Max-Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 98

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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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98. This is the Death List!

 

[Wooooah!]

 

The Grim Reaper shouted with both hands clasped tightly together.

 

[To think I can actually rewatch past dramas! This is a miracle!]

 

The Grim Reaper’s Eyes sparkled brilliantly.

 

[It’s exactly like the Great King’s Time Reversal!]

 

The Grim Reaper hugged the Television in excitement.

 

Though the Television screen was still visible through his transparent body anyway.

 

[From now on, you shall be my treasure number 1, and you shall be my treasure number 2!]

 

The Grim Reaper caressed the Philips VCR.

 

It was to wipe away every speck of dust with his Black Robe sleeve.

 

Though his transparent sleeve just passed right through it.

 

‘What’s the big deal about daily dramas.’

 

I shook my head back and forth.

 

‘Are you really that happy?’

 

[Of course. I’m so happy!]

 

The Grim Reaper kept bursting into bright laughter.

 

[What’s life all about? Building up small happiness is the best.]

 

Is laughter contagious?

 

I found myself smiling without realizing it.

 

‘Small happiness, huh.’

 

[Like reuniting with your long-lost Parents and warming your back in a cozy room while picking Bean Sprouts heads?]

 

‘….’

 

[Looking back, you’ve truly enjoyed peaceful and luxurious days. Unlike the past.]

 

Yeah, you said it right!

 

‘Who was it that made me bear the false accusation of being a traitor in the past?’

 

[….]

 

‘A filthy life who lost both parents early, had no relatives, was abandoned in the Back Alleys from age seven, and lived a wretched and harsh existence!’

 

[….]

 

‘Divine punishment?’

 

The Grim Reaper, who was already kneeling, trembled as he pointed to the VCR and spoke.

 

[I-I’ll offer this, so couldn’t you spare me?]

 

You’re giving up Treasure No. 2?

 

[If that’s not enough, I can offer this too….]

 

The Grim Reaper pointed to the Television, which he called Treasure No. 1, with a tearful expression.

 

I chuckled softly.

 

‘I’ll spare you. Put away your treasures. They’re yours.’

 

[What magnanimity!]

 

The Grim Reaper clasped his hands together with a moved expression.

 

[This is why the Great King called you a soul that shines like a jewel. One who received divine punishment yet earned a ticket to Heaven through his own power. Indeed…!]

 

The Grim Reaper stood up abruptly.

 

[Actually, when I went to the Netherworld this time to investigate Bulgwang-dong Gasoline’s crimes, I obtained very important information! This Death Messenger will definitely for you…!]

 

Ding dong. Ding dong ding dong.

 

It was the doorbell of Our House.

 

Yoo Jong-tae, the quick-witted Security Guard who considers himself my right-hand man, came running and reported.

 

“Secretary Kim has arrived.”

 

I had been waiting for him.

 

But I was also curious about what the Grim Reaper had to say.

 

[This Death Messenger will handle the Netherworld affairs, so don’t worry about it. Now then, this official will continue watching the drama series….]

 

Yoo Jong-tae reported.

 

“But something seems strange.”

 

“What’s strange?”

 

“He says he didn’t come to offer bribes as usual, but came to gratefully receive presents.”

 

Yoo Jong-tae approached closely and whispered quietly.

 

“Secretary Kim isn’t the type to rush over like this for just any present. May I ask what kind of present it is? Of course, I, Yoo Jong-tae, am someone who prioritizes loyalty over curiosity…”

 

“It’s a death list to send to the Blue House.”

 

“Have a good time.”

 

Yoo Jong-tae bowed and fled without looking back.

 

As expected, he’s quick on the uptake.

 

If someone of mismatched rank like Yoo Jong-tae had volunteered to be an errand boy, he might have ended up being dragged away and buried somewhere in the wild mountains with only his head sticking out, even if it was just the Blue House Security Chief.

 

I like guys who take good care of their own lives!

 

* * *

 

Secretary Kim went straight to my room.

 

“Young Master, did you see the breaking news?”

 

It was breaking news showing Wookwang subsidiary presidents being led away from Chairman Kim of Wookwang’s mansion.

 

“Chairman Kim of Wookwang seems to have started a major purge with this opportunity.”

 

Secretary Kim’s expression was quite serious.

 

“It was an exquisite move. He plans to sacrifice the subsidiary presidents as scapegoats to divert public attention and then escape.”

 

“Would it be fortunate if that’s all he does?”

 

“Pardon? But Young Master, right now Wookwang doesn’t really have any other way to escape…”

 

“Even if they redirect the arrows to the Wookwang subsidiary presidents, the fact that Wookwang is the problem doesn’t change.”

 

“…That’s right.”

 

“Since he’s already been marked by the Blue House, Chairman Kim of Wookwang will want to present a more reliable shield.”

 

“The only thing the Blue House fears is public sentiment. When public sentiment has turned its back on Wookwang, what reliable shield could Wookwang possibly present?”

 

“Taeseong.”

 

Secretary Kim’s complexion instantly hardened.

 

“Wookwang believes in the saying that big horses don’t die. Taeseong is 5th in business circles ranking, Wookwang is 9th.”

 

“Our Taeseong and Wookwang even had their engagement broken off. Why should Taeseong stand with Wookwang and receive glares? There’s no need for that.”

 

“That’s exactly why Wookwang will try to cling on desperately. What choice do they have when it’s about survival.”

 

“Surely not…!”

 

As expected, Secretary Kim!

 

He was a man who immediately grasped the core with just one word.

 

“Are you saying we’ll use the connection with Taeseong Chemical?”

 

“We have the contract. If we frame Grandfather by saying Taeseong orchestrated this whole thing to steal Wookwang Chemical and Wookwang Securities?”

 

“You’re planning to drag the Chairman into Wookwang’s cesspit too?”

 

“If it were just Wookwang alone, maybe not, but if we tie Taeseong in with them, it would mean the collapse of a pillar of the national economy. The Blue House would have no choice but to turn a blind eye.”

 

“Taeseong has no connection to the Wookwang fire. We cannot tolerate even a single point of suspicion. There’s no reason for us to fall out of the Blue House’s favor without having committed any crime, nor any reason to be beaten alongside Wookwang!”

 

“When has the Blue House ever cared about guilt or innocence? From the moment you become suspicious, from the moment you displease them, you fall out of the Blue House’s favor.”

 

That’s the picture Chairman Kim is aiming for.

 

Secretary Kim’s eyes sank cold and heavy.

 

“Now I understand why Young Master decided to use Wookwang Construction’s bribe ledger.”

 

We need to cut them off first so Wookwang can’t bite and hold on.

 

Instead of taking off his coat, Secretary Kim first held out a document envelope.

 

“These are copies. This side contains the political enemies of the Blue House Chief of Staff, and that side contains the political enemies of the Blue House Security Chief.”

 

I took the documents out of the envelope.

 

It was a pile of shit-colored documents.

 

Among them, one name particularly caught my eye.

 

‘Seomun Something!’

 

KCIA Inspection Bureau agent Seo Mun-cheol.

 

In the future I had glimpsed, he was the bastard who dragged Uncle Cheol-gu to the Seobinggo Water Torture Room and tortured him, and who had tried to extract Bulgwang-dong Gasoline under Wookwang’s orders.

 

‘Right, if he was going to be so loyal to Wookwang, how much must he have been taking from them regularly? It would be stranger if he wasn’t on Wookwang Construction’s bribe list.’

 

Now I see that he tried to silence Uncle Cheol-gu because his own name was on Wookwang Construction’s bribe ledger!

 

And there was also the KCIA Inspection Bureau Chief, Seo Mun-cheol’s superior.

 

This really worked out well.

 

“Secretary Kim, let’s put both of these bastards in.”

 

“Yes. They’re actually in both sides anyway. I’m planning to use the Blue House’s blade to eliminate Wookwang’s lackeys with this opportunity.”

 

“Very good.”

 

Borrowing a Knife to Kill.

 

This is a phrase I really love.

 

I couldn’t hide my satisfied smile as I moved on to the next list.

 

‘Huh?’

 

I was startled.

 

Among the dark, shit-colored documents, I discovered something with a golden tint.

 

‘It’s not just golden… This is the first time I’ve seen such an ominously flickering red color.’

 

The colors were mixed.

 

‘Whose documents could these possibly be? …Oh no.’

 

I never would have imagined this guy was among the people Wookwang Construction had bribed.

 

‘Army Security Command Chief.’

 

The closest confidant planted by the current President, who seized power through a military coup, to keep the Army in check, and the man who held all military intelligence in his grasp.

 

An ambitious man who took advantage of the KCIA’s paralysis after the KCIA Director was identified as the presidential assassination suspect, seized control of all domestic and foreign intelligence, and used it as a foundation to successfully carry out another military coup.

 

“He’s a power player among power players, ranking 4th in the current regime’s hierarchy. He’s one of the four pillars supporting the master of the Blue House, and his influence as well as His Excellency’s trust in him are tremendous.”

 

I never expected this name to pop up on the Blue House Security Chief’s political enemy list.

 

‘Well, he would need a lot of back money to line the pockets of his subordinates in the Army Ilsim Society. There’d be no need to refuse Wookwang’s support.’

 

A document with a golden tint.

 

I carefully pulled out only the Army Security Command Chief’s document.

 

‘I’ll hold onto this for now.’

 

I checked the next document.

 

‘What the…!’

 

This one also had a golden tint mixed with an utterly pitch-black darkness that rippled through it.

 

‘This one also has mixed colors? Who is this one?’

 

I pulled out the document to check the name.

 

This time, the KCIA Director suddenly appeared.

 

“He’s also a power player among power players. The KCIA Director’s current ranking is 3rd. That’s one level higher than the Army Security Command Chief.”

 

I also carefully pulled out the KCIA Director’s document.

 

“Hmm.”

 

I placed the two documents side by side on the floor.

 

One was golden with red light, the other golden with black light.

 

‘Considering their power and influence, they’re absolute heavyweights who should never be touched.’

 

The political enemies of the Blue House Security Chief, who was the second-in-command, couldn’t possibly be trivial figures.

 

The Army Security Command Chief ranked 4th, the KCIA Director ranked 3rd.

 

That was why I was crossing my arms and agonizing over this decision.

 

“If all of these people are excluded, only small fry will remain. The Blue House Security Chief wouldn’t show interest in a bribery ledger that can only catch a few small fish.”

 

“That’s correct.”

 

I had to make a decision.

 

Who to place under the blade of purge.

 

“Secretary Kim, if we assume this bribery ledger reaches the Blue House, would they carry out a purge over close associates receiving a few pennies?”

 

I didn’t know much about the current master of the Blue House since I had no past connection with him.

 

I died when I was young, so how could I have been involved with him.

 

What I had read about him were just stories passed down through history, and even those would have been anecdotes and achievements selectively chosen to suit the regime’s taste.

 

I’d rather hear Secretary Kim’s perspective first, since he had actually seen and experienced him.

 

“Is he the type of person who would make bold decisions to cut off his hands and feet without decisive reasons to dislike them, such as signs of betrayal or plotting rebellion?”

 

“Well, how could I dare to guess what’s in the mind of the Blue House master?”

 

I couldn’t guess how deep the emotional rift between them might be, or how much tangled grudges there were.

 

“It’s best not to touch that person. His obsession with establishing hierarchy and power is terrifying.”

 

He was someone who would make ministers stand against the wall and prove their qualifications even when having a drink in private.

 

“For that reason, I selected the list focusing on the interests of the Blue House Security Chief and Chief Secretary.”

 

Secretary Kim’s words became more subtle.

 

“No matter how great a person is, not all their ears are open.”

 

It was a valid point.

 

Arms bend inward, and eyes and ears are covered by close associates. For their own personal gain.

 

That made my dilemma even deeper.

 

Tick-tock, time flowed by smoothly.

 

“When you’re in favor with those in power, you’ll see great benefits, but when you fall out of favor, you could plummet to ruin in an instant.”

 

Just like Wooguang.

 

“The Wookwang Construction bribe list will be transformed into a list for purging political enemies.”

 

That’s why I’m sending this present.

 

“If the Blue House Security Chief doesn’t move the master of the Blue House to strike them down all at once, Taeseong might have to bear the consequences.”

 

Secretary Kim spoke up to ease my concerns.

 

“Young Master, every New Year the Blue House calls in key figures from various sectors for reports or discussions.”

 

“Are you talking about the New Year luncheon gathering?”

 

“If the New Year luncheon gathering is for political figures, then there’s something called the New Year briefing for key personnel from the military and KCIA.”

 

Oh!

 

“The Army Security Command Chief will also be heading to the Blue House soon to report military intelligence. Perhaps tomorrow or the day after.”

 

Secretary Kim added.

 

“The KCIA Department Chief, who controls domestic and foreign intelligence, is also scheduled to attend the same meeting.”

 

Secretary Kim as always!

 

With Secretary Kim’s words, my long and heavy deliberation came to an end.

 

Secretary Kim let out a quiet exclamation of admiration.

 

“As expected. You’ve reached the same conclusion as the Chairman.”

 

Grandfather too?

 

* * *

 

Thanks to Secretary Kim, finding out the meeting location and time was a piece of cake.

 

The Grim Reaper took a look around the Japanese restaurant in Taeseong Hotel.

 

“It’s an honor to host the Security Chief like this.”

 

In the private room used by VIPs, Grandfather tilted a ceramic sake pot filled with warmed sake.

 

Glug glug.

 

The warmed sake was poured into a white ceramic sake cup decorated with orchid patterns until it rippled.

 

The Blue House Security Chief downed the sake in one gulp.

 

“You said you prepared a generous token of sincerity?”

—————
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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