Chapter 53: Far Too Perceptive

A few days later.

Police Superintendent Hwang Dongsok, who had insisted on holding a press conference, publicly announced the complete destruction of the Triad's Korean branch.

In addition, he declared that a fierce firefight had broken out during the operation, forcing the police to eliminate six gang members.

Apparently hoping to soften the Chinese government's reaction, he also reported that numerous Special Operations officers had been wounded during the raid.

Naturally, knowing what had really happened, I could only snort.

He invited reporters into the Triad's former headquarters, where he displayed 225 kilograms of methamphetamine, enormous stacks of cash, and every kind of equipment used to manufacture narcotics as evidence.

The public, fully aware of the dangers posed by drugs, overwhelmingly supported the police operation that had wiped out the Korean branch of the Triad.

I searched online for the Chinese government's response, but found nothing out of the ordinary.

Taking that as a good sign, I crossed the Triad operation off my list of major concerns.

Meanwhile, there was another piece of good news: I had finally shed my intern status and been promoted to a full-time position.

I'm not sure this is really something to celebrate...

Even though the road ahead would undoubtedly be full of hardships, there was nothing I could do about it.

Since I had already stepped into this world and made my promises, I intended to fulfill them to the very end.

"Professional Cha, Professional Yun, congratulations on officially becoming full-time employees."

"Thank you, Director."

"Shall we sit down and talk for a bit?"

After Yun Sola and I sat down on the vacant sofa, the secretary brought us drinks.

Once Director Jeong Sunho had quenched his thirst, he subtly signaled Support Team Leader Heo Yeongjin before beginning the conversation.

"Seeing the two of you sitting together reminds me of a pair of mandarin ducks."

"Director, you thought so too?"

As though he had been waiting for exactly that opening, Heo Yeongjin immediately chimed in.

"I've thought that ever since the day you two became interns."

"Wow, I only found out just now, but the two of you are incredibly perceptive."

"By the way, Professional Cha, do you have a girlfriend?"

The moment he asked, a strange feeling washed over me.

It was obvious that Jeong Sunho and Heo Yeongjin were doing everything they could to match me with Yun Sola.

Could it be... she got to the Director and Team Leader beforehand?

I shot Yun Sola a brief glance before answering Jeong Sunho's question.

"I'm too busy just making ends meet. I don't have time for dating."

"Hmm, I see. What about you, Professional Yun?"

"I already have someone I'm getting to know."

Yun Sola answered with a perfectly calm expression, never taking her eyes off me.

At that moment, I desperately wanted to peek inside her head.

She had shown interest in me ever since the interview.

Knowing it was because of the pheromones contained in the herbal tranquilizer, I had deliberately kept my distance from her.

And now she was openly giving everyone the impression that we were already seeing each other.

I wanted to tell Jeong Sunho that it wasn't true, but I couldn't rudely interrupt her in the middle of speaking.

While I desperately searched for a way to dispel Yun Sola's misleading implication, Jeong Sunho continued.

"Professional Yun, I hope everything works out well with him."

"Thank you for your encouragement."

"..."

"Well then, let's get down to business. When will Endivia and the Bongard Investment Group be visiting our country?"

"I spoke with Isabella yesterday. They expect to arrive no later than the middle of this month."

"That leaves less than two weeks. If anything comes up, report it to me or Team Leader Heo immediately."

"Understood."

"Congratulations once again on becoming full-time employees. You may return to your desks."

The moment Cha Jiham and Yun Sola left the office, Jeong Sunho turned toward Heo Yeongjin.

"The man Professional Yun is 'seeing' is Cha, isn't it?"

"I think the same as you do, Director... but somehow, I don't think it's him."

"Then why is Professional Cha so determined to keep his distance from her?"

"I honestly don't know."

Heo Yeongjin instinctively glanced around before continuing.

"Director, I learned something astonishing yesterday."

"Then stop dragging it out and tell me."

"After Professional Cha left work at four yesterday afternoon, he went to a company called Korea Investment in Euljiro."

"What?!"

Heo Yeongjin found Jeong Sunho's sudden shock rather puzzling.

"Director, do you know that company?"

"To put it simply, it's a venture capital firm."

"But there are plenty of companies like that in our country."

"That's true. But Korea Investment specializes in discovering and nurturing promising venture companies. On top of that, it owns major stakes in countless ordinary corporations. And if we're talking about the most important fact..."

He paused.

"They're the third-largest shareholder of our group."

"What?!"

Heo Yeongjin shot to his feet in genuine shock.

"The ceiling isn't going to collapse. Sit back down."

"Ah, my apologies. I was just too surprised."

Feeling embarrassed, Heo Yeongjin scratched the back of his head before hurriedly sitting back on the sofa.

"No one knows the exact size of Korea Investment's assets, but there are persistent rumors that they exceed fifty trillion won. For your information, our Chairman and Korea Investment's Chairman, Park Yeongil, have been old friends for many years."

"Could it be... Chairman Park is backing Professional Cha?"

Jeong Sunho immediately began to panic.

His assignment, together with Heo Yeongjin, was to ensure that Cha Jiham and Yun Sola got married within a year.

But what if Cha Jiham was being personally supported by Chairman Park?

That would explain why someone with such an unbelievably wealthy patron treated Yun Sola with such indifference.

"Team Leader Heo, how are we supposed to get Cha and Yun married?"

"Should we reveal Professional Yun's true identity to Professional Cha?"

"I'd like to, but the Chairman specifically ordered us to keep her identity secret."

"Then what are we supposed to do?"

"Ha..."

Jeong Sunho stared blankly into space, letting out a long sigh as though he had completely run out of ideas.

***

At the same time.

I was chatting with Professional Woo Changhun and Yun Sola in the lounge.

"Professional Cha, Professional Yun, congratulations."

"Thank you, Professional Woo."

"I didn't help you become full-time employees at all, so I almost feel embarrassed accepting your thanks."

His words were only partly true, but naturally I couldn't tell him the real story.

"If it hadn't been for you, Professional Woo, neither of us would have become permanent employees."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Woo Changhun looked completely confused.

"The decisive factor in our promotion was obtaining information about Endivia and its competitors from Isabella."

"Didn't you gather all that information by yourself, Professional Cha?"

The situation suddenly became awkward.

Sensing something strange, Yun Sola narrowed her eyes before cutting into the conversation.

"Professional Woo, tell me. What really happened?"

"Huh? W-What exactly do you mean?"

Woo Changhun hesitated, clearly feeling guilty.

As for me, all I could think was that this was bad.

I had extracted information about Endivia and its competitors only after pushing Isabella to her limits.

I had deliberately included Woo Changhun in the story because I couldn't exactly describe the fierce battle that had actually taken place.

Now he had completely forgotten our agreement and accidentally let the truth slip.

If I didn't fix his mistake immediately, things could become very troublesome.

Pushing my brain into overdrive, I quickly came up with a rescue plan and joined the conversation.

"Professional Yun, let me tell you what really happened."

"I'm listening."

"You remember getting completely drunk while drinking with Isabella, and Professional Woo took you back to the hotel, right?"

"Of course I remember."

"While Professional Woo was returning to the bar, I got Isabella extremely drunk and managed to obtain the information we needed."

"But why did you tell the Vice Chairman that you and Professional Woo obtained the information together?"

"All of us were working together to get information out of Isabella. How could I stab the other two in the back just to earn all the credit for myself?"

"I suppose you're right... Professional Cha isn't the kind of person who would do something like that."

Phew...

As I quietly breathed a sigh of relief, Woo Changhun, realizing he'd nearly exposed me, hurriedly changed the subject.

"I have something I'd like to ask you, Professional Cha. Mind if I do?"

"I'll decide whether to answer after I hear the question. Is that alright?"

"Of course. Naturally. Why do you leave work at four every day and take every Friday off?"

I had expected someone to ask that sooner or later, so I already had a convincing explanation prepared.

"Another company has been trying to recruit me. I've already submitted my resignation, but Hangang Group refuses to accept it."

"I see. Let's take it one step at a time. Which company is trying to recruit you?"

"Korea Investment. Their headquarters are in Euljiro."

"Is it really worth leaving the country's top conglomerate for some no-name company?"

"Most people don't know this, but Korea Investment is a major company with assets worth around fifty trillion won."

"...I see. They must have offered you better conditions than we have."

My salary at Korea Investment was around 300 million won.

Thinking Woo Changhun might go into shock if I told him the real figure, I decided to drastically understate it.

"I didn't calculate it exactly, but just looking at the base salary, it's roughly twice what I make here."

"With that kind of salary, I'd switch too. But then why is our company preventing you from resigning?"

"They want me to help Hangang Electronics, Endivia, the Bongard Investment Group, and Korea Investment successfully establish their joint venture."

"Well, the joint venture was your idea in the first place, so that makes perfect sense. By the way, Korea Investment is participating too?"

"Yes. That's how things turned out."

Bzzz... Bzzz...

Just then, the phone on the table vibrated.

Checking the caller ID, I saw it was Chief Secretary Kang Inhan.

If he was calling me while I was at Hangang Group today, something unexpected had obviously happened.

I couldn't discuss matters in front of Woo Changhun and Yun Sola.

After excusing myself, I stepped away and answered.

"Chief Secretary Kang, this is Cha."

"[Director Cha, I apologize for interrupting while you're busy.]"

"It's alright. Is something the matter?"

"[Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong of the National Police Agency would like to discuss an urgent matter with you regarding the destruction of the Triad.]"

Why would the Commissioner General personally want to discuss something with me?

"Hmm. Could you tell me what it's about?"

"[It's regarding Chen Shao.]"

"I understand. When and where should I come?"

"[Commissioner Choi is already on his way to your company.]"

My working hours at Hangang Group ran from Monday through Thursday until four in the afternoon.

But only an hour had passed since the workday began, and I already needed to head over to Korea Investment.

On the other hand, I couldn't exactly tell Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong, who was already on his way, to turn around and go home.

"I'll get there as quickly as I can, but I can't make any promises."

"[Understood. I'll see you shortly.]"

Click.

After ending the call, I quietly muttered to myself,

"I could really use a second body right about now... and even that probably wouldn't be enough."

***

"What did Director Cha say?"

As soon as Kang Inhan hung up, Chairman Park Yeongil asked curiously.

"He said the circumstances won't allow it. He may arrive late."

"I see? We can't keep Commissioner General Choi waiting. Call Chairman Yoon."

Kang Inhan contacted Chief Secretary Song Dosok, exchanged a few brief words, and then handed the phone to Chairman Park.

Pressed for time, Park Yeongil immediately got to the point as soon as Yoon Jongu answered.

"I have an urgent matter. I need you to send Director Cha over to our company."

"[Tell me what's so urgent first.]"

"Commissioner General Choi is on his way to meet him."

"[Could it be...]"

As though he already knew why Yoon Jongu had trailed off, Park Yeongil continued immediately.

"Sigh... That man just can't stop sticking his nose where it doesn't belong."

"[What?! Is that true?!]"

Yoon Jongu's voice exploded through the receiver.

"You and I aren't twenty years old anymore."

"[Ahem... My apologies.]"

"As long as you understand. I'm only saying this just in case—don't go sticking your nose into..."

Beep.

Yoon Jongu had hung up on him without another word.

"That old bastard..."

Chairman Park frowned before handing the phone back to Kang Inhan.

"Chairman, did something happen?"

"Kang, you know perfectly well how curious Chairman Yoon is."

"Ah..."

Kang Inhan merely nodded knowingly, making it clear that he understood exactly what Chairman Park meant.