Third-Generation Chaebol

The Myeong-dong private loan market had always been underground.

However, if they registered as loan companies, their operations would become legal.

Of course, they would have to pay taxes, but in return, they could expand beyond Myeong-dong and extend their reach to all of South Korea.

"Are you saying we should go legit?"

"Enter the third-tier financial sector. If Japanese loan companies are making their move, there's no reason you shouldn't do the same."

"I refuse. The moment we enter the third-tier financial sector, the government will start meddling again."

Chairman Kang's stance was clear.

I understood exactly why he reacted this way.

The government had once taken away the major corporation he built, so he despised anything that involved state intervention.

"The military regime is long gone. And with the foreign capital flooding in after the financial crisis, that kind of government intervention is no longer possible."

"Hmm… even if that's true, there's another issue. No matter how wealthy we were in Myeong-dong, we don't have enough capital to go up against the Japanese lenders. The financial crisis didn't just hit corporations—it hurt us too."

I knew exactly how much damage the Myeong-dong loan sharks had suffered.

After all, I had orchestrated it myself.

To make Gwanghwamun Bear the ruler of Myeong-dong, I had offloaded corporate bonds destined for bankruptcy onto them.

Naturally, they suffered massive losses, leaving them short on funds.

"I'll introduce you to a financier who can match the Japanese lenders."

"Is there even a financier in Korea with that kind of money?"

"If not in Korea, then we bring one in from overseas. If Team Leader Park is bringing in money from Japan, then we'll bring in capital from the U.S."

"From the U.S.? Don't tell me…"

"I'll connect you with an investment firm from Wall Street."

I planned to introduce the Myeong-dong Three to SAVE Investment.

They didn't even need a huge sum.

With just a few trillion won, these seasoned loan sharks would be more than capable of taking on the Japanese lenders.

"If Wall Street is backing us, then we actually have a shot at winning this fight."

"You won't have to stop betting because of a lack of funds."

"Hah… But I still have one fundamental question. Why should we join hands with you? Aren't you the reason we were pushed out of Myeong-dong in the first place?"

He wasn't wrong.

I had caused them massive losses, and from their perspective, I was nothing short of an enemy.

"Chairman Lee from Gwanghwamun didn't start off with a good relationship with me either. But we joined forces and achieved results. To be honest, I never intended to interfere in Myeong-dong's affairs again. But I simply can't stand by and watch it fall into Japanese hands."

"So you want us to trust you?"

"I never betray first. I live in a different world than you do. And there's no better business partner than someone whose territory doesn't overlap with yours."

Even as we conversed, I was carefully verifying the background of the Myeong-dong Three.

I needed to confirm whether any of them had already sided with the Japanese lenders.

Fortunately, none of them had any ties to the Japanese firms—at least, not yet.

"So, what will you do? Will you join hands with me?"

"If we do, what exactly happens?"

"You'll hand over Myeong-dong to Chairman Lee's grandson and move into the legitimate financial sector. I can guarantee you'll earn several times more than you did in Myeong-dong."

"And? I don't believe in people who claim to be helping out of goodwill. You must want something from us if you're making this offer."

What could I possibly want from them?

If it was money, I already had SAVE Investment as a secure financial backer.

Of course, that didn't mean I wouldn't take my share.

"We'll split the shares of the financial company. You each get 25%, and I'll take the remaining 25%."

"And what about Wall Street's investment firm?"

"I'll allocate their share from my portion. Also, from time to time, I'll need your help. Specifically, when I need to drive down the stock price of a company I want to acquire."

"So you want us to handle the dirty work?"

"I won't deny it. But I'll make sure it's all within the legal boundaries."

The Myeong-dong Three exchanged glances, gauging each other's reactions.

Then, for the first time, Baek Halmae (Old Lady Baek) spoke up.

"I'm in. No way I'm letting those Japanese bastards take what's ours. The rest of you, just go along with it! If you refuse, I'll take everything myself. So get lost if you don't like it."

"If Baek Halmae is in, we have no choice but to follow."

Baek Halmae of Myeong-dong.

She was the loan shark who suffered the least damage during the financial crisis.

Cautious and shrewd, she never opened her wallet unless she was absolutely certain about a deal.

"I'll send someone over soon. By early next year, you'll be ready to run a legitimate third-tier financial institution."

"And until then, we just help Chairman Lee's grandson, right? When was the last time I saw that kid? At his first birthday party? Or was it Chairman Lee's seventieth birthday celebration?"

"I doubt he even remembers our faces. Still, if he needs our help, we ought to give it. For Gwanghwamun Bear's sake."

With that, Lee Young-han had gained powerful allies—three of the most renowned figures in Myeong-dong were now backing him.

For someone who had been struggling to expand his influence under Team Leader Park's shadow, this was better than an army of ten thousand soldiers.

***

That evening.

After wrapping up my meeting with the Myeong-dong Three, I headed to the hospital.

It was time to visit Lee Young-han, who had undergone surgery after being attacked by the yakuza.

"You seem to enjoy hospital food. Your face looks even better."

"I'm going crazy lying around here. I was planning to start my discharge paperwork tomorrow."

He was still wrapped in bandages around his abdomen.

Yet, he managed to smile.

It was impressive—his ability to laugh even in this situation.

"Do you still have lingering attachments to Myeong-dong? You took a knife to the stomach. Doesn't that make you want to walk away?"

"Now, don't I finally look like someone who belongs in Myeong-dong? I've made up my mind to completely leave the light and embrace the shadows. Getting stabbed wasn't a wound—it was just a shot of medicine."

"I nearly lost the right to face Chairman Lee in the afterlife."

"I know I'm late, but thank you. If it weren't for the bodyguards you assigned to me, I really would've ended up meeting my grandfather."

Lee Young-han's resolve remained unshaken.

If anything, he was burning with even more determination, completely letting go of any lingering attachments to the legitimate financial world.

"Chairman Lee wanted you to run an investment firm, not stay in Myeong-dong. Are you really fine with settling down here?"

"I've completely abandoned any thoughts of investment firms or finance. Myeong-dong is my home—this is where I belong."

"If you swear that you're satisfied with Myeong-dong, I can tell you how to take control of it."

"Of course, I swear. If I can just get rid of Team Leader Park and that bastard Lee Joon-so, I'd sell my soul to the devil."

Lee Young-han's emotions flared.

A deep red stain started spreading across the bandages on his abdomen.

"Calm down and listen. The Myeong-dong Three have agreed to help you. They'll bring the loan sharks who followed them under your wing."

"The Myeong-dong Three? You mean the elders who once stood shoulder to shoulder with my grandfather? Why would they help me? Wouldn't they rather take over Myeong-dong now that it's up for grabs?"

"They have no lingering attachments to Myeong-dong anymore. I showed them a way to move into the legitimate financial world."

"So, they'll take the legal world, and I'll take the underground?"

"Clear boundaries prevent conflicts. If you later decide you want to go legit, that would put me in a difficult position."

People's desires are like reeds swaying in the wind.

Right now, Lee Young-han was focused on Myeong-dong.

But once he felt secure and well-fed, his ambitions might shift elsewhere.

That's why I had to set things straight now.

He needed to understand—turning toward the legitimate financial world meant becoming my enemy.

"I swear I'll be satisfied with Myeong-dong. And if I ever feel the urge to move into the legal sector, I'll do it in the U.S., not Korea."

"I won't stop you from expanding to Wall Street."

"After spending a few years in the U.S., I realized the market there is on a whole different scale. Why would I even bother with Korea when I have a chance to move into a place like that? I only want Myeong-dong because it's my home."

"I hope that mindset never changes. Starting tomorrow, the Myeong-dong Three will stand by your side. Walk proudly through Myeong-dong with them, and the loan sharks will naturally fall in line."

Myeong-dong was the fastest place for rumors to spread in all of South Korea.

People even said that if you wanted to understand the Korean stock market, you had to visit Myeong-dong.

Naturally, any news from Myeong-dong spread at lightning speed.

***

The next day.

Wrapped in bandages, Lee Young-han was discharged from the hospital and immediately headed for Myeong-dong.

As soon as he arrived, three black sedans pulled up beside him.

The Myeong-dong Three stepped out naturally and walked over to stand by his side.

"So, you're the grandson of Gwanghwamun Bear? Blood really doesn't lie—you look just like Chairman Lee."

"Hey, kid, bow your head! Do you expect this old lady to crane her neck just to look at you?"

"If you got stabbed in the gut and still came back to Myeong-dong, you've got some real grit. What are you waiting for? Hurry up and follow."

Chairman Kang was the first to move.

He headed straight to an area where he had strong connections.

The loan sharks who had once worked under him rushed out to greet him.

"You all know who this is, right? He's the grandson of Gwanghwamun Bear. Make sure to take good care of him."

"Of course! If it's your request, sir, we wouldn't dare refuse."

"Stay away from Team Leader Park. A man who betrays once will have no problem doing it again."

"Is that rumor true? That Team Leader Park was responsible for what happened to Chairman Lee?"

"Why else do you think we're helping this kid? Gwanghwamun Bear was sent to the afterlife—we can't just stand by and watch his grandson follow him."

Next was Baek Halmae's turn.

And after that, even Cash King personally toured his former territory, introducing Lee Young-han to the loan sharks under his influence.

Naturally, this news reached Team Leader Park and Lee Jun-su.

They were even watching the scene unfold from a rooftop.

"Have all these old fools lost their minds? What the hell are they doing?"

"It seems like Director Kim Min-jae is behind this. Otherwise, those people wouldn't have any reason to back Lee Young-han."

"And what did I tell you? We should've taken care of Kim Min-jae first. That bastard Lee Young-han is nothing more than a puppet figurehead."

"Hmm… I think we need to reassess our approach."

"Chairman Kim Tae-jung will understand. He's already lost a child to the afterlife—maybe it's time for him to experience what it's like to lose a grandson too."

Lee Joon-so was already halfway insane.

If this operation failed, he was as good as dead. There was nothing he wouldn't do.

Just as Lee Joon-so was fuming with rage, one of his subordinates rushed up to the rooftop in a panic.

"We have a problem!"

"What are you screaming about?"

"The Busan Prosecutors' Office and Police Headquarters have declared an all-out war on organized crime! The Ohseong gang is already under attack!"