Chapter 242: Chapter 1: The Funeral

The old lady scanned the hospital room and immediately scowled.

“You didn’t arrive right on time. To think I have to see those things again….”

Everyone knew the ‘things’ she referred to were me, my older brother Sang-joon, and my mother.

“What in the world are you doing right now? How can you say such things?” my father cried out, his face stained with tears and contorted in anguish.

The fact that he wasn’t yelling louder in the face of his father’s death was likely due to his last shred of patience.

“This one, that one… all useless fools swarming around. Just like their bloodline, how utterly pathetic.”

Clicking her tongue, the old lady cast a cold gaze over her children and grandchildren.

“Hold the funeral at the house. Strictly limit the mourners and be particularly mindful to avoid any chaotic situations.”

With that, the old lady left the room as if she had nothing more to say.

“Oh, and Young-gi, Dong-gi, instruct those needed and come home. I have something important to discuss.”

The old lady winked at Jin Hye-kyung, the eldest daughter of Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi, and left. Jin Hye-kyung bowed deeply to everyone and quickly followed.

Watching this, my father finally reached his breaking point and tried to chase after the old lady, his face turning crimson.

But my mother grabbed his arm, and my second uncle blocked his path.

“Yoon-ki. Please endure it today. Just today….”

My father, his clenched fists trembling, finally relaxed his grip.

“Big brother!”

My father shouted towards Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi.

“Make sure Mother sees Father being placed in the coffin with her own eyes. If she doesn’t, drag her there! You take responsibility for that.”

The encoffining isn’t just a simple act of putting the body in the coffin. It’s the last chance to say goodbye to the deceased before the lid closes. It seemed he was saying not to abandon basic decency towards her husband, no matter how much she disliked him.

My eldest uncle nodded weakly.

My chest tightened with anger at my grandmother’s absurd behavior, but I suppressed it, looking at my grandfather’s peacefully closed eyes.

His words, telling me to forgive my grandmother, still echoed clearly in my ears.

* * *

Quite a few people had gathered in the VIP ward’s conference room. They were preparing for the hectic five days ahead.

“We all agree on holding a family funeral, right?”

Jin Young-gi, as the chief mourner, led the meeting.

His brothers all nodded, but the presidents of the core affiliates who had rushed over didn’t look pleased.

“Vice-chairman, the Federation of Korean Industries suggests holding a funeral for an economic leader. Of course, Chairman’s funeral should be entirely based on the children’s wishes, but please consider the opinions of various circles as well.”

“That’s right. Frankly, a state funeral wouldn’t be out of the question. Chairman’s life is the history of the Korean economy itself, isn’t it? It’s not excessive at all.”

Jin Young-gi listened to the two presidents, observing Jin Dong-gi’s expression.

He sat there expressionless, but Jin Young-gi was certain that this suggestion was his doing. A ploy to minimize his own exposure as the eldest son, that was it.

A state funeral is a funeral held with the highest honors after a national funeral. Although the government doesn’t directly intervene in the funeral procedures and methods, it may award posthumous honors in consideration of the deceased’s achievements.

Furthermore, in a state funeral, key figures from various social organizations gather to form departments, elect committee members, and establish a funeral committee to plan and execute the funeral.

In this case, the chairman of the funeral committee is usually a senior figure with significant gravitas, not the eldest son of the deceased. For the chairman of Soonyang Group, at least a former prime minister would be considered.

The media spotlight would be on the committee members, not himself as the eldest son. His younger brother’s nodding agreement when they discussed holding a quiet funeral while they worked behind the scenes was a lie.

Jin Young-gi didn’t show any particular reaction.

This attempt was doomed to fail anyway.

His mother had declared it a family funeral, and the other brothers also wanted a family funeral. More than anything, it was the wish of the deceased Chairman Jin himself.

Sure enough, the youngest, Yoon-ki, stepped forward.

“Thank you for your suggestions, presidents. But that’s not what Father would have wanted. He always said he wanted to quietly conclude his life. We will proceed with a family funeral.”

Jin Yun-ki’s firm words silenced everyone.

Jin Dong-gi’s cheek twitched slightly, but that was all.

Jin Young-gi glanced around the room and made a decision.

“Then, we will have a family funeral. The press release will be tomorrow….”

Jin Young-gi glanced at Chief of Staff Lee Hak-jae, then spoke to Baek Jun-hyuk, his own chief of staff standing directly behind him.

“Chief Secretary Baek, please make sure the preparations are flawless. Also, prevent the reporters camped out in front of the house from bothering the mourners.”

“Yes, Vice-chairman.”

Lee Hak-jae had to suppress a laugh.

Blatant exclusion… This was a signal that he was to be excluded from the group’s affairs and an order to relinquish his title as the group’s chief of staff.

“And mobilize all the Strategy Planning Department employees to ensure the mourners are comfortable during the funeral.”

“Yes.”

Jin Young-gi felt a little better when no one objected to his instructions. Didn’t he seem like the group’s chairman?

“Ah, wouldn’t it be good to prepare memorial altars in the lobby of the group’s main building, the affiliates’ headquarters, and the regional offices?”

Jin Dong-gi, who had been quiet, addressed the affiliate presidents, and they all nodded in agreement.

“And presidents, please create a list of people we must not omit from the obituary. We should double-check, just in case, shouldn’t we?”

Jin Dong-gi suddenly spoke to the youngest brother as if a thought had just occurred to him.

“Yoon-ki, let me ask you a favor. You know a lot of famous celebrities, and they can’t be absent from mourning.”

With Jin Yun-ki being a major player in media entertainment, the mourning hall could instantly transform into a film festival. There wouldn’t be a red carpet, but the biggest stars of the day would undoubtedly appear in droves.

“I understand what you mean. I’ll make sure only the heads of production companies and talent agencies come to pay respects. We’ll just receive wreaths from the actors.”

“Yes. Thank you for understanding.”

“It’s okay. I was thinking the same thing. We can’t have Father’s funeral reported in the entertainment section instead of the business and social pages.”

While they were engrossed in discussing the funeral arrangements, the hospital director entered and cautiously announced,

“We have finished preparing Chairman’s body to be moved to his residence.”

Jin Young-gi was the first to stand.

“Then let’s conclude this and meet at the house.”

* * *

“Soonyang Group has officially announced this morning that Chairman Jin Yang-cheol passed away last night due to a chronic illness.”

Chairman Jin Yang-cheol’s passing is a significant shock to the executives and employees of Soonyang.

Major overseas media outlets, including CNN and the New York Times, have already reported the news of Chairman Jin Yang-cheol’s death as breaking news, and other prominent international news outlets have also covered his passing extensively.

Business organizations and even the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea are deeply mourning Chairman Jin Yang-cheol’s death.

The area around the Soonyang headquarters, having lost its founder, was filled with a sea of black suits today.

“Next news. The National Assembly is still heatedly debating the impeachment of the President….”

The first news of the morning was my grandfather’s death. However, unlike when Daehyun Group’s Chairman Joo Young-il passed away, the news wasn’t broadcast throughout the entire day.

My grandfather’s death was just news, but the President’s impeachment was reality. As the presidential impeachment, which had only been a rumor, became a tangible possibility, all the media cameras turned towards the National Assembly and the Blue House. Only a few cameras remained pointed at Soonyang Group.

I turned off the TV and changed into mourning clothes.

I was in a daze, but there was something I needed to do, so I briefly returned home. The doorbell rang, and Assistant Manager Kim Yoon-suk, dressed in a black suit, cautiously entered.

“My deepest condolences, Chief of Staff. I don’t know how to comfort you….”

“It’s alright. Rather, I’m sorry to be discussing work at a time like this.”

“Oh, no, sir. Please, anything.”

“You mobilized all the employees from the Strategy Planning Department, right?”

“Yes. Even the female employees who supported the Chairman’s family have all gone to the Chairman’s residence.”

“Assistant Manager Kim, you’ve maintained a relationship with those employees, haven’t you?”

“Of course. As you instructed, I’ve been buying them meals, drinks, and even giving them transportation money to keep them on our side.”

Kim Yoon-suk’s confident demeanor put my mind at ease.

“Then have those employees check who is meeting with whom during the funeral. Simple condolences aren’t necessary. There will definitely be people having secret talks. Especially make a list of those who have private meetings with the two vice-chairmen.”

“Should I also check how long their private talks last?”

“That would be ideal.”

Lengthy conversations wouldn’t be just casual greetings.

At that moment, Assistant Manager Kim cautiously brought up something unexpected.

“Um, Chief of Staff. Perhaps….”

“Don’t hesitate, just say it. It’s okay.”

“Perhaps we should install listening devices in each room? Wouldn’t that be more reliable?”

It sounded like a great idea at first glance, but he suggested it because he didn’t know my grandfather. His meticulousness was beyond anyone’s imagination.

“That won’t work. Security personnel thoroughly inspect the house twice a day. Eavesdropping is impossible.”

Numerous people had conversations with my grandfather in his study and living room. Most of those conversations contained information that shouldn’t leak out or be known by anyone.

Any attempts to bribe the household staff to plant listening devices were completely blocked from the start.

“Ah, I see. I spoke out of turn….”

“No, it’s alright. Feel free to share any ideas you have in the future. Don’t hold back.”

“Yes. Then I’ll go and make some calls.”

“Alright. Thank you for your hard work.”

After Assistant Manager Kim left, I took a short break while drinking a cup of coffee. There was more important work left to do.

Executive Director Woo Byung-joon, wearing a black tie, entered the house.

“I apologize. I’m late.”

“It’s alright. Did you visit the memorial altar at the main building?”

“Yes.”

“There was no need to go all the way there…. You could have paid your respects to Grandfather with me.”

“Does the location matter? As long as my heart reaches the Chairman. Please don’t worry about it.”

He was always expressionless and stiff, but he seemed different today. He blinked his bloodshot eyes, as if he had been crying.

“Let’s go to the gravesite together later. I promised him I would greet him there every day.”

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

He finally showed a faint smile.

“By the way, please tell me what you wanted to instruct me to do. Shouldn’t you be at the mourning hall soon, Chief of Staff?”

I took a deep breath and said,

“Investigate Grandmother. Especially focus on her art purchases and sales. Isn’t it widely known that there’s something fishy in that world?”

I remembered Grandfather’s words to forgive my grandmother.

Following his words, I forgive her for trying to kill me.

I also remember his last words to live as a villain.

I cannot forgive anyone who causes even the slightest harm to me or my family. If one is to be a villain, wouldn’t a thorough revenge be appropriate?

Even if the target of my revenge is my own grandmother.

One truly becomes a villain only when one can treat even their own blood ruthlessly.