Chapter 217: What Good Does It Do to Fight with a Child?

Suddenly standing up, Seo Jae-sang shouted angrily, pointing incessantly while he spoke.

“How dare you hold your head high when you’re just a loan shark playing with money!”

Seems like the Seo family and I just don’t get along. There was no need to waste words in a place filled with someone like him.

Shaking my head, I stood up from my seat.

“I came here because Chairman Song Young-ju asked me to. If he hadn’t requested it, I wouldn’t have even bothered to meet with you, let alone be kneeling here before you.”

As I spoke coldly, I could see the unmistakable surprise on Seo Mang-geon’s face. I couldn’t help but smirk at him.

“I can’t tell if you haven’t grasped the situation yet, or if you view me as someone weak. Either way, further conversation is pointless. I think it’s time for me to leave.”

Seo Mang-geon’s face, stained with humiliation, flushed red.

I turned my gaze away from him and back to Seo Jae-sang.

“And you should consider who you’re dealing with before you act out like that. Just because everyone around you caters to your whims and your staff trembles in fear, doesn’t mean the world revolves around you.”

“······What?”

“Everything you have could vanish in an instant. And I’m the kind of person who can make that happen. Because of you, the JC Group is going to crumble.”

“What is this nonsense······!”

Seo Jae-sang’s expression contorted, but I felt a refreshing sense of satisfaction.

“Manager, let’s leave. Apparently, the Seo family aren’t the type you can have a conversation with.”

“The car is ready, Boss.”

I couldn’t help but frown at Seo Jae-sang, who reminded me of Cheon Ji-won.

In a fit of rage, Seo Jae-sang called out to me with a trembling voice, but I ignored him as I walked toward the entrance.

At that moment, I heard a sound behind me that made me stop. It sounded like a slap, followed by a dull thud of flesh meeting flesh.

Moments later, the same sound echoed again, prompting me to turn around.

I saw Seo Jae-sang staring blankly, rubbing his cheek.

Seo Mang-geon looked fierce as he glared at his son, his own expression weary.

“Ah, Father.”

It seemed to be Seo Jae-sang’s first time being hit by his father, judging by the look of shock on his face.

Seo Mang-geon’s countenance appeared like a bleak winter in Siberia as he gazed upon his son.

“Ah, Father······ Why······?”

“I’ve told you repeatedly to drop that arrogant attitude.”

“But that guy insulted you first······!”

“Even still!”

As Seo Mang-geon raised his hand again, Seo Jae-sang squeezed his eyes shut. It seemed he could not bring himself to hit his son again, shaking instead, hand still lifted.

This was a farce of a spectacle.

But seeing such a performance, I couldn’t just walk away without commenting.

“Chairman, it’s alright to stop now.”

Seo Mang-geon finally lowered his hand and turned to face me.

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault as a parent for not raising him right.”

Unlike Seo Yong-geon, he was a man capable of apologizing. I nodded, watching him with a pitying expression.

“It’s fine. But at this rate, he’ll cause a real disaster someday.”

“He wasn’t always like this······.”

There was sorrow in Seo Mang-geon’s eyes as they lingered on Seo Jae-sang, who was still rubbing his cheek.

“Let’s take a seat for now.”

Seo Mang-geon and I sat down together. There was an expression of injustice on Seo Jae-sang’s face, and tears glimmered at the corners of his eyes.

“You sit down too. Hurry!”

Seo Mang-geon shouted at Seo Jae-sang, who stood there in a daze. Though it was a light reprimand, Seo Jae-sang jumped in surprise and quickly took a seat.

He may have grown older, but he still acts like a child.

In my memory, Seo Jae-sang had taken over the JC Group after Seo Mang-geon passed away, steering it well.

While I heard often that he didn’t cause trouble like other third-generation chaebol, the Seo Jae-sang I met was simply an immature kid.

Seo Jae-sang’s flushed cheeks caught Seo Mang-geon’s attention, and he spoke again.

“I apologize again.”

“That’s understandable. If someone as immature as him inherits a company, he’ll definitely mess up in the future.”

If this kept happening, he would eventually fall hard. And it would likely be Seo Jae-hoon who pays for it.

“I only have one son, so I spoiled him too much. Thank you for understanding, Boss Kim.”

“Let’s stop the apologies and get down to business regarding our negotiations.”

Just listening to meaningless apologies wouldn’t help the negotiations go smoothly.

But if Chairman Seo hadn’t put on this performance, I would have returned and applied for an extraordinary shareholders meeting right away.

Thanks to Elder Jang Dae-ho, even if the power struggle shifted, we still had strong chances of victory. I planned to push them into surrendering, considering it may take some time.

My share wasn’t going to disappear, and eventually, their shares in Il-sung Materials would endd up in my grasp.

“······Can I ask you something before we start?”

“Please do.”

“Even if we acquire shares in Il-sung’s subsidiaries, it would still be difficult to seize control over Il-sung itself, wouldn’t itt?”

That wasn’t incorrect. I nodded.

Seeing the questions fill Seo Mang-geon’s face, I opened my mouth.

“You could think that. But I’m not planning to take Il-sung from you; I plan too destroy it.”

Erasing Il-sung’s name from Korea—tthat was my goal.

“While we can’t seize control, we have acquired enough shares to meddle in the company’s affairs.”

Seo Mang-geon tensed up at my words. After biting his lip for a moment, he repeatedly asked, seemingly in disbelief.

“You’re going to destroy it? Il-sung in Korea? Are you rreally planning to make that happen?”

“Yes.”

“······.”

I completely understood his reaction. I nodded firmly with conviction.

I could see Seo Mang-geon’s eyes tremble.

“You haven’t correctly assessed the extent of our shares in JC Foods, have you?”

“Honestly, I’m unsure. But I, for one, do not wish to take any risks anymore. I’ve experienced failure once, and I don’t want to try again…”

I interrupted Seo Mang-geon, who was filled with hesitation.

“Chairman, it’s time for you to decide. You either fight us for shares, or you transfer all the shares of Il-sung in JC Group to us. There are no other options.”

My confident demeanor made Seo Mang-geon sigh softly and slowly close his eyes.

There was no answer right away. I decided to give Seo Mang-geon time to contemplate.

“I will apply for a shareholder meeting on the date of the public purchase deadline. You can provide your answer before then. But once I submit the extraordinary shareholder meeting application, the negotiations will be over.”

If JC Foods fell, the entire JC Group could shake.

JC Group was striving to transition into a holding company centered around JC Holdings amidst the current circular investment structure.

They were gathering shares of their subsidiaries under JC Holdings, with JC Foods playing the commanding role. If JC Foods fell, all their plans would fall through.

“······It’s difficult to provide an immediate answer.”

“I know. However, I would appreciate it if you could give me your response as quickly as possible. After this meeting, dealings with me will be over. From here on, you’ll be communicating with Eva from Future Investment.”

Though he said he would consider it, it was practically a surrender.

“If you join us, all the shares we hold in JC Group will become friendly shares.”

I glanced at Seo Jae-sang, who was gripping his flushed cheeks tightly, his gaze cast down.

“Transferring management rights to Vice Chairman Seo Jae-sang will also become much easier. Changing to a holding company structure will be the same.”

I couldn’t just offer the whip without giving a carrot. I presented a proposal with a smile.

This offer would seem incredibly sweet to Chairman Seo, who couldn’t secure the entirety of his shares.

“I’ll take my leave now. It was a pleasure meeting you.”

After saying my goodbyes, I stood up.

Seo Mang-geon stood up too, followed by Seo Jae-sang.

Seo Mang-geon extended his hand while speaking softly.

“You remind me of Chairman Cheon Tae-san, both in similaritind differences. I will respond soon.”

I shook Seo Mang-geon’s hand and smiled slightly.

Although I had never heard those words before in my life prior to my return, it actually reminded me more of my grandfather.

“I hope we can maintain a good relationship.”

After concluding the handshake with Seo Mang-geon, I turned to Seo Jae-sang, whose face was still filled with dissatisfaction.

“Vice Chairman, while you weren’t great at first, it was nice meeting you.”

“······.”

Seo Jae-sang remained tight-lipped, still in shock.

I completely lost interest in him since he ignored my greeting, all due to that childish pride of his.

After wrapping up the meeting with Seo Mang-geon, I exited his residence and hopped into the car back to Myeong-dong.

Manager Ma, who sat in the passenger seat, turned back and asked.

“Boss, why did you hold back?”

“Are you talking about Seo Jae-sang?”

“Yes.”

I scoffed and crossed my legs. Even recalling Seo Jae-sang’s disgraceful state made me chuckle.

“What good does it do to fight with a child? He may be old, but he’s still just a clueless kid mentally.”

As I spoke, I recalled the faces of both Seo Jae-sang and Seo Jae-hoon. They perfectly embodied the term ‘power-hungry fools.’

Through the car window, I noticed a massive billboard adorned with Il-sung advertisements as wwe swiftly entered Seoul.

The dice had been cast, and now all that was left was to wait for Seo Mang-geon’s decision.