Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All

Chapter 955: Ghost (3)

The only person who could protect the Victoria siblings from HK Inc. was Chairman Choi Eun-Tae of Myeongdong. However, we had to avoid being tracked through security cameras, so after speaking with Choi Eun-Tae on the phone, we headed to Guro instead of Myeongdong first.

When we arrived at an old abandoned parking lot in Guro, Executive Director Jang Ki-Ho of Daeheung Savings Bank was waiting for us with several men in suits. Jang Ki-Ho said his side would take care of the cleanup and had us take the prepared Merciless Binz. Our group immediately switched vehicles and deliberately took back roads with almost no security camera coverage before arriving in Myeongdong.

After parking at the traditional house in Myeongdong, we headed to the master room where Choi Eun-Tae was waiting. As soon as the greetings were over, Choi Eun-Tae looked at Victoria and burst into hearty laughter.

"So the famous Ghost turns out to be a young lady like this. And a foreigner too! Hahaha."

Choi Eun-Tae was laughing, but Victoria looked completely tense. It was because of everything she had done while protecting HK Inc.'s stock prices and living as Ghost.

"If I've ever caused you any losses, sir, I'd like to apologize," said Victoria.

Choi Eun-Tae shook his head. "It wasn't something you wanted to do, and you only did it because of your younger brother, right? Besides, losses on that level mean nothing to me. So don't worry about it."

Maybe because I had asked him personally, Choi Eun-Tae was still laughing heartily even after suffering losses. Still, I intended to repay every bit of that damage myself.

At that moment, Choi Eun-Tae spoke to me. "Yoon-Ho. I'll protect these two. Don't worry about what comes next. I'll hide them thoroughly, and later I'll even arrange completely new identities for them."

"Thank you, sir."

Victoria and Daniel also let out sighs of relief and bowed their heads.

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman."

"Thank you."

Just then, Victoria looked at me and spoke. "Mr. Jung. You saved my brother, so now it's my turn to keep my promise. Whatever you ask me to do, I'll do it... as long as it's within my abilities."

In truth, simply pulling Victoria out had already dealt HK Inc. a massive blow. It was practically the same as taking away the sharpest and most secretive blade they possessed. Still, there was one more thing I had wanted to ask of her from the very beginning. I wanted her to cut off HK Entertainment's financial lifeline.

"I know your memories of living as Ghost aren't good. Still, I'm asking for just one more stock acquisition."

On the ride here, Victoria had said she never wanted to live as Ghost again. Even so, she answered willingly.

"A promise is a promise, so I'll keep it. What company are we acquiring?"

"Don't worry. It's not somewhere that'll hurt ordinary people."

Only then did Victoria's expression brighten slightly. "That's a relief. Then tell me where."

"Do you know a company called HK Distribution?"

"It's one of the HK Inc. affiliates that supplies goods to HK Department Store. Of course, I know it."

Before living as Ghost, Victoria had protected HK Inc.'s stock prices, so she knew most of its affiliates. Still, she probably didn't know this.

"Did you know that HK Distribution is a slush fund company created by HK's lady of the house, Noh Hyun-Hee, so she could pass the department store down to her daughter Hong Ah-Yoon? And did you know it's also HK Entertainment's source of funding?" I asked.

Back during HK Inc.'s succession battle, Noh Hyun-Hee had tried to hand HK Department Store over to her daughter Hong Ah-Yoon, but her second son Hong Jin-Gyu had attempted to seize the department store for himself. That was when HK Distribution's true nature was exposed.

It was revealed to be Noh Hyun-Hee's personal slush fund vault, an inheritance company meant to eventually pass HK Department Store to Hong Ah-Yoon, and a source of funds for HK Entertainment as well. That meant the more shares we secured in HK Distribution, the more effectively we could cut off the headquarters' funding flowing into HK Entertainment.

On top of that, the bastards caught at the hotel earlier had said Noh Hyun-Hee was the one behind today's incident. In other words, buying up HK Distribution shares would also land a devastating blow against Noh Hyun-Hee, the woman who had ordered today's attack. After all, HK Distribution also managed her personal slush funds.

Victoria's eyes widened. "HK Distribution is a slush fund company?"

Since slush fund companies were known only to a tiny handful of people who had devoted their entire lives to the company, Victoria naturally hadn't known that either.

I nodded. "Yeah. So secure their shares for me."

"Okay. But there's one thing we'll need."

"What?"

"What else? Ammunition. Cash. And if that place really is a slush fund company, it'll take even more money to attack it. They'll know how dangerous it'd be if it gets taken away from them, so the people defending it will pour in enormous amounts of money too."

At that moment, thinking he had finally gotten a chance to help me, Choi Eun-Tae straightened his shoulders and lifted his chin. It was his signal for me to ask him for a favor now. Still, I had no intention of simply going along with what he wanted.

"Mr. Choi, here's your chance to make money."

"Hahaha. Right, a favor from our Yoon-Ho—hm? What? A chance to make money?" Choi Eun-Tae looked bewildered. "Huh? What are you talking about?"

"You can keep all the profits made from HK Distribution stock. In exchange, all I ask is that you stop HK Distribution from funneling money into HK Entertainment."

"You're really saying I can... take all of it?"

"Yes. You spent a lot of money cleaning up today's mess, didn't you? And you probably suffered losses because of Victoria too. So just the profits from shaking up HK Distribution and taking those shares will more than recover what you spent several times over."

At that moment, Choi Eun-Tae looked at me with dissatisfaction. "I could just lend you the money instead. Then you could take the profits yourself and simply repay what you borrowed."

"No. Then people would find out I was involved."

"Grr... You're really something else. I could've handled that part myself... Fine. We'll do it your way."

"Then I'll get going now. I've got a mountain of work piled up."

I still had to bring Lee Doo-Oh over from Yeouido, and I also needed to meet BM Report and handle the cleanup.

Just then, Kang Eun-Gi spoke. "Oh, Yoon-Ho. The two people we caught at the scene were sent straight to the U.S. Anyway, they were crying and causing a scene, saying they'd probably get killed for failing their protection duty if they went back."

"You did well."

I nodded, then spoke to Victoria, who was staring straight at me. "Congratulations on being free, Victoria."

"Thank you." Victoria bowed her head slightly, then suddenly narrowed her eyes at me. "Before you go, one thing."

"What is it?"

"How did you know my location? The fact that you figured out I was on the seventh and tenth floors of the hotel means you've got someone extremely skilled on your side too, doesn't it?"

Come to think of it, it would probably be easier if Lee Doo-Oh worked together with her while taking over HK Distribution shares.

I nodded. "Yeah. I do. I'll introduce you to him soon."

That was when Victoria fixed her gaze sharply on me and said, "The stun gun. Give it to that person."

"Huh? Why?"

"It's my gift to him."

'A stun gun is a gift? Is she telling him to take care of himself until she comes back for it? Or is she saying he should experience getting shocked by it too?'

I had absolutely no idea what she meant, but Victoria didn't look like she planned to explain either. Maybe getting hit with the stun gun had messed her up, because she still didn't seem completely normal.

I shook my head helplessly, greeted Lee Yeon-Sil and the twins in the room across the hall, then immediately left the old house in Myeongdong.

***

After watching Jung Yoon-Ho disappear, Choi Eun-Tae spoke to Victoria in a low voice. "I'd like to speak with you alone for a moment. Would that be alright?"

As if she had been waiting for those words, Victoria nodded immediately. "Yes, sir."

At that moment, Daniel hurriedly spoke up. "Mr. Chairman. If my sister did anything wrong, it was all because of me. She had no choice but to do things she didn't want to because of me. So if someone's going to be punished, punish me instead."

Choi Eun-Tae smiled faintly. "Didn't I promise that I'd protect both of you siblings? I simply wanted to have a private conversation."

Daniel blinked and looked at his sister.

Victoria smiled and nodded. "It's okay, Daniel."

Just then, Kang Eun-Gi stood up from his seat and held out a hand toward Daniel. "I didn't get to eat properly, so I'm starving. Let's go outside and grab something. What do you want to eat?"

Daniel hesitated before answering, "Jajangmyeon."

"Really? Then let's go to Cheonha Chinese Restaurant in front of my place. Their sweet and sour pork is incredible."

"Okay."

Kang Eun-Gi wrapped an arm around Daniel's shoulders and headed outside with him.

The moment the master room door closed, Choi Eun-Tae's expression hardened. "I asked to see you because I wanted to make one more request on top of Yoon-Ho's."

Victoria immediately grew tense. "What is it?"

"While you're working on this, could you also secure HK Inc. shares?"

Victoria's eyes sharpened. She was wary that Choi Eun-Tae might try to use her as Ghost the same way HK had.

"Mr. Jung only asked me to secure HK Distribution shares."

"I know. That's why I'm calling it a request. Without Yoon-Ho finding out, slowly gather HK Inc. stock little by little. I'll provide the funds."

At the word request rather than order, Victoria cautiously asked, "May I... ask why?"

"Just as he's your benefactor, Yoon-Ho is mine as well. I want to repay him, but as you've seen, the boy hates anything that could bring harm to me or the people around me. So I wanted to teach those HK bastards tormenting Yoon-Ho a lesson."

"Will that be enough?"

"No. After gradually gathering the shares, I'd like you to transfer them all into Yoon-Ho's name as well."

Victoria's eyes widened. "Not your son?"

"That's right. One day, when Yoon-Ho wages an all-out war against HK Inc., those HK shares will become his trump card."

Only then did Victoria realize Choi Eun-Tae was completely different from the chairman of HK Inc. And along with that, she realized Choi Eun-Tae cherished Jung Yoon-Ho almost like a son.

She hesitated briefly, but from Victoria's perspective, this was the perfect chance to repay her benefactor. More than anything, it was also an opportunity to screw over the HK people who had chained her down.

"I was already planning to get revenge on HK anyway, so this works out well. Still, I'll start after dealing with HK Distribution first. Mr. Jung's request comes first for me."

"Good. But Yoon-Ho absolutely must not find out."

"Of course. Why do you think they called me Ghost?"

"Hahaha. Right. Right. I'll supply all the ammunition you need."

After finishing the negotiation, Victoria carefully spoke up. "Instead! Once this is over, don't try to stop me from leaving. I won't live as Ghost anymore."

Choi Eun-Tae answered with a gentle smile. "It seems you've forgotten what Yoon-Ho told you. He congratulated you on finding your freedom. That's why I'm making this request instead of giving orders."

"Really? Even after all this is over, you won't try to keep me here?"

"How old do you think I am that I'd cling to you? No, before that... by then, who knows whether I'll even still be alive? How could I stop you anyway?"

Victoria lightly bit her lip before lowering her head. "I'm sorry. After everything that's happened to me, the words just slipped out."

"No. That's understandable. Though if you ever wanted to work under me, I wouldn't stop you either."

"That... I'll think about when the time comes."

"Good. Good."

Victoria somehow felt like she was being reeled in, but she still let out a small sigh of relief. This place had a warmth completely different from HK.

"Then please prepare a dedicated line and a computer with top specs."

"Those have already been prepared in this house."

"That's perfect. Then I'll get everything ready starting today and begin once the market opens on Monday."

"Do as you please. You're not Ghost anymore. You're Victoria now, aren't you?"

"Yes, sir."

Victoria flexed her fingers and smiled. At that moment, the blue spark from the stun gun almost seemed to flicker in her eyes.

'The pain I went through... I'll pay it back a hundredfold, HK.'

Even though she had stabbed herself with the stun gun, her rage was still directed toward HK. Victoria still hadn't completely escaped the aftereffects of the stun gun.

***

Inside the president's office of HK Entertainment, the person seated in the president's chair was Noh Hyun-Hee, the lady of HK Inc.

Standing before her, sweating nervously, was Eun Ju-Seon, the chief secretary of her office.

"Ma'am. Ghost and her younger brother... they've vanished without a trace."

Noh Hyun-Hee's face turned pale. She had used Ghost, HK Inc.'s hidden blade, without even receiving permission from her husband, Chairman Hong Moon-Gyu. And now they had no idea where she had gone.

"What do you mean by that? Where are the people monitoring her?"

"They've all disappeared."

"Hey, Eun Ju-Seon! You call this a report?"

At the sharp voice, Eun Ju-Seon flinched.

At that moment, Hong Ah-Yoon, who had been sitting there with a grave expression, hurriedly interrupted. "Mom, what do we do? If Dad finds out about this..."

Grinding her teeth, Noh Hyun-Hee turned toward Eun Ju-Seon and spoke. "Hey. Did you report this to Mr. Chairman?"

"No. Not yet..."

"Don't report it for the time being. Understood?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Don't just stand there answering me. Go find them immediately!"

"Understood."

At that moment, the door flew open, and Chairman Hong Moon-Gyu appeared.

Bang!

"Ghost disappeared? What kind of bullshit is that?!"

At the thunderous voice, the eyes of Noh Hyun-Hee and Hong Ah-Yoon darted around nervously. Noh Hyun-Hee hurriedly began making excuses, but Hong Moon-Gyu wasn't someone who would let it slide.

"If they even took the younger brother, then someone planned this thoroughly. What exactly were you doing today?"

"That was... we were trying to swallow up Hoop Entertainment..."

"Wait. So you got hit again while trying to target Jung Yoon-Ho?"

"NK Construction is negatively affecting HK Inc. too. That's why I did it."

"Hey! You crazy woman! Can't you even tell the difference between when you should lie low and when you should act out?!"

Noh Hyun-Hee desperately pleaded to calm her husband's anger, but Hong Moon-Gyu only grew more furious. "Enough. From now on, you don't do anything!"

Hong Moon-Gyu then glanced once toward Hong Ah-Yoon before speaking again. "Do you think Jung Yoon-Ho did this?"

Hong Ah-Yoon raised her voice. "There's no way! No matter who Jung Yoon-Ho is, there's no way he'd be able to find Ghost."

If Jung Yoon-Ho really had been involved, it would only make her own incompetence stand out even more by comparison.

Hong Moon-Gyu also believed there was no way an ordinary talent agent could know about Ghost's existence. Still, he turned to his second son, forty-three-year-old Hong Jin-Gyu, and gave him an order.

"Jin-Gyu. Put Jung Yoon-Ho as your top priority and investigate him. Still, keep in mind it might not be him too. No matter what it takes, find Ghost and her brother and bring them before me. Understood?"

"Yes, Father."

Hong Moon-Gyu then glared at Noh Hyun-Hee and Hong Ah-Yoon. "You damn idiots."

After that, Hong Moon-Gyu stormed out, unable to contain his anger.

Bang!

That was when Hong Jin-Gyu suddenly relaxed his stiff expression and grinned at Noh Hyun-Hee.

"Mom. Want to take my hand instead?"

Noh Hyun-Hee's eyes widened. "What?"

"Push me to become the next chairman of the group together with Ah-Yoon. If you do, I'll make sure neither of you gets blamed for Ghost or any of this. What do you think?"

Noh Hyun-Hee and Hong Ah-Yoon exchanged uneasy looks.

Then Hong Jin-Gyu continued speaking. "Mom. Father isn't going to let this slide. Ghost was unbelievably beautiful, wasn't she? Father had his eye on her too, and now this happened, so all the fallout's definitely going to land on you."

The more Hong Jin-Gyu spoke with his serpent-like tongue, the more Noh Hyun-Hee's face shifted between red and pale.

Finally, after hesitating, Noh Hyun-Hee spoke. "Can you beat the eldest?"

Hong Myung-Soo, the eldest son of Hong Moon-Gyu and the designated successor of HK Inc., was a cold man with absolutely no affection for family. That was why Noh Hyun-Hee listened to her second son's proposal. Compared to him, the second son might act recklessly, but he at least had a tendency to take care of the family.

"It'd be hard alone. That's why we all need to work together."

"Fine. I'll support you. Ah-Yoon, you help Jin-Gyu too."

Hong Ah-Yoon nodded as well. "Okay."

Hong Jin-Gyu lightly licked his lips and held out his hand. "Then from now on, we're on the same side?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Then the two of you keep dealing with Jung Yoon-Ho like before. I'll find Ghost myself and calm Father down."

Hong Jin-Gyu smiled faintly and slowly turned around. The sinister snake inside him was raising its head.

'Mom. Ah-Yoon. Once I become chairman, I'll take over both of your shares too. Hehehe.'

And so, Jung Yoon-Ho rescuing Ghost had created a massive crack within HK Inc. itself without any of them realizing that an even greater storm was approaching.

***

After stopping by the Yeouido site to finish the cleanup, I took Lee Doo-Oh and Lee Ho-Jae with me and headed to Lee Doo-Oh's house. Lee Doo-Oh's younger sister, Lee Seo-Yeon, had insisted on treating us to dinner tonight and asked us to come. I gladly agreed and then asked Lee Seo-Yeon if it would be alright for Miso to join us as well.

Tomorrow, Miso had to perform in front of Writer Lee Ji-Yeon, and I wanted her to get advice from Lee Seo-Yeon, who used a wheelchair. Lee Seo-Yeon happily agreed, and I had heard earlier that Miso had already arrived at Lee Doo-Oh's house together with Do Ran-Hee.

As we entered the neighborhood where Lee Doo-Oh lived, I asked about Lee Seo-Yeon's condition. "Doo-Oh, how are Seo-Yeon's legs doing?"

Lee Seo-Yeon, who had been using a wheelchair since a traffic accident, was seventeen years old this year. After I started supporting her financially, she postponed entering high school for a year and began rehabilitation in earnest. Meanwhile, she had also started cooking every day because she wanted to attend a high school with a culinary program.

"Her rehab's going well, and she's practicing cooking every day with the cooking tools you sent her, hyung."

"That's good to hear."

"It's all thanks to you, hyung. Seo-Yeon's really become brighter."

It wasn't just Lee Seo-Yeon. Seeing Lee Doo-Oh's brighter expression made me happy too.

At that moment, Lee Doo-Oh's house came into view. The entire place had been remodeled so thoroughly that it honestly looked brand new. And unlike before, there was now a parking garage door.

"Hold on a second."

Lee Doo-Oh rolled down the window and leaned his face toward the garage door.

Buzz.

The garage door lifted upward.

"Huh? What the heck? Did someone open it from inside?" I asked.

Lee Doo-Oh shook his head. "No. We installed a facial-recognition smart lock so Seo-Yeon can get in easily with her wheelchair. There's one on the front door too, and another for the garage."

"Oh. That's seriously impressive."

Even after regressing, impressive things were still impressive. We passed through the open garage door, parked the car, and got out. Seeing the yard, once overgrown with weeds, now neatly maintained filled me with strange pride.

We reached the front entrance on the first floor, and I was about to open the door. Then I heard sniffling coming from inside.

Sniff... sniff...

"Huh? Huh? Is that Seo-Yeon?"

Mistaking it for his younger sister crying, Lee Doo-Oh hurriedly opened the front door.

Click.

The moment we stepped inside, I saw Miso, Lee Seo-Yeon in her wheelchair, Do Ran-Hee, and a helper lady all trying to comfort someone in the living room.

However, the one crying was actually Miso.

"Miso?"

At the sound of my voice, Miso lifted her head.

At that moment, Miso ran toward me and burst into loud sobs. "Waaaaah! Unclllleee~!"

'Wait, Miso. Why on earth are you crying?'