A large bar in Myeong-dong.
It was a bar that was always packed, even on weekdays.
But tonight, there were only two customers.
One of them was Executive Director Lee Joon-soo, a cousin of the infamous Myeong-dong private loan market's "Big Four."
The other was his childhood friend, Jung Soo-chul, the 1st Division Chief of the Audit Team.
"I heard the chairman's grandson is quite the oddball. Is he still acting up in the Audit Team?"
"Don't even get me started. Do you know the first thing he said when he walked in? He told us to adjust to him! Can you believe that? Some punk who just graduated from college thinks he's some kind of genius."
They were already heavily drunk.
Their words were harsher than usual.
"That punk isn't thinking of digging into the Changwon Factory, is he?"
"How could he? You need evidence to even start an investigation. And unless the Chairman himself orders it, there's no way that brat is getting his hands on any. You know how it works—my word is law in the Audit Team."
"And I'm the one who made sure of that."
Clink!
Their glasses collided, sealing their unspoken pact.
But their bond wasn't built on friendship alone—it was held together by money.
"Don't worry. As long as that brat is in the Audit Team, I'll make sure to break his spirit."
"The Chairman won't step in, will he?"
"I was worried about that too. But he already called the team leaders together and told us he won't interfere just because the kid is his grandson. Basically, we're on our own."
"Damn. Our Chairman is a real badass. They say lions throw their cubs off cliffs to toughen them up. And our Chairman? Definitely a lion."
"The Chairman might be a lion, but that brat is nothing more than a newborn cub."
Even in their drunken state, they never spoke ill of Chairman Kim Tae-jung.
His power in Taewoo Group was absolute.
Even Executive Director Lee, a key player in the Myeong-dong loan market, wouldn't dare challenge his authority.
Yet, there was a lingering confidence—a belief that even the Chairman wouldn't be able to easily touch them.
"So, how do you plan to educate this cub that got thrown off the cliff?"
"Isolation. If we limit the information he gets, he'll shrink back on his own. He might be the Executive Director of the Audit Team, but what can he do alone? The kid doesn't even understand the team's workflow yet. Even with the team leaders and staff supporting him, he'd barely manage—so imagine if they don't."
"We have to crush him completely now. That way, when the Chairman retires, things will be easier for us."
"Leave it to me."
"But if he still doesn't break, I'll have my cousin give him a little wake-up call. We'll demand Taewoo Group immediately repay its debt to him. That should scare the life out of the brat."
Taewoo Group was aggressively expanding globally.
And expansion required a massive amount of capital.
They weren't just borrowing from banks—they were also tapping into the private loan market.
"That much debt? Isn't that a bit risky?"
"For a company like Taewoo Group? It's nothing. That's why my cousin was willing to lend them so much money. The Myeong-dong loan sharks never lend money they can't get back."
"That's true. Anyway, I can't wait for tomorrow. Just thinking about messing with that little cub is already exciting."
"Don't take him too lightly. If you act recklessly, you might end up getting scratched by the cub's claws."
"Claws? If he even has any. It'd be more fun if he had at least a little fight in him, but from what I saw, he's got neither fangs nor claws."
Clink!
Their glasses met once more.
Jung Soo-chul was even more excited than usual, gulping down his drink eagerly.
Little did he know what was coming the next day.
***
The Next Day.
At Taewoo Group's Audit Team office, a new personnel order had been posted in multiple locations.
Jung Soo-chul, still not fully sober from last night, rubbed his eyes as he scanned the document.
"Personnel order? What the hell is this supposed to mean?"
"A Changwon Factory TF (Task Force) is being assembled. Deputy Director Yoon from Team 4 has been promoted to Team Leader, and three people from each team will be reassigned to the task force."
"Since when did the Audit Team Director have the authority over personnel decisions? That's the HR Department's job!"
Jung Soo-chul loosened his tie aggressively, feeling completely disregarded by this personnel decision.
Fuming, he stormed into the Director's office.
"The Audit Team operates under a strict annual plan. If you suddenly form a task force and reassign personnel, it will create gaps and disrupt our work. And Yoon is still far from qualified to lead a team."
"And who exactly gave you the authority to decide that? Are you the Director now?"
"Director! If you force things like this, the entire Audit Team's operations will fall apart."
"I'll take full responsibility. Also, this is the first time I've seen someone complain about a Director exercising discretion to form a TF. I already checked with HR and the Chairman's Office before proceeding, so don't argue. Now, get out. And one more thing—is this your personal office? Next time, knock and ask for permission before barging in."
Jung Soo-chul was practically kicked out of the Director's office.
Still fuming, he returned to the Audit Team office and called all the team leaders together.
"So, the Director insists on forming a TF. You all know what to do, right?"
"What do we know? We'll just keep doing our jobs as usual."
"Exactly. Just stick to business as usual. Don't stir things up."
"When a storm comes, the smartest thing to do is wait for it to pass quietly."
"You all got that? Don't get caught up in this storm—just stay out of it."
The Audit Team leaders all had at least one dirty secret.
And as long as they had each other by the throat, no one would betray the others.
That was what Jung Soo-chul believed.
But there was one problem—Deputy Director Yoon.
The newly appointed TF leader had no weaknesses.
Ironically, that was the very reason he had never been promoted past Deputy Director.
The five team leaders saw him as a threat and had kept blocking his promotions, ensuring that his performance was always rated poorly year after year.
After Jung Soo-chul left the Director's office.
I was reviewing the materials, including the photos that Captain Kang had diligently taken overnight.
"So, he met with Executive Director Lee and even drank with him? He really fears nothing, huh."
I had expected him to at least lay low for a few days.
But on the very day I took over as Director, he was already scheming with Executive Director Lee?
That just proved how absolute his power was—he was so confident that I couldn't touch him.
"Call in Deputy Director Yoon."
Through my secretary, I summoned Deputy Director Yoon, the newly appointed leader of the TF.
It seemed he had been waiting, as he rushed into the office immediately.
I looked at him again and reviewed his personal record.
He was remarkably clean.
I had reviewed many employees' records at Taewoo Group, but very few were this spotless.
Particularly for positions above Deputy Director, it was rare to find someone with no stains on their record.
For entry-level employees and junior staff, their limited responsibilities meant there were fewer chances to be corrupted.
But once someone reached Deputy Director or higher, temptations naturally followed.
Just like the five Audit Team leaders—all of whom had succumbed.
But Deputy Director Yoon Il-seop had no history of misconduct whatsoever.
Not only that, but he was also an exceptionally competent employee, rated A-level or higher in his performance.
Purely based on ability, Yoon far outclassed the five Audit Team leaders.
That was precisely why I had appointed him as the TF leader.
And I had used the same criteria when selecting the employees under him—
Those in the Audit Team who were both competent and clean.
Since the Audit Team only hired top-tier talent, finding such employees wasn't difficult.
While I was reviewing Yoon's record,
he had already stepped fully into the office and bowed politely in greeting.
"Good morning, sir. I'm Deputy Director Yoon Il-seop."
"You must be quite surprised—to be suddenly appointed as TF leader without any prior discussion."
"Honestly, yes. Given my poor performance evaluations, I was completely stunned when I heard about the promotion."
Deputy Director Yoon looked like a bear.
Even his slow, deliberate movements resembled one.
But when it came to work, he was far from a dull-witted bear.
Judgment skills: A-grade.
Investigative skills: A-grade.
He possessed exactly the qualities an Audit Team member needed.
"I did some investigating through my own channels. Deputy Director Yoon, you're more than qualified to be a team leader."
"Thank you for thinking so highly of me."
"How do you feel about your TF team members? I selected them quite carefully."
"I couldn't have asked for better colleagues. Only someone with an in-depth knowledge of the Audit Team could have picked them."
I could hear the sincerity in his voice.
Of course, he liked them.
I had chosen them with insider knowledge from the Chief Secretary and my own assessment skills.
"The TF's first mission will be at the Changwon factory. As you know, this won't be an easy task."
"If it's the Changwon factory… we'll be facing pressure from all sides."
"If any pressure comes your way, report it to me immediately. I'll take care of all of it."
"...."
"You think that's impossible, don't you?"
I let out a small chuckle.
"I know exactly who the Changwon factory is connected to. So don't hesitate—turn everything upside down. I'll take full responsibility."
A third-generation chaebol in his early 20s.
How much trust could my words inspire?
I understood why Yoon was hesitant.
In that case, I needed to dangle a carrot to ease his doubts.
"If the TF delivers results, it may become a permanent team. That would mean a promotion for you—officially making you a full-fledged team leader."
"I… don't have the performance reviews to qualify for a promotion."
"I've already reached an agreement with HR and the Secretary's Office. As TF leader, your evaluations will be entirely up to me."
"I'll do my absolute best! No, I will make sure to deliver results!"
Finally, his voice carried conviction.
How frustrated he must have been.
He had the ability, yet unlike the other team leaders, he had refused to dirty his hands—so he was passed over for promotions.
To him, I must have looked like a lifeline.
Of course, he might think this lifeline could snap at any moment, but with no other options, he had no choice but to grab hold of me.
"Also, I'll share intel from my own private sources. That will be a secret between just the two of us."
"Private sources? Do you mean… you have your own intelligence network?"
"It's still in its early stages, but it's enough to ensure that the TF won't be crippled by a lack of information."
Deputy Director Yoon hesitated for a moment before asking one last question.
His small, squinting eyes suddenly widened threefold as he stared at me.
"May I ask you one final question, sir?"
"Go ahead."
"Why are you doing this? Wouldn't it be more beneficial for you to join one of the company's revenue-generating subsidiaries rather than the Audit Team?"
"You mean, why am I doing all this when I'm already guaranteed to inherit Taewoo Group?"
I smiled.
"To be honest, I have no interest in inheriting Taewoo Group as it is now. That's why I'm working to reshape it according to my vision. And that vision probably aligns with yours, Deputy Director Yoon."
His eyes returned to their usual squinted state.
"I'll trust and follow your lead."