Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 755: Attack (1)

"Stay with Yung-Ho until this crisis passes," Choi Eun-Tae said.

Choi Yung-Ho was currently the president of Daeheung Savings Bank, Korea's top savings bank, and also the personal bodyguard of Choi Eun-Tae. He was his most trusted confidant. And yet, the only condition under which I wouldn't be sent to Hawaii was having him by my side.

However, I immediately voiced my objection. "No, sir. If something were to happen to you because of that, how could I ever face Eun-Gi again?"

"It's fine. Jin-Ho, Jung-Ho, and Ki-Ho can take turns covering for Yung-Ho."

All four executives of Daeheung Savings Bank were trusted men whom Choi Eun-Tae had taken under his wing since childhood. Vice President Ju Jin-Ho, Executive Director Park Jung-Ho, and Managing Director Jang Ki-Ho had once been key figures of the Daeho Gang that ruled Myeongdong.

Nevertheless, even combining their presence couldn't compare to the weight Choi Yung-Ho carried. After all, Choi Yung-Ho had shielded Choi Eun-Tae from countless dangers on his rise to power and was a man known as the strongest fighter in Korea. If someone like that were to leave his side and come to me, it would leave Choi Eun-Tae vulnerable.

So in the end, I said what I truly didn't want to say. "What if Choi Man-Sik targets you, Mr. Chairman?"

Choi Eun-Tae shook his head. "You don't need to worry about me. Man-Sik won't come after me anyway."

"Are you saying that because you believe in the disqualifying clause for inheritance?"

To inherit a parent's wealth, one must not be disqualified. One of those disqualifying reasons was patricide. That is, if one harmed a parent to claim an inheritance, they were barred from receiving it. That was the only reason Choi Man-Sik had kept his distance from Choi Eun-Tae until now.

However, that wasn't something we could count on anymore. With Choi Man-Sik having clearly lost his mind, he was capable of anything. Especially now, after joining forces with Assemblyman Park Sang-Gon, there was every chance he could go as far as he did when he targeted Kang Eun-Gi.

For instance, there would be no legal grounds to block his inheritance if he used someone else to take out Choi Eun-Tae and claimed he had never ordered it. Even if an investigation were launched, Park Sang-Gon—frontrunner in the presidential race—could easily bury the suspicions. That was the reason Choi Yung-Ho had to stay by Choi Eun-Tae's side.

"Mr. Chairman, please. Keep Mr. Choi with you. I'll be fine."

I had my strongest ally Everyday by my side, so I declined once again. It was then that a commotion erupted at the entrance of the old house.

Crash! Clatter!

-Stop them!

-Who the hell do you think you are barging in here?

-Step aside! We have a warrant!

-A warrant? What warrant?

-We're from the Central Prosecutors' Office. I said move!

Choi Eun-Tae furrowed his brows at the racket outside. "Assemblyman Park made the first move, huh? Hahaha."

'What? Park Sang-Gon?'

Just then, the door burst open and Choi Yung-Ho came running in. He dropped to his knees, panting as he spoke.

"Mr. Chairman. The Central District Office just issued emergency arrest warrants for all of our executives at Daeheung Savings Bank."

Choi Eun-Tae looked dumbfounded. "...For you? Not me?"

"Yes, sir. Prosecutors are conducting a search and seizure at our bank as we speak."

Choi Eun-Tae's complexion darkened. "On what grounds?"

"Illegal loans, money laundering, and high-interest lending, supposedly. But those are just the pretexts. It looks like Assemblyman Park Sang-Gon is trying to tie up all our limbs."

"Park Sang-Gon really plans to burn the whole place down, doesn't he?"

"It seems that way. So if I get arrested, I think it would be best for you to go to Hawaii with Chief Jung for a while."

Choi Eun-Tae shook his head. "No. I'll get you out quickly."

"Mr. Chairman, the situation is more serious than it looks."

"It's fine! If I leave this country, you'll never make it out alive. And obviously, I can't guarantee Eun-Gi's safety either. So don't argue anymore."

Choi Yung-Ho trembled as he nodded. "Understood, Mr. Chairman."

"It won't take long. Endure it with the same resolve as always."

"Yes, sir." Just then, Choi Yung-Ho turned to me. "Chief Jung."

I answered, "Yes, Mr. Choi?"

"I'm sorry to ask in a moment like this, but... can I entrust Mr. Chairman to you?"

Choi Yung-Ho's voice quivered. With the IPO of Hoop Entertainment right around the corner and his own life now under threat, Choi Yung-Ho was still asking me for a favor to protect Choi Eun-Tae, not himself. There was no way I could turn down such a heartfelt request.

"Don't worry. I'll protect him."

"Thank you... For Mr. Chairman, you..."

"No. It's not because he's Mr. Chairman. It's because he's the father of my one and only friend."

The nervous look in Choi Yung-Ho's eyes faded, and he let out a loud laugh. "Hahaha. That's even more reassuring. Thank you."

At that moment, the door to Choi Eun-Tae's room burst open.

Bang!

Holding a warrant, the prosecutors in suits stepped in with their shoes clacking across the floor.

"We're from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. President Choi Yung-Ho, you're under emergency arrest for illegal loans and money laundering. Please come with us."

At that, Choi Yung-Ho bellowed like a man who had swallowed a train whistle. "How dare you enter Mr. Chairman's room with your shoes on!"

Choi Yung-Ho's booming voice made the prosecutors flinch as they stepped into the room.

"A-Are you resisting arrest?"

"Be quiet! I'll walk out on my own after saying my goodbye to Mr. Chairman. Unless you want to be humiliated, wait outside and don't act so rudely!"

At 193 centimeters tall, Choi Yung-Ho glared like a tiger, and the prosecutors instinctively backed out of the room.

Then, Choi Yung-Ho turned and bowed deeply to Choi Eun-Tae with his hands pressed together. "Please stay well, Mr. Chairman."

Choi Eun-Tae, still seated, straightened his back and responded with the poise of a man expecting to see him again the next morning. "Yes. I'll see you soon."

"Yes, sir."

Only then did Choi Yung-Ho turn around. As he passed by me, he whispered in a voice low enough that only I could hear.

"Chief Jung. I'm counting on you."

His voice brushing past my ear was low but filled with urgency. Then, Choi Yung-Ho stepped outside with a stoic expression. The moment he did, the prosecutors clamped down hard on his thick arms.

Without resisting, Choi Yung-Ho let them hook onto both of his arms as he slowly disappeared from sight.

***

Once the commotion died down, silence returned to the house.

Choi Eun-Tae clenched his teeth and shouted toward the door. "Is anyone out there?"

However, there was no response. Seizing the moment, I called Prosecutor Seo Jae-Ill. Yet even though he was part of the same Central District Office, Seo Jae-Ill didn't answer. A chill ran down my spine.

'Were the enemies now targeting Mr. Chairman directly?'

Just as we were gathering to discuss countermeasures against Choi Man-Sik's threats, the prosecutors had stormed in at that exact moment. They had arrested Choi Yung-Ho and all the executives, leaving only the real owner of Daeheung Savings Bank—Choi Eun-Tae—untouched. And now, even Seo Jae-Ill from the Seoul Central District Office wasn't answering.

Feeling uneasy, I pulled my phone from my pocket and opened Everyday. There was only one thing I needed to check: Choi Eun-Tae's remaining lifespan.

But when I opened everyday, I couldn't help but be shocked.

[Everyday V13]

[Date: November 1, 2022]

-03:00 p.m.: <Schedule Entry Deleted>

(Deleted Schedule Entry: Chairman Choi Eun-Tae – Funeral Attendance)

My hand trembled around the phone. For this schedule entry to disappear now could mean that Choi Eun-Tae might die sooner than that. It could be maybe tomorrow or even tonight.

Whoosh.

A cold March wind swept through the open doorway of the main room, making the fine hairs on my neck stand upright.

Then, another notification came from Everyday.

Buzz~

[Notification: Your Fortune of the Day has been registered.]

'Fortune of the Day? At this time?'

I wasted no time opening it.

[Everyday V13]

[Date: March 17, 2021]

[Fortune of the Day: You will receive news of a close one's death.]

The worst possible fortune had appeared. It was now 8 p.m. There were less than four hours left before the day ended. And it said I would receive news of someone close to me dying. The most likely candidate among those close to me was the man right in front of me, Choi Eun-Tae.

'Damn it!'

Right then, I began planning how to stop what was coming.

***

Once the storm had passed, I heard hurried footsteps rushing toward the open doorway of the room. Because of the ominous fortune, I instinctively clenched my fists in caution.

Tap, tap, tap.

Thankfully, the steps were light and slow. It was the gait of an older man.

"Mr. Chairman! Are you all right?"

Through the open doorway appeared a gray-haired lawyer, slightly disheveled. It was Attorney Cheon Jin-Sang, sixty-five years old, the man who had served Choi Eun-Tae the longest.

Seeing him, Choi Eun-Tae's expression softened slightly. "I'm fine. More importantly, Attorney Cheon, what's the situation outside?"

Cheon Jin-Sang said with a lamentable expression, "Not only the people from Daeheung Savings Bank, but even the guards stationed here at the estate have all been taken in."

"And who's left?"

"There are about three or four men still guarding the outer perimeter. I left them at the gate and came here alone."

"What about the backup security team?"

"I've called them in. They should arrive within ten minutes."

"Once they do, have the team leads come straight to my room."

"Yes, sir."

"And did you try reaching the Chief Prosecutor of the Central District?"

"I did, but he's not answering."

"So the entire prosecution has switched sides, huh?"

"I... believe that's the case. Even the Prosecutor General isn't taking my calls."

"That bastard Park Sang-Gon really made his move."

"It appears so."

"To think he'd betray me after feeding off my money for so long. Power truly is a frightening thing."

Cheon Jin-Sang bowed his head in silence. "I'm sorry."

Choi Eun-Tae shook his head. "It's not your fault. But do contact everyone you can and get Yung-Ho out first. I don't care how much it costs."

"Understood, sir."

"Did you try Attorney Kim and Attorney Oh?"

In addition to Cheon Jin-Sang, the other two heavyweight lawyers protecting Choi Eun-Tae were Kim Taek-Hoon; sixty-years-old, and Oh Sung-Ha; fifty-five-years-old. Cheon Jin-Sang had served Choi Eun-Tae the longest, but in hierarchy, Kim Taek-Hoon was first, Oh Sung-Ha second, and Cheon Jin-Sang third.

"They haven't arrived yet from the U.S. and Japan."

"Then tell them to get back here as soon as possible."

"Yes, sir."

Cheon Jin-Sang gave a short nod and stepped out. Choi Eun-Tae let out a quiet sigh and turned to look at me and President Kang Gam-Chan.

"President Kang, you should take Chief Jung and clear out. There's a lot I need to deal with tonight."

There was a sharpness in Choi Eun-Tae's expression he didn't bother to hide. I could see in his eyes the resolve to pay Park Sang-Gon back for the blow he had landed.

Kang Gam-Chan nodded firmly. "Understood, sir."

He started to rise from his seat, but I couldn't bring myself to leave—not after what I had seen on Everyday.

"But Mr. Chairman. This is the most dangerous moment!"

"I know. Taking Yung-Ho and the others but leaving only me? It's a blatant sign they're coming for me next."

"Then please evacuate now."

"Attorney Cheon already called the guards. I'll move to the safehouse once they arrive. It'd be more dangerous going out alone now."

Logically, Choi Eun-Tae was right. After all, more guards meant more safety. But sometimes, timing mattered more than numbers.

"Mr. Chairman. Do you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you, Chief Jung."

"Then please, just for tonight, don't say anything. Do as I ask. We don't have time to wait. We need to move now."

"You want me to follow you? To where?"

"It doesn't matter where. What matters is getting out of here immediately. Please, sir."

"Hmm..."

Choi Eun-Tae hesitated just as his phone rang.

Buzz~

"Hold on a moment."

"Sir?"

"It's Assemblyman Choi Soo-Ho, the opposition party leader. I need to take this."

Choi Eun-Tae picked up the call and asked in a voice laced with restrained anger.

"Representative Choi. What's going on?"

-I'm sorry, sir. I was just about to come see you. Would that be all right?

"Now?"

-Yes. I heard the news and I'm already on my way.

"To the house that just got raided?"

-It's already been searched, so it'll be quiet for a while. You know what they say—it's darkest under the lamp.

"Hmph."

-I also contacted Assemblyman Yoo Tae-Sik from the ruling party. He said he'll head over after he finishes preparing. Let's all meet together.

"All right."

Choi Eun-Tae ended the call and turned to me.

"Assemblyman Choi Soo-Ho is someone I've spent years nurturing. Since he's coming, I have to stay. The ruling party's deputy leader is coming too."

'Both the opposition leader and the ruling party's deputy floor leader are coming here?'

Seeing how resolute Choi Eun-Tae was, one name came to mind.

I nodded. "Understood. Then Mr. Kang can go. I'll stay here with you until tomorrow."

"Chief Jung. You really don't have to do this."

I didn't respond. I simply said I would make a quick call and stepped outside. Cheon Jin-Sang was still on the phone but nodded when he saw me and hung up.

"I'm done. Feel free to make your call."

Then Cheon Jin-Sang left for Choi Eun-Tae's room. I found it odd that his call was so short, but I had no time to dwell on it. I immediately called Kang Eun-Gi.

-Hey, Yoon-Ho. What's up?

"Eun-Gi. Mr. Chairman's home was under attack!"

-What?

"Prosecutors showed up and took everyone. There are less than five people left here. I need you to come. Where are you?"

-I Just finished shooting with Ms. Chae Mi-Hyun. I'm heading back to the office. I just passed Jongno...

Jongno was close. With three security teams always with him, Kang Eun-Gi was the perfect person to protect Choi Eun-Tae tonight.

"Get here. Now!"

Right then, a dull noise came from the front of the house.

Thud.

Then silence followed. A chill ran down my spine upon realizing that someone had returned. I turned toward the main room and whispered into the phone.

"Eun-Gi. Someone's after your father again. Hurry!"

I had a feeling tonight was going to be a long, long night.