Chapter 142

Chapter 142
## Chapter 142

### Title: The Anniversary Celebration of the Patriarch

—

On this occasion, our group wasn’t the only party involved. While her motivations might have sprouted from a different source, Lee Se-eun’s objectives aligned perfectly with ours.

Since there was no benefit to working in isolation, I reached out to her, and she arrived at our location that same evening to coordinate.

The rest of the logistics weren’t particularly daunting.

With sufficient funds, securing a hotel suite was a non-issue. As for the casino, we simply needed to be guests at the establishment to find a crack in the door leading to the private junket rooms.

The true obstacle was establishing a bulletproof alibi.

“The invitation list is the wall we’re hitting,” I noted.

The organizers were sticking strictly to the book. To be more specific, we anticipated being told that the guest list for the auction was already finalized and closed.

No matter how much weight the reputation of a top-tier headhunter carried, Blue Wrench Scrap Dealers would simply claim their hands were tied if the maximum capacity had been reached.

“I understand their position. With the auction only days away, the logistics and security are likely locked in based on the current count.”

Jeong Oh-hoon showed his agreement with Han Sang-ah’s assessment.

“Adding three additional names at this stage would require them to revoke the invitations of three people who are already expecting to attend.”

Such a move would damage Blue Wrench’s professional standing. Furthermore, my official contract was with Daebak Scrap Dealers, not Blue Wrench. Despite my rising fame, they felt no sense of obligation to insult their current clients just to make room for me.

“Lee Se-eun seems to have her entry sorted, though,” I remarked.

“That’s right.”

Given her existing partnership with Blue Wrench Scrap Dealers, her invitation was a given. The dilemma was centered on us.

“Trying to pass ourselves off as mere tourists accompanying her feels incredibly thin,” I added.

If we were genuinely there for leisure and nothing out of the ordinary occurred at the hotel, then claiming we were just tagging along with Lee Se-eun would suffice.

However, we intended to cause a significant upheaval. Following such an event, a casual excuse like, “We just happened to be here on vacation when the chaos started,” wouldn’t be enough to divert the inevitable investigation.

“What about my grandfather?”

The room went quiet as we processed Han Sang-ah’s question. Her grandfather, Han Sang-chul, sat at the helm of the Geumyang Group. But I struggled to see the connection.

“This is an auction for hunter equipment,” I pointed out.

Han Sang-chul wasn’t a licensed hunter. These auctions were restricted to active hunters, as it was strictly illegal for ordinary citizens to own such gear.

“No, the idea isn’t to get into that auction. It’s to bypass the need for an invitation entirely by creating a different reason for being there.”

A thoughtful silence followed her explanation. The plan started to gain traction in my mind.

If the chairman of Geumyang Group, Han Sang-chul, organized a private function at the Playchip Hotel in Hongcheon and invited us as his guests, it would provide an unshakeable cover.

“And if Chairman Han Sang-chul could even provide a statement that we were in his presence during the ‘incident’…”

It would be an airtight defense. Yet, a major hurdle remained.

“Do you really think your grandfather would agree to do us such a massive favor?”

Han Sang-ah provided a blunt analysis of the man.

“Grandfather’s primary loyalty is to the bottom line.”

It was hard to tell if she meant that as a tribute or a critique.

Regardless, if we presented a deal that served his interests, Han Sang-chul would likely cooperate.

“Besides, a major anniversary for him is coming up. It provides the perfect justification for him to host a gala at the Playchip Hotel.”

“Is it a birthday celebration?” I asked.

Han Sang-ah shook her head at my suggestion.

“Grandfather doesn’t believe in celebrating birthdays. He views it as pointless to throw a party for an achievement that every living person manages to accomplish.”

When framed that way, he had a point.

“So, what is the occasion then?”

“It’s the anniversary of the day Geumyang Group became the world leader in market capitalization.”

That was certainly a milestone that very few people on earth could claim.

“I guess the whole family ignores birthdays then,” I mused.

It would be strange if they didn’t follow his lead. Han Sang-ah nodded.

“Everyone except for me.”

“You still have yours?”

She gave another nod.

“When I was a child, I insisted on having a birthday party. He asked me what his personal choices had to do with my own desires.”

Jeong Oh-hoon, listening intently, let out a thoughtful sound.

“How did he take that?”

“He found it hilarious. I’m not sure why, but immediately after that, he began enrolling me in the training programs for the family heirs.”

It seemed her early display of backbone had won the old man’s respect.

Putting the family history aside, Jeong Oh-hoon spoke up.

“It sounds like a viable strategy. It’s much cleaner than trying to slip into the auction unnoticed, and if we play our cards right, her grandfather could provide us with a fabricated alibi.”

The catch, of course, was that we had to win him over first.

“Arrange a meeting for us, then,” I said.

“Understood.”

Since we were the ones asking for a favor, we needed to be fully prepared for a high-stakes negotiation…

“He’s on the line right now.”

“That was fast.”

The chairman’s speed in making decisions was staggering. I glanced at my watch and then at Han Sang-ah.

“Does he want us to come to the corporate office at this time of night?”

She shook her head.

“We’re going to his private home. He’s sending a vehicle, so we just need to wait.”

We followed her lead, and it wasn’t long before a chauffeured car from the Han Sang-chul estate pulled up.

“We are here to pick you up.”

“Much appreciated.”

After the briefest of greetings, we entered the car. Soon, I found myself standing before the gates of the Geumyang family residence.

Han Sang-chul’s estate was located in Seongbuk-dong, a neighborhood that remained the pinnacle of wealth in Korea regardless of changing trends.

I was led into a grand reception hall. Massive glass walls looked out over a perfectly manicured garden, and a set of sofas was arranged near a large fireplace.

“Hunter Yoo Chan-seok.”

Han Sang-chul was there, dressed in casual loungewear, reclining on the sofa with a glass of whiskey.

Small plates of high-end charcuterie were laid out on the side tables.

“It’s been some time, Chairman,” I said.

He acknowledged my greeting with a nod, finished his drink, and pointed toward the seat next to him.

“Sit down. Let’s hear what you have to say.”

I took the seat. The upholstery was incredibly soft.

“A drink first, before we dive into the details.”

He poured a measure of scotch into a crystal tumbler and passed it to me.

“Thank you.”

I drank it in one go and placed the glass back on the table. Han Sang-chul studied me with a keen eye.

“You’ve grown quite prominent. You’re essentially a walking mid-sized enterprise these days, aren’t you?”

“The capital I manage is certainly at that level, and as for my status? It’s likely on par with a major corporation.”

He let out a quiet, gravelly laugh.

“You’re a fortunate man.”

“I didn’t expect to find you at home. I assumed the chairman of Geumyang Group would be chained to his desk at the office, even at this hour.”

His response was sharp.

“I despise staying late. Overtime is a crutch for those who lack the talent to prove their worth during the day. I am out the door by 6:30 every evening.”

That was his prerogative, I suppose. He shifted his weight forward, looking at me intently.

“Any employee at Geumyang who stays later than I do has to provide a written justification. If the reason isn’t valid, they are required to submit a formal apology.”

He refilled his glass with the golden liquid.

“Needing extra hours to complete a task implies you aren’t qualified for the position. There’s no sense in keeping such a person on the payroll, is there?”

The subtext was clear: too much overtime at Geumyang was a fast track to being fired. Of course, leaving on time didn’t mean you were safe—you still had to produce top-tier results. He was a ruthless taskmaster.

“Enough of an old man’s talk. What brings you here?”

“I need a reason to be at the Playchip Hotel in Hongcheon. A reason that holds up under scrutiny.”

He made a clicking sound with his tongue.

“My anniversary is just around the corner. I see where this is going.”

Han Sang-chul rubbed his jaw thoughtfully and took a small sip.

“The reason you need to infiltrate the Playchip Hotel doesn’t interest me. What you plan to offer me in exchange, however, does.”

“Understood.”

Just as I began to speak, he held up a hand to stop me.

“President Jo Won-hun.”

The mention of the name caught me off guard, and I stared at him for a moment in silence. Why was he bringing up the president now? It felt completely disconnected.

After a few seconds of processing, I responded.

“Is he standing in the way of your expansion?”

Han Sang-chul laughed loudly, striking the arm of the sofa, before his expression turned cold again.

“The man refuses to listen. I can’t control him. In fact, he has the audacity to try and put me on a leash.”

This was a fascinating development. My mind began to race with the implications. It seemed the Geumyang chairman wanted a way to control President Jo Won-hun—or perhaps a way to eliminate him politically.

I took a breath to frame my approach.

“Are you familiar with… well, it happened a while ago, but the crisis in the foreign district?”

“Naturally. I heard you were right in the middle of it. Why mention it now?”

I lowered my voice to a confidential level.

“I have reason to believe the government was the architect behind it.”

His eyes widened—not with surprise, but with the focused intensity of a predator who had just caught a scent.

“Listen closely, Hunter Yoo Chan-seok. Mere rumors or suspicions aren’t enough. You understand that.”

“Which is exactly why I require your assistance at the Playchip Hotel.”

Blue Wrench was involved in moving black ore into China. And the origin of that ore? It was either the descendants of Dangun or the Korean government itself.

“If we are successful this time, we may find the evidence linking that district incident to the central government. Even if the trail has cooled slightly.”

“‘May’? That’s your pitch?”

I frowned slightly at his skepticism.

“There is only one thing in this world that is guaranteed, Chairman: our eventual demise.”

I wasn’t about to offer him a absolute certainty, regardless of how he pushed. We might find the smoking gun linking the heirs of Dangun, or we might find that they had scrubbed the records clean.

But I refused to give a guarantee; that would make me liable for the outcome, and I wasn’t going to shoulder that burden.

“It’s about the potential value of the opportunity.”

The probability of confirming the government’s involvement in the mass mutation event.

And the leverage gained from such a confirmation. I looked him straight in the eye.

“It’s basic arithmetic. You multiply the potential profit by the likelihood of success to determine the expected value.”

If that calculation worked in his favor, he would take the risk.

“And if I decide to decline?”

“I would attempt to persuade you further, and if that didn’t work, I’d find a different path forward.”

I couldn’t offer anything more. I wasn’t a miracle worker.

He let out a grunt and adjusted his position on the sofa.

“Playchip Hotel has zero associations with the Geumyang Group.”

Geumyang operated its own chain of luxury hotels.

“Do you realize the message it sends to celebrate our market cap achievement at a competitor’s venue?”

“It’s not entirely unrelated—you were one of the original development partners.”

I was aware of the history. I was being difficult, but for a good reason.

It all hinged on just how much of a nuisance President Jo Won-hun had become to Han Sang-chul.

The choice was his.

He rubbed his eyes for a moment and then spoke.

“This year, the Geumyang Group celebration for our market cap ranking will take place at the Playchip Hotel.”

“My thanks, Chairman.”

As I stood up to depart, he gestured for me to wait and offered his own insights on how we should handle ourselves at the hotel. I found his strategic mind quite impressive.