By Zephyria Lee Do-hyeon’s expression turned coldly rigid as soon as the words were out. Lee Gyu-hyeon, unable to contain himself at the first feeling of superiority, fidgeted in his seat.
“Don’t do that, have a spoonful of rice before you go. The rice you’re eating now might be the last you eat in the mortal world.”
“What… what are you talking about?”
“Father. Do you know what the characteristic of the people of the Republic of Korea is? Whether they’re politicians or businessmen, they value morality… they value it a lot. What’s the point of being capable? If your morality doesn’t meet the standard from the start.”
Without realizing that Lee Do-hyeon had clenched his fist under the table, Lee Gyu-hyeon began to chatter excitedly.
“You know, Father. Do you know what I found at that bastard’s house this afternoon? Ha, really. He pretends to be a gentleman on the outside, but he was hiding an Omega at home. I don’t know where he picked up that lover, but she’s quite….”
“Can’t you shut up?”
“…pretty. Anyway, she’s even pregnant and hiding away? The article will be out tomorrow morning. About a third-generation chaebol who forced an illegitimate child to have an abortion.”
As soon as he finished speaking in a voice full of excitement, the atmosphere turned icy. While everyone was in shock and unable to say anything, Lee Gyu-hyeon was busy chuckling to himself.
“What did you just say…….”
Lee Do-hyeon, who had rushed into Pyeongchang-dong with the intention of cutting off his head without further delay, muttered in a daze. Pregnant. Who? Even though he knew that Ryu Jeong was the one Lee Gyu-hyeon had been talking about a moment ago, he couldn’t understand the information he was hearing for the first time.
But he couldn’t afford to be dazed. First, he had to calmly assess the situation and finish what he had come to do. Ignoring Chairman Lee’s gaze, which seemed to be asking for an explanation, Lee Do-hyeon looked at his wristwatch. Just then, the doorbell rang. One of the servants, who had been standing there not knowing what to do, ran out to check the face of the person standing in front of the gate.
“It’s Chief Yoon. I called him.”
When he sent a look asking for permission, Chairman Lee hesitated for a moment before nodding. Soon, Chief Yoon appeared. After bowing deeply to the Chairman and his wife, Chief Yoon handed Lee Do-hyeon the envelope he was holding.
Lee Do-hyeon glanced over the documents inside and suddenly chuckled, and Kim Mi-hee, sensing an ominous feeling, licked her bright red lips and glanced at him.
“I came without warning because it was an urgent matter. I’m sorry.”
“Hmm, what’s going on?”
Chairman Lee nodded at Lee Do-hyeon’s more subdued attitude. He, too, was curious about the documents Chief Yoon had brought, and he couldn’t take his eyes off them. Lee Do-hyeon willingly handed him what he was looking at. From now on, Chairman Lee’s cooperation was key.
“Money laundering through corporate transactions at the Yeonggang Art Museum, illegal private loan operations. And evidence of involvement in illegal prostitution and illegal organ trafficking.”
“Wh-what?”
Kim Mi-hee’s eyes widened as soon as Lee Do-hyeon said the words “Yeonggang Art Museum,” and her mouth dropped open. Lee Do-hyeon, who saw her out of the corner of his eye, continued without paying attention.
“First, please check the list of works by emerging artists purchased under the name of the Yeonggang Art Museum. The obvious slush fund creation status is shown as is. Some of the artworks may actually be on display at the Yeonggang Art Museum, but some are likely not even in the storage. I also found records of temporary storage under the name of a paper company and resale.”
This was data obtained while digging into the Yeonggang Art Museum, separate from what he had instructed Kim Jin-guk to do. Kim Mi-hee had been buying artworks expensively using company money and returning the difference between the actual price and the purchase price from the artist to use as a slush fund. She had also been transferring money to nominee accounts using paper companies, and a broker who had been taking commissions in the middle as a witness to this was being held.
“The cash siphoned off as slush funds flowed into illegal private lending. Please refer to the page with ‘Seomin Financial Capital’ written at the top. As you can see, the company is a separate company represented by a person named Kim Jin-guk, and it seems that they have created additional slush funds by using the debts of some ordinary people who are in debt to the company. It has been reported that they have been exploiting the difference by charging much higher interest rates than the actual interest rates applied, and some debtors who cannot be reached have even been involved in illegal prostitution or illegal organ trafficking….”
“Wa-wait a minute!”
Kim Mi-hee screamed as if she couldn’t stand it any longer, rattling off the words as if she had memorized them. No, the words burst out like a scream. Her voice was sharp, as if it would tear through the air.
“What, what are you talking about now? What nonsense are you spouting, coming here out of the blue!”
“Stop it.”
It was Chairman Lee who stopped Kim Mi-hee, who had jumped up and was shouting. Although he seemed very angry, his voice, lowered as if trying to maintain his composure, froze everyone. The only one who looked calm was Lee Do-hyeon.
“…This is the content about Director Kim Mi-hee, and from the next page is about Vice Chairman Lee Gyu-hyeon.”
“Me, me? What, sh-what!”
Lee Gyu-hyeon, who was still sitting crookedly as if he didn’t understand the situation at all, widened his eyes as soon as his name was mentioned. Lee Do-hyeon, as well as Chairman Lee, did not look at him and turned the documents over.
“There is an entertainment establishment in Gangnam called Club A, which is operated only by membership. I heard that Vice Chairman Lee Gyu-hyeon is a regular here.”
“…It’s a place to drink privately, what’s the problem with that?”
At the sharp question, Lee Do-hyeon’s gaze finally turned to Lee Gyu-hyeon.
“Why not? You’re not just drinking, you’re also taking drugs.”
“Heo…….”
Chairman Lee sighed deeply. Lee Do-hyeon continued without paying attention.
“The employees are not just ordinary employees who serve, Vice Chairman. Since when has taking off clothes and rolling around after carrying alcohol and snacks become the job of an ’employee’?”
Lee Do-hyeon’s voice became clearer and clearer, and the room became heavy.
“My mother used to say it so often that I was sick of hearing it. ‘In the name of our Yeonggang’.”
Those words that sounded as if my very existence was a disgrace to Yeonggang. Those words that choked me like endless censorship, rather than a weighty pride.
“The things you’ve done as the mistress and the eldest son are truly amazing.”
Kim Mi-hee and Lee Gyu-hyeon’s faces turned red at the sarcastic words. Nevertheless, they couldn’t open their mouths recklessly. Over the table where the sound of someone’s suppressed breathing was exchanged, Chairman Lee’s voice, who had been silent all along, was finally heard.
“Lee Gyu-hyeon.”
Chairman Lee, who sighed as if suppressing his anger, now looked at Kim Mi-hee and opened his mouth.
“And you.”
“…….”
“Tell me with your own mouths if all of this is true.”
“Yo, honey…….”
She couldn’t readily say no. The evidence was right in Chairman Lee’s hands. In a situation where she couldn’t easily make excuses, only Lee Gyu-hyeon, who was busy blaming others, glared at Lee Do-hyeon as if he would kill him.
Lee Do-hyeon glanced at Chief Yoon. He saw Chief Yoon checking his cell phone and nodding.
“There’s no need for that. The prosecution will be here soon for a search and seizure.”
Kim Mi-hee, who thought it would end as a simple family happening or blackmail, jumped up, saying, “What?!” Lee Gyu-hyeon laughed in vain, saying it didn’t make sense.
“Hey, lie within reason. What kind of search and seizure is this at this hour?”
“In principle, it is illegal to conduct a search and seizure at night. However, in urgent situations, it is possible at night with the permission of the court. For example.”
Lee Do-hyeon paused for a moment and looked at Secretary Yoo this time. Secretary Yoo, who was maintaining a straight posture, met his gaze with eyes as fierce as Kim Mi-hee’s. But there was no reason to be afraid of a cornered rat. Lee Do-hyeon smiled leisurely, pulling up the corners of his mouth.
“When there is a risk of destroying evidence, or when there is a possibility of the suspect fleeing.”
As if she couldn’t stand it any longer, Kim Mi-hee screamed. Lee Do-hyeon clicked his tongue and turned his head, as if his head was ringing just from hearing it. There was nothing more to see. It was up to the prosecution to deal with the criminals.
“Ah… come to think of it.”
Lee Do-hyeon, who got up as if he was unrelated to the messy meal, paused as if he had remembered something. He stared intently at Lee Gyu-hyeon for the last time.
“They say even a dog doesn’t bite the owner who raised it.”
“…….”
“I was never raised. I grew up on my own.”
“You…….”
“And unfortunately, I’m not a dog, I’m a person. As a person, I found a traitor and bit him.”
Lee Do-hyeon, who smiled as he met Lee Gyu-hyeon’s gaze, glanced at Chairman Lee at the end. He knew that Chairman Lee, who had prioritized Yeonggang over his family, would no longer be able to protect the two, but he had driven a wedge in case something happened. As expected, Chairman Lee closed his eyes tightly as if resigned.
Lee Do-hyeon, who had captured the scene in his eyes, turned his back with a hardened expression as if he had never smiled. Soon, a large-scale search and seizure would be carried out not only at the residence but also at the Yeonggang Art Museum. It was unrelated to him, so there was no reason to be here any longer. Finding the one person he had been constantly concerned about, Ryu Jeong, was his top priority.