Chapter 325: The Start

From evening until dawn, Jin Young-jun’s warrant review hearing proceeded, while hundreds of people protested outside the courthouse with signs. Their demand was the imprisonment of the man who squandered 7 trillion won—blood money saved for the people’s retirement. Of course, they were extras hired by his father, but they looked convincing enough.

Public opinion, money, and the testimonies of those already detained left him with no way to avoid arrest.

News of Jin Young-jun’s arrest broke at dawn. This was just the beginning. Although the court’s final verdict was pending, simply waiting wasn’t an option if I wanted to completely turn the tide.

“We’ll proceed with two lawsuits simultaneously: the nullification of the Corporation’s merger and the restriction of voting rights for Jin Young-jun’s illegally acquired Corporation shares. We can’t give them any breathing room.”

“Who are you referring to?”

Vice President Jang Do-hyung asked cautiously.

“Who else? The executives of Electronics and Corporation. We need to prevent them from feeling any guilt about betraying Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi or Jin Young-jun. Only then will it be easy to convene an interim board meeting and nominate me as CEO.”

“What about the general shareholders’ meeting?”

The lawyers present seemed more concerned about the general shareholders’ meeting than the board meeting. Even if I were appointed CEO at the board meeting, it would be useless if the shareholders’ meeting dissolved the board.

“We need to prevent a board meeting aimed at ousting me from even taking place. That’s why the lawsuits are crucial. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Chief of staff.”

The lawyers replied with tense expressions. They knew that failure meant being expelled from Soonyang, and success meant a more glorious life than they could imagine.

After the lawyers left, Executive Director Woo Byung-joon entered.

“What’s the situation on their side?”

“They’re calling in presidents and executives every day. It’s clear Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi is trying to rally support….”

Executive Director Woo trailed off.

“And? Is there anything unusual?”

“The Vice-chairman isn’t dead yet. Government officials are coming and going in droves.”

“Is that so? Do you have a list of these people?”

Executive Director Woo Byung-joon handed over a list. I quickly scanned the names and tore up the paper. My conviction grew stronger.

“They’re all just small fry. If this is the extent of my uncle’s influence, there’s nothing more to see.”

A weight lifted off my shoulders. After all, government officials who live by reading the room wouldn’t misjudge the current trend.

I turned back to Vice President Jang Do-hyung.

“Soonyang Electronics is currently divided into three factions, right?”

“Yes. With Chairman Jin Young-jun’s imprisonment, the power struggle is intense.”

Jin Young-gi’s loyalists, the up-and-coming faction of those brought in as executives by Jin Young-jun after studying abroad, and the people who spearheaded the mobile phone business and now lead Electronics.

These groups constantly checked and clashed with each other.

“Set up a meeting. It’ll be interesting to see those who are constantly at each other’s throats in one place, don’t you think?”

Corporation could be secured with shareholdings, and Electronics could be taken with a unanimous vote from the board of directors.

* * *

“The merger of Corporation will be invalidated. Jin Young-jun’s voting rights for his shares will be restricted until the trial concludes. If an interim general shareholders’ meeting is held again, who do you think will gain control of Soonyang Corporation?”

The three men in front of me, each with a teacup before them, remained silent.

“However, I intend to be appointed CEO through a board resolution without holding an interim general shareholders’ meeting. If the shareholders disapprove of my appointment as CEO of Soonyang Corporation, they can hold a general shareholders’ meeting to dismiss me. But what do you think? Is such a meeting likely to happen?”

They still said nothing.

“Like Jin Young-jun, I will become the overall CEO of both Corporation and Electronics. On the same day, at the same time.”

“It seems that will be the case,” the oldest of Jin Young-gi’s men said. They, too, knew the tide had already turned.

The media portrayed Jin Young-jun as a despicable villain who embezzled 7 trillion won from the National Pension Service—the people’s blood and sweat—and a shameless man divorced due to complicated affairs with women.

Conversely, I was portrayed as a global leader mingling with influential figures around the world, recognized as one of the world’s wealthiest people by Forbes. They also believe that with no shareholders to oppose me, becoming the chairman of Soonyang Group is only a matter of time.

“But can you maintain it?”

No matter how weakened, Jin Young-jun would be released on probation. The moment that happened, he would regain his voting rights and could regroup his forces to try and reclaim Corporation, however slim the chance.

That was their concern: becoming immediate traitors.

“If I become the overall CEO of Corporation and Electronics, the first thing I’ll do is sell all the Corporation and Electronics shares held by both companies.”

The three men were startled but their experience was vast. They immediately understood who the shares would be sold to.

“Miracle has enough financial power to absorb them, so it’s possible. Then Miracle will control Electronics and Corporation, and Electronics and Corporation will control the remaining subsidiaries, creating a solid holding structure.”

“Exactly. The structure will be the same as how we currently control Construction, Heavy Industries, and Department store.”

Switching from a circular cross-shareholding structure to a vertical one. It was a structure every chaebol CEO desired, but impossible due to lack of funds.

Now, the three men just exchanged glances, each waiting for the other to speak first. I broke the silence with the difficult request.

“Persuade the executives to unanimously endorse my nomination at the board meeting. No conditions.”

“Pardon?”

“Whether I give you positions or dismiss you entirely will be decided after I take control of Electronics. If you’re thinking of negotiating with me, give up. Negotiations are proposed by the strong. You don’t have that privilege. You know who the stronger one is.”

Among the people I need to employ, those who don’t genuinely follow me need to be subdued by force.

Those skilled individuals who clawed their way to the top in the harsh jungle don’t respect others, nor do they have loyalty. The only thing that works on them is fear.

“I will meet you again in the Soonyang Group chairman’s office, the very room my grandfather used. At that time, don’t offer deals or negotiations. Make requests. I might consider what you want.”

I saw the unease in their eyes. It was a look I’d seen many times before.

It was the same look I always saw in front of my grandfather.

* * *

Exactly three days after his arrest, Jin Young-jun contacted me. It seemed he had discussed the situation with his lawyers and realized the direction the wind was blowing.

“Where is Hyung-nim now?”

“Yes?”

Jin Young-jun’s lawyer stammered, startled.

“I know he’s not in jail, so it’s okay. He’s not the type to sleep on a cement floor. Where is he?”

“Near the jail… a motel.”

The lawyer reluctantly confessed.

“He probably bought it in a hurry to avoid attention. In your name?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go. Lead the way.”

I followed the lawyer’s car. Assistant Manager Kim Yoon-suk couldn’t hide his anxious expression.

“Chief of staff, are you sure about this?”

“Why? Do you think Jin Young-jun will stab me in a motel? I hold Jin Young-jun’s leash right now. All he’ll do is propose a reasonable compromise, so don’t worry.”

Leaving Kim and the attendants’ concerns behind, I entered the motel parking lot.

“He’s on the top floor. Then….”

The lawyer bowed and returned to his car in the parking lot.

Opening the motel room door, I noticed the hastily arranged bed and sofa. Even in this situation, he didn’t forget about a comfortable place to sleep.

“Living well, huh? I’ll skip the pleasantries. How much did you give the prison warden?”

“Threw him a bone. Have a seat.”

If this got out, the prison warden would be dismissed. But he probably pocketed tens or hundreds of times his lifetime salary and pension, so what did he care?

“Let’s finish this in the first trial without making it complicated.”

“Is that up to me?”

“Your in-laws are powerful. The judges all have the surname Seo. The prosecutor in charge is your classmate. The prosecution will ask for three years, and since it’s your first offense, the sentence will be a year and a half, suspended—it’ll be over.”

“Let’s say I ask my father-in-law and buy my classmate a drink to end it that way. What do I get? Do you know how much money I spent to create this situation? It’ll take forever to break even.”

Jin Young-jun sighed through gritted teeth and spoke slowly.

“You take Electronics, the face of the group, and I’ll take Corporation after it’s separated. Just attach half a dozen subsidiaries under Corporation.”

This bastard had accurately assessed the situation.

Since there wouldn’t be a dramatic comeback, he made a significant decision.

I could only imagine how much his lawyers had struggled to persuade Jin Young-jun to make this decision.

“Is that your final conclusion after three days of thinking?”

“What more do you want me to do? Do you have to take everything for your satisfaction?”

“No, that’s nowhere near enough.”

“What?”

“…….”

“I know your uncle’s slush funds, which he kept hidden, were almost entirely used to buy shares this time. Am I wrong?”

His silence confirmed it.

“Then the shares you hold are all you have, right? Of course, you probably thought you could easily recover the invested slush funds once you controlled Electronics and Corporation.”

“Just tell me. What do you want?”

“Hand over all the shares you hold. If you donate them as a sign of public apology, the court will consider it. Of course, the donation must be to a foundation I designate. Then the first trial will end with probation. Just stay in this motel for two or three weeks. You have plenty of women to call, so time will fly.”

“You, you bastard…!”

“The only thing you can buy with your Soonyang Group shares is your prison sentence, and time is a bonus. Remember that.”

I got up from the comfortable sofa and pointed to the phone lying on the bed.

“The interim board meetings for Corporation and Electronics will be held in a week. I will be inaugurated as the overall CEO. My offer is only valid for one week. There will be no more offers after the board meeting. And… talk about things like this over the phone. Don’t make me come and go.”

I left the motel room, leaving Jin Young-jun trembling.

* * *

In the end, a week passed, but Jin Young-jun didn’t contact me. He knew he could get out on probation, though it would take time.

He was a fish caught in a net he couldn’t escape. Jin Young-jun could be dealt with again when he left prison. I needed to focus all my efforts on the upcoming interim general shareholders’ meeting.

In the Soonyang Group main conference room, about thirty registered directors from Corporation and Electronics were waiting for me.

Over a hundred reporters had set up camp in the Soonyang headquarters lobby and around the building, waiting for the results, and the employees were also anxiously waiting.

Posters placed throughout the lobby played a part in pressuring the directors.

“We support Jin Do-jun. – All employees of Soonyang Corporation and Soonyang Electronics.”

This wasn’t something I ordered. It was the employees’ voluntary action.

In fact, tears welled up in my eyes the moment I saw these posters while entering the lobby.

I had finally come this far.

It wasn’t because I remembered my past, when I was just cutting the grass after joining the company.

It was because the face of my grandfather, who passed away holding my hand, flashed before my eyes.

“You idiot! What are you dawdling for? Get up here now!”

It was a familiar voice. And there was only one person who could call me an idiot like that.

“Great-uncle!”

Grandfather Joo Byung-hae stood there, leaning on his cane, smiling brightly at me.

“What brings you here? All the way here?”

“What else? Today is the day you succeed our Hyung-nim and enter the chairman’s office, isn’t it? How could I miss that moment? The moment Soonyang’s official second chairman appears!”

That’s right.

Besides my grandfather, no one else had served as the chairman of Soonyang Group.

Today was the day I would follow in my grandfather’s footsteps and become the second chairman.