As promised to Yun Changseop, the owner family poisoning incident began to wrap up quickly.
Isn’t this exactly what auto-hunting feels like?
‘I think I understand a little now why the owner family feared Yun Changseop’s existence.’
Anyway, only three people inside the company currently know that he’s the real culprit behind this incident.
In order, Choi Yuna, Department Head Kim, and myself.
Simply put, as long as the three of us kept our mouths shut, we could comfortably work Yun Changseop like a slave.
In that sense, Department Head Kim’s side…
“I have no objections.”
“Are you really okay with this?”
“How could I, a mere employee, oppose the Chairman’s decision? And as the Chairman mentioned, you are also a victim. If you can make such a bold decision for Seonghwa’s profits, I believe I should be cheering you on instead.”
“Um… Department Head Kim? You sound a bit too by-the-book all of a sudden.”
“The Chairman is both my boss and the one who saved my life. Of course I should mind my manners in front of someone like that.”
Department Head Kim said that with a faint smile.
What a good person.
I’d told him to slap Yun Changseop if he ever met him, but now he was saying even that wasn’t necessary.
Then next…
“I personally oppose it.”
It was Choi Yuna, now officially my dedicated secretary.
She adjusted her glasses and continued.
“No matter how you look at it, putting a murderer in a key position makes no sense. Even if you’ve bound him with a contract, the Chairman’s life will always remain under threat.”
I didn’t particularly refute that.
If anything, I wanted to applaud her.
In a godforsaken heavenly drama world like this, she was someone who could still think such sound thoughts?
That was why I felt relieved when she was confirmed as my dedicated secretary.
When you have someone capable of rational judgment by your side, you can quickly regain your composure.
But thinking about it calmly, a worker like Yun Changseop was needed by me… no, by Seonghwa as it stood now.
“I did consider that aspect too. Still, I hope you’ll trust my judgment for now.”
Choi Yuna fell silent for a moment.
Then she let out a small sigh and nodded as if she understood.
And then.
“By the way, how long do you plan to keep using formal speech with me?”
“I find it more comfortable speaking to you this way, Secretary Choi. It’s like I want to show you the utmost respect.”
“……”
Since no answer came back right away, I felt a bit awkward.
But does tone really matter that much?
“Once Seonghwa Group stabilizes, I’ll step down from the Chairman position anyway, so cut me some slack on this.”
“?!”
Anyone could see Choi Yuna’s eyes went wide.
Like someone who’d just heard shocking news.
Well… I personally don’t think it’s that surprising.
“You… said you’d step down?”
“Think about it coldly. How can I, someone who never learned anything properly, sit in the Chairman’s seat and run a company? I’m just a totem.”
“Then I think you could start learning from now on.”
“That would be the case if Seonghwa weren’t in turmoil. In the current situation, I think it’s more reasonable to hand things over to people who’ve devoted their whole lives to management.”
“……”
“Until then, I’ll do my best to keep up appearances, so don’t worry too much. So, what should I do from now on?”
Choi Yuna hesitated at my question.
She seemed a bit off today for some reason.
When I stared at her, she finally spoke slowly.
“…The inauguration ceremony.”
“The inauguration ceremony? Do we need something that grand in a situation like this?”
“I believe it’s needed all the more in times of chaos like this. Nothing is more important to people than what they can see with their own eyes.”
Now that I heard it, that made sense.
Even if the owner family poisoning incident was mostly resolved, Seonghwa Group was still in chaos.
Times like these called for showing that we were still standing strong and announcing the future direction.
“However…”
“However?”
“His Majesty has taken a great interest in the Chairman. In that regard, he said he would very much like the inauguration ceremony to be held at the Imperial Palace.”
Huh?
The Emperor is interested in me?
And he wants my inauguration ceremony held at the Imperial Palace?
Just thinking about it gave me a headache.
The Emperor’s Men.
I’d only watched up to episode two of this heavenly drama, but even that was enough to know one thing.
That the Imperial Family in this world wasn’t a very good place.
On the surface, it was a noble place of tradition, dignity, and the roots of the Korean Empire, but once you opened the lid, it was just a massive power cartel.
A place where all sorts of corruption flourished—waste of power, abuse of authority, and graft.
From the start, even Lee Serin, the protagonist of this drama world, harbored deep resentment toward the Imperial Family.
‘And with the drama title alone, I can kind of guess where this is heading…’
Anyway, from my perspective, I obviously didn’t want anything to do with the Imperial Family.
But from Seonghwa Group’s standpoint, things were a bit different.
“Seonghwa Group has maintained a good relationship with the Imperial Family since about twenty years ago.”
Choi Yuna continued calmly.
“Notable examples include sponsoring Imperial cultural projects, collaborating on national-level initiatives, and supporting overseas diplomatic events. Seonghwa was counted among the corporations closest to the Imperial Family, like a friend.”
On the surface, it sounded like a wholesome, heartwarming relationship.
The Imperial Family provides business themes and image, and the corporations give capital and support.
A win-win.
At least, that’s how it looked from the outside.
“And after that? I’d rather hear plain facts than pretty words.”
“I apologize. To be honest, I’m not fully aware of that part either. Information related to the Imperial Family is so sensitive that it was strictly managed by the owner family’s people.”
“Hmm… then I wonder if that person knows.”
At my words, Choi Yuna seemed to catch who I meant, pulled out her phone, and called someone.
And a moment later.
“Director Yun says he’s on his way here now.”
“He must be busy—he could’ve just told us over the phone.”
“That probably means he has a lot to say.”
I nodded.
Yun Changseop probably knew everything there was to know about Seonghwa Group.
But honestly, I felt like I could guess even without hearing it.
“Seonghwa has funneled enormous funds to the Imperial Family. In return, they’ve provided us with various conveniences.”
“Like what?”
“Regulatory easing, licensing priority, checking competitors, selection for government projects, and so on.”
Yun Changseop, having entered the office, spoke flatly, but the contents were anything but.
“In short, a collusion relationship.”
“Yes. Though it’s fairly common in the Korean Empire. The Imperial Family, in particular, has long enjoyed ranking corporations by hierarchy.”
Who is more loyal.
Who brings in more.
Just like a heavenly drama world, truly a hopeless place.
“But Chairman Kang Seongcheol kept his distance from the Imperial Family from the very beginning.”
Yun Changseop continued.
According to him, Chairman Kang Seongcheol deliberately maintained distance, saying that if you leaned on the Imperial Family’s power, you’d keep leaning on it forever.
Of course, people mocked him, saying he’d never survive without borrowing the Imperial Family’s strength, but in the end, he proved them all wrong.
“Then conversely, from the Imperial Family’s perspective, Chairman Kang Seongcheol’s existence must have been a thorn in their side.”
“…Yes. In fact, they intermittently checked and pressured Seonghwa. Even so, Seonghwa under Chairman Kang Seongcheol remained unshaken—”
“The problem started after he passed away.”
Yun Changseop nodded.
Now I finally understood why the Imperial Family and Seonghwa had become friends twenty years ago.
“After Chairman Kang Seongcheol passed, the Imperial Family seized the opportunity and pressured Seonghwa even harder. Of course, Chairman Kang Taesu also knew how to use the Imperial Family. He stayed friendly but never got pushed around.”
“Then…?”
“Chairman Kang Taesu’s children greatly feared falling out of the Imperial Family’s favor. They didn’t believe they could handle them like their predecessors did.”
“So you’re saying that’s when the one-sided tributes began.”
Yun Changseop smiled quietly.
There wasn’t a trace of denial.
Okay, I roughly understand the situation now.
The reason the Imperial Family was deliberately inviting me to the palace and insisting on holding the inauguration ceremony there.
It was simply to use me.
A Seonghwa Group that kept lowering its tail with each generation.
And to top it all off, an illegitimate child high schooler suddenly taking the helm?
‘From the Imperial Family’s perspective, I must look like a goose that lays golden eggs.’
The more naive and inexperienced the child, the more they revere the Imperial Family and the Emperor.
And they’re generously offering the Imperial Palace—such an impressive venue—for my inauguration ceremony?
That was also the Emperor publicly recognizing me as the Chairman of Seonghwa Group.
‘Emperor’s recognition, huh…’
I chuckled.
In the Korean Empire, there was probably nothing with more authority than that.
This was them openly showing me favor.
Of course, there’s no such thing as free favors in this world.
Which is why.
“I am curious, though.”
At my words, Choi Yuna asked with a puzzled expression.
“…About what, sir?”
“I’m curious how outrageous a price they’ll demand from a young Chairman who doesn’t know the ways of the world.”
And I wanted to confirm one thing by facing the Emperor directly.
If the result I expected came out there…
I looked at the two secretaries standing before me.
Choi Yuna and Yun Changseop.
Trustworthy faces that made me feel like they could clean up whatever mess I made.
Well, Yun Changseop is a work slave so I’m not sure about him, but I did think I should at least raise Choi Yuna’s salary.