Genius Grandson Of The Loan Shark King

Korea’s political landscape was changing rapidly.

After Choi Seohyeon’s final press conference, the situation turned even more unfavorable for him.

Within the Progressive Party, calls for his resignation grew louder, and the party leadership convened a general assembly.

The result was overwhelming support for officially demanding that Choi Seohyeon withdraw as the presidential candidate.

Apart from his closest associates, almost everyone had abandoned him.

Choi Seohyeon was cornered to the point that people wondered whether he could even continue the election campaign.

The Progressive Party went a step further and declared that if he refused to resign, the party itself would lead the push for a special investigation into the numerous allegations against him.

Under pressure, Choi Seohyeon eventually held a press conference.

Standing at the podium with a rigid expression, exhaustion and resignation were visible in his eyes.

“My fellow citizens, I stand before you today with a heavy heart.”

After taking a moment to compose himself, he continued.

“I deeply apologize for causing concern to the public because of the suspicions surrounding me. I am innocent, but I have come to the conclusion that remaining the presidential candidate under the current circumstances would not help the party or its members.”

His voice trembled slightly, and his eyes reddened.

“Therefore, I have decided today to step down as the presidential candidate. I sincerely apologize to everyone who believed in and supported me.”

Choi Seohyeon bowed deeply before raising his head again.

“Though I am stepping down as a presidential candidate, politician Choi Seohyeon will not retreat. From now on, I will do my utmost to clear these allegations and reveal the truth. I will return. Please look back on the path I have walked. The road I have traveled is itself the greatest proof of my innocence. Thank you.”

Ignoring the flood of questions from reporters, Choi Seohyeon quietly left the conference room.

Though he promised to return, everyone watching the press conference knew.

The curtain was falling on his political career.

He would never come back.

The moment Choi Seohyeon resigned as presidential candidate, the prosecution requested an arrest warrant.

At the detention hearing presided over by Judge Han Minkyung, Choi Seohyeon cried and insisted on his innocence.

But the physical evidence was overwhelming, and there were witnesses.

He was detained on the grounds that he might destroy evidence or flee.

The news shocked the entire political world.

The Progressive Party suddenly found itself needing a new presidential candidate, and politicians on both sides of the aisle became cautious, fearing their own corruption might also come to light.

A bitter wind was blowing through South Korea.

* * *

I watched everything from America.

Reading the article announcing that the arrest warrant for Choi Seohyeon had been approved, I smiled in satisfaction.

“At this rate, Myungsoo might even succeed in keeping his administration in power.”

“Yes. That's right.”

I nodded and stood up.

“Chief Ma. Let's wrap things up in Korea. Deal with Cheon Jiwon.”

“...Will you really be alright with that?”

“It’s been a long and ugly relationship. Ending it here will be better for me and everyone else. I gave him three chances. But there’s no reason to spare someone who keeps coming back every time.”

Chief Ma tried to dissuade me once more.

“If Young Master Cheon Jiwon dies, everyone will suspect you. Wouldn't it be better to wait until things quiet down...”

“Chief Ma.”

Instead of looking at him, I stared out at the New York night skyline.

“Take care of it. That's an order.”

“...Yes. Understood.”

It wasn't because he feared the consequences.

He was worried about me.

After Chief Ma left, I looked out at the city lights and muttered to myself.

“We should finish what needs to be finished before leaving. Grandfather, I'm sorry. I won't be able to keep my promise.”

When I opened the window, the cold night wind rushed inside and tousled my hair.

For some reason, I missed Grandma.

* * *

After Choi Seohyeon's press conference, Cheon Jiwon quickly went into hiding.

Without telling anyone, he rented a small house in a quiet village in Jeollanam-do and hid there.

Watching everything unfold on television after his accusations, he trembled with anxiety.

The prosecution had issued a nationwide manhunt for him.

“Anyone home?”

Someone knocked on the door.

Cheon Jiwon shrank back.

“It’s the village chief.”

It was the voice of the village chief who occasionally visited the house.

After hesitating for a long time, Cheon Jiwon carefully opened the door.

Three men immediately pushed their way inside.

“What the hell?! Who are you?!”

“Please be quiet, Mr. Cheon Jiwon. Chairman Kim Muhyuk sent us.”

At the mention of Kim Muhyuk’s name, Cheon Jiwon’s face turned pale.

He tried to run, but there was nowhere to go.

“Please... spare me...”

The men subdued him in an instant and forced him onto his knees.

“Please...”

Cheon Jiwon cried helplessly, but the men ignored him as if they heard nothing.

The man standing in front handed him a cell phone.

“Chairman Kim Muhyuk.”

Cheon Jiwon practically snatched it away.

“Muhyuk! I was wrong! Please spare me! I’ll never appear in front of you again... no, in front of anyone!”

— I already gave you plenty of chances. But every time, you became a nuisance again. If only you had lived quietly like Cheon Jisoo, I would've forgotten someone like you ever existed.

“N-no! I never...”

— Your role ends here. Step down from the stage.

“R-remember Grandfather's last words! He said not to threaten family...”

— He didn't say that only to me. He said it to you too. Don't hide behind Grandfather's last wish for your own sake. You broke it yourself, and now you're telling me not to?

“Just spare me! I'll do anything! Come on, Muhyuk. What difference does one bastard like me disappearing make?”

Cheon Jiwon desperately begged for his life.

But Kim Muhyuk remained firm.

— Why should I? Just die.

“...You son of a bitch! You devil! Killing family? You think I’ll just accept death?! I’ll get you! I’ll drag you into hell, you fucking bastard!”

Realizing Kim Muhyuk had no intention of changing his mind, Cheon Jiwon cursed him wildly.

— I'm not planning on going to heaven anyway. And you won't get there either. So how are you going to drag me down? Go ahead and get there first.

Kim Muhyuk calmly ended the call.

But Cheon Jiwon continued screaming curses at the dead line.

Then another man's phone rang.

That was the signal.

The man took the phone away from Cheon Jiwon and pulled out a sheet of paper.

“Sign this.”

“No! You think I'll do it?”

“Do it while we're asking nicely.”

“No! I said no! You think I'm dying? I'll kill all of you!”

Words no longer worked.

The man let out a long sigh.

The other two men lifted Cheon Jiwon.

Soon, he was tied to a chair.

“See this? It's a suicide note written to perfectly match your handwriting.”

The man began pressing Cheon Jiwon's fingerprints onto the letter.

“N-no!!”

Once everything was finished, he took out a bottle of pills.

“These are sleeping pills. An overdose is fatal. You'll be found to have committed suicide after drinking and taking sleeping pills.”

“N-no!”

Cheon Jiwon clenched his jaw, trying to keep his mouth shut.

But tied up, resistance was difficult.

Soon dozens of pills were forced into his mouth, followed by water.

Some spilled out, and some he spat out.

But he had no choice but to swallow most of them.

Tears streamed down his face as he pleaded incoherently.

The men watched him with indifferent eyes.

Time passed.

His consciousness gradually faded.

Breathing became difficult.

His body grew heavy.

‘Am I really dying like this...?’

Eventually, his head drooped.

And he fell into eternal sleep.

About an hour later, after cleaning up the room, the men checked his condition, untied him, laid him on the bed, and placed the suicide note on the desk before leaving.

Outside, a black sedan was parked.

Inside sat the village chief who had called for Cheon Jiwon earlier.

Like Cheon Jiwon, he trembled in fear.

“Village Chief. Call the police in the morning, just as we discussed. You'll be the first to discover him.”

“......”

“You'll get the promised money after everything is over. And... don't talk about this anywhere. If word gets out in any way, neither you nor your family will live peacefully. Understand?”

Unable even to speak, the village chief nodded weakly.

“We've already coordinated everything with the police and prosecution. Don't entertain foolish thoughts. You're {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} not exactly clean yourself, are you?”

The reason they could involve him was because they knew about his crimes.

“Go home. As soon as dawn breaks, go to the police station. Go.”

The man stepped aside.

After hesitating, the village chief ran toward his house.

The next day, Cheon Jiwon was found dead.

Naturally, suspicions exploded.

Many people claimed Kim Muhyuk must have killed him.

As the controversy intensified, the police released the suicide note with the family's consent.

I have decided that I do not deserve to live in this world and have chosen to end my life.

I have no face to show Muhyuk. Please tell him I am sorry. Through my actions, I caused great pain and harm to Muhyuk and many others. I sincerely apologize.

Everything I said at the press conference was a lie. I had no choice because of Choi Seohyeon's orders and threats. He used my weakness against me and wrote everything I was supposed to say. I merely read it.

All allegations against Muhyuk were fabricated by Candidate Choi Seohyeon. Muhyuk is innocent.

After the press conference, I hid in a safe house prepared by Choi Seohyeon.

Though I acted under threats, the truth eventually comes to light. I am terrified of the future, and the guilt of framing my own family is too heavy to bear.

I apologize once more for avoiding responsibility through death.

Lastly, I want to apologize to my family.

Mother, I'm sorry.

Jisoo, I'm sorry.

After the note became public, public outrage exploded.

Criticism toward Choi Seohyeon grew even stronger.

No one defended him anymore.

Cheon Jiwon's final letter became more powerful than any evidence.

* * *

I sat alone drinking.

After Cheon Jiwon's death, I met no one for several days.

Cheon Jisoo and Cheon Jiyoung called me, but I didn't answer.

Chief Ma only watched me from a distance with concern, unable to speak carelessly.

“Hey! Muhyuk! What are you doing?”

Han Kyungyeong and Eva entered the penthouse.

I forced a bitter smile.

“Drinking. Can't you see?”

“Why are you drinking alone like some loser? You could've called me.”

Chief Ma had probably contacted them.

“Boss, are you okay?”

Unlike Han Kyungyeong, who acted as though nothing had happened, Eva's concern was obvious.

I nodded, handed them glasses, and poured drinks.

Han Kyungyeong kept joking around to lighten the atmosphere.

Eva argued with him as usual.

“I had a dream last night. Grandfather was in it.”

The moment I spoke, both fell silent.

“He apologized to me. Said he should've cleaned everything up before leaving...”

The moment I woke up, I thought I had created the dream for my own comfort.

But Grandfather's words in the dream brought me relief.

And...

Without saying anything, Han Kyungyeong raised his glass and clinked it against mine.

I looked at the liquor swaying inside my glass before lifting it.

For myself.

For my people.

I had to fight.

Yes.

Even if it was cowardly, I had to think that way.

“I'm doing alright, aren't I?”

“Yeah. You're doing fine. Thanks to you, Eva and I—everyone—is safe.”

“That's right, Boss. Because of you, I survived. I... even thought about killing myself once. You know that, right?”

I nodded and emptied my glass.

I had no idea how much I'd already drunk.

When I stood up, I felt dizzy.

“...Just let me be today. I'm going to sleep. You two finish drinking and go home.”

Neither of them stopped me.

I entered the bedroom and lay down on the bed.

Despite being that drunk, sleep refused to come for a long time.