Chapter 148: Home Ground (3)
Shortly after the National Tax Service left, Go Chang-beom was summoned by his father.
Go Myeong-jin, standing with his hands behind his back and looking out the window, spoke in a calm voice as he sensed Go Chang-beom’s presence.
“Did you handle the situation well?”
“Yes. For now, I’ve complied with their demands.”
“As you should. The fact that the National Tax Service came down on us like this means it’s a disaster we cannot avoid.”
He turned his head.
His expression was troubled.
For him, this situation was deeply unsettling.
“Before Myungjin Construction was founded, there was a construction company that, like us now, dominated Dae-san. They were thriving, taking on projects throughout the region, but do you know why they suddenly collapsed? It was because of the National Tax Service. Although I don’t know the exact details, the tax agency moved aggressively, and that solid company crumbled in an instant under a tax penalty of hundreds of billions. We were able to rise without bloodshed thanks to their downfall, but that event left everyone a clear message: beware of the National Tax Service and this country.”
The National Tax Service.
To those running businesses, they were akin to the Grim Reaper.
Especially when the agency moved with such resolve, it likely meant they had already uncovered signs of wrongdoing.
“Myungjin Construction is not a clean company. We’ve bribed people and offered lavish hospitality to win projects. In the construction industry, which doesn’t run cleanly, we’ve done our fair share, maybe even more than others. Dirt will definitely come up. Perhaps enough corruption to shake our very foundation could be revealed. If that happens, I… no, we may have no choice but to cut you off.”
“…I understand.”
This conversation was one they’d already had two months prior.
Go Myeong-jin was simply reinforcing it now.
“You’ll have to bear all the responsibility. Even so, do you think you can handle it?”
There was no hesitation.
Go Chang-beom replied.
“Yes, I can.”
* * *
Two months ago.
The situation was exactly the same.
Go Myeong-jin had called for Go Chang-beom.
After throwing something on the table, he revealed his displeasure.
Thud.
“Chang-beom, what is the meaning of this?”
Inside the documents.
It showed the flow of funds.
Go Chang-beom had been sponsoring a student for over a year, and it wasn’t simply a matter of personal sponsorship. He had involved Myungjin Construction’s name as well. The vast amount of money distributed around this student for scholarships and other purposes left Go Myeong-jin, the chairman, no choice but to investigate the background.
This was clear corruption.
A serious issue for Go Chang-beom, who was poised to inherit the company.
Had they not been preparing for the succession, he wouldn’t have realized just how foolishly Go Chang-beom had handled the matter.
That’s why he called him in to confirm.
Depending on Go Chang-beom’s answer, they might have to deal with this student swiftly.
Sigh.
Go Chang-beom reviewed the documents.
Indeed, they were sloppy.
While the scholarships had been handled cleanly, the early transfers had a blatantly suspicious odor. He had known it would become a problem, but he hadn’t felt the need to clean it up.
“Father, you once told me to value people.”
“And what does that have to do with this situation?”
“The reason I was able to win the succession battle against Chang-seok, who was favored, was all thanks to Kim Hyun-seong. When I was intentionally trapped and dragged to the police station, he advised me not to react emotionally but to counterattack instead. I can say with certainty that without Kim Hyun-seong’s help, I would have never won the succession battle. I’m not smart enough, and all I did was listen carefully to Hyun-seong’s words.”
Thud.
He put the documents down.
He looked his father directly in the eyes.
“As you said, regardless of gender, age, or status, I took advice and became who I am now. If I am to meet your expectations as the future chairman of Myungjin Construction, I must keep Kim Hyun-seong close. The problem is that our deal involves a war with a certain force. This force holds significant power in Korea, and Myungjin Construction would undoubtedly suffer tremendous damage. But, Father, even so, I can’t abandon someone I consider my own. Your teachings are engraved so deeply in me that I’d rather jump into the fire with Hyun-seong than betray him.”
Go Chang-beom was stubborn.
Even during the succession battle, he refused to expose his brother’s weaknesses.
He valued loyalty to his people.
Now that Kim Hyun-seong was in his circle, to Go Chang-beom, Kim Hyun-seong was like family.
“I feel fortunate to have this opportunity. The force I’m about to confront consists of scum, people for whom I won’t feel any guilt. I know that I will never abandon my people, and eventually, this ticking time bomb will explode. If it’s going to blow up, I’d rather test myself now before I become chairman, while the company can still cut ties with me if needed. If I cause massive damage to the company due to my arrogance, I will take full responsibility and step down. At that point, whether it’s Chang-seok or a professional manager, anyone can take my place. I don’t plan to cling to this position just because I’m the chairman’s son.”
It was a shocking declaration.
Go Chang-beom.
The once immature eldest son had been harboring such thoughts all along.
It was extremely dangerous.
Cutting him off wouldn’t simply mean stepping back from the front lines.
The major crimes, like embezzlement, would land him in prison for years.
Go Myeong-jin spoke.
“The valuable people I’ve mentioned are just tools. You use the tools you need when you need them, but there’s no need to risk yourself to protect them. Even now—”
“Father.”
Go Chang-beom cut him off.
His gaze was different from before.
“I respect you as a master, but I’m a different person. When it comes to how I treat people, I want to live differently from you.”
Go Myeong-jin was ruthless.
To reach his position, he had sacrificed countless people.
He hadn’t cherished his spouse, resulting in an illegitimate child driving a wedge into the family.
Go Chang-beom was different.
He wanted to grow up differently.
“That’s the life I’ve chosen, Father.”
That day.
Go Myeong-jin said no more.
All the events to come would be Go Chang-beom’s burden to bear.
Even back then, the tax investigation into Myungjin Construction was already foreseen.
* * *
A few days later.
Park Hyeong-jun received a call from Jeong Se-hoon of the National Tax Service.
[You don’t need to worry about Myungjin Construction. The construction industry is already a mess, and Myungjin isn’t much different from any other company, full of issues. The Golden Circle just needs to decide the level of ‘retaliation.’ Should we end it with a warning not to support Kim Hyun-seong, or should we take down Go Chang-beom with him? If you want to make an example of them, toppling Myungjin Construction itself wouldn’t be hard. No matter how much cash they’ve hoarded, an astronomical penalty would be impossible to handle.]
“I understand. I’ll get back to you.”
Click.
Park Hyeong-jun hung up the phone.
He felt relieved.
Sinking into his chair, he let out a small chuckle.
“In the end, he’s just a kid.”
It was just as he had expected.
No matter what extraordinary things Kim Hyun-seong had done, there was no way he could stand up to a group like the Golden Circle.
The Golden Circle was essentially South Korea itself.
A web of powerful people, intertwined through this “Golden Circle,” watching each other’s backs while ensuring mutual benefit. How could a mere high school student possibly fight against that? The Golden Circle had the power to mobilize the prosecution, police, and tax agency at will, leaving Kim Hyun-seong with no options.
He had reached his limit.
One phone call, and Myungjin Construction would undoubtedly sever its ties with Kim Hyun-seong to survive.
‘Faced with a tax investigation that could ruin the company, cutting ties with a mere student would be easy. From that moment on, Kim Hyun-seong is nothing. The Dae-san Cartel may have protected his family, but that was likely due to Myungjin Construction’s influence. Once Myungjin pulls out, no one will sacrifice themselves for Kim Hyun-seong. They’re not the kind of people who would risk everything for a noble cause.’
His mind eased.
It was over.
Park Hyeong-jun opened his phone’s contacts.
[Go Chang-beom]
He was about to call him.
With the tax investigation as leverage, he could wrap this up nicely.
Just then.
Bzzzz!
The phone buzzed, and another call pushed Go Chang-beom’s number off the screen.
[Song Yeong-chang]
In an instant.
Park Hyeong-jun straightened his posture.
He had no choice.
Click.
“Yes, I’ve received the call.”
The caller was the Heavenly Broker.
One of the Golden Circle’s top leaders.
* * *
The situation was disorienting.
As soon as he answered, a voice screamed at him from the other end, threatening to tear his ears apart.
[Stop the tax investigation right now!]
“…What do you mean?”
[Can’t you hear me? Stop the investigation into Myungjin Construction immediately, you bastard!]
Normally, he would have obeyed.
The difference between those who managed the “Heavenly” and those who didn’t was that vast. But this time, Park Hyeong-jun felt a surge of defiance.
Park Hyeong-jun had handled countless jobs as a broker.
Yet despite his exceptional skills, he had never been entrusted with the “Heavenly” due to a lack of connections. When Jeong Chan-su, who was now exposed as a traitor, had quickly risen to manage the Heavenly affairs, it had enraged him. Jeong, an insignificant man, had climbed to the top by riding the right connections, while Park had been stuck with the menial tasks, drinking himself into oblivion that night.
And now.
Finally, his chance had arrived.
The proxy had promised him that if he handled this mission well, he could finally ascend to the “Heavenly” level.
But suddenly, he was told to stop.
He couldn’t accept it.
Without backing down, Park Hyeong-jun spoke.
“I’m sorry, but this is a special operation under direct orders. Since this is a crucial mission to deal with Kim Hyun-seong, who’s been causing trouble for the Golden Circle, I can’t comply with your request to halt the tax investigation. If there’s an issue, I suggest you contact the proxy directly…”
[You son of a—!]
The voice screamed again, cutting him off.
Song Yeong-chang unleashed a barrage of words like a machine gun.
[Do you even know what kind of situation this is, you idiot? This is why people who do grunt work are a problem. A moment ago, I received a call from a member of the Golden Line, telling me to back off from Myungjin Construction. There’s evidence that they’ve been paying off people, and if the tax investigation reveals corruption, their name will be exposed. And do you think it’s just one person? No. From what I’ve gathered, multiple members of the Golden Line are tied up in this mess.]
Park Hyeong-jun’s mind went blank.
The more he processed Song Yeong-chang’s words, the more chills ran down his spine.
[Myungjin Construction. It’s a ticking time bomb. If you try to take down Kim Hyun-seong, you’ll end up burning the whole house down. So stop. If you don’t want things to blow up in your face, stop the tax investigation right now!]
Myungjin Construction.
Golden Line members.
How on earth were they connected?
He couldn’t fully comprehend it.
But what was clear now was…
“Understood. I’ll handle it immediately.”
[Do it fast!]
The tax investigation.
He needed to stop it immediately.
