Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Three Birds with One Stone, Thoroughly Cleaning! (3)

Horse Head and the house managers couldn’t hide their bewildered expressions.

“Damn it!”

Clatter!

After locking the door double and triple firmly.

Hands and feet became complicated, and they couldn’t hide the distressed complexion.

“Wait. Stop the action.”

It was Uncle Cheol-gu.

The quick-witted Yu Jong-tae had already hugged me and quickly hid behind Uncle Cheol-gu.

“Hey, spy bastards. If you resist, it’s not fun. If you move, I’ll shoot.”

In Uncle Cheol-gu’s hand, a pistol was held.

It was an item snatched from the KCIA agent who had charged into our house.

“For reference, I’m thinking of dragging you guys not to the police station detention center but to the KCIA basement. Have you heard of the Seobinggo water torture room?”

Uncle Cheol-gu held out the KCIA agent’s ID as if showing off and said.

“Came out from the KCIA public security bureau. You guys are North Korean remittance agents, right?”

It was a baseless false charge, and a bluff.

But in a situation where public power called police was deployed, if a KCIA agent affiliated with the public security bureau declares, there was no reason it wouldn’t work.

“North Korean remittance agents!”

“That’s absolutely not!”

“Wronged! We don’t even have money to gamble, why would we send money to the North!”

The government of the 70s put anti-communism to the forefront.

Actually, armed guerrillas infiltrated and caused commotion, and also sought to assassinate the president.

Caught as a North Korean remittance agent in such times?

It was certain that they would see a sight they couldn’t watch with open eyes.

“If investigated, it will all come out.”

The KCIA practically exercised investigation rights and prosecution rights.

It was even reputed as a place that makes one confess even nonexistent crimes.

“If dragged and thoroughly cleaned, we’ll know. Whether there’s a crime or not.”

It was hard to guess what kind of thing one would suffer if dragged.

Once caught by the KCIA, there were rampant rumors that one becomes half-crippled or comes out as a corpse.

“No need to worry. If no crime, you’ll be released soon.”

Uncle Cheol-gu took out a silver recorder from his pocket.

It was a recorder issued by the KCIA.

-Bear, after dying and being buried in the wild mountain, what’s the use of all this money? Trying to use it as Yellow Springs path travel money?

-Choose, money or life?

Uncle Cheol-gu turned off the recorder.

“Is this instigation of murder, or murder threat? Shall we examine this first at the KCIA?”

Horse Head and the house managers turned pale.

Since evidence that couldn’t be denied came out, the level of pressure itself became different from the baseless false charge.

When impurity tried to brush in the gaze toward Uncle Cheol-gu, the police car siren rang waaah noisily.

If they caused a matter like this, they would be arrested as current offenders and dragged.

Then how would they handle the aftermath?

Resignation and fear permeated the eyes of the gambling den people.

Up to here was the whip of threat.

Next followed the carrot of conciliation.

“Hmm, there’s a way not to be dragged to the KCIA now.”

“What is that?”

“Write an IOU first. Our settlement has to be definite.”

What Uncle Cheol-gu held out was an IOU written in advance with a Montblanc fountain pen.

“Let’s see. All rights regarding the Maljukgeori, Hyochang-dong, Sinsa-dong, Mugyo-dong, Insadong, Seongbuk-dong, Sinseol-dong houses. Right?”

“Uncle, Ojang-dong is missing. Add Ojang-dong.”

“Ah, yes. Ojang-dong, writing now. End.”

Uncle Cheol-gu smiled innocently and shook the rewritten IOU.

“Sign and seal and stamp the thumbprint. Ah, if you haven’t decided yet, you can stamp it later at the Seobinggo water torture room. The ink pad there is red and the color is pretty and expensive.”

Horse Head silently received the IOU.

His eyes grew large at once.

“Annual interest 89.8%?”

“I heard this gambling den uses 89.8% interest rate? They say when in Rome do as the Romans do so I applied the same rule. Why? Dislike?”

Guys who gamble stamp seals on IOUs even at such murderous high interest rates.

-Just earn and repay!

-This board I’ll win!

-Flip in one shot!

Words that guys whose eyes have turned from gambling often spit out.

It was also the reason Horse Head spiritedly shouted ‘all-in best of three!’

The guy was confident that he would somehow win within three boards.

“It’s natural when receiving, but regrettable when giving? Here settlement is certain?”

The IOU that Horse Head was holding trembled.

An enormous amount that even I can’t accurately calculate right now!

What was written on the IOU was not an exact falling amount, but the entire property rights of the relevant houses.

“In my life, gambling this terrible up to this point······ damn!”

One who prospered with gambling, ruins with gambling.

It seemed like the sound of Horse Head’s mentality being ground in real time was heard here.

“Hmm, there’s a way to lower the annual interest to the average loan interest rate of 67.8%.”

“Good. What should I do how?”

He reacts immediately because the interest rate is lowered from 89.8% to 67.8%.

“Year-end night. Let’s cut the debt there.”

Uncle Cheol-gu put the invitation in Horse Head’s hand.

The reason we came to this gambling den, and the reason for seizing Horse Head’s leash and forcing participation was here.

“Declare in front of the figures gathered there. That you’ll invest about 5 billion in Taeseong Construction. Simple, right?”

“You’re telling me to put out as much as 5 billion more?”

“Is there money to put out more here? Just consider it repaying the debt. I said I’ll cut it there.”

Uncle Cheol-gu pointed to the IOU.

“Sponsorship money sounds better than gambling debt.”

“So you’re telling me to act as a clown now?”

“Why? Dislike? As expected, you seem to like the whip more than the carrot?”

Uncle Cheol-gu grinned.

“Shall I thoroughly clean the remaining gambling dens too? About seven more places left?”

“······!”

“Why? Do you think I can’t?”

If Uncle Cheol-gu hadn’t thoroughly cleaned the gambling den today, Horse Head would have snorted and not yielded to the threat.

But he already confirmed Uncle’s skill with both eyes, and the accurate business places are recorded even on the prepared IOU.

Having seen such things, Horse Head has no choice but to submit.

“I’ll do it. Instead, don’t touch my capital anymore.”

“Sure. If you stamp the thumbprint on this IOU.”

The IOU that Uncle Cheol-gu newly took out from his bosom was the annual interest 67.8% one.

“Taeseong?”

Horse Head opened his eyes wide.

Until this debt is completely reduced, cooperate with all strength in Taeseong’s events. Swear on the name of the gambling den and Horse Head. This is a settlement condition.

On the new IOU, that phrase was also added along with the new interest rate.

The house manager urgently added.

“I reported earlier that the errand runner who brought the invitation is Taeseong’s security guard.”

“Do you think I’m curious about that now? Hey, spotted bear! Were you helping Taeseong’s matters?”

“Because I owe a life debt to that household.”

“Taeseong. I wondered why the police were mobilized this much, then.”

Horse Head made a hollow laugh.

“For shadow humans like us, deployment of public power is a disaster itself. This is a perfect checkmate.”

Horse Head closed his eyes tightly and stamped the thumbprint.

“Good. I’ll accept. Settlement has to be definite.”

The guy didn’t make crying sounds, nor did he shabbily demand a tip.

He just smiled bitterly and wiped the thumb with red ink pad with tissue.

“Laughing and crying in one match is gambling. Just because I lost today doesn’t mean I’ll lose again tomorrow. Since it’s a settlement promise, I’ll firmly push Taeseong.”

Horse Head took the invitation.

“Don’t look down on me just because a bit of debt arose. Those houses I handed over today, I intend to retrieve all of them soon.”

I took the IOU that Uncle Cheol-gu handed.

It seemed like the golden light of the invitation handed to Horse Head moved to this IOU.

It was so dazzling that it was ecstatic.

Clatter!

Just in time, the house iron door broke noisily and fell backward.

Police jumped out as if they had been waiting.

“Hands up! You guys are surrounded now!”

“Don’t resist and surrender obediently!”

Waaah.

Still outside the siren sound was noisy, and the people who were gambling were caught by the police.

Secretary Kim walked over with large strides together with the Taeseong Group security guards.

Secretary Kim said to the police officer.

“As I said earlier, this side is a KCIA agent and Taeseong Group security guards.”

“Thank you for cooperating with the investigation. The prescribed reward for the illegal gambling report······.”

“The reward is fine. I just need to take our people. Is it possible?”

When the police officer nodded, all matters were easily resolved.

Uncle Cheol-gu and Yu Jong-tae, me of course, and even Horse Head were released.

Horse Head didn’t look back.

“I won’t say thank you words, nor resentment words. This is also a matter that one always has to resolve when opening a gambling den. Then see you at the year-end night.”

Horse Head disappeared into the darkness.

Secretary Kim looked at that back with cold eyes.

“Secretary Kim, you must be very busy, but you came directly all the way here?”

“It’s a matter of moving the police officer. No matter how busy, I have to take care of it directly.”

Secretary Kim put the children’s scarf he prepared in advance around my neck.

“Young Master, what’s all this matter? How did you come even to this illegal private gambling den?”

“To receive this.”

I handed the IOU to Secretary Kim.

“No, this is······!”

Secretary Kim opened his eyes wide.

“You received an IOU from Horse Head?”

“Taeseong Construction has to take charge of the subway construction, but money is very short, right? If it’s this, it will be helpful.”

“······!”

Secretary Kim carefully read the IOU once more with sharp eyes.

The corners of his mouth were rising.

“It will be a good card to use when dealing with Horse Head.”

“Do you perhaps have thoughts of directly operating the gambling den?”

“No. I’ll clean it up. If operating an illegal private gambling den, cash can be earned, but it will leave a flaw on Taeseong’s name.”

The gambling den is not my preference.

I have no thoughts of earning money while taking on troublesome matters.

“I’ll move my hand first before the police sweep the house property.”

It was words of intercepting before recovering the gambling den’s money to the national treasury.

At Secretary Kim’s instruction, the Taeseong Group security team ran urgently.

“If you give sincerity generously, there won’t be trouble. Since public power was deployed, the loss has to be borne.”

For shadow humans like us, deployment of public power was a disaster, itself.

“Don’t worry, Young Master. That side is my specialty.”

Naturally coming reliable support!

I took the opportunity and also held out another contract from the coin wallet.

“Hyunmu Construction will send the balance. I’ll add this to our Dad’s construction funds too.”

“You sold even this at the market price? I expected it would have no choice but to be handed over at a cheap price as an urgent sale.”

Secretary Kim’s eyes shone dangerously.

In the eyes looking at me, surprise was full.

“Actually, I received a call from President Oh of Hyunmu Construction. He said Yu Jong-tae came and he would pay the balance by tomorrow so please hand over the land immediately.”

“Good. Tomorrow receive the balance and hand over the Suseo-dong apartment site. I’ll request that too.”

I smiled bitterly.

“Anyway, I can’t receive it in my name. I’m not even registered for birth yet······.”

“Young Master, you don’t need to worry about that problem. By the chairman’s order, the young master’s birth registration and family register were all cleanly organized.”

My eyes opened wide without realizing.

It was joyful news.

“At the year-end night, the chairman will formally introduce the young master and Mother. From now on, you’ll be recognized as Taeseong’s direct line wherever you go.”

It was words that one doesn’t have to hear the words of a hidden illegitimate child.

“You worked hard, Young Master. Father and Grandfather will also be very pleased.”

“Please pretend not to know this. I have no intention of revealing the facts.”

“Yes? If merit was established, you should properly receive a reward. The chairman will take care of it thickly.”

“By what means did I receive an IOU at the gambling den?”

Secretary Kim closed his mouth.

“If Grandfather knows, he’ll be greatly surprised? Also, Team Leader Yu and Uncle Cheol-gu who helped me? They might fall out of Grandfather’s eyes and receive dislike.”

Can’t be branded from a precious grandson to a hopeless gambler.

“Let’s look at the result instead of the process.”

I grinned.

“In the same meaning, I just need to show the fact that Taeseong received investment from a big shot using this IOU. At this year-end night.”

“Young Master, will it be okay?”

“Of course. That’s the most certain and effective method of displaying Taeseong’s power. What we have to show is the expectation of victory. People send cheers to the victor.”

Secretary Kim nodded.

“If the young master wishes, yes, understood. I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

“Then I’ll request.”

* * *

The Hannam-dong mansion was bustling with Taeseong Construction people coming and going busily all day.

Pushing aside all the Taeseong elites working without rest.

Cha Seong-jun, Jeong-hyeok’s father, was immersed in deep thought in the study.

“The financial state is really a mess. The Subway Line 2 construction funds are extremely short.”

This was really a big matter.