"Oh, wait a minute." Maru frowned, deep in thought.
"Did you remember? Who is it?"
Maru said hesitantly, "I think I saw him in a video…"
"A video? What video?"
Maru shook his head. "No, it can't be. Never mind."
"What are you talking about? Explain."
Maru scratched his head. "You know that porn video we found in a secondhand VCR, the one with the woman who looked like Lee So-hyang? There's a man's face at the end, and he looks kind of like the Vice Minister."
There had been a commotion at the company when the employees found a pornographic video featuring a woman who resembled the famous actress Lee So-hyang.
I said with interest, "You're saying the man in that video looks like the Vice Minister?"
"The quality isn't great, so I'm not sure, but he does look similar."
"You have that video at your house, right?"
"Yes…"
My eyes gleamed. "Go and get it. Now."
***
After comparing Jang Yoo-cheon's recording with Maru's video, I was certain.
"It's definitely him. The Vice Minister."
The receding hairline, the horn-rimmed glasses, the mole on his face… there was no doubt the man in the video was the Vice Minister.
"He only appears for two seconds, how did you even remember him? I watched it several times, but I don't remember him."
Maru said with a dejected expression,
"I'm a fan of Lee So-hyang. I remember the man who had sex with a woman who looked like her."
I had also watched the video several times, as it featured a stunningly beautiful woman. But I couldn't compare to Maru, a die-hard fan of Lee So-hyang, who had treasured the video.
Maru said in a hollow voice,
"If the man in the video really is the Vice Minister…"
His voice trembled.
"It means the woman could be the real Lee So-hyang."
"It's possible. Sexual favors are an open secret in the entertainment industry."
"My goddess… Damn that Vice Minister!"
Maru slammed his fist on the table.
"How dare he do that to So-hyang! To So-hyang!"
He raged for a while and then said with tears in his eyes,
"She must have been coerced. How could they do this to her?"
Then he suddenly became angry again.
"No! Maybe she slept her way to the top? No, no, So-hyang would never do that."
He was distraught, his image of his idol shattered. I clicked my tongue.
"What are you doing? It's just a celebrity. Get over it."
"You don't understand what she means to me! I have all her photo books, her dramas, I never missed a single show she was on!"
I tried to calm him down.
"Hey, hey, calm down. She doesn't even know you exist. Just forget about it. Focus on reality. Celebrities are just celebrities. And we don't even know if it's really her."
Maru, ignoring my words, gritted his teeth.
"That Vice Minister, I'll kill him!"
"Do whatever you want."
I ignored the distraught Maru and said to Park Jong-bum,
"What do you think about this video? Can we use it?"
Park Jong-bum smirked.
"Are you kidding? It's like heaven is helping us. Such a scandalous video falling into our hands."
I chuckled.
"This is getting interesting. Let's organize the information we have."
We had a mountain of pornographic videos and other compromising materials collected from secondhand computers and other sources over the years.
We had found this video easily thanks to Maru's obsession with Lee So-hyang, but we couldn't rely on such luck in the future.
Opportunity favored the prepared.
"I'm not sure if the man in the video is really the Vice Minister, but we'll find out soon enough. And it doesn't matter even if he's not."
I smiled.
"Whether it's true or not, the government won't protect a Vice Minister embroiled in a sex scandal, especially in these precarious times."
***
"This never ends. It just never ends."
Government officials were swamped with work, preparing for the transition to the next administration.
And the Vice Minister, who had to handle most of the work in the Minister's absence, was especially busy.
The IMF crisis alone was enough to keep him busy, but he also had to destroy or manipulate any potentially damaging information before the next administration took over.
"I hope that Chinese guy takes the bait."
The investor, presumably representing triad money, was a godsend for the Korean government, despite the dirty money.
He wasn't making unreasonable demands like the IMF, nor was he targeting the vulnerable working class like the Japanese loan sharks.
He was willing to invest in corporations as long as they turned a blind eye to his money laundering.
But Ahn Seok-gil had a different agenda.
"He hasn't contacted me. Damn it. Did I manipulate the numbers too much?"
The next administration was already decided, and his position was precarious.
As the second-in-command of the Ministry of Finance and Economy, he was a prime target for blame for the IMF crisis.
The Minister and the Blue House secretaries were close to the President and would likely follow him after his term ended. But Ahn Seok-gil had no such connections. He would be left out in the cold.
So he had decided to make as much money as possible.
He knew the Chinese investor had a shady background, but he was a foreigner, unfamiliar with the Korean market.
The Minister was trying to minimize the political fallout and secure the investment, thinking about the future. But for Ahn Seok-gil, this was his last chance.
"I'll wait. He'll contact me eventually."
Just as he was about to focus on his work, his phone rang.
"Hello, this is Ahn Seok-gil."
A deep voice came from the other end.
[This is Baek In-hwi.]
The distorted voice, filled with static, always made him uncomfortable.
He had wanted to hang up every time he talked to Baek In-hwi about the investment details, but this time was different.
He had been waiting for this call. He said excitedly,
"Ah, CEO Baek, have you reviewed the information about Hanho Savings Bank?"
He regretted mentioning the bank so abruptly, worried that it might arouse suspicion. But Baek In-hwi said calmly,
[I've reviewed the financial statements. It seems like a very healthy bank.]
"That's right. I wouldn't recommend just any investment opportunity. You shouldn't lose money, especially if we want you to make further investments. Trust the government and invest in Hanho Savings Bank."
[Hmm, is that so? But Vice Minister?]
"Yes?"
[Does such a healthy bank need investment?]
Ahn Seok-gil thought, 'Did I manipulate the numbers too much?' But he said calmly,
"Think of it as our dedication to finding the best investment opportunity for you. I had to persuade the bank's president, who was initially reluctant to accept investments. Haha."
[Really? Thank you so much. I feel bad now, just accepting your help without offering anything in return. I was thinking of sending you a small gift. Can I have your address?]
Ahn Seok-gil, thinking Baek In-hwi had taken the bait, smiled.
"No, no, there's no need for gifts. Public officials like us can't accept gifts. I appreciate the thought."
[It's nothing, please accept it. I'll feel better about making the investment if you do.]
Ahn Seok-gil hesitated.
He usually refused gifts sent to his home, but the President's term was ending in a month.
He didn't have to worry about appearances anymore. He nodded.
"Alright, I can't keep refusing."
[Thank you. I'll send it soon, so please check.]
"Then how should we proceed with the investment? The shares…"
Baek In-hwi interrupted him.
[After you receive the gift.]
"What?"
[Let's talk after you receive the gift.]
Ahn Seok-gil frowned slightly.
"That's a separate matter. We need to proceed with the investment…"
Baek In-hwi said firmly,
[The gift. Let's talk after you receive the gift.]
***
"What is this? Why does he keep insisting on the gift?"
Ahn Seok-gil examined the box his wife had received, muttering,
"He's thorough."
The sender's information wasn't Chunha Trading or even China. It was an unfamiliar name and address.
"Well, it's better if he's thorough. Let's see what kind of gift a Chinese sends."
He whistled as he tore open the wrapping paper.
"Once this deal is done, I can finally retire and live a comfortable life."
He hummed, thinking about the money he would receive from Hanho Savings Bank for securing the investment, and then his face fell as he saw the contents of the box.
"A videotape? A videotape as a gift?"
He checked the address again, puzzled.
"Is this not from Baek In-hwi?"
He suspected it was a delivery mistake, but the address and name were correct.
He inserted the videotape into the VCR, and as the video started playing, his face turned pale.
Z
"Hum hum hum."
As I hummed, working on some documents, Li Yang said,
[We have a fourth call. Should I answer?]
"No, wait for the seventh call. Lucky number seven."
[Yes, sir.]
Baek In-hwi's phone had been ringing non-stop since Ahn Seok-gil presumably received the gift.
"He must be panicking."
It was amusing to see a high-ranking official like him, who was used to looking down on others, so flustered by a videotape.
"I don't know who leaked it, but I'll put it to good use."
I wasn't sure if the video was real, but Ahn Seok-gil's reaction confirmed its effectiveness.
The sixth call ended, and the seventh call came in.
"This is Baek In-hwi."
[…]
There was silence on the other end.
"I'm listening. Speak."
[What is this?]
Ahn Seok-gil's voice was strained, as if he had been through a lot. I replied calmly,
"I hope you enjoyed the gift."
[The videotape. Did you send this?]
I smiled.
"Did you like it?"
[Like it? Are you insane? What are you trying to do with a fake video like this?]
"I just wanted to share an interesting video with you. Your reaction is a bit extreme."
Ahn Seok-gil said angrily,
[Are you threatening a Vice Minister of the Korean government? Do you even realize how serious this is?!]
"Threatening? I'm not threatening you. I'm just giving you a friendly warning."
I chuckled.
"You should be more careful with your pants, Mr. Vice Minister."
[I can make this disappear without a trace with a single word!]
"Then should I send it to the President-elect's transition team?"
Ahn Seok-gil's breathing became heavy, and he fell silent.
"Mr. Vice Minister, I just want to live a quiet life. Why are you provoking me?"
[…]
"Are you taking us for fools? Do you really think we're clueless about the situation in Korea? This would be interesting even if I just sent it to your direct superior, let alone the President-elect. All I have to add is one sentence."
I said coldly,
"There will be no further investment because of Vice Minister Ahn."
[That… that's!]
"Such dirty tricks so soon after the first investment… It's deplorable. Do you want to be investigated by both the current and the next administration?"
Ahn Seok-gil's voice trembled.
[P-please…]
"The IMF is looking for scapegoats. You'll be lucky if you just lose your job. And at your age, do you think you can survive prison?"
[…What… what should I do?]
"Apologize."
[What?]
I said in a low voice,
"Shouldn't you apologize for your dirty tricks?"
[I-I'm sorry. I was just…]
"I don't need your excuses."
I smiled.
"I'm not a cruel person. If you cooperate, I'll ensure you enjoy a comfortable retirement."