The old man looked at Seong-ho Kim and spoke in a tone of displeasure.

"I don't know who you are, but we're in the middle of a conversation, so be off with you."

"Eh? Vice-Chair—"

Just as Secretary Park, recognizing Seong-ho Kim at last, made to acknowledge him, Seong-ho Kim raised a hand and stopped his words.

The old man looked back and forth between Secretary Park and Seong-ho Kim and asked,

"What's this? Do you two know each other?"

"Yes. A colleague I worked with before."

At Seong-ho Kim's words, the old man spoke to Secretary Park again.

"Whoever it is, I need only receive the money. This man who says he's your colleague has come, so I may as well take it from him…"

"Sir. That gentleman is—"

"Yes. Let's do that."

Just as Secretary Park, with an awkward expression, was about to say who Seong-ho Kim was, Seong-ho Kim spoke first.

"As I said a moment ago, if you tell me how much the overdue rent and three months' rent come to, I'll give it to you."

"Is that really so?"

"Yes."

When Seong-ho Kim gestured toward Jeong-cheol Choi, Jeong-cheol Choi at once drew a wallet from his pocket.

The old man, having confirmed the thickness of Jeong-cheol Choi's wallet, said at once how much rent was owed.

"The rent overdue until now is six months' worth, 1.5 million won, and three months' rent is 750,000. Settle it right here and now and I'll knock off the odd change and take only 2.2 million."

"We can't have you knocking off the odd change."

Seong-ho Kim took the wallet from Jeong-cheol Choi.

And opening it, he drew three checks from inside and handed them to the old man.

"That's 3 million won."

"Three million won?"

The old man took the checks with startled eyes.

Because he had not expected million-won checks to come out of a wallet in one stroke.

"Take this for now, and if the money should fall short or a situation arise where more is needed, please contact us here."

When Seong-ho Kim had finished…