Chapter 102: Highway Robbers

A few days later.

Friday arrived—the day I worked at Korea Investment.

As usual, the first thing I did was head to the Chairman's office to greet Park Yeongil.

After bowing respectfully, I sat down on the empty sofa. The Chairman looked at me with concern.

"Chief Cha, you look unusually tired today. Did something happen?"

Yesterday afternoon, the clothes we had bought for Mom at the Hangang Department Store last Sunday had finally been delivered.

There was just one problem.

Along with the clothes came five luxury designer handbags, five pairs of shoes, and a pile of expensive accessories.

Naturally, Mom immediately asked where all of it had come from. I didn't hide anything and told her exactly what had happened. After hearing the explanation, she firmly declared that she would accept the clothes, but since she had never bought the handbags or anything else, all of those items had to be returned.

I immediately called President Yoon Sehwa, explained the situation, and told her I wanted to return the gifts. However, she simply replied that everything had already been paid for, returns were impossible, and promptly hung up.

I recounted the entire ordeal from last night to Chairman Park in detail.

"...So Mom absolutely refuses to accept the handbags, shoes, and accessories. She's completely stubborn about it."

"Ha-ha-ha!"

After listening to me, Chairman Park Yeongil suddenly burst into booming laughter.

Not understanding what was so funny, I simply stared at him in silence.

A while later, he stopped laughing and continued.

"It seems Chief Cha inherited his stubborn personality directly from his mother."

"I can't deny that."

"As a matter of fact, I'm the one who gave your mother all those handbags, shoes, and accessories."

"You, Chairman?"

"When I met your mother last Sunday, I noticed her handbag was very old. Then, when we parted after dinner, I noticed the heels of her shoes were badly worn. I don't think I need to explain any further."

"You could have at least hinted something to me beforehand."

"Then it wouldn't have been a surprise."

"...Well, if you put it that way, I suppose I can't argue."

"All right, let's leave that subject behind. Secretary Kang, brief Chief Cha on the results of the investigation."

"Yes, Chairman."

Secretary Kang Inhan answered crisply before getting straight to the point.

"Yesterday evening Chairman Gomez contacted me. We've located Director Jang Seokcho. He's currently in Los Angeles, staying at his younger daughter's house."

"What a relief. I'd honestly started worrying that Director Jang might no longer be alive."

"I know exactly what you mean. In fact, I spoke with him personally an hour ago."

"Really? How is he doing?"

"Just a moment."

Kang Inhan immediately dialed a number. Judging by his actions, he intended to put the call on speaker.

After several rings, a cautious, quiet voice answered.

"...Secretary Kang, I'm listening."

"Director Jang, I'm here with Chief Cha Jiham, Mrs. Sun Jisuk's son. He would like to speak with you. Are you available?"

"Yes, please hand him the phone."

Taking the phone from Secretary Kang, I spoke.

"Director Jang, hello. It's been quite a while."

"Jiham... I'm so ashamed to face both you and your mother."

"It's all right. Could you tell me how you ended up in this situation?"

"At the beginning of the year, my friends and I went to Macau. One of them loved gambling and dragged us into a casino just to have some fun..."

To summarize Director Jang's story, he had been lured into a scam at the casino. Falling for their tricks, he lost one hundred thousand dollars, approximately one hundred thirty-five million won.

"...I signed a promissory note, and as soon ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) as I returned to Korea, I immediately transferred the entire one hundred thousand dollars to them. But a month later, some men showed up. They produced that same promissory note and demanded five hundred million won."

"But didn't you just say you paid the debt in full?"

"That's what I thought too! But those bastards shamelessly claimed I hadn't paid the interest."

Director Jang had transferred the full amount immediately after returning from Macau. How could the interest possibly have grown into five hundred million won—almost four times the original debt?

When I asked how such a thing was possible, he answered,

"They charged five thousand dollars in compound interest every single day. I didn't transfer the money until five days later."

"My God. They're outright highway robbers! So because of just five thousand dollars, the debt ballooned into five hundred million won?"

"That's right. Unable to endure their threats, I scraped together everything I had and paid them three hundred million won. But they still wouldn't stop. They began showing up at my restaurant, smashing everything while demanding the remaining two hundred million."

"Those sons of bitches."

The curse escaped my mouth before I realized it.

"I begged them to give me more time to find the money, but they wouldn't listen. Meanwhile, the interest kept increasing. Eventually they demanded that I transfer all of my real estate to them as repayment."

"What happened after that?"

"When I refused, they dragged me into the woods. They beat me, buried me alive up to my neck... They tortured me every way they could think of. To escape that nightmare, I had no choice but to abandon everything and flee to the United States to stay with my younger daughter."

"So that's what really happened..."

"Jiham, I'm doing everything I can to gather enough money to pay my employees their unpaid severance. Please, just give me a little more time."

I knew Director Jang's words were nothing more than polite promises. How could someone hiding in America with no money possibly pay everyone's severance? He clearly needed help.

"Director Jang, don't worry about that anymore. I'll handle the severance myself."

"What? What do you mean?"

"Now isn't the time to explain. You'll understand everything later. For now, let's discuss something else. Tell me everything you know about the people who scammed you."

"Why?"

I had already decided to use this opportunity to completely eliminate both the scam syndicate and the Scorpion Gang that had been extorting Director Jang. But explaining all of that now would only make the conversation drag on, so I gave another reason.

"I want to report them to the police on your behalf."

"I appreciate your concern, Jiham, but those people are in Macau."

"Our company's Chairman has extremely influential connections with high-ranking officials in China."

"I see... Well then, the leader of the scam ring is named Jeong Sanhak. He's Korean, just like us."

Director Jang told me everything he knew, but unfortunately none of it provided the decisive clue we needed. Even so, knowing how terrible his situation had been, I patiently listened until he finished.

"...They lived in a luxurious mansion somewhere inside Macau."

"Do you know the exact address, or at least which district the mansion is in?"

"Jiham, it was my first time ever visiting Macau. How could I possibly know?"

"I understand. Do you still have the bank transfer records for the one hundred thousand dollars?"

"I think the bank should be able to provide a statement if I request one."

"Excellent. Secretary Kang will give you an email address. As soon as you obtain the statement, send it there immediately."

"All right, I will. Now let me tell you about the gangsters who extorted three hundred million won from me here in Korea."

"You don't need to. We already have all the information on them."

After discussing a few more everyday matters, I handed the phone back to Kang Inhan. He dictated the email address to Jang Seokcho before ending the call.

As though waiting for that exact moment, Chairman Park Yeongil immediately addressed me.

"So, Chief Cha, what do you think we should do with the scum who tormented Director Jang?"

"First, we need to identify the scammers using the information he just gave us."

"All right. Let's assume we identify them. What's your next step?"

"I plan to go to Macau personally and wipe out the entire bunch."

"Is that really necessary?"

Chairman Park's question was filled with doubt. But since I had already thought everything through, I wasn't worried in the slightest.

"I'll be killing two birds with one stone."

"You're saying there's another reason?"

"We also need to recover the five hundred billion won that the fugitive K&J Bio Director Go Yeongjun stole from Korea Investment."

"That's right! I'd completely forgotten about that bastard."

Secretary Kang Inhan, however, had a different opinion.

"Chief Cha, regarding Go Yeongjun, all we know is that he's hiding somewhere in Macau. We have nothing more specific."

"Macau covers only about thirty-three square kilometers—roughly the size of Seoul's Songpa District. If we keep our eyes open and search thoroughly, sooner or later we'll find him."

"Since you're so confident, I have nothing to object to."

"By the way, I believe the Scorpion Gang that terrorized Director Jang here in Korea is even worse than the Macau scammers. Secretary Kang, put them under constant surveillance. I want every single movement monitored."

"Wouldn't it be better to seize the opportunity and eliminate them right now?"

I shook my head.

"If we eliminate the Scorpion Gang now, the scammers in Macau will probably sense something is wrong and disappear into hiding. We need to strike with certainty. We must take both groups down simultaneously."

"Ah... Now I understand your plan."

"Complete the investigation into the Macau gang as quickly as possible."

"It will be done!"

Kang Inhan's loud, confident voice echoed throughout the Chairman's office.

***

Bzzz. Bzzz.

As soon as I returned to my desk, the phone in my hand began vibrating.

I glanced at the screen. It was Lee Jihun, the President's Chief of Staff, who was currently leading the Korean government delegation in the United States.

"Director Lee, hello! How are the negotiations progressing?"

"Ha-ha-ha!"

Judging by his cheerful laughter, President Douglas had completely accepted the conditions proposed by our side.

"Director Lee, congratulations! You did an incredible job."

"Come now, Jiham, ha-ha! I merely arrived after everything had already been prepared and enjoyed the meal you'd already laid out for us."

"Well, it wasn't me who prepared the table. It was Chairman Bongard and Chairman Gomez."

"That's true, but they both acted solely because you personally asked them to."

"...Well, when you put it that way, I suppose you're right."

"Thanks to you, Chief Cha, our country has gotten rid of an enormous headache. Thank you."

Feeling slightly embarrassed by the praise, I decided to change the subject.

"There's no need to thank me. Tell me, when is the operation against the Triad's American branch and its drug network scheduled to begin?"

"Tomorrow at midnight, California time."

It was currently six o'clock in the evening in California, meaning there were about thirty hours remaining.

"Do you think they'll really be fully prepared in just one day?"

"The American agencies were already fully mobilized. All they needed was the order to move."

At that moment, a brilliant idea flashed through my mind.

If everything was handled correctly, we could make an enormous profit.

My heart immediately began beating faster, and I spoke more quickly.

"I understand. Please tell Director Nevers that we're looking forward to excellent results."

"I certainly will, ha-ha. All right, we'll talk again later."

Click.

As soon as I hung up, I immediately used the internal line to summon Korea Investment President Cho Myeongsu.

"Chief Cha, you wanted to see me?"

"President Cho, you're familiar with a company called Golden Health, the American wholesaler of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, aren't you?"

"Of course."

"Good. Then let's get straight to business. Tonight, begin opening a major short position on Golden Health. Launch a large-scale short sale."

"May I ask why?"

Judging by his sharp tone, President Cho Myeongsu immediately sensed that something major was about to happen. His voice became serious.

"The Triad acquired Golden Health for one reason only—to use its distribution channels to flood the United States with drugs. Based on the intelligence we provided, the U.S. government will completely destroy the Triad's American branch tomorrow night."

"I understand what you're getting at. But to profit from short selling, the company's stock has to collapse completely."

"I'll take care of that problem myself. You can rest easy."

When Cha Jiham, a man who had never known defeat, displayed such absolute confidence, doubt and hesitation became unnecessary luxuries.

"Understood. How much capital should we commit to the short position?"

"The more, the better. Go all in."

"What target return should we set?"

"I think sixty to seventy percent should be about right."

"That much?!"

"That's only the target."

"Ha-ha, all right. I'd better get to work. We've got a mountain of things to do."

"Wait a moment."

I stopped Cho Myeongsu just as he was about to stand up from the sofa.

"Is there something else, Chief Cha?"

"When you begin opening the short positions, use Chairman Park's personal funds as well."

"It will be done. Then I'll be on my way."

Cho Myeongsu quickly left the office, closing the door behind him.

I watched him leave before picking up my mobile phone once again.