Chapter 307: So, It Was an Order Directly from My Uncle?

“So, are you saying those words came directly from my uncle’s mouth?”

“Yes, I am. He apparently shouted loud enough to shake the house. You’d have to be deaf not to hear it. It’s accurate.”

Assistant Manager Kim Yoon-suk started talking a mile a minute as soon as he saw me on my way to work this morning.

“Director Jin Kyung-jun and Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi had a private meeting in the study, and it’s as good as declaring that everything will go to the eldest son. They say he won’t even get subsidiaries, let alone affiliated companies. Just stay by your brother’s side and help him out… Isn’t that what it means?”

“The people who overheard it outside the study must have been the staff….”

“The Vice-chairman has been giving them so many errands lately, those servant… Ah, I apologize. My old habits came out.”

Assistant Manager Kim Yoon-suk scratched his head sheepishly.

Under the guise of the strategic planning team, they called the employees who were practically personal errand boys ‘servants’.

Just when I’m about to forget that I was once one of them, they remind me like this.

“So, the strategic planning team staff heard it from the housekeeper?”

“Yes. The housekeepers are quite chatty if you just nudge them a little.”

“And? What did Kyung-joon do?”

“He came out of the study and left the house.”

“Young-joon must be ecstatic.”

“They say his wife was even happier. She was unusually nice to the housekeepers. Haha.”

Is it because of what I did to him? My uncle went too far.

Instead of trying to appease him with something, he told him to serve his older brother. No wonder he ran out of the house.

“Did you manage to find out where he went?”

“Yes. One of the strategic planning team members quickly followed him.”

Assistant Manager Kim became more meticulous by the day.

“Where did he spend the night?”

“Soonyang Hotel in Gangnam.”

“Really?”

Of all the hotels, why Soonyang?

The hotel staff would definitely recognize the name Jin Kyung-jun, so it’s like advertising his location.

Who is he advertising to?

“Let’s go there.”

“Yes? Ah, understood.”

The car sped towards the hotel.

A manager was waiting when we arrived at the hotel.

“Welcome, Chief of Staff.”

“I hope I’m not bothering you early in the morning.”

“Not at all. You contacted us in advance, so there’s no trouble. We’ve prepared everything as you requested; I hope it meets your expectations.”

“It’s just breakfast; there’s no need to worry about whether it meets my expectations or not.”

Following the manager’s guidance, we went up to the top-floor restaurant.

It was only open in the evening, so it was empty, but the rich smell of spicy stew filled the air. I sat down and double-checked.

“Did he drink a lot last night?”

“The room service staff said that when they brought up a bottle of wine and some dishes, it looked like he had already emptied the mini-bar.”

“His stomach must be a mess. Alright.”

The manager bowed and left, and I called the room.

He must have been out cold from drinking because he answered after a long delay.

“Come up for some hangover soup. I’ve got something spicy prepared.”

― Where are you?

He must have sobered up quickly.

“Take the elevator to the top floor. Let’s have some breakfast.”

― How did you know I was here?

“Everyone at Soonyang Group knows. Did you think it wouldn’t get out? You practically advertised it. Just come quickly.”

About ten minutes later, a disheveled Jin Kyung-jun slowly walked in.

“Did you put a magnet on me?”

“What magnet… Weren’t you waiting for me, Hyung-nim?”

“Why would I be waiting for you?”

“Or should I leave? Want to eat breakfast alone?”

“Can’t you even get breakfast yourself? Why are you eating here?”

Jin Kyung-jun plopped down across from me.

“We don’t have anyone to cook for us. We just eat cereal or toast. Min-young isn’t skilled enough to make breakfast yet.”

“You’re newlyweds, huh? Don’t bother trying to act all lovey-dovey. Hire someone. What if you skip meals? We work to live, after all.”

“At least I don’t drink myself into oblivion because I’m upset like you, Hyung-nim.”

Jin Kyung-jun glared at me for a brief moment before pulling out a cigarette.

“You did put a magnet on me. You know everything.”

The food arrived after he finished his cigarette.

Seeing the hangover soup and soybean paste stew, Jin Kyung-jun eagerly started gulping down the broth.

His stomach must have felt better because he lit another cigarette.

“Did you have it out with him? The results probably weren’t good.”

“Did you come all this way just to confirm that?”

“No. I wanted to tell you not to hesitate if you need my help.”

“Tell me what you can do for me first. I’ll make the choice.”

“Only those who have something left can make choices. You have nothing left. If your uncle doesn’t give you anything? Even if you go all-in with Young-joon, you’ll just have to watch.”

Jin Kyung-jun stared at me for a while after my cold words.

“I have nothing to give you. Like you said, I have nothing. My father’s weaknesses? Young-joon’s flaws? They’re piled up. But they’re all personal. Nothing that would put them in real danger, just gossip.”

He’s still feeling himself.

Or maybe he doesn’t desperately want the company.

He’s Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi’s son. He was practically born with a silver spoon in his mouth. For someone like that to say he has nothing… He doesn’t even know what he possesses.

“Then the conversation is over. I don’t have even a sliver of a thought of giving you anything for free. Oh, but make sure you eat this breakfast well. It’s the last free meal you’ll get from me.”

I left the restaurant without looking back.

“Hey! Do-jun. Jin Do-jun, you old man!”

He called out desperately, but I didn’t turn around.

He needs to fully understand his situation right now. Only then will he realize what he has.

* * *

Assistant Manager Kim Yoon-suk diligently reported Jin Kyung-jun’s movements. He spent several days drinking at the hotel, had a big fight with Jin Young-jun who visited him, and even sobbed in front of his father, Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi.

One thing became clear from this.

Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi’s decision was firm: his eldest son, Jin Young-jun, would inherit everything.

He must have decided that he wouldn’t be able to withstand my attacks if he divided the company into electronics and logistics.

“So, that’s the situation?”

“Yes. They will proceed with the succession plan.”

“I suddenly feel sorry for Kyung-joon.”

Chairman Lee Hak-jae’s face showed no hint of sympathy. Instead, he looked intrigued.

“Now that he knows he’s penniless, I’m the only one he can rely on.”

“Eh, really?”

A son betraying his father and brother. It’s a common story in dramas and novels.

But…!

It can happen in ordinary families.

A younger sibling who has everything taken by their older brother and is left with nothing might grit their teeth.

But this family is different. Even if the older brother takes everything, the younger one will still have at least tens of millions of dollars left.

An enormous amount of money that ordinary people can only dream of. They start with that as a baseline. There’s no real need to side with someone who has their father’s and brother’s daggers drawn at them.

“It’s definitely possible. As soon as Kyung-joon came to Korea, he met with me first. Of course, I poked him first, but… Anyway, the first thing he did was check if the succession process had started.”

“Tsk tsk. This one or that one, their greed is….”

“Isn’t it the same everywhere in our family? That’s how the world has changed.”

They say civil lawsuits over a single apartment, the only property of the parents, are piling up like mountains.

People grab each other by the hair and fight over a small plot of land in the countryside worth only a few tens of thousands of won per square meter.

Even these people claim priority as the eldest son or hope for an equal share as they are all children.

Our scale is just different.

The size of greed is the same for commoners and chaebols.

“So? What are your plans?”

“If Kyung-joon gives me what he has, I’m thinking of making him a salaried president. He’ll be fired if he’s incompetent, though.”

“What does that guy have? If Young-joon takes everything, he’ll be broke.”

“He has something quite useful. That he’s Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi’s son.”

“What?”

Chairman Lee Hak-jae tilted his head as if he couldn’t understand.

“Not right now, but there will be a time when it’s absolutely necessary.”

“I don’t get what you’re scheming… Well, judging by your words, it seems like you’re planning to let Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi’s succession plans proceed as they are….”

“That’s what I want to discuss. The current shareholding structure isn’t an ironclad fortress, is it?”

“The judgment is simple. Hold shareholder meetings for Electronics and Logistics right now. With your shares, you can sufficiently call an extraordinary general meeting. And put agenda items on the table. Dismiss the CEOs of Electronics and Logistics. Would it pass?”

“Not right now.”

“Then it’s an ironclad fortress.”

“What if Jin Young-jun becomes the chairman?”

“Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi’s friendly shares will waver a bit, right? Young-joon is still unreliable.”

“Exactly. Wouldn’t the ironclad fortress weaken a bit?”

“Hmm….”

The biggest problem is that they are rushing the succession process. They should be taking their time, slowly increasing the number of affiliates and subsidiaries to build a solid shareholding structure, but they are rushing because they saw Jin Dong-gi collapse.

They are carrying out the separation of affiliates and the succession process simultaneously. It will definitely become more vulnerable.

“They’ll definitely try to finish it by next year, so we need to keep a close watch.”

Next year is the presidential election.

No one knows what will happen if the government changes.

If a government that isn’t pro-chaebol comes into power, they will interfere with the succession process at every turn. They might even impose outrageous taxes.

Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi knows very well that he needs to get it done quickly under the current pro-chaebol administration.

“Yes. We need to thoroughly check the changes in the shareholding structure. Of course, we will continue to secure shares.”

Chairman Lee Hak-jae had a relaxed expression.

He seemed to think he already had the upper hand.

The ones who panic and run away always get caught.

Rushing means being chased, and in a fight between the chaser and the chased, the chaser always wins. If they don’t become complacent.

Saying they will focus on securing shares shows they aren’t being complacent.

* * *

“The only thing I can promise you is this: I will definitely give you an opportunity.”

Jin Kyung-jun, who had been through a lot of emotional turmoil, looked terrible.

“Even if you can’t seize that opportunity, I’ll at least give you a couple of mid-sized affiliates. You’ll be able to play the role of a father passing down a few companies to your children.”

“Is that opportunity fair?”

“It’s not unfair. I’ll hand over the president’s position if you show only half the capability of others.”

“That position, is it Electronics or Logistics… no, is it definitely one of the core affiliates?”

“Of course. We’re cousins; would I try to save face by giving you something insignificant….”

He takes a moment to think with a deep sigh.

Though nothing will change even if he does.

“Okay. What do I have to do in return?”

“Absolute obedience.”

“What?”

Jin Kyung-jun shouted, his eyes wide.

“I’m sorry for saying it like this. But I’ve tried to think of a milder way to put it, and nothing comes to mind. The word that most accurately expresses my thoughts is ‘obedience.'”

“You, you bastard…!”

It was already too late.

The fact that he was sitting at the same table with me again showed his willingness to abandon his brother and father in exchange for his own gain.

Should he spend his whole life being at the beck and call of his older brother?

Or should he bow his head to his cousin and secure what’s rightfully his?

Holding the CEO position of Soonyang Electronics for about five years and then taking a couple of affiliates to become independent. Isn’t that a hard temptation to resist?

I threw another temptation at him for his bruised ego.

“I’ll make sure you don’t get called a traitor to your family. You’ll just get a lot of sympathy for being the abandoned second son. That’s my way of doing things.”

The animosity in Jin Kyung-jun’s eyes gradually faded.