Chapter 145 – Chaos – Part 5

Chapter 145 – Chaos – Part 5

After finishing the call, Woojin stretched.

As Lee Hyerim’s position became more prominent, he felt something filling his chest.

It was like drops of water falling one by one, quenching his thirst.

A feeling like various hormones flowing abundantly through his body.

Woojin, who was stretching and fully experiencing the hormones, lowered his hand and fixed his gaze on his cellphone, starting to swipe through photos.

These were the photos of the crime incident that Kim Taehyun had sent him.

Kim Taehyun hadn’t asked for help.

Woojin had shown interest first.

This was also because the life Woojin wanted was a peaceful one.

However, he didn’t want brutal incidents to constantly appear in the media and expose his younger sister, Bomi, to them.

While being vigilant isn’t bad, if one is constantly fed anxiety about things that won’t happen to them, unsettling thoughts can unconsciously grow like a haze.

They might imagine things that won’t happen, and even experience similar phenomena like the nocebo effect (the opposite of the placebo effect).

This is how the media and press brainwash people and provocatively stimulate their primitive limbic system.

Whether it’s for ratings or views, they’ll stop at nothing.

Woojin hoped such influences wouldn’t reach Bomi.

Bomi was currently happy and joyful, with many steps ahead of her; such anxieties would only be a hindrance.

In that regard, the cruel criminals were quite detrimental to the peaceful life Woojin desired and to his sister Bomi.

So Woojin vowed, as if engraving it in his mind, while in the military.

He decided to catch the criminals who committed murder whenever he had time.

“Repentance…”

Woojin looked at the victim hanging naked on the cross, carefully observing the signature carved by the criminal.

A total of four murder cases.

All had the signature ‘Repentance’ carved into them, as if committed by a single criminal.

A few months before his discharge, the criminal’s killing spree stopped.

Crime experts suggested to the media that the criminal had entered a cooling-off period and didn’t rule out the possibility that they had fled the country like a fugitive.

Woojin examined not only the crime scene photos but also information from the National Forensic Service.

Even so, all they had were microscopic fibers that seemed to have fallen from the criminal’s clothes and footprints.

Woojin looked at the back of the person believed to be the suspect.

It was CCTV footage taken near the crime scene.

But that was all.

They were not caught anywhere else and disappeared as if evaporated.

The police also considered them a strong suspect and thoroughly searched the dashcams of nearby vehicles at the time, but found nothing.

Woojin began to rewind the photos to the time when the first crime occurred.

–

The next day.

Lee Siyoung visited SH Construction to meet Lee Hyerim.

[Managing Director Lee Hyerim]

Lee Siyoung smiled faintly, running her hand over the nameplate.

“Our Hyerim, you’ve made quite a career for yourself, haven’t you?”

“I’m just temporarily in charge. I can’t have a meal. As you can see, I have too much to do.”

As she said, documents were piled high next to her.

Lee Hyerim fixed her gaze on the documents again and spoke.

“We’re not close enough to face each other and talk like this. It’s awkward and uncomfortable.

I’d appreciate it if you’d just state your business.”

Lee Siyoung’s brows furrowed slightly and her lips tightened.

She was suppressing her anger.

No, she quickly hid that expression and found her smile again.

“What do you mean by that? Don’t be so disappointed.”

Lee Siyoung approached the window, her high heels clicking.

“Thinking about it, I think I’ve been too indifferent to you all this time.”

“It’s fine. You can continue to be indifferent.”

“You must have been very hurt.”

“Hurt? What do you mean? It didn’t even ache.”

Lee Siyoung, who had been looking out the window, turned and approached Lee Hyerim.

“Hyerim.”

“Speak.”

“Let me ask you one favor. As your older sister.”

Lee Hyerim put down her pen and looked up at Lee Siyoung.

“A favor?”

“Yes.”

“Sit down.”

Lee Hyerim got up from her seat and sat on the sofa first.

Once Lee Siyoung also sat on the sofa, Lee Hyerim began to speak.

“When I was nine, I asked my older sister not to pull my hair.”

And for fun, she cut her hair.

“I asked her to stop.”

“Hyerim…”

“Whenever I was on the swing in the yard, you always pushed me off. So I asked you. Wouldn’t it be enough to just ride it once?”

“Hyerim, that’s all in the past. It was childish behavior when we were young. Were you still holding onto it?”

“No.”

As Lee Hyerim began to unbutton her dress shirt, Lee Siyoung said with a flustered look.

“What are you doing…?”

Lee Hyerim slowly revealed one shoulder.

A faint burn mark was visible.

“Do you remember spilling that bowl of soup on me? And saying you wouldn’t leave me alone if I told Father. If I had gone to the hospital quickly, it wouldn’t have scarred.”

“Hyerim, I don’t remember, did I really do that? If so, I’m really sorry.”

Lee Hyerim, who had adjusted her clothes, replied.

“That’s just how it is. You came to ask me for a favor?”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. It was all when we were young. When we were immature. If you’ve been holding onto it, I’ll apologize like this. Your sister is truly sorry.”

“What kind of favor?”

As Lee Hyerim’s voice became more favorable, a peculiar glint appeared in Lee Siyoung’s eyes.

“Do you happen to have some money? I need it urgently. I’ll return it with interest.”

“Can’t you ask Father?”

“Then I wouldn’t have come to you. It’s urgent.”

“How much?”

“About fifty billion won…?”

She wanted to ask for more, but she didn’t think Lee Hyerim would have that much money.

No, would she even have fifty billion won?

“If it’s the Righteous Path, that’s my entire fortune.”

It was much more than that.

She invested the shares of several hotels she received from Lee Yohwan into GH Construction, then withdrew them just before the market crashed, created a private equity fund, and bought even more hotel shares.

The money quickly multiplied like a living creature, bringing a massive sum to Lee Hyerim.

That wasn’t all; she was also accumulating the fallen stock of GH Construction like gleaning.

“Sister, let me ask a favor. I’ll pay you back with solid interest.”

“Sister, then let’s do this.”

“How?”

“I’ll hold onto your hotel shares as collateral. It’s my entire fortune. When lending, I also have to consider the risk.”

Lee Siyoung’s eyes trembled.

She hadn’t sold all of her hotel shares.

As a last resort, she held onto 0.2%, which was 30 billion won, until the very end.

“You’re going to pay it back anyway. If you don’t want to, there’s nothing I can do from my side. I want to prepare my own dowry when I get married.”

Lee Siyoung quickly thought it over.

Where could she get 50 billion won with 0.2% collateral?

No matter how she thought about it, it was a difficult task.

First, she had to somehow stop the private loans she had already taken out.

“30 billion won. 0.2%. I have the shares, but are you sure…”

Lee Hyerim opened her mouth as if cutting her off.

“Whether I like it or not, you’re my sister. Just make sure to pay it back.”

Lee Siyoung tightly held Lee Hyerim’s hand.

“Thank you, Hyerim. I’ll definitely pay you back.”

Lee Hyerim immediately called the CEO of the private equity fund she had established, or rather, the one created with Woojin’s idea.

“It’s me. I think I need to secure 50 billion won…”

Of course, her sister wouldn’t be able to pay it back.

He probably wouldn’t even think of paying it back.

With this, the hotel shares that Lee Yohwan had, and the shares that Lee Siyoung had held onto until the very end, all went into Lee Hyerim’s hands.

After leaving Lee Hyerim’s office, Lee Siyoung let out a sigh of relief.

That was only for a moment; as he entered the elevator, he brought his phone to his ear.

“It’s me. You know that bank’s son we saw at the party the other day? I’d like to have dinner with him.”

– Huh? Why you? You said he was a good-for-nothing…

Lee Siyoung closed his eyes, as if controlling his emotions.

He recalled the image of the overweight man, covered in acne, seemingly not taking care of himself.

“Just, set up a meeting for me.”

–

A few days later.

The CEO of GH Construction couldn’t shake the look of anxiety from his eyes.

This was because the higher-ups, whom he had consistently bribed for several years, were avoiding his calls, and the rest were just saying it would be difficult.

“Those damn bastards, good-for-nothing worms who can’t even earn their keep!”

Even running his hand through his hot hair, he couldn’t come up with a solution.

With artifacts being discovered everywhere, if things continued like this, construction would naturally be halted for several years.

He also couldn’t pay the construction fees that were due immediately.

The stock price was at rock bottom, and calls from major shareholders were pouring in.

It was very clear that his position would be shaken at the board meeting a few days later.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

“Who is it!”

Along with the CEO’s sharp voice, the Chief cautiously entered the CEO’s office.

“Did you find anything?”

When the Chief shook his head weakly, the CEO covered his face and rubbed it vigorously with his hands.

He had tried to hand over the winning bid land to another company, but of course, there was no company that would take over land where artifacts had been discovered.

“Uh… CEO. Should we try approaching SH Construction as well?”

The CEO’s brow furrowed sharply.

It was a rival company.

No, it used to be, but now a development has emerged that could reverse the situation.

Artifacts are appearing on their company’s land, while SH Construction, which won one-third of the New City Development site, must be celebrating like there’s no tomorrow.

Their company’s site and SH Construction’s site were completely opposite and far apart, so construction was proceeding smoothly.

The CEO walked purposefully and stood in front of the Chief.

Then he poked his shoulder with his finger.

“It’s a rival company. Do you think that makes sense?”

“Lee Hyerim, who took over the Managing Director Position instead of Lee Yohwan, is quite a tomboy. They say the CEO of SH Construction can’t do anything about her.”

“What kind of nonsense are you talking about! Hey! What’s going to happen if Lee Hyerim sweet-talks him? Do you think Lee Jeongcheol will just stand by?”

At the CEO’s scolding, the Chief flinched but continued speaking.

“Since things turned out this way, I did some investigation. It seems Lee Hyerim is moving around thoughtlessly to gain recognition from Lee Jeongcheol.

I think there’s a chance he’ll bite if we lower the unit price a bit and scratch where it’s itchy.”

“Haah… Are you in your right mind?”

The Chief didn’t give up and said,

“I’ve been with you for seven years, CEO. I believe there’s a reason you haven’t abandoned me and kept me by your side.

I think it’s not a bad idea to at least try it once.

If we persuade Lee Hyerim and then finalize the contract without Lee Jeongcheol noticing…”

“Go ahead. Seven years of trust. Prove that my trust wasn’t misplaced with this opportunity. Then you can also take the President position this time.”

The Chief bowed deeply.

He saw it as an opportunity.

An opportunity to gain significant recognition from that damned guy and make a solid profit.