God of Money

“What do you mean…”

“Let’s not feign ignorance here. I want this to resolve quickly.”

Chun Gisu’s hands trembled. He went through so much to get where he was right now. If this didn’t go well, it could all crumble down to nothing.

Hong Minwook continued, “Did you really think Daeyang is the only one with connections in the prosecutor department?”

“…”

“If you keep pressuring them, I am telling you that we will have no choice but to fight back. We don’t want things to get worse.”

Chun Gisu tried to pretend again. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Well, I guess I should show you then.”

Beep.

Beep.

Chun Gisu’s cellphone rang. The caller ID indicated that it was from the Director of the White Collar Crime Department. This was someone Chun Gisu already knew.

He answered pleasantly, “Oh, hello sir!”

But the response was cold.

“Hello. This is No Sungman. We have a problem. I keep hearing Daeyang is involved in illegal and unethical activities, and this needs to stop now. If not, I will have to get involved and stop you myself.”

“…what are you talking about?”

“Daeyang can’t treat us prosecutors like its employees.”

“Ha…haha of course not. We have never felt that way.”

“Good. This is a confusing time in this country. Things need to settle down quietly.”

Chun Gisu had no choice.

He answered, “Alright.”

After hanging up, Chun Gisu went back to the call with Hong Minwook.

Hong Minwook asked, “What will you do?”

Chun Gisu tried to think of something, but there was nothing he could come up with.

Kim Jaejoon asked Chun Gisu, “A…are you ok, sir?”

Chun Gisu murmured, “This is bad…”

***

Coconut I won the final game. It was a perfect win.

Coconut’s stock price soared to a higher point than Facebook and Daeyang. More than 50% of Koreans were using Coconut Talk.

The number of international users increased fast too.

Jang Gwangchul and Hong Soobum couldn’t stop smiling.

“This is unbelievable.”

“We will catch up to Facebook very soon.”

“And that would mean our stock price will go up even more?”

“Of course! We may even become comparable to Apple.” Hong Soobum looked excited.

Jang Gwangchul grinned and asked, “You must be very happy.”

“That’s an understatement.”

“You have 1.4% of the company so that would be over 1.5 billion dollars.”

“It’s not just the money. Think of the power and influence we have over the world!”

“Haha, right. How do you feel, President Kang?”

“Fine. This was supposed to happen, so I don’t really feel much different.”

“You are so boring.”

Woosung replied evenly, “The fourth mobile carrier, frequency auction, and M&A of Daenam Constructions. Afterward, Pangyo, Yongsan, and Apgujung projects. We still have a long way to go so it’s not time to celebrate yet.”

“Your greed is never ending, President Kang. As for the mobile carrier business, we pretty much won at this point. If the investigation has been unproductive so far, I would say it’s over.”

“But it’s so strange. I thought they would have done SOMETHING to us by now…but we haven’t heard anything yet.”

“I thought it was because you took care of it.”

Woosung replied with a frown, “But still…It’s Daeyang we’re talking about. They should have more influence and authority than this.”

Woosung did ask Hwajung law firm to pressure Daeyang, but he didn’t expect it to be enough. If it was, then Daeyang was not as formidable as Woosung believed. This meant it would be even easier to accomplish his revenge against Choi Gichul.

Jang Gwangchul said confidently, “We are now an internationally renowned company. No one can touch us now. We can relax.”

Woosung nodded.

***

Broken computer, keyboard, pens, and paper were everywhere on the floor. Choi Taemin was panting and screaming.

“So XFeed will be selected?”

“…”

“And the prosecutors stopped their investigation!?” At Choi Taemin’s scream, no one could answer. He continued, “So will we just sit and watch XFeed win?”

Choi Taemin’s eyes were red. He looked psychotic.

Jang Hyunho, who was sitting on the sofa nearby, replied slowly, “Some say that Daeyang would do better by focusing on smartphone and semiconductors, not to get involved in the mobile carrier industry.”

“KND’s Smartphone is doing better than ours. China will probably take over the semiconductor market soon. So what the hell are you talking about?”

Jang Hyunho became quiet.

Chun Gisu replied instead, “If prosecutors won’t….Why not ask NIS (National Intelligent Service)? If we can steal the national core technologies from KND and Coconut, then we should be able to create our own AI. If we hold their technology as a hostage, maybe we can make them give up the mobile carrier business too.”

“Do we have any solid connections in NIS?”

“We have a few employees in our Information department who retired from NIS.”

Choi Taemin started to calm down. He looked interested.

He turned to Chun Gisu and asked, “You think you can do this?”

“I will try my best.”

“Go do it. We don’t have much time left, so I don’t care how much money you need to spend. Make it happen now.”

After the meeting, Jang Hyunho took Chun Gisu to a quiet place and said, “NIS…If it doesn’t work out, you will be in huge trouble.”

Chun Gisu bit his lips. He replied quietly, “I know.”

Jang Hyunho asked seriously, “You could end up in jail. Daeyang will not save you if it happens. You can’t sacrifice your life for this company. Choi Taemin…”

Chun Gisu shushed him quickly.

Jang Hyunho replied, “Don’t worry. I had the area checked for any tapping devices.”

Chun Gisu relaxed.

Jang Hyunho continued, “Just be careful. Things can end up very badly for you.”

“I know, but what else can I do? I started this, so I need to finish it.”

“What will you do if KND contacts you?”

Chun Gisu’s eyes widened.

He was one of Choi Taemin’s main assistants. His salary and respect from others rivaled any CEOs of smaller companies. He has reached the highest level a salaryman could reach in a company.

However, with Choi Taemin’s increasingly abusive behavior, Chun Gisu was starting to feel differently about Daeyang.

He asked, “W…what are you trying to say?”

“I’m just saying it’s a possibility. You never know. We used to be the former Chairman’s men. We can never know what Choi Taemin may do to us. I am concerned for both of us. I…I met many people recently, including a high-ranking member from XFeed.”

Chun Gisu looked surprised.

***

After Chun Gisu left, Jang Hyunho took out one of his cellphones, a Blue S2. It only had one number saved.

He dialed, “CEO Jang, this is Hyunho.”

“Hi. How did it go?”

“I asked so we’ll see, and Daeyang is planning to use NIS to steal your core technologies.”

“NIS…”

“Yes, and it may really happen.”

“Alright. I will look into it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Thank you so much. I won’t forget about you.”

“Haha, no problem. We are working together for the same goal.”

“Of course.”

“Choi Taemin is now uncontrollable. Daeyang will soon collapse because of him.”

“Good, and when that happens, you will take over the company.”

Jang Hyunho replied quietly, “Thank you.”

“We are continuing to buy bulks of Daeyang shares, so it will not be long.”