In front of a guard post on a side street in Cheonho-dong, Park Sang-Gon's daughter, Park Sang-Ah, who was sitting in the back seat of a Rose-Rise made a sudden offer to join hands with me. I couldn't believe that she came to me, the one who tied her future husband down in Japan, and made such a proposal. At that moment, memories of her from before the regression came rushing back. Before the regression, Park Sang-Ah would often drop by Top Entertainment and privately meet with actors and entertainers from the company after becoming Choi Man-Sik's wife. With her husband's money and her father Park Sang-Gon's political power backing her, the models and actors under the company couldn't refuse her advances. Though I caught on late and tried to stop it, she would laugh at me and call the models out of the company anyway. Then, after I became a director at Top Entertainment, she made a subtle offer to me as well—she said she would make me the president of Top Entertainment if I dated her. Of course, I rejected her outright. But right now, I was being offered the same thing again. And this time, it was while her soon-to-be husband was stuck in Japan. 'I knew she was crazy, but not this insane.' I was dumbfounded and asked her again. "Are you... serious?" Park Sang-Ah smiled with her eyes. "Of course I'm serious. And if you join hands with me, it won't hurt you either, you know? I can stop President Choi from attacking you." I wanted to jump out of the car immediately. Then a thought crossed my mind—if I used this right, I could drive a wedge between Park Sang-Gon and Choi Man-Sik. After all, this conversation was being recorded through the smartwatch on my left wrist. In the end, I swallowed the rising disgust and asked, "What's the price...?" "Oh, Come on~ You know what it is. Just go on a few dates with me now and then. What else is there between a man and a woman? You're not thinking I want to walk by the Han River holding hands and eating fried chicken and beer, right?" She gave what she thought was a charming eye-smile and spoke in a coquettish voice. However, her seduction did absolutely nothing for me. "Ms. Park Sang-Ah. How do you plan to deal with the aftermath of this offer? Are we all supposed to die together when President Choi Man-Sik comes back?" Park Sang-Ah shook her head. "Haha~ Don't worry. Choi Man-Sik can't touch me anyway." "Even after we get married, we agreed not to interfere with each other's dating lives. And we agreed not to take revenge on each other's partners either. So if you become my date, you won't have to fear Choi Man-Sik. Okay?" She kept insisting that staying by her side would be safer. However, this wasn't a golden lifeline. It was a spider's web spun by a black widow. She wasn't entirely wrong, but the so-called safety only applied as long as one remained her partner. Even before the regression, models who ended their relationship with her disappeared from the entertainment industry without a trace. Some said they left for America and others said they returned to their hometowns, but Kim Dong-Soo had firmly warned me. -Don't ever get involved with that woman. Choi Man-Sik only pretends to be cool. He's absolutely not. He thinks it's fine for him to date every woman in the world, but if any guy touches his wife, he loses it. And those people who supposedly retired and went to the U.S.? There are rumors that no one's ever seen them in America. I suddenly recalled Kim Dong-Soo's memories and warnings from before the regression, but even without them, I had no intention of getting close to her. In this life, my dream was to restore Hoop Entertainment and turn all the members of Faithful into top stars. And after that I wanted to live a thousand years in health and peace. 'Anyway, this recording should be enough to make Choi Man-Sik furious.' After taking a deep breath, I said firmly, "What the heck do you mean okay? I don't want to hear another word, so please get out of here right now!" "Come on~ It's just the two of us here. Why are you pretending to be so innocent? And don't you think I'm attractive? I mean, my looks and my body...I don't think I fall short compared to anyone. Don't you agree?" As Park Sang-Ah lifted her leg, a smooth leg rose up through the slit in her dress. She probably thought she was being seductive, but I felt absolutely nothing. With Korea's top beauties always by my side 24/7, cheap tactics only stirred disgust. For a second, I even recalled the chicken leg I ate a few days ago. I shook my head and lashed out with the words I had always wanted to say to her before the regression, right to her face. "Beautiful, my ass. And I don't mess with crazy bitches." At that moment, Park Sang-Ah started trembling as if it was the first time anyone had dared say something like that to her. "W-what did you say...?" "Oh, and even if I don't get along with Choi Man-Sik, I'm not trash enough to fool around with his woman. Do you see me as garbage or what?" I shot her a look of utter contempt, then opened the back door of the Rose-Rise The heavy back door of the Rose-Rise Phantom swung open smoothly. Just as I lifted myself off the seat to get out, I heard Park Sang-Ah's shrill voice. "Hey! Jung Yoon-Ho! Do you think you'll walk away from this unharmed?" I turned to look at her. Her eyes were blazing, full of wounded pride. "And if I don't walk away unharmed? What are you gonna do about it?" I dropped the formal speech and snapped back, dripping with mockery. Park Sang-Ah screamed in a sharp voice. "What do you think! Even a cocky son of a bitch gets it when he's beaten! Chief Kim! Crush this bastard!" At that moment, the man in his forties who had been sitting in the driver's seat got out of the car. He moved fast and stepped around to the back door before he reached inside. From looking at the calluses on the base of his fingers, I could tell his hands were used to grabbing lapels. If he got a hold of me, it would be trouble. I immediately smacked his hand away. Then, without missing a beat, I kicked him hard in the chest. With that one kick, Chief Kim's body rolled away from the door. I seized the opportunity and used the opening to swiftly get out of the car. Gripping his chest, the fallen Chief Kim groaned to his men. "Ugh... Damn it, get that bastard!" The moment he gave the order, I smashed my fist into his jaw. Chief Kim went limp, unable to give any more orders. 'One down, five left.' Two of them were busy blocking the guards at the post, so my priority was the remaining three. That's when the three standing outside the car charged at me. Crack. Follow current novels on 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝕟𝕖𝕥 Each one went down in a single hit. Once four of them were unconscious, the two who had been squaring off with the guards were visibly shaken. "D-don't come any closer!" "H-hey, let's talk this out! Please!" Normally, I would've left the last two alone. If I wanted to properly warn Park Sang-Ah, I couldn't have any conscious guards left around. "Sorry, but nap time's for everyone." With that, I lunged at the two and threw my fists. The two who were struck in the jaw collapsed unconscious. As I dropped several men in an instant, the guards stationed at the alley stared at me in a daze. I opened my mouth. "Um..." The guards straightened up immediately, fully alert. "Don't call the police. Those guys have skeletons in their closets too, so they won't be making any calls." I dusted off my hands and headed back toward the Rose-Rise. When I returned to the car, Park Sang-Ah, who had been sitting on the right side, was scrambling to the left to reach the door. She was trying to press the button inside to shut the left door, but I firmly grabbed her outstretched wrist. She screamed in pain, but I had no intention of going easy on her just because she was a woman. If I were just an average guy, I would be the one writhing on the ground right now with a broken bone and begging in humiliation. Keeping a tight grip on her wrist, I spoke. "Long ago, a great king once said... 'An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth.'" "W-what are you saying?! Let go! That hurts!!" "Come on~ I can't do that. I've got something to do now." Right then, I turned off the recording on my smartwatch. Then I made a call. Park Sang-Ah shrieked again. "Who are you calling?!" "Someone you don't know." CEO Suzuki's cheerful voice came through the line. "Ms. Suzuki, would it be possible for you to visit President Choi Man-Sik tomorrow?" -Well, it's doable, but why? "I'll send you a recording file soon. Could you play it for President Choi Man-Sik?" "You'll understand when you hear it." At that moment, Park Sang-Ah's face turned ghostly pale. Even if they agreed not to interfere in each other's relationships, if Choi Man-Sik heard a recording of her seducing another man while he was detained in Japan, no one could predict how he would react. "Y-you crazy bastard... what the hell are you doing right now?" "What else? Eye for an eye. Tooth for a tooth. Mad bitch? Then madman strategy." Still holding Park Sang-Ah's wrist with one hand, I used my smartwatch with the other to send the voice recording to Suzuki's email. Grinding her teeth, Park Sang-Ah hissed, "You... you really think you'll get away with this?" She could talk about some agreement not to mess with partners, but once he actually heard it, that agreement would shatter instantly. Choi Man-Sik, stuck in Japan, might lose all reason and do something reckless. Only then did I release her wrist and say, "That's your problem to worry about." I stared her down and began listing her past lovers. "Since college, you have met with Lee Chun-Hyung, Sa Sung-Hyuk, Hyun Min-Taek, and Park Jin-Hoo. You mainly went after models, right? Guys over 180 cm were your type. And I know about the villa parties in Fukuoka with the celebrities you sponsor. So... don't you dare test me. If the public finds out just how deep you've rolled in the mud, your father's presidential dreams will be over." I had no hard evidence, so I couldn't expose it. Nevertheless, it was more than enough for blackmail. Park Sang-Ah's voice trembled. "H-how do you know all that...?" I had no intention of telling her. "So go ahead. Try me. Then I'll show you what real fear looks like." After delivering my warning, I turned and walked away. That's when the unconscious guards began to stir. As I glanced at them, they flinched and quickly averted their eyes. "I'm not gonna hit you. Just take Ms. Park Sang-Ah and go. I'm dead tired." As I waved them off, the suited men groaned as they stood up and held their jaws, then returned to their cars. One by one, they all scrambled to flee. Once the cars left the alley in Cheonho-dong, I checked Everyday. [Date: December 24, 2022] -1:00 p.m.: LT Hotel Grand Ballroom in Sogong-dong. Wedding of President Choi Man-Sik and Assembly Park Sang-Gon's daughter, Park Sang-Ah. "And this still didn't disappear from the schedule? Wow~ this is unbelievable." Before the regression, Choi Man-Sik and Park Sang-Ah held their engagement ceremony in early 2021. Park Sang-Gon acted like he would marry them off any day, bled Choi Man-Sik dry for money, and only held the wedding at the end of 2022. That was after Park Sang-Gon was elected president on December 19, 2022. "Seriously... I'll never understand the upper class." Just then, a call came in from Suzuki. -Mr. Jung, I got the email. But are you sure about this? If President Choi Man-Sik hears this, he's going to lose it. "That's the point. And knowing President Choi Man-Sik's temper, the more he gets riled up, the more mistakes he'll make. The war's already begun. Every mistake he makes is an advantage for us." -Would it be alright if I check in with Mr. Chairman in Myeong-dong and decide whether to use it? "Go ahead. Please talk it over and let me know." Just as Suzuki was about to hang up, another way to poke at Choi Man-Sik's nerves came to mind. "Oh, right. Also, please tell President Choi Man-Sik that Assemblyman Park Sang-Gon is going to keep postponing the wedding until the end of next year." -Huh? Where'd you hear that? Did Park Sang-Ah say something? I couldn't say it was Everyday. "Yeah. It wasn't recorded, but she let it slip in front of me." Suzuki hung up, pleased with the new intel. 'Now you two fight it out—Park Sang-Ah and Choi Man-Sik.' After ending the call, I rang up Reporter Choi So-Hye. After a few rings, Choi So-Hye answered with a mock whine. -Hey, seriously? You're making me sad. She sounded a bit sulky because I had handed over all the articles on Deok-Bae to Weekly Star yesterday and today. "Mm~ Maybe I called the wrong person. I was going to give you an exclusive." In an instant, Choi So-Hye's voice shot up in pitch. -Hey, hey~ I was just saying! I'll take it back! Totally back! So gimme the exclusive, quick! I wanted to hand over the recording file, but I couldn't. Giving a private recording to a reporter and having it leak would leave me with no way out. It would definitely land me in jail. "It is an exclusive, but there's a risk. Can you handle it?" -Sounds like the target's a big shot, huh? "Yeah. There's a 99% chance you won't be able to publish it, and the whole paper might get obliterated if you do." Choi So-Hye paused for a moment. Then came her answer. -Screw it. If I was scared of power, I wouldn't be a reporter. I'm in. What is it? "Follow Assemblyman Park Sang-Gon's daughter, Park Sang-Ah. Especially when she attends fashion shows or events with models. You might dig up something big." -Wait... Could it be guy trouble? "Yeah. The worst kind." I filled her in on Park Sang-Ah's past with various celebrities, villa locations, and even her preferences in men. Knowing her, Choi So-Hye could probably dig up more than I ever could. -Okay. Thanks. I'm on it starting now. Choi So-Hye sounded fired up and insisted she gets to work right away. It was understandable, since Park Sang-Gon was leading the April by-elections. If the scandal broke then, it would be explosive. I ended the call and took in a deep breath of the cold wind. The chill cleared my head. I had lost some sleep because of Park Sang-Ah, but weakening the enemy was worth the time. "Now then, time to gather some allies." With the enemy weakened, it was time to build up my side. In war, numbers mattered. But first, I needed some sleep. Whether it's the white knight or stock options, none of it mattered unless I was still alive. I woke up just past noon. A full schedule was waiting for me again today, so I stretched and shook off the sleep. Soon, I had to head to the office and ask the staff in Actor Division 2 and Division Jung to buy into our stock option plan. I also needed to meet the white knight who would help me. And with the Busan preliminaries for Project I.O.A, I had to head down south before the day ended. Running through the packed schedule again in my head, I sat up in bed and checked entertainment headlines on my phone. [Hwaranjeon Episode 14, Fusion Sageuk hits 30.5% viewership ratings] [Deok-Bae from Hwaranjeon. A stylish action star!] [KBC Queen Jeong-Hee Episode 14, viewership ratings drop to 20.1%] [Hoop Entertainment's Choi Deok-Bae flooded with offers for his next project?] [Choi Deok-Bae's value skyrockets.] Practically every article mentioned Deok-Bae. The headlines were all good, and I felt great. But then, a breaking news alert popped up. [(Breaking) Mr. H, who tried to frame Mr. Choi Deok-Bae, was caught trying to flee the country. (Live link via Instargem)] A short article said Han Sun-Myung was fleeing at the airport. When I clicked the article, it included Instargem live video from a travel streamer. I tapped the link immediately. On screen, Han Sun-Myung and his father, Han Ji-Cheol, were briskly walking through the airport with their caps pulled low. 'Where do you think you're going, Bong-Pil?' Gripping my phone, I watched the stream. It was a live broadcast of Han Bong-Pil right before getting arrested. 'Taste the power of Korean law, Han Bong-Pil.'