Chapter 131: Chairman Jin Raises the Stakes

Chairman Jin went even further, almost as if he were teasing them.

“Oh, and you’ll be in charge of the professional sports team too.”

“Ah, Father.”

“What is it?”

Jin Sang-ki, meeting Chairman Jin’s fierce gaze, fell silent.

“Are you dissatisfied? Should I have just tossed you some trivial foundation instead?”

“No, sir.”

Jin Sang-ki shut his mouth at his older brother’s glance. Hadn’t he already decided to side with Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki?

He trusted his older brother wouldn’t leave him overseeing just the foundation.

His eldest brother cautiously voiced the question on everyone’s mind.

“Father, then who will handle the financial side…?”

“For now, I’ll keep overseeing it. Why? Are you eager to push me into retirement already?”

“Please don’t say that. No, sir.”

Jin Young-ki waved his hands hastily.

“Well… I wanted to split that up too, but apparently, sorting out the shareholding is incredibly complicated and time-consuming.”

Chairman Jin offered a plausible-sounding excuse, but no one in the study believed it.

The true owner of the group’s financial affiliates wasn’t in this room. It was the sly youngest son, currently charming the elders outside.

“Starting this year, we’ll begin organizing the shares according to the splits I’ve given. Once that’s done, we’ll divide the finances too. Be patient.”

Could those words really be true? The children couldn’t quite let go of a sliver of hope.

Soonyang Asset Management was acceptable to give to the youngest. But the rest? Absolutely not.

There was still time. They had to prevent the group’s lifeline from falling into the wrong hands.

The three sons shared the same thought.

“That’s enough for today. I told the presidents and executives not to come for New Year’s greetings. They’re probably waiting anxiously outside your houses right now. Go and give them some pocket money.”

As the five children filed out of the study, leaving Chairman Jin alone with Lee Hak-jae, he let out a long sigh.

“These kids are never satisfied, even when they’re given something.”

“It’s because they know they haven’t received everything.”

“They can’t just sit and wait for things to fall into their laps. Now that I’ve clearly marked the territories, they’ll have to fight for what they want.”

Lee Hak-jae offered a faint smile.

“So, you don’t actually want to break up the group.”

“Korean companies can barely survive if they’re not united.”

“Yes?”

Chairman Jin suddenly interjected with a bizarre remark.

“Look at them individually, and they’re nothing special. Take Soonyang Electronics, for example. Semiconductors, home appliances, cell phones. They support and pull each other along, which is how they’re climbing up. Without semiconductors, the home appliance division would have closed down.”

“Just like how heavy industry bolstered Soonyang Shipbuilding’s competitiveness?”

“Exactly. And without the life insurance, numerous companies would have gone bankrupt due to funding issues.”

Then why not just choose one and give it everything instead of playing these games?

Lee Hak-jae had asked himself this countless times, though he never voiced it.

If Jin Yang-cheol were younger, he might have already chosen someone, but now that he was old, he had become more indecisive.

He probably wanted to give Soonyang Group to all his children, but he had to choose between dividing it or giving it all to one. And because he was so conflicted, he postponed the decision.

And today, a new variable had emerged.

The loyalists who had silently built and protected Soonyang. Without their support, he might lose what he had already secured.

* * *

The family members hurriedly left Chairman Jin’s mansion in a flurry. The daughters-in-law and grandchildren were ushered out without knowing why.

As they were about to get into their cars in front of the main building entrance, Jin Young-ki called out to his younger brother.

“Yoon-ki, let’s talk.”

Moving to a quieter spot, Jin Young-ki pulled out a cigarette.

“Did you perhaps discuss anything with Father beforehand?”

“What are you referring to?”

“The financial affiliates.”

“No. I heard about the spin-off for the first time today too. Though… it’s not particularly surprising. Oh, but your daughter was a bit unexpected.”

“Is that the truth?”

“Hyung-nim, stop beating around the bush. What do you want to say?”

“Could that be set aside for Do-jun?”

As Jin Young-ki sharply scrutinized his younger brother’s expression, Jin Yun-ki nodded.

“I think so too.”

“What?”

“Despite his young age, Do-jun has already demonstrated remarkable investment skills. It would be difficult to find a more suitable person to manage Soonyang’s finances.”

“Hey!”

Jin Young-ki snapped at his younger brother’s calm demeanor.

“Is this just about handing over a bank account?”

“Whether it’s a bank account or a financial company, it’s still money. The difference in size doesn’t negate his suitability.”

“This isn’t about suitability. Do you even know how many shares of the affiliates Soonyang Life Insurance holds?”

“Soonyang Corporation holds a similar amount, doesn’t it? And the insignificant Soonyang Precision Machinery also holds quite a few group shares. It doesn’t seem like he’s splitting it based on shareholdings anyway, does it? Isn’t he grouping them by sector?”

Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki glared at Jin Yun-ki, who didn’t back down.

“So? Now that a large financial company is coming your way, you’re aiming for a position within Soonyang Group? After lying low all this time, are you showing your claws through your son?”

Jin Yun-ki sighed deeply and bit his lip.

“It’s not for me. The hospital and the training institute are all I have. You heard what Father said…”

“Hey! How can you say that now? Are you asking me to consider your son, who’s barely over twenty, separately from you?”

“I never asked you to consider him separately.”

Another sigh escaped his lips.

“Hyung-nim, if Father were to give the finances to me, I would concede. Frankly, I have no interest in it. But if he’s giving it to my son, I can’t tell him to yield to you. As a parent, I haven’t provided him with much. I can’t allow his inheritance to be taken away.”

Seeing his younger brother’s composure, Jin Young-ki also calmed down.

“Let’s be realistic. How much longer do you think Father will live? If Do-jun takes over a financial company in his mid-twenties?”

Frankly, even Jin Yun-ki couldn’t envision a positive outcome. No matter how intelligent his son was, he couldn’t overcome years of experience.

“If Do-jun rises to power while Soonyang Group is divided, those sharks on Yeouido will launch their schemes. They’ll try to seize control of a vast insurance company that’s practically unguarded. Are you confident you can protect your son?”

Jin Yun-ki stared at his older brother for a moment before turning to leave.

“Isn’t our situation pathetic? We’re already counting our chickens before they hatch.”

“Yoon-ki!”

Jin Yun-ki ignored Jin Young-ki’s shout and quickened his pace. Nothing good would come of this conversation. He didn’t want to engage in a pointless argument on New Year’s Day.

# # #

Like the other relatives heading home, our family also went outside. As we were about to get in the car, my uncle, looking serious, called my father, and we waited for him.

That’s when I spotted a familiar face waiting on one side of the entrance and hurried over.

“Assistant Manager Kim.”

“Ah, Chief of staff.”

Assistant Manager Kim Yoon-suk grasped my hand warmly, looking pleased.

“How are you feeling? Are you in any pain?”

“I’m fine. My muscles have atrophied, but I’m taking care of myself, so I’ll be back to normal soon.”

Seeing him casually pat his thigh, a wave of sympathy washed over me.

A life where you can’t rest even when you’re in pain, where you have to work as long as you have the strength… I knew it well.

“Why didn’t you contact me? I heard from Grandfather that you were assigned under Chief of staff Lee Hak-jae.”

“Well… I was strictly forbidden from contacting the Chief of staff.”

Assistant Manager Kim scratched his head sheepishly.

Grandfather, who intended to assess his potential, had done something unexpected. Lee Hak-jae…?

At first, I wondered how many days he could last, but I hadn’t heard he was fired. Seeing him looking bright, it seemed he was managing okay.

“How is it? Manageable?”

“It’s great.”

Assistant Manager Kim smiled gently. It wasn’t an exaggerated expression, which was good to see.

“I feel like I’ve caught a glimpse of how someone at the top lives.”

“And how do they live?”

“To my eyes, it’s like they perform magic.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. The Chairman’s single command ripples through the entire group… and he orchestrates it with incredible precision. I’ve seen him gently coaxing and sternly rebuking the presidents and executives. It’s like watching a precarious tightrope walk.”

Respect and admiration were evident on Assistant Manager Kim’s face as he spoke.

“You’ll learn a lot.”

“I still have a long way to go. I need the aptitude to even learn. I’m just trying to grasp the basics.”

“If you listen carefully and observe closely, you’ll see it someday.”

It wasn’t just a simple encouragement. It was something I had learned through experience. Just then, I heard someone calling me from behind.

“Do-jun!”

I turned to see my older brother, Sang-joon, gesturing to me.

“Let’s meet again. I’ll be waiting for the day you return to me, Assistant Manager Kim.”

Leaving Assistant Manager Kim bowing respectfully, I hurried towards the car.

* * *

From the first day of the New Year, the homes of Jin Young-ki and Jin Dong-ki brothers were hosting New Year’s gatherings that resembled board meetings.

They were no longer just the Chairman’s children but powerful figures holding the authority to appoint and dismiss presidents of their respective affiliates.

The same was true for Jin Seo-yoon.

Seeing the presidents and executives waiting for her return in front of her house filled her with exhilaration.

Their demeanor and gazes were noticeably different from just yesterday.

The arrogant attitude they had when submitting documents, solely due to her lineage as the Chairman’s daughter, was nowhere to be seen.

They even tiptoed carefully into the house, afraid their footsteps might be too loud.

“Everyone, please sit. Let’s skip the New Year’s greetings and deal with urgent matters first.”

Jin Seo-yoon immediately reviewed the debt status.

“This is our debt. We need to pay a significant amount of interest to the main house starting this month. Put your heads together and come up with a financial plan.”

The numbers immediately caused everyone to frown. Their business sector had already been hit hard by the IMF, and now they foresaw significant financial pressure.

Ignoring their troubled expressions, Jin Seo-yoon continued.

“And now, for the first personnel announcement. President of Seocho Department Store.”

“Yes.”

“You are reassigned to President of Myeong-dong Department Store. And the President of Myeong-dong Department Store is appointed as the CEO of Soonyang Distribution. Focus all your efforts on the successful launch of the large discount store chain this year.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Wasn’t it obvious that she would place her closest allies in Soonyang Distribution, which would become the parent company? The President of Soonyang Distribution also seemed to have anticipated this, his expression calm.

“The President of Soonyang Distribution is appointed as the President of Seocho Department Store. Ensure a smooth handover of duties.”

“Yes.”

Once the key figures were in place, the subordinates would naturally find their respective roles.

Seeing the seasoned presidents completely subdued, her father must have given them strict instructions.

Today’s announcement from her father wasn’t a test or a probe of his children. It was a clear indication that he had indeed divided the group.

Could it be that the financial sector of the group would really go to the young Jin Do-jun?

Jin Seo-yoon recalled the promise she had made to her nephew.

An equal split…….