"Chairman. The Buy Korea fund has no hope of recovery at this point. I believe the best course is to take responsibility for the fund's 800 billion won in losses and hand it over to the government."

"Give up the fund?"

Tak-hyeon's face creased.

"Have you eaten something bad? It's 800 billion. 800 billion. You're saying we should take responsibility for all of that ourselves?"

"The losses were incurred through the mistaken judgment of Jeong-eun and the Ilhyeon Securities leadership, so I believe it's right for us to take responsibility."

"So you're saying we use 800 billion to keep Jeong-eun out of prison?"

"That's part of it, but more importantly, the biggest thing is that we can refresh Ilhyeon's image, which has accumulated a negative reputation because of the Buy Korea fund. And we can normalize our relationship with the government again."

"You... have you lost your mind?"

Tak-hyeon still looked at Do-beom as if he couldn't understand him.

"It's 800 billion. Not 80 billion, not 8 billion, but 800 billion! In all the world, if you asked someone, 'Will you pay 800 billion or go to prison?' they'd choose prison—and you're telling me to do something out of my mind?"

"Chairman. It's not a matter of choosing between 800 billion and Jeong-eun."

Tak-hyeon waved his hand and started to turn his head away, as if he had no intention of listening further.

"Chairman, it's a matter of choosing between 800 billion and Ilhyeon. The moment we turn away from the 800 billion loss, public condemnation will pour down. If we can win people's hearts with 800 billion, then for the sake of the future, there's no better option than that."

"...Win people's hearts?"

"Yes."

Watching Tak-hyeon gradually lend an ear to his words, Do-beom clicked his tongue inwardly.

So what Seong-ho said was true.

Having heard this very argument from Seong-ho the night before, Do-beom had shaken his head again and again.

Because he knew the Tak-hyeon he was familiar with would absolutely refuse to listen to this.

I was wrong.

Do-beom set aside his thoughts and continued relaying…