Chapter 262: “You Went to Gunsan?”

“You went to Gunsan?”

“Yes. I went to pay my respects to Grandfather.”

“Just to pay your respects?”

“I also had some things to report. Though… it’s nothing good.”

Chairman Lee Hak-jae, who had been sitting in his chair reviewing approval documents, abruptly stood up and sat across from me.

“Tell me.”

“Pardon?”

“Tell me what this bad news is. Isn’t that why you came here?”

“Do I always need a reason to visit? I came to say hello while I was in the area.”

“You’re not the type to idly drop by for greetings unless you’re here to keep an eye on a salaryman chairman as a major shareholder. Out with it.”

He was refreshingly direct.

“You’re aware we successfully defended against the Soonyang Financial Group board of directors, right?”

“Should I give you a pat on the back for a job well done? If that’s what you want to hear, I will.”

“Goodness, you make it hard to even start a conversation.”

At my feigned complaint, Chairman Lee Hak-jae chuckled.

“You did well. Happy? Now tell me, what is it?”

The more reluctant I am to speak, the more unnecessary words I seem to spill. I wasn’t sure how he’d take it, but I finally broached the subject.

“It’s about Grandmother.”

“The Madam?”

“Yes. She keeps pestering my uncles to kick me out of Soonyang Group.”

“The two vice-chairmen aren’t exactly obedient sons who hang on their mother’s every word. Do you think they’ll do something just because she nags?”

He tried to downplay it, but Chairman Lee Hak-jae’s expression was grave. He clearly knew something about my grandmother.

“From what I’ve gathered, Grandmother has leverage over my uncles. I don’t know if she’s already used it or if she’s still keeping it under wraps.”

“Leverage?”

“Yes.”

“What kind of leverage?”

“Money.”

Lee Hak-jae didn’t seem surprised. Did he already know?

“Money… As the matriarch of Soonyang Group, she’d naturally have a lot. But not enough to use as a weapon. Her two sons, holding the reins of major subsidiaries, wouldn’t be swayed by their mother’s personal wealth.”

“It might be beyond your imagination. No, it definitely is.”

He seemed a bit surprised now. So, he didn’t know.

“If you say it’s beyond imagination, just how much money are we talking about?”

“If I knew the exact amount, I would tell you.”

“So, it’s just an uncertain guess?”

“That’s why I’m checking. How long has Grandmother been in charge of the Soonyang Art Foundation?”

“Let me see… The government pushed for cultural initiatives when the new military regime came in, so it’s been over twenty years. Why do you ask?”

“And the money that’s flowed into the foundation over those twenty years?”

Chairman Lee Hak-jae chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.

“I thought it was something important. Surely you know? Of course, the money flowing into the foundation is enormous. They poured in donations for tax evasion purposes. But art foundations can’t engage in for-profit activities. They might have pulled some tricks, but it would be minor. Money doesn’t grow if you don’t circulate it.”

“That’s not right. She’s been making substantial investments. She’s been snapping up domestic and international artwork and antiques. Why else would Grandmother be treated like a VIP at Sotheby’s in London and Christie’s auctions in New York?”

“Artwork itself has no value. It only becomes a weapon when you sell it for cash.”

“Exactly.”

“What do you mean…”

Finally understanding, Chairman Lee Hak-jae’s jaw dropped, and he was speechless for a moment.

“Are you sure?”

His first words after a long pause were a confirmation.

“I don’t have proof, but I have testimonies. Of course, they wouldn’t hold up in court.”

“Details!”

Chairman Lee Hak-jae’s stern face gave the illusion that he had reverted to Grandfather’s chief of staff.

“The paintings in the Soonyang Gallery and the antiques in the Soonyang Art Museum are rotated three or four times a year. Naturally, incredibly valuable pieces are never shown to the public.”

“Most of the artwork is in the foundation’s storage.”

“I’ve checked the Soonyang Art Foundation’s inventory. It’s artwork collected over twenty years. Their value has increased dozens of times, with some pieces appreciating hundreds or even thousands of times over.”

“If you checked the inventory, it means they haven’t been converted to cash yet, right?”

“I only checked the inventory list. I didn’t see the actual items.”

“They’re gone? She sold them all off?”

“Likely.”

“What?”

Seeing Chairman Lee Hak-jae this surprised was a rare sight.

“Most of the artwork currently in storage is likely fake. Since the masterpieces aren’t shown publicly anyway, they might not even be there. The most expensive piece on the list is Francis Bacon’s Three Studies of Lucian Freud, purchased for a whopping 90 billion won. Have you ever seen it?”

“I know nothing about art.”

“Neither do I. But that piece is now worth 150 billion won.”

“So, they’re either gone or replaced with fakes? She sold off the real ones?”

“Almost certainly. This information came from a smuggler involved in moving the real pieces overseas and an art forger known as the ‘Insadong Magician.’ He even created forgeries that were later reported to have been acquired as genuine pieces by the Soonyang Art Foundation.”

Chairman Lee Hak-jae’s face had turned pale.

“In severe cases, they’d buy the genuine piece overseas and bring in a fake. The real one would be sold off immediately in the foreign market.”

“Is that why the Madam stayed in Switzerland for so long?”

“Yes. She must have been handling various things there.”

“Did Woo Byung-joon investigate this?”

“Yes.”

“If it’s him, it’s definitely reliable.”

Chairman Lee Hak-jae leaned back into the sofa and let out a long sigh, falling silent again.

“We’re currently tracking what she did with the money. But if it’s in nominee accounts or buried in Myeong-dong, it’ll be hard to find.”

He straightened up, speaking with certainty.

“It’s nominee shares.”

“Shares?”

“Yes. The Madam has definitely been accumulating shares. No matter how much she spends, the subsidiaries cover it all, so she doesn’t need the cash.”

“Then we can’t just stand by and watch.”

“What do you plan to do?”

“I told Grandfather beforehand. Grandmother will spend her final years in Switzerland. Of course, I need to make her penniless before that. Otherwise, she might cause trouble later.”

Lee Hak-jae’s gaze was chilling.

“Madam is your paternal grandmother. And no matter what, she’s the Chairman’s first wife. Don’t do anything that goes against filial duty. You’ll be punished.”

Villains deserve to be punished eventually. But I’ve already been punished in advance.

I died with a bullet in my head. Anyone would call that divine retribution.

Having already received my punishment, I have no reason to fear it.

“I said she’ll spend her final years comfortably in a scenic Swiss villa. Isn’t that being a better grandson than most children?”

* * *

When the private jet landed at Kota Kinabalu Airport, the presidents of the financial subsidiaries looked ecstatic.

To refresh the company atmosphere, everyone was given a three-day vacation. They were all flown in on a private jet to enjoy plenty of golf and relax at the resort.

“Is it really okay for us to play golf without you, sir?”

Vice President Jang Do-hyung asked, looking uneasy, but his grin was ear-to-ear.

“I don’t particularly want to mingle with you old-timers while you play. Haha.”

I herded them to the resort and met with Oh Se-hyun.

“Joint voting rights with Vice-chairman Jin Dong-gi?”

“Yes. Things should be quiet for a while.”

“The money?”

“Uncle will find it and launder it clean. No trace left.”

“I get to use it?”

“If you wish.”

“I’m not joking. The resort is in the red. It’s better than taking out loans to cover it.”

“Go ahead. And things will improve when the direct flight route opens up.”

“Put some pressure on them to open the air route quickly. You’ve greased enough palms here and there. Put it to use this time.”

Seeing Oh Se-hyun’s serious expression was amusing.

The inescapable nature of business was showing. Isn’t he someone who shouldn’t have to worry about deficits? He should just relax and manage things, but he can’t stand the red numbers in the accounting books.

“Understood. I’ll put some pressure on them. Anyway, let’s settle the Labuan money quickly.”

“But why did you bring all these people? Shouldn’t we be discreet when dealing with slush funds?”

“It’s insurance.”

“Insurance?”

“Yes. If, just if, I ever get into trouble because of the Labuan slush funds, I need an escape route.”

“Have you ever seen such a wicked man?”

Oh Se-hyun clicked his tongue.

“You brought them here to make one of them the owner of the slush funds?”

“Not make them, they’ll volunteer to be the owner. It’s an alibi for when that happens.”

“You’ve really become a chaebol chairman.”

I whined at Oh Se-hyun, who was shaking his head.

“What choice do I have? There are so many people eager to tear me apart. I need someone to act as my bulletproof vest.”

He looked slightly angry and also sympathetic. No, more like pitying.

“Anyway, let’s find the money quickly and go to the US together.”

“The US? Why? Do you have business with New York Miracle?”

“Yes.”

The pitying look vanished instantly, replaced by the gaze of an investor.

“Did your gut tell you something? Or do you have good intel? Where are we investing this time?”

“I thought I’d develop a refined hobby befitting a tycoon, like art collecting. I’m thinking of acquiring a small gallery in New York.”

“What? Art?”

Oh Se-hyun couldn’t contain his laughter.

He laughed for a long time, tears streaming down his face, before he could finally speak.

“Collecting art for investment isn’t something anyone can do. You need a real eye for it. I’ve seen plenty of nouveau riche get swindled into buying worthless paintings.”

“I’ll only buy famous artwork. I’ve already made a list. They’ll be eager to sell if I offer a premium.”

“Stop talking nonsense. People who own famous paintings rarely sell them. They’re the type of people who have so much money they don’t know what to do with it. They bought those paintings with their spare cash, you’ll only get laughed at if you offer them a premium.”

“The owners on my acquisition list are different. They desperately need cash. They prefer Soonyang Group shares over paintings.”

The laughter vanished at the mention of Soonyang shares.

“What? Who are you talking about?”

“It’s my grandmother.”

I gave a bitter smile.

* * *

“Honestly, why is that family such a mess? It’s full of people obsessed with stocks.”

“You’re absolutely right. I deserve to be criticized. After all, I’m one of them.”

“Oh my, you’re something else.”

After hearing the whole story about my grandmother, Oh Se-hyun sighed, dumbfounded.

“So? Does Yoon-ki know about this?”

“No. I haven’t told him. I can’t let Father develop more bad feelings towards Grandmother.”

“This could be disastrous with even the slightest misstep. Unearthing the faults of the family’s most senior member… If your grandmother’s name gets out, it’ll bring shame to the family and tarnish Soonyang’s reputation.”

“The name Soonyang is already filthy enough to be pointed at by everyone. I’m not afraid of a little more dust on a signboard already covered in mud.”

“Alright then. Let’s settle the Labuan slush funds and head straight to the US. It’s been a while since I saw those guys over there.”

Oh Se-hyun made several phone calls and, for the first time in a long while, stared at a computer monitor.

The money in Labuan, though in different banks and locations, would maintain its identity as slush funds as it traveled around the world before ending up in my pocket.