Chapter 192: The Chairman’s Will

Cheon Tae-san closed his eyes aftinishing the call with Kim Mu-hyeok.

In contrast, Ha Myung-hoon, who had been holding the phone, ended the call.

His face, silently observing Cheon Tae-san, appeared troubled.

After a long moment, Cheon Tae-san finally spoke.

“······Myung-hoon.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Who visited yesterday?”

The only outsider who had visited the hospital room yesterday was Boss Cheon Su-man. Recalling the visitor, Ha Myung-hoon responded truthfully.

“It was Boss Cheon Su-man.”

“I see······ So it wasn’t just a dream.”

With that remark, Cheon Tae-san fell silent once mo

A look of confusion crossed Ha Myung-hoon’s face.

The heavy silence was broken by Cheon Tae-san.

“Myung-hoon.”

“What can I do for you?”

“Don’t tell anyone, but bring me a syringe to draw blood.”

“······.”

It was an unexpected instruction.

Yet, Ha Myung-hoon quietly nodded and exited the hospital room.

Left alone in the room, Cheon Tae-san’s face displayed a lute determination.

A moment later, Ha Myung-hoon returned with a syringe in hand.

“What are you doing? Why haven’t you drawn any blood yet?”

Cheon Tae-san urged Ha Myung-hoono hesitated while holding the syringe.

“······Chairman, can you explain why?”

“Why?”

“Yes, I was thinking about the reason behind your instructions while bringing the syringe. But no matter how I think, it doesn’t make sense.”

“Heh, Myung-hoon, there are times when you don’t need to seek justification in my commands. What’s got you so worried?”

For decades, Ha Myung-hoon had never disobeyed a command from Cheon Tae-san, never once questio him.

He simply was someone who got things done, regardless of the circumstances.

But time was not on Cheon Tae-san’s side.

“Chairman······.”

“Just draw the blood first, hurry!”

With no choice, Ha Myung-hoon uncapped the syringe’s needle.

“······.”

Gently touching Cheon Tae-san’s frail arm, Ha Myuoon’s face twisted in pain.

The sharp needle pierced into his arm.

“This might hurt a bit.”

It was a concerned statement, but Cheon Tae-san felt no pain; after, he was numb all over.

As Ha Myung-hoon pulled the syringe to collect blood, he withdrew the needle.

“Myung-hoon, it seems I might not get to see Mu-hyeok again.”

“Chairman······.”

Unlike the Chairman’s calm demeanor, Ha Myung-hoon wore a look of turmoil.

“After I’m gone, I’ll tell you what you need to do. It’s my last request. You must see it through, alright?”

“You can count on me, Chairman.”

As Cheon Tae-san continued speaking,Myung-hoon’s expression became increasingly rigid.

* * *

Several black cars came to a halt in the parking lot.

The person stepping out was Chief Ha.

He surveyed his surroundings and let out a deep sigh.

After briefly glancing at Cheon Su-man, Chief Ha approached me and bowed his head.

“Sir, I’m late.”

“Have you arranged your thoughts?”

Chief Ha flashed a faint smile and nodded.

“Thanks to your consideration, I had ample time to reflect. There’s one last matter I need to attend to.”

“Last matter?”

“Yes, I’m here to fulfill the Chairman’s last command.”

The last command from Grandfather?

What could it be, to make Chief Ha’s face appear so determined?

“Lawyer Bae, please head inside first.”

The person behind Chief Ha immediately entered the funeral hall. He was Grandfather’s long-time personal lawyer.

“Ha Myung-hoon! What the hell are you doing?”

Thinking he was being ignored, Cheon Su-man’s shout echoed through the funeral home.

“The one who should bow their head is not that bastard, but me! I’m Cheon Su-man, the eldest son of Cheon Tae-san!”

Unbothered by Cheon Su-man’s ranting, Chief Ha focused on me, continuing to speak.

“The Chairman entrusted his funeral to Kim Mu-hyeok. Furthermore, all te Cheon family members, excluding Cheon Su-man, were instructed to await Kim Mu-hyeok’s decisions.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

Cheon Su-man continued to bellow. There were veins bulging on his forehead.

“Kim Mu-hyeok is the chief mourne and the successor to the Chairman. That is the Chairman’s will.”

I’m the chief mourner and the successor.

I had already been Grandfather’s successor, but knowing he had left those words as his last made my heart ache.

“The Chairman knew that no matter how great his possessions were, they were smaller than what young master possessed.”

If anyone knew me best, outside of myself, it was Grandfather.

He had merely watched over me, letting me step out of his world long ago.

The realization that Grandfather had anticipated this whole situation made me feel even more sorrowful.

“However······, no matter how small it may be, he told me not to let it be taken by others. You will hear the details in the will and the recorded testament.”

After finishing, Chief Ha bowed again in greeting.

When he raised his head, his gaze was filled with a chilling determination.

“The Chairman did not wish for you to become like someone such as Cheon Su-man.”

Do not become like Cheon Su-man······.

Imagining how Grandfather must have felt speaking those words, I bit my lip.

“You bastard!”

Chief Ha’s icy glare turned towards Cheon Su-man.

“Cheon Su-man, you are no longer the Chairman’s son.”

“What? Are you crazy?”

Receiving such an insulting remark, Cheon Su-man raised his fist.

Wham!

But it was Cheon Su-man who staggered back.

“You······. You crazy bastard!”

Stumbling and rubbing his swollen cheek, Cheon Su-man trembled with rage.

“You dog, how dare you bite your master?”

Chief Ha quietly murmured while looking down at Cheon Su-man.

“A master, you say······? What makes you my master? I serve the Chairman. How dare you assume the role of my master?”

I had almost forgotten who Ha Myung-hoon truly was.

He was like a knife for Grandfather, living solely for him.

“I’m the eldest son of Cheon Tae-san!”

The eldest son of Cheon Tae-san.

To this pathetic man, that was all he had.

Seeing Cheon Su-man shout Grandfather’s name like a parrot, a smirk rose on Chief Ha’s face.

“What do you have besides the title of the Chairman’s son? How dare you sully his name by invoking it?”

“······.”

Cheon Su-man fell silent, unable to retort as he clenched his jaws.

Aside from Grandfather’s name, Cheon Su-man had nothing left.

Not the position of successor, not the wealth, and even the people were gone.

“If you weren’t the Chairman’s blood, you would have already been dead at my hands when the girl passed away. How dare you defile the Chairman’s last journey?”

Chief Ha was a man of integrity who had devoted his life to serving Grandfather.

Though not related by blood, he loved and respected Grandfather more than anyone.

Even when I said I wanted to take the position of Chairman at Taesan Financial, he stubbornly insisted on staying by Grandfather’s side.

No one could harshly criticize his fury. The feelings Chief Ha experienced were entirely justified.

“Ma Seok-dae!”

Upon calling Manager Ma, he looked to me for approval.

In that moment, I felt envy towards Grandfather, who had kept Chief Ha by his side all his life, but beside me was Manager Ma.

Nodding slightly, Manager Ma ran toward Chief Ha in a hurry.

“The Chairman wanted to convey his apologies to you. Please do not hold any hatred towards the Chairman.”

“······I’ve never hated him.”

It seemed that the Chairman had also left a final message for Manager Ma before departing.

“Yes, Seok-dae. That’s right. We must never forget the kindness of the Chairman. Regardless of others, we must never forget.”

Chief Ha lightly patted Manager Ma on the shoulder.

“Get those bastards out. Also, convey that if the Chairman’s funeral is disrupted again, I’ll personally visit Il-seong Group. Chairman Seo will understand what that means.”

Manager Ma nodded at Chief Ha and subdued the security team from Il-sung..

Watching the security team being dragged out, Cheon Su-man seemed to regain his senses, gritting his teeth in frustration.

“You······. You think you can get away with this? I know everything you did because your father ordered you. I’ll make sure you rot in prison for life!”

Chuckling at Cheon Su-man’s ridiculous threats, Chief Ha stepped closer.

Startled, Cheon Su-man took steps back, but soon became aware of his actions, flushing with embarrassment.

“······.”

Leaning in close, Chief Ha whispered something into Cheon Su-man’s ear.

The longer he spoke, the paler Cheon Su-man’s face became.

“Ji-soo, young master.”

Regardless of Cheon Su-man’s reaction, Chief Ha called out to Cheon Ji-won, who had been standing awkwardly at the side.

His voice was devoid of emotion, almost to the point where it felt sharp, making it uncomfortable.

“Stay at the funeral hall. It’s one last consideration from the Chairman for you. Please listen to his testament inside.”

“······.”

Cheon Ji-won didn’t respond, as if the confidence he had displayed up until now was nothing but a facade.

Cheon Su-man was no different.

“Take him away.”

At Chief Ha’s gesture, the men accompanying him seized Cheon Su-man by both arms and dragged him away. However, he put up no resistance.

Just then, Cheon Ji-won snapped back to reality and questioned Chief Ha.

“Where are you taking my father?”

“Young master Ji-won, please wait inside.”

Chief Ha responded without even glancing at Cheon Ji-won.

His tone, though polite, felt sharp, leaving Cheon Ji-won at a loss for words.

Like a defeated dog in a fight, he walked into the funeral home with his tail tucked between his legs.

“There’s a lot to tidy up. Hah······.”

Looking around at the chaos surrounding him, Chief Ha let out a deep sigh.

The car carrying Cheon Su-man quietly departed the parking lot.

My head felt cluttered.

Chief Ha mentioned carrying out the last command Grandfather left behind.

Could it be a command to kill Cheon Su-man? That couldn’t be right.

I quickly shook my head, clearing my thoughts.

I would find out in time.

“Sir, let’s head inside. We will unveil the Chairman’s will.”

I followed Chief Ha inside.

Entering the funeral hall after removing his shoes, Chief Ha stood quietly before Grandfather’s portrait.

He offered white chrysanthemums and lit incense, bowing his head in silent respect for a long time.

Not wanting to disturb Chief Ha’s mourning, I left him to it.

After a while, Chief Ha opened his eyes and spoke.

“I’d like all the young masters and young ladies to gather. We’re about to unveil the Chairman’s will.”

Everyone gathered in the family waiting room.

Chief Ha approached Lawyer Bae and stood still beside him.

“It looks like everyone is here.”

Cheon Ji-won, Cheon Ji-su, Cheon Ji-young, annd I.

Lawyer Bae surveyed us before speaking.

“This is the will written by the Chairman while his mind was still clear. All notarizations are complete and it holds legal weight.”

Cheon Ji-won and Cheon Ji-su swallowed hard as tthey gazed upon the will.

“The matters specified in the will are limited to what the law allows and it has been formulated according to legal processes.”

Lawyer Bae began explaining legal clauses.

“Of course, there’s a portion that could be contested through the statutory share system······.”

Lawyer Bae discussed the specifics of the statutory share system but his expression was far from pleased.

“The Chairman wishes for all heirs present to follow his wishes without fail.”

Given that Cheon Su-man and Chairman Seo’s objectives targeted the statutory share system, it was understandable why he appeared discontent.

“Now, I will proceed to unveil the will.”

Lawyer Bae took out the envelope from his briefcase.

He displayed the envelope as if to confirm its contents.

“Please confirm the seal.”

The envelope was sealed with the Chairman’s official seal and signature.

“Have you confirmed?”

Everyone nodded.

“I will now open it.”

Lawyer Bae carefully cut the seal and opened the envelope.

“This contains the will and the recorded testament.”

Inside the envelope were several sheets of paper and a tape recording containing Grandfather’s voice.