"Chairman, let the Strategy Planning Office take the lead.We'll coordinate with Marketing, Sales, and Legal and bring Luktic to its knees."
"Good. Go ahead.If this is wrapped up successfully, those who distinguish themselves will be properly rewarded."
"Yes, Chairman!"
Not long ago, during Shinjeon Group's emergency executive meeting,Chairman Ji Heon-cheol had issued that decisive order.
And there had been exactly one person who spoke up against it.
"…Chairman, may I say something?"
That man was Kang Joo-tae, CTO of Shinjeon Pharmaceutical—a veteran executive who had spent decades in key research positions,contributing immensely to the group's technological development.
Within Shinjeon Group, almost no one dared question his achievements or competence.
When Kang Joo-tae attempted to voice his opinion,Chairman Ji spoke with faint anticipation.
"Oh? CTO Kang Joo-tae, what is it?Have you come up with a way to reverse-engineer Luktic's technology?Or perhaps a technical method to deal them a decisive blow?"
But what came out of Kang Joo-tae's mouthwas the complete opposite of what the chairman expected.
"Please reconsider this decision.They have developed an innovative technology that could revolutionize healthcare for all of humanity.Toppling such a company through underhanded means and stealing their technologyis something we should never do as a pharmaceutical company."
Chairman Ji's face twisted in disbelief.
"W-What did you just say?Underhanded means… stealing… something we shouldn't do?!"
"If I've offended you, I apologize, Chairman.But as someone who has devoted his entire life to researching pharmaceutical technology for the benefit of society,I cannot simply stand by and watch.At the very least, we must uphold a minimum level of conscience.Only then can the name 'Shinjeon' stand upright.The former chairman always valued honor above all else."
Chairman Ji's face flushed crimson.
The veins on his neck bulged violently.
Everyone present knew it well—this was the unmistakable sign that Ji Heon-cheol was about to explode.
"What? Honor?!Are you saying I'm inferior to the former chairman?!And technology that benefits the world?If we take that technology and we use it to benefit the world, what's the problem?!Use your brain properly!"
The surrounding executives hurriedly tried to calm him.
"C-Chairman… please calm down…!"
"Chairman, CTO Kang has contributed enormously to Shinjeon Group since the former chairman's era…Please consider cooling down—"
But Ji Heon-cheol shouted again.
"What?!You're bringing up my father again?!Do you think I'm a joke too?!"
"T-That's not what I meant—!"
A secretary approached Kang Joo-tae quietly, wearing a bitter smile.
"For now, it would be best if you stepped out.Once the chairman calms down, he'll surely apologize."
But that apology never came.
After that day, Ji Heon-cheol never summoned Kang Joo-tae again.
Rumor had it that, on the chairman's orders,the executive office had begun searching for Shinjeon Pharmaceutical's next CTO.
Was this all the reward he receivedfor decades of loyalty and dedication?
That evening, Kang Joo-tate sat alone in an old tavern,wiping away tears as he drank.
He had always been called a prodigy.
Born into a poor farming family in a rural village,he was the hope of his household.
To send him to high school—and later to a university in Seoul—his family sacrificed almost everything.
They sold their most valuable asset:the cow that sustained the farm.
His siblings all moved to the city,working grueling factory jobs,sending every spare won back home.
That was simply how the world worked back then.
All resources were poured into the child with the greatest chance of success,so that one day he could support the rest of the family.
He was admitted proudly to Korea University's College of Engineering,considered the pinnacle of academic prestige at the time.
Even there, he studied relentlessly—remembering his parents and siblings who had scraped together money for his tuition.
His efforts paid off.
Kang Joo-tae graduated as the top student in his departmentand was selected as a special scholarship recipient.At last, he believed his family would no longer have to suffer.
Then came the thunderbolt.
A telegram informed him that his mother was gravely ill.
He rushed back to his hometown hospital—only to find her already cold.
The disease that took his mother was tuberculosis.
She was so emaciated he barely recognized her,and the sleeves of her clothes were stained dark redwith the blood she had coughed up.
He collapsed on the spot,a university student drenched in sweat and guilt,sobbing as if his world had crumbled.
Later, while researching tuberculosis, he learned the truth.
In developed countries, TB was largely curableas long as medication was taken properly.
But in Korea at the time,the medicine was not widely available,and the disease carried a fatality rate close to fifty percent.
If only there had been medicine.
If only that tuberculosis drug—easily prescribed in Western countriesand even in neighboring Japan—had been available.
His mother might still be alive.
Instead, she died in agony.
The image of those dark bloodstains on her sleevesbranded itself into his memory.
From that moment on, his dream changed.
Not to simply graduate from a top engineering school and make money—but to work in Korea's pharmaceutical industryand create a country where no one diessimply because there is no medicine.
After his second year, he transferred to Chemical Engineering,and on his own, studied biotechnology, medicine, and pharmacology.
With his natural brilliance and a purpose worth staking his life on,his growth was unstoppable.
He joined Shinjeon Pharmaceutical,then widely regarded as Korea's strongest research institution,and rose smoothly to the position of CTO through countless achievements.
He devoted his life to strengthening Korea's pharmaceutical industry.
And yet—
In the end, he was cast aside like trashbecause of a single tantrum from the chairman's son.
I met Kang Joo-tae at an upscale café that guaranteed privacy.
He looked far more gaunt than in the profile photo I'd seen online.
"I agonized over this decision countless times," he said quietly."Shinjeon Pharmaceutical is a company I devoted my entire life to.To say I feel no attachment would be an outright lie."
He let out a deep, exhausted sigh.
"But I finally realized something.The Shinjeon Pharmaceutical of the former chairmanand the Shinjeon Pharmaceutical under Ji Heon-cheolare fundamentally different companies."
"The ambition to elevate Korea's pharmaceutical industry to a global standard is long gone.Now, it's nothing more than a cash cow—protecting existing market share and generating stable revenue."
Knowing some of his background,I couldn't help but feel a quiet sympathy.
Further research revealed that Kang Joo-taewas practically a living witness to Korea's pharmaceutical history.
In other words,he was one of the primary architects behind Shinjeon Pharmaceutical's dominance.
During the 70s and 80s, Korea's pharmaceutical industryhad largely survived by copying drugs developed overseas.
From the 90s onward, however,domestic new-drug development became possible—and Kang Joo-tae played a central role in that transformation.
Shinjeon Pharmaceutical led the way,forcing competitors to invest in R&D as well.
And yet—
To discard such a man over a moment of anger.
I had heard rumors about Ji Heon-cheol's poor character,but I hadn't realized he was this foolish.
Kang Joo-tae spoke cautiously.
"CEO Hyun Si-woo…what you said on the phone yesterday—about releasing your overwhelming technology at an affordable price,for suffering patients and their families—was that truly sincere?"
"Yes," I replied."I have no desire to exploit desperation for excessive profit."
Suddenly, Kang Joo-tae stood upand bowed nearly ninety degrees toward me.
"P-Please, you don't need to—!"
"There is something I must apologize for in advance.Regarding the materials I promised to deliver today."
"…What could possibly require this?"
"I once served as CTO of Shinjeon Chemical for several years,at Chairman Ji Heon-cheol's request."
From his pocket, he produced a zippered plastic bag.
Inside was a USB drive.
"At that time, a large-scale industrial accident occurred at one of Shinjeon Chemical's factories.Due to long-term mismanagement of trichloroethylene,workers exposed to it developed severe complications."
My mind went completely blank.
My fatherwas one of those workers.
"I wasn't directly involved in field operations,so I didn't know at first," Kang continued."But one day, Chairman Ji and his aides visited my office.They asked for advice on 'improving safety measures' after an issue with trichloroethylene handling."
Not to protect workers—but to swiftly remodel the factoryand deny that any problem had ever existed.
"And then," he said, voice trembling,"I heard a conversation that shocked me to my core.They openly admitted that an industrial accident had occurred—and casually said they could just blame the workers.If anyone resisted, they said the legal team would 'teach them a lesson.'"
Silence fell.
"CEO Hyun…I later learned that your father was one of the victims.I am truly sorry.I knew about their plan to cover it up—and I remained silent.I was an accomplice."
His hands shook violently.
"I kept a recorder running in my desk drawer back then," he said."Everything they said was recorded.I was supposed to destroy it—but I couldn't.If I did, all proof of the accident would vanish from this world."
That USB—
So that was what he had brought.
"I've lived with guilt for years.Telling myself it was only a temporary assignment…that it had nothing to do with me.But that self-deception ends today."
Still bowing, he held the USB out to me.
"By giving this to you, I hope to atone—if only a little.Please use it to protect Luktic from Shinjeon Group's unjust threats.And please… use Luktic's technology for the good of this world.That is my final request."
The thing I had searched for all these yearswas now right in front of me.
And Kang Joo-tae's apology was sincere.
The bitterness in my chest slowly loosened.
I accepted the USB.
"Thank you—for finding the courage to come.If we overcome Shinjeon Group's threats,I promise to use Luktic's technology for the world."
At those words, Kang Joo-tae collapsed weakly into his chair.
I hurried to support him.
"A-Are you alright?"
"Yes… I'm fine," he said faintly."To see someone your age reach a realm I never could,and vow to use it for good…Thank you.And thank the heavensfor allowing such a person to be born."
After explaining everything to Dong-sik,I immediately arranged a meeting with Chairman Choi Chang-sik.
We needed his help.
"CEO Hyun, things seem noisy these days," he said."For a company I just invested in, it makes this old man a little nervous."
"Chairman, everything being spread online and through the media is false.Phase 1 trials of the Elixir show absolutely no harmful effects on the human body—if anything, it's being called almost indistinguishable from water."
"I thought as much.When it cured my grandson, I expected it to be dangerously potent.Yet there were no side effects at all.That's why I trust you."
"But if this continues," I said,"the brand's image will be dragged through the mud."
"True.Public perception often forms independently of truth.If Shinjeon keeps stirring falsehoods, the damage could be severe.So—how do you plan to respond?"
"That's why I came to see you today."
"Oh? Are you asking Daesung Group to step in?"
I shook my head.
"No.I want to handle this with my own strength—and I believe that's what you want to see as well."
"Hahaha! Indeed.I'd like to see how you handle this."
"I only ask for one thing.Please host a press conference.Shinjeon controls the media—almost no outlet will cover our statement otherwise."
"So you want me to set the stage—and you'll handle the rest?"
"Yes.I'll show you that your massive investment wasn't wasted."
Chairman Choi burst into laughter.
"Ha! Very well.I'll prepare the press conference.I'm curious to see what kind of bomb you plan to drop."
Good.
The stage was set.
At that press conference,I would dismantle Shinjeon Group's smear campaign—and then detonate a bomb powerful enoughto drag their name straight into the sewer.
The recording Kang Joo-tae gave mecontained words so vile and infuriatingthat they would ignite public rage instantly.
If this worked,I could not only reverse public opinion—but finally restore my father's honor.
The time had come.
It was time to repay the mud they threw at mewith something dredged from the depths of the latrine.