Chapter 134: The Reckless Son of Hyeonhwa Group

“Really? Don’t overdo it.”

As Eva mentioned that the moment she was discharged, she had already sent warnings to those in Mofia, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of admiration and concern for her determination.

— It’s fine. Don’t treat me like a patient, Boss.

“Got it.”

She’s improved a lot, but I knew she still carried some fear of others…

It was due to her strong will that she was discharged, but my worries lingered.

“Eva?”

After I hung up, Han Gyeong-yeong, who was sitting across from me, asked.

“Yeah, she said she sent warnings to the executives as soon as she got to work.”

“Wow~ Those executives are core members of Mofia, right? She confronted them on her first day back? That’s impressive.”

“Enough about her; you should focus on your own work.”

“Why? I’m doing my part just fine.”

Han Gyeong-yeong pouted.

“When are we going to make Kim Byung-woo the chairman? You don’t need to be around all the time.”

“Not yet. By this summer, most of it will be wrapped up, and after that, I’ll hand everything over to Vice Chairman Kim Byung-woo. You need to make an appearance before that, too.”

Vice Chairman Kim Byung-woo.

Han Gyeong-yeong shrugged and added:

“You need to know who your master is. You can definitely stop hiding behind others.”

“Understood. Let me set up a position for you.”

“Okay.”

“What about Gazprom bonds?”

“I was told everything was wrapped up last week.”

In the end, nothing had changed from the original history.

The pressure from Prime Minister Primakov ended with the Prosecutor General being ousted due to a prostitution scandal.

It was a truly interesting country.

On a news live broadcast from Berezovsky’s television station, images of Prosecutor General Skratov sitting in bed with a prostitute were aired without restraint.

The next day, Putin held a press conference and announced that no signs of tampering could be found in the footage.

President Yeltsin immediately dismissed the Prosecutor General as if he had been waiting for the chance.

“A live broadcast of an adult film? If it were our country, the broadcasting station would be paralyzed!”

Now, all that remained in the minds of those criticizing President Yeltsin and the Kremlin were the provocative scandal of the Prosecutor General.

“Russia is fine for now, but what about Hyeonhwa Group?”

“For now, we’re still buying up the shares that have circulated. We’ve already circulated some rumors, so we should see a reaction soon.”

The corporate structure of Hyeonhwa Group was sturdier than epected, and hostile M&A initiatives couldn’t proceed.

Even if they exchanged convertible bonds for stocks, it wasn’t enough. Though they were acquiring stocks from the market, it didn’t pose a threat to the management’s authority.

But if the intent was more to intimidate than to acquire, that was sufficient.

“Keep buying. Spread the rumors continuously, and if interview requests come in, give them the right vibes. Don’t give a definitive answer—absolutely not.”

If the truth is revealed, fear diminishes.

When rumors remain rumors, fear amplifies and shakes the Hyeonhwa Group.

“What do you want? I know you don’t just do this for the fun of it.”

I could only reply with a smile, not answering.

* * *

In a bar in the heart of Gangnam without any signs.

In a corner where even the staff had vacated, a few men were drinking and joking around.

They were all sons or grandsons of chaebol families.

“Ah~ my old man keeps nagging me to come to the office. It’s driving me nuts! He even wants me to work on-site.”

Park Cheol-seung, the grandson of the Ho-geum Group chairman, waved his glass.

“You should go to work. Just do that much. How many days does your grandfather have left anyway?”

“Shut it. Ah~ your company went bankrupt, right? Must be nice not having to go to work. I envy you.”

Kim Yong-seok, the youngest son of Donggeuk Construction, stiffened at that remark.

“These bastards always chatter on! Hey! Why are we talking about a company that went bankrupt here? Change the subject and don’t ruin the mood.”

The one who looked at them with disdain was Kim Hyeon-jik of Hyeonhwa Group.

“What are you doing to ruin the taste of the drink?”

And sitting at the head of the table was Cheon Ji-won.

Just as there are ranks among the chaebol, this gathering also had varying degrees of influence.

Currently, the leader was Cheon Ji-won, the grandson of Il-seong Group..

The others raised their glasses, mindful of Cheon Ji-won’s mood.

“Save the nonsense for later and tell me how you guys are faring?”

They started sharing their recent happenings and resumed drinking.

Kim Hyeon-jik frowned and muttered.

“There was a decent girl this time, but she turned me down without any tact. Just because my face isn’t too bad she acts like she doesn’t know her place.”

Cheon Ji-won, who had been drinking absently, showed interest.

“A singer? An actress?”

“A singer. But the company disappeared. I can’t see where the hell that bastard, the CEO, went. Ah… that jerk sure kept it interesting, I wonder where he went.”

They chuckled to themselves, finding something amusing.

“You must have really liked her. What’s she look like? Show us a picture.”

“I don’t know. The company is gone so how can I find her?”

As Kim Hyeon-jik wore an expression of regret, Cheon Ji-won asked, intrigued.

“Where was she?”

“Cubic. Why?”

“I’ll check it out. But if I find her first, I get dibs. No complaints, alright?”

“Sure, if you find her, she’s all yours. It’s not like we’re seeing a woman together anyway.”

Kim Hyeon-jik felt a bit disappointed but couldn’t show it.

Cheon Ji-won smirked at him, but he felt the same way.

“I’ll find you a decent girl. Don’t get upset.”

“Okay.”

Listening to their conversation, Kim Yong-seok grew irritated.

“But why aren’t those girls here yet?”

The four of them were waiting for someone.

“They should be coming. I heard they’re finishing up their schedules. Just wait, they’ll show up eventually. You’d think you’re the son of a construction firm with how impatient you are!”

Park Cheol-seung teased again.

Recently, he felt good knowing that Kim Yong-seok’s family-owned company had went under and that he was now below him in status.

Kim Yong-seok bit his lip in frustration but couldn’t argue back.

“Ah, shut up and quit ruining the mood. It’s been ages since we invited Jisoo hyung, and what are we doing?”

Kim Hyeon-jik shot a glance at Cheon Ji-won and yelled.

Park Cheol-seung also turned his gaze to Cheon Ji-won belatedly.

“Fine, sorry. Jisoo hyung, so sorry.”

“You two have been bickering since you were kids, and you’re still doing it? Grow up, will you? You’re not kids anymore.”

Cheon Ji-won pointed it out like a lesson, but the others were just eager to please him.

Even in this gathering of reckless youths drinking mindlessly, there was a humorous hierarchy and struggle for power.

It resembled a microcosm of Korean society.

* * *

“Ah, damn. Who is it so early in the morning?”

Despite trying to ignore it, Kim Hyeon-jik closed his eyes, but the hotel phone wouldn’t stop ringing.

“What the hell is wrong with them?”

Maybe because he hadn’t completely sobered up, he stumbled over to where the phone was.

As soon as he picked up, he started cursing.

“Damn it, who is this?”

— The chairman is looking for you, Young Master.

“What? Director Sung? Why the hell are you making a fuss this early? Tell him I can’t be reached.”

— It’s urgent. I’ve contacted all hotels in Seoul because he couldn’t reach your cell phone.

“Oh man, why? What’s going on?”

— He wants you to come to the company.

“Why, though?”

— I don’t know. I was only told to bring you in regardless.

“Damn, old man. Why the hell is he making a fuss early in the morning?”

Though arrogant, Kim Hyeon-jik couldn’t defy the words of his father, Chairman Kim Seong-hak of Hyeonhwa Group.

His grandfather and father were both men of action before words, so Kim Hyeon-jik had taken many beatings growing up.

Despite that, it was still impressive that he had grown reckless and bold.

“Alright. I’ll wash up and head out.”

— I will wait for you in the lobby.

After hanging up, Kim Hyeon-jik shook his head in frustration.

“Why is there another fuss early in the morning?”

When he finally reached the lobby, he found the understandably irritated Director Sung and the secretary staff waiting.

“What’s going on?”

“I’m not certain. But he’s in a bad mood.”

Led by the secretary staff, Kim Hyeon-jik took the elevator reserved for the chairman and arrived at the chairman’s office on the top floor.

“Dad, you called for me? What’s this all about so early…?”

Before he finished his greeting, something flew past him.

The object hit the wall with a loud crash and fell to the floor.

Stunned, Kim Hyeon-jik turned slowly to look.

The object was a glass ashtray. If it had hit his head, he would have been in the hospital for at least a couple of months.

Before he had a chance to collect himself, Chairman Kim Seong-hak’s roar resonated as if it would shake the office walls.

“Hey, you! What the hell are you doing outside? Did I ever ask you to do something difficult? I told you to make sure you don’t get into trouble and just enjoy yourself! Do you want to die?”

Chairman Kim Seong-hak was not in a good mood this morning, thanks to the circulating rumors surrounding the stock market.

Someone was secretly buying the shares of all affiliated companies under Hyeonhwa Group, hinting at hostileM&A…

And the rumor was that it was due to his son, Kim Hyeon-jik.

At first, he thought it was just a rumor, but after investigating quietly, he found that someone was actually buying shares aggressively.

“Why aren’t you here?”

Under the intense glare of Chairman Kim Seong-hak, Kim Hyeon-jik approached and sat down quickly.

“What the hell have you been up to?”

“…”

Kim Seong-hak looked at Kim Hyeon-jik as if he was looking at a bug.

“What do you think? Drinking, chasing girls, probably having a blast out there.”

“What’s the matter?”

“There are rumors in the stock market that someone is attempting hostile M&A against Hyeonhwa Group. Upon investigation I found evidence that someone has truly been buying our shares aggressively. There are signs of long-term acquisitions over these past few months, yet we can’t identify who’s behind it.”

“What?”

Kim Hyeon-jik wore a puzzled look at the sudden news.

Kim Seong-hak, angered by his dazed expression, threw the file on the table.

The paper scattered as the black folder hit Kim Hyeon-jik’s face.

“Ow!”

“This is all because of you. What the hell have you been up to? Did you get into a fight with someone?”

“No, Dad. I don’t fight with anyone.”

“But why is there a rumor circulating in the stock market?”

“But it’s just a rumor. Rumors are mostly half-truths anyway…”

“But there were signs of influence! If it’s just a rumor, why are there signs? Speak plainly!”

Kim Hyeon-jik quickly said as he saw Chairman Kim Seong-hak looking for something else to throw.

“I didn’t do anything. I just drank with my friends… I did run into Cheon Ji-won after a long time yesterday.”

“When are you ever going to wise up?”

“…”

Seeing his son bow his head, Chairman Kim Seong-hak softened a bit.

“You need to stay home for a few days. Do you understand?”

“Huh?”

Kim Hyeon-jik, not wanting that, raised his head in shock. But Chairman Kim Seong-hak growled again.

“I warned you. Don’t even think about going out. The more you go gallivanting around, the bigger the rumors will get. Do you understand?”

Under his father’s fierce warning, Kim Hyeon-jik couldn’t utter another word.

However, during the time Kim Hyeon-jik was staying indoors, the rumors circulating in the stock market continued to update and unveil new information.

Eventually, Chairman Kim Seong-hak learned that all of this was connected to Kim Mu-hyeok.

The last fairy left in Korea.

It was a secret place known only to insiders in the political and business worlds.

Arriving at the entrance of the fairy, Chairman Kim Seong-hak concealed his discomfort as he followed the tall staff member inside.

Seeing Kim Mu-hyeok sitting there with blank expression, he stood up.

“Chairman Kim. It’s been a while. How have you been?”

“How can you ask that? Are we really in a position to exchange pleasantries?”

Chairman Kim Seong-hak snapped at the calm face of Kim Mu-hyeok.

A broad smile appeared on Kim Mu-hyeok’s face.

“Please, have a seat.”

Though discontented, Chairman Kim Seong-hak sat across from Kim Mu-hyeok, clenching his teet.

“What’s troubling you so much?”

“Don’t you know? Why are shares of Hyeonhwa Group being acquired? Allw me to know before I get pushed around.”

At those words, the ceremonial smile that Kim Mu-hyeok wore faded away.

What was left was only an unreadable expression, resembling a plaster mask.

Chairman Kim Seong-hak felt a chill run down his spine.

“Kim Hyeon-jik, the reckless son of the chairman. You need to hand him over to me.”

Chairman Kim Seong-hak turned beet red with anger.