Chapter 185: Ah, Brother

“Ah, brother.”

Jin Young-jun leaned against the doorframe, a smirk playing on his lips.

He couldn’t be here because of my driver. Is he running errands? Or is he just sticking his nose in again?

“Seeing the news about you reminded me, so I dropped by. Looks like you’re here,” he said.

Vice President Jang Do-hyung offered a brief nod before gathering his documents.

“Please, have a seat. My business is done, so you two can chat,” Jang Do-hyung said.

Without waiting for an invitation, Jin Young-jun casually plopped down on the sofa. To him, Jang Do-hyung was either invisible or completely insignificant.

“Chairman Joo’s funeral is today. Aren’t you going?”

“No.”

“Father and Uncle went. I heard most of the Federation of Korean Industries’ owners are attending.”

“I see.”

Giving short answers without further explanation is the quickest way to get Jin Young-jun to the point.

Perhaps it was my indifferent expression and tone, but Jin Young-jun frowned. If he were acting according to his usual nasty temper, he’d be raising his voice by now. The fact that it ended with just a frown means he wants something.

“By the way… I heard you had a private conversation with Chairman Joo Kwang-shik of Daehyun yesterday. Is that true?”

Has it already reached everyone’s ears?

For my movements to spread this quickly, either Joo Kwang-shik leaked it, or Grandpa or someone else has started tailing me….

“Yes, just a moment.”

“Can you tell me what you talked about?”

“It wasn’t anything important.”

Annoyed by my nonchalant attitude, he brought up the credit card company first.

“You’re not thinking of handing Soonyang Card over to Daehyun, are you?”

“Hyung-nim, why would you say that all of a sudden?”

“I heard Joo Kwang-shik proposed acquiring Soonyang Card yesterday.”

“Where did you hear that?”

“It was the Chairman’s massive funeral. How many eyes do you think were there? The rumors are already flying.”

“Eyes can’t replace ears, though, can they? How would they know the details of our conversation?”

“Does that sound like you’re picking a fight with me?”

“Why would I pick a fight? There’s no need.”

He’s perceptive enough to understand the hidden meaning in my words.

You, who barely secured an executive position thanks to me and Father, are in a completely different league now.

Picking a fight is something you do with an equal opponent. There’s no need to provoke someone you can’t even compare to.

Jin Young-jun, realizing my meaning, trembled with clenched fists, but didn’t explode. He’s not usually one to hold back, so this restraint must be because he feels obligated to complete his errand.

“Is that so? Then never mind.”

“Hyung-nim, it’s not ‘never mind.’ You should tell me what’s going on.”

“What? I said it was just a rumor.”

“There’s no such rumor. In fact, Grandpa warned the Daehyun family sternly against such a thing. He said Soonyang subsidiaries are never to be sold off.”

“Grandpa did?”

“Yes. So, tell me the truth. Stop beating around the bush.”

After a moment of hesitation, biting his lip, Jin Young-jun reverted to his arrogant demeanor.

“Fine. Let’s get to the point. Hand over the credit card company to us. Not to Uncle.”

“You need to state your terms. This isn’t some cheap corner store. Think about how many employees there are and how much money it makes in a year.”

“We’ll offer 10% more than your uncle. That’s our position.”

He’s trying to throw money at the problem?

If this is the best he could come up with after racking his brain, it’s pathetic.

“Isn’t 10% around a hundred billion won?”

“It’s a lot of money.”

“Hyung-nim, do I look like someone desperate for money? Soonyang’s financial sector isn’t selling off companies because of a cash shortage. We’re selling the credit card company because we’re not satisfied with its business structure.”

“So? Offering more money is pointless?”

“Wouldn’t you agree that knowing what the other party wants is the priority to get what you want?”

“So? What do you want?”

“I don’t know.”

“Hey! This has gone far enough! Just because you got a few subsidiaries doesn’t mean you can get cocky! Where do you get off being so arrogant?”

There it is. His true colors.

Arrogant.

In a negotiation, you lower your head and even massage the other party’s feet to subtly steer their intentions in your favor. Jin Young-jun calls it arrogance when the other party’s intentions differ from his. Of course, he can afford to act this way.

There are plenty of people willing to bow their heads and massage feet for him.

However, Jin Young-jun doesn’t realize he’s just a proxy for Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki. This ignorance is fortunate for me.

“It’s the truth. I genuinely don’t want anything specific. Isn’t that even better?”

“Stop playing games! What is it?”

“Think about it. When you go shopping at the department store, do you only buy what you absolutely need? When you have money, don’t you just buy things that catch your eye? It’s called impulse buying. And selling it at a high price is the basic idea.”

I’m getting frustrated with this idiot’s inability to understand. I might as well give him one hint.

“Vice-chairman Jin Dong-ki isn’t someone who’d lose a fight over money. Instead of just raising the price, offer something that truly appeals to me. ‘Meticulous technology that understands the customer’s heart’… isn’t that the advertisement for Soonyang Electronics’ home appliances?”

Jin Young-jun gritted his teeth, remaining silent. He’s trying to think of something that would captivate me, but all he knows is money, so he’ll come up empty.

Just like I can’t think of a way to screw over both vice-chairmen simultaneously with this one credit card sale.

Jin Young-jun stood up, his mouth clamped shut.

He needs to run back to his father and tell him everything in detail.

“Do-jun.”

“Yes?”

“I haven’t forgotten what I said to you before.”

“Considering I don’t know what you’re talking about, I guess I’ve forgotten.”

“That I’d make you the second-in-command of Soonyang Group. Remember now?”

“Ah, that?”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Hyung-nim, become the top dog first. That’s when your words will carry weight.”

“If I become the top dog, I won’t need you. You need to make me the top dog so you can be second-in-command.”

“I can make my second uncle the top dog right now. Then I’ll be the second-in-command of Soonyang Group. Right this instant.”

The power to shift the balance.

Do I need to remind him again that this is my powerful weapon?

“Keep trying to catch up. Even then, you might barely stand before me.”

Jin Young-jun’s face was red enough to burst.

But he remained silent. His temper has improved quite a bit. He’s grown up a little.

* * *

“Do you greet every mourner at the wake like this?”

“Of course not. Our dear nephew is so special, I had to treat him specially. Why? Are you uncomfortable?”

“It’s a little too special. I’ve rented out entire restaurants before, but never a pizza place.”

A small pizza place with less than ten tables.

It’s an unusual choice for someone of Chairman Joo Kwang-shik’s age.

“My favorite food being pizza is a secret. It’s a bit embarrassing, to be honest. Haha.”

“It’s unusual, but it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

“That’s how you young folks see it. If someone my age likes pizza, they’ll all say I have the palate of a child.”

But when the pizza arrived, it was so delicious that we stopped talking and devoured it.

“This place is amazing. I usually dislike greasy foods like pizza and pasta….”

“Good, right? It’s one of the few restaurants I cherish.”

“You’re revealing a hidden gem. My expectations are high.”

“Hm? What expectations?”

“Your hidden intentions. Or should I say, plans? ‘Intentions’ sounds too sinister.”

Joo Kwang-shik smiled as he wiped the grease from his lips with a napkin.

“Wow… I wish I had a son like you. You’re incredibly sharp… living up to your reputation.”

“Anyone would suspect something meeting in secret like this.”

“Alright. I won’t strip naked in front of my nephew, but I’ll take off everything but my underwear.”

Chairman Joo Kwang-shik took a sip of his wine.

“I’m the one who spread the rumor about my interest in acquiring Soonyang Card.”

“I assumed as much.”

“Then you probably also assumed I have no real intention of acquiring it.”

“Of course. My grandfather knows that too, and that’s why he put on that show for your benefit.”

“For my benefit? No. Let’s get our terms straight. He did it for his beloved grandson.”

“I see.”

“So? Did the price go up a bit because I jumped into the acquisition battle?”

“It’s still mainly a staring contest. What about your brothers? Are they falling for it?”

Joo Kwang-shik’s smile vanished, replaced by a stern expression.

“You’re good at reading the game. Yes, they seem a bit less guarded.”

“Their disguise isn’t convincing enough, it seems.”

“Aren’t they people who are suspicious by nature? Of course, you and I are too.”

“Then tell me. What is this stage? How can I help you?”

“Hahahaha!”

He suddenly burst into laughter, shaking his head.

“If you keep showing how brilliant you are, I’ll become wary of you. Is that alright? We’re always supposed to compete and keep each other in check, you know.”

“No. I have no intention of competing with Daehyun Group. That’s a distant future. My rivals will be your children. Second generations fight second generations, and third generations fight third generations. Aren’t I your nephew? Please guide me well.”

“Oh, please be gentle with my children. It seems more fitting for me to ask you that.”

Joo Kwang-shik drained his glass and refilled mine.

“Now, let’s get to the point. Among Soonyang Life Insurance’s subsidiaries, there’s an insurance investigation company called Soonyang Special Injury Assessment, right?”

“Yes.”

What is it? Isn’t that a tiny company that’s hard to even remember? For its name to come out of Chairman Joo’s mouth?

I’m not the only one who’s quick-witted.

He smiled faintly at my expression.

“It’s not a company worth paying attention to, so you probably don’t know much about its assets.”

“That’s true. Is there something special about it?”

“That company is a merger of three companies. DH Communications, LWS. All in the insurance business….”

“Judging by the DH initials, it was a subsidiary of Daehyun Group.”

“Correct.”

This is a mistake.

That I didn’t know this important fact!

And that no one reported this fact to me!

I’ll have to give someone a good dressing down when I get back to the office.

“That company owns 2% of Daehyun Automobile’ stock.”

I was so surprised I couldn’t hide my expression. This is a key issue that should have been reported. This isn’t just a matter for a dressing down.

“Don’t be too surprised. It only happened a few days ago.”

“What do you mean…?”

“A few days ago, Daehyun Automobile acquired a parts company. A merger. To secure the patents that company held.”

“So, the parts company’s stock was converted into Daehyun Automobile stock.”

“Exactly. There hasn’t been an official announcement yet, so your company probably doesn’t know about it.”

What a stroke of luck. I couldn’t help but smile this time.

How much did I just make by sitting still?

“You want that stock. Is that what you’re saying?”

“I’ll give you a very generous price. How’s that?”

“Hmm, I’ll have to think about it….”

Joo Kwang-shik’s expression hardened.

“To my nephew, it’s just money. To me….”

“It will be a very important core asset. So, don’t even think about buying it with money.”

“If not money? Then with what?”

“Let’s barter.”

“What?”

“I’ll give you 2% of Daehyun Automobile’ stock. Give me 2% of Soonyang Electronics’ stock.”

Based on today’s stock prices, that’s about a twenty-fold difference.

Let’s see what Joo Kwang-shik is really capable of. Hehe.