Max-Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 23

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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23. No Need for Physical Evidence

While Uncle Cheol-gu was eating, I finished my meal first and went out for a garden stroll with Mother.

The Taeseong Group Security Guards were standing guard near the main gate and garden.

I bowed politely to the Security Guards.

“Uncles, you’re working hard protecting us in this cold weather. Please go inside to eat and warm yourselves up.”

The Security Guard Uncles smiled warmly.

“I saw there’s quite a lot of firewood stacked up in the warehouse. Shall we light a warm bonfire for you?”

“Thank you, Uncle.”

Thanks to them, Mother and I were able to sit on the garden bench and enjoy the campfire.

“When you light a campfire, you really should roast things like this.”

Mother smiled brightly as she put potatoes and sweet potatoes into the fire.

“It feels just like we’re on a trip. Look how many stars are twinkling up there.”

Mother sat on the bench and looked up at the sky.

“The stars must have been shining like this every night on my way home after selling vegetables. How come I never thought to look up at the sky all this time?”

It’s because she had no peace of mind.

She must have been overwhelmed just trying to make ends meet.

As a young woman with nothing, raising me all by herself after giving birth to me.

She must have gone through so much hardship.

“Our house is really nice, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“I didn’t notice during the day, but now that it’s night, it has such atmosphere. This garden seems to have been designed with a lot of care.”

Of course. Do you know how much money was spent here?

Not just the premium grass and flower beds, but the garden trees and ornamental bonsai are all results of extravagant spending.

Not to mention the garden stones, the massive foundation stones showing off their grandeur everywhere, and the flagstones laid on the ground.

Everything was done with the most expensive materials, crafted with dedication by a first-class gardener.

“Jeong-hyeok, you met Grandfather earlier. How was it?”

“What do you mean how was it? I got upset because he was treating you badly.”

“You shouldn’t do that. Mother was happy because it seems like there are now several people in the world who will love Jeong-hyeok.”

“He sold Father for business, and because of that business, he tried to cast Mother aside. I don’t need a grandfather like that.”

“But Grandfather’s words are right too. Compared to Father, Mother is…”

So she’s saying if I follow Mother, a life of hardship is obvious.

That damn old man really spoke in such a nasty way.

“So you’re telling me to follow Father? Can Mother live without me?”

“…”

“See? You can’t answer. I can’t live without Mother either.”

I hugged Mother tightly.

Mother gently patted my back.

“If you follow Father, you’ll be able to live in luxury. Good clothes, good cars, good teachers, and you’ll go to university. You’ll live your whole life without worrying about money. You’ve suffered a lot because of Mother until now.”

“What’s so special about chaebol families? Do you think having some money and power automatically makes you happy?”

I shook my head.

“I can earn money myself, and I can build power myself. If I can’t protect my family, then money and power are all useless to me.”

I built money and power to protect my family, my people.

“Actually, there’s only one thing I’m curious about. Do you still love Father?”

“Yes.”

“A little?”

“No, a lot.”

“Then you must want to marry Father?”

Her expression was bitter.

Mother gently stroked my head.

“Even if you love someone very much, there are cases where you can’t marry them. Mother is lacking in many ways.”

What Mother lacks would be money and family background.

Since when have chaebol families brought people into their households based on character and ability?

‘I can’t do anything about Mother’s family background, but if it’s money, I think I can solve that.’

I adjusted Mother’s scarf for her.

‘I should send our Mother off in a flower palanquin when she gets married.’

Though if the father I’ve never seen in my life abandons her, there’s nothing I can do about it.

Back then, I wouldn’t even look at Father’s side and would just focus on serving Mother.

Still, I should keep possibilities open until the very end.

‘I’ll make sure they don’t even dare to make our Mother suffer through in-law troubles. I’ll make them treat her like a precious daughter-in-law who only receives love.’

It’s not like I can’t do something like that.

‘Suddenly I’m feeling incredibly motivated?’

A perfect opportunity had just come along.

With that in mind, I was itching to meet Uncle Cheol-gu quickly.

* * *

As if his earlier stumbling while being supported by the Taeseong Group Security Guard had been a lie.

Uncle Cheol-gu quickly became energetic.

“Hahaha, now I feel like I’m alive! I thought I was going to die of hunger.”

So that haggard, lifeless appearance was all because he was starving.

A ridiculously sturdy body that could easily endure KCIA torture and an unbreakable spirit that wouldn’t bend even unto death!

I like it.

“Burp! That was delicious! As expected of Taeseong Hotel’s first-class Japanese Chefs! Their skills are absolutely killer!”

The Taeseong Hotel Chefs wore proud expressions, as if they had revived a dying beggar.

Uncle Cheol-gu was busy giving thumbs up and hearts to the chef squad.

The Cleaning Helpers were united in cursing Uncle Cheol-gu’s workplace while cheering him on.

Even Mother was handing Uncle Cheol-gu a Paper Envelope filled with fried Hardtack.

Watching this extremely heartwarming household scene, I let out a long sigh.

“Sigh…”

Hey old man, this isn’t the time to be leisurely fooling around here!

“Uncle.”

“Got it. I’m coming, coming!”

I dragged Uncle Cheol-gu outside again.

To help with digestion and take a stroll through the Garden.

The chilly winter wind was blowing fiercely, and the Campfire was burning beautifully with crackling sounds.

“Ugh, it’s cold! Little Kid, now that you’ve filled your belly, can’t we listen while warming our backs on the Warm Floor?”

“People will be coming and going constantly to fix up the house and clean, will that be okay?”

“Oh, this cool night air is just perfect! Really clears the mind.”

Uncle Cheol-gu took out freshly fried hardtack from the paper envelope and crunched it between his teeth.

His appetite was inhuman, considering he’d just been piling up plates and devouring food moments ago.

He even grabbed the fire poker and poked around at the potatoes and sweet potatoes in the campfire, smacking his lips.

“Uncle, I need more information that’s not recorded here.”

I pulled out a paper from my pocket and waved it around.

The property that Chairman Cha and Secretary Kim wanted.

It was a page torn from Wookwang Construction’s bribery ledger.

【I have suspicions, but no evidence?】

I tapped that passage with my fingertip.

“Suspicions are enough. It doesn’t matter if there’s no evidence.”

This time I tapped the blank space that Uncle Cheol-gu had left empty.

“Information you couldn’t write here because there was no evidence. The circumstances and grounds that led you to solidify your suspicions. That’s what I want.”

“Little kid, in the adult world, evidence is more important than suspicion.”

Uncle Cheol-gu let out a long sigh.

“I have no connections with Taeseong. So I need to bring at least solid evidence for those high-ranking gentlemen at Taeseong to even pretend to listen and move their heavy asses.”

Uncle furrowed his brow deeply.

“Wooguang blocked everything so well it was like an iron wall. The media turned away, the KCIA moved in, the insider informant from Wookwang Construction died, and Taeseong’s traitor went into hiding.”

He was fumbling around his pockets, apparently craving a cigarette.

“Still, thanks to diligent investigation, I was able to narrow it down to two places.”

The places I’m thinking of are also two. Uncle too?

“Damn it, if only Kim Gwang-pil from Wookwang Construction who stole the bribery ledger hadn’t died! He requested protection saying he wanted to meet and discuss the details, but that very night Kim Gwang-pil was found dead at his home…”

Why did he stop talking when he was speaking so freely?

“Forget it. Pretend you didn’t hear that. Here I am saying all sorts of things with a little kid around. Anyway, kid, you need to back off now.”

“It’s too late. I’m already involved too. You saw earlier, right? The Chief Secretary who serves the Taeseong Group Chairman came to find me and demanded this.”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“I even received a bribe. But if I hand this over as is, what do you think will happen?”

“······Little kid, you’re really going to die.”

Not at all. That’s not right.

Even if I give Secretary Kim blank paper as is, there won’t be any problem for me.

What Secretary Kim originally demanded from me were the three pages that were cut out.

Whether they’re blank paper or not, that’s not my responsibility.

Besides, I’m not the one who wrote the bribery ledger.

But Uncle Cheol-gu is different.

‘The one who’ll die at Secretary Kim’s hands isn’t me, but you, sir.’

Uncle Cheol-gu spoke with determination.

“Little kid, don’t worry. This uncle will find evidence by the day after tomorrow. That’ll do it.”

This gentleman is greatly mistaken right now.

“Uncle, wait a moment.”

“Hm?”

“If you think about it, fact-checking and solving this problem isn’t your responsibility, is it?”

“What?”

“That’s Secretary Kim and Chairman Cha’s job, and it’s Taeseong Group’s homework. So shouldn’t Taeseong be the one to find the evidence?”

“······Huh?”

“Uncle, you just need to create justification for Chairman Cha and Secretary Kim to understand the seriousness of the situation and move decisively. That’s enough.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course. You saw earlier, right? Somehow we’ve made this connection with Taeseong Group. And Taeseong came forward first, even offering bribes to solve the problem.”

“That’s true.”

“Isn’t that enough?”

“It is enough! Hahaha! This really works! Now it doesn’t matter if we don’t have evidence?”

That’s right.

‘Rather, it would be troublesome if Uncle Cheol-gu stepped forward to stir up Taeseong Group to secure solid evidence.’

Who would like it if the KCIA openly said they’d stir up a business?

What about the falling stock prices? What about other people’s attention?

‘What would we answer if the Blue House asks for a reason? We can’t say that Woo-gwang embezzled Taeseong’s money to spread bribes in all directions, so Taeseong and the KCIA are cooperating to conduct an internal investigation.’

The government has made eradicating corruption its banner and strictly prohibits high-ranking officials from accepting bribes.

Whether you received bribes, distributed them, or were involved – everyone will be executed without mercy.

Taeseong also can’t escape responsibility for failing to properly safeguard their money.

Chairman Cha’s anger will be directed at the culprit who exposed our dirty laundry.

I stepped forward to prevent that terrible situation from happening.

I smiled brightly.

“So from now on, Uncle, you need to fill this out properly.”

If Uncle writes it roughly, I plan to fill in the missing parts myself.

I learned handwriting forgery techniques while working at the pawn shop.

I placed the Montblanc fountain pen that Secretary Kim had left into Uncle Cheol-gu’s hand.

“Directly. In your own handwriting. Not just the evidence and circumstances that solidified your suspicions, but also inferences and predictions. Everything you know. Make sure to sign and seal it properly.”

“Good!”

Uncle Cheol-gu winked with one eye.

“Loyalty, loyalty! You’re right! Whatever, it’ll work out somehow. As for what comes after, ‘Oh well, I don’t know, let it be what it will be!'”

Then he obediently began writing it down.

‘What? Why is this glittering now?’

Why is the rough paper suddenly starting to flash with golden light?

Just what kind of amazing secret is he writing?

‘Huh? This is information even I didn’t know? So this is how it was all connected?’

What I know is Taeseong Group’s footsteps.

In other words, information as results, skipping over all the processes.

But what Uncle Cheol-gu is writing down are the causes and the progression of events.

‘Wait, how does this man know all this?’

Now I see this wasn’t simply about the 2 billion won bribe that Woo-gwang had siphoned off.

Whether two of Taeseong’s subsidiaries would go under or not,

Whether they’d helplessly lose the Subway Line 2 construction project or not,

Whether they’d get 3 billion won of private assets extorted or not – all these issues were tangled together.

‘I was just thinking of going after the maggots swarming around Taeseong Construction, but is this situation getting bigger? I smell money!’

No wonder the golden light was flashing so brilliantly!

This time I really hit the jackpot.

As expected, Uncle Cheol-gu! I knew I could count on you!

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