Chapter 52: I’m Sorry I Couldn’t Protect You

“Brother, hurry up and wake up!”

Feeling someone shaking me awake, I forced my eyes open. Cha Hyeonji was vigorously shaking me by the shoulder.

“...What happened? Why are you panicking?”

“This is no time to relax! I think Saho is seriously sick!”

“What?! What symptoms does he have?”

The thought that something might have happened instantly jolted me fully awake.

“I thought he was hungry, so I gave him some raw chicken, but he won't even touch it!”

“Ah, that little rascal... don't tell me...”

I had a pretty good idea what was going on.

To wipe out the Triad's Korean branch, I had desperately needed Saho's help. When I first asked him, he flatly refused. In the end, I had resorted to a carrot-and-stick approach and promised to feed him as much premium-grade beef as he could eat. Saho had eagerly swallowed the bait and thrown himself into the operation with one hundred and twenty percent effort, making an enormous contribution to cleaning up those Triad bastards.

And now he was obviously on strike, demanding the premium beef I'd promised him.

Sigh. I don't even get to eat top-grade beef myself, yet here I am buying it for Saho. Well, a promise is a promise.

“Hyeonji, I'll give you my bank card. Go to the butcher's and buy some premium-grade beef.”

“You're... seriously going to give it to this little brat? So he's just being picky about his food?”

“You could say that.”

“You little...!”

Breathing heavily with indignation, Cha Hyeonji stormed into the living room.

Just to be safe, I hurried after her.

Sure enough, my guess had been correct.

Cha Hyeonji was standing over Saho, who was sprawled dramatically across the living room floor, pointing a finger at him while unleashing a merciless lecture.

“Do you have any idea what shame is? You're freeloading in someone else's house, and you still have the nerve to demand premium beef! If you're going to turn your nose up at your food, then get out of my house right now!”

Terrified by her warning, Saho instantly leaped into my arms.

Feeling sorry for him, I stroked his head, but Cha Hyeonji wasn't finished.

“I'm counting to five. If you don't get off my brother, I'm throwing you outside. Five... four...”

The moment she said, “Four,” Saho practically tumbled out of my arms and flattened himself against the floor.

She stared at him with an icy gaze before continuing.

“Make your choice. Either you get thrown out, or you eat the raw chicken!”

Casting me one pitiful look, Saho slowly trudged over to the bowl of raw chicken.

Saho... I'm sorry I couldn't protect you.

I silently promised myself that I'd definitely make it up to him later with the premium beef I'd promised.

***

Later that evening.

Having been thoroughly scolded by Cha Hyeonji first thing in the morning, Saho was clearly still holding a grudge and had been pestering me ever since.

I did everything I could to appease the offended forest cat.

“I want to feed you premium beef too. But Hyeonji is watching me like a hawk. What am I supposed to do?”

“...Grrr.”

Judging by his growl, my answer wasn't acceptable in the slightest.

“Hyeonji thinks you're just an ordinary cat. If you keep making a fuss like this, both of us might end up getting kicked out.”

“......”

“I'll feed you the beef when she isn't home. Just be patient a little longer.”

Bzzzt...

At that moment, the cell phone lying on the table began vibrating furiously.

Glancing at the screen, I saw that the caller was Chief Secretary Kang Inhan.

Thinking the timing couldn't have been better, I quickly answered.

“Hello, Chief Secretary Kang.”

“Director Cha, do you have any plans for dinner this evening?”

“Nothing in particular, but...”

I deliberately paused, trying to guess what Kang Inhan wanted.

“The Chairman would like you to join him for dinner.”

“Understood. I'll be there on time.”

“And please bring Miss Cha Hyeonji with you.”

I'd been looking for an opportunity to introduce my younger sister to Chairman Park Yeongil anyway, so the invitation couldn't have come at a better time.

Just as I was about to agree, however, my eyes fell on the gloomy Saho lying nearby.

“Chief Secretary Kang, may I choose tonight's dinner menu?”

“Oh? Is there something specific you'd like to eat?”

“Well, this morning my sister and...”

I explained in detail what had happened between Cha Hyeonji and Saho earlier that morning.

“...I think Saho could use something to lift his spirits.”

“Hahaha! I understand completely. We'll prepare the finest premium beef available.”

“Sorry for troubling you.”

“It's nothing. I have quite a bit to take care of, so I'll have to end the call here.”

Click.

The moment the call ended, Saho's mood brightened instantly, and he jumped into my arms.

“You really do know how to read the situation perfectly.”

Holding Saho against my chest, I opened my bedroom door, walked into the living room, and addressed Cha Hyeonji.

“We're having dinner with Chairman Park tonight. You're coming with me.”

“Me too?”

“Yes. We're leaving in an hour, so get ready.”

“Do I really have to go?”

The anxiety in her voice was unmistakable.

Expecting exactly this reaction, I'd already prepared an argument she wouldn't be able to refuse.

“Thanks to Chairman Park's intervention, the police managed to catch the driver who hit you and fled the scene.”

“Really?!”

Cha Hyeonji's eyes widened in genuine astonishment.

“Yes. The police carried out a lightning-fast arrest early this morning.”

“Sniff...”

Things took an unexpected turn.

Perhaps because all the stress she'd been carrying finally caught up with her, Cha Hyeonji suddenly burst into tears.

I understood exactly how she felt.

Not only had she been seriously injured in the traffic accident, but she'd also spent months living under the constant threat of being murdered by gangsters.

How could anyone endure that without breaking down?

I gently patted her back, and after calming down a little, she asked,

“Will I be able to get compensation for everything I've suffered?”

“...Huh? Well... of course. From what I can tell, that criminal is unbelievably wealthy. Yes, the police promised they'd squeeze every last penny out of him—even with interest.”

Suddenly, Cha Hyeonji narrowed her eyes suspiciously, as though she'd realized something.

“Brother... were you awake all night because you were trying to catch that bastard?”

“...Ahem! Summer is still a long way off, but for some reason the house suddenly got unbearably hot.”

Fanning myself dramatically with one hand, I hurried back into my room.

***

“Who was that?”

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan covered the receiver with one hand before answering Chairman Park Yeongil.

“It's Commissioner General Choi. He says he has an urgent and important matter to discuss with you.”

Without saying a word, Park Yeongil extended his hand, signaling for the phone.

“Commissioner General Choi, what is it?”

“Yes, Chairman Park. During our thorough search of the Triad's hideout, we discovered enormous sacks filled with cash.”

No further explanation was really necessary.

The money had undoubtedly come from the Triad's drug sales to Korean gangs.

Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong continued,

“I came to the same conclusion, Chairman Park. That led me to an idea. What if we confiscate all of it and use the money to compensate the victims?”

“A very reasonable proposal.”

“The problem is that the amount we found is... enormous.”

“How much are we talking about?”

“Eight hundred and fifty bundles of fifty-thousand-won bills, six hundred and seventy-five bundles of one-hundred-dollar bills, and two hundred and twenty-seven bundles of one-hundred-yuan notes. Converted into Korean currency, it comes to roughly 17.5 billion won.”

“Hm. That exceeds even my expectations.”

“How much do you think should be allocated to compensate the victims?”

“I'll discuss the matter with Director Cha before giving you a final answer.”

Click.

After hanging up, Park Yeongil handed the phone back to Kang Inhan.

“When is Director Cha expected to arrive?”

***

Not long after we rang the doorbell, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan opened the side entrance.

The moment Cha Hyeonji saw his stern appearance, she instinctively flinched and took a step backward.

Knowing full well that his face often intimidated people, Kang Inhan smiled gently.

“Miss Cha Hyeonji, I assure you I'm an extremely soft-hearted man. I've never harmed even a fly.”

The joke drew an embarrassed smile from her.

“Director Cha, the Chairman is already waiting.”

“What?! Director?”

Cha Hyeonji beat me to the question.

Kang Inhan immediately turned toward me.

I gave a slight shake of my head to indicate that I hadn't told her anything.

The consummate professional that he was, he didn't miss a beat.

“I believe Director Cha will explain everything himself when the time is right. Please, come inside.”

“...All right.”

Cha Hyeonji obediently followed him.

When we entered the reception room, Chairman Park Yeongil was already waiting.

He welcomed Cha Hyeonji with the warmth one might show a beloved granddaughter.

Clearly nervous, she bowed politely.

“It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Cha Hyeonji.”

“I've heard a great deal about you from Director Cha.”

“Chairman Park, may I ask you something?”

“Me? What would you like to know? Go ahead.”

“My brother is only an intern at Hangang Group. But both you and Chief Secretary Kang keep calling him 'Director.' Would you mind explaining why?”

“This will take some time, so let's sit down first.”

Chairman Park Yeongil took his usual seat.

Kang Inhan sat on the sofa to one side.

Cha Hyeonji, Saho, and I sat opposite the Chief Secretary.

After thoughtfully tapping the armrest of his chair for a few moments, Chairman Park finally broke the silence.

“I oversee the Korea Investment fund. Since I have neither family nor close relatives, I have no one to inherit the responsibility of managing it. For that reason, I've spent the past six years searching for a worthy successor. After successfully passing a series of exceptionally difficult tests, Director Cha was officially chosen as that successor.”

“I understand what you're saying, but... as I mentioned, my brother is currently working as an intern at Hangang Group.”

“That's part of his training as well. We reached an agreement that he would remain at Hangang Group until the end of the year while simultaneously studying business management under my guidance.”

“But wouldn't it be simpler if my brother just resigned from Hangang Group?”

“I'd have no objection to that myself. Unfortunately, Hangang Group refuses to let Director Cha go.”

Cha Hyeonji couldn't make sense of it.

As the country's largest conglomerate, Hangang Group had no shortage of brilliant people.

Why would they go to such lengths to keep a mere intern?

Her brother was certainly capable, but calling him an unparalleled genius seemed like a stretch.

She voiced those doubts to Chairman Park.

“Miss Cha Hyeonji, you're gravely mistaken. Director Cha is neither merely talented nor an ordinary genius. His abilities exist on an entirely different level.”

“...What?”

“I won't burden you with unnecessary details, but that is an undeniable fact. Hangang Group's executives understand Director Cha's true potential, which is precisely why they're holding on to him so tightly.”

“Brother... is Chairman Park telling the truth?”

Ever since I'd taken that miraculous herbal tranquilizer, it had indeed become difficult to call me an ordinary person.

Chairman Park's words were largely true.

Still, I had no intention of revealing everything to my sister.

There were still too many things I didn't fully understand myself.

Besides, there were matters that would be far too awkward to explain.

Yeah... better not.

Telling her that I'd already stepped into the underworld would only make her worry unnecessarily.

Right now, the wisest course was to blend truth with fiction.

“You already know what I'm capable of.”

“So you're saying Chairman Park and Hangang Group are simply exaggerating your abilities?”

“Everyone has different standards, so it's hard to say. But it's true that Hangang Group really is trying to stop me from leaving.”

“My head is spinning after hearing all of this.”

“This isn't the right time to explain everything. I'll tell you the whole story when we have more time.”

“...All right. It's a promise.”

Seeing that our family discussion had come to an end, Chairman Park turned to his assistant.

“Chief Secretary Kang, I have a confidential matter to discuss with Director Cha. Please show Miss Cha Hyeonji around the estate.”

“Miss Cha Hyeonji, you heard the Chairman's instructions?”

As soon as Kang Inhan led Cha Hyeonji away, Park Yeongil turned back to me.

“Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong called before you arrived. They recovered approximately 17.5 billion won in cash from the Triad's hideout.”

“That's quite a sum.”

“Indeed. Commissioner Choi suggested using the confiscated money to compensate your sister and the families of the other witnesses. What do you think, Director Cha?”

I took a brief moment to carefully consider my answer before replying.

“The cash found in the Triad's hideout most likely wasn't Chen Shao's personal property.”

“I believe you're right.”

“My sister and the other witnesses suffered directly because of Chen Shao. From a logical standpoint, I don't think it's appropriate to compensate them using the Triad's communal criminal funds.”

“Your reasoning is sound. However, there's a possibility that the bastard doesn't have enough personal assets to cover the damages.”

“That's certainly possible.”

I met Chairman Park's gaze.

“But one way or another... we'll make him pay.”

My voice had never sounded firmer.