Chapter 23

Chapter 23

No Need for Physical Evidence

While Uncle Cheol-gu was eating, I who finished eating first went out for a garden walk with Mother.

The Taeseong Group security guards were standing guard near the main gate and garden.

I did a navel bow toward the security guards.

“Uncles, you’re working hard in the cold watching over us. Please go inside and eat, and also warm your bodies a bit.”

The security guard uncles smiled gently.

“When I went to the warehouse, there was quite a lot of firewood piled up. Shall I light a bonfire warmly for you?”

“Thank you, Uncle.”

Thanks to that, Mother and I could sit on the garden bench and warm ourselves by the bonfire.

“As expected, when you light a bonfire, you have to roast this kind of thing.”

Mother put potatoes and sweet potatoes into the fire and smiled brightly.

“It really feels like we came to play. So many stars are twinkling.”

Mother sat on the bench and looked up at the sky.

“Even on the way back home after selling all the vegetables, stars must have risen like this every day. How come I didn’t even think of looking at the sky once all this time?”

It’s because there was no leisure in the heart.

It must have been overwhelming just to make a living.

With the body of a young woman with nothing, giving birth to me alone and raising me.

The hardships must have been really many.

“Our house is really good. Right?”

“Yes.”

“I didn’t know during the day, but now that it’s night, there’s atmosphere. This garden seems to have been decorated with a lot of care.”

Of course. How much money was plastered here.

Not only the golden grass and flower beds, but even the garden trees and ornamental bonsai are all the result of money-wasting.

Of course the garden stones, and the huge stacked stones displaying majesty here and there and the flagstones laid on the floor.

It must have been done by a first-class gardener pouring effort into skills, using only expensive things without reservation.

“Jeong-hyeok, you met Grandfather earlier. How was it?”

“What do you mean how was it? I got annoyed because he looked down on Mom.”

“You shouldn’t do that. Mom was happy because it seemed several people who would love Jeong-hyeok appeared in the world.”

“He did business selling Dad, and tried to cast Mom out because of that business. I don’t need that kind of grandfather.”

“But Grandfather’s words are also right. Compared to Dad, Mom is······.”

It means if you follow Mother, the path of hardship will be clear.

That old man really spoke quite harshly.

“So you’re telling me to follow Dad? Can Mom live without me?”

“······.”

“See. You can’t answer. I also can’t live without Mom.”

I hugged Mother tightly.

Mother patted my back.

“If you follow Dad, you can live in luxury. Good clothes, good car, meet good teachers and go to university. You can live prospering without worrying about money for a lifetime? Until now, you suffered a lot because of Mom.”

“Is a chaebol family something special? If you have a bit of money and a bit of power, do you think you’ll automatically become happy?”

I shook my head.

“Money, I can earn it, power, I can cultivate it. If I can’t protect my family, I don’t need money or power at all.”

I cultivated money and power to protect my family, my people.

“Actually, what I’m curious about is only one thing. Does Mom still love Dad?”

“Yes.”

“A little?”

“No, a lot.”

“Then you want to marry Dad?”

It was a bitter expression.

Mother gently stroked my head.

“There are also cases where you can’t marry no matter how much you love. It’s because Mom is lacking a lot.”

If it’s something lacking in Mother, it would be money and family background.

Since when did chaebol family people bring people into the family looking at character and ability.

‘I can’t do anything about Mother’s family background, but if it’s money, I think I can solve it.’

I adjusted Mother’s scarf.

‘I have to send our Mother off in a flower sedan chair.’

If the father I’ve never seen in my life casts her out, it can’t be helped.

Then I’ll also not even look at Father’s side and just serve Mother.

Still, I have to leave the possibility open until the end.

‘Dare not even think of making our Mother do daughter-in-law life. Make it so she only receives love as our precious daughter-in-law.’

There’s nothing I can’t do.

‘This suddenly makes motivation surge up a lot?’

A perfect opportunity came just in time.

In that sense, I was itching wanting to meet Uncle Cheol-gu quickly.

* * *

As if the staggering even while being supported by the Taeseong Group security guard was a lie.

Uncle Cheol-gu became energetic right away.

“Uwahaha, now I feel like I can live a bit! I thought I was going to die from hunger.”

To think that so haggard, weak appearance was all because of starving.

A body sturdy enough to endure the KCIA’s torture and an unbreakable spirit even if dying!

I like it.

“Burp-! I ate well! As expected, the Taeseong Hotel’s top-class Japanese cuisine chefs! The skill is really killing!”

The Taeseong Hotel chefs making a satisfied expression as if reviving a dying beggar.

Uncle Cheol-gu busy continuously throwing thumbs-up and hearts toward the chef corps.

The cleaning helper ladies cheering while cursing Uncle Cheol-gu’s workplace in one heart and one mind.

Even Mother handing over fried hardtack in a paper envelope to Uncle Cheol-gu.

Seeing the household atmosphere turning very warm, I let out a long sigh.

“Hoo······.”

This gentleman, now is not the time to leisurely chit-chat here!

“Uncle.”

“I know. I’m going, going!”

I dragged Uncle Cheol-gu and came outside again.

Also to digest, and also for a garden walk.

The chilly winter wind was blowing whoosh whoosh, and the bonfire was burning prettily crackle crackle.

“Ugh, cold! Little kid, since I filled my stomach heartily, can’t I listen while warming my back on the warm lower floor?”

“People will be coming in and out frequently saying they’re fixing the house and cleaning, is that okay?”

“Aoh, the night air being chilly is just right! The mind also clears.”

Uncle Cheol-gu took out freshly fried hardtack from the paper envelope and bit it with a crunch.

An appetite unlike a human who had stacked plates and eaten until just now.

He even held a fire poker and rummaged through the potatoes and sweet potatoes put in the bonfire while smacking his lips.

“Uncle, I need more information not recorded here.”

I waved the paper taken out from my pocket flutteringly.

The item that Chairman Cha and Secretary Kim want.

The page cut from U-gwang Construction’s bribe ledger.

There’s circumstantial evidence, but no physical evidence?

I tapped that part with my fingertip.

“Circumstantial evidence is enough. No need for physical evidence.”

This time I tapped the blank that Uncle Cheol-gu left empty.

“The information you couldn’t write here because there was no evidence. The circumstances and grounds until Uncle solidified the circumstantial evidence. What I want is that.”

“Little kid, in the adult world, you know. What’s more important than circumstantial evidence is physical evidence.”

Uncle Cheol-gu let out a long sigh.

“I don’t have a connection with Taeseong. So at least I have to bring certain evidence for the high-ups of Taeseong to even pretend to listen, and move their heavy butts, right?”

Uncle also frowned his brow tightly.

“U-gwang blocked so well that it was completely ironclad. The media ignored, the KCIA moved, the internal informant of U-gwang Construction died, and Taeseong’s traitor hid.”

He was fumbling his pockets here and there, seeming to crave a cigarette.

“Still, thanks to investigating hard, I was able to narrow the range to two places.”

The places I point out are also two. Uncle too?

“Damn, if only Kim Gwang-pil of U-gwang Construction who diverted the bribe ledger hadn’t died! He requested personal protection saying let’s meet and talk about the detailed circumstances, but that night Kim Gwang-pil was found dead at his home······.”

Why cut off while speaking well fluently?

“Never mind. Pretend you didn’t hear. I’m saying all sorts of things while taking the little kid. Anyway, little kid you stop now.”

“It’s late. I’m already entangled. You saw earlier, right? The secretariat chief assisting the Taeseong Group chairman came looking for me and is demanding this.”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“I even received a bribe. But try handing this over as is. What do you think will happen?”

“······Little kid you will really croak.”

No way. Not at all?

Even if I give the blank paper to Secretary Kim as is, there will be no problem at all.

From the beginning, what Secretary Kim demanded from me was the three cut pages.

Whether that’s blank paper or not, that’s not my responsibility.

Moreover, I’m not even the person who wrote the bribe ledger.

But Uncle Cheol-gu is different.

‘The one who croaks in Secretary Kim’s hands is not me but you.’

Uncle Cheol-gu said solemnly.

“Little kid, no need to worry. This uncle will find the evidence by the day after tomorrow. Then it’s fine.”

This gentleman is greatly mistaken right now.

“Uncle, wait a moment.”

“Huh?”

“If you think about it, the fact-checking and resolution of this problem is not Uncle’s share?”

“What?”

“That’s Secretary Kim and Chairman Cha’s share, and Taeseong Group’s homework. Then shouldn’t Taeseong find the evidence?”

“······Huh?”

“Uncle just needs to create a justification for Chairman Cha and Secretary Kim to grasp the seriousness of the situation and move firmly. That’s sufficient.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course. You saw earlier, right? Somehow a connection with Taeseong Group was made like this? Moreover, Taeseong came forward first bringing a bribe saying they would solve the problem?”

“That’s right?”

“Then it’s done?”

“It’s done? Uwahaha! This is really done? Now even without evidence, it’s fine?”

That’s right.

‘Rather, if Uncle Cheol-gu steps forward and stirs up Taeseong Group saying he’ll catch certain evidence, it becomes troublesome.’

Who would like the KCIA openly stirring up a business.

What about the falling stock price? What about others’ eyes?

‘If the Blue House asks the reason, what will you answer. You can’t even say that U-gwang diverted Taeseong’s money and distributed bribes omnidirectionally, so Taeseong and the KCIA are cooperating to conduct an internal investigation.’

The government is strictly prohibiting bribery of high-ranking public officials under the banner of eradicating corruption.

Bribes, the one who received, the one who distributed, the one entangled, all will be executed without mercy.

Taeseong also couldn’t properly keep the money, so they can’t avoid that responsibility.

Chairman Cha’s anger will head toward the culprit who made the weakness exposed.

I stepped forward to prevent that terrible situation in advance.

I smiled brightly.

“So from now on, Uncle has to properly fill this.”

If Uncle roughly writes it, I plan to fill in the lacking parts.

I also learned the technique of forging handwriting while working at the pawnshop.

I put the Montblanc fountain pen that Secretary Kim left in Uncle Cheol-gu’s hand.

“Directly. In your own handwriting. The grounds and circumstances that solidified the circumstantial evidence, of course the inferences and predictions. Everything you know. Make the signature and seal certain too.”

“Good!”

Uncle Cheol-gu winked one eye.

“Loyalty loyalty! Your words are right! Whatever, it’ll somehow work out. The aftermath, ‘Era, I don’t know, let it be as it will.’ whatever!”

Then he began writing down obediently.

‘What? Why is this flashing again?’

Why is golden light suddenly starting to flash from the rough gangji paper?

What kind of great secret is he writing.

‘Huh? This is information I didn’t even know? Was it entangled like this?’

What I know is the footsteps of Taeseong Group.

That is, information as a result, skipping all the process.

But what Uncle Cheol-gu is writing is the cause and the progress of the incident.

‘No, how did this gentleman know this?’

Looking at it now, this wasn’t simply a 2 billion won bribe matter that U-gwang pulled and used.

Whether two of Taeseong’s affiliates fly away or not in the future,

Whether helplessly missing the Subway Line 2 construction or not,

Even the problem of having 3 billion in private funds scraped or not, all entangled at once.

‘I was just thinking of driving to get rid of the maggots swarming in Taeseong Construction, will this board get bigger? It smells like money!’

Somehow the golden light was flashing noisily!

This case really bit properly.

As expected, Uncle Cheol-gu! I believed in you!