Rookie Talent Agent Chapter 872: SALVA NOS (4)

Chapter 872: SALVA NOS (4)

I walked down the narrow hallway of Club JJ, heading for the VIP rooms.

Four gang members from the Gangnam Reconstruction Crew were standing guard in front of a room. They looked startled when they saw me and my group and let out a shout.

"What the hell?"

Clenching my fist, I spoke politely. "I don't want to start a fight. Move if you don't want to get hurt."

The four thugs gulped nervously. They had seen the twenty-plus people standing behind me, and they were clearly intimidated. No matter how tough they were, no one had the guts to stand against a group that outnumbered them five to one.

Then one of them, the biggest of the bunch, quickly noticed Choi Yung-Ho standing behind me and called out, "Myeongdong's Yung-Ho hyung-nim? What brings you here, sir?"

"You still haven't quit this thug life?"

"I'm sorry."

"Good, you're someone I can talk to. I'm here to see the person inside. Clear the way. The Pig Mom's in there, right?"

Choi Yung-Ho, though now the president of Daeheung Savings Bank, had once been the boss of a major gang that ruled over Myeongdong. That gang had since become Chairman Choi Eun-Tae's private security firm, but many of its original members remained.

In other words, the muscle was still intact.

"Y-Yes, sir..."

"If you drop my name, she probably won't give you too hard a time. And it's not like we're here to fight. We just need to make sure she agrees to a few things," Choi Yung-Ho said.

The thugs looked at each other and eventually stepped back from the door. "Please, go on in."

I nodded and opened the door to VIP Room 1, which they had been blocking just moments ago.

Click.

In the center of the room, Park So-Jung was savoring a bottle of expensive Dom Pérignon champagne. I instantly felt my blood boil and confronted her without mercy.

"Does it taste that good to sell out your husband and child?" I asked.

Park So-Jung's eyes went wide. "What the hell? What are you doing here?"

Without answering, I stepped into the room.

Flustered, Park So-Jung shouted toward the door. "Hey! What are you doing? Get in here and drag this bastard Chief Jung out!"

"If there really were bodyguards, do you think I'd be in here?"

Just then, instead of guards, Kang Eun-Gi and Choi Yung-Ho walked in behind me.

Lackey entered last and quietly shut the door. "I'm sorry, ma'am. Your bodyguards outside have already been taken care of."

"What? You little— Wait, Mr. Bank President?"

Park So-Jung had been about to lash out at Lackey, but froze when she spotted Choi Yung-Ho, her expression tightening with unease. She clearly recognized him, likely from her days in the loan shark business, when Choi Yung-Ho was the right hand of Myeongdong's King.

"It's been a while, Pig Mom."

Park So-Jung's face twisted in anger at the nickname. "Don't call me that. I'm So-Jung. Park So-Jung. And what brings you here, Mr. Choi?"

Choi Yung-Ho instructed, "Let's sit down and talk. Chief Jung, you too."

"Yes, sir."

I took a seat across from Park So-Jung. Kang Eun-Gi and Choi Yung-Ho sat beside me. Lackey stood by, ready as if to take orders.

At that moment, Park So-Jung glared at me with venom in her eyes. "Chief Jung, just what is your relationship with Mr. Choi?"

I shrugged and said, "We go way back."

"What?"

"More importantly, did you really conspire with Yoon Dong-Gu to target our singer? Even though she's your ex-husband's and your own biological daughter?"

"When did I— What are you talking about?"

"Let's not play dumb."

Then, I placed my phone on the table and hit play on a recording. Park So-Jung's voice came pouring out from the speaker.

-Since Seon-Ill oppa is doing well now, I'll just keep sucking him dry and...

"W-What is this?"

Startled, Park So-Jung reached for the phone. However, I quickly pulled it away.

"It's all been recorded, so don't bother denying it. If you do as I say from here on out, I'll let this slide... within reason."

I had no intention of airing out what Chief Yoon Dong-Gu from Hoop Entertainment had done. That would only end up damaging the company as well. So ideally, I wanted to settle things quietly and teach her a lesson without too much noise.

But of course, Park So-Jung didn't seem interested in hearing me out.

'Figures.'

Then Park So-Jung suddenly let out a shriek. "Do you even know who I am?"

"Ex-wife of Bok Seon-Ill and birth mother of Bok Ah-Yung. And, from what I hear, now the girlfriend of the Gangnam Reconstruction Crew's underboss."

"Th-That's right. He's my husband now! And you think you can threaten me over something like this? You really think you can handle what comes next?"

Realizing there was no reasoning with her, I didn't hesitate. I turned to Kang Eun-Gi and said, "Eun-Gi, I'll leave it to you at this point."

Kang Eun-Gi nodded, then addressed Park So-Jung calmly. "I'm here as a representative of Mr. Chairman of Myeongdong. Mr. Chairman said to accommodate everything Chief Jung requests. And if you go against his word, he said you'll be severely punished."

Park So-Jung flinched. The mention of Choi Eun-Tae, known as the chairman of Myeongdong and the undisputed king of the underground finance world, visibly shook Park So-Jung.

Still, Park So-Jung gave Kang Eun-Gi a skeptical look. "You're not even the bank president but just some wet-behind-the-ears kid, and you're saying you represent Mr. Chairman?"

"You don't believe me?"

"Of course not!"

Kang Eun-Gi chuckled, and Choi Yung-Ho chimed in from beside him. "Pig Mom. Don't doubt him. He really is Mr. Chairman's proxy."

"Ugh, I told you not to call me that! But seriously, who the hell is this kid to be a proxy?"

"That's none of your business. Just decide. Are you going to cooperate or not?"

With even Choi Yung-Ho, Choi Eun-Tae's right-hand man, backing him up, Park So-Jung finally began to waver. Yet after stewing in silence for a while, Park So-Jung grit her teeth.

"Mr. Chairman hasn't shown his face in ages, and now I'm supposed to believe you're his proxy? You really think this is enough to convince me?"

Choi Eun-Tae had already been delegating most matters even before his injury. And after his recent accident, he rarely appeared at all. That was probably why she felt brave enough to doubt Kang Eun-Gi, even with Choi Yung-Ho's word.

Kang Eun-Gi let out a dry laugh. "Looks like this lady's lost her sense of fear."

"W-What did you just say to me?"

Without missing a beat, Kang Eun-Gi pulled out his phone and made a call.

Park So-Jung shouted again. "Hey! Are you seriously ignoring me right now?"

Just then, Choi Eun-Tae's voice came through the speakerphone.

Beep.

-Yeah, Eun-Gi. How's it going?

"Mr. Chairman, I don't think she's getting the message. Even when I tell her I'm your proxy, she's got no fear and just ignores your orders."

Choi Eun-Tae let out a hearty laugh.

-Hahaha. I must've been too quiet for too long.

"Then may I handle this my way?"

-What do you plan to do?

"I'm thinking of cutting off not just this woman's loan sharking business, but also every flow of funds going into the Gangnam Reconstruction Crew—her husband Oh Dal-Sik's operation."

Even gangsters relied on loan sharks to run their businesses. No matter how clean they tried to make their ventures look, the financial world wouldn't offer them proper credit lines.

-Hmm. You're going that far?

"Yes. I believe that's the bare minimum to preserve your authority, Mr. Chairman."

Choi Eun-Tae fell silent for a beat, then spoke in a chilling tone.

-Understood. But if you're going to strike, make it brutal. Make sure no one dares underestimate you again. Got it?

"Yes, sir."

-Alright. The rest you can coordinate with Yung-Ho.

"Understood, sir."

Beep.

After ending the call, Kang Eun-Gi turned to Choi Yung-Ho. "Mr. Choi, please do as I requested."

"Of course." Choi Yung-Ho gave a firm nod, then made a call to the bank. "Block every flow of money going to Pig Mom and the Gangnam Reconstruction Crew. Recover the funds. When? Right now."

Things escalated in the blink of an eye. Only then did Park So-Jung panic, switching to formal speech as she pleaded with Kang Eun-Gi.

"Wh-What is this? Why are you going after my husband's businesses too?"

Kang Eun-Gi crossed his arms and replied coolly. "That's what happens when you don't believe me the first time I said I was Mr. Chairman's proxy."

"I-I just..."

Right then, Park So-Jung's phone rang.

Buzz.

Park So-Jung checked the screen, then answered in a hurry. "H-Honey! I'm at Club JJ right now and—"

A rough voice burst from the speaker.

-You crazy bitch! What the hell did you do?

"Sorry?"

-I just got word the funds coming into us have been blocked. What did you pull with those loan deals? Did you use the gang's name to borrow more from the investor?

"No, honey, that's not it—"

-Shut the fuck up! I got a call from your guards. I'm already at Club JJ. Room 1, right? If you run, I'll kill you myself.

Click.

The call was cut off. With the money blocked and her husband storming in, Park So-Jung's face turned deathly pale. She looked around frantically, then grabbed my hand.

"Chief Jung, I-I'll do whatever you say, okay? Please? If he sees me now, I'm dead!"

I lightly shook her off. "Perfect. Let's talk with him together then."

I knew exactly what kind of woman Park So-Jung was. She was the kind I had to crush all the way. If she dared hold out even against the proxy of Choi Eun-Tae, leaving her unchecked would only bring trouble later.

Then I turned to Lackey. "Escort the underboss of the Reconstruction Crew here, politely. Let's not start a fight."

"Leave it to me!" Excited, Lackey ran off to bring the man in.

Park So-Jung clung to me again. "Yoon Dong-Gu! Yeah, I'll testify that Yoon Dong-Gu did everything! I'll tell the press, okay?"

This needed to be handled quietly, and letting Yoon Dong-Gu's name leak would only make things worse. So I said nothing.

At that moment, the door burst open and in walked Oh Dal-Sik, the underboss of the Gangnam Reconstruction Crew. He was about 165 centimeters tall with a compact, muscular build.

Bang.

"Hey! Park So-Jung!"

Oh Dal-Sik shouted the moment he entered, but froze the instant he saw the scene in the room. His eyes didn't go to Choi Yung-Ho. They locked straight onto Kang Eun-Gi.

"You... you... what are you doing here?"

Kang Eun-Gi smiled and raised a hand in greeting. "It's been a while, Chadol hyung-nim. Oh, and yes—cutting off your funds was my doing, in my capacity as Mr. Choi Eun-Tae's proxy."

"Chairman Choi Eun-Tae... You mean the Myeongdong King?"

"That's right."

"But... why would someone like him bother with small fry like us?"

Kang Eun-Gi pointed at Park So-Jung. "Because this woman completely ignored Mr. Chairman's orders."

Oh Dal-Sik's face turned pale as he strode over to Park So-Jung. Without hesitation, he slapped her across the face.

Smack.

"Aaaagh!"

Park So-Jung collapsed onto the sofa.

Staring down at her, Oh Dal-Sik shouted furiously. "Are you out of your mind? You ignored Mr. Choi Eun-Tae's orders? And you picked a fight with that psycho Kanghan Gang enforcer? What the hell were you thinking? If you wanna die, die alone! Why are you dragging me down with you?!"

Clutching her swollen cheek, Park So-Jung whimpered, clearly confused. "K-Kanghan Gang?"

"The guy over there, smiling on the couch! He used to be Number Three in the Kanghan Gang! And you went and made an enemy out of someone like him!?"

Oh Dal-Sik's voice rang out in fury, and Park So-Jung looked like her soul had left her body. "K-Kanghan... That gang that ruled all of Gyeonggi Province?"

"Yeah. Goddamn it... You've ruined everything. This won't do. You—get over here."

Oh Dalk-Sik grabbed Park So-Jung's arm and yanked her forward. Park So-Jung's slim frame was dragged along without resistance.

Then, Oh Dal-Sik turned to us all of a sudden and dropped to his knees with a heavy thud. And then, he forced Park So-Jung down with him.

"Kneel!"

Thud.

"Aaagh!"

"Shut your mouth!"

Oh Dal-Sik drove Park So-Jung down hard, then turned back to us and began pleading.

"Chief Kang—no, President Kang. Whatever crazy thing this woman did, I'm sorry. You said you're Mr. Chairman's proxy, right? Whatever Mr. Chairman orders, I'll follow it... Please, forgive us. Please?"

It was a full surrender. He was ready to obey whatever we said.

At that moment, Kang Eun-Gi pointed at me. "That's not up to me. It's up to this man here. You should be begging him."

Oh Dal-Sik turned to me and gulped hard. "Ah, right... You're that guy from the commercial, aren't you? Uh... Chief Jung?"

"Yes."

"What do I have to do to earn your forgiveness?"

"Before we get to that, listen to this."

I played the recording again. Park So-Jung's voice filled the room with all the incriminating things she had planned. As the truth hit him, Oh Dal-Sik's face turned ghostly pale.

Click.

I stopped the recording and looked Oh Dal-Sik in the eye. "My condition is simple. Park So-Jung must never again involve herself in anything related to Mr. Bok Seon-Ill or his family. That's all I ask."

However, Oh Dal-Sik didn't answer me. Instead, his eyes bulged and he suddenly grabbed Park So-Jung by the hair and began shaking her violently.

"You beast! You're worse than an animal! Are you even human, huh?!"

"Aaagh!"

To my disbelief, Choi Yung-Ho and I had to pull Oh Dal-Sik off her to stop him.

***

With a chunk of her hair torn out and a dark bruise blooming around her eye, Park So-Jung finally promised to do everything we told her. And Oh Dal-Sik, the underboss of the Gangnam Reconstruction Crew, gave his word to back that up. He swore that if Park So-Jung ever broke that promise, he would deal with her himself.

In return, Kang Eun-Gi and Choi Yung-Ho agreed to take over the principal debt on Park So-Jung's loan operations.

Only then did I speak to Park So-Jung again, now completely deflated. "Reporter Choi So-Hye will be here soon. When she arrives, just tell her exactly what happened. Nothing more, nothing less."

Park So-Jung, her spirit broken, asked weakly. "That's all?"

"Yes. And after that, never show your face to either of them again. As far as the world is concerned, Park Hyun-Yung—Bok Seon-Ill's ex-wife—no longer exists. From now on, you live only as Park So-Jung. Understood?"

Park So-Jung hesitated, but when her husband shot her a glare, she wilted and nodded. "F-Fine. I get it."

Just then, I heard the loud voice of Reporter Choi So-Hye barreling down the hallway, unbothered by the suited men blocking her way.

"Yoon-Ho, sweetie! Where are you? Move, move! Why are there so many big guys here? Yoon-Ho!!"

Now that Choi So-Hye had arrived, it was finally time to wrap things up.

***

Choi So-Hye finished her interview with Bok Seon-Ill's ex-wife.

"Noo-nim, I'll let you know when it's time to post the article," I said.

"Okay. Once I get the go-ahead, I'll put it up right away."

"Thank you."

The tabloid piece from Entertainment All Times was still live. But before I dealt with that, I had to destroy Yoon Dong-Gu first. I turned to Kang Eun-Gi and asked him to handle the post-cleanup at Club JJ.

However, there was still one favor I owed him, so I added, "Eun-Gi, she said Park So-Jung loaned six hundred million won to Club JJ, right?"

Kang Eun-Gi nodded. "Yeah. Daeheung Savings Bank agreed to cover that."

"Then how about I take on three hundred million of it?"

"There's no problem with that, but... why?"

"In return, I want you to give some ownership of Club JJ to Lackey hyung-nim here."

Lackey's eyes widened in surprise. "To me?"

"Yes. You deserve some compensation for today."

"But... I only asked for a million won."

I grinned. "That was you saying you'd only take that much and then hanging up. I never said I'd only give you that much."

Just then, the savvy Madam Jung, who had been nearby, chimed in. "I'm fine with it. If it's Lackey, he's more than qualified to be our Director of Operations. I'll give him half my share."

"Perfect."

Kang Eun-Gi smirked. "You never change. Fine, we'll do it that way."

I smiled. "Great. Thanks."

Leaving the still-dazed Lackey behind, I walked out of Club JJ. However, I hadn't taken more than a few steps when his booming voice rang out behind me.

"I'll repay this favor, no matter what!!"

I didn't look back as I answered, "Ten years, interest-free!"

***

I headed straight for Hoop Entertainment and called President Kang Gam-Chan on the way.

"Sir, we got the interview from the ex-wife and she promised never to show her face again."

-Good work.

"I'll also send you a recording. It should be helpful for context."

-Got it. That bastard Yoon Dong-Gu's back at the office right now, meeting with Bok Seon-Ill again. I'll keep stalling him, so get to the executive meeting room as soon as you arrive.

"Yes, sir."

I ended the call and stepped harder on the accelerator. Nine minutes later, I arrived at the company's underground parking lot and headed straight for the executive meeting room.

Knock knock.

"This is Chief Jung."

Kang Gam-Chan's voice came from inside.

"Come in."

"Yes, sir."

I opened the door to find Kang Gam-Chan, Director Kang Ji-Yung, Legal Division Chief Kwak Moo-Hyuk, and Vice President Kim Gwan-Woo already seated.

In front of them sat Yoon Dong-Gu looking smug, and Bok Seon-Ill who wore a face full of concern. Neither of them seemed to have any clue about what I had just finished handling.

Then Kang Gam-Chan spoke up in disbelief. "Chief Yoon just met with Choi Yang-Sik, the editor-in-chief of Entertainment All Times. Apparently, they're asking for two hundred million won to take the article down."

"Two hundred million?"

'He told Park So-Jung he would give her a hundred million. Was he planning to pocket the other half?'

So this was all just a money grab.

'What a complete bastard.'

At that moment, Kang Gam-Chan let out a dry laugh and said exactly what I was thinking. "You're a complete piece of shit, huh?"

Kang Gam-Chan, who usually hated foul language, couldn't contain his fury this time.

Caught off guard, Yoon Dong-Gu stammered in confusion. "Sir, I—what did I do—"

Before he could finish, I placed my phone on the table and responded. "You're right, sir. He is a piece of shit."

[Recording playback begins]

As Yoon Dong-Gu's voice played from the recording, the color drained from his face.

'Goodbye, Yoon Dong-Gu!'