Chapter 297: A Proposal and Lingering Affections

A sigh escaped me before I realized it.

“Well… it wasn’t easy. Grandfather built a fortress around it. If it wasn’t me, no one could have taken Soonyang.”

Having said that, I felt like I was bragging, so I added a few words.

“Ah, I just meant I had a lot of luck on my side.”

There was no need to add anything. Vice-chairman Jin Dong-gi didn’t seem to be hearing me anyway.

I could guess the shock he was experiencing. I waited quietly for it to pass.

“S-so, you were the one who requested the dollar support for Miracle Headquarters in the US? To tighten the noose around the bank?”

After a long silence, he still hadn’t connected me with the US.

“It wasn’t a request, it was an order.”

“What?”

“I’m the majority shareholder of New York Miracle Investment, and most of the operating funds are my own. To put it simply, it’s a company I created to manage my money. Do you understand now? Korea is a separate corporation, but it’s just a local branch.”

He fell silent again.

He was so stunned he even forgot his son had been summoned by the prosecution. I waited patiently and spoke.

“There isn’t a company I can’t buy with the money I have now. Even Apple, which has risen to the top again with smartphones, wouldn’t be difficult to acquire more than half of its shares.”

I didn’t care if he was listening or not. I was just saying what needed to be said.

“Soonyang Electronics? Its market cap is just over 100 trillion won. If I pool all my money, it’s entirely possible. But isn’t buying Soonyang Group shares even harder than Apple or Microsoft?”

Seeing my uncle’s eyes widen as if struck by lightning at the mention of 100 trillion, it seemed he was listening after all.

“I understand. Steve Jobs of Apple may be a wealthy and respected businessman, but he doesn’t have power. But our Soonyang wields the power to control our country, which ranks among the top 10 economies in the world. Soonyang isn’t just a company; it’s a power, so we have to build an impregnable fortress to prevent anyone from encroaching.”

“R-really? You truly possess all of that?”

“Yes, I do.”

“But… why?”

“Excuse me?”

“Why are you so fixated on Soonyang when you have such enormous assets? Wouldn’t it make more sense to grow HW Group with that money? Power? Don’t you know where Soonyang’s power comes from? It’s money. You buy power and companies with that money. Then you could have even more influence than Soonyang.”

You have a point. If it weren’t for the bad blood from my past life, I might have done as you said.

Building the intricate network of connections Grandfather established over decades would be difficult in a short period, but it’s possible with money, and expanding a group the size of Soonyang with subsidiaries would be even easier.

But what can I do when my goal is to take over Soonyang and keep you all under my thumb?

I can’t say that. Instead, I gave another reason. This one is also true.

“I want the legacy Grandfather left behind. I inherited his blood after all. Anything but Soonyang has no meaning for me.”

I spoke to him, who seemed half out of his mind.

“Give up now. Once the shares held by the subsidiaries go to HW Group, your stake will drastically decrease. It will become even harder to secure a position in Soonyang Group.”

“So? Are you telling me to step down like this?”

“No. Look at your sister. She still reigns over the department store and hotel, doesn’t she?”

“What?”

“You can confirm with her. Whether I’ve ever interfered in the department store’s management… I’m not interested in management. I just want to own it.”

“A-are you telling me to work as your servant?”

“I’m not asking, nor am I demanding. It’s merely a suggestion. If you don’t like it, step aside.”

Perhaps it was because of my calm tone, but he seemed to calm down a little.

“It’s all over. All that’s left is for you to accept reality. Think it over and give me your answer.”

With all the strength drained from his body, it would be difficult for him to walk out of my room. Me leaving is the last bit of consideration I’ll offer.

* * *

“Daehyun is taken care of. Chairman Joo Tae-shik gave his brother a little smack on the head and sorted out the shares.”

Chairman Lee Hak-jae handed me the documents.

“We’re taking Daehyun Construction, railway cars, and Daehyun Machinery. The machinery and railway car divisions will be attached to HW Automobile. Construction will be merged.”

“When will you announce it to the press?”

“We’ll do it all at once when Soonyang is settled. How’s Jin Dong-gi?”

“Resigned and compliant. Only the decision remains.”

“Decision? What decision?”

“Whether he’ll become a professional manager or retire.”

Lee Hak-jae frowned.

“Don’t play nice. Remember the lessons of history.”

When a coup occurs, it’s exile followed by poison. Since poison is impossible now, exile it is.

“Should I make sure he can’t even set foot in the place?”

“Of course. If he lingers in Soonyang, who knows what he might be plotting. Jin Dong-gi is Chairman’s blood. Even if he loses power and money, don’t you think there will be people who will stand up for him?”

“What can someone with no shares do?”

“He has his brother. Wouldn’t Jin Dong-gi side with his own brother, Jin Young-gi, rather than you? Never make the mistake of empowering him.”

Our Chairman Lee learned a lot from Grandfather. He knows that you should never leave room for future trouble out of sentimentality.

But I’m not keeping Vice-chairman Jin Dong-gi in that position out of sentimentality. It’s to enjoy seeing him lower his head to me, watching my every move.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

It seemed like the right answer for now. And I quickly changed the subject.

“By the way, how did the prosecution investigation go?”

“What investigation? I just subtly hinted at the succession process and told them to keep a close eye on Jin Young-gi’s succession to his eldest son. I firmly warned them that if they condoned illegal practices again, they would face a public backlash.”

Whether it was thanks to that or not, the succession process to Jin Young-jun has been halted for now. But bad news always follows good. Chairman Lee Hak-jae looked troubled as he delivered the bad news.

“The problem is that Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi is thoroughly scared.”

“Is being scared bad news?”

“The succession process has stopped, but he’s accelerating the separation of affiliates. He’s trying to run away with what he has.”

“I was also considering separation, but….”

“Instead of separating, wouldn’t it be better to recalculate the shares and secure a good position this time?”

“Is that possible? I’ve secured a lot of shares in the affiliates, but I don’t have many in the eldest uncle’s electronics, service, and trading affiliates, do I?”

“It’s because they’re so big. But if you bring the shares owned by the financial sector and public institutions to your side, it’s not impossible.”

“Is it certain enough to take over the entire group?”

Chairman Lee Hak-jae gave a bitter smile.

“If you exclude the places that will absolutely not side with you and those who will abstain, you should be able to secure enough shares to keep a close watch on Soonyang Electronics.”

“Then it wouldn’t be bad to try. Please prepare a list. I won’t avoid meeting the people I need to.”

“Alright. I’ll also take care of the people I need to meet.”

As we planned our next steps, Vice-chairman Jin Dong-gi was sinking to the depths of despair.

* * *

The Blue House and the heads of financial institutions didn’t want to see articles about Soonyang Construction entering court receivership.

“Look at Daehyun Construction. They stepped down cleanly, and the media praised them, didn’t they? Not a single word about the change in ownership. Everyone is waiting. Vice-chairman, you just need to make a decision.”

“We’ve been waiting this long out of respect for the late Chairman Jin Yang-cheol. We also don’t want to tarnish the name of Soonyang.”

“What do you want me to do?”

At his dejected and resigned attitude, the faces of the creditor banks began to brighten.

“First, please write off the construction shares you hold. The heavy industry shares should be returned as treasury stock. And you are free to dispose of or keep the remaining affiliate shares as you wish.”

By eliminating his own shares, he would distribute their value to other shareholders. It was a way for a manager to take responsibility for business failures.

“So your creditor banks will unanimously entrust my company to HW.”

“It doesn’t seem to be something for the person stepping down to worry about.”

Vice-chairman Jin Dong-gi stared at the representatives of the creditor banks for a while before letting out a long sigh.

“Prepare the documents and come back. I’ll do as you wish.”

The creditor banks all jumped up and bowed their heads.

“Thank you for your decision, Vice-chairman.”

They finished their lip service and quickly left.

Sitting in the empty vice-chairman’s office, he was reminded that he would soon have to vacate this room as well.

Jin Do-jun was right.

He had occupied this room simply because he was born as the Chairman’s son.

No special effort was required. As long as they didn’t do anything too foolish, all of the Chairman’s sons could smoothly walk a flowery path straight to the vice-chairman’s office.

It was something that could be achieved as long as they weren’t as thoughtless as his younger brother, Sang-ki, or didn’t reject the paved path like Yoon-ki.

Once he vacated this room, only his older brother and nephew would remain. An older brother fleeing and a nephew chasing… the outcome of the fight was obvious.

Now, all he had left were his children.

It was a small thing, but it was a parent’s duty to leave them some opportunity.

The third place, although far behind, needed a way to seize even a slim chance. The only way was to throw a knife and make the first and second places fight to the death… that was all.

Jin Dong-gi thought about what ratio of his remaining shares he should transfer to make the first and second places fight more fiercely.

He finished thinking and slowly stood up.

He left the vice-chairman’s office and set his course. He started walking towards the last remaining negotiation target.

* * *

“Have you arrived, Uncle? I just received a call from the creditor banks. They said you accepted all the conditions?”

“Yes. There’s no point in holding out any longer. It would only be shameful, and there’s nothing to gain.”

“You came to this room because there’s something left to gain from me, and you thought I could give it to you.”

“That’s right. But don’t get too excited because what I want isn’t money.”

Not money?

Does that mean he won’t hand over his shares?

He’s still not an easy man to deal with.

“Please speak comfortably. I’ll try to accommodate most requests.”

My second uncle picked up his teacup and moistened his throat.

“You’ll start by cleaning house with the executives, right?”

“Yes. The executives must also take responsibility for the poor management.”

“As you know, a lot of dirty money circulates in construction. If you shake down everyone from the president to the directors, you’ll find some dust. Let them go without shaking them down.”

Most of the money the executives embezzled probably went into my second uncle’s pocket. The executives likely only got a few crumbs.

He’s telling me not to dig into the money he’s embezzled.

“I’ll think about it. What’s next?”

Vice-chairman Jin Dong-gi frowned, not getting the answer he expected.

“You have a lot of money. How much do you think that little bit is worth that you need to think about it?”

The money my second uncle embezzled is a crime.

I can’t cover it up for free. I’ll get what I can first before covering it up.

“I said I’d think about it. Don’t argue and tell me your second request.”

My imposing attitude reminded him of his situation, and he sighed.