Having heard the report, Tak-hyeon asked Sang-jong with a face that couldn't believe it.

"Is it true?"

"Yes. Chairman Jang promised to persuade the sister-in-law."

Sang-jong told Tak-hyeon he hadn't misheard, but Tak-hyeon still wore a disbelieving expression.

"Chan-pyeong Jang is in that much difficulty?"

Tak-hyeon turned his head and looked up at Do-beom, standing beside him. But Do-beom, seemingly not knowing either, wore an apologetic expression and bowed his head. Tak-hyeon turned his gaze to Seong-ho.

At Tak-hyeon's gaze upon him, Seong-ho slowly opened his mouth.

"I confirmed that Chairman Jang has also taken a heavy blow from the financial crunch that's continued since last year. Not only did several firms go bankrupt and leave him unable to collect—money he'd invested in development projects got tied up, so they say he has no funds free to use."

"So knowing his pockets had emptied, your plan was to work the persuasion through that same Chairman Jang?"

"I laid the plan, but the one who put it into action was second brother."

Seong-ho handed all the credit to Sang-jong. Sang-jong shrugged at his words, and Tak-hyeon looked him up and down and said,

"You carried it out?"

Hitching his shoulders up as high as they'd go, Sang-jong answered.

"Yes. Head Kim asked for my help, so I personally persuaded Chairman Jang."

"You did?"

Tak-hyeon looked at Sang-jong with a gaze that couldn't believe it. Then he turned to Seong-ho and let out a snort of a laugh.

"Fine. If the two of you say so, then so it is. It doesn't much matter who did the persuading anyway, so let's leave it at that."

Sang-jong wanted to say it wasn't a matter of "leaving it at that"—that he really had done it. But at the sight of Tak-hyeon already moving on to something else, he couldn't press his claim.

"So how much money does Chairman Jang need?"

"The immediately pressing sum is about 20 billion won, they say."

"20 billion… that's no small amount."

Tak-hyeon showed a moment's hesitation at being told he'd have to put up 20 billion. Because there…