Chapter 18
Jo Sun-ja’s private lending office.
Suddenly, the doorknob shook violently.
Someone was trying to force the door open.
A moment later, it slammed open.
I snapped my head up.
The person standing there was Park Dong-sik.
His face was bright red.
He stormed toward me with long, furious steps.
In an instant, he grabbed me by the collar.
His eyes were bloodshot.
His breathing was rough and violent.
He shouted while cursing.
“You crazy bastard!”
I calmly looked at his face.
It was obvious his anger had already reached its limit.
He tightened his grip.
My shirt collar pressed hard against my neck.
I deliberately refused to look away.
I silently continued staring at him.
At that moment, Manager Park moved like lightning.
In a cold, firm voice, he said,
“Let go of him.”
With one hand, Manager Park instantly twisted Park Dong-sik’s wrist.
The movement was clean.
Efficient.
The atmosphere inside the room instantly turned cold.
Even the air seemed heavy.
Park Dong-sik screamed from the sudden pain.
“Agh!”
Shock and pain mixed across his face.
Watching him, I thought,
As expected of Manager Park. A former gangster really does have impressive strength.
Manager Park didn’t back down at all.
Instead, he tightened his grip on Park Dong-sik’s arm.
He glared at him with heavy eyes.
For a moment, the silence inside the room became sharp and oppressive.
You could hear everyone breathing.
Park Dong-sik panted heavily.
His trembling fist remained clenched.
I decided it was time to settle things.
I spoke calmly and clearly.
“Let’s talk outside. It’s too noisy here.”
My voice didn’t waver.
Manager Park heard me and gave a short nod.
He slowly released Park Dong-sik.
Park Dong-sik’s face remained red.
He breathed heavily, his eyes moving wildly.
I slowly stood and gestured toward the door.
“This way.”
I opened the office door first and stepped into the hallway.
Park Dong-sik followed behind me.
His angry footsteps stayed close behind as we went down the stairs.
The private lending office.
Kang Taesan and Park Dong-sik left together.
Once the two were gone, silence returned to the room.
Kim Dong-su immediately walked toward the desk.
He carefully lifted the telephone and called a lawyer’s office.
His fingertips trembled slightly while dialing.
But he kept his voice as calm as possible.
The call connected.
Kim Dong-su quickly spoke.
“Yes, Lawyer. I’ll send the material we discussed shortly.”
He said only what he needed, then immediately hung up.
It looked as though he had no desire for a longer conversation.
At that moment, Manager Park, sitting on the sofa, lightly cleared his throat.
He looked at Kim Dong-su with amused eyes.
“Dong-su, you really look like one of our employees now.”
Kim Dong-su hesitated and looked toward Manager Park.
There was both teasing and seriousness in Manager Park’s gaze.
Kim Dong-su thought briefly before answering with determination.
“I’ve decided that from now on, I’m going to live by helping Kang Taesan.”
Firm resolve showed on his face.
Manager Park gave a small nod.
Kim Dong-su slowly turned toward the window.
He stared outside.
Complicated thoughts crossed rapidly through his head.
Then he quietly repeated to himself,
Kang Taesan is the most calculating and frightening person I’ve ever met.
Inside a coffee shop.
I quietly watched Park Dong-sik’s face across from me.
Deep anxiety and confusion mixed across his expression.
I slowly spoke in a calm tone.
“Mr. Park Dong-sik, both women already know everything.”
I paused and watched his reaction.
His eyes moved nervously.
Then I continued more firmly.
“Neither of them will ever trust you again.”
His lips trembled.
A small breath escaped him.
I strengthened my voice.
“They’ll both abandon you completely.”
His eyes shook harder.
Anxiety spread across his entire face.
I continued pressing him calmly.
“If those two women take the assets in their names and abandon you, you’ll have nothing left.”
After a pause, I said coldly,
“You’ll immediately become homeless.”
His brows tightened deeply.
The word “homeless” clearly hit a nerve.
His face stiffened.
I pushed harder.
“At this point, it’s almost certain both women will abandon you.”
I paused for breath.
Then lowered my voice further.
“You didn’t leave any assets under your own name, so once they turn on you, it’s only a matter of time before you’re thrown onto the streets.”
Park Dong-sik curled his lips as if mocking me.
But his eyes darkened.
Anxiety clearly passed across his face.
I slowly spoke again.
“You borrowed three hundred million won from our private lending office.”
Park Dong-sik frowned sharply.
“So what?”
His attitude was still arrogant and defiant.
I continued without wavering.
“But from what I know, the assets you hid are worth more than 1.3 billion won.”
Park Dong-sik shouted in disbelief.
“You think I gave those two women 1.3 billion won? Do you have proof?”
I looked at him coldly.
Then pointed out the real problem.
“You still don’t understand your situation.”
Confusion appeared on his face.
I explained calmly.
“Even if you gave those two women 1.3 billion won in total, they have no obligation to return 1.3 billion to you.”
Park Dong-sik became even more nervous.
A low groan escaped him.
“Ugh...”
My eyes turned cold.
“Do you need to become homeless before you finally wake up?”
The moment I finished, Park Dong-sik hurriedly asked,
“Then what the hell do you want me to do?”
I calmly began explaining.
“We already have evidence. I can take it to the police, accuse you, then go to court and begin freezing the accounts and assets under both women’s names.”
Park Dong-sik’s eyes widened.
“What?”
I watched his shocked expression.
Then spoke gently but confidently.
“I’ll recover the assets held by the two women who abandoned you and return them to you.”
He still looked unconvinced.
“Your debt is three hundred million. How are you going to recover all 1.3 billion?”
I slowly smiled.
“With private loans, the interest is usually scarier than the principal, isn’t it?”
I gave him a moment.
Then continued.
“If the interest alone is around one billion won, that sounds like a perfectly reasonable calculation.”
Park Dong-sik clenched his teeth.
He let out a deep breath.
His shoulders slowly hunched.
His eyes were filled with confusion and anxiety.
I quietly watched him before continuing.
“Mr. Park Dong-sik, now that both women know everything, you truly don’t have many choices left.”
He silently lowered his head.
His shoulders sagged like he was carrying a heavy burden.
I made it even clearer.
“If those women keep every asset you gave them, you’ll be homeless immediately.”
I carefully watched his expression.
My words were harsh.
But I needed him to understand the situation clearly.
He lightly bit his lip while thinking.
Sweat gathered on his forehead.
His hesitation was lasting too long.
So I gave him a more concrete proposal.
“It’s simple. Give us a statement admitting that you illegally hid your assets.”
I leaned comfortably against my chair.
Then watched his face again.
His anxiety was obvious.
A drop of sweat fell from his chin onto the table.
I continued confidently.
“After we recover the assets using that statement, we’ll deduct only the three hundred million won you owe us and return everything else to you.”
Park Dong-sik stared at me in disbelief.
“What about the interest? You’re going to charge that separately too?”
His voice trembled.
He was clearly afraid he would have to pay even more.
I answered casually.
“We’ll only take the three hundred million principal. No interest.”
His expression immediately changed.
The anxiety from moments ago vanished.
Relief and a little hope replaced it.
I deliberately softened my voice.
Pressure alone wasn’t enough.
Now I needed a little comfort and persuasion.
