Before Kang Seung could get his composure back, Kang Hye Kyo walked in, "Ooh look at your sour face Dad, I guess Hun Bin already did his greetings".
Hye Kyo wasn't alone, by her side were two older women; one was very elegant but had a rather tall neck and a long pointed nose, while the other woman had a rather plain face but very long silky hair that reached her waist.
Walking behind them were three men; Hye Kyo's boyfriend Park Do Hum, another tall man with a curled moustache and the third was a rather short Japanese man with a gentle expression.
"What time do you call this, how are my daughters arriving this late to their brothers funeral!?"
The woman with the plain face flinched, "F-Father, Chikashi and I got on a flight the moment we heard the news..." as she spoke her voice got quieter until it was a barely audible mumble.
Hye Kyo pulled her nervous sister closer to her, "Sun-i just got off a two hour flight and barely rested before coming, we all thought it would be better to come together so we waited for her."
Sun-i nodded, "We came as fast as we could."
Her husband, the short Japanese man, greeted Seung politely, "Sorry Father-in-law, as Sun-i said we came as fast we could and both sister-in-laws agreed to wait for us to make an appearance togeth—"
"Alright-alright I get it, stop with the needless apologies. Do what you need to do and take your seats." Seung exhaustedly waved them aside.
Before going to Joon-ki's alter, Hye Kyo gave me an uncharacteristic hug. When she turned away from me I noticed a small frown on her face, she seemed annoyed.
As she stood up and walked with the rest to her seat I noticed her exchange a slight nod with Ms Ha-Rin... That was odd.
What was the connection between those two, hadn't they only met last night?
My mind began to buzz, Joon-ki's murder was becoming less clear to me.
My prior suspicions became further confused when the Chief of Seoul police came to the funeral, after bowing at Joon-ki's alter he began whispering into Seung's ear.
All I heard were two words "Drug coverup" before Seung excused himself. Leaving with the officer to continue their conversation in private.
I closed my eyes and began to piece together the facts that I had heard and gossip I had picked up.
"Min Ho" I muttered, my butler was by my side faster than the breeze. I looked towards Madame Kang, "I'm going to get some fresh air, I feel stuffy."
She nodded, letting me go; normally the Chief Mourner wasn't allowed to leave their duties to someone else, but considering I was so young they could be a bit lax with the traditions. Wordlessly Min Ho carried me from the hall to a more empty private garden.
Near some gorgeously arranged rose bushes, we sat on an oak bench.
I smelt the fresh sweet air, touched the slight morning dew on the petals and observed a honey bee jump from bud to bud before I turned to Min Ho, "This is my guess...Father came back not just because he ran out of money but because he got involved with a very dangerous man. He wasn't just addicted to gambling but also drugs...and that put him in huge amounts of debt with a Cartel, specifically a Cartel run by Oil Tycoon Sakit Day, Ms Ha-Rin's Husband."
"Due to his identity as a Kang they probably gave him enormous loans and being the fool he was, he took it and lost everything...So he comes back to Korea" I collected my thoughts, "with promises that he'll give them what he owes, Ms Ha-Rin came with him not as a guest but to supervise him and make sure he delivers."
"Of course" I muse aloud, "this all isn't a coincidence. Joon-ki didn't just happen to get addicted to gambling and drugs, from the start he was set up. He was set up by...Hye Kyo. She worked with the Sakit Cartel and asked them to put Joon-ki in that scenario so that he would need to either beg Grandpa or her for the money or resources to make up for it...If Joon-ki begged to Grandpa and the family his reputation would further go down along with mine for being his son, and the position of heir would be up for debate again. And, if Joon-ki begged Hye Kyo than she would have him under her thumb...either way she would only benefit from it...but that's where I get confused...why murder him? All those benefits disappear with him gone. It doesn't make sense."
"Something unexpected happened that night and you saw it, tell me."
Min Ho, nodded and then sighed, "You had a few things right, but you underestimate how much of a piece of shit that dog….your Father was..."
"I never told you, but over the last few years there have been all kinds of stories circulating about him. His gambling, drugs, and various relations with all types of women and men were just the tip of the iceberg. "
"Last night..." Min Ho thought back, "I happened to hear Ms Ha-Rin's conversation with Sir Kang...."
___________
LAST NIGHT
During the Fundraiser, Min Ho walked around the hall, from a distance he observed Joon-ki and Kang Ho whilst pouring drinks and handing out champagne to guests.
A habit he had picked up from fighting in the Golden Hoove Arena was masking his presence, a part of him had died in those fights, and now he roamed the world like a ghost. His steps were barely perceptible to people around him, he was constantly on high alert, poised and ready like an assassin to get rid of someone at a moments notice.
After being set free from the Arena, over the last 6 years Min Ho had also trained diligently with different Masters from Golden Hoove; becoming advanced in all kinds of weaponry, stealth techniques, and SAS tactics to make sure he could protect himself and his Master.
Habitually he lurked in the shadows of the hall, roaming about quietly when he found himself next to Sir Seung and Ms Ha Rin. He wasn't all that interested in their conversation, he had only moved to this area because it gave him a wider view of his Young Master Kang Ho.
"That's nonsense!" Seung shouted
Hearing the sheer rage in Kang Seung's voice, Min Ho leaned closer to the wall beside the pair, 'what was happening?' he wondered.
"You heard what I said, Joon Ki promised us $16.5 billion USD and 25% of the Kang Family shares."
Min Ho's ears pricked up, that was ridiculous. $16.5 billion seemed like a lot of money but it wasn't too much for the Kang Family, it would set them back a bit but they had enough secret funds and offshore accounts to supplement that kind of cash. The ridiculous part was the 25% shares. In the Kang family, 40% of the shares were owned by the faction leading the family, in this generation that was the Nam faction. The other factions Buk, Dong, and Seo each had 10% of the shares each, while the remaining 30% of shares were divvied up belonging to various shareholders and partners. From the 40% of the shares that the Nam faction owned, 25% belonged to the head of the family personally, that being Kang Seung, the rest were split between the elders of the family. For example Hye Kyo who owned Kyo Entertainment only had 5% of the Kang Family shares.
In this family shares were power.
"You know Joon-ki doesn't have those types of shares. He won't ever have those shares, this pledge void" there was the sound of ripping paper as Kang Seung tore the contract in half.
"Unfortunately, Kang Seung-ssi, if he can't pay what he promised then he has to give us something of equivalent value" Ha Rin took out another copy of the contract from her handbag, she turned to the last page.
"Clause 49, if the borrower can not pay the amount promised in section a, then they must deliver material of equivalent value that both parties must agree upon."
Seung sighed after reading it, he gestured to his secretary William, who took the contract, "So what material do you think would be equivalent?"
"Well that can be determined at a later date, just see it as you owing my family a debt, and we could call on this debt whenever we want for whatever we want."
Seung looked like he wanted to punch Ha Rin in the face, but he held himself back, in a venomous tone he said, "Your husband has messed with the wrong family, he may be powerful in his own circles but that power can't compare to even the tail of KangMung."
Ha Rin laughed and shrugged, "I'm aware you could ruin us easily, we know about your Golden Hoove connections and only fools don't know what your family is capable of, that's why we're not pushing for you to give those shares or the money... just see it as owing us a favour...and owing Hye Kyo a favour."
"Hye Kyo?"
"Your daughter has the ability to be the next heir, my family backs her entirely."
Hearing this Seung laughed out loud, "of course it's that little vixen, she really will do anything to be seen"
"Fine" Seung stood up, "Let's leave this as us owing you a favour, and as for Hye Kyo I'll have a word with her, that doesn't concern you."
Min Ho felt disgust hearing this conversation, he never had expectations of his Mother, but to think she could be just as awful as the Kang Family, even threatening a beast like Kang Seung.
Disappointment filled him, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. He heard Kang Ho say, "I'm feeling a little tired, I'm going to sit with Min Ho for a bit" and he pushed all other thoughts aside as he ran to his Young Master.