A Wicked Way to Do Good

“Um… but Young Master. Isn’t this the firm we already looked into recently? Was there perhaps some incorrect information back then…?”

“I forgot.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m going to focus now. You’re done with what I asked, so could you please leave?”

His voice was exceedingly firm. Secretary Choi looked like he had a dozen more questions, but he was ultimately kicked out by Seohan, who stubbornly demanded his immediate departure.

Only after the surroundings grew silent did Seohan let out a heavy, labored breath.

That was a close call.

Thinking about it, there was no way the meticulously cautious Baek Seohan wouldn’t have investigated the counterparty before signing a contract.

Having failed to consider that and requesting the same data again, it was only natural for Secretary Choi to find it suspicious. If these situations kept repeating, things could get complicated…

[Synchronization has increased by 0.1%!]

…Then again, looking at it now, maybe it wasn’t so bad?

It seemed the “I forgot” excuse—added hastily in his fluster—was something that sat very poorly with the character of Baek Seohan. He felt a quiet sense of satisfaction at the unexpected gain.

After spending a few minutes spreading out the documents with a sense of pride, Seohan quickly reached a conclusion.

“This is illegal.”

And very much so, in a way that left no room for excuses.

The moment he realized that, a flash of inspiration struck him. Since the other party was a bunch of lowlifes… to completely erase the evidence, wouldn’t it be better if not just the contract, but the company itself vanished? A faint glint of madness appeared in Seohan’s eyes.

He dialed Secretary Choi’s number, which had become familiar after just a few days of repetition. When the other party picked up almost instantly, he spoke in a light, almost bouncy tone. It sounded cheerful enough to be rhythmic.

“Secretary Choi? I’d like to make this company go bankrupt.”

• ○○ Capital… you mean? By when would you like this done?

“Tomorrow.”

• Yes… sir.

The answering voice lacked strength. With less than half a day remaining in the current day, the man would likely have to skip sleep and work through the night to fulfill Seohan’s command. Seohan knew this, but he pointedly ignored it.

‘I have to survive first.’

When one is facing a potential second death, can they really afford to worry about someone else’s plight?

Despite those thoughts, Seohan’s expression was incredibly bright. Part of it was likely the relief of finding a usable solution, but it was also because he was personally experiencing just how formidable Baek Seohan’s family was.

To be able to take down an illegal moneylender—one that was clearly moving a lot of cash even if they weren’t top-tier—overnight. The fact that the secretary asked for a deadline instead of a reason was an even bigger shock.

In truth, looking at the vast house, the gardens, and even the furniture currently inside, one could infer his wealth to some degree. The system had also used the term ‘Chaebol’ several times.

But hearing it and experiencing it were two different things. Seohan, blinking dazed eyes, muttered.

“…This is thrilling.”

Unable to stop the corners of his mouth from twitching upward, Seohan finally broke into a foolish grin.

The news Seohan had been waiting for arrived the very next day.

○○ Capital’s business corruption and illegal loan sharking history come to light, facing public outcry… Prosecution investigation begins.

At the very top of various portal sites, the headline was large enough to catch anyone’s eye. Since it wasn’t a company famous enough for everyone to know, the fact that it was being reported so extensively made the matter feel twice as serious.

• The investigation has been postponed for a moment.

Finally, the voice of Secretary Choi, who brought the good news despite sounding soaked in fatigue.

A corporation truly closed its doors in a single day. The fact was both fascinating and terrifying. While he had done it to secure his own survival, it was a foreign experience for Seohan, who had spent his whole life taking orders rather than giving them.

However, no matter how foreign or terrifying it felt, his body had to move. Entering the headquarters of ○○ Capital at the location Secretary Choi had pinned, Seohan was able to immediately find the other copy of the contract remaining at the company.

Perhaps Secretary Choi had come ahead of time to organize everything; a few documents were placed right in the center of the desk for easy discovery. One of them was exactly the same type as the contract Seohan had brought with him.

“Ha…”

The two copies met and were torn apart by Seohan’s hands.

To think it would end so simply. Seohan let out a sigh of relief and tore the halved papers several more times. He even fed them into a nearby shredder, feeling refreshed as they were reduced to tiny fragments.

[Synchronization has increased by 0.1%!] [Synchronization 5% achieved ♪(oᐛ)o♪!]

Simultaneously, a fanfare rang out from the system. It felt like he had finally taken a solid step toward the future.

“Now, if I just let that guy out safely…”

It would be perfect. He could live the life of a wealthy unemployed person just like this.

He vowed to buy all the games he couldn’t play because he was pressed for a tight salary and spend as much as he wanted on in-game purchases. It was a modest resolution for someone who had become a Chaebol that everyone dreams of.

Seohan stuffed all the shredded paper into his pocket and hurried out of the company. He had to leave before the prosecutors arrived.

Holding onto every little scrap of paper so none would fall out was a hassle, but it was no problem for the current Seohan. His mood was so elevated that nothing could get on his nerves.

Tap. The same went for a piece of a box that hit his head as it flew by. Seohan, blinking as he watched it fall to the ground, soon turned his head at a voice coming from the side.

“Oh dear, young man! I’m sorry!”

It was a bent-over elderly person. The small cart behind them was full of cardboard boxes. It seemed one of the boxes placed on top had flown off in the sudden strong wind.

“It’s alright.”

Picking up the fallen box and placing it back on the cart was a familiar action. Is it not a Korean instinct to help pick up someone’s belongings when they scatter on the ground? He placed the box back and, after asking for understanding, even retied the loose string.

“Oh, thank you. What a kind young man.”

“It was nothing.”

“I don’t have much to give… would you like to eat this?”

The elderly person pulled something from their pocket and held it out. Seohan reflexively accepted it, only realizing later that it was a burnt rice candy.

These are delicious… unfortunately, they won’t suit Baek Seohan’s palate. While seeing the elderly person off, he was once again reminded of his tearful situation, but this time, his attention was drawn to something else.

[Synchronization has increased by 0.3% |•’-‘•)و✧!]

Seohan stared at the unbelievable text floating before his eyes for a long time. Not 0.1%, but 0.3%? Why so suddenly?

It was only natural for questions to follow. It was too sudden. Just as his mind was becoming a jumbled mess, the system made a light ding sound, as if sensing Seohan’s confusion.

The message following in the system window was…

[Info | Baek Seohan considers helping others to be a useless task.]

To Seohan, it was like a ray of a miracle.

“…This is it.”

It was a realization that struck like lightning.

‘Let’s donate!’

That was the first thought that came to Seohan’s mind.

Isn’t this Baek Seohan a person with the wealth to shut down a company overnight?

So, as soon as he returned home, he told Secretary Choi to pull a full list of places to donate to.

“Pardon? A list of… donation recipients?”

Of course, Secretary Choi’s face turned quite bizarre upon hearing that. He turned pale as if he had heard something that should never be heard and kept glancing at Seohan. It was a suspicious look, as if he were checking to see if Seohan was in his right mind.

“Could you move those unpleasant eyes away?”

“I-I’m sorry!”

The sight of him scurrying away was almost pitiful. But even watching the receding figure, Seohan felt no pity or apology.

‘It’s strange.’

He acknowledged that the man was an excellent set of “limbs.” Since becoming Baek Seohan, he had given the man many tasks, and the man had performed them without complaint, bringing back satisfactory results.

Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to like Secretary Choi. He thought as he scanned the room, which now felt empty of everyone’s presence but his own.

Sometimes, the man had the eyes of someone who observed a bit too much.

“Creepy.”

Aside from the fact that he was an incredibly convenient person who handled everything, he was unsettling.

Still, I have to use him as much as I can. Checking the list of donation recipients that had arrived via text message, Seohan let his mouth curl into a grin. It was a face with a tremendous ulterior motive, one that no one would believe belonged to someone about to donate.