Chapter 254: Shifting Alliances

“Chief of staff, being too sure of things is dangerous. If the two vice-chairmen join forces, won’t their combined shares exceed 51%?”

“That’s true, but.”

“This time, it’s not about greed or personal gain. It’s about eliminating a common enemy. Shouldn’t they be able to put aside their desires temporarily for that?”

A common enemy, huh….

Am I their common enemy? Or am I the balancing weight between the two?

Of course, Vice President Jang Do-hyung’s words make sense. But there’s one thing missing from his calculation.

“That might be the case. If the two join hands, they might be able to chase me out. But when it comes to dividing the spoils, greed will rear its ugly head again. It’s always one mountain after another.”

“Chief of staff.”

I could see the worry in Vice President Jang Do-hyung’s eyes. I reassured him for the moment.

“Understood. I’m not taking their actions lightly. I need to look into it further.”

“Yes, I’ll also meet with the executives. If any new information comes up, I’ll let you know immediately.”

After parting ways with Vice President Jang Do-hyung, I immediately called Assistant Manager Kim Yoon-suk.

“Check with the Strategy Planning Department staff. It seems the two vice-chairmen are up to something….”

“Are you perhaps referring to Director Jin Sang-ki?”

“How did you know?”

“After the chairman finished the group succession process, he hadn’t set foot in the group’s main building, but starting a few days ago, he’s been coming and going constantly. He always meets with the two vice-chairmen, so if something new is happening, that’s the only thing it could be.”

“You don’t know why he’s been coming around?”

“There are rumors circulating that he’ll be returning to the group soon. But since that rumor came directly from Director Jin Sang-ki himself, it’s hard to believe it outright….”

He’s such an exaggerator that many people dismiss his words, but he wouldn’t be foolish enough to come back to the group after a long absence and start with blatant lies.

Even the boy who cried wolf told the truth once, after two lies.

It was almost certain that my uncles were plotting to take over the financial group.

Ah, taking over the financial group is just a secondary effect of getting rid of me.

Did that old hag instigate this?

* * *

“Chairman, something doesn’t seem right.”

“Judging by your expression, it doesn’t seem like anything too serious?”

Chairman Lee Hak-jae glanced at my face before returning his gaze to the documents.

“No, sir. I’m just keeping up appearances.”

Chairman Lee Hak-jae closed the folder and sighed briefly.

“Well, it’s never a dull moment with you, is it? What’s happened now?”

“It seems our uncles have changed their target. Failing the pheasant, they’re going after the chicken; they’re definitely aiming for me.”

Chairman Lee Hak-jae initially took it as a joke but then straightened his posture.

“I understand I’m the pheasant and you’re the chicken… but be specific.”

I told him about Director Jin Sang-ki frequently visiting the company and openly talking about it.

“While it’s possible, it’s hard to believe the two vice-chairmen are joining forces.”

Chairman Lee Hak-jae’s expression after hearing my full explanation was even more serious than mine.

“Do-jun, controlling the group means….”

“Grasping the personnel appointment rights, doesn’t it?”

He raised his hand at my hasty reply.

“There’s one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“What is taken for granted.”

“Taken for granted…?”

Chairman Lee Hak-jae nodded and continued.

“When you took over Soonyang Financial subsidiaries and made your first personnel changes… especially among the executives you dismissed, did anyone question your authority? Your legal right to wield personnel power?”

“Ah….”

“No one within Soonyang doubts your authority. You’re Chairman Jin’s grandson, and he stated that he was entrusting the financial group to you.”

“Everyone at Soonyang takes my uncles for granted, so the condition is met.”

“The shareholding is also a problem. Even if those two replace all the CEOs and executives of the financial subsidiaries and reorganize everything, you’ll have no choice but to watch.”

Lee Hak-jae suddenly burst into hearty laughter.

“Goodness me, hahahaha. You must be sweating bullets. The two of them joining hands. It’s unimaginable.”

“Is this funny to you? I might lose everything grandfather gave me!”

“Did you think your life would be nothing but continuous success? Soonyang is a giant chessboard. There will be times when you’re pushed back and times of crisis. If you’re going to waver because a few pawns are lost, you can’t survive in this game. Even if only the last king remains, winning is still winning.”

His words were ambiguous. I double-checked.

“Are you saying I should step back this time? Is that what you mean?”

“Why are you asking me that? You’re capable enough to judge for yourself.”

Even Chairman Lee Hak-jae saw my uncles’ alliance as impossible, but even if it were true, I have a move that could break their alliance.

“If I offer one of my uncles Miracle and my shares in exchange for siding with me, their temporary alliance will be over.”

“Do you really think so?”

“I do.”

“You seem confident, is it just bravado?”

“Goodness, confident? I’m burning up inside right now.”

Chairman Lee Hak-jae stared at me for a moment before tilting his head.

“If they side with you, they can get rid of an even stronger rival, their own brother. Why would rivals join hands in the first place? It won’t be easy for you to break their alliance, I think.”

Hearing the very thing that worried me most from someone else’s mouth made my anxiety grow.

Chairman Lee Hak-jae chuckled, noticing the change in my expression.

“Shall I help you a little?”

“I’d appreciate that.”

“You have a lot of money, right?”

“Me?”

“I know Miracle holds quite a bit of cash. And the money Chairman Jin used to manage, you have that now, don’t you? You’re practically the cash king of our country.”

“I admit I have a lot of money.”

“Then how about using that money to spin off the financial group? We could even change its name from Soonyang Financial to HW Financial.”

Knowing the intricacies of Soonyang’s structure also means knowing its weaknesses.

“That would require a lot of time and an immense amount of money, wouldn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“Wouldn’t my uncles oust me in an instant before that happens?”

“That’s also true. Controlling a company means controlling its people. Once they hold a board meeting and fill it with their people, it’s over. It can be done in a single meeting. Because….”

“There won’t be any opposition. Like you said earlier, everyone sees my uncles as the rightful owners of Soonyang.”

“Even if the vice-chairmen control the people, you can still gather shares. Securing enough shares is a reversal.”

Buying the entire group is impossible, but buying Soonyang Life Insurance might be possible. And since Soonyang Life Insurance is practically the parent company of the financial subsidiaries, there’s definitely a chance for a comeback.

But I shook my head.

“I’ll pass. Let’s just think of it as leaving it in their care for a while. What’s the point of spending valuable money and time to only take back a part? I’m going to take it all back anyway. This would only make them more wary. Then it’ll be harder to take the big prize.”

Lee Hak-jae also shook his head.

“Having a foothold is incredibly important. It’s not like you can take over the entire Soonyang Group in a year or two, is it? If you stay away from the group for too long, you’ll be an outsider with no connection to it.”

He raised a finger and pointed to himself.

“Look at me. As soon as Chairman passed away and I said I was retiring, even the guys who used to bow down to me turned their backs on me in an instant. If you’re away from the group for too long, even the people who take you for granted will change their minds. Even if you do take over Soonyang, they’ll see you as an invader rather than the owner.”

The conclusion is that I have to stop the vice-chairmen’s scheme. It’s much harder than letting things run their course, that goes without saying.

My head started to throb.

“So, I need to maintain the status quo. Spinning off the subsidiaries will make me look like an invader…. And it’s grandfather’s legacy, I don’t want to remove the Soonyang name either.”

“Decision made then. Stop those two from joining forces.”

“Won’t you help me?”

“Me?”

He waved his hand as if it were out of the question.

“I can help with the spin-off. But I can’t do anything about brothers joining hands. You have to sort that out.”

Lee Hak-jae concluded with his final piece of advice.

“Don’t try to hide your weapons too much. You need to show them when necessary and use them when needed. There’s an unchanging truth, you know? Don’t forget it.”

“What is it?”

“If you save it, it becomes poop.”

* * *

“Is this good enough? Don’t say anything later, and if you have anything to add, do it now.”

“You’re really something. Do we have to go this far, even between brothers?”

Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi frowned as he looked at the few sheets of paper his younger brother had handed him.

“Why bring up personal relationships out of the blue? This is about management control. Even if it were between parent and child, we’d still do this. Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”

The documents Jin Dong-gi handed over contained detailed terms regarding the management and personnel control of Soonyang Financial Group.

He wanted to prevent the eldest son’s influence from becoming too dominant in advance.

“Honestly, it’s so fair that there’s nothing to complain about.”

Jin Young-gi said, shaking the documents that were as good as a contract.

“You’re really thorough. I think every day about how great it would be if someone like you became Soonyang’s second-in-command for my sake.”

“I’ve never once considered having you help me become Soonyang’s second-in-command. What a shame. Are you disappointed?”

It was a humiliating remark from his younger brother, completely disregarding his abilities, but he didn’t get angry. The inferiority complex of being the second son always manifested in such sharp words.

Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi shook his head and signed the documents Jin Dong-gi had presented.

With this, the Soonyang Financial subsidiaries would be under joint management. All that remained was the subsidiaries’ board of directors. Getting rid of his young nephew bothered him a little, but that uneasy feeling would vanish like snow melting away once the subsidiaries were in his grasp.

However, there was one person who was unhappy with all of this.

Just as the two men were putting away the documents, the door burst open, and Jin Sang-ki stormed in, fuming.

“This is too much, isn’t it? Am I just some useless baggage? What is all this!”

A few sheets of paper fluttered in his hand as well.

“Lower your voice. There are many ears here.”

Jin Sang-ki paid no mind to his older brothers’ scolding.

“You’re telling me I’ll be in charge of the financial subsidiaries? But you’ve already finalized all the personnel, down to the department head level? Then what about me? You’re not even letting me keep one of my own people? What am I supposed to be?”

His two older brothers paid little attention to the torrent of complaints he was spewing.

“Are you saying you don’t want to be a scarecrow?”

Jin Dong-gi said, glaring at his younger brother with cold eyes.

“This is too much!”

“A scarecrow has a role too. It chases away sparrows. I doubt you could even do that much. What can you do besides throw your weight around? That’s why we’re giving you a title that’s worth throwing your weight around with. Know your place.”

“Hyung-nim!”

“Quiet. I told you to lower your voice.”

When even Jin Young-gi stepped in to scold him, Jin Sang-ki shut his mouth.

“We’re giving you a room with a great view, a salary, a car, and even a credit card with no limit. There’s a line of people who would kneel and beg for that position if we offered it. We’re putting you there because of mother’s request. Your first words should be ‘thank you,’ not complaints.”

Jin Young-gi approached his red-faced younger brother and patted him on the shoulder.

“This is just the beginning. Even if they’re not your people, they’re all talented individuals. Build your achievements step by step with them. Then, we’ll treat you as the vice-chairman you should be. Don’t be impatient.”

The two brothers who had been at odds because of the contract were now united against their pathetic younger brother.