Chapter 345: Escape (5)

“There are no issues with Jin-Ho?” Hwang Jeong-Hu asked in a weird voice.

“Yes, Chairman,” Jo Gyu-Min nodded.

“...That's good news, is it not? So, what's the story with that weird face, Gyu-Min?”

“Sir? You mean... My face?”

“Is there anyone else here besides you?” Hwang Jeong-Hu snarkily retorted.

Jo Gyu-Min ever-so-slightly pouted. “I was deathly worried about him, but Mister Jin-Ho emerged completely unscathed, sir. I am happy, but more than that, something feels like great injustice to me, somehow.”

“Huh. You sure have a nasty personality, don't you?”

“It's my first time realizing that as well, sir.”

“Kekeke..” Hwang Jeong-Hu cackled as if this whole thing greatly amused him. If seeing various new facets of Jo Gyu-Min's personality had been the goal, this would definitely qualify as a satisfactory result! “Gyu-Min, you surprisingly have this idiotic side to you.”

“...I would love to deny that notion, sir, if you don't mind.” Jo Gyu-Min's face reddened as he looked away.

'I didn't think I'd buckle under dangerous situations...'

Jo Gyu-Min always thought he boasted a pretty bold, courageous personality. Weren't most people usually filled with baseless confidence about being strong against adversities?

After experiencing this genuinely perilous situation, though... Jo Gyu-Min had an epiphany. The only reason why he could remain composed until now was his confidence in knowing that no harm would come to him or the people in his life.

But, when he thought Kang Jin-Ho might really die, his usual composure immediately flew out the window. Jo Gyu-Min found himself lost and flailing around ungainly in the dark.

Hwang Jeong-Hu chuckled. “Take this as a good learning experience, Gyu-Min.”

“Yes, sir. I will.” Jo Gyu-Min awkwardly scratched the side of his head.

“You should go home early today, too.” Hwang Jeong-Hu leaned back in his chair and spoke.

“But, sir. I still have a lot of work left to do.”

“Huh. I'm the only person you report to, so when I say you can go home for the day, isn't that the end of the discussion? Postpone your other reports, and go home. Get some sleep first. I heard that you haven't had a wink of sleep in the last three days.”

Jo Gyu-Min chose not to answer that. Admitting to that would be like boasting to his boss how much of a hard worker he was, and that was somewhat embarrassing for him.

“Managing your health is also a part of your job, Gyu-Min. I do want hard workers in my corporation. I'm sure that's the case for other businesspeople, not just me. However, what I prefer is those who work efficiently.”

“Understood, sir. I'll remember your advice.”

Hwang Jeong-Hu took out a cigarette and slowly mouthed it. After lighting it, a look of relief settled on his face. “Mm... That was one scary event, wasn't it?”

“Yes, sir. We certainly had a difficult few days.”

“I'm not joking about this. It wouldn't have been weird to see me kneel over and die tomorrow. I can't remember the last time I was this tense.”

Jo Gyu-Min gravely nodded while listening. He knew how genuinely enraged Hwang Jeong-Hu was. Despite all the years he had spent serving the chairman of the Jaegyeong Corporation, Jo Gyu-Min could swear he had never seen Hwang Jeong-Hu this furious before. Even Director Baek Yeong-Gi said he had not seen such anger from Hwang Jeong-Hu before.

Since Jo Gyu-Min had bet his life on Kang Jin-Ho, the fact that he panicked and flailed around ungainly shouldn't have come as a surprise. However, he didn't expect Hwang Jeong-Hu to react that violently, either.

“Still, I got to learn something, so it's not like this whole thing was a total loss..” Hwang Jeong-Hu muttered to himself.

“I beg your pardon?”

“...Don't mind it, Gyu-Min. It's not related to you.” Hwang Jeong-Hu casually brushed the question aside.

Jo Gyu-Min decided to not inquire further. Someone occupying a leadership position would obviously have far more things to consider and worry about, after all.

“Besides all that, Gyu-Min... I'm sure there will be a lot of work coming your way soon?”

“Yes, sir.” Jo Gyu-Min resolutely nodded in agreement.

“You know all the gritty details of things Jin-Ho is involved with, don't you?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I won't order you to report everything to me. As I told you before, I wish to keep living on this side of the world. And I don't have any immediate plans to step into that side.”

“Understood, sir.”

“It's just that..” Hwang Jeong-Hu's expression hardened. “...It's a different story for you, Gyu-Min. This event must've taught you that a single mistake can lead to losing Jin-Ho.”

Jo Gyu-Min silently nodded.

His faith in Kang Jin-Ho was almost absolute. It wasn’t like Jo Gyu-Min saw Kang Jin-Ho as his messiah, but he believed the latter would be able to ably deal with whatever problem stood in his path.

However, this tunnel incident shattered that faith. Which left Jo Gyu-Min feeling this double-sided emotion. On the one hand, he was pained about Kang Jin-Ho going through a life-threatening experience. On the other hand, this experience helped Jo Gyu-Min finally learn that Kang Jin-Ho needed him.

All the things Jo Gyu-Min did for Kang Jin-Ho until now weren't really 'assistance' but more like running errands for him. Cleaning up the aftermaths and tying up loose ends... Those were basically Jo Gyu-Min's tasks.

However, it was different this time. If Jo Gyu-Min had failed to step up on time, Kang Jin-Ho would've lost his life. That knowledge was leaving Jo Gyu-Min in a weird funk.

He felt strongly rueful about the realization of Kang Jin-Ho not being as perfect as he thought. And that imperfection had almost led to Kang Jin-Ho's death. Ironically, though... That imperfection became the opportunity to prove Jo Gyu-Min's usefulness.

“Gyu-Min, things will only get more extreme.”

“I know, sir.”

Hwang Jeong-Hu took a deep puff of his cigarette, then slowly exhaled the smoke into the air. “The higher a man climbs up in the world, the more others will try to keep him in check. It doesn't matter whether that man is righteous or not. Humans always feel the need to drag someone on the up, you see? The funny thing is, they will cheer that man on up to a certain point in his rise to the top. However, if he crosses an arbitrary line of success they have drawn, they will instantly turn into enemies.”

Jo Gyu-Min sensed the wisdom of experience contained in Hwang Jeong-Hu's words.

Not many people in the world would have suffered and survived as many schemes and dastardly tactics as Hwang Jeong-Hu. However, he still managed to overcome them all with his own strength.

Kang Jin-Ho would find his trials and tribulations not as easy to overcome, however. Unlike Hwang Jeong-Hu's enemies, who relied on rumors, unsavory ploys and corrupt law to attack, Kang Jin-Ho would have to contend with actual physical threats as well.

“Now that this has happened, Jin-Ho will undoubtedly become even more cautious. However, some attacks will be beyond his ability to handle.” The first reveal of this chapter happened through N//0/vel-Biiin.

Jo Gyu-Min gravely nodded. “I also believe that's the case, sir.”

“And it's your job to stop those. You know that, don't you?”

“Yes, sir.” Jo Gyu-Min replied unhesitantly, but he was trying to read Hwang Jeong-Hu's intention.

Until now, Hwang Jeong-Hu displayed zero interest in the hidden side of the world. The one Kang Jin-Ho was a part of. No, that wasn't strictly correct. Rather than 'zero interest', it'd be more like he intentionally tried not to get involved.

However, Hwang Jeong-Hu was now implying that Jo Gyu-Min should get involved with that side of the world. Wasn't Jo Gyu-Min a beneficiary of Jaegyeong's generosity? So, should he take Hwang Jeong-Hu's words as his desire to get Jaegyeong involved in the martial world and support Kang Jin-Ho?

'He probably won't give me any easy answers.'

A wily old raccoon usually dug out several holes for itself. Of course, Jo Gyu-Min didn't use that comparison negatively. Hwang Jeong-Hu survived an era that absolutely required such a tactic, so for him, doing it now was an obvious move.

As for Jo Gyu-Min, being able to deduce this much from what little Hwang Jeong-Hu said deserved praise.

“Sir, I'll make sure to stay on top of such matters.”

“Good. Very good.” Hwang Jeong-Hu nodded, his eyes withdrawing gradually.

'I also need to make up my mind, don't I?'

Being half-hearted, with only half a foot through the doorway, was not great for anybody. Hwang Jeong-Hu, for now, was healthy and still full of energy. However, who knew when his mind would start losing its sharpness? What was so scary about that was the person suffering the mental decline would be the last one to recognize what was happening to them.

Even though Hwang Jeong-Hu's decisive judgment and dictator-like authority served as the foundation for Jaegyeong's growth all these years, those factors could become a fatal poison instead if his condition turned for the worse.

'I need to start preparing, then...'

Over the years, Hwang Jeong-Hu witnessed many other companies march toward their doom when their leaders and owners failed to stay on top of their declining health and mind. Those people forever believed they would remain strong and virile till the end of the day, and Hwang Jeong-Hu also thought that about himself. He thought he'd not experience the same decline as them, but... Hypothetically speaking, what if Hwang Jeong-Hu's mind suddenly decided to leave him tomorrow?

That would be the end of Jaegyeong.

Getting ready wasn't done through one's resolution. No, it was done by taking appropriate measures beforehand. Hwang Jeong-Hu had planned for the future of Jaegyeong when he was gone but never thought about the possibility of his mind going haywire.

He considered himself—and Jaegyeong—lucky that this event helped him see this oversight before it was too late.

Hwang Jeong-Hu briefly closed his eyes and organized his thoughts before raising his head to look at Jo Gyu-Min. “By the way, Gyu-Min?”

“Yes, sir?”

Hwang Jeong-Hu smirked meaningfully. “Your complexion looks brighter now.”

Jo Gyu-Min rubbed his face a little in confusion.

“You don't look like you just came out of a crisis, fella. It's more like you've just clinched a major business deal or something. As if you've successfully finished a project that had been eating away at your free time for a number of years. Or am I reading too much?”

Jo Gyu-Min smiled awkwardly. “Sir, it's... You're quite close, sir. I do feel similar to what you've described.”

“Kekeke..” Hwang Jeong-Hu briefly chuckled as if he could guess already.

While listening to that chuckle, Jo Gyu-Min couldn't help but recall the conversation he had with Kang Jin-Ho before coming here.

“Thank you.”

“Sorry?”

“I'm grateful for everything you've done.”

“O-oh, it was nothing, Mister Jin-Ho. No need to thank me.”

“Without your help, Mister Gyu-Min... No, Chief Jo, I'm not sure what would've happened back there. I will never forget what you've done for me this time. Again, thank you for saving us.“

'He's grateful, right...?'

That wasn't the first time Kang Jin-Ho expressed his gratitude, of course. Actually, he did that quite often. However, Jo Gyu-Min knew.

The meaning behind the previous 'thanks' and the latest expression of his gratitude was on another level altogether.

For the first time ever, Jo Gyu-Min thought his capability had given Kang Jin-Ho proper assistance. And that instilled so much sense of accomplishment in Jo Gyu-Min's heart.

It also helped him realize how important Kang Jin-Ho had become in Jo Gyu-Min's life.

'I'm sure Mister Jin-Ho's feeling the same way about me...'

Although Jo Gyu-Min never wanted to experience another event like this, he still had to admit that it did wonders to strengthen their bond.

Jo Gyu-Min got up from the comfy couch, getting ready to leave the chairman's office. A gentle grin was etched on his face as he straightened his jacket.

He had a hunch that their fellowship would only get stronger from this experience.

***

'Bloody useless...'

Kang Jin-Ho and his hardened face were currently dealing with the incoming tidal waves of hardship head-on.

To him, explaining what happened this time to his parents was one of the scariest, most challenging tasks he had ever encountered. He simply couldn't see a way out without help. And that was why he asked Jo Gyu-Min for ideas, but now...!

'Too bloody useless!!!'

Not once did Kang Jin-Ho doubt Jo Gyu-Min's capability. However, at this precise moment, he was gripped by inescapable doubt.

Kang Jin-Ho had to sit through an unnecessary medical examination to earn this solution, but it turned out to be flabbergast-inducing. And now, he thought the so-called solution was actually worsening the situation instead!

Just... Just what the hell was up with this solution?! How could Jo Gyu-Min even think about such a thing?!

Since he had no better alternative, Kang Jin-Ho did as Jo Gyu-Min told him. However, the glares containing flabbergast, panic, and dismay currently stabbing him proved that this was no solution but a deadly poison.

“So, what you're saying is..” Baek Hyeon-Jeong glared at Kang Jin-Ho with eyes shooting out flames. “What you are saying is...!”

Kang Jin-Ho flinched when his mother's voice grew louder and louder. He never once flinched or shrunk back, even as the large boulder came down on him during his underground escape, yet here he was, cowering like a little frog in front of a snake.

Baek Hyeon-Jeong slowly chewed out each word. “A trip? You. Went. On a TRIP. With Miss Choi Yeon-Ha? Is that what you're saying?”

Kang Jin-Ho looked up at the ceiling.

'Jo Gyu-Min...!'

I would definitely repay this grudge one day!