Chapter 53: A Grandfather’s Wiles and a Grandson’s Ambition

Watching his grandfather drink water, I spoke with concern.

“Should I get you some Agryreia Nourishing Pills?”

“Enough with the noise, you brat. Do you think my heart is so weak that I need some silly pills?”

“You just seemed so surprised….”

Grandfather vigorously waved his hand and let out a long breath.

“Do-jun, my ears aren’t deceiving me, are they? You’re not saying you want Ajin Automobile as your entrance gift instead of a regular car, are you?”

“No, sir. I mean I’ll acquire it with my own money.”

“Your own money… Just how much do you think the acquisition price of Ajin is that you’re so confident?”

He tried to maintain his composure, but his words were faster than usual.

“If you were to acquire it, Grandfather, how much would you bid?”

As I subtly asked about the acquisition price, Grandfather paused, blinking.

“Hmm… let me see. If it were me… huh? Look at this rascal? Eheheheh.”

Suddenly, he burst into laughter. He had completely regained his composure and understood the hidden meaning behind my question.

A situation to hear the other party’s thoughts first. He must have recalled the teaching that this is the privilege of a ruler.

“You little rascal. You should speak first in this situation. I’m still above you. Where are you trying to pull a fast one? Heh heh.”

“I initially estimate 1.5 trillion won. There will be variables, and I need to assess Ajin Automobile’s condition to know for sure.”

“Hmm….”

“You don’t seem very surprised.”

“About what? The amount?”

That was the first number out of my mouth. It wasn’t my entire fortune, but saying the acquisition price was 1.5 trillion won implied I had more than that.

Yet, Grandfather was only considering whether the amount was appropriate, showing no particular reaction to my wealth.

Is he magnanimous? Or composed?

Or is it that 1.5 trillion won isn’t a large sum to him, so he doesn’t consider it significant?

“Why? Should I be surprised at how you amassed such a fortune? Or are you fishing for praise?”

“Praise can wait, don’t you think? If we’re just talking about cash on hand right now, I have more than the entire Soonyang Group. I thought you’d be surprised that an individual has surpassed the number one business group.”

Grandfather’s eyes changed.

“You little whelp. I understand your desire to boast, but anyone trying to acquire Ajin should have more than that.”

That was the look he gives his cute grandson.

“I was plenty surprised when you said you’d acquire it. Now, I’m just curious, and satisfying curiosity isn’t urgent. Curiosity isn’t a priority. Right now, it’s Ajin Automobile.”

“So, you believe me? Even though it’s over 1 trillion won?”

“If you’re in your right mind, you wouldn’t be spouting nonsense, especially when facing such a significant matter.”

I wanted to slap my knee at his words, ‘Curiosity isn’t a priority.’ It’s the most intense temptation, but it comes second.

Soonyang is a place where an incredible number of people start new ventures every day. Prioritizing when dealing with the numerous issues at the top is crucial.

Deferring curiosity is the standard practice.

I also asked a necessary question instead of one driven by curiosity.

“What acquisition price are you considering, Grandfather?”

“I don’t know.”

“Pardon?”

He shook his head without a moment’s hesitation. It felt a bit unfair. A conversation without give-and-take is evidence of a superior-inferior relationship.

“I didn’t look into it since I had no intention of acquiring it. I scrutinized it thoroughly six years ago, but things would be much different now.”

“Will you help me?”

“I’m considering it.”

I asked cautiously, but as expected, I didn’t get a clear answer.

“I’m considering why you want to acquire Ajin Automobile and whether your acquisition would actually benefit Soonyang.”

Even a careful examination of Grandfather’s expression suggested he wasn’t just saying words.

I closed my mouth and waited quietly.

What is he thinking?

Is it the thought of a grandfather who dotes on his grandson? Or the thought of the chairman who prioritizes the Soonyang Group he built above all else?

It would be ideal if the two thoughts aligned, but it’s hard to know the outcome yet.

“Alright. Let’s try this.”

Grandfather, who had been deep in thought for a long time, finally spoke.

I unconsciously swallowed hard. Surely he wouldn’t turn me down?

“Let’s consider this a moment where my grandson Do-jun, the owner of Ajin Automobile, and this old man, the owner of Soonyang Automobile, join forces to merge the two companies.”

Has he already read my thoughts, my plans?

I hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond, feeling as though my idea that Ajin Automobile was merely a stepping stone to absorb Soonyang Automobile had been exposed.

Grandfather paused, as if waiting for my reaction, then smirked at my bewildered expression.

“I’d like to hear your opinion on the merger ratio of the two companies. What do you say?”

After much deliberation, a peculiar thought suddenly popped into my head.

Now is not the time to obediently answer Grandfather’s questions. Rather, it’s time to ask questions to understand his true intentions.

“Why do you assume we’ll merge?”

“If we don’t merge? Do you think you can protect Ajin Automobile with your abilities? It might be swallowed by Daehyun Group within a year. No, do you even think you can manage it properly?”

His smile seemed like a condescending sneer. But I could afford to be confident. I had plans of my own.

“You don’t need to worry about the management aspect.”

“You’re getting cocky. Do you have something up your sleeve?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Oho!”

It wasn’t a sneer or a look of disdain, but genuine admiration.

He must be impressed that I not only had the desire but also had prepared countermeasures.

“If you have the capability to run the company, the merger might fall through, you know?”

“That’s why you shouldn’t be too confident….”

“Still getting cocky.”

Grandfather cut off my confident words and beckoned with his finger.

“No proposal is absolutely unacceptable. If the scale isn’t balanced, we just need to adjust it. Tell me the merger ratio. How much more do I need to add to the scale?”

“1 : 0.2”

“You’re like a robber!”

Contrary to his words, his expression was one of surprise, and he was holding back a laugh.

“Considering market share, brand value, new car development capabilities, and technology, Soonyang Automobile is only about 20% of Ajin Automobile’s level. These are the opinions of automotive experts, not just my personal view.”

“Are you saying that because you don’t know? That’s just looking at the automobile sector alone. You need to factor in the hidden value. Doesn’t the stock price tell you that?”

Soonyang Automobile’s stock price is more than double that of Ajin Automobile. The reason is the Soonyang Group affiliates’ shares that Soonyang Automobile holds.

Controlling Soonyang Automobile means controlling half of the Soonyang Group.

“Are you planning to put that hidden value on the scale as well?”

“Depends on how you do. Hehehe.”

The negotiation ended with Grandfather’s pleasant laughter. Under the guise of negotiation, Grandfather subtly revealed his inner thoughts, and I disclosed many secrets.

My secret ambition to take over the Soonyang Group, and Grandfather’s intention to potentially pass the group down. It wasn’t a definitive answer, but it’s enough for now.

“Do-jun.”

“Yes.”

“Chairman Joo of Daehyun Group won’t let this opportunity slip. On the other hand, I haven’t made any preparations. That old fox has tied my hands and feet.”

“I don’t expect it to be easy.”

“Chairman Joo will consider you a variable, not a competitor.”

“It’s good when the opponent is careless.”

“It’s good to talk big, but there needs to be a basis. Let’s hear it. I’ll give my youngest grandson a score on how smart he is.”

I calmly explained the method of acquiring Ajin Automobile. Naturally, it included where the Soonyang Group chairman’s power needed to be used.

“…Therefore, the creditor banks shouldn’t delay the pressure to recover loans; they should expedite it. The faster Ajin Automobile goes bankrupt, the better.”

“Looks like I’ve been hindering my own grandson’s plan instead of Daehyun Group’s. I’ve been wining and dining the creditor banks with expensive sashimi to buy time. Hehehe.”

Judging by his hearty laughter, he seemed pleased with my plan.

“What’s my score? Grandfather.”

“It’s not the perfect answer, so I can’t give you full marks, but it’s not a zero since it’s a subjective question. And it seems like the best option in the current situation. Good, good!”

Seeing Grandfather nod repeatedly with a smile put my mind at ease.

“Now, it’s time to satisfy my curiosity. Where did you get all that money, more than Soonyang Group’s cash reserves?”

“I invested the money from selling the Bundang ranch in overseas IT companies, and their stock prices soared. That’s how I earned it.”

“Seeing it multiplied over a hundredfold, that Oh Se-hyun fellow has a good eye.”

I didn’t bother mentioning that it was several hundred times, not a hundred, or that it wasn’t Oh Se-hyun but me. If I said that I, an elementary schooler, had led the investments, my old grandfather might really collapse.

“I just got lucky.”

“What’s your position in that investment firm called Miracle? Perhaps…?”

“I’m the majority shareholder. I own 98% of the shares.”

“Then, what about Oh Se-hyun?”

“He’s the CEO. You employ many of them too, don’t you? Professional managers.”

I should have prepared Agryreia Nourishing Pills. The way he’s getting surprised makes me uneasy.

“So, you also know that my 100 billion won is sitting in your company?”

“I’ve grown that money significantly as well. I’m planning to return all the investment profits if you give me 7% of Ajin Automobile’s shares.”

“Of course, you little rascal. Were you trying to pocket my precious money?”

“Oh well, I was hoping you’d just let me use that money as an entrance gift… Aren’t you being too harsh?”

I said with a smile, but Grandfather didn’t smile.

“If you want an island worth 100 billion won as a gift, I’ll buy it for you. If you want a private jet worth 100 billion won, I’ll buy that too. But money isn’t given away for free.”

“Because money can buy anything you want?”

“Exactly. In the future, when your subordinates do a good job, give them only a little money. Even if you take them to a room salon and spend millions on drinks, don’t give it to them in cash. Let the guy drinking think, ‘He paid for all this instead of giving me the cash.'”

“It’s a form of hope-torture. By giving the expectation that if they do better, they can receive the cash equivalent of those drinks.”

“Oh my, my clever little one. You understand everything instantly.”

It’s not that I’m clever. It’s because I’ve experienced it, because I’ve felt it so acutely.

Millions of won spent on drinks for one night, swiping the company card. After handling a woman issue well, a racing girl from a motor show was offered as a reward for a night. I found out later that her ‘flower money’ was over 5 million won.

That reward came the day after my wife nagged me about the 2 million won shortage for her mother’s hospital bills.

Drinks, flower money… how often did I wish that money was all mine?

“Do-jun.”

Grandfather’s sudden, gentle call pulled me out of my past memories.

“Yes, Grandfather.”

“Until you get Ajin Automobile in your hands, keep it a secret. You must remain completely hidden, and only Oh Se-hyun should be visible.”

“That’s what I intend to do. And you, Grandfather….”

“Of course. Even Chief of Staff Lee Hak-jae won’t know.”

As we exchanged satisfied smiles, Grandfather called me in an even more subtle voice.

“Do-jun.”

“Yes.”

“How much total wealth do you have? How much will be left after acquiring Ajin Automobile?”

That face full of curiosity. I shook my head with a smile.

“You shouldn’t look into other people’s wallets without permission. Oh, if you need cash, just let me know. I’ll lend it to you.”

Grandfather jumped up, approached me, and put his arm around my shoulder.

“Well done, my boy. You’ve grown up.”