CH28 | MCT

Cheongil Group (1)

These days, Tae-soo was so busy he barely had time to breathe.

Managing the mines, overseeing the school construction for Pohang Steel, and buying land in Gangnam—there was no shortage of work passing through his hands.

"Cheongil Group should be making their move soon… but they’ve been oddly quiet so far."

Tae-soo had been selling his valuable molybdenum to everyone except Cheongil Group.

There was no way Han Cheong-ho would sit back and do nothing about it.

"I wonder who they’ll send, and how they’ll approach me."

It would be ideal if Han Cheong-ho or Han Il-kwon came in person, but those high-ranking men weren’t the type to travel all the way out to Gangwon-do.

Just then—

Han-soo came running in, looking urgent.

"Hyung!"

"Yeah? What’s up?"

"Someone from Cheongil Group is here."

"That so?"

Tae-soo remained calm, unfazed.

But Han-soo looked serious.

"Hyung, let me ask you one thing first."

"Go ahead."

"Why are you deliberately antagonizing Cheongil Group?"

Tae-soo smirked.

"You caught on?"

"Of course. You’re specifically avoiding selling to them."

As expected of an intelligence officer—Han-soo was razor-sharp.

"Cheongil Group is a massive conglomerate. They have money, power, and influence. Doesn’t that worry you?"

"Worry me? Why would it?"

Tae-soo chuckled.

"It’s my molybdenum. I’ll sell it to whoever I want. What can they do about it?"

He patted Han-soo on the shoulder.

"Listen, Han-soo. There’s no such thing as an absolute ‘superior’ in this world. Power dynamics are always relative—depending on the situation, position, and necessity."

Tae-soo continued.

"Now, let’s think. What happens if they don’t get their molybdenum? Their factory grinds to a halt. And us? We have plenty of buyers besides Cheongil Group."

"Hmm…"

"So, tell me—who do you think holds the power right now?"

Han-soo let out a small sigh.

"Let's just sell it moderately, without holding grudges. That's the wiser choice. Why take the hard road when there's an easier one?"

Tae-soo understood his brother's concern.

But Tae-soo's burning desire for revenge was incomprehensible to him.

To Han-soo, there was no reason to make an enemy of Cheongil Group.

But Tae-soo thought differently.

"I have a debt to repay. A debt carved deep into my bones."

You, my father, my mother, my wife, and my children—all of you.

Han Il-kwon and Han Cheong-ho killed them.

How could I turn away and take the easy road when my enemies still walk free?

Every time I close my eyes, I see what happened at Cheongil Hospital. The sneering voice of Han Il-kwon still echoes in my ears.

‘I won’t run away like a coward. I won’t stay silent, waiting for strength. Every chance I get, I’ll make them pay.’

That’s why Tae-soo deliberately refused to sell molybdenum to Cheongil Group.

The moment he decided on revenge, his path was set.

Going up against a conglomerate was no easy feat.

Tae-soo knew very well that this road would be perilous.

"Han-soo, I have no intention of making peace with Cheongil Group. I’ll never join hands with them—not in this life, not in the next."

He vowed to crush Cheongil Group to dust.

Even in death, his revenge would not waver.

"Just because they’re a conglomerate doesn’t mean I have to bow. I won’t hide or watch my step. I’ll break through—my way."

Until their family is in ruins.

"Hyung."

"Trust me."

Tae-soo's unwavering gaze met his brother's.

His conviction was so absolute that Han-soo abandoned any further attempts to persuade him.

"The man who came... he's the Vice President of Cheongil Chemicals."

"The Vice President of Cheongil Chemicals?"

Not just a manager or a director—but a Vice President?

Seems like someone pretty high up is making a move.

'Who was the current Vice President of Cheongil Chemicals? Kim Bong-nam? Hong Nam-pyo? Jung Woo-sik?'

It had been too long. His memory was hazy.

And if the man had served as president before Tae-soo was actively involved, it was possible he wouldn’t know him at all.

‘Well, I’ll find out soon enough.’

Tae-soo paused what he was doing and looked at Han-soo.

"Where is he?"

"Of course, he's waiting in the president's office."

"The president's office? Han-soo, did you let him in?"

"As if. You're the one who ordered that no one from Cheongil Group should even be allowed through the door. But those guys in black suits? They just barged in, shoulder first, and forced their way in."

"Oh? They just rammed their way in, huh?"

"What do you want to do?"

"What else? If they came looking for a fight, we'll just return the favor."

Tae-soo dusted off his clothes and let out a dry chuckle.

"Han-soo, go to the mine and bring some of the miners. Tell them to grab their pickaxes."

If they wanted to use brute force, Tae-soo had no intention of sitting back and taking it.

This place was full of miners—tough men who could smash through solid rock.

While those thugs might have brought clubs, Tae-soo’s men had pickaxes and sledgehammers as standard equipment.

Han-soo immediately understood his brother’s intent and grinned.

"Got it. Leave it to me."

Tae-soo clapped the dust off his hands and strode toward the president’s office.

‘Let’s see what kind of bastard we’re dealing with.’

And with that, he made his way inside.

***

Inside the President’s Office

A female accountant was trembling, caught in an uncomfortable situation.

It was because of the man standing in front of her.

A middle-aged man in his forties, dressed in a black suit, stood there with a gang of thugs behind him, posing as if he were some mafia boss.

"Miss, you really don’t know how to make coffee. You expect me to drink this?"

"I'm sorry..."

She had prepared it exactly as he asked—two sugars, one cream. What was the problem?

"You've completely ruined my taste. How are you going to make it up to me, huh?"

The vice president of Cheongil Chemicals leered at her, his gaze sweeping over her body.

His sticky, lascivious eyes made her skin crawl, and she shivered involuntarily.

"I-I'm sorry."

"Don't just apologize. Do something to make up for it. With a face and body like that, why make things difficult?"

His thick hand slid over her hip, groping her.

Startled, she tried to step back.

But his palm didn’t move away.

"You’re too pretty to be wasting away in some rural dump like this. What do you say? Want to come to Hong Kong with me? I'll put you on a plane."

His hand slithered downward, creeping slowly toward the front.

"P-please, don’t do this!"

"You like it, don’t you? No need to play hard to get."

Just then—

BANG!

The door, already ajar, was kicked open with a loud crash.

Tae-soo strode into the office.

"Playing hard to get? What a load of crap."

"Boss!"

The accountant’s face lit up with relief.

Tae-soo strode forward and smacked away the hand clinging to the young woman’s hip.

The Vice President of Cheongil Chemicals clicked his tongue in disappointment.

"Right when things were getting good... You have no sense of timing."

Tae-soo’s eyebrows furrowed sharply.

He turned to the accountant and asked,

"Did this bastard touch you like that?"

Then, without warning, Tae-soo grabbed the Vice President’s butt and squeezed it roughly.

"W-what the hell are you doing?!"

Both the Vice President and his men in black suits were utterly dumbfounded.

Even the accountant was completely shocked.

But Tae-soo remained unfazed.

"I believe it was something like this, wasn’t it?"

His hand slid down the man's thigh, moving toward the front of his pants.

"Y-you crazy perverted bastard! Get your filthy hands off me!"

The Vice President recoiled in horror, shoving Tae-soo’s hand away.

Tae-soo smirked and said,

"Playing hard to get, are we?"

"W-what did you just say?"

"That’s what you said earlier, didn’t you? Am I wrong?"

"You insane son of a bitch! Do you even know who I am? Are you out of your damn mind?!"

Tae-soo scoffed.

"I barely touched you, and you're freaking out already. Imagine how she must have felt. Apologize to our accountant. Then, and only then, I’ll apologize to you."

The room fell into stunned silence.

The accountant grabbed Tae-soo’s arm.

"Sir, please stop. I’m fine."

Tae-soo turned to look at her.

She gave him a bright smile.

"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. You paid him back on my behalf, and that’s good enough for me. The last thing I want is for you to apologize. I’d rather not get an apology from that bastard at all."

"Well, if that’s how you feel, we’ll leave it at that."

Tae-soo nodded at her.

"Go wait outside."

The accountant couldn't hide her gratitude as she hurried out of the room.

The Vice President of Cheongil Chemicals chuckled sleazily and held up his pinky finger.

"Oh? That pretty little thing just now... Don’t tell me she’s your woman?"

Tae-soo smirked and raised his middle finger.

Kim Jung-nam chuckled, wagging his finger.

"Fiery temper, huh? I’m the Vice President of Cheongil Chemicals. My older brother is Kim Bong-nam, the President of Cheongil Chemicals. You know what that means, don’t you?"

Tae-soo scoffed at how ridiculous the man was.

Kim Jung-nam laughed heartily.

"Good, as long as you understand. Don’t go acting all high and mighty over some woman. Just bring out the contract already. You should be grateful that I’m even willing to sign it."

He spoke with arrogant confidence.

Tae-soo, however, was deeply unimpressed by Cheongil Group’s approach.

"What a waste of my time."

"Hey, boys."

At Kim Jung-nam’s signal, the men in black suits scowled menacingly and strode toward Tae-soo.

"Where do you think you’re going, buddy? We’ve got a contract to sign."

"Judging by the way you were mouthing off to an important man, you must have quite the guts, huh?"

"Sit down. The Vice President isn’t finished talking."

Crack. Crack.

The suited men cracked their knuckles, rolled their shoulders, and twisted their necks, making a show of intimidation.

Each of them was holding a club.

Kim Jung-nam flashed a smug grin.

"Let me give you some friendly advice. Sign the molybdenum supply contract and send that young lady back to me. Do that, and I’ll let this little disrespect slide."

Just then—

BANG!

The door to the president’s office burst open.

A crowd of miners stormed in, gripping pickaxes and sledgehammers.

Despite the freezing winter, they were bare-chested, their rock-hard muscles sculpted from years of breaking stone.

"And just what the hell do you think you’re doing here?"

They stepped forward, aiming their pickaxes at the suited men.

The black suits instinctively backed away from Tae-soo.

The miners glared, their voices dripping with menace.

"You little mutts think you can wave your sticks around here?"

"Which one of you bastards treated our sweet accountant’s ass like playdough? Let me get a good look at your face."

"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. If you kneaded her like clay, then it’s only fair we smash your skull like it’s made of the same stuff."

"Why waste time talking? A real man doesn’t run his mouth too much. Let’s beat ‘em first. We can listen to whatever they have to say after that."

The miners swung their pickaxes and hammers slightly, testing their grip.

The black suits hesitated, lowering their clubs just a bit.

Their eyes trembled as they glanced nervously at Kim Jung-nam, lips barely parting.

"V-Vice President..."

Kim Jung-nam’s face looked like he’d just swallowed something foul.

Between the rugged miners glaring at him with pickaxes in hand, a small face suddenly popped out.

It was the accountant.

"Boss, should I call for more? There are plenty waiting outside!"

Beside her, another face peeked out—a skinny man.

It was Holjjoogi.

"Tae-soo, the guys outside are getting restless. They’re pissed they can’t come in. They say if we just drag these suited bastards out, they’ll take care of the rest. What do you wanna do?"

The men in black suits turned pale.

One of the miners grinned, pretending to dig the ground with his pickaxe. Another clapped his hands together, smoothing down imaginary soil as if tidying up a grave. The two burst into laughter.

The black suits quickly snapped their heads toward Kim Jung-nam, eyes desperate, waiting for his word.

"V-Vice President..."

Kim Jung-nam shot to his feet.

"Let’s resolve this... through conversation. Just the two of us. Quietly."

Holjjoogi scoffed.

"Funny how a guy who wants to 'talk' brought a whole damn squad in suits all the way to Gangwon Province. And first thing you do is mess with our accountant?"

"....."

Kim Jung-nam was at a loss for words.

The miners swung their pickaxes menacingly.

"First, apologize to our accountant."

"And then apologize for threatening our boss."

"That's the way it should be."

"Of course. Ain't no other way."

Kim Jung-nam shut his eyes tightly.

He was completely cornered.