God of Money

Choi Taemin was unhappy. The mobile carrier business and the embezzlement investigation on Coconut were all going wrong.

“Why can’t people do their jobs right? I paid so much money for them!”

Choi Taemin’s primary assistant Chun Gisu responded, “We are continuing to pressure the prosecutors. As for the mobile carrier selection, Choi Gijung informed us that there is nothing he can do about it. He is continuing to let us know what is happening with the process though.”

Choi Taemin said to Chun Gisu angrily, “…do you think I called you in to hear that?”

“…”

“Get me the results I want! Get them done!”

“The budget difference is too big, sir. ITS wrote down 5 billion dollars while XFeed wrote 15 billion dollars, so…”

Chun Gisu couldn’t finish his sentence after Choi Taemin kicked him in the knee. He bit his lips to endure the pain silently.

Choi Taemin said to him angrily, “Get the judges to change the scoring system so the available fund isn’t as important. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Choi Taemin was asking the whole judging system to change so ITS could win the process. Chun Gisu nodded in pain.

Choi Taemin continued, “And as for the investigation, if they refuse to do our bidding, get rid of them and get new prosecutors. We are Daeyang. We should be able to do anything.”

“…the main prosecutor named Min Giyoon who refuses to do what we say…”

“WHO CARES? Why are you telling me this? Just get it done!” Choi Taemin got angrier and angrier.

Chun Gisu replied quickly, “Yes, sir.”

“And about Coconut’s AI. Why aren’t we doing anything like that at our company?”

“Currently, we did order our Daeyang central research lab to start a similar project. The thing is, however, it’s only at a beginning stage so it will take a while to see the result…”

“Why didn’t you start it earlier then?” Choi Taemin kicked him again. He yelled, “Get them done NOW!”

Chun Gisu left the room quickly. His knee was bleeding by the time he left.

***

Min Giyoon was shocked at the news.

“You want me to quit this case?”

“Yup.”

“Sir!”

“What?”

“You can’t do this.”

Min Giyoon couldn’t hide his anger. His superior consoled him.

“I have no choice. I was ordered to do this.”

“How could you, as a deputy prosecutor, have no choice?”

“Just quit!”

“No!”

“Min Giyoon!”

“You will have to fire me or send me to a different department. I won’t quit.”

“Gosh! Why can’t you…”

Min Giyoon lowered his voice.

“What will you do when a different party takes over the government at the next election?”

“What?”

“Will go to a private sector?”

“…”

The deputy prosecutor became quiet. Min Giyoon glared at him.

“I won’t. I will never leave this job. In time, different powers will take over this government and this investigation will be forgotten.”

“I know…”

“I am a proud prosecutor of the Korean government. I vowed to be ethical and just for this country.”

“I KNOW. Just stop!”

However, Min Giyoon didn’t stop.

“We both vowed to serve this country. We promised!”

“I know!”

“Then why are you acting this way?”

“…”

The deputy was torn. Daeyang promised to make his life easy. A promotion and also a guaranteed high paying position when he retired. Min Giyoon knew this, so he suggested.

“If you go against Daeyang and act ethically, I’m sure you will be compensated by Coconut’s CEO.”

“…”

“Kang Woosung will see you favorably. Law firm Hwajung is hired by KND, so maybe they will even offer you the same deal as Daeyang did.”

The deputy started to think carefully.

He asked, “What do you want me to do?”

“Be fair. Follow the law. Do what you should be doing as a good civil servant.”

“But what I should be doing is following orders.”

“No. In the handbook for the civil servant code of conduct, there is a regulation that says you can choose not to follow orders if they are illegal or unethical.”

“…”

“I am not so naïve that I believe justice will always prevail, but this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t even try! Don’t you want your parents to be proud of you? Don’t you want to be an exemplary civil servant for your children?”

The deputy massaged the back of his neck. He sighed deeply and replied, “Fine. I got it.”

“I have a plan to resist Daeyang’s pressure.”

“What?”

“Daeyang is full of corruption. I will do a little investigation and take care of it. You just pretend you don’t know anything about it.”

“…alright.”

***

Min Giyoon warned his classmate and one of Daeyang’s lawyers Kim Jaejoon.

“If Daeyang doesn’t stop pressuring us, we will start an investigation on Daeyang too.”

Kim Jaejoon quickly arranged a meeting with Chun Gisu. If this happened, Daeyang would be in trouble. When Kim Jaejoon explained the situation, Chun Gisu frowned.

“Did he say anything else?”

“That was it.”

“Who does he think he is?”

“He is one of those righteous people. Even his coworkers and superiors don’t like him. It sounds like he will be demoted to a small province eventually. Should we hold off on this investigation for now?”

“But this needs to happen before the mobile carrier selection process.”

Kim Jaejoon had no answer.

Chun Gisu added, “How the hell did he know about Daeyang’s corruption so much? Who spilled? Who gave him the approval to investigate Daeyang?”

“I think the prosecutors are just trying to resist our pressure and this is how they are doing it. Min Giyoon is being used as the front.”

Min Giyoon.

He was known for having unbending principles. He could not be pressured or bribed by anyone.

Korea needed someone like him. Even Kim Jaejoon felt that way. All prosecutors needed to be like Min Giyoon.

Chun Gisu was frustrated. Choi Taemin would be furious.

Suddenly, Kim Jaejoon’s phone rang.

Chun Gisu said to him, “Answer it.”

When he checked the caller ID, it was Coconut and KND’s main lawyer Hong Minwook from Hwajung law firm.

When Kim Jaejoon answered, Hong Minwook greeted pleasantly.

“I hear you are very busy!”

“Umm…yes.”

“Could I speak to Chun Gisu? I know he is with you.”

Kim Jaejoon said to Chun Gisu in confusion, “It’s from the Hwajung law firm. He wants to talk to you.”

“What?”

Chun Gisu took the phone.

“Haha, hello there. I am Hong Minwook from Hwajung.” When Chun Gisu didn’t reply, Hong Minwook continued, “You must already know that I represent Coconut and KND. The problem is I keep hearing some unpleasant rumors about you.”

Chun Gisu knew this was bad, and things would get worse.