Chapter 134: Chaebol Sons’ Club and an Unsettling Revelation

“Is that so? Don’t push yourself too hard.”

Hearing Eva had already issued a warning to the Mofia members as soon as she was discharged, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of pride and concern, sensing her resolve.

“I’m fine. Don’t treat me like such a delicate patient, Boss.”

“Alright.”

She had gotten much better, but her fear of people probably still lingered.

I had allowed her discharge because of her strong will, but my worries were unavoidable.

“Eva?”

Han Gyeong-yeong, who was standing in front of me, asked as I hung up.

“Yeah, she apparently gave the executives a warning as soon as she got to work.”

“Wow~ Aren’t those executives the core members of the Mofia? She took them down on her first day back? That’s impressive.”

“Forget it, just focus on your work.”

“Why? I’m doing my part perfectly well.”

Han Gyeong-yeong pouted.

“When are you going to promote Vice President Kim Byung-woo to Chairman? You don’t need to stick around forever.”

“Not yet. Most of it will be over by this summer, so I’ll hand it over to Vice President Kim Byung-woo then. You should meet him before that.”

Vice President Kim Byung-woo, huh.

Han Gyeong-yeong shrugged and added.

“He needs to know exactly who his master is. I don’t think you should always hide in the shadows.”

“Alright. Set up a meeting.”

“Okay.”

“What about the Gazprom bonds?”

“I received a report that everything was completed last week.”

In the end, it was no different from the original history.

Prime Minister Primakov, who had been on the offensive, was finished when the Prosecutor General was ousted due to a prostitution scandal.

It was truly an amusing country.

Berezovsky’s broadcasting station aired live news footage of Prosecutor General Skuratov undressed and sitting on a bed with a prostitute.

The next day, Putin immediately held a press conference and announced that no signs of manipulation were found in the video.

President Yeltsin, as if waiting for this, immediately dismissed the Prosecutor General.

“Broadcasting an R-rated video live. If it were Korea, the broadcasting station would have been paralyzed.”

Thus, the minds of those who had been criticizing President Yeltsin and the Kremlin were now filled only with the sensational scandal of the Prosecutor General.

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

“We’re continuously buying up the shares released on the market. The rumors have been spread, and there should be a reaction soon.”

Hyeonhwa Group’s governance structure was more solid than expected, making a hostile M&A impossible.

Even converting the convertible bonds we held into stock wasn’t enough. We are buying shares on the market, but the stake isn’t enough to threaten management control.

But if the goal isn’t acquisition but coercion, it’s sufficient.

“Keep buying. Keep spreading the rumors, and if interview requests come in, only hint at things. Never give a definite answer, ever.”

Once the truth is revealed, the fear diminishes.

As long as the rumor remains a rumor, the fear will double and shake Hyeonhwa Group.

“What do you want? I’m doing it because you told me to, but it doesn’t seem like you’re doing this for profit.”

I only smiled without answering.

* * *

A bar without a sign in the middle of Gangnam.

Several men were drinking and having fun in a place where even the employees avoided.

They were all sons or grandsons of chaebol chairmen.

“Ugh~ my old man keeps telling me to come to the company. It’s so annoying. He even wants me to go to the field and work.”

Park Cheol-seung, the grandson of the Ho-geum Group chairman, said while shaking his glass.

“You should go to work. You should at least do that much. How much longer do you think your grandfather will live?”

“Screw you. Ah~ your company went bankrupt, right? It’s nice that you don’t have to go to work. I’m jealous.”

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

“These bastards always act up whenever we meet. Hey! Why are you talking about the company going bankrupt here? Cut it out, don’t ruin the mood.”

Kim Hyeon-jik, the eldest of Hyeonhwa Group, said while looking at the two with disdain.

“You’re ruining the taste of my liquor.”

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

Just as there was a hierarchy among the chaebols, each person in this gathering had different speaking rights.

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

The other men watched Cheon Ji-won’s every move and raised their glasses.

“Save your nonsense for your partners later, how is everyone doing?”

They started talking about their recent activities and drinking again.

Kim Hyeon-jik frowned and grumbled.

“Ah~ there was a good girl this time. But she refused me so rudely. She doesn’t know her place just because she’s a little pretty.”

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

“A singer? An actress?”

“A singer. But her company disappeared. The boss disappeared too. Ah… that bastard kept me entertained, I wonder where he went.”

They all chuckled at whatever was amusing to them.

“You must have really liked her. What does she look like? Let’s see her face.”

“I don’t know. Since the company disappeared, I can’t find her.”

Seeing Kim Hyeon-jik looking quite regretful, Cheon Ji-won asked with interest.

“Where was it?”

“Cubic. Why?”

“I’ll look into it. But if I find her, I get her first. No complaints, right?”

“Yeah, if you find her, you can have her. We’re not sharing a girl together.”

Kim Hyeon-jik was secretly disappointed, but he couldn’t show it.

Cheon Ji-won looked at him with a sneer, but it was still the same.

“I’ll get you a good girl. Don’t be upset.”

“Alright.”

Kim Yong-seok, who had been listening to their conversation, got annoyed.

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

Four men were waiting for someone.

“They’ll come. They said they’re coming after their schedules are over. Just wait. If we’re just drinking, won’t they come eventually? You’re acting impatient like the son of a construction company.”

Park Cheol-seung sneered again.

He felt good about the fact that Kim Yong-seok’s family company had gone bankrupt and fallen below him.

Kim Yong-seok couldn’t retort and only scowled.

“Ah, you bastard. Stop it. Are you trying to ruin the mood? What are you doing after calling Ji-won hyung after so long?”

Kim Hyeon-jik glanced at Cheon Ji-won and shouted.

Park Cheol-seung belatedly looked at Cheon Ji-won as well.

“Alright. I’m sorry. Ji-won hyung, sorry.”

“You two have been fighting since you were kids and you’re still doing it now. Grow up a little. You’re not kids anymore.”

Cheon Ji-won spoke as if lecturing them, but the others were just busy smiling and trying to make Cheon Ji-won feel good.

Even in a gathering of good-for-nothing wastrels, there was such a ridiculous hierarchy and power struggle.

It was like a microcosm of Korean society.

* * *

“Ah, shit. Who is it from this morning?”

Kim Hyeon-jik tried to ignore it and closed his eyes, but the hotel phone kept ringing.

“Are these guys crazy?”

Still not fully awake from his drinking, Kim Hyeon-jik staggered to the phone and cursed as soon as he picked up the receiver.

“Damn it, who is it?”

— The Chairman is looking for you, young master.

“What? Manager Seong? Why are you bothering me so early in the morning? Just say I’m not available.”

— It’s urgent. Your mobile phone isn’t working, so I’ve contacted all the hotels in Seoul.

“Ha, shit, why? What’s going on?”

— He wants you to come to the company.

“I said why?”

— I don’t know either. I only received orders to bring you in.

“Ah, the old man. Why is he looking for me so early in the morning?”

Although Kim Hyeon-jik was arrogant, he couldn’t defy his father, Hyeonhwa Group Chairman Kim Seong-hak’s words.

From his grandfather to his father, they were people who used their fists before their words, so Kim Hyeon-jik was beaten a lot since he was young.

Even so, it was remarkable that he didn’t change his ways and grew up as a wastrel.

“Alright. I’ll wash up and go out.”

— I’ll be waiting in the lobby.

Kim Hyeon-jik hung up the phone, shook his head, and grumbled.

“Why is he causing trouble again from this morning?”

Soon, Kim Hyeon-jik came down to the lobby and vented his anger on the innocent Manager Seong and the Secretarial Office staff.

“What’s going on?”

“I don’t know. But he’s in a very bad mood.”

Led by the Secretarial Office staff, Kim Hyeon-jik went to Hyeonhwa Group’s headquarters and took the chairman’s private elevator to the chairman’s office on the top floor.

“Father, you called for me? What’s wrong this early…”

Before he could even finish his greeting, something flew past Kim Hyeon-jik.

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

Kim Hyeon-jik, who had been frozen in shock, slowly turned his head.

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

Before he could come to his senses, Chairman Kim Seong-hak’s roar echoed as if it would tear apart the chairman’s office.

“Hey, you bastard! What the hell are you doing outside? Did I ask you for something difficult? I told you to just play quietly without causing any trouble! Do you really want to die?”

Chairman Kim Seong-hak was not in a good mood from the morning. It was because of the rumors circulating in the securities industry.

Someone was secretly buying up shares of all Hyeonhwa Group’s affiliates, and they were planning a hostile M&A…

And the reason was his son, Kim Hyeon-jik.

At first, he dismissed it as just a rumor, but after secretly investigating, he found out that someone was really aggressively buying up shares.

“Aren’t you coming here?”

At Chairman Kim Seong-hak’s harsh words, Kim Hyeon-jik quickly approached and sat down.

“What the hell are you doing outside?”

······.

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

“It’s obvious. Drinking, playing around with women.”

“What’s going on to make you like this?”

“There’s a rumor in the securities industry that someone is trying a hostile M&A on Hyeonhwa Group. But after checking, someone is really buying up shares. There are traces of long-term purchases over the past few months, but the identity is unknown.”

“Huh?”

Kim Hyeon-jik made a bewildered expression at the unexpected words.

Kim Seong-hak, even more angered by the blank expression, threw the binder in front of him.

The papers fluttered, and the black binder hit Kim Hyeon-jik’s face.

“Ah!”

“It’s all because of you. What the hell are you doing outside? Who did you fight with?”

“No, Father. Who would I fight with?”

“Then why are those rumors going around in the securities industry!”

“It’s just a rumor. More than half of rumors are nonsense…”

“There were traces of a force! If it’s nonsense, why are there such traces! Answer me truthfully now!”

Seeing Kim Seong-hak looking for something else to throw, Kim Hyeon-jik hurriedly said.

“I really didn’t do anything. Other than drinking with friends… Yesterday, I met Cheon Ji-won hyung after a long time.”

“Ha… when will you grow up?”

······.

Kim Seong-hak, whose heart softened a little at the sight of his son with his head bowed, said.

“You, don’t even think about going outside for a few days and stay cooped up at home. Understand?”

“Huh?”

Kim Hyeon-jik, as if disliking that, raised his head in surprise. But Kim Seong-hak growled and said again.

“I warned you. Don’t go out. Don’t wander around and make the rumors bigger. Understand?”

At the fierce words, Kim Hyeon-jik couldn’t grumble any further.

But even while Kim Hyeon-jik was staying indoors, the rumors circulating in the securities industry continued to update and release new information.

Eventually, Chairman Kim Seong-hak, having learned that Kim Mu-hyeok was behind everything, immediately made an appointment to meet.

The only remaining yajeong in Korea.

It was a secret place known only to those in the political and business circles.

Chairman Kim Seong-hak, having arrived at the entrance of the yajeong, hid his uncomfortable feelings and entered with the guidance of a sturdy employee.

Kim Mu-hyeok, who had been sitting with a blank face, stood up from his seat.

“Chairman Kim. Long time no see. How have you been?”

“How have I been? Is this a situation where we can greet each other with smiles?”

At the composed face, Kim Seong-hak burst into anger.

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

“Please, sit down first.”

Chairman Kim Seong-hak was displeased, but he shut his mouth and sat facing Kim Mu-hyeok.

“Why are you so uncomfortable?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know? What’s the reason for buying up Hyeonhwa Group’s shares? Let’s at least know the reason before we get hit.”

At those words, the ceremonial smile that Kim Mu-hyeok had been wearing disappeared.

What remained was just a face like a stone mask, with nothing to read.

Kim Seong-hak cursed inwardly at the chilling appearance.

“Kim Hyeon-jik, the chairman’s good-for-nothing son. You’ll have to hand him over to me.”

Chairman Kim Seong-hak’s face turned red.