Chapter 1038: Civil War (4)

When I exposed the drug attack against I.O.A and repeatedly condemned HK Entertainment, the reporters nodded as they typed my words into their laptops.

Then someone spoke up. Team Lead Oh Sun-Beom of Entertainment Big News, the outlet where Reporter Ahn Jong-Ki worked, hesitantly raised a question.

"Chief Jung. That still doesn't prove HK Entertainment was behind it, does it?"

Worried that Entertainment Big News might get caught in the fallout, Team Lead Oh Sun-Beom desperately tried to point out a weakness in my argument. However, I had already prepared to prove that point. The reason I had been running around nonstop since parting ways in Myeong-dong the previous night was to secure exactly that evidence.

"No. Hong Ah-Yoon, Director of HK Entertainment, was the one behind this drug attack targeting I.O.A." The moment I said that, I pressed the remote as if I had been waiting for this exact moment. "Please take a look."

The screen changed. A video began playing of Park Hong-Sik, the talent agent who had been arrested alongside Black Soul the previous night, venting his anger.

-My name is Park Hong-Sik, and I'm Black Soul's talent agent.

Last night, I was arrested together with Alex Jang and the members of Black Soul, but I was released because I never took any drugs.

I'm standing here today to reveal that this entire incident happened under Director Hong Ah-Yoon's orders.

Director Hong Ah-Yoon said that as long as she could destroy I.O.A, she didn't care what it took...

The previous night, Black Soul's talent agent, Park Hong-Sik, had been taken in alongside the others for questioning. Since he had never used drugs, however, he passed the preliminary drug test. After being told to return once the detailed test results were complete, he was released from the detention center before dawn.

Meanwhile, HK Entertainment had been so consumed with protecting Director Hong Ah-Yoon and Black Soul that they completely abandoned their talent agents. As a result, at eleven that night, Park Hong-Sik walked out of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office alone, standing on the sidewalk in a daze, his face completely drained of color.

The one who picked him up was President Han Gwang-Hyun of HAN Entertainment. Knowing how little HK Entertainment valued its talent agents, I contacted Han Gwang-Hyun in Myeong-dong and asked him to look after Park Hong-Sik.

Living up to the reputation he had earned before my regression as a genius salesman, Han Gwang-Hyun comforted the wounded Park Hong-Sik, successfully recruited him, and persuaded him to give this testimony.

"That's not all."

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Each time I pressed the remote again, more testimony appeared from HK Entertainment talent agents whom Han Gwang-Hyun had recruited afterward.

-Director Hong Ah-Yoon was always telling us to crush Jung Yoon-Ho.

-She kept pressuring us talent agents to dig up dirt on I.O.A and Hoop Entertainment...

-And it wasn't just once or twice that she ordered the members of Black Soul to gang up on I.O.A.

No one understood the hardships of talent agents better than other talent agents. After taking in Park Hong-Sik, Han Gwang-Hyun convinced even more dissatisfied HK Entertainment talent agents to testify about Hong Ah-Yoon's usual behavior. As a result, the evidence became impossible to deny.

Looking at the stunned reporters, I raised my voice. "When HK Entertainment first entered the entertainment industry, they promised to accomplish global business on a scale that small agencies could never achieve. Yet instead of doing that, all they've done is use their own artists to gang up on a group of teenage kids like this!"

The reporters nodded in agreement.

"That's why I'm filing this lawsuit not just for our sake, but because I couldn't stand by and watch them continue inflicting the same abuse on other entertainment companies. So I ask all of you to report this fairly."

With undeniable evidence now laid before them, the reporters firmly took my side.

"Even for HK Entertainment, this crosses the line. I couldn't defend them even if I wanted to."

"Fifty billion won might sound like a lot, but compared to what I.O.A would've earned, it's not much. The claim for business interference will definitely hold up. They've already invested an enormous amount of money."

At that moment, Oh Sun-Beom lowered his head and apologized. "I... I had no idea something like that had happened. I'm... sorry for doubting you, Chief Jung."

In all my years, I could count on one hand the number of times I had ever received an apology from an entertainment reporter. I simply gave him a forgiving smile. This had been Ahn Jong-Ki's personal misconduct, not the fault of Entertainment Big News or Oh Sun-Beom.

"It's all right. But please do write the article well."

Oh Sun-Beom cautiously raised his head, wearing an expression that asked if I really meant it. Then he answered firmly, "Don't worry. I'll make sure it's done right."

"Thank you."

At the same time, the other reporters also began typing away, writing the stories they would send back to their newsrooms.

Click, clack.

The sound of laptop keyboards echoed throughout the small auditorium.

*** 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

At the home of Hong Myung-Soo where the HK Inc.'s royal family had gathered, the moment Jung Yoon-Ho's press conference ended, Hong Ah-Yoon couldn't hide her stunned expression. The insider testimony had made it impossible to deny that she had targeted Jung Yoon-Ho.

"Th... that bastard is trying to kill me..."

Just then, article after article began flooding the entertainment sections of the major portal sites. Every single one condemned HK Entertainment, leaving Hong Ah-Yoon at a complete loss.

[Hoop Entertainment Files a Fifty Billion Won Lawsuit Against HK Entertainment.]

[Hoop Entertainment's Chief Jung Yoon-Ho: "We're seeking compensation not only for the emotional harm suffered by I.O.A, but also for HK Entertainment's repeated interference with our business. The lawsuit alone amounts to a staggering fifty billion won!"]

[An Unprecedented High-Stakes Legal Battle in the Entertainment Industry! Hoop Entertainment vs. HK Entertainment.]

[HK Entertainment Reduced to Drug Traffickers Despite Being a Subsidiary of a Major Conglomerate. The Faded Dream of Becoming a Global Content Producer.]

Reading the articles alongside her, Chairman Hong Moon-Gyu trembled with rage. Ordinarily, Jung Yoon-Ho would have done little more than bare his fangs, but today he was charging in as though he intended to settle everything once and for all.

"That lunatic really wants to take this to the bitter end. Fine. Then let's finish it."

Hong Moon-Gyu grabbed his phone. He intended to use HK Inc.'s influence to stop the attacks against them.

"I'm calling Assemblyman Park, so nobody makes a sound!"

At Hong Moon-Gyu's thunderous command, everyone fell silent. Even the kitchen staff froze where they stood.

Still fuming, Hong Moon-Gyu called Assemblyman Park Sang-Gon, the former leader of the ruling party. Only after the phone rang for quite a while did Park Sang-Gon answer.

-Hahaha, if it isn't Mr. Hong. What brings you to call me?

"You already know why. I need your help."

-Oh, come now. What influence do I have? I'm not even the party leader anymore.

"Let's skip the formalities. Help me this one time, and I'll never forget the favor."

-Ahem. Well, when you put it that way, I can't exactly refuse. That said... I'm curious what 'never forget the favor' actually means, Mr. Hong.

Park Sang-Gon was asking for a concrete price. Hong Moon-Gyu shut his eyes and made his offer.

"I'll personally finance whatever you need for your presidential campaign."

Officially, a presidential campaign typically cost between forty and fifty billion won. In reality, however, the true cost often reached three to five times that amount. In other words, Hong Moon-Gyu was offering to shoulder nearly two hundred billion won.

Park Sang-Gon's voice immediately brightened.

-My, that's quite an offer. As expected, you're a man of great generosity, Mr. Hong. Considering everything we've been through together, those of us from the same Faithful should help one another. However...

There was a condition.

"Go ahead."

-We can't save HK Entertainment. Too many people there were caught using drugs, and the public has already accepted the narrative that a major conglomerate bullied a small entertainment company. It's too late. Do you understand?

Hong Moon-Gyu glanced at his daughter before speaking again.

"Then what should we do?"

-They say that when doctors are trying to save a patient's life, sometimes they have to make the cold-hearted decision to amputate a limb.

It was a suggestion to sacrifice HK Entertainment, the company run by his youngest daughter, as the scapegoat.

"Is that really necessary?"

-If you don't like that option, then I suppose you could step down as chairman instead.

For a split second, Hong Moon-Gyu nearly exploded with a stream of curses. He barely held himself back and forced himself to make a decision.

"...Understood. We'll do that. While we're at it, HK Distribution as well..."

-One thing at a time, one thing at a time. Clean up HK Entertainment first, and then I'll help you with the rest. After a mess like this, expecting everything to be solved at once is something not even Jesus himself could manage, Mr. Hong.

"...My apologies. I got ahead of myself."

-Yes, yes. Deal with HK Entertainment first, and then I'll step in. Oh, and from what I've heard, HK Distribution has started attracting the attention of the Financial Supervisory Service rather than the prosecutors.

"I... see."

-Tell your wife to be careful.

"I won't forget this favor."

-Then I'll be going. I have quite a few calls to make.

Park Sang-Gon ended the call.

Click.

Hong Moon-Gyu let out a long, heavy sigh.

Just then, Hong Ah-Yoon spoke. "Dad. What did Assemblyman Park say he'd do?"

In a subdued voice, Hong Moon-Gyu answered, "Ah-Yoon. You're going to have to hold a press conference."

"A press conference?"

"You'll apologize to the public, say you take full responsibility for HK Entertainment's failures in oversight, promise to cooperate fully with every investigation, and accept responsibility for everything that's uncovered."

Hong Ah-Yoon immediately flared up. "Why should I apologize? What did I do wrong?"

"Do as you're told!"

"No! You're telling me to admit I lost to Jung Yoon-Ho! I can't do that! I absolutely won't!"

As Hong Ah-Yoon screamed in defiance, Hong Moon-Gyu finally lost his temper. He loved his daughter, but he wasn't about to let HK Inc. go under because of her.

"You've already lost! Completely! Chief Jung is far beyond your ability to handle!"

Hong Ah-Yoon's face turned bright red as she shouted back. "If you don't want to help me, then don't! I'll deal with Jung Yoon-Ho myself!"

Hong Moon-Gyu, however, had no intention of letting her do as she pleased. "That's enough. Apologize, then leave for Russia for a while. That's the only way you'll survive!"

HK Inc. had only one business operation in Russia. It was HK Fisheries' imports of frozen Alaskan pollock from Russia.

"Dad!"

"Give a proper public apology, then voluntarily spend about a year in Russia. When you come back, you'll get married, and after that I'll make a place for you again."

"Dad! Have you lost your mind? You're telling me to go die!"

Hong Moon-Gyu was demanding Hong Ah-Yoon a transfer to a remote overseas post, followed by marriage. To someone secretly aiming to become the group's next chairman, both were devastating blows.

Despite Hong Ah-Yoon's protest, Hong Moon-Gyu didn't so much as blink. "Butler Kim. Take Ah-Yoon outside and make her give interviews to the reporters. I don't care if you have to force her. Make it happen."

"Yes, Mr. Chairman."

The household staff immediately rushed toward Hong Ah-Yoon. "Our apologies, Young Miss!"

In an instant, they lifted Hong Ah-Yoon completely off the ground. She thrashed wildly, flailing as though she had completely lost control.

"Let me go! Let me go! I hate the smell of pollock more than anything in the world! Aaaah! Let me go, you bastards!!"

Hong Ah-Yoon's desperate screams echoed throughout the house as she was dragged toward the front door.

Bang.

The moment the door shut, Hong Moon-Gyu turned to his wife and spoke. "Just hold out for a few days. Once Ah-Yoon's situation is settled, I'll make sure your funds are gradually unfrozen."

"Honey! But if HK Department Store ends up collapsing..."

"Do you want to spend your days in Russia cleaning pollock alongside Ah-Yoon?"

At the threat of being shipped off to Russia, Noh Hyun-Hee flinched and lowered her gaze. "You'd better keep your promise."

Hong Moon-Gyu let out a long sigh and sank into the sofa. In the entire history of HK Inc., no one had ever inflicted such devastating damage on the company. He had dismissed Jung Yoon-Ho as nothing more than an arrogant young upstart. Yet somehow, Jung Yoon-Ho had become an opponent even he found difficult to handle.

"Jung Yoon-Ho... I'll never forget what happened today."

As Hong Moon-Gyu vented his fury, the atmosphere inside Hong Myung-Soo's house turned as frigid as the Arctic.

Watching the scene, Hong Jin-Gyu struggled to keep himself from smiling. While everyone else had been consumed by the chaos, he had quietly secured a 16% stake in HK Distribution.

However, Hong Myung-Soo, the eldest son, did not miss the slight curl at the corner of Hong Jin-Gyu's lips.

***

After finishing the press conference alone, I headed to the executive meeting room. Originally, everyone had planned to attend the press conference together, but President Kang Gam-Chan had expected outside pressure and insisted on staying behind in the meeting room.

I took the elevator upstairs to report that the press conference had gone successfully and to discuss what came next. Just then, Kang Gam-Chan's furious voice echoed through the partially open meeting room door.

-Mr. Assemblyman! Withdraw the lawsuit? Those young girls nearly had their lives destroyed because of those drugs! As far as I'm concerned, even a five-hundred-billion-won lawsuit wouldn't be enough, let alone fifty billion!

I quietly pushed the door open. Inside, Kang Gam-Chan, Director Kang Ji-Yung, Chief Lee Dong-Min, and Chief Gu Seong-Cheol all sat with grim expressions, phones pressed to their ears. Each of them was drenched in sweat as they dealt with an endless stream of Kk Talk messages and text messages.

At that moment, Kang Gam-Chan shouted into his phone.

"Mr. Assemblyman! If you're calling to pressure us into silencing Chief Jung, then I'll bring every reporter downstairs back up here right now and hold another press conference exposing how Representative Kim Sung-Ryul of Guro's 3rd District is working with HK to pressure us! Are you fine with that?"

When Kang Gam-Chan stood his ground without backing down, the other side finally barked one last angry remark before hanging up.

-P-pressure? Damn it... Fine! Do whatever you want!

After receiving a pressure call from a senior ruling-party lawmaker, Kang Gam-Chan's blood pressure was visibly rising.

"The nerve of that old fool, telling Chief Jung to apologize..." Kang Gam-Chan continued grumbling to himself until he noticed me standing there. Taking a deep breath, he awkwardly asked, "Ahem. So... did the press conference go well?"

I nodded. "Yes. It went very well."

"You did a great job. I should've been there beside you. I'm sorry."

"Not at all, Mr. Kang. If anything, I'm the one who's sorry you had to deal with calls like these because of me."

"What are you apologizing for? We're all in the same boat, aren't we? Besides, I'm the president of the company you work for. I was only doing what I should."

This was probably the greatest pressure Hoop Entertainment's executives had ever faced. Even so, every one of them was doing everything they could to protect me. Once again, I realized that choosing not to leave Hoop Entertainment after my regression had been one of the best decisions I had ever made.

A lump rose in my throat as I bowed deeply to everyone. They all smiled and waved it off, telling me not to worry.

Just then, Kang Ji-Yung picked up the remote. "Looks like Hong Ah-Yoon finally caved. Let's watch that first."

When she switched on the large screen in the executive meeting room, a live news broadcast appeared. On the screen, in front of HK Entertainment's headquarters, Hong Ah-Yoon knelt on the ground beside President Pi Sang-Deuk and Vice President Ha Ill-Kwon.

With trembling hands, Hong Ah-Yoon began reading from a sheet of paper.

-My name is Hong Ah-Yoon of HK Entertainment...

I sincerely apologize to the public for the concern we've caused.

As we expanded our entertainment business too rapidly, I never imagined the company had become this deeply rotten on the inside.

Effective immediately, HK Entertainment will begin the process of... shutting down. We will also do everything we can to help our artists find new opportunities. Thank... you...

With disheveled hair, smeared makeup, bloodshot eyes, and still wearing the same clothes she had appeared in on television the day before, Hong Ah-Yoon looked utterly wretched. Her entire body trembled as she knelt on the concrete in front of HK Entertainment's headquarters, head bowed low, seemingly trying to evoke sympathy.

However, the resentment burning in her eyes was clearly caught by the cameras. It was a hollow apology. Still, it changed nothing. At last, HK Entertainment had fallen. It was my victory, and HK Entertainment's defeat.

'Good riddance, Hong Ah-Yoon!'

Now that I had secured testimony from the talent agents, prison was the only destination left for her.

Kang Gam-Chan let out a long sigh. "...It's finally over."

I quietly exhaled as well, and before I knew it, everyone else did the same. The room filled with synchronized sighs, and we all looked at one another before breaking into quiet laughter. Only now did it truly sink in that Hoop Entertainment, once ranked seventh in the industry, had brought down HK Entertainment, a subsidiary of the nation's twelfth-largest conglomerate.

At that moment, Kang Gam-Chan chuckled. "It's late, but how about we finally get some breakfast? We can cure our hangovers from last night... and celebrate HK Entertainment's downfall while we're at it."

He wanted us to commemorate bringing HK Entertainment to its knees with a meal.

I offered, "My treat."

"Oh? Chief Jung's buying? Sounds good. Then let's get some bone hangover soup[1] from that place nearby. We never know what might come up, so let's stay close. We'll toast with soda instead."

"Sounds good. Although, Mr. Kang, the reporters are still hanging around outside. Wouldn't it be better to have it delivered?"

"Good point. Go ahead."

"Then I'll order the deluxe bone hangover soup!"

I picked up my phone to order our victory meal. Just then, a Kk Talk message from Hong Jin-Gyu caught my eye.

[HJK: Thanks to you, I'm having an easy time. Secured 16%. Let's meet briefly tonight.]

'Good. Keep draining them dry.'

I found myself wondering how much of the company Victoria had managed to acquire in Myeong-dong as well. Still, bone hangover soup was the higher priority. I began dialing the restaurant's number.

Then, an incoming call from an unfamiliar number interrupted me, wiping the number I had been entering from the screen.

Buzz.

[Caller ID: 010-9876-000X]

'Who is this?'

Nothing was more urgent than ordering bone hangover soup. I immediately hit the decline button.

'Decline.'

I started entering the restaurant's number again.

Buzz.

Then, a text message arrived.

[010-9876-000X: It's Hong Myung-Soo, the eldest son of HK Inc. It's my call. Mind answering?]

Of all Chairman Hong Moon-Gyu's children, Hong Myung-Soo was the most ruthless. And now he was calling me.

'Why would he choose this moment to contact me?'

1. Bone hangover soup can be made spicy or non-spicy. It can also be made out of ox bone or pork bone ☜