Chapter 373: I Will Not Back Down

Seeing Ha Myung-hoon’s sharp gaze after such a long time brought a faint smile to my lips.

It reminded me of the stern face of Chief Ha from my previous life, as well as the rare smiles he had shown in this life.

But now isn’t the time to dwell on memories.

I wiped the smile off my face and spoke in a firm tone.

“Please tell me everything you know about Choi Seon-man, Chairman.”

“Chairman Cheon was also afraid of that man, Choi Seon-man. The first president from the military at least understood conversation, but not Choi Seon-man. If he disliked someone, he would eliminate them—regardless of whether they were a businessman or a politician. Anyone didn’t matter.”

Ha Myung-hoon spent a long while detailing what he knew about Choi Seon-man. I was able to learn more than I expected, including whether it was true that my grandfather had been wary of him.

Once he finished, I lifted the teacup in front of me and asked,

“So, you’re saying Choi Seon-man wasn’t affiliated with the Cheongpung Group but rather had a cooperative relationship?”

“Yes, that’s correct. I believe that as the Cheongpung Group crumbled, he probably negotiated with the Kim Hak-gwon administration to avoid potential repercussions for himself. He might have pleaded for a pardon after serving some time in prison, hoping for a future release. His connections could have led him to step back from the public pressure to eliminate the Cheongpung Group in search of safety.”

For politicians, public opinion and sentiment are inseparably linked.

Perhaps the negative image of Choi Seon-man was partially diminished the moment he was sentenced to death and sent to prison. Out of sight, out of mind, as they say.

The moment President Kim Hak-gwon granted him a pardon under the guise of national unification, that image faded even further from people’s memories.

If Choi Seon-man had aimed for this… he was indeed a formidable person.

I had never met him in either life, yet he felt like the most difficult opponent to face.

“For now, the faction loyal to Choi Seon-man within the South Korean military is…”

I picked up one of the folders in front of me, placing it before Ha Myung-hoon as I continued.

“Among the generals, it has been confirmed that Major General Kim Hak-beom, the Chief of the Military Security Command, and Major General Kim Seok-yeon, the commander of the Army Special Warfare Command, are supporters of Choi Seon-man. Several division commander-level personnel have also been identified.”

Ha Myung-hoon took the folder, glanced through the names of the soldiers written inside, and nodded slightly.

“With this number of people, a coup can indeed be staged. They hold quite a few key positions. While they were dealt with during the dismantling of Hanahoe, Choi Seon-man likely has other connections in place aside from just the Hanahoe.”

As I suspected, Choi Seon-man’s loyal supporters were still embedded within the military.

Yet, something unusual surfaced as we delved deeper into Choi Seon-man’s background. Why was this organization linked to him even if the soldiers were expected?

“Connections, perhaps? Is that what this is? I really can’t wrap my head around this person.”

I handed another folder to Ha Myung-hoon.

“What kind of connection could a leader of a new religious group possibly have with Choi Seon-man? Do you know anything about this? This person is just endlessly fascinating.”

Inside the folder I passed to Ha Myung-hoon were photos of Han Seong-jin, the founder of the world’s largest new religious movement, and relevant information about him.

It was a religion that, while beginning with the message of world peace, was informally known to the public as Heaven Church.

Originating in Korea, this new religion had spread widely across the globe.

Consequently, it had significant influence not only in Japanese politics but also in Japan’s business sector, making Han Seong-jin a crucial figure linked to Choi Seon-man and the Daedong Association.

“Hmm… Why is this gentleman involved here…”

Ha Myung-hoon frowned, swallowing hard as his discomfort became apparent.

“Do you know him?”

“Yes, I do. Chairman Cheon has met him several times. He’s made considerable donations too.”

To think my cold-hearted grandfather would make contributions to such a cult. I couldn’t help but ask, taken aback,

“My grandfather made donations?”

“Yes, although it was an unavoidable choice.”

“Sounds like he had more influence than previously thought, especially for someone like my grandfather to yield like that.”

“Yielding is an understatement… He was filthy, so he just threw money at it. He didn’t want to deal with the mess it would bring.”

Somehow, I could almost hear my grandfather’s voice echoing in my ears. If it were him, he would indeed have that level of reasoning.

“So, do you have any knowledge about the relationship between Choi Seon-man and Han Seong-jin?”

“During Choi Seon-man’s presidency, he channeled considerable private business to Han Seong-jin’s firms. Of course, he must have received something in return, but he seemed to favor them more than the other chaebols. The pressure placed on Chairman Cheon for donations also stemmed from Choi Seon-man’s administration. I suspected there were connections behind the scenes back then.”

I had thought Choi Seon-man was a follower of the Heaven Church, but it appeared to be more complicated.

It was clear they were intertwined politically as well as otherwise.

“Chairman Han Seong-jin still leads many businesses. I believe his cash reserves and stability are unparalleled among companies in our country. He doesn’t take loans from banks. He relies solely on the funds from the religious group and managed to bypass the IMF crisis without much impact.”

These words reminded me of a rumor I had heard.

There were whispers that Han Seong-jin promised President Kim Hak-gwon that he would repay all the money borrowed from the IMF if Heaven Church were recognized as the national religion.

It sounded absurd, but there was no denying the substantial wealth possessed by this religious organization.

It would indeed be difficult to threaten them financially. As I pondered how to approach this, Ha Myung-hoon spoke up cautiously.

“Boss, what if we take a step back on this matter?”

I looked at Ha Myung-hoon with a puzzled expression. His face was fraught with worry.

“No matter how cult-like it seems, getting involved with a religion is never a good thing. Especially if they wield money and power.”

I could understand his concerns, but I shook my head quietly.

“I’m not looking to get tangled with a religion here. I’m aware of how powerful they can be. However, if I back down now, I’ll find myself conceding again later on.”

“Still…”

If things went wrong, I could end up on bad terms with the religious group.

Given its cult nature, it was reasonable for Ha Myung-hoon to be concerned.

But I couldn’t afford to back down.

“My objective is Choi Seon-man and the Daedong Association. It’s not about the Heaven Church. Still…”

A chilling light flickered in my eyes. I noticed Ha Myung-hoon’s throat bob as he swallowed.

“If anyone gets in my way, I might have to reconsider my stance.”

While I didn’t intend to eliminate Han Seong-jin, if it interfered with my plans, I would need to diminish his influence.

Han Seong-jin was a powerful person with more followers than I had imagined.

I simply hadn’t realized it because I hadn’t paid attention until now.

After all, it was only reasonable for the leader of a globally recognized religious organization to command such presence.

If I could win him over, things might become easier. If not, I had to ensure he didn’t interfere with my plans.

“Regardless, what matters is that it’s not about Han Seong-jin. Choi Seon-man must be eliminated without fail. If I miss this opportunity, it will only get harder from here on out.”

“Understood.”

Ha Myung-hoon no longer tried to dissuade me. He had been by my side for a long time.

He knew me better than anyone when I made up my mind; I would never back down.

“If I back down now, I’ll have to do the same later on, risking everything I hold dear. The reason I can even stand here today is that I’ve never retreated, not a single time. I’ve done so until now, and I will continue to do so.”

I had never backed down before the Tsar of Russia, nor the president of the world’s mightiest U.S., or even the president of Korea.

I stood firm, saying what needed to be said in front of those in power.

I would not back down; they should be prepared to die if they wanted to trifle with me. I wouldn’t die alone.

Of course, friction arose, but I survived that chaos and seized what was mine.

“I won’t back down from a fight that comes my way.”

Those in the study nodded as if entranced by my ironclad resolve.

Even Han Gyeong-yeong, who usually bore a light demeanor, now wore a serious expression appropriate to the setting.

“All we need to do is minimalize Choi Seon-man’s power. I don’t intend to kill him. I’ll just strip him of all his power, reducing him to a senile relic that no one seeks out anymore.”

For an old monster like Choi Seon-man, losing his influence would be a greater punishment than death.

“So, there’s plenty for everyone to do. I’ll handle the negotiations with Choi Seon-man directly, but there’s much to prepare beforehand. We must finish it all before the presidential election and ensure Choi Seon-man steps back.”

I exchanged glances with Ha Myung-hoon, Han Gyeong-yeong, and Ma Seok-dae in turn.

“Chairman, verify Choi Seon-man’s finances. The generals are unlikely to be loyal to him merely due to camaraderie. Money is the root of everything.”

“Understood.”

“At the same time, put pressure on the financial sector regarding Il-seong Group. The only two obstacles left in Korea for me are Choi Seon-man and Il-seong Group. Your role is crucial, Chairman.”

Ha Myung-hoon nodded slightly. Then he turned to Han Gyeong-yeong.

“Older Brother, head to Japan tomorrow. Create a facade of attacking the Japanese foreign exchange market, as if you’re partnering with hedge funds. Then their contact will surface. Meet with him when he does.”

“Just the facade?”

“Yeah. Koizumi will need a reason to act. There’s an attempt by Toshiba to acquire Ilseong Electronics’ semiconductor division. If we let that slide, it would instantly resolve Il-seong Group’s cash flow issues. I can’t allow that to happen.”

“Okay. I’ll leave first thing tomorrow.”

Finally, I addressed Manager Ma.

“Manager, speak with the black society in China and the Russian mafia to prepare an attack on Japan. Also, contact Igor to have a special team deployed to Japan in advance.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Once I finished speaking, I sensed the atmosphere in the study had grown incredibly heavy.

It was necessary to be cautious, but there was no need to feel defeated.

To lighten the mood, I deliberately spoke softly.

“To win easily, everyone here must work together. I don’t mean to put pressure on you, but I know my people are capable. So please, execute your roles without any mistakes.”

No sooner had I finished speaking than the sound of fireworks erupted outside.

It felt like the celebratory fireworks marking our advancement to the round of 16 in the World Cup.

I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy for those celebrating outside, blissfully unaware.

We continued with a few more meetings afterward. Once the meeting concluded, I dismissed everyone except Ha Myung-hoon.

With just the two of us left in the study, we could speak more openly.

“Chairman.”

“Yes, Boss?”

“I didn’t want to involve anyone who has stepped into the light of Taesan Financial in these matters. But in calling upon trustworthy people, I couldn’t help but think of you, Chairman. I apologize for having to involve you.”

Ha Myung-hoon chuckled at my sincere apology. Unlike his sharp gaze, it was a warm smile.

“It’s okay. If anything, I feel relieved that you called upon me.”

“How’s Taesan Financial doing?”

“It continues to grow. I believe we can establish ourselves as Asia’s top financial company by the year after next.”

I nodded slightly. It was always uplifting to hear that a company carrying my grandfather’s name was sailing smoothly.

“That’s great. I look forward to the day Taesan Financial becomes the world’s number one. It would let my grandfather’s name resound all over the world.”

A fleeting look of nostalgia crossed Ha Myung-hoon’s face. I found a small smile appearing on my lips as well.

“Yes, we must make the Chairman’s name known to the world.”

While reminiscing about those we missed, it was now time to focus on the future.

I shifted my expression and directly brought the conversation back to business.

“What about the credit cards? You halted new issuances and reduced loan limits, right?”

“Yes, we stopped last year.”

“Good job.”

The credit card crisis was now beginning. President Kim Hak-gwon’s policies to aid the economy of ordinary citizens after the IMF led to rampant card issuances.

People began to get credit cards with light hearts, leading to the rise of terms related to rotation loans.

From early 2002, things had been speeding toward catastrophe. In the end, most citizens would end up labeled as credit delinquents.

In such circumstances, Taesan Financial had halted the issuance of new cards for both Taesan Card and Taesan Bank.

While other banks and card companies were increasing cash service limits in a race to attract new customers, we chose the opposite route.

People in the financial sector were condemning Taesan Financial for acting against the times.

But I wondered if they would still say that in the future?

The results would show whether Taesan Financial’s choice had been right.

Since Taesan Financial and Taesan Card issued and managed credit cards stably, they avoided the deterioration of credit card asset quality.

“Having a cash service ratio beyond 60% is nonsensical. It means they’re using credit cards to pay off other card bills. Ultimately, that does nothing to reduce debt; it only increases it.”

“I agree. In a way, credit cards might be more dangerous than loans. They are these terrifying things that make you unaware of your spending.”

To hear someone who had dealt in the loan shark market say that. Credit cards are still just… things.

I laughed, mimicking a bomb exploding.

“Exactly, kaboom! It’ll all go off in one shot. And the card companies will collapse. Taesan Financial should step in to acquire them all then.”