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Chapter 18. The Youngest Grandson of a Chaebol (2)
“Haah…”
“Huh.”
After Ha Tae-woong disappeared, everyone left behind let out a deep breath almost simultaneously.
A single high school student had managed to suffocate the entire room with pressure.
Damn it! Was he trying to kill them?
Principal Ahn Jong-wook looked coldly at the nouveau riche housewife, Jo Hee-jung.
A woman struggling desperately to join the upper-class elite.
She had scattered bribes everywhere in hopes of securing a parent committee executive position.
Even the principal had received department store gift certificates and expensive meals from her several times.
As expected of a real estate investor, she spent lavishly, and he had been looking forward to maintaining that relationship.
But what was this?
She had turned out to be nothing more than a rotten rope covered in filth.
“Teacher Park Dong-geun.”
“Y-Yes? Yes, Principal.”
Park Dong-geun, who had been half out of his mind, jumped in surprise at the principal’s call.
“Did anything else happen before you came to the principal’s office?”
“Well… not really…”
“You son of a bitch! How dare you treat a teacher’s words like dog shit?”
“I told you I was recording.”
“Recording? So what can a little punk like you possibly do with that?”
“I’ll try whatever I can.”
“A welfare-case brat acting all tough?”
“Heh.”
“Did you just laugh?”
“It doesn’t seem like a situation worth crying over.”
“You little bastard!!”
Whoosh.
“Huh? You… you dodged?”
“This is a warning. If you throw another punch, I’ll defend myself.”
Before Park Dong-geun could finish speaking, an audio recording began playing inside the principal’s office.
Park’s voice, filled with curses and sounding as if he were throwing punches, echoed vividly, along with Ha Tae-woong’s calm responses.
“……!!”
In an instant, Park Dong-geun’s face turned deathly grim.
Meanwhile…
“Teacher Park!!”
The principal’s roar, something almost impossible to hear under normal circumstances, exploded through the room.
The undeniable evidence playing from the smartphone in the lawyer’s hand.
Evidence that had passed directly from Ha Tae-woong to the attorney.
If it was released to the media as Ha Tae-woong had threatened…
They were all finished.
The principal’s face turned pale.
His stomach churned violently.
They had trapped and tormented the one lion cub they absolutely should never have touched.
“Principal, how do you intend to handle this?”
A chilling aura radiated from General Affairs Director Lee Kyung-ja.
She, at least, had been given a chance by Ha Tae-woong.
She had to resolve this in the way least likely to provoke his anger.
“We’ll convene a faculty disciplinary committee.”
“If it were up to me…”
Lee Kyung-ja’s gaze landed on Park Dong-geun.
Her mind spun rapidly, trying to dump all responsibility onto him.
“He should receive at least six months of suspension.”
“We’ll proceed that way.”
“Ugh…”
A groan escaped Park Dong-geun’s lips.
He squeezed his eyes shut.
Ha Tae-woong had been a scholarship student from a disadvantaged background.
That was why Park had never hesitated to look down on him.
Nothing had ever gone wrong before.
His complacency had finally come back to bite him.
The promotion he had been expecting was gone.
A six-month suspension.
Since it wasn’t paid leave, his salary would be cut entirely during that period.
“The most important issue now is the criminal settlement. How do you all plan to proceed?”
Swish.
Kim Jung-ryul sat down on the sofa as he spoke.
He pulled a business card from his wallet and placed it in the center of the table.
His eyes remained fixed on Jo Hee-jung.
The once-defiant Jo Hee-jung slowly looked back at him.
“What happened today was just an accident. It doesn’t have to become a criminal case, does it? Ha Tae-woong also slapped my daughter’s face—”
“Even after being given an opportunity, if this is how you respond… are you prepared to deal with everything that follows?”
Kim Jung-ryul’s cold voice carried no emotion whatsoever.
“Mrs. Jo, what exactly are you doing? Because of you, not only the principal but even I’m getting dragged into this!”
Finally, Lee Kyung-ja’s face reddened as she shouted.
Although Law Firm Jung-ryul was considered a mid-sized law office, it enjoyed considerable recognition in Seocho-dong.
Most of its attorneys were former prosecutors from the criminal division.
When it came to criminal cases, their abilities rivaled those of major law firms.
Furthermore, the firm served as legal counsel for the foundation funded by the Ha Ryun Group.
The moment Kim Jung-ryul addressed Ha Tae-woong as “Young Master,” everything had already been decided.
The case had to be wrapped up as quickly as possible.
Yet Jo Hee-jung still hadn’t grasped the situation and kept talking.
“I-I’m sorry. But…”
“Shut up!!”
Lee Kyung-ja screamed at Jo Hee-jung before she could continue.
In such desperate circumstances, there was no room left for dignity or elegance.
“……”
Jo Hee-jung bit her own lip so hard that blood began to form.
“Senior.”
“This is an official setting.”
“Y-Yes… Attorney.”
Kim Jung-ryul’s strict devotion to principles had surfaced.
Even Lee Kyung-ja had forgotten for a moment, but Kim Jung-ryul was famous in legal circles for his uncompromising principles.
She had met him privately several times before.
Lee Kyung-ja herself was also a graduate of Seoguk University.
Her husband had graduated from the law school there and held both attorney and CPA licenses.
He had introduced Kim Jung-ryul as his senior during a private gathering.
Personally, her husband had always feared Kim Jung-ryul.
He had been the fiery senior who, as a prosecutor, would point his blade even at the president’s son if justice demanded it.
Today’s events absolutely could not reach her husband’s ears.
“We’re all busy, so let’s settle this simply.”
Kim Jung-ryul proposed in his usual expressionless tone.
Though it sounded like a negotiation, it felt far more like an announcement.
“The settlement amount for the assault against Young Master Ha Tae-woong is 500 million won.”
“……!!”
Jo Hee-jung’s eyes widened.
This wasn’t a few tens of millions.
It was hundreds of millions.
“And… the settlement regarding your daughter’s continued acts of school violence against other students is also 500 million won.”
“Five hundred million won??”
Jo Hee-jung couldn’t believe her ears.
Even though her husband was wealthy through real estate investments, there was no way he had that much cash available.
“That amount is before taxes.”
“Taxes too? Attorney, this kind of settlement is…”
“Shall I report this directly to the Chairman?”
Kim Jung-ryul stared at her through his glasses.
“Hic!”
Jo Hee-jung was completely at a loss.
She was so startled that she hiccupped involuntarily.
No matter how much she acted superior, she was still only an ordinary commoner by comparison.
“If you’d rather go to trial, that’s perfectly acceptable. But once the media gets involved, money will no longer be your biggest concern.”
The threat carried tremendous weight.
Her husband’s business, which frequently skirted the line between legal and illegal, could easily end up in danger.
Nowadays, with YouTubers exposing everything, members of the upper class carefully avoided attracting public attention.
If this incident exploded, public opinion would mercilessly destroy them.
“You know Chairman Ha’s personality, don’t you? Once he decides someone is an enemy, he leaves no room for mercy.”
Kim Jung-ryul delivered the final blow.
“I-I’ll do it! We’ll settle!!”
Jo Hee-jung frantically waved her hands as she shouted.
When she thought about it carefully…
It was actually cheap.
This was the price for slapping the youngest grandson of a chaebol family.
Ten billion won? No.
One billion won in total?
Ten hundred million won—one billion won—was a bargain.
“Then we’ll prepare the settlement agreement immediately. Everyone present will sign as witnesses.”
Kim Jung-ryul pulled out the settlement documents he had already prepared.
“……”
Only then did those silently watching finally come back to their senses.
It truly felt as though they had been possessed by a goblin.
Scratch. Scratch.
Right before their eyes, the lawyer drafted a one-billion-won settlement agreement.
So he’s a tiger cub…
While writing the agreement, Kim Jung-ryul thought about his client.
The youngest grandson of Madam Han Ok-ja, the woman to whom he owed everything.
Madam Han Ok-ja’s youngest son had been driven out penniless after refusing the marriage arranged by the Ha family.
Among all the ruthless members of the Ha Ryun Group family, she had been the only one who truly seemed human.
She had carefully expanded the scholarship foundation she had inherited early from her father-in-law.
She generously supported talented students who lacked the financial means to continue their education.
Kim Jung-ryul had entered Seoguk University’s College of Law through Madam Han Ok-ja’s sponsorship.
He had even become a prosecutor because of her.
He wielded the law in pursuit of justice and lived as a true prosecutor.
The price was that his career advancement had limits.
Even with the Ha Ryun Group’s support, he could never become the head of the prosecution service.
But that never mattered to him.
He founded a law firm together with trustworthy junior prosecutors who shared his ideals.
Though modest, they continued using their strength to improve society.
Madam Han Ok-ja had recently passed away.
To him, she had been no different from a mother who had opened the second chapter of his life.
He had calmly carried out her final will.
But once again he had witnessed the true nature of the Ha family.
They were every bit as ruthless as ever.
Even a fortune insignificant to a conglomerate became something they obstructed when it came to executing her will.
They even resorted to methods no decent human being should ever use.
Because of that incident, Kim Jung-ryul had nearly died.
A deliberately caused traffic accident.
The group secretary’s office had undoubtedly been behind it.
His only crime was refusing to obey the Ha family’s orders.
There was no physical evidence.
But after years of experience, circumstantial conviction alone was enough.
He survived.
But he was left permanently disabled.
Had he died then, today would never have come.
Despite his fear, he recovered and completed Madam Han Ok-ja’s final wish.
That had been only yesterday.
Even then, he never imagined he would meet Ha Tae-woong again so soon.
According to everything Kim Jung-ryul had learned, Ha Tae-woong was supposed to be timid and weak.
But after meeting him personally, he found someone completely different from the rumors.
The boy understood how to get things done.
His work was meticulous and precise far beyond his age.
He could read people’s psychology and skillfully control the push and pull of negotiations.
He gave off the unmistakable feeling of a veteran who had survived more than ten years in society.
He also possessed an exceptional talent for reversing unfavorable situations.
He had cleverly involved both the Ha Ryun Group and his grandfather, despite having had no previous contact with either.
Around noon, he had sent Kim Jung-ryul a single video.
At the same time, he formally retained him as his attorney.
“Please come to the school immediately if requested.”
It had been a polite request.
The law office wasn’t far from Cheonghwa High School.
Even the settlement amount had been decided personally by Ha Tae-woong.
Kim Jung-ryul found himself intrigued.
Even after being addressed by an unexpected honorific title, Ha Tae-woong had accepted it without the slightest confusion.
And he had secured one billion won in settlement money with astonishing ease.
The wealthy elite of Korea always craved even more money.
People obsessed with wealth were usually the stingiest when it came to compassion.
Yet Ha Tae-woong had legally cornered them with words alone until they willingly paid.
This is going to be interesting.
Kim Jung-ryul felt a thrill run through him.
The people sitting obediently before him weren’t individuals even he could treat carelessly.
Yet Ha Tae-woong had placed every one of them on a board of his own making and manipulated them exactly as he wished.
“Please read the agreement, write your full legal name in block letters, and sign.”
After filling in the necessary sections, Kim Jung-ryul handed over the documents.
“The settlement money will be transferred immediately.”
“I-Immediately?”
“You should be capable of arranging that much.”
“……”
“Or are you not? And yet you dared lay your hands on Young Master?”
Jo Hee-jung was thoroughly flustered.
How many people in Korea actually had one billion won in cash sitting around?
Even fewer could gather that much money within a single day.
“If you’re short… I’ll cover the rest.”
Lee Kyung-ja also wanted this matter finished as quickly as possible.
“And one more thing.”
Kim Jung-ryul slowly looked around at the principal and the teachers before speaking.
“If today’s unfortunate incident leaves this room through any of your mouths… every one of you will bear full responsibility for whatever happens afterward.”
He did not forget the final warning disguised as a polite request.
It was something Ha Tae-woong had specifically instructed him to confirm before leaving.
He’s smart.
His perspective was far too broad to believe he was only a high school student.
If this incident became public, attention would inevitably return to Ha Tae-woong’s father—the youngest son of the Ha family who had been cast out years ago.
The grandson of the abandoned son.
Every hidden story would come to light.
Silencing everyone involved was simply another part of thorough and meticulous planning.
Kim Jung-ryul found himself greatly looking forward to whatever future dealings he would have with Ha Tae-woong.
