward Choi Bok-rak, who sat alone in the corner.
Choi Bok-rak, referred to the disciplinary committee due to problems stemming from employment favoritism, had been excluded from his regular duties and was relegated to menial tasks like filing documents.
Ordinarily, the disciplinary committee’s decision should have been rendered long ago, but it had been temporarily suspended when the Securities Supervisory Authority chairman decided to run in the general election, leaving the position vacant.

“Uh….”

Bae Myung-uk looked at Moon Chang-seok with a reluctant expression.
His eyes silently asked whether they were really going to bring Manager Choi along, and Moon Chang-seok shrugged as if to say there was nothing to be done about it.

‘Ugh… this is going to completely ruin the mood.’

Bae Myung-uk, scratching the back of his head, reluctantly approached with careful words.

“Um. Manager Choi. We’re all planning to grab a drink at that galbi place. Would you like to join us?”

Choi Bok-rak looked up at Bae Myung-uk, who stood there awkwardly.
Though the invitation had been extended, Choi Bok-rak was perceptive enough to sense the reluctance in their demeanor, so he declined in a dry voice.

“Thank you, but I have other matters to attend to.”
“Oh. I see. Understood.”

Bae Myung-uk, his face brightening, answered quickly lest Manager Choi change his mind.
The others, too, seemed subtly relieved, and Choi Bok-rak lowered his head again, concealing his bitter expression.
He had never been the type to maintain close relationships with colleagues—he’d even earned the nickname “lone wolf” for it.
But ever since the employment favoritism scandal broke, his colleagues had deliberately avoided him as if ostracizing him, and his superiors, aware of this, had not merely tolerated it but subtly encouraged such an atmosphere.
The past few months had felt like hell, but Choi Bok-rak endured through sheer stubbornness.
Yet even that would end once the new Securities Supervisory Authority chairman took office next week.

“Then we’ll be going!”

Leaving Choi Bok-rak behind, Bae Myung-uk exited the office with his colleagues and, as they walked down the corridor, drew close to the manager ahead of him and whispered.

“I heard rumors that the disciplinary committee decided to dismiss Manager Choi. Is that true?”

The manager glanced back and replied with an expressionless face.

“Probably clearing out my desk next week.”
“So the rumors were true after all.”

Moon Chang-seok, who had been listening to the story, interjected.

“He made a mistake, but isn’t dismissal a bit excessive for an incident of that magnitude?”

Bae Myung-uk nodded in agreement, as if sharing the same sentiment.
It felt like they were handling the matter too strictly—something that should have ended with a salary cut or suspension at most.

“There must be reasons for such a decision. In any case, everyone should pretend not to know until the formal punishment is confirmed and announced.”
“Yes.”

Choi Bok-rak, who remained alone in the empty office after all the employees had left, lifted his gaze toward the darkened window and checked the wall clock.
It was just past eight o’clock.
Choi Bok-rak rose from his seat, confirmed that no one else was in the office, and approached a steel four-drawer filing cabinet positioned against one wall.
After quickly scanning the drawers lined up in a row, Choi Bok-rak’s eyes stopped at the drawer marked “O,” and he grasped the handle and opened it.

“….”

Choi Bok-rak swallowed hard, glanced around once more, and rapidly checked the labels attached to the densely packed paper file boxes one by one.
The moment he found the file box labeled “Yuchang Information & Communications,” he immediately pulled it out.
He placed the heavy file box on a nearby desk and opened it, revealing numerous document folders inside.
These were the documents that Yuchang Information & Communications had submitted to the Securities Supervisory Authority to list the company on the stock exchange.
Choi Bok-rak quickly scanned through the documents one by one, his face tense as he muttered to himself.

“Fortunately, everything I need is here.”

Choi Bok-rak separated a few document folders and carried them toward the copier in the corner of the office.
He then began placing the documents one by one onto the copier’s glass plate, having separated them from their binders, and started copying.

Whirrrr.

Bright light seeped through the edges of the cover as the machine hummed to life.
After confirming the copy was made correctly, Choi Bok-rak quickly placed the next page on the copier’s glass plate, closed the cover, and pressed the button.
The copier’s sound seemed unusually loud today, and Choi Bok-rak moistened his dry lips with his tongue while constantly glancing around to ensure no one was passing by.
With an increasingly anxious expression, he continued repeating the document copying process alone in the empty office.

* * *

The next day.
Seok-won sat alone in a private room of an upscale Korean restaurant in Gangnam.
After some time had passed, a female server made her presence known from outside and slid open the door.

“Your guest has arrived.”

As Seok-won looked up, Choi Bok-rak entered, his face bearing the haggard marks of considerable emotional strain.

“It’s been a while.”

Seok-won rose to his feet with a warm smile and extended his hand first. Choi Bok-rak grasped it and spoke.

“I heard recently that you became president of Daehung Venture Capital. My congratulations, though they come a bit late.”
“Thank you.”

Seok-won smiled gently and gestured for him to take a seat.

“Please, let’s sit and talk.”
“Of course.”

The two men faced each other across a spacious low dining table, settling into cushioned floor seats.

“Shall I bring the meal right away?”
“Yes, please do.”
“Certainly. Please wait a moment.”

The female server rose and left the room.
As the door closed, Choi Bok-rak’s tense expression hardened. He retrieved a thick envelope of documents from the bag he’d brought and placed it before Seok-won.

“These are the accounting documents for Yuchang Information & Communications you mentioned.”

Seok-won opened the envelope and examined the contents, his eyes gleaming with interest.
The documents contained exactly what he’d anticipated. He nodded with a satisfied smile.
He then returned the papers to the envelope and set it aside.

“You’ve brought everything perfectly.”
“Is this really enough to bring down Director Bae?”

Manager Choi Bok-rak leaned forward in his seat, his tone seeking confirmation.
Having discovered that instead of helping him receive a light punishment through that connection, he had been orchestrated behind the scenes to receive severe disciplinary action at the behest of Woo Ho-geun, the eldest son of Donghae Group, Manager Choi Bok-rak’s sense of betrayal burned with venom.
Seok-won reclined against the backrest of his floor cushion and responded with ease.

“Not only will you be dismissed from your current position, but you’ll face criminal prosecution and likely spend quite a considerable time in prison.”

At that, Manager Choi Bok-rak’s rigid expression softened slightly, and he murmured.

“I wish it would turn out exactly that way.”

His hands trembled faintly, whether from the surge of emotion in that moment.
Then a Female Server opened the sliding door and entered, setting down two white porcelain bowls on the table before them, one for each.

“This is chestnut porridge, made with chestnuts.”

As the creamy white color and fragrant aroma rose from the bowls, Seok-won picked up his spoon first, tasted a spoonful, and recommended it to him as well.

“It’s fragrant and smooth—quite delicious. Please, try some.”

Manager Choi Bok-rak then picked up his spoon and ate the porridge.
Shortly after, the bowls were cleared and appetizers arrived: royal vegetable medley and marinated beef patties.
After tasting each dish, Seok-won wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin and gazed at Manager Choi Bok-rak across from him, speaking in a serious tone.

“I heard the disciplinary committee has finalized your dismissal. What are you planning to do going forward?”
“I don’t have any particular plans yet. I’m thinking I’ll rest for a while and consider things slowly.”

Manager Choi Bok-rak answered with a bitter expression.
Even if he took revenge on Director Bae, his ruined career and the already-decided dismissal could not be undone.

“Then what about spending some time abroad for a bit?”
“Pardon?”

Caught completely off guard, Manager Choi Bok-rak raised his head with a puzzled expression.

“Think of it as clearing your head for about two years—take a training course at a suitable university in Japan or the United States.”
“…!”
“By then, Director Bae Sang-yun’s situation will have been resolved as well.”

After a moment of silence, Manager Choi Bok-rak looked directly at Seok-won and spoke in a slightly subdued voice.

“If my discomfort stems from the Boseong Communications matter last time, I’ll keep my mouth shut until I’m in the ground. You needn’t worry.”
“My, it seems there’s been a misunderstanding.”

Yet Choi Bok-rak maintained his rigid expression as he faced him.
Seok-won received his gaze with a faint smile, utterly composed.

“If I were truly concerned about such matters, I would have employed far more decisive methods.”

Choi Bok-rak swallowed hard without realizing it.
Rather than deliberately cultivating an atmosphere of dread to intimidate him, Seok-won hadn’t explicitly stated what he would do—yet his words, delivered with such casual composure, felt far more unsettling.

“I suggested you go abroad because it will be awkward to start something new immediately. Take some time to clear your head and return. Of course, I’ll cover all necessary expenses.”
“…Is that truly all?”
“Of course.”

Seeing his lingering suspicion, Seok-won lifted his teacup, took a sip, and set it down.

“In two years, the incident that caused problems will fade from memory, and the domestic atmosphere will have shifted considerably. Starting something new then won’t be a bad idea.”
“I see. It’s such an abrupt proposal that I’m honestly quite confused.”

At that, Seok-won leaned forward slightly and spoke in a measured tone.

“Are you interested in politics?”
“….”
“If so, I’ll have a silver badge pinned to your suit lapel.”

Choi Bok-rak’s eyes widened as he asked in astonishment.

“Are you saying you’ll make me a member of the National Assembly?”

Seok-won nodded in response.
Elected representatives from regional districts wore gold badges, while those who received party endorsement and entered the National Assembly through nationwide proportional representation were colloquially called silver badge members.
So Seok-won’s proposal was to have him enter the National Assembly as a proportional representative.

“It would be a waste for you to settle now, given the career you’ve painstakingly built and the ambitions you harbor.”

Choi Bok-rak, his throat parched, drained his teacup in one gulp and looked back at him.

“Can you truly make me a member of the National Assembly?”

Seok-won flashed his teeth in a broad smile.

“If it were impossible, I wouldn’t have brought it up in the first place.”

Choi Bok-rak nodded silently, then took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking with careful deliberation.

“Why are you giving me this opportunity?”

A complex mixture of distrust and hope colored his voice.

“I don’t use people and then discard them. Besides, it would benefit me if you entered the National Assembly.”

Had he offered help without any conditions, I would have been suspicious. But knowing there was something he wanted actually put me at ease.
In that same moment, a fierce ambition rekindled in Choi Bok-rak’s chest, burning away the despair that had consumed him.
His eyes, now gleaming with renewed vitality unlike before, turned toward me as he bowed his head in supplication.

“Shameless as it may be, please help me just one more time. After that, I’ll do whatever you ask.”

Seok-won gazed at him and offered a knowing smile.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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