Chapter 57: I Plan to Recover Most of It

In contrast to my cool gaze, a smile played on my lips.

Park Dong-su looked at me with a slightly uneasy expression.

“I’ll get in touch.”

“You absolutely must not hurt them or anything like that. When you threaten them, create a situation where they feel like ‘I could die at any moment.’ You’re professionals, so you know this better than I do, right? I’m counting on you.”

“That’s what our boys are good at. Don’t worry. It’s scarier to set the mood and not let them sleep properly than to actually hit them. It’s about drying people out, you know.”

I nodded slightly and shifted my gaze to Lee Sang-geun.

“How’s the company doing?”

“There were no issues with the registration. The problem is… once the construction in Cheongju is finished, it’ll be difficult to get more work from that area.”

“Can’t be helped. Don’t worry about the construction. We can subcontract from Daehyeon Construction. For now, stay away from illegal activities and focus solely on Geukseong Construction.”

“Understood.”

While I was talking about the construction company with Lee Sang-geun, Park Dong-su was listening, alternating his gaze between us.

I looked at him with a slight smile.

“Boss, start by taking over Yeongdeungpo. As far as I know, there aren’t any big organizations there, but it’s been a while, so I’m not exactly sure. You can handle it, right?”

“Gotta do it.”

“Don’t worry about funding. If you can absorb them, do it. You’ve already taken in some of Jo Hyun-gu’s subordinates, right?”

Park Dong-su nodded.

“I’ve retired the big shots and taken in the small fry. I’ll try to resolve things through dialogue rather than war if possible.”

“Good. Let me know if you need money. I’ll give you whatever amount, but absolutely do not get involved with drugs or anything like that.”

“I won’t. Don’t worry.”

As I finished speaking and stood up, Park Dong-su grabbed me.

“Leaving already? Let’s have a drink today.”

“I’ll be quite busy for a while. Let’s have some makgeolli together next time.”

Park Dong-su, licking his lips, saw me off with a disappointed expression.

“Little bro, make sure we have a drink next time, alright?”

“Sure.”

As the car door closed, Manager Ma’s car slowly started moving.

Through the window, I could see the Geukseong Construction building gradually receding.

“That guy really hasn’t changed, has he?”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, he’s exactly the same as when I first met him. He gets serious when talking business, but he’s still as friendly as ever.”

Perhaps because of the smile on my face, Manager Ma, unusually for him, slightly curled the corners of his mouth in a smile.

As if to tighten the slightly relaxed atmosphere in the car, I asked:

“How are things progressing with Cheon Su-man?”

“I believe Chief Ha is in the preparatory stages.”

“Chief Ha’s work is always thorough, so let’s wait and see. Just keep an eye on things, just in case.”

“Understood.”

* * *

Cheon Su-man was glaring at Chief Ha with a dumbfounded expression.

“What is this?”

“Divorce papers. You just need to stamp them.”

“Ha… Have you lost your mind?!”

Cheon Su-man finally shouted, throwing the documents.

Despite being thrown forcefully, the papers fluttered weakly to the floor with a soft rustle.

Chief Ha, as usual, didn’t even blink as he picked up the documents and held them out again.

“It’s the Chairman’s orders. Stamp them.”

“…Why?”

Cheon Su-man looked at the documents with empty eyes.

“Why is Father doing this to me? Is it because I showed interest in the Il-seong Group? Is that why he’s ttelling me to get divorced?”

Chief Ha didn’t answer his questions.

He was simply delivering the message he needed to convey.

“The Chairman will take back everything he’s given to you. Quickly get your affairs in order and prepare to leave the country.”

“What?”

Cheon Su-man stared blankly at Chief Ha, more shocked than when he received the divorce papers.

“No, why? Is it because of that bastard Mu-hyeok? Is he more important than his own child? He tosses a few buildings to his eldest grandson like charity and tells him to fend for himself, and now he’s kicking me out too? Did that bastard tell him to do this? Has Father gone senile or something?!”

Chief Ha’s face stiffened slightly.

But Cheon Su-man, seemingly quite angry, continued shouting without noticing the change in his expression.

“This isn’t right! Does he think I’m a fool because I’ve been quiet? Does he think I’ll just quietly let myself be kicked out like this?!”

“If you’re counting on the Cheongpung Group, I suggest you abandon that thought. We’ve already warned them. This is the Chairman’s final act of consideration.”

Cheongpung Group.

Only then did Cheon Su-man look at Chief Ha’s face.

Realizing something was wrong from Chief Ha’s hardened expression, Cheon Su-man asked in a trembling voice:

“What’s the reason? Why is the Cheongpung Group involved in this?”

“You know why.”

“What… what?!”

“Did you really think the Chairman would never find out?”

“What are you talking about?!”

Chief Ha’s face hardened even more at Cheon Su-man’s brazen response, and his voice finally rose:

“Why did you do it? Miss Mi-suk had left everything behind and gone away, saying she would cut ties with the President and live her own life. Why did you have to track her down and kill her?”

Cheon Su-man’s face turned as white as a sheet.

Chief Ha’s intense reaction, unusual for someone who rarely expressed emotions, spoke volumes about how he felt about Cheon Mi-suk.

It also explained why he was favorable towards Kim Mu-hyeok.

“Myung-hoon, I need to see Father.”

“He says he doesn’t want to see you. If you come to the house, he said he’ll abandon even the last shred of familial affection. Stamp the documents. I’ll take care of the property settlement. Continue to support Miss Ji-young and her mother as before. They’ll stay in their current home.”

“Alright, keep supporting them. When Su-han gets out, send him abroad right away. Not to Australia where Su-man is, but somewhere else.”

“Understood.”

Chairman Cheon changed the subject.

“That’s enough about them. What’s Mu-hyeok up to?”

“He’s been reviewing the loan documents. I’m not sure what criteria he’s using or what he’s looking for, but he’s been investing most of his time in that.”

“Hmm… How much have we handed over?”

“We’ve handed over everything outside the top 20 companies in the industry rankings. We’ve also transferred all the bonds that President Cheon was managing.”

“It’ll take quite a while just to check all that. Alright, keep an eye on him for now, and if he asks for advice, guide him well.”

“Understood.”

* * *

“President Cheon Su-man has left the country.”

I looked up from the loan documents I was reviewing to face Manager Ma.

“He entered Australia. It seems they’ve set up conditions for him to settle there sufficiently.”

“I’m sure they have. Grandfather can’t be too harsh on his own flesh and blood. Just keep an eye on him for now. Chief Ha is probably watching him too, so don’t create any problems.”

“Understood.”

I looked back at the loan documents spread out before me. They were piled high enough to fill the large table and then some.

“There’s more than I thought.”

Manager Ma didn’t respond, but I continued talking.

“There are more bonds that need to be recovered than I expected. Many of these are likely to become problematic in the future.”

Despite my eyes feeling strained from the continuous document review, I didn’t stop looking.

The entirety of Korea’s private loan market was right here.

Reviewing the loan documents while recalling knowledge of the future was taxing on the eyes but quite an interesting task.

Time passed, and it had been several weeks since Cheon Su-man left the country.

I visited Grandfather’s study after quite a long time.

“Grandfather, it’s Mu-hyeok.”

“Come in.”

Grandfather greeted me as if he had been waiting.

“I’ve finished categorizing the loans.”

At my words, Grandfather’s expressionless face changed. It was the face of Chairman Cheon that I used to know.

“You finished quickly. Tell me about it.”

“Most of them have a high probability of becoming bad debts. I plan to recover most of them.”

Taking out private loans meant that their financial state wasn’t good.

Most of the bonds were likely to become worthless before receiving IMF support.

Chairman Cheon let out a surprised chuckle.

“Most of them?”

“Yes.”

While I couldn’t know the scale of loans to the top 20 companies, I could partially gauge Chairman Cheon’s wealth from the bonds I had checked over the past few weeks.

“I intend to recover everything that can be recovered.”

“Are you thinking of quitting the private loan business?”

“No, but isn’t it difficult to get money back later if problems arise in the private loan business? I’m thinking of sorting that out in advance.”

The foreign exchange crisis wasn’t a sudden disaster.

It was a case where problems that had been accumulating for a long time finally couldn’t hold up anymore.

Now was the era of expanding businesses by borrowing money.

Saying that I would recover most of the bonds right away might sound absurd.

Chairman Cheon seemed to be thinking about what I said, tapping his fingers on the desk.

And after a moment, he asked Chief Ha beside him:

“What do you think?”

“I think there’s merit to what the young master says, but our business isn’t just about paperwork. I think we need to proceed slowly, considering that.”

After hearing his answer, Chairman Cheon closed his eyes for a moment, seemingly in thought.

Surprisingly, his deliberation was brief.

“Do as you see fit. If you need any help, ask Chief Ha.”

“Thank you, Grandfather.”

“So, what do you plan to do with the recovered money?”

I smiled as I replied:

“I plan to lend more to quality companies. I’ll eliminate potential issues and deal with bonds that can be recognized.”

After the IMF, the influence of creditors would become a powerful force holding companies by the neck.

I intended to hold and shake that leash.