A flash of memory crossed Yoo-hyun’s mind. He remembered what Paul Graham had said to him.

-You know you’ll have to go back anyway, so why bother? Procedure is important, but sometimes you have to know how to fight with force. Use your connections and power as much as you can.

Why did it feel like those words were meant for him right now?

Yoo-hyun muttered softly.

“No. Paul already gave me the answer.”

“What answer?”

“Not to try to go back, but to just clash head-on. To use everything I have.”

Yoo-hyun’s eyes shone brighter than ever as he answered confidently.

Jessica Graham, who had sent Yoo-hyun away, returned to the hospital room and sat on a chair.

Her faint voice reached Paul Graham, who was lying in bed.

“I didn’t have to nag Steve at all.”

“…”

“He must be better than you. So don’t worry. Steve will do well. Well, if you’re really concerned, you can get up and help him.”

Swoosh.

Jessica Graham smiled as she stroked Paul Graham’s hair.

The next day.

Yoo-hyun was in a car, taking a call.

The voice of the National Intelligence Agency director echoed through the speaker.

-It seems like it will take some time to sort things out.

“Yes. I understand.”

-I promised to help you, but I couldn’t. I apologize.

He deliberately avoided giving any details, but Yoo-hyun had a rough idea.

‘The scale of the forces colluding with China must have been quite large.’

The NIA was tracking down the collusion of domestic politicians and high-ranking officials, and one of them was Minister Kwak Jin-mo.

The day Yoo-hyun met Minister Kwak, he had called him personally to ask about the related matter.

Yoo-hyun had told him exactly what Albert Whale, the deputy director of the CIA, had said.

It was a vague explanation about China’s plan to pressure River through the government and how the CIA intervened to stop it.

The NIA director had said that it was a great help and that he would wipe out the colluding forces on this occasion, and that led to his apology now.

Yoo-hyun recalled the whole process and answered calmly.

“It’s okay.”

-I know the situation is not easy. If you wait a little longer, I’ll do my best to produce some results.

“No. I’m not going to wait any longer. I’ll sort things out my way.”

As he said that, a tall building with the logo ‘Ilsung’ stood in front of Yoo-hyun.

Yoo-hyun was able to quietly enter the Ilsung building under tight security.

He used the chairman’s exclusive course, so even the security guards at the entrance didn’t notice that he had arrived.

It was done by the order of Chairman Choi Jin-cheol.

Yoo-hyun entered the chairman’s office and exchanged brief greetings with him, then went straight to the point.

“Chairman, I have a favor to ask you.”

“You must have a reason to visit this old man who you never bother to see. Let’s hear it.”

“Please stop the investigation by the Ministry of Industry and the River regulation bill.”

“Unexpected. I thought you wouldn’t make such a blunt request.”

Chairman Choi’s eyebrows twitched.

Yoo-hyun had been working hard to put Ilsung into the River alliance since the beginning of the year.

He had conducted several training sessions for Ilsung employees on the related matter, and worked behind the scenes to inform them of the necessity.

He had been postponed repeatedly due to Chairman Choi’s opposition, but he never gave up.

In the process, Yoo-hyun never asked Chairman Choi directly.

He believed that it would only matter if the Ilsung workers really needed it.

Yoo-hyun recalled the whole process and answered.

“I gave up on being passive. From now on, I’m going to use my power and connections as much as I can to solve the tangled problem.”

“Interesting. Am I one of your connections?”

“We’re in the same boat. If the River regulation bill passes, it will cause fatal damage to Ilsung Electronics’ business.”

“I don’t care.”

Chairman Choi leaned back slightly, as if amused.

He didn’t believe it would be easy in the first place.

But Yoo-hyun was not the type to back down.

He expressed his will in front of his fierce gaze.

“I’ll invest in Ilsung.”

“Are you trying to brag about your money in front of me?”

“I’m not alone. I’ll connect Ilsung with the global giants linked to River.”

“You can’t get to me with your connections either.”

That was obvious.

Yoo-hyun had nothing to offer to Chairman Choi, who was at the top of Korea’s money and connections.

Yet Yoo-hyun spoke calmly.

“It would be more helpful to go through me, an outsider, than to do it yourself. For the sake of succession, at least.”

“Hmm, succession…”

Chairman Choi swallowed his saliva at the unexpected remark.

President Choi Min-yong’s performance was not fully verified yet.

But what if he managed to attract investment from the world’s giants himself?

He could quell the chaos that would ensue after the succession in an instant.

This matched perfectly with Chairman Choi’s concern, who was secretly pushing for the succession.

‘I see why the new president likes him so much.’

“Please, Chairman.”

Chairman Choi, who had already made up his mind, looked up and faced him.

He saw a man who looked just like himself when he was young, fearlessly clashing with the world and raising Ilsung to a global company.

Why did Yoo-hyun seek out Chairman Choi first?

Because he was the person at the top of the domestic conglomerates and the chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries, who could move the top 10 chaebols in Korea.

His influence on the political and economic circles was beyond what ordinary people could imagine.

He was the person who could call the prime minister at any time if he wanted to.

What if he stepped in?

He could calm down the current turmoil to some extent.

Yoo-hyun believed that and asked Chairman Choi for a favor, and he was able to see the result soon.

It might not have been a big deal if they had just published an article.

It was not a special thing for the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) to criticize the government regulation in its name.

But the story changed completely when the handwritten signatures and photos of the top 10 chaebol owners were printed on the front page of the newspaper.

Numerous businessmen, high-ranking officials, and politicians associated with them moved in unison and strongly criticized the current government’s stance.

Thanks to that, the voices of the regulatory forces led by Minister Kwak Jin-mo were silenced, and the prime minister had to step in to calm the situation.

Was this the end of it all?

Yoo-hyun knew that the mood had changed in an instant, but it was only temporary.

If the pressure from the US and China increased, they would use it as an excuse to attack Reverb again.

‘I have to solve the fundamental problem.’

Yoo-hyun quickly fixed the domestic situation that had been chaotic.

At the same time, he took care of the problem of the Reverb US branch, which was directly involved in the lawsuit.

It was around the time when everything was settled.

Yoo-hyun visited Paul Graham’s hospital room in a neat suit.

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

He approached him, who was still lying silently, and whispered.

“Paul, I came to say goodbye. I won’t see you for a while.”

“…”

“I’ll do my best to make you proud. Please watch over me.”

Squeeze.

Yoo-hyun, who held his hand, bowed again.

His eyes were full of determination to finish everything and greet him with a smile.

Yoo-hyun said goodbye to Jessica Graham and went down to the first floor of the hospital.

Was it because he walked down the stairs instead of taking the elevator?

The way felt unusually long.

As he went down, the paths he had walked so far flashed by like a zoetrope.

It had not been smooth sailing for the three years since he founded Reverb.

There were many twists and turns, and some difficulties he wanted to avoid.

But he overcame them every time, and reached this point.

It felt like the worst crisis ever, but this time would be no different.

“I can do this.”

Clench.

Yoo-hyun opened the door of the first floor entrance and stepped out.

The reporters who were waiting with the bright sunlight came into view.

One of them shouted when they saw Yoo-hyun.

“Oh? It’s Yoo-hyun Han, the CEO of Reverb!”

“Where, where!”

Whoosh.

The reporters gathered in an instant.

The number of reporters had decreased as the big issue had subsided, but there were still people who were waiting to hear Yoo-hyun’s voice.

Thanks to them, Reverb’s official opinion was quickly delivered, and the misunderstanding of the public was minimized.

Nod.

Yoo-hyun, who greeted them, stood in front of them.

The reporters hastily set up their cameras and poured out questions.

“How do you feel about the excessive regulation in Korea?”

“Is there a possibility that Reverb will leave Korea due to unfair treatment?”

“Is it true that you personally persuaded Chairman Jincheol Choi to get the support of the Federation of Korean Industries?”

“There are only two months left until the US FTC lawsuit. Do you have a plan?”

“The national petition has surpassed one million. How do you feel?”

He had already refuted the US lawsuit and the Korean regulation enough through press releases.

The reporters were more curious about the personal opinion of the leader of Reverb.

Click. Click.

Yoo-hyun spoke candidly in front of the camera.

“I think the root cause of this problem is the wrong perception of the government agencies that want to control all companies through regulation. To improve this…”

There would be no development of Korean companies without breaking the old regulations.

Yoo-hyun took this opportunity to make a strong statement that he had been holding back.

He knew that this would not change anything.

But he hoped that this small trigger would make Korea more advanced.

The answers to the questions were almost over.

“Mr. Han, what are your plans for the future?”

One reporter raised his hand and asked.

Korea was still restless, China’s potential attack was expected, and the US lawsuit was in progress.

None of them were resolved cleanly, but this was not Yoo-hyun’s fight alone.

Many people supported Yoo-hyun and joined him.

There was no reason to hesitate any longer with them.

Yoo-hyun expressed his will in front of the microphone.

“I’m going to the US to fix what’s wrong.”

“Are you going to take charge of the US branch lawsuit yourself?”

“It’s my responsibility. I’ll prove that Reverb has no problem and make it stand tall in the world.”

Click. Click.

Yoo-hyun’s firm voice echoed through the microphone.

His speech was featured in the news that day.

Shin Hyun-ho, the former chairman, laughed out loud as he read the newspaper in the living room of his mansion.