Chapter 769: The Loan Shark King’s Genius Grandson – Chapter 769

The Loan Shark King’s Genius Grandson-769화(769/840)

#769

I have no intention of avoiding danger.

The sudden movements from China caused both the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock markets to plummet simultaneously.

Not only that, but stock prices in Japan and Korea also dropped sharply.

It was a crash similar to the Asian financial crisis.

In sync with this, forces were identified which had contracted massive amounts of short selling and short options in both the spot and futures markets.

“What’s our damage?”

—It’s not too bad since we didn’t invest much in the Asian stock market. It would’ve been a bigger problem if the U.S. market had collapsed too… It’s still manageable at this level.

“Where did it originate from? Did you find out?”

—Yes. In the U.S. and Europe, most of the volume was handled through accounts at Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, and Lehman Brothers. In Asia, the contracts were made through Nomura Securities…

Han Gyeong-yeong’s explanation continued for some time.

Listening to it, it seemed like the hedge funds related to Valtiche had gone short through several investment banks.

“Was there any movement from China?”

—No. There was no movement from the Chinese side at all. Maybe they avoided it because it could cause problems if funds moved around while China was engaged in military action.

“Let’s try to minimize the damage. The U.S. stock market should be fine, right?”

—There will be some impact, but it will be less significant than in Asia. Unless the U.S. takes military action. Anyway, I’ll take care of that. By the way, are you going to stay in Korea? The atmosphere in Washington is that war might break out.

It seemed Washington had determined that China might actually move.

“I don’t know. I need to stay here for now.”

—There’s no need for you to direct things from there. Come to the U.S. first…

“No. I’ll leave when it becomes truly dangerous. I think they’ll stop here. The Chinese Government won’t want to go any further either. This will just be an action to pressure North Korea.”

China’s move came after protests from the North Korean and South Korean governments.

They moved their troops while maintaining that it was a routine military exercise.

“I need to bring Eva back. It’ll be much easier for her to operate in Hong Kong.”

—Really? She’s in Saudi right now. I talked to her a few days ago.

“She went to Saudi for a vacation?”

—Well, it seems she’s been traveling around. You told her to target the Middle Eastern royal families, right?

“That could have been done slowly. If she works during her break, it’s not a vacation.”

—The boss is a workaholic so how can a subordinate properly rest?

I had told Eva to build relationships with the royalty in the Middle East, but that was an instruction for the future that I had put on hold for the time being.

Having given her a year’s vacation I couldn’t help but smile at the fact she was working anyway.

“I’ll make my move as well. You keep investigating Wall Street’s movements.”

—Okay, Boss.

After ending the call with Han Gyeong-yeong, I immediately called Eva.

—Boss! Are you alright?

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Eva answered the phone right away, before the first ring had even finished.

“What is it? Were you waiting for my call?”

—I was just about to call you. Are you okay? Nothing happened, right, Boss?

“I’m fine. It’s not like a war broke out. By the way, I heard you are in Saudi?”

Eva let out a sigh of relief at my calm words and then replied.

—James must have told you. Yes, I finished my trip to Europe and am now touring the Middle East.

“I told you to rest, but you went to work. That’s insubordination.”

—Don’t worry, Boss. I’ve been sightseeing and shopping as well. I’ve built some level of rapport with the Saudi and UAE royal families. I think it will be quite helpful later.

It seemed she had already built rapport in that short time.

I knew Eva’s abilities and this was why I gave her the task, but her progress was faster than I had anticipated.

“Good job. We’ll continue that later. It’s a little early, but you need to end your vacation and come back. I need someone to handle Hong Kong and China.”

—So, my vacation is over. Understood. I’ll return right away.

“Don’t enter Hong Kong directly. It’s better to come to Korea and operate from there. Going into China or Hong Kong right now is suicide.”

Eva seemed to have the same thought as she readily agreed.

—Okay, Boss. I’ll call you when I arrive in Korea. It’ll take about a week after I finish up.

“Okay. Let’s talk when we meet in Korea.”

If Eva returned, things would be a little easier.

If I left the financial matters to Han Gyeong-yeong and Eva, I wouldn’t have to worry much.

Such an event had never happened in my previous life. China moving its troops to pressure North Korea, that is.

After ending the call, I asked Manager Ma.

“Has Hu Jintao not returned yet?”

“No. His whereabouts are still unknown.”

“What about Beijing’s movements?”

“Well… it’s too quiet. There are no attacks on Hu Jintao’s close aides either.”

If Hu Jintao had died, Beijing would be in a bloodbath.

“Then we should assume Hu Jintao is safe and make our plans.”

If he was alive, he could use this opportunity to counterattack.

It was an incident where the highest leader, who served as President, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, and Chairman of the Military Commission was attacked by his own military.

He could use this as an excuse for a purge, so he must be hiding somewhere, biding his time, and sharpening his blade.

“What about Lai Changxing?”

“He will enter Korea in a few days.”

“We need to find out what he’s holding. To know why Jiang Zemin asked for him. If he has Jiang Zemin’s weaknesses, he will be a good card for us.”

When Jiang Zemin offered the condition of releasing Yoo Sung-jin, the first thing he asked for was custody of Lai Changxing.

“What about Lai Changxing’s family?”

“They are staying in Greece with Lai Changxing.”

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Europe is a bit unsettling because of Valtiche. I tapped the table and opened my mouth.

“Let’s move Lai Changxing to Korea, and his family somewhere else. The U.S. would be good. Let them stay at the villa in California. Increase their security level to A-class.”

“Yes. I will issue those instructions.”

Lai Changxing’s weakness was his family. It was easier to manipulate him if I held his weakness.

“And I need to go to Pyongyang. I need to talk to Jang Seong-taek properly. He’ll be more anxious than I am.”

“Boss, that’s dangerous. If China really invades North Korea, they’ll attack Pyongyang. It’s too reckless to go to Pyongyang.”

Manager Ma vehemently opposed. I understood since he was someone who prioritized my safety above all else, but…

“I must go, even if Manager Ma opposes it. If Jang Seong-taek gives in to China’s threats, then all my plans will be ruined.”

“…It’s still too dangerous, Boss.”

“I have no intention of avoiding danger. But I also have no intention of throwing my life away. You don’t need to worry too much. So, please be aware. This is an order.”

At the word order, Manager Ma bit his lip and bowed his head.

Even when giving instructions to Manager Ma, I had rarely used the word order.

“Understood, Boss.”

I sighed softly at that sight. There was nothing harder than making the person who worried about me worry.

But I had to go to Pyongyang as soon as possible.

“Manager Ma, you will not be accompanying me on this trip to Pyongyang.”

“Boss, that is…”

“Please stay and finish up the problems at Heavenly Group. You’re the only one I can trust and rely on, you know that, right?”

“…”

If I didn’t decide on a successor for the Heavenly Group soon, they might start turning on each other.

Before that, I had to elect a chairman and give him all the authority Yoo Sung-jin had.

“If they reject the successor we’ve chosen, take care of it then.”

“Understood, Boss.”

A shadow fell on Manager Ma’s face. I stood up and spoke gently on purpose.

“It’s time to go to the Blue House. Let’s go together, Manager.”

* * *

As Yoo Sung-jin’s absence grew longer, the businesses run by the Heavenly Group started to falter.

Meanwhile, Im Hwa-soo and Yang Woo-guk were busy gathering their forces, causing small conflicts from the bottom up.

No bloodshed had occurred yet, but if it were left as is, it was obvious that they would shed a lot of blood eventually.

“Hwa-soo.”

In such a chaotic time, Chu Dong-bin called Im Hwa-soo to meet with him alone.

“Yes, Vice Chairman.”

“We’re just having a drink together, so why are you being so stiff?”

Chu Dong-bin said while pouring Im Hwa-soo a drink.

“…It seems like it will be difficult for the Chairman to be released.”

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Im Hwa-soo’s eyes widened.

“Is that true?”

Chu Dong-bin smiled bitterly and poured a drink for himself as well.

“Yeah. I got a call from former Chairman Lee Sang-geun. He said he could get anywhere from a life sentence to the death penalty.”

“What…How could such a thing happen? Vice Chairman! Are we just going to sit idly by?”

Im Hwa-soo slammed the table and expressed his anger.

“How can we save the Chairman?”

“What is President Kim Mu-hyeok doing? Isn’t he the one who can save him?”

Im Hwa-soo recalled the first time he met President Kim Mu-hyeok.

He had been shocked by how Yoo Sung-jin had bowed his head, unable to say anything to that young man.

“Well, I don’t know what he’s doing either.”

“Has he abandoned the Chairman?”

“I don’t know that far. What former Chairman Lee Sang-geun told me was only to reduce the chaos. He also said that they will hold a general meeting soon to elect the next chairman.”

Chu Dong-bin swirled his glass, melting the ice.

Against the background of the clinking sounds, he looked at Im Hwa-soo with warm eyes.

“You know about that, right? When Director Kang Jun-woo tried to overthrow the Chairman.”

“I know.”

“You were also under Director Kang Jun-woo back then, right? It was the Chairman who saved you then. Not only did he save you, but he also nurtured you.”

“…”

“Most of Director Kang Jun-woo’s faction are either dead or still in prison. One faction literally evaporated.”

“What are you trying to say? Why are you bringing up old stories?”

When Im Hwa-soo pressed him, Chu Dong-bin emptied his glass at once and put it down.

“Hwa-soo. I heard you’ve been going around visiting the elders recently.”

“…”

“Are you greedy for the chairman position? So you’re already gathering forces even though you don’t know what’s going to happen to the Chairman?”

“That’s…”

While acting as the chairman’s proxy, Chu Dong-bin had thoroughly understood what was happening within the group.

“I’m someone who took off my military uniform and decided to follow Chairman Yoo Sung-jin. So I’m not too attached to the position. I’ve only done my best for my brother. Do I look like someone who’s greedy for the chairman position to you?”

Im Hwa-soo couldn’t answer right away. Chu Dong-bin sighed at his silence.

Chu Dong-bin had never been greedy for the position of chairman.

He had only thought of retiring when Yoo Sung-jin retired.

“Vice Chairman, no, Older Brother. If this continues, that bastard Yang Woo-guk will take over the group. That’s why I acted first.”

“The advisors support Director Yang Woo-guk. They can’t possibly look at you in a good light.”

“Why are you leaving those ghosts alone? Isn’t it ridiculous that those powerless ghosts of the past are controlling us?”

Im Hwa-soo expressed his dissatisfaction, but Chu Dong-bin only shook his head.

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“That’s something the Chairman decided.”

“If you’re greedy, you can do it! Then Yang Woo-guk won’t be able to move easily either.”

“Don’t say such things. I’m just a shadow of Chairman Yoo Sung-jin, I don’t have the ability to take over what he was doing. Even if they give me the position, I’ll reject it.”

Chu Dong-bin planned to retire as he was.

“Older Brother!”

Im Hwa-soo raised his voice as he read the sincerity in Chu Dong-bin’s words.

“I plan on pushing you forward.”

“What do you mean by that!”

“So don’t move unnecessarily and make Director Yang Woo-guk wary. I’ll take care of it.”

“Why are you doing this?”

Chu Dong-bin looked at Im Hwa-soo with sharp eyes.

He had drunk quite a bit of alcohol, but his narrow eyes showed a firm energy.

“I think you can grow the Heavenly Group more stably. I think so.”

Im Hwa-soo’s eyes shook slightly.

“So you stay still. Don’t make unnecessary enemies.”

Chu Dong-bin refilled his glass.

“I plan on calling former Chairman Lee Sang-geun first.”

“Former Chairman Lee Sang-geun?”

“Yes. He will be able to quell the chaos.”

“He’s already washed his hands and left. Even if he comes…”

“But his presence in the largest faction, the Dong-soo faction, can’t be ignored. He will listen if I ask him. When everything is settled, I plan to recommend you as chairman.”

Im Hwa-soo could only stare at Chu Dong-bin, unable to say anything.

“So can you trust me and wait? Then…”

Chu Dong-bin couldn’t finish his words. Because the door suddenly burst open and Kim Ki-moon entered.

“Something happened.”

The eyes of the two men were on Kim Ki-moon.

“There was a clash at Incheon Port.”

“A clash? What happened? Explain properly.”

Kim Ki-moon’s gaze, who was faltering his words, stopped at Im Hwa-soo’s side.

“There has been a clash between Director Im Hwa-soo’s forces and Director Yang Woo-guk’s subordinates. As for the extent of the damage…”

“What? What the hell are you doing? Hwa-soo! Did you order it?”

Chu Dong-bin glared at Im Hwa-soo and raised his voice.

“No, Older Brother. I have no reason to tell my underlings to do such a thing, right? It’s all Yang Woo-guk’s doing!”

Im Hwa-soo waved his hand frantically and protested.

“What about the police? Did the police get dispatched?”

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“There is no movement yet. It seems someone is blocking the police.”

“They planned this.”

Chu Dong-bin stood up and looked down at Im Hwa-soo.

“Don’t make things bigger. You stay here and wait. I’ll take care of it.”

“Older Brother. I’ll go with you…”

“If you and I move together right now, I don’t know how Director Yang Woo-guk will react. I’ll go and take care of it so you wait. This is an order.”

Chu Dong-bin warned Im Hwa-soo and rushed out of the bar.

The small cracks that appeared when Yoo Sung-jin disappeared were getting bigger and bigger.

End