## Chapter 96 – 10. The Very Definition of a Scoundrel
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“Well, I suppose I was a bit careless, unintentionally, since I was up against an amateur… That thought weighs on me a bit. But what’s certain is that our Chairman’s skills are definitely professional. I can say that for sure.”
“Oh, you were careless?”
“Seeing him play 33 in the beginning, I think I relaxed a little. I thought, ‘Ah, he’s nervous. So he’s playing defensively. Then I can be a bit more aggressive.’ I think that might have generally made the problem a bit bigger.”
“So, when were you most taken aback?”
“Um… I was a bit shocked when he cut into the lower left corner in the early game.”
“That move wasn’t easy to see, was it?”
“No. It’s not easy to see, and even if you do see it, the reading required is so intricate that even a professional player would usually choose to connect rather than cut. But he boldly cut it off.”
“After that, Chairman Ko Young-man launched a fierce attack. What were you thinking then?”
“Um… Once the momentum has shifted, it’s quite painful to come up with countermeasures, you know? And because I kept thinking I was playing an amateur, I kept thinking to myself, ‘Is this right?'”
“Ah, you couldn’t concentrate?”
“Rather than that, I think I fell for some kind of smokescreen… Haha. He’s too good to be just an amateur, you know?”
In a later interview, 9-dan Cho Ki-han commented on his grandfather’s skills.
He made some rather apologetic remarks, saying he seemed to have lost because he was careless, but frankly, it seemed closer to the truth than an excuse.
No matter how legendary Korea Young, whose spirit dwelled in the Go board, was in dominating the Go world, it would be a stretch to immediately beat the strongest player of the current generation in a serious match, even after 50 years.
‘It’s hard *not* to be careless when you’re playing an amateur.’
Even if they’re careless, it’s impossible for a Go professional to lose to an amateur.
In that sense, the repercussions of this event are going to be huge. Especially in the Go world.
‘The head of a dominant Asian corporation debuting as a Go professional… It’s an unimaginable scenario, so I’m looking forward to what happens. What kind of trouble will erupt?’
I don’t know what he’ll do in the future, but if he’s really serious about this and participates in the Go professional league, domestic Go tournaments, and international competitions, it’ll be really interesting.
“Well… I was already looking into it.”
“Oh, were you?”
“It was too good to pass up, so I suggested to the Chairman, ‘Why don’t you take advantage of these systems and try to debut as a professional?'”
“Oh, the Association President suggested it first?”
“Of course, of course. I spoke to him first. I pleaded with him. I prostrated myself.”
“Oh, I see.”
“For the development of our Go world, we need fresh talent like the Chairman. How much buzz is this going to create? The head of Asia’s top group joining as a Go professional? Ah, I couldn’t resist.”
“I don’t think I could resist either.”
After Cho Ki-han 9-dan’s interview, interviews with the Go Association President and my grandfather followed.
It was all pretty much the same, so it was a bit boring, but when my grandfather directly mentioned me, saying that he had always liked Go, but the Go board his grandson gave him was a big motivation for the challenge, I felt a little proud.
Whatever the case, it’s good if he genuinely enjoys it.
Is this what it feels like to see family? It’s strange.
‘Feeling familial affection in the world’s worst evil corporation…’
It’s a bit absurd, but it’s a funny situation.
I shouldn’t, but I feel like I’m starting to relax more and more when I’m around this family.
‘…Let’s get a grip, Go Mu-yeol.’
I keep trying to remind myself… but it feels like something is constantly seeping in.
All the events are over.
My grandfather was admitted as a Go professional as a special talent, based on recommendations from Cho Ki-han 9-dan, the Go Association President, and the Go Vice President.
Now, in the Go world, my grandfather will be called Ko Young-man 1-dan, not Chairman Ko Young-man.
That’s probably a more appealing title to him.
My grandfather held the Go board tightly until he returned to the Solar Palace.
He really seems to like Go.
“When did our father get so good at Go?”
On the way to the dining room for dinner, Ko Min-young asks.
Everyone else was also curious and couldn’t quite understand, so they focused on my grandfather’s answer.
“When else! It’s the result of my constant effort. Do you think you can get something like this for free?”
“Still, I didn’t know you had professional-level skills. It doesn’t make sense. My father having the skills of a Go professional.”
“Well, that’s…”
My grandfather trails off.
It seems like it’s not 100% his own skill.
I knew it. Even if an amateur is skilled, it’s hard to beat a professional. He must have received help from Instructor Korea Young.
“Ahem, of course, I didn’t know either. I just played Go diligently as usual, how would I know I’d become so skilled?”
“Then what made you confident enough to hold today’s event?”
“That’s… all thanks to our Mu-yeol.”
Me?
“That Go board he gave me awakened my dream. Ko Young-man, your true dream is Go! So I challenged myself, come what may. Happy now?”
“…”
My aunt looks suspicious.
But well, if that’s what he says, what else can I say?
Unless the ghost of Korea Young pops out here right now.
Meanwhile, while the adults are having that conversation, our rivals are bickering again.
“Ugh. I thought I was going to die of boredom.”
“Well, you have no patience, so it must have been hard for you.”
“It’s not that I have no patience, it’s that Go is fucking boring.”
“Should I tell Grandpa you said that?”
“Ugh, you little shit, are you a tattletale or something?”
“Who are you calling little?”
‘They really seem to have nothing on their minds.’
Such a peaceful and harmonious family. There seems to be no high-level calculation or political maneuvering whatsoever.
I felt it during Chuseok too, but it’s such a harmonious family that it causes cognitive dissonance.
‘Are direct descendants really that affectionate?’
Maybe that’s really the case…
“Mu-yeol, is there anything you want?”
At dinner, my grandfather said that again.
I’m sure he said something like that when I gave him the Go board, and this is already the second time.
He must think highly of me.
‘But I can’t really think of anything…’
You need to have difficulties or conflicts to have desires, but everything I’m doing is going well right now.
I’ve made 16 trillion won with 75 billion won so smoothly, is there really anything I need to ask my grandfather for?
In times like these, it seems better to say something that will buy his favor.
Then my grandfather will keep it with interest and give it back to me even bigger later.
Probably…
“Grandfather, I want to grow on my own.”
“Hmm?”
“I’ve decided to live properly, after all. I want to see how far I can go, by facing things myself. I’ve already received a lot.”
“Hehe, is that so? You’re saying admirable things!”
My grandfather chuckled.
My aunts also look at me as if I’m cute.
“That’s right. A man should have that much ambition!”
My grandfather smiled as if he was very proud and tapped the table.
“But still, In-seok, you shouldn’t refuse like that when your grandpa is trying to save face.”
No, even if you say that, I really can’t think of anything…
Hmm…
Even so, since he’s saying this much, should I ask for something?
Money is something I can earn myself, and if there’s anything I really need, it would be power,
Of the things I’m currently doing, there are about two things that are closely related to public authority.
One is the agency hunt using the Lee Na-eun special investigation, and the other is working to develop the Namdong Industrial Complex.
Of these, the one with the lower progress is the Namdong Industrial Complex development.
I haven’t even bought the land yet, and it will only be completed after I fight with the city to get various benefits.
Therefore, if I were to ask for something right now, which one would solve a bigger problem? It would be the Namdong Industrial Complex.
But…
‘I can persuade them about that myself. It’s a beneficial part for the city too. But the special investigation is different.’
I want to keep the Lee Na-eun special investigation going as long as possible.
Because it’s an absurd power with the ‘right of immediate disposition.’
However, the special investigation is ultimately a system with a time limit and targeting a specific topic.
No matter how long I try to keep it going, it’s legally not allowed for more than 100 days, and it’s ambiguous to wield it as I please.
Even if I try to ignore the law, the Lee Na-eun special investigation didn’t start quietly, and if too many complaints start coming out, the prosecution will eventually make a decision. It will be disbanded.
So, in order to make this permanent and expand its usage, I need to improve the system itself.
Of course, that’s much more difficult than persuading the city about the Namdong Industrial Complex.
So, if there’s anything I can ask my grandfather for, it’s this.
Permanent maintenance and expansion of the Lee Na-eun special investigation!
‘It would be ideal to create a separate permanent special investigation agency and include judges in it.’
That way, I would have a part of Incheon’s judiciary…
“Grandfather, I want to keep the special investigation permanent.”
“Huh? Special investigation?”
“Yes. Please allow a permanent special investigation to be established in Incheon. Mainly with the prosecutors I have.”
I explained to my grandfather.
The blueprint I just came up with.
My grandfather chuckled.
“You… do you want Incheon?”
“…”
“Alright. I understand. I’ll have a bill put into that side’s assembly.”
“!! Thank you, Grandfather.”
My grandfather called Chief Jung and gave the order.
Now, the people Chief Jung has will make my request into a more concrete blueprint and materialize it, and then deliver it to the Incheon Autonomous Assembly.
It will probably take quite a while, as they will have to revise several laws, enact new laws, and establish agencies.
But it’s great that it’s even possible.
“Ah, and, recreate Mu-yeol’s secretariat.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
