## Chapter 98 – 10. The Very Definition of a Scoundrel
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**Koryeo Group Chairman Ko Young-man Achieves Victory by Resignation Against 9-Dan Cho Ki-han… Shockwaves in the Baduk World.**
An unprecedented upset has occurred in the world of Baduk (Go). Ko Young-man (76), chairman of Koryeo Group and known as an honorary amateur 6-dan, achieved a victory by resignation in 137 moves against professional 9-dan Cho Ki-han (31) in a match with handicap, sending shockwaves throughout the Baduk community.
This match was not just a friendly game. If Chairman Ko Young-man won, he would be recognized by the Korea Baduk Association and acquire professional player status. For 9-dan Cho Ki-han, 2 billion won in victory prize money was on the line, making it a match he couldn’t afford to lose.
The repercussions are even greater because it is clear that 9-dan Cho Ki-han played with all his heart. No one expected Cho Ki-han, a legend in the Baduk world with seven international tournament wins, to lose.
After the match, 9-dan Cho stated, “I think I was a little careless because I thought I was playing against an amateur,” but also admitted, “Chairman Ko’s skill is definitely at the level of a professional player.”
(Omitted)
Baduk experts could not hide their surprise at the result, calling it “unbelievable.” One expert commented, “Chairman Ko Young-man’s skill was like watching Master Han Guk-young in his prime,” and assessed it as “a skill that cannot be denied.” The president of the Korea Baduk Association expressed anticipation, saying, “It’s an impressive case that will breathe new life into the Baduk world.”
Meanwhile, conspiracy theories are spreading, mainly within Baduk communities, claiming that “Chairman Ko Young-man definitely used illegal Baduk AI” and “It’s like he’s possessed by a ghost Baduk king. It doesn’t make sense for an amateur to beat a professional,” suggesting that Chairman Ko Young-man used illegal AI or some form of cheating. The police have launched an investigation.
Chairman Ko Young-man’s side has warned that these are completely unfounded rumors and that they will take appropriate action against those spreading them.
Kim Hyung-min, Pyongyang Ilbo
November 3rd, Tuesday.
The world was buzzing.
Not for any other reason. It’s all because of our Chairman Ko Young-man.
It’s only natural, since a shocking event occurred where an amateur beat a professional 9-dan.
“Amazing, our Chairman. He’s shaking up South Korea with Baduk.”
Even people who don’t know much about Baduk generally know how vast the gap between professional and amateur players is.
That’s why this event was spreading even more shockingly.
It’s even being openly reported on the main news, so what more is there to say?
“But what’s with the guy saying he’s possessed by a ghost?”
Sharp, aren’t you?
“Tsk tsk. Spouting such truthful words without knowing the value of your life. This Republic of Korea has something called defamation by stating facts. Who do you think you’re messing with?”
Moreover, the opponent is Chairman Ko Young-man…
This is an event even I can’t handle.
Farewell.
As I was wishing the anonymous commenter well, Soo-ah approached.
“Master, these are the secretarial candidates sent from Prestige. I’ve narrowed them down roughly, but I thought it would be best if you chose the team leaders.”
“Oh.”
The total size of my secretarial staff to be restored at Prestige is said to be about 100 people.
Of course, it’s 100 secretaries, but the number of people doing odd jobs or actually taking action under them is much larger.
“There were four team leaders, right?”
“Yes. They are for the Protocol Team, Security Team, Strategy Team, and Execution Team, each consisting of one team leader and two assistant team leaders. According to protocol rules, one team leader from each team must always be by your side.”
“…The names are all so similar. What’s the difference?”
“The Protocol Team is-“
“Ah, I wasn’t asking. I was just talking to myself.”
Soo-ah closes her mouth again and brings her hands and legs together.
Her pretty, gathered legs catch my eye today.
‘…I should prepare a spot for our Arami (the female lead) in advance.’
“Leave the Protocol Team leader position vacant for now. I’ll appoint Seo Aram after her training is complete.”
“Yes.”
“And the rest…”
I carefully considered each file, turning them over one by one.
Everyone has impressive experience and specs, and none of them lack in face, figure, or height, so I chose even more meticulously.
For the assistant team leaders of the Protocol Team, where Seo Aram will be the team leader, I chose two girls who were model-tall with slender legs.
For the Security Team leader and assistant team leaders, I chose girls with some muscle and healthy, tanned skin. For the Strategy Team and Execution Team, I chose based on specs.
Well, it doesn’t have any particular significance. I just want to pick and choose according to their image.
“Okay. Do it like this.”
“Yes.”
“And you said the total number of secretaries is 100, right?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm…. The secretarial staff will be completed by Saturday this week, right?”
“Probably.”
“Let’s go to Prestige headquarters on Saturday. I’ll check on Arami’s progress and give the secretaries some bonus money. I’ll give 3,000 to the team leaders, 2,000 to the assistant team leaders, and 1,000 to the general secretaries, so withdraw the cash and put it in envelopes.”
“Yes, Master.”
“And give 500 each to the staff under the secretaries.”
“Yes.”
Loyalty is essentially bought with money.
If you start by scattering money, they’ll properly bow their heads, thinking, ‘Ah, this is my Master.’
“How far along is the artificial island?”
“It’s almost there. It’s near Baengnyeong Island.”
“Oh…. Then I can receive it and draw up the prison land acquisition plan and the prison construction plan, right?”
“Yes. There may be a bit of a bottleneck in transferring the artificial island’s ownership to the special correctional corporation, but it won’t be a big problem.”
The prison puzzle is slowly coming together.
Now it’s really just a matter of receiving the review.
“As soon as the artificial island arrives, call in the technicians for consultation and draw up the prison construction plan.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Once the plan is complete, submit it for review and start construction right away without waiting for permission. It’ll be approved anyway.”
Unless they’re crazy, they wouldn’t deny permission, right?
Who’s doing it, after all?
“Let’s talk to Koryeo Militaries and Koryeo Medical in advance and discuss moving in. Those two companies need to be there if we want to use the inmates as we please.”
“Wouldn’t it be good to include Chemicals as well?”
“Ah, that’s right. Once the secretarial staff is set up, talk it over and come up with a strategy.”
“Yes.”
Then what else is in progress…
“How much of the Namdong Industrial Complex land has been purchased?”
“…I’m sorry, we’re still in the process of finding the landowners.”
“How much do you think it would cost to buy all of it?”
I was briefed before that it would cost about 280 billion won based on 100,000 won per pyeong, but the more I think about it, the more absurd the amount is.
“Honestly, wouldn’t 100 billion be too much? It’s practically useless land that can’t be used right now, and we have to push out the gangs illegally occupying it to use it, so anything more than that is too…”
“Hmm.”
My goal is to buy all the land in the Namdong Industrial Complex and negotiate with Namdong-gu to extract various benefits and support.
But if I talk to Namdong-gu about this, the word will inevitably leak out.
Then the owners will jump at the chance and try to raise the land prices.
So, inevitably, I have to fight with Namdong-gu after I get all the land.
It seems like it will take about two months for Muyeol Financial to pass the review, so I hope it’s resolved within that time.
‘Should I entrust it to Soo-ah properly?’
She has a lot of work to do, but she’ll be a little more comfortable soon when the secretarial office is re-established.
And Soo-ah is my number one fucktoy and closest confidante, and at the same time, my first experience, so I need to treat her well to some extent.
Here, “treating well” means monetary compensation.
‘It’s almost been three months since we met, so it’s about time to give her something big.’
But if I just give it to her, she might develop bad habits, as Go Min-ji said.
I don’t want that.
“Chief Secretary Im Soo-ah.”
“Y-yes??”
At the unfamiliar title, she straightens her spine.
“The budget you mentioned, 100 billion. Resolve it within that.”
“…”
“As quickly as possible.”
“I, I understand.”
She stuttered a little.
It seems she didn’t expect me to confirm the budget as is.
“Instead, if it ends up being less than 100 billion? You can have the rest.”
“!!!”
“I won’t ask about the means or methods. Just bring all the land documents of the Namdong Industrial Complex to me.”
“R-really, Master?”
“Are you doubting me now?”
“N-no, I’m not. I’m sorry. I’ll work hard!!”
“Start next week. There’s still a lot of work to finish this week. Start in earnest when the secretarial staff is set up.”
“Yes!!”
She answers very energetically.
She seems confident.
‘Since I said she doesn’t have to care about the means or methods… is she just going to kill them and take it?’
Considering that she coolly blew away the prosecutor’s head without any hesitation and was thinking of killing all the team members in an emergency, there’s a good chance she really will.
Go to the homeowner, kill them without even mentioning the price, and then roughly stamp their seal and take it.
Of course, usually, if you do that with a backer, it’ll be a mess.
Only Koryeo Group can do such a thing.
“Has the Noko Noko Girls’ route been identified?”
“Yes. Preparations for deployment are all complete.”
“Good. Then… is it tonight?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it.”
“I will never disappoint you, Master.”
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After finishing their grueling schedule, the members of Noko Noko Girls boarded the van, all exhausted and slumped in their seats.
Nearly a month of relentless activity had worn them out, even though they were in their prime.
“I’m so tired…”
“I feel like I’m going to die…”
“I really just want to sleep comfortably for five hours…”
They were originally close friends, so they used to chat about various topics, but these days, that had decreased.
They wanted to rest even a little more and sleep even a minute longer than that.
But there’s a topic that surpasses even that.
“But… are we really only doing this until this week?”
At the words of a member with a gyaru concept, everyone else raised their heads.
“My family is so happy right now… Honestly, I’m not sure if going to America at this point is the right thing to do…”
It was a weak tone, but the meaning was clear.
They don’t want to leave.
They want to stay and continue their activities.
That’s because the achievements they’ve made now are perhaps a golden opportunity that may never come again in their lives.
Is it really the right thing to just throw this away and run?
Even if they debut in America, there are many differences in terms of language, taste, and other things, and there’s no guarantee that they’ll be as successful as they are now.
“Can’t we just offer our bodies and continue our activities??”
