The Youngest Son of Sunyang

"Goodness, why is my knowledgeable friend suddenly like this? Where's the person who's supposed to manage things here? It's been over two weeks since I started living in this hotel. I can hardly remember the kids' faces."

Kim Gwanhyeok kept his head slightly lowered, waiting for just one word to come out of Go Kyung-yeol's mouth. So, he didn't respond at all.

"Anyway, arrange a dinner meeting with the Seoul district legislators and regional chapter heads. We're even spending money on this, so you need to give them some face."

"Understood."

The words he had been waiting for didn't come out. Kim Gwanhyeok bowed his head and turned away.

"Oh, Kim Bonbu (Boss Kim)."

"Yes?"

Kim Gwanhyeok turned back when he heard himself being addressed. His face brightened a bit. Given the current situation, he might not have asked due to the circumstances. Now, it was time for him to hear the words he wanted.

"Did we get the poll results from last week's approval ratings?"

"Oh, yes."

The words he had been eagerly anticipating never came.

"Within the margin of error, the candidate is ahead. The gap continues to widen, so we can expect even better results next week."

Hearing some slightly positive news, Go Kyung-yeol's expression improved slightly.

"Alright. Good job. You can go now."

Kim Gwanhyeok, who bowed his head again, bit his lip.

As he stepped out of the room, a sigh escaped him.

The only thing he wanted to hear was just one question: "What's going on?"

I clearly stated it. A week...

He had clearly said he would be absent for a week during such a critical time to oversee the election. In that case, it was obvious to anyone that this wasn't something trivial.

Wasn't he the closest aide who had been taking care of not only his personal life but also the upper-tier's personal matters up to now?

In that case, the first thing he should have asked was what was going on. Wasn't this one question not that difficult to ask?

Thinking back in silence, he realized that he had never once complained or voiced dissatisfaction in over ten years of serving. Was it because of that? Did he think he had no personal matters to attend to?

The guilt of testing his superior seemed to have disappeared. In its place, he felt disappointment and regret.

He didn't want to make hasty judgments based on this small test.

One more day would pass after today, and tomorrow morning might bring a change.

"Kim Bonbu (Boss Kim), no, Gwanhyeok. I was distracted yesterday... What's going on? Did something bad happen at home?" He might say it with a worried expression.

Three days had passed, and a week had gone by. Yet, through Go Kyung-yeol's lips, the words he wanted to hear had still not come out. It was clear that something had been forgotten.

"F**k. Was it just this much...?" It was a curse he directed at himself.

To lose trust in someone he had followed for over ten years with a simple question. Or perhaps, he had given himself an excuse to sell out for 20 billion won.

The target of his own profanity was Go Kyung-yeol and Kim Gwanhyeok himself. Both of them, even if they received curses, seemed cheap.

He began to think that he should start looking into other people.

It had been more than a week without contact. A solid bond was formed, one that guaranteed a substantial upfront payment of 20 billion won, a high salary, and an executive position. And loyalty.

It was worthy of respect.

Kim Gwanhyeok might have possessed unwavering loyalty, or perhaps Go Kyung-yeol was a person of excellent character deserving of such loyalty.

However, human trust was fragile, like paper. Kim Gwanhyeok's trust had crumbled, just like paper torn by a single drop of water.

When we met again, he didn't seem to have his usual vitality.

"Miracle has a close relationship with Sunyang Group, is that true?"

"Yes. Haven't we already absorbed Sunyang Automotive?"

"No, I mean beyond the business relationship. I'm talking about the owner's family. Is all of this about making a son-in-law the mayor of Seoul?"

Was he no longer going to play the fool by just accepting handouts and taking the bait? He wanted to know all the details.

"It's unrelated. If we wanted to make a Sunyang Group son-in-law win the election, there would be no need for such a complicated process, given Sunyang Group's power, don't you think?"

Kim Gwanhyeok nodded.

He had been in the political arena for ten years. Those who had benefited from Sunyang's political slush fund would know that Sunyang would install the person they wanted as the mayor of Seoul. There was no need to involve insiders like this.

"All right. Let's talk openly now. Why do you want to put Sunyang's son-in-law as the mayor of Seoul?"

"It's a corporate secret, and I can't reveal it to outsiders."

Kim Gwanhyeok's expression changed slightly.

"Outsider? I'm thinking of becoming a traitor right now, but if you call me an outsider too, which side am I on? Is there nowhere to belong?"

"You'll become an insider the moment you take our money and Go Kyung-yeol candidate loses. Until then, you're just an outsider."

He took a sip of his drink with a bitter smile.

"Damn, is this what being a traitor is about? Does the bridge to go back have to collapse completely for me to be recognized as a traitor? This is a deed I can't even do."

This person needed some comfort in his miserable state.

"Boss, may I speak candidly, even if it may seem presumptuous?"

"Of course."

"Losing a colleague and a friend's trust is what you'd truly call betrayal."

"Isn't losing the trust of someone higher up also betrayal?"

"It's just the end of a business relationship. Was it genuinely a relationship of trust that was tightly knit with candidate Go Kyung-yeol? Did you genuinely wish for nothing from him when you brought him in?"

Kim Gwanhyeok couldn't easily answer and just raised his glass.

"This is not the era of monarchies or feudalism. Loyalty should be a virtue that should not exist in the workplace. Superiors treat subordinates like dogs, and what's loyalty in that? Subordinates are not dogs. They should respect each other."

Kim Gwanhyeok raised his hand to stop me.

"Stop it. It doesn't console me at all. I was just a materialistic person."

"Most people are materialistic. Unfortunately, they're materialistic but can't even make money."

"At least I'm better in that regard, right? Because I made some money?"