Episode 71

"Are you saying you'll give me your full support?"

Jung Seok-gyu chuckled inwardly at my retort.

"Yes. Not anyone else, but you."

Park Yoo-seung wore a surprised expression, clearly not expecting this.

Of course, he wouldn't. Jung Seok-gyu knew perfectly well that now was the time to press forward.

"As intelligent as you are, I believe you understand the significance of Jung Seok-gyu offering his support."

'Yeah, there's no way I wouldn't.'

For a National Assembly Member to pledge "full" support was an incredible proposition.

Even the dozens of scholarship recipients from the foundation would scramble and salivate at the chance to leverage such a connection.

Moreover, it wasn't just any National Assembly Member; it was Jung Seok-gyu, who maintained a close relationship with the Yu Seong Group.

That relationship wasn't a simple one-way street where Park Geon funded Jung Seok-gyu's endeavors.

Rather, it was closer to a mutually beneficial coexistence. Jung Seok-gyu subtly guided policy trends that would favor Yu Seong, and in return, Yu Seong provided the financial backing to sustain Jung Seok-gyu's political career.

Naturally, Jung Seok-gyu's influence on matters within Yu Seong was like a tremendous typhoon.

Even Park Geon himself couldn't outright ignore Jung Seok-gyu's "advice."

"You've been overlooked for your true worth for far too long."

Jung Seok-gyu subtly egged me on.

"Min-ha openly oppressed you, and Tae-yang secretly schemed to hinder your rise. Though, I'm sure you've seen through all of it by now."

Park Yoo-seung remained silent.

His deep eyes, as if lost in thought, darted back and forth.

"Aren't you angry?"

'Now's the moment.'

"In my opinion, you possess far greater talent than those two siblings, and you are the one most suited for the Yu Seong Group's throne. Don't you want to reclaim what you rightfully deserve?"

When he initially received reports of Park Yoo-seung's transformation, he dismissed it as either a fleeting whim or a fabrication.

It was simply unbelievable that a man who had lived as a good-for-nothing his entire life would suddenly morph into a diligent elite overnight.

It was impossible unless his very soul had been replaced.

However, as the reports continued to pour in, he was forced to reconsider.

The achievements Park Yoo-seung had accumulated were undeniably real.

Jung Seok-gyu revised his assessment of Park Yoo-seung.

From a mere wastrel to a genius who had bloomed belatedly, far too belatedly.

How frustrating that must be.

And how much he must regret his past.

His innate talent was undeniable, and he was actively proving it.

The problem was that he had come to his senses too late.

The succession structure was already somewhat formalized, and the factions within the group had long since chosen their allegiances.

Despite his superior talent, Park Yoo-seung was in the most disadvantageous position within the Yu Seong Group.

Jung Seok-gyu intended to exploit precisely that.

Park Yoo-seung was exceptional, but his intellect still lacked the necessary experience to be truly sharp and unwavering.

For Jung Seok-gyu, enticing a young man with the allure of power was a simple matter.

He would fan the flames of Park Yoo-seung's abilities and ambition, making him a pawn in his long-term plan to extend his influence within the Yu Seong Group.

That was the plan he'd formulated the instant he saw Park Yoo-seung in person.

'There's no way he can refuse.'

This was the Yu Seong Group we were talking about.

Not one of the top one or two conglomerates in the country, but a massive corporate entity firmly within the top ten.

Moreover, in Jung Seok-gyu's view, ability and ambition were proportional.

Park Yoo-seung was exceptional, whether it was his innate talent or his ability to nullify the succession designation with a single visit to the main house.

There was no way such a person wouldn't be tempted by the promise of rewards commensurate with his capabilities.

"I..."

The moment Park Yoo-seung broke his silence, Jung Seok-gyu smiled broadly.

He had been in the same boat as Yu Seong for a long time, but it was nothing more than a marriage of convenience.

Jung Seok-gyu was well aware that Park Geon didn't genuinely trust him, and he, in turn, was constantly searching for loopholes and manipulating situations to sink his roots deeper into the concrete-solid Yu Seong.

He had finally found the perfect pawn. As he contemplated how he would utilize this pawn, Jung Seok-gyu happily made his plans. But then.

"I have no intention of participating in the succession competition."

The next moment, upon hearing Park Yoo-seung's answer, his jaw dropped.

"I'm too busy focusing on my studies right now."

Was I crazy to take Jung Seok-gyu's hand?

First and foremost, I had absolutely no interest in the succession competition. On the contrary, I wanted to distance myself from the family as much as possible.

Of course, for my own safety, preventing Yu Seong's destruction was preferable, and to achieve that, I needed a means to exert some level of influence. However, that didn't necessitate becoming the successor.

'Besides, I wouldn't be able to become a prosecutor if I did that.'

Secondly... even if I were someone who genuinely coveted the Yu Seong Group's throne.

That approach wouldn't work. Bringing in external forces to conquer a family feud was a recipe for disaster.

Silla, in its unification, relied on the Tang Dynasty's forces, ultimately surrendering the northern part of the Korean peninsula and Manchuria as a consequence.

While some analyses suggest they lacked the administrative capacity to govern the north in the first place, the fact remains that their territory shrank.

Even with Jung Seok-gyu backing me, the outcome would be similar.

Borrowing too much power would inevitably lead to becoming subservient to it.

Moreover, Jung Seok-gyu was a rotten rope to begin with.

He might seem powerful now, but if I fell for it, we would all fall into ruin together.

There was nothing more foolish than joining hands with a man who was soon to be finished.

That's why I refused.

"...Are you serious?"

Jung Seok-gyu asked again, but I didn't waver.

"It can't be helped. Think it over again at your leisure. And contact me whenever you have a change of heart."

Jung Seok-gyu handed me his business card, which was destined for the trash the moment I got home.

After that, I focused solely on silently devouring the top-class Japanese course meal.

Again, the food was innocent.

"…Anyway."

Judging by how things were unfolding, it seemed I needed to establish a safe haven as soon as possible.

A minimum amount of insurance to ensure I could continue pursuing my goals without being shaken by future storms.

Today, I was setting out to do just that.

"Aren't you hot? It's almost May."

I pointed at Lee Ha-roo, who was sprawled out on the seat next to me on the subway.

Even though the sun was beginning to beat down, she was still wearing a dark-colored hoodie.

"Not at all. If anything, it's chilly."

"Chilly? This is?"

I glanced at the other passengers sitting across from us.

Most were wearing just a long-sleeved shirt, or even a short-sleeved shirt with a light jacket in hand.

That's how warm the midday sun was at the end of the month.

"It also helps block sunlight."

Since she rarely went outside, Lee Ha-roo's skin was pathologically pale.

She also claimed to be highly sensitive to ultraviolet rays.

Since she put it that way, I couldn't argue and let it go.

'I'm not sure how blocking sunlight and feeling chilly can coexist, but…'

That wasn't the important part.

"Make sure you speak well. Even if it's a small startup, you still need to persuade the CEO and executives of a company."

"Ah, just trust me."

Lee Ha-roo patted her chest, assuring me to trust her.

"This outfit is more advantageous for persuasion."

"Why is that?"

"I look like a coding nerd, don't I?"

"You're aware of that, huh…"

Indeed, with her dark circles, messy hair, and the hoodie she was wearing, Lee Ha-roo looked every bit the computer science student who had just rushed out after a coding marathon.

Our destination today was the headquarters of Writing, the startup whose shares I had acquired from Park Geon.

In reality, considering the size of my stake, there was no real need for me to visit the headquarters.

I could have simply used my power as the majority shareholder to manipulate Writing's business model as I pleased.

However, that kind of approach would inevitably breed resentment.

If the people working on the ground every day didn't agree with my vision, their work efficiency would plummet.

Unnecessary friction would arise, and that kind of waste was something I wanted to avoid.

That's why I had first contacted an executive considered pro-Yu Seong and requested they convene a board meeting.

I intended to explain the future direction we would be taking and persuade them.

"What if it doesn't work?"

Then, well, it couldn't be helped.

"I'll have to push through with the power of my shares."

It wasn't that I didn't want to do that; it was that I preferred not to have to.

Before I knew it, the subway arrived at Pangyo Station. Unsurprisingly for an IT company, Writing's headquarters were located somewhere in Pangyo Techno Valley.

Even after getting off the subway, we had to walk a little further to reach the headquarters building.

I was fine, but Lee Ha-roo, unaccustomed to physical activity, was practically a limp, boneless creature by the time we arrived.

"We're here."

"O-ohh…!"

As we stood in front of the entrance, the CEO himself came out to greet us.

Writing's CEO was a young man with an intellectual air, sporting neatly combed hair and horn-rimmed glasses.

He looked to be in his early thirties.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Seo Jong-won, the CEO of Writing. You must be Mr. Park Yoo-seung?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"And who is this…?"

Seo Jong-won's gaze shifted towards Lee Ha-roo, who was slightly hidden behind me.

"She's our business item."

"Hmm."

Seo Jong-won let out a small sound that was somewhere between a sigh and an exclamation.

"…Please, come inside."

The interior was relatively clean. In the conference room Seo Jong-won led us to, the other executives were already gathered and engaged in discussions.

Before we entered, Seo Jong-won turned to look at us for a moment.

"Can I be honest with you?"

"Of course."

"I'm not very confident in Mr. Park Yoo-seung's ideas."

The CEO of Writing declared bluntly.

"Our company has no connection to legal tech. None of our employees have received any legal training, and we lack experience in handling related tasks."

Seo Jong-won looked at me with a skeptical expression.

"I know better than anyone that our company's current situation isn't particularly bright. As the majority shareholder, Mr. Park Yoo-seung may believe a change is necessary."

"That's exactly right."

"…However, I think it's a bit of a gamble to abandon what we've built and drastically change our field like this."

Seo Jong-won seemed slightly wounded in his pride.

"From the start, legal tech is a field where even the pioneers in the United States haven't produced any truly impressive results. The companies calling themselves legal tech companies are merely offering engines that make information retrieval slightly easier."

His criticism continued.

"If a legal tech program utilizing generative AI is truly going to be viable in the market, it needs to be capable of handling at least simple legal consultations independently. To achieve that, we need an engine that can perfectly digest complex legal texts, or a technician capable of tuning it…"

Although his voice carried a hint of emotion, Seo Jong-won's criticism wasn't simply a frustrated CEO's tantrum.

Writing wasn't a legal tech development company. It was simply a company with several employees skilled in handling generative AI.

To completely abandon their current business model and have them follow the vision I had laid out, I needed to instill confidence in our success.

A clearly printed blueprint.

"I don't use words."

And, needless to say, I had that in my hands.

"I'll show you directly. In there."