I Became a Scoundrel of a Chaebol Family-Chapter 294

The temporary containment facility for Seo Eun-mi and Ma Yeon-ju was, after all, a place meant for Ha Eun-young’s submission and downfall, so the moment she pledged her loyalty to me, it lost its reason to exist.

But it felt wasteful to just tear down a facility we went through the trouble of building, so I left it to the secretaries to figure out a new use for it, and immediately pulled Seo Eun-mi and Ma Yeon-ju out for a thorough examination.

“The biggest factor seems to be that the drug management wasn’t done perfectly. The accumulated damage to the body is quite serious.”

“But you can fully cure it, right?”

“It’s possible to treat the physical damage in the short term. But getting off the drugs will require a very long time and tremendous effort. Creating a suitable environment is also essential. As of now, the best approach would be to manage them properly and observe their progress for about five years.”

“So you're saying a full recovery is possible with time?”

“Yes. There have already been multiple reports of forcibly resetting the brain’s reward mechanisms. And if needed, we can even open up the brain and trigger a hard reset. It’s a bit extreme and comes with significant aftereffects, but... compared to the drugs, is it even a debate? That’s the typical method used for treating regular civilians.”

“Got it. Good work.”

I called in the entire medical team from Koryo Medical and had them run full-body diagnostics from head to toe, then put together a recovery plan based on their physical data.

The physical damage, they said, could be fixed quickly. But drug addiction? That would take at least five years, with a long-term recovery schedule.

I sat Seo Eun-mi and Ma Yeon-ju down and explained.

The aftereffects and physical damage caused by the drug use and the harsh environment would recover quickly, but in the case of addiction, unless we cracked open their skulls, immediate treatment was impossible. It would take time, under careful observation.

But then, an unexpected variable popped up.

“...If possible... I’d like to keep taking the drugs rather than be cured.”

“...?”

Seo Eun-mi and Ma Yeon-ju said they wanted to keep taking the very drugs that had tormented them for so long.

Well, there’s no shortage of the stuff, so technically it’s doable, but... is there really a need?

‘Of course there is... it’s narcotics. Who wouldn’t want to keep taking them?’

Seems I’d underestimated the danger of the drugs.

‘Even # Nоvеlight # for me... it was hell. If not for Nine Lord, quitting would’ve been impossible.’

It wasn’t just sweating buckets or a pounding heart. It was full-blown respiratory failure, hazy consciousness, and being unable to see things right in front of me—those terrifying withdrawal symptoms. And the sheer euphoria that surged through my body the moment I took the drug again... the contrast alone was enough to fry your brain.

And it wasn’t just regular doses—they were being injected with enhanced drugs. No wonder their reward systems were completely fried.

No matter how much we try to treat them, the memory of that sensation won’t just disappear.

Maybe... the two of them really have crossed a river they can never come back from.

“...You want to keep taking the drugs?”

“Y-yes...” 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Seo Eun-mi answered with a surprisingly serious face, while Ma Yeon-ju averted her gaze and blushed.

“Why?”

“It... it feels good—”

“It’s how I know I’m alive... as Seo Eun-mi. And... I see it as proof that I’m atoning to and serving my Master.”

...

You say that, and now what is Yeon-ju supposed to do?

“Ah...! M-me too. I think the same... really...”

Yeon-ju hurriedly echoed Seo Eun-mi’s words, but it was too late.

Her honest desire to keep taking it because it feels good was already exposed.

“If you’re saying you want to keep taking the drug, that means you’ll have to stay under management. In that case, you’ll have to wear a chastity belt the whole time. Isn’t it better to just go through the treatment? Even if it takes longer.”

“If I can keep it under control, then I’d rather....”

“I-I’d actually prefer it...”

They were both quite firm in their stance.

Even if it means wearing a chastity belt all the time, they’d still rather keep taking the drugs.

“A drug-addicted secretary... well, that’s... fresh.”

“...”

Even Seo Eun-mi, who’d been making her demands with a dead serious face, blushed and looked away when I said that.

Guess even she realized how ridiculous it sounded.

“Alright. In any case, it’ll take time to recover physically, so let’s talk again once that’s done.”

++++

After Seo Eun-mi and Ma Yeon-ju were admitted to the main Koryo Medical campus, the situation in Incheon started escalating rapidly.

Political propaganda and promotional campaigns were exploding everywhere, with posters and pamphlets scattered across the city.

On the streets, people wearing oversized numbered uniforms gathered in droves, dancing ridiculous routines while chirping like birds, and the walls—anywhere that drew the slightest attention—were plastered top to bottom with posters of various candidates.

Even the skies weren’t spared.

Endless fleets of those expensive AVs crossed the air, each one stamped with a specific candidate’s name on the underside. Occasionally, entire buildings were rented out for campaign advertising.

Fireworks spelling out names across the night sky, combined with massive hologram posters projected using micron-scale particle dispersal—now that was something.

It was a vivid, chaotic spectacle—Incheon’s new mainstream being decided in real-time.

“The Equal Freedom Constitution Party has essentially declared surrender. They’ve thrown in a bunch of nobodies for the Incheon race, just to save face, and it seems like they’re slowly backing out.”

“Bold move.”

Following the deaths of the loudmouth mayor, the party leader, and the city representative, the floor leader of the Equal Freedom Constitution Party took over as interim head.

Once he confirmed both our group’s firm intent and my personal will, he decided to pull out of Incheon altogether.

They nominated a bunch of nobodies who had zero chance of winning (mostly serious ex-cons), and made no significant efforts at campaign promotion.

No support from any major figures within the party. Basically, they threw the whole thing away.

Of course, the candidates who did run were trying their damnedest—busting their asses out there—but would that actually work?

“How’s the election side looking?”

“No issues.”

With more than 130 legislators, 15 district chiefs, and a mayor on the ballot, there’s no way I could sit this election out.

Even if Incheon’s politicians had pledged loyalty to me, for key races like these, I still had to step in directly.

“The head of the Election Commission, the Chief Justice, the Prosecutor General, and even the acting Director of the National Police Agency all appear willing to tacitly allow it.”

“That’s enough.”

That said, I wasn’t planning to make it too obvious.

Elections, after all, are just about getting one more vote than your opponent, right? You just have to play it subtle. Subtle.

“Only interfere directly in the key districts I mentioned. For the rest, just go with buying off the lawmakers.”

“Understood.”

Technically, it wasn’t even bribery—it was more like giving orders. Still, it’s always better to sugar-coat things a little.

You’ve got to give them a taste of something good and bring them along for the ride.

One day, I personally showed up at a campaign site for Kim Eun-ji, who was running for district chief of Namdong-gu.

She was already fairly well-known from her past interviews and media appearances, so my presence created a massive buzz.

“Our candidate, Kim Eun-ji, was the very first to join me when I said we should sweep away the trash in Namdong Industrial Complex. She is someone who will serve the people of Namdong-gu with everything she has, dedicating her body and soul to the development of this district, and furthermore, to the prosperity of all Incheon. I can still vividly remember the look on her face as she declared she was ready to give her life to develop Namdong-gu.”

I gave a rousing speech praising her to the skies, appealing for support.

And then, while moving to the next location, I banged Kim Eun-ji in the campaign van.

I also made full use of Shinmirae Daily.

Now that it had become public knowledge that I owned the media company, its influence had skyrocketed, and I was leveraging every bit of it for a full-on opinion war.

I opened a Mityube channel for vetting candidates, where we invited them on and examined their campaign promises. The content was, of course, slanted—subtly hyping up my people and discrediting their rivals.

No other media outlet dared to contradict the narrative or present alternative facts.

Shinmirae Daily is mine, and its stance is my stance.

Going against that would take some serious guts—and corporations, as a rule, aren't known for their bravery.

Anyway, with those busy days rolling on, March was already coming to an end.

The super yacht that Hayan noona had borrowed was long since returned, and the factory in Pyongyang had officially started production. Packaging operations for delivery were also in full swing.

And then, I got a long-awaited message from Militaris.

– Sir Baekseol’s private aircraft, scheduled for delivery in April.

A private aircraft, for Baekseol...!

If it’s being delivered in April, then construction must already be complete.

“I finally own a knight who owns a private jet.”

Sure, the Pacific Knight 1st Squadron with its 15 members was technically assigned to me, but that was just me borrowing knights that Minji noona owned.

Up until now, the only knight I truly owned was Baekseol.

And now, my first and only knight was about to receive her own custom weapons and a personal aircraft...!

“Now it finally feels like things are falling into place.”

Baekseol is my knight and also the CEO of Baekseol Princess.

Baekseol Princess employs mercenaries from both Red Team and Blue Team, as well as the Pacific Knight 1st Squadron.

Some of the members under her command already had their own private aircraft, and yet the commander herself was running around unarmed?

That didn’t make sense.

But now, that skewed balance was about to be corrected.

– Master, this is Seo Eun-mi.