Chapter 992: You Can Count On Me, Miso (1)

When Honorary Chairman Kim Bu-Ho said he would give me one gift and ask me one favor, I naturally began to tense up. He said it as if it were nothing, but a request from the giant who founded Daechon Inc. could never be trivial.

"What kind of favor are you going to ask?" I asked.

"Come now. Did you not hear me say I'd give you a gift?"

"The word favor stood out to me more than the gift."

Kim Bu-Ho laughed heartily. "That was my mistake. Then let's do this. I'll give you the gift even if you don't grant my request. Will that do?"

"Now that makes me even more curious about the favor."

"It's nothing much. And the gift I'm giving you this time is purely a gift. It's because, thanks to you, Daechon's troublesome succession process ended neatly."

Chairman Kim Ae-Ryeon nodded in the same way. "That's right, Chief Jung. Thanks to you, we also kept Daechon from being split apart. So you can accept it."

"Last time, in exchange for helping you choose a successor, you promised a share exchange after Daechon Media was established. That's enough."

The fact that they had agreed to exchange Daechon Media shares, which would have a market cap five times larger, with Hoop Entertainment shares at a one-to-one ratio was already a gift in itself.

Kim Ae-Ryeon shook her head. "That was the price for helping me be designated as chairman. This is the price for finishing the entire succession process."

"Isn't that the same thing?"

"No? They're completely different. Didn't you see how some were designated as chairman but still didn't end up actually inheriting anything?"

In large corporations, there were often cases where the next chairman changed during the succession process because of a fight over the throne.

"Honestly, I thought it would take at least a year to complete the succession if my sister got involved. Thanks to you, it ended this easily, didn't it? So you can accept it."

Kim Bu-Ho answered with a warm smile. "That's right. So please accept it."

When they put it that way, I couldn't refuse. "As long as it's not too much, I'll accept it."

At that moment, Kim Bu-Ho pointed to the seats of Sung Hak-Soo's directors, who had just been dragged out. "Originally, I was planning to throw about five percent of Daechon Media's shares to those people who just left to appease them. But now they're all going to prison. So I want you to become the owner of those shares."

'Five percent of Daechon Media?'

The two percent of Daechon Media shares I had agreed to exchange for my current two percent stake in Hoop Entertainment was already worth roughly a hundred billion won. Five percent would be shares worth nearly two hundred fifty billion won.

It was a much larger gift than I had expected, so I shook my head. "It's too much."

"It's not too much. It's about the same as the assets you already have anyway."

If I added the two percent of Daechon Media shares I would receive in exchange for my current 13.5 percent stake in Hoop Entertainment, it came out to roughly that amount. Still, this wasn't like adding two million won to two million won. He was saying he would add two hundred fifty billion won to two hundred fifty billion won worth of assets.

It was so absurd that I refused, but he showed no sign of listening.

In the end, I pointed to the thirty directors who remained here and said, "If you give me such a huge gift, what will the directors here say?"

"Is there anyone here who objects? Who?"

Just as I looked around, wondering if at least one person might object, Kim Bu-Ho asked Executive Director Oh Jin-Tae, who was sixty-five.

"Executive Director Oh. Is it you? Do you object?"

Oh Jin-Tae, the chairman's trusted aide who had worked at Daechon Inc. for forty years, shook his head. "Of course not, sir. I'm in favor. And if we give that amount of shares to Chief Jung, we can publicly show that Hoop Entertainment and Daechon Media have a strong relationship."

"Haha. Executive Director Oh understands me."

At that moment, as if they had been waiting, the other directors shouted in unison.

"We're completely in favor."

"Even if you give him more, we'd still be in favor."

"Mr. Chairman, why don't we just make Chief Jung the president of Daechon Media altogether?"

I had no allies here.

Kim Bu-Ho grinned as if to say 'See?'

"Everyone agrees, don't they? How about it? As Director Choi said, if you want, why not become the president of Daechon Media? Then I'll add another five percent..."

There didn't seem to be any way out.

I quickly nodded before he could add anything else and said, "Understood. I'll accept the five percent."

"Good. You've made the right decision." Kim Bu-Ho nodded and addressed everyone gathered there. "Please take good care of Daechon from now on. And don't forget that although Chief Jung is young, he is a partner of our Daechon Inc. Understood?"

At that moment, every director, including Kim Ae-Ryeon, answered in unison. "Yes, Mr. Chairman!"

Kim Bu-Ho nodded with a satisfied expression before rising from his seat.

Scrape.

Kim Ae-Ryeon and the directors all stood up at once. I rose along with them.

Kim Bu-Ho walked over to me and firmly grasped my hand with a smile. "Chief Jung, putting the succession issue aside, I'm truly grateful for what you did this time. Just by preventing Daechon's name from being stained by a murderer, you've protected Daechon."

I shook my head. "It was nothing. It was something I absolutely had to stop as well."

"Is that so? Haha. Then would it be all right if we suppress the articles about the murder? It's the kind of matter that's best left untouched if possible."

"Understood. We'll also cancel Lee Tae-Poong's scheduled interview."

"Thank you."

"Though... can you really suppress the articles?"

Kim Bu-Ho laughed heartily. "We are Daechon."

There was no answer more convincing than that.

"By the way, you still haven't told me the favor. You said there was one thing you wanted to ask."

"I just want you to take good care of Ae-Ryeon."

"That's... it?"

"Yes. That's all. I told you it was simple, didn't I?"

For a favor attached to a gift of five percent of Daechon Media—worth two hundred fifty billion won—it was far too simple. Even as I smiled and shook his hand, I couldn't shake my suspicion.

'What exactly are you plotting?'

***

At 7:00 a.m., the members of Faithful had gathered together in Tokyo, a Japanese restaurant in Yeouido, for the first time in a while.

Assemblyman Park Sang-Gon, who had once been the leader of the ruling party, and his daughter Park Sang-Ah had come. Chairman Hong Moon-Gyu of HK Inc. and his daughter, Hong Ah-Yoon, a director at HK Entertainment, had also arrived. And even the Jin siblings of Jinseong Inc., Jin Myung-Gyu and Jin Myung-Hee, were present.

Those who harbored ill feelings toward Jung Yoon-Ho all wore unusually grim expressions today. The reason was simple—one seat that was usually occupied sat empty.

Park Sang-Gon glanced at the empty seat before speaking to everyone. "The media is keeping quiet about it, but you all know that Chairman Sung Hak-Soo has been arrested, don't you? And that Chief Jung is involved in the matter as well?"

At the news that Jung Yoon-Ho had defeated another enemy, everyone trembled with frustration.

At that moment, Jin Myung-Gyu shouted toward Hong Ah-Yoon. "Hong Ah-Yoon! When are you going to deal with him, huh? Weren't you confident?"

The people gathered here had promised to hand over ten percent of the shares in their core affiliates to Hong Ah-Yoon as payment for getting rid of Jung Yoon-Ho. Yet she hadn't accomplished anything. They began directing their criticism at her.

Grinding her teeth, Hong Ah-Yoon shouted back, "Don't worry. I've already brought someone here who'll help us!"

After speaking, Hong Ah-Yoon looked toward the entrance and called out, "Please come on in!"

The door slid open, and a man in his fifties wearing a suit appeared. It was none other than Son Hyung-Tae, the president of CK Entertainment.

"I see many familiar faces here. It's been quite a while."

CK Entertainment was not merely a management company. It was a media corporation that also owned theaters and cable broadcasting stations. Ordinarily, Son Hyung-Tae would have had no interest in joining this gathering. However, the moment Daechon Inc. entered the media industry, he changed his mind. If he sat back and did nothing, his plans to eventually become chairman of CK Inc. could easily be thrown off course.

Hong Moon-Gyu smiled with satisfaction. "Good. If President Son is getting involved, that'll be a great help. Well done, Ah-Yoon."

"That's not all." Hong Ah-Yoon turned toward Son Hyung-Tae.

Taking the empty seat that had belonged to Sung Hak-Soo, Son Hyung-Tae replied. "Before coming here, I met with the owners of several general programming networks. Every one of them said they intend to oppose Daechon Inc.'s entry into the media business. I've come here as their representative."

News spread that not only CK Entertainment but also the four major broadcasting networks—TVC, MAN, JNBC, and Channel B—had all joined forces with CK Entertainment in fierce opposition to Daechon Inc.'s expansion into media. It was all to stop Daechon Inc., now ranked sixteenth in the business world.

Park Sang-Gon let out a hearty laugh. "Now things are finally getting interesting. President Son, let's work well together from here on."

"Yes, Mr. Assemblyman. And... you may look forward to what's coming. I've prepared a joining gift for this gathering."

"A gift?"

"Jung Yoon-Ho is going to have a very difficult day today."

At Son Hyung-Tae's confident declaration, everyone leaned in to listen.

The media companies united like a cartel and their plan to make Jung Yoon-Ho suffer began pouring smoothly from Son Hyung-Tae's mouth.

***

[(Exclusive) Former Daechon Inc. Chairman Sung Hak-Soo Arrested on Embezzlement Charges]

[(Breaking News) Several Daechon Inc. Directors Also Identified as Accomplices; Mass Arrests for Embezzlement and Breach of Trust]

[Honorary Chairman Kim Bu-Ho Hands Over Everything to Chairman Kim Ae-Ryeon and Declares He Will Also Submit to Investigation. Has Daechon Inc.'s Succession Process Effectively Been Completed?]

It was not until 1 p.m. the next day that news articles about the previous night's events finally appeared. However, just as Kim Bu-Ho had said, not a single article mentioned the murder committed by Sung Hak-Soo came out. And Kim Bu-Ho announced his retirement, declaring that he would submit himself for investigation and take responsibility for everything.

Only then did I finally understand the true meaning of the favor he had asked of me yesterday. What he had really been asking was for me to look after Daechon in the future after he was gone.

'As expected... nothing in this world comes for free.'

He had said I didn't have to grant the favor, but after receiving five percent of Daechon Media, there was no way I could ignore it. Still, I had no intention of putting that responsibility ahead of my work as a talent agent. Just today alone, I was already busy because SBC's daily drama Land of Happiness had its production presentation.

Rustle. Rustle.

The sound of plastic wrapping crinkling beside me pulled my attention away from my phone.

I was currently in the living room on the first floor of the house in Cheonho-dong. Miso was wrapping a set of Powertuff Girls dolls, each about ten centimeters tall, in clear plastic and tying them with pink ribbons. Inside every package was a handwritten note Miso had been preparing herself for the past three days.

[Land of Happiness. Please give it lots of love! ♡ Yoon Kkot-Nim ♡]

Seeing how excited Miso was made even me feel excited.

The problem was that she had to wrap two hundred of them, and only twenty had been completed so far. At this rate, it looked difficult to finish everything before attending the production presentation at Daechon Hotel's Samsung branch at seven in the evening.

So I dropped down beside her and said, "Miso, let me help."

Miso shook her head. "No. I have to do this by myself."

"Why?"

"Because I want to give them to all the reporter unnies and oppas myself. That's what makes it a gift."

Miso couldn't hide how excited she was at the thought of seeing the reporters again after such a long time.

"Hmm... Then can I at least put the wrapped ones into the baskets and secure them?"

After thinking it over, Miso answered, "Mmm... Okay! Uncle Yoon-Ho can do that much!"

"Okay. Just leave it to me."

I immediately started placing the doll sets Miso had wrapped into the baskets and securing them with double-sided tape. As I worked, though, there was one thing I couldn't understand. Lucky, Mimi, Baekseolgi, and Injeolmi were all crouched in front of us, staring.

"Miso, why did you call them over? Were they bored?"

"No. They have jobs too."

"What jobs?"

"Watch."

Miso puffed out her chest and pulled a sheet of kitchen towel from a dispenser box.

Pop.

She wrapped the kitchen towel around the handle of a gift basket and held it out to Lucky, the Pomeranian.

"Lucky! Take it to the front door!"

"Woof!"

Lucky, Baekseolgi's mother and a fully grown Pomeranian, barked once before carefully grabbing the towel-wrapped handle in her mouth and carrying the basket to the entrance.

Thunk.

After setting it down, she grabbed the kitchen towel that now had her drool on it and came running back at full speed.

"Woof!"

"Good job, Lucky!" Miso beamed as she rewarded Lucky with a treat. "See? Lucky's job is delivering them to the entrance. And Baekseolgi can do it too. Watch."

When she gave the same command to young Baekseolgi, the puppy copied exactly what her mother had done. Because she was smaller, the basket dragged slightly across the floor, but Baekseolgi still carried out Miso's instructions admirably.

"Miso... are you a druid?"

"Is that something good?"

"Yeah. That's what people call someone who's really good at communicating with animals and plants."

"Then I'm going to be a druid from now on!" Just then, Miso grinned and called out to Mimi, the orange tabby cat. "Mimi. Take it over there!"

'Wait, cats too?'

I watched in disbelief, but Mimi merely flicked her tail and showed no intention of moving.

"I said take it over there."

Mimi let out a huge yawn.

"You saw Lucky do it. Take it over there!"

"Meow~" Mimi tilted her head.

"Mimi. Hurry up and take it over there!"

At that moment, Mimi suddenly sprang to her feet and began rubbing against Miso's legs.

"Meeeow!"

"No. There's no food! I said take it over there!"

Miso tried her best to sound serious, but now Injeolmi, the kitten, joined in and climbed right up her back.

"Mya~"

Once the cats became completely uncontrollable, Miso turned to me in desperation. "Uncle Yoon-Ho! Help me!"

"R-Right." I quickly pulled Mimi and Injeolmi off Miso and lifted them both up. "You two are going to the spare room."

"Mreeeow!"

Mimi and Injeolmi became even more unruly.

In the end, I had no choice but to quietly utter the magic words. "Want some Churu?"

"Meeeow~"

The two cats immediately looked delighted, stopped resisting, and relaxed in my arms.

Miso cried out, "Huh? Uncle Yoon-Ho's a druid!"

'No, Miso. This is simply the power of Churu.'

***

In the outdoor parking lot connected to the first floor of Daechon Hotel, hotel employees began unloading the two hundred gift baskets from our house.

Holding my hand, Miso watched the baskets being carried away and spoke with a happy smile. "Will the reporter unnies and oppas like them?"

I nodded. "Of course they will. You even included your limited-edition handwritten autograph."

"Hehe. That's a relief."

Just as Miso was enjoying herself, Yoo Ye-Sung, Daechon Inc.'s Chief Secretary, approached and bowed politely. "Hello, Chief Jung. Hello, Miso."

"Yes."

"Hello, Mr. Chief Secretary."

After exchanging greetings, Yoo Ye-Sung spoke. "Mrs. Chairman is busy dealing with the aftermath of yesterday's events, so she sent me in her place. We've made thorough preparations for today's production presentation, so please don't worry."

"Thank you."

"Oh, and Mrs. Lee Ji-Yeon, Ms. Jang So-Yeon, and the rest of the cast are already waiting in the first-floor lounge."

The wrapping had taken much longer than expected, so we had ended up arriving quite late.

"We're later than I thought."

"Not at all. More importantly, none of the reporters have arrived yet. You did notify them of the time properly, right?"

The current time was 6:30 p.m. The production presentation was scheduled for 7:00 p.m., but according to her, only SBC staff members were present.

"Ah, there's a production presentation for KBC's daily drama A Life Lived Twice at the nearby HK Hotel that started at five o'clock. That's where they'll be. They'll come here as soon as it ends."

To compete against our drama, KBC had deliberately scheduled its production presentation two hours earlier on the same day. As a result, all the entertainment reporters were currently attending Writer Nam Jong-Ok's A Life Lived Twice presentation at HK Hotel, only about two hundred meters away.

Yoo Ye-Sung nodded. "I see. Then we'll make sure they're guided directly to the banquet hall as soon as they arrive."

"Thank you."

I bowed lightly, took Miso's hand, and headed toward the waiting room connected to the grand ballroom.

***

The current time was 6:50 p.m., ten minutes before the Land of Happiness production presentation.

After greeting Writer Lee Ji-Yeon, lead actress Jang So-Yeon, and the rest of the cast in the waiting room, we were supposed to head into the presentation. Instead, we had come to a complete stop after hearing Yoo Ye-Sung's report.

"Aside from the SBC reporter and Choi So-Hye, the reporter from Star Exclusive, not a single reporter has shown up."

"What?"

Everyone froze in shock.

At that moment, Reporter Jang Moon-Ki from Weekly Star, the number-one entertainment newspaper, burst into the waiting room, breathing heavily.

"Huh? Chief Jung. Huff, huff... None of the reporters came, right?"

"That's right. Did some major scoop break at the presentation next door?"

"No. That's not it."

"Then what is it?"

"The owners of the entertainment newspapers issued direct orders to their reporters not to come anywhere near this place."

"Why would the newspaper owners do that?"

After glancing around, Jang Moon-Ki lowered his voice and whispered in my ear.

"The owners above them, the owners of the major mainstream media companies, ordered it."

Most entertainment newspapers were actually owned by larger mainstream media corporations. And those mainstream media companies also owned the television networks known as general programming channels. Now that Daechon Inc. was preparing to acquire stakes in those channels, they had decided to demonstrate their power.

"So the reason no reporters came today is basically a warning telling me and Daechon Inc. not to enter the broadcasting industry?" I asked.

Jang Moon-Ki nodded. "Exactly. That's why I think it'd be better to postpone the presentation and meet with the media owners first."

The waiting room immediately erupted into uneasy murmurs. After all, the competing KBC daily drama A Life Lived Twice had already held a successful production presentation at HK Hotel.

Just then, Miso lowered her shoulders and looked up at me with sad eyes. "Uncle Yoon-Ho. Are we not doing the presentation today? I worked so hard preparing all these gifts for the reporter unnies and oppas... Is nobody really coming?"

For Miso, whose fingertips were blistered from spending the entire day wrapping gifts, I couldn't back down. And I had no intention of surrendering to media owners who tried to crush people through their influence.

So I answered firmly, "Don't worry, Miso. The production presentation is absolutely happening today."

"Really...?"

"Really. And we'll find owners for all the gifts you made too. You trust me, right?"

The gloomy expression vanished from Miso's face instantly. She nodded with a bright smile. "Yep!"

Then I took Miso's hand and addressed everyone in the room. "I'll make today's production presentation the best one possible!"

Starting now, I intended to make Land of Happiness's production presentation a success without any reporters present. And I intended to show those media owners exactly how their abuse of power could come back to hit them like a boomerang.

'Media moguls, it's time I showed you just how much the world has changed!'