novelraw Chapter 72 : You’re Going to Hit the Black Market?
Chapter 72 : You’re Going to Hit the Black Market?
Chapter 72: You’re Going to Hit the Black Market?
KCIA main conference room. In the chilly air, thick cigarette smoke hung heavy, and only the taut tension filled the room.
All the executives — including Jeong Tae-soo, No Gi-tae, and Bae Yeong-gu — waited in silence, their faces hardened as they anticipated the arrival of Director Kang Byung-woo.
The conference room door burst open roughly, and Kang Byung-woo stepped in. Taking his seat at the head of the table, he swept his sharp gaze across the gathered executives.
“You’ve all heard by now — the country is in turmoil because of the currency reform.”
His voice was low, but the weight it carried was enough to press down on the entire room.
“Our KCIA must assist the Chairman’s great decision. And in doing so, we will use this chaos to root out those parasitic bastards that eat away at the nation’s economy.”
The executives’ eyes gleamed. Nothing yielded results like a full-scale purge.
“First, we’ll investigate Seoul’s black market and illegal money changers. This will be……”
A faint ripple of tension crossed their faces. The black market was a near-sacred zone — long tolerated and dangerous to touch.
Kang Byung-woo’s gaze swept over the deputy directors, then stopped on No Gi-tae.
He tossed a file folder onto the table before him.
“Deputy Director No Gi-tae. I’d like you to take this on personally, sir.”
No Gi-tae glanced between the folder and Kang Byung-woo, then gave a brief nod.
“Fine.”
“Thank you, sir.”
No Gi-tae was now in charge of investigating the black market and the money changers.
“These bastards are mocking the government’s financial measures — trading dollars and gold illegally for obscene profits! There’s even intelligence saying they’re buying up the hard-earned savings of citizens who lost everything in this crisis at dirt-cheap prices!
This isn’t just a financial crime! It’s an act of treason that shakes the foundation of our national economy!”
Kang Byung-woo slammed his hand on the desk, his voice rising in fury.
“So today, I’ve decided — I’ll root out these cancerous growths from our nation once and for all.”
Then, Jeong Tae-soo quietly raised his hand. Unlike the agitated Kang Byung-woo, his voice was calm — almost too calm.
“Director Kang. The black market involves powerful figures from every sector. If we act rashly, we could face severe backlash.”
Kang Byung-woo’s sharp eyes turned toward him. Jeong Tae-soo didn’t flinch.
Their gazes clashed midair like sparks about to ignite. The tension in the room thickened once more.
“Senior.”
Kang Byung-woo let out a mocking snort. Not long ago, Jeong Tae-soo had humiliated him before the Chairman. Now it was time to repay that debt.
“Are you saying the revolutionary government should cower in fear of a few lowly crooks?
With such a rotten mindset, how could we possibly complete the revolutionary task before us?”
Kang Byung-woo crushed him verbally without restraint. He used the word senior, but there wasn’t a shred of respect in it.
It was an open mockery — a declaration of war. Jeong Tae-soo’s eyes twitched slightly as he caught the intent behind it. He hadn’t expected his words to be turned back on him so sharply.
“Deputy Director Jeong Tae-soo, you’ll handle the corporations. Use this opportunity to eradicate their chronic issues — tax evasion, money laundering, and illegal foreign remittance.”
Kang Byung-woo deliberately dumped the most difficult and unrewarding task on him.
All the executives held their breath, pretending not to notice the power struggle between the two men.
Only No Gi-tae watched the clash with an intrigued look in his eyes.
The next day.
I went to the hospital where Kang Hyuk was staying. I thought the chaos of the past few days might have settled a little, but the front of the hospital’s administration office was still a complete madhouse.
“Ma’am, I’m truly sorry. We can’t accept this money.”
Across the counter, a young hospital staff member was arguing with an elderly woman dressed like a market vendor.
The woman’s hand clutched a few crumpled 1,000-hwan bills.
“It’s government policy. Starting today, this money is no longer valid. You’ll have to go to the bank tomorrow morning to exchange it for the new won currency.”
“What are you saying! My boy could die if he doesn’t get treatment right now! How can we wait until tomorrow morning! People’s lives are on the line — how can the government do this!”
At her outcry, other patient guardians waiting nearby began voicing their complaints as well.
“She’s right! I’m supposed to be discharged today, but now they’re saying I can’t pay!”
“The banks are closed, and I’ve only got 500 won I can use right now — how am I supposed to pay the rest of the hospital bill?”
“This is daylight robbery! They took all our money, and now they’re telling us to just die here in the hospital!”
The administrative staff were drenched in sweat, unable to calm the torrent of complaints.
It wasn’t as if they didn’t want to help the patients. Especially in this hospital, which was run by a convent.
But defying government orders simply wasn’t an option. They could only bow repeatedly, murmuring the same apology.
“We’re truly sorry… there’s nothing we can do…”
I passed through the chaos and headed to the ward where Kang Hyuk was staying.
Currency reform.
It wasn’t just a change in the unit of money. It was a massive act of violence that paralyzed an entire nation’s economic system and upended the lives of ordinary people.
I opened the door to the third-floor ward. Kang Hyuk and his grandmother were using a two-person room by themselves.
As I entered, Kang Hyuk, who had been sitting on the chair beside the bed, turned his head and immediately stood up.
“You’re here, hyung-nim.”
“I tried to buy something on the way, but every shop was closed.”
“It’s fine. Just getting treatment like this is more than enough. You don’t need to bring anything.”
I patted his shoulder, then turned to look at his grandmother, whose face looked much more peaceful now.
She was fast asleep, breathing with a faint wheeze.
“How’s your grandmother doing?”
“They said she’s past the critical stage for now. But she’ll need long-term treatment… and full recovery might be difficult here…”
“When she’s strong enough, we’ll move her to Seoul. With the best doctors and proper treatment, she’ll definitely recover fully.”
Kang Hyuk nodded, a complicated mix of relief and guilt on his face — comforted that she might recover, yet burdened by the debt he felt toward me.
“Stop worrying about it. I’m doing this because I want to.”
“Still…”
“Have you eaten? Got any money left? Did you go to the bank?”
I fired off questions to change the mood. Kang Hyuk shook his head blankly.
“I couldn’t go to work, so I didn’t get paid. I had a bit of money, but the bank says I need to exchange it first… I really don’t know what to do now.”
“Let’s go. We’ll grab a bite in Chinatown and come back. Looks like all the restaurants around here are closed.”
“It’s fine. I can hold off for now.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Come on. The doctors and nurses will take good care of your grandmother. If she saw how skinny you’ve gotten, she’d be heartbroken.”
He hesitated for a moment, then eventually followed me. His stomach had been grumbling softly for a while, and the sound only grew louder.
As we went down the stairs and passed by the administrative office, still in chaos, Kang Hyuk leaned in and asked in a low voice,
“So… what’s going to happen to the world now?”
“What do you mean, what’s going to happen? People always find a way to adapt. Don’t worry about the hospital bills — I already paid them in advance. You won’t have to worry for a while.”
“Ah, I… I see…”
Kang Hyuk tried to say something more, but I simply quickened my pace.
I left the hospital and walked toward Chinatown. Most shops were tightly shut, and the number of people on the streets had noticeably dwindled.
It felt as though the entire world had come to a stop.
Chinatown was no different. Worry was etched deep into everyone’s faces. Even those who would normally be wary of outsiders looked too dazed to care.
“Ah, you’ve come, Mr. Baek.”
Only the first floor of Deokhwa Ru still bustled with people. Upon a closer look, they were all hurriedly eating their meals.
“You have quite a few customers.”
“We’re serving food without charge. We’ll somehow manage for about a week like this.”
“You truly care for your fellow countrymen.”
“Well, we can’t just let people starve to death, can we? No one knows what to do right now…”
President Wang glanced at Kang Hyuk, who stood beside me, and asked,
“This young man must be Kang Hyuk?”
“That’s right. We’d like to have a meal.”
“I’ll have it sent up to the third-floor lodging.”
“Send up plenty, please. Mostly meat. Hyuk eats a lot—he’s still growing.”
“Understood.”
Then I suddenly remembered someone else I should include. Just as President Wang was heading into the kitchen, I called out to him again.
“Ah, President Wang. Please call for A-seong as well and have him come up.”
“Understood.”
After he disappeared into the kitchen, I went up the stairs with Kang Hyuk. Not long after we entered the lodging, A-seong arrived.
“Hello, hyung-nim!”
He bowed to me, then spotted Kang Hyuk and called out brightly,
“Kang Hyuk-hyung!”
“A-seong!”
The two hugged each other in delight. I couldn’t tell how they’d become so close in such a short time—perhaps it was just because they were both young.
A few moments later, President Wang and his staff brought up an abundance of food—so much that the table legs nearly creaked under the weight. After the workers set everything down and left, President Wang said,
“I’ve prepared plenty. If you need anything, just call.”
Once he too had gone, I turned to the two and said,
“All right, let’s eat. You don’t have to finish it all, but eat as much as you can.”
We began eating as we chatted about this and that.
The food was so greasy that I eventually set my spoon down, but the two of them kept eating without pause. Not a single grain of rice was left in the end.
“I’ll bring the tea,” said A-seong, stacking the empty bowls and carrying them out.
I called to Kang Hyuk, who looked content for the first time in a long while, his stomach full.
“Kang Hyuk.”
“Yes, hyung-nim.”
“What do you want to do from now on?”
“……”
“Just because I helped you doesn’t mean you have to follow me around. I’d be grateful if you did, of course… but I’m not going to force you.”
Having Kang Hyuk by my side would be reassuring, but the path ahead of me was never going to be easy.
“The choice is yours. Whether you’ll walk this rough road with me or find your own way doing what you want—whatever you decide, I’ll help you until you’re on your feet.”
Kang Hyuk’s eyes trembled. Seeing how he couldn’t hide his turmoil, I smiled faintly.
“What’s this? Did you think I’d use this as leverage to work you to the bone for life? That’s a bit disappointing.”
“Hyung-nim. There’s one thing I’ve learned in life.”
“What’s that?”
“That there’s no such thing as kindness without a price.”
I agreed with him on that.
But Kang Hyuk was the one person I could truly help without expecting anything in return.
After all, in my previous life, he had shed blood for me.
“I told you, didn’t I? I’m repaying a debt I owe you.”
“That doesn’t make sense, does it? I’ve never helped you, hyung-nim. How could you owe me anything? You’ll have to say something believable if you want me to buy it.”
“So?”
“I’ll stay by your side until I’ve repaid the favor I’ve received.”
Kang Hyuk looked straight at me, his expression set with determination. Then, clenching his large hand tightly, he added,
“But… if what you’re doing ever feels wrong to me, I won’t lift a finger. I don’t want to do anything that’d make my grandma shed tears.”
“All right. If that’s your choice, so be it. When your grandmother’s health improves, we’ll take her to Seoul for proper treatment.”
“Yes, hyung.”
While we were talking, A-seong returned to the room with President Wang.
President Wang’s face carried a tension I hadn’t seen before.
“Mr. Baek, there’s something I must tell you.”
Sensing the gravity of the situation, I thought it best to send the boys away. I nodded and motioned to A-seong.
“A-seong. Take Kang Hyuk-hyung back to the hospital, then go home and rest.”
“Yes, hyung-nim!”
“Yes, sir!”
After the two left, I sat facing President Wang. He fidgeted nervously, unable to keep his hands still as he spoke.
“An urgent message just came in from Seoul. The government has ordered a full-scale nationwide investigation into all black markets and illegal money changers.”
“They’re hitting the black market?”
“Yes. The KCIA has dropped all other affairs to focus entirely on this. They’re determined to dig through the entire underground economy — from tax evasion to illegal foreign remittances — down to the last speck of dust.”
The black market was not something that could be touched easily.
Too many people were involved — politicians, soldiers, businessmen — everyone with influence had their hands in it. Even for the KCIA, moving this recklessly meant turning all of them into enemies.
There was only one possible reason.
‘Kang Byung-woo must be cornered.’
After the recent stock incident shook his position, this was clearly a desperate move to flaunt his power and warn his political rivals.
“I understand. Thank you for the crucial information.”
Even after delivering his message, President Wang hesitated to leave.
“Um… about the dollar exchange deal we discussed a few days ago — are we still proceeding with that?”
If the investigation into black markets began, the circulation of dollars would effectively come to a halt.
He looked worried that I might change my mind. Seeing through his concern, I smiled.
“Of course. The terms stay the same. However, there’s one adjustment. I’ll only accept deposits of less than 500,000 hwan per account. Anything above that carries too much risk for me as well.”
At that, President Wang’s stiff expression relaxed.
“Oh, thank you, Mr. Baek! Truly, thank you!”
I smiled faintly as he bowed so deeply that I could see the top of his head.