"CEO Jang, thank you."

"Not at all. Thank you for recommending such a good man."

The sages were right: a good person's friends are good people too.

Face reading isn't everything, but interim CEO Ha Gwan-u had the face of a steadfast, loyal man.

It was a flawless face.

His broad, bald forehead said he was born to be a great man.

The crisis that comes to everyone had come to him in early middle age, but from here on the road was smooth.

He was sharp enough, too, to bow his head to a kid like me and call me my lord.

A man who's both loyal and quick to read a situation is hard to find.

"Say what you like about Daeung guys, but their devotion and loyalty to the organization are off the charts."

Even I'd been flustered.

A man older than my father had called me my lord.

It had a different ring from Boss.

That's how sincere it felt.

"CEO Ha may run into trouble."

Do business in Korea, and whoever runs a group is bound to land in a crisis sooner or later.

The politicians wouldn't leave him alone.

He'd have to earn his keep as my shield.

"You don't go into business without knowing that."

Attorney Jo said it like it was nothing.

At moments like this, he could be cold.

As a former deputy chief prosecutor, he knew how Korea really works.

I was the same, up to a point.

Since the attack, cold calculation had come first, ahead of fiery rage.

I'd been ready, but the tricks of vicious men always went beyond anything I could imagine.

The only answer was to get stronger.

I needed a solid organization.

And in Korea, no shield is stronger than a group.

"Did they talk?"

"They're a tough bunch. Two of them killed themselves. The other two are keeping their mouths shut tight. Apparently they can't even speak. The police are writing it up as a brawl among themselves."

As I'd expected.

"Are they Chinese nationals?"

"We asked the public security people at the…