"My gift is information," I said.

Honorary Chairman Kim Bu-Ho of Daechon Inc. tilted his head. "...Informa­tion?"

"Yes, sir."

"The value of information is entirely up to the listener to judge. Are you confident?"

"If I wasn't confident, I wouldn't have brought it up."

"Then let's hear it."

"Hmm. Since you came all this way, I think it would be better to tell you separately, sir."

Kim Bu-Ho tilted his head again with a suspicious look. "You're not making excuses to get out of a tight spot, are you?"

"Do I look like someone who would do that?"

"Well, you're not the type. Fine. Come closer and tell me. Let's see what could possibly be more valuable than the gifts these young men prepared."

I nodded and stepped closer to Kim Bu-Ho. Then I answered in a low voice, just loud enough for Vice President Kim Ae-Ryeon to hear.

"The luxury jewelry brand Bless, headquartered in the United States and currently present here, will be pulling out of Korea within the next two weeks. What do you think? I'd say that makes my gift far more valuable than anything presented here today."

Right now, Everyday listed information stating that the U.S.-based luxury jewelry brand Bless would shut down its Korean operations in two weeks.

[Everyday V13]

[Date: April 28, 2021]

-01:00 p.m.: (Emergency Meeting) Luxury jewelry brand Bless to withdraw from Korean operations. (Meeting details: If sponsored products are not returned within two days, legal action will begin. A certified notice has been received.)

If Bless, headquartered in the United States, withdrew from Korea as I said, laundering the money tied to the birthday gifts would become impossible. In other words, the slush fund the third-generation chaebol heirs were creating today would vanish into thin air.

Moreover, if Bless pulled its products out of Daechon Department Store, the department store, responsible for managing its tenants, would also have to pay penalties for outstanding orders.

However, if they acted in advance using the information I provided, Daechon Department Store could prevent damage to its public image and prepare ahead of time for any penalty issues. That meant my information was worth tens of billions of won at the very least.

Kim Bu-Ho looked at me in disbelief. "Is that... true?"

"Judging by your reaction, I'd say my gift is valuable enough."

"Ahem. If that information is true, then yes. However..."

Kim Bu-Ho glanced at Kim Ae-Ryeon with a doubtful expression.

Kim Ae-Ryeon lowered her voice and whispered, "We need to respond immediately. There are unpaid sales amounts across ten regional stores, and if issues arise with wedding jewelry prepared for couples getting married in May, it will deal a fatal blow to the department store's image."

Kim Bu-Ho furrowed his brow.

"Even so, aren't we moving too hastily just based on Chief Jung's words? Wouldn't it be better to confirm with Bless's president in the United States first?"

"No. Even if David Bless planned to withdraw tomorrow, he's the type who would lie and say there's absolutely no such plan."

"Hmm..."

"On the other hand, Chief Jung has no reason to make up nonsense just to curry favor with you. He's the man who even turned down the offer to open an entertainment company with a capital of 100 billion won last time. Why would he lie?"

Kim Bu-Ho snorted as if recalling that moment.

"Ahem. Thinking back on it, I was quite displeased. But you're right. Chief Jung, unlike the others, has no reason to lie to me."

"Exactly. Still, I'll verify everything thoroughly once more before taking action, so don't worry."

"Understood."

"Then shall we let those children watching measure the value of the gift?"

Kim Bu-Ho nodded. "Very well. Let's do that."

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Kim Bu-Ho tapped his cane against the floor with a troubled expression. The third-generation chaebol heirs in the banquet hall stared at us, clearly dying of curiosity since we had been whispering.

At that moment, Kim Bu-Ho nodded and spoke loudly as if making sure everyone could hear.

"Yes. Chief Jung, you're right. The value of your gift must be at least 30 billion won. Your gift is the greatest of them all today!"

When Kim Bu-Ho acknowledged it in a firm, decisive tone, everyone's jaws dropped.

"What? That's insane... How do you give a 30 billion won gift?"

"What did he give instead of jewelry for it to be worth that much?"

"I heard Hoop Entertainment has been doing well lately. Did the company prepare something separately?"

"Didn't you hear what Director Jo said earlier? He said Jung Yoon-Ho had no money. Said something about a borrowed-name account."

"That doesn't seem right. Maybe Director Jo got it wrong. Or... maybe he was lying."

"Wow. I didn't think they were like that, but then again, Hong Ah-Yoon and Jo Jae-Kyung are pretty petty."

"Seriously.

"I mean, it doesn't make sense to entrust a borrowed-name account to someone who has nothing."

The third-generation heirs began whispering and casting blame toward Director Hong Ah-Yoon and Director Jo Jae-Kyung.

Flustered, Hong Ah-Yoon of HK Entertainment shot to her feet. "Sir! Are we supposed to believe that Chief Jung gave a gift worth 30 billion won?"

Kim Bu-Ho slowly turned his head and glared at her as he rebuked her in a low voice. "Are you saying that I just spoke nonsense?"

Even the notorious troublemaker Hong Ah-Yoon had to bow her head in front of the founder of Daechon Inc. Afterall, he had single-handedly built it into the 17th largest conglomerate in the business world and was full of charisma

"N-No, that's not it... I just couldn't understand, so I... I'm sorry. Please forgive my rudeness."

Kim Bu-Ho stared at Hong Ah-Yoon for a moment, then let out a small sigh. "Sigh... No. I was a bit harsh on a child who came to celebrate my birthday. I cannot explain since it concerns our company, but I guarantee in my name that it is worth that much. Is that sufficient?"

Hong Ah-Yoon hurriedly raised her head and waved her hands. "O-Of course. I was just flustered and made a mistake. Please don't take it to heart."

"Very well. Still... among your peers, you were always the one who brought the most extravagant gifts. This time, because of Chief Jung, you didn't take first place. Hahaha."

As if her pride had been wounded, Hong Ah-Yoon's face twitched.

Kim Bu-Ho gave Hong Ah-Yoon a crooked smile, then turned to the other third-generation heirs. "Thank you all for taking the time out of your busy schedules to celebrate this old man's birthday. However, I have no need for the jewelry you purchased, so cancel all the contracts."

At that moment, the heirs who had been enjoying the spectacle between us hurriedly stood up and bowed deeply. For the chairman of Daechon Inc. to refuse their gifts was no different from rejecting their goodwill.

"Sir! Please forgive us!"

As the thunderous apology echoed through the banquet hall, Kim Bu-Ho let out an incredulous chuckle. "You fools, that's not what I meant."

Just then, Kim Ae-Ryeon smoothly stepped in. "Mr. Chairman. Shall we accept gifts from a different brand instead? Otherwise, when they return home, imagine how much they'll be scolded by their elders."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, sir."

"Very well. Let's do that."

Kim Ae-Ryeon immediately turned to the Bless's store manager. "Manager Lee. Cancel the contracts and clear the jewelry."

"Yes, ma'am." The Bless store manager quickly instructed the staff who had accompanied him. "Everyone, pack this up quickly."

The employees hurriedly stuffed the jewelry sets from the tables back into their cases and disappeared.

Then Kim Ae-Ryeon reassured the third-generation heirs. "We'll prepare items from another brand shortly, so please have a seat and relax."

"Yes, sir. Thank you."

The heirs finally relaxed and dropped back into their seats with a sigh of relief.

That's when Kim Bu-Ho casually addressed the third-generation heirs. "Oh, and you'd all do well to stay on good terms with Chief Jung here. Who knows? If you manage to win his favor, you might receive a gift like mine someday."

Their eyes sparkled as they began looking at me with newfound interest. Meanwhile, Hong Ah-Yoon and Jo Jae-Kyung, who had tried to corner me, trembled as if they had bitten into something foul. Instead of crushing me as they intended, they had only helped brand me as a capable figure among the heirs.

'Hong Ah-Yoon, Jo Jae-Kyung. You're no match for me.'

***

Kim Ae-Ryeon stepped outside with her phone to urgently handle the aftermath of the information I had provided. Then the schedule in Everyday disappeared.

[Everyday V13]

[Date: April 28, 2021]

-01:00 p.m.: <Schedule Entry Deleted>

(Deleted Schedule Entry: (Emergency Meeting) Luxury jewelry brand Bless to withdraw from Korean operations. (Meeting details: If sponsored products are not returned within two days, legal action will begin. A certified notice has been received.))

Kim Bu-Ho sat at our table and spoke to me. "I can't simply let this pass after receiving such a great gift. Then may I choose how to compensate you?"

I had heard that Kim Bu-Ho always rewarded more than he received. The compensation I needed was simply a few commercial deals for my artists. Still, curious about his true intention, I nodded. What he was about to say was likely the real reason he had summoned me here through President Lee Ha-Yoon.

"Yes, sir."

In a voice too low for the others at the table to hear, Kim Bu-Ho whispered, "I heard rumors that you're about to receive shares in Jinseong Hotel. Is that correct?"

"News travels fast."

"Indeed. In that case, as compensation for today, I'd like to give you shares in Daechon Department Store. What do you think?"

'Shares in Daechon Department Store?'

Kim Bu-Ho had started from a small produce shop called Daechon Trading and, over decades, built Daechon Inc. with distribution and department stores as its core businesses. He later expanded into chemicals and construction, and then into hotels and petroleum, raising the group to 17th in the business world.

However, Daechon Trading had been the origin of Daechon Department Store, making its shares the very core of the entire Daechon Inc.. And before my regression, I had once heard something when Kim Ae-Ryeon and Kim Ae-Ja were locked in a fierce battle for management control.

'To control Daechon Inc., one must secure shares in Daechon Department Store, its root.'

Yet now Kim Bu-Ho was offering to give me shares in that very foundation.

"Chairman Jin Dae-Woon would likely give you around 3 percent of the hotel. I'll match that."

No matter how valuable my information was, offering shares worth at least fifty times more than those of Jinseong Hotel & Resort meant he had an ulterior motive.

I immediately declined.

"No. That's not what I wanted."

Kim Bu-Ho tilted his head.

"Is it not enough? Shall I give you more?"

"No, sir. I live by the principle of not accepting what I cannot handle. And above all, why would you entrust me with something that is the very root of Daechon?"

For the first time, the sly smile on Kim Bu-Ho's face hardened. His gaze turned sharp enough to chill.

"Who told you that the department store is Daechon's root?"

I answered at once, as if I had been waiting. "Didn't Daechon begin as a trading company and later integrate with the department store? That's why I called it the root."

Kim Bu-Ho stared at me, trying to see if I was telling the truth. In the end, unable to discern anything, he relaxed his expression.

"Sigh. Yes. The root, indeed. Still, it's not something I can't give. Three percent would be worth a little over 100 billion won. I'll handle all the tax matters as well, so accept it."

Even then, he pressed on. Smiling faintly, I refused once more. When someone pushed this hard, it wasn't merely an ulterior motive—it was a trap.

"If there's one thing I know, it's that nothing in this world is free. Especially when I'm only twenty-eight years old and my shares alone are worth over 100 billion won. Compared to when you were my age, sir, my current assets are several dozen times greater. So why would I take someone else's money and willingly put a leash around my own neck?"

Kim Bu-Ho stared at me in disbelief. Silence lingered for a moment. Then suddenly he burst into laughter.

"You brat. So stubborn. Truly stubborn. Hahaha!"

At Kim Bu-Ho's booming laughter, the third-generation heirs at the surrounding tables all turned to look at us. Every one of them wore an expression that said they were dying to know what we had been discussing.

Kim Bu-Ho took a sip of his coffee, then began speaking loudly enough for others to hear.

"Fine. Then I'll offer a different reward. Five years of CF contracts for Daechon Department Store and the entire Daechon Inc. I'll leave them open for Hoop Entertainment's actors. Just write down a name, and I'll give the advertisements to that actor. Over five years, it should amount to around 50 billion won. If you refuse even this, I'll consider it an insult to my pride."

'Why would I refuse that?'

This kind of compensation was an automatic yes.

"Thank you, sir!"

***

Lee Ha-Yoon grew increasingly dissatisfied throughout the party. Her partner, Jung Yoon-Ho, had not once taken his eyes off Jung Yoo-Jin, who was seated at the same table.

Whenever male third-generation heirs approached to hand over their business cards, he blocked them, introducing himself as her talent agent and accepting the cards instead. He even intercepted the business cards women tried to give to Lee Tae-Poong.

Only then did she understand why he had insisted on being introduced as a talent agent when they entered. Though he had come as her partner, he had no intention of forgetting his role. Yet both Kim Bu-Ho and her mother, Kim Ae-Ryeon, who had returned after her call, merely smiled and praised Jung Yoon-Ho for being professional.

After two hours, the party came to an end. Jung Yoon-Ho stood and bowed to Kim Bu-Ho and Kim Ae-Ryeon.

"Sir, we'll be taking our leave."

Reluctant to part, Lee Ha-Yoon hurriedly stopped him. "Wait. I'll see you home."

"No, we'll go separately. I had a great experience today. Thank you for inviting us."

Because Jung Yoon-Ho drew a clear line so politely, she could not press further. After exchanging final greetings, he left the banquet hall with Jung Yoo-Jin, the Jinseong Inc. siblings, and Lee Tae-Poong.

A little while later, only Kim Bu-Ho, Kim Ae-Ryeon, and Lee Ha-Yoon remained in the banquet hall after seeing off the remaining third-generation heirs.

Lee Ha-Yoon quickly asked Kim Bu-Ho, "Grandpa, what was the gift Chief Jung gave you? The thing you two whispered about."

Kim Bu-Ho answered, "He told me that Bless is withdrawing from Korea. That information was today's gift."

"What? Bless is withdrawing? That makes no sense! You believe that?"

Kim Ae-Ryeon nodded. "It's true. I checked. There's nothing unusual in Seoul, but at the regional Daechon Department Stores, they're assessing inventory and collecting outstanding payments. It's the typical process of preparing to pull out of the Korean market. Even I was surprised."

Lee Ha-Yoon's eyes widened. "Chief Jung knew something even you didn't? How does that make sense? You receive daily reports on store conditions!"

"That's why it's unbelievable. It's not as if he planted a spy in our company..."

Kim Bu-Ho let out a hearty laugh. "That's exactly why that boy is extraordinary. In all my years, I've never seen a monster like him."

Kim Ae-Ryeon nodded in agreement. "I've always valued Chief Jung, but now I understand why you acknowledge him so strongly, father."

"Yes. His information is on a different level. What's more frightening is that we don't know where it comes from. And he's only twenty-eight."

"That's right. I've tried to trace his sources, but I can't find anything."

"Keep digging."

"Yes."

"Oh, and do you know what he told me earlier? He said he has more money at his age than I did at the same age, so I shouldn't think about putting a leash on him. I was so dumbfounded I couldn't help but laugh."

"So that's why you were laughing."

Though she could hardly believe it, both of them were people who never lied in business, so Lee Ha-Yoon had no choice but to accept it.

Then Kim Bu-Ho stopped laughing and looked at her. "By the way, Ha-Yoon. Are you confident you can win Jung Yoon-Ho over?"

Lee Ha-Yoon pouted as she recalled the party. All she had done was order him more food.

"I don't know!"

"Hahaha. To think there's a man who would put up walls against Ha-Yoon, the so-called idol of our business world."

Lee Ha-Yoon flared up. "You kept sticking to him, Grandpa! I didn't even get a chance to talk to him alone!" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Blaming others, are we..."

"Grandpa!"

"Oh my, this old man isn't deaf. Hmph. Anyway, that boy doesn't seem interested in you. So what now? Will you give up?"

Lee Ha-Yoon glared at her grandfather with fierce determination. "Do you even know who I am? I'm Lee Ha-Yoon!"

As Lee Ha-Yoon's stubborn pride flared up, Kim Bu-Ho grinned. "Good. Whatever you do in life, you need that kind of fire. Then let's do this. If you can make Jung Yoon-Ho your man, I'll give you a grand gift."

"What kind of gift?"

At that moment, Kim Bu-Ho began to promise Lee Ha-Yoon a gift she had never even dared to dream of.

"If you can make Jung Yoon-Ho a man of Daechon..."