Chapter 62: Everyone Stop! Quiet!

“Stop everything! Quiet!”

The two women who had offered me drinks, and even the two giggling with my uncle, widened their eyes.

“What’s wrong all of a sudden? Don’t tell me it’s because we’re mixing too much expensive liquor… ?”

Oh Se-hyun, noticing something was off about me, also shouted.

“Everyone shut your mouths!”

Ten pairs of eyes were on me, but my gaze was fixed on the somaek on the table.

I stared at the droplet-covered glass for a long moment, piecing together the fragmented ideas in my head.

The idea had holes in it, but the overall picture looked promising.

The worker ants would diligently fill in the gaps.

The only problem was time. Less than a week remained. It wouldn’t be easy to complete the picture within that timeframe.

Damn it, it’s always about time.

Whenever I try to do something properly, time is always tight. Is my brain only wired to work under pressure?

What about Chairman Jin? Or Chairman Joo of Daehyun Group?

Do even those at the top only find breakthroughs when cornered? Or do they avoid being cornered in the first place?

“Do-jun. If you’re done thinking, can you tell us? What is it? Don’t tell me you have another hidden card up your sleeve?”

Unable to bear it any longer, Oh Se-hyun broke the silence.

“I do have a hidden card, but it’s not mine.”

I pulled out the Hanseong Ilbo corporate card from my pocket.

“Uncle, please relax here until I acquire one more trump card.”

Then, I addressed the women.

“Does a somaek mixed with equal parts whiskey and beer even taste good? It’s just alcohol, right? If you want to boost your sales, just throw it away. You can bring out a box of Heart Brothers 32-year-old and drink it. This card has an unlimited limit.”

“See? The real sugar daddy isn’t that president; it’s this older brother!”

One of the women sitting next to me said it loud and clear.

“Uncle, I have somewhere to be right now. Call the driver waiting outside. I’ll borrow your car.”

“O-okay.”

“I’ll contact you tomorrow. Have a good time.”

I winked at my uncle and left the room.

* * *

“I apologize for the late hour, Grandfather.”

“It’s alright. I wasn’t asleep yet. But you, did you drink?”

“Yes, but not much.”

Grandfather, in his pajamas, lightly tapped my shoulder with a somewhat stern expression.

“Let’s go inside. We’ll talk there.”

Grandfather, heading towards the study, called out to the kitchen.

“Madam Young-ju, make a strong glass of honey water and bring it here.”

As soon as we entered the study and sat down, Grandfather’s rough voice boomed.

“How does it feel? The feeling of losing a fight?”

“Do you think I’ve lost completely?”

“Of course? Every move you made is dead. It’s impossible to revive them.”

He was the kind of person who could get confirmation from the creditor banks and the head of the acquisition review committee with just a few phone calls. The outcome was decided.

“They say it’s not over until it’s over…”

“Where did you pick up that nonsense? Tsk, tsk.”

He clicked his tongue in disapproval, frowning.

“Stop being foolish, clinging to something that’s already finished. It’s wiser to analyze your losses and prepare for the next round. There’s also a saying that a man should know when to retreat.”

“If Ajin Automobile goes to Daehyun, Soonyang Automobile will also be heavily affected. Are you alright with that?”

“That’s my problem to worry about. And… if necessary, we can just withdraw.”

Withdraw?

Could he already be considering the worst-case scenario?

That couldn’t be. Isn’t he someone who can’t stand not being number one, and isn’t this a business sector he’s attached to, enough to aim for second place?

It was hard to read his true feelings from Grandfather’s somewhat stiff expression.

“More importantly, you need to learn something when you lose a fight. Have you thought about your mistakes?”

“I knew the influence of large corporations was significant, but I hadn’t truly internalized it. It was just a vague guess.”

“You only know how strong your opponent’s fist is after getting hit. What else?”

“In my haste, I missed the right timing.”

“And?”

“I didn’t know Daehyun’s meticulousness and attention to detail. I never imagined they’d uncover the Japan investment.”

“Is that all?”

“I didn’t understand their ruthlessness, their willingness to do anything. I couldn’t even imagine them blatantly lying about disguising the Japanese investment as Japanese capital.”

Only then did Grandfather’s stern face soften.

“Can you do all those things you just mentioned?”

“Isn’t that what I eventually have to do? To build a large corporation, I need to be more meticulous, ruthless, and able to lie shamelessly… that’s what I have to do.”

“Don’t ever forget that feeling, that resolve.”

“Yes, sir.”

Having heard the answer he wanted, a smile spread across Grandfather’s face.

“Now, tell me why you came to see me at this hour. I don’t believe you’re the type to be drunk and disorderly.”

“As I said, it’s not over yet.”

“Really? What else do you have? Didn’t you hear me? I’ve already looked into everything.”

His expression wasn’t stern like before but filled with curiosity.

“My last card is in your hands, Grandfather. And I want that card.”

“Me? What do I have?”

Staring directly into Grandfather’s eyes, I emphasized each word.

“Soonyang Automobile, which you might withdraw from at any moment.”

“What did you say?”

He was remarkable. Even with such a statement, his reaction was just a slight furrow of his brow and a reconfirmation.

I was the one feeling flustered, but I tried to keep my voice as calm as possible.

I gestured towards the bowl of honey water that Madam Young-ju had brought.

“What cures a hangover isn’t honey or water alone. Mixing honey and water creates a different effect. Announcing the merger of Ajin Automobile and Soonyang Automobile will instantly reverse the situation.”

He still stared at me silently, his gaze sharp. This wasn’t the grandfather who loved his youngest grandson, but the chairman of Soonyang Group.

“Do you remember what you told me before? About the merger ratio?”

“I did. Of course, I remember.”

“I want to bring that merger forward.”

“Do-jun.”

“Yes, sir.”

His gaze was somewhat gentle, but still carrying the aura of ‘Iron Face’.

“I was touched that my grandson bought a pack of ramen with his own money, so I boiled water for him. But once you’ve eaten the ramen, that’s it. You shouldn’t ask for rice to mix with the broth, should you?”

“There’s an old saying that not a single grain of rice going into a grandchild’s mouth is wasted. I’m just a grandson asking for a bowl of rice to eat with his ramen. Is that too much to ask?”

“You’ll burst, you idiot. Your greed is excessive.”

Why? Why now?

Didn’t he say he would pass on the Soonyang Group’s shares through the merger of the two automobile companies? He was definitely sincere then. There was no room for doubt.

Why did his attitude suddenly change? Was it a change of heart? Or a test?

“Grandfather, any kind of greed, regardless of its size, will be criticized. So, what’s the point of being half-hearted about it? The world’s fingers are pointing at me anyway.”

There was no need to decipher Chairman Jin’s intentions. Right now, I needed to show my will.

I hoped the magnitude of my greed and the firmness of my resolve were conveyed.

Grandfather still wore his ‘Iron Face’ and spoke in a low voice.

“What do you have?”

“Pardon?”

“A merger is about combining what you have with what I have. I have Soonyang Automobile, but you? Do you have Ajin Automobile?”

“Announcing the merger will be a chance for a turnaround. The process might be reversed, but the result is the same, isn’t it? Eventually, Ajin Automobile will be in my hands.”

“The merger I mentioned before might have just been a casual exploration of possibilities. Didn’t you consider that I might not want the merger?”

“Turning jokes into reality and dreams into tangible things is what business and negotiation are about, isn’t it? There’s no negotiation that can’t be compromised. If the scale is uneven, we just need to adjust it. In exchange for prioritizing the merger announcement, I’ll put more on my side of the scale.”

“Oh? You’re coming on strong? Heh heh.”

He finally smiled.

Was he satisfied with my answer?

“Alright. Let’s say we announce the merger before the review. There’s no guarantee that will reverse the situation.”

“It will. Announcing the merger alone will create two powerful means of pressure.”

“One is the weight given by the name Soonyang Group, which is superior to Daehyun Group, right? Now the media, government, creditor banks, and the review board will all weigh Soonyang and Daehyun, not just Miracle. So, what’s the other one?”

“Reassurance disguised as balance, checks, and fairness.”

“Reassurance?”

“Yes. The unhealthy image of speculation associated with the investment firm Miracle will be washed away.”

After my explanation, silence followed.

Grandfather’s pensive look clearly indicated he was about to make a decision.

“Soonyang Automobile holds a considerable amount of shares in its subsidiaries. You know that, right?”

“Ajin Automobile also holds the majority of shares in the remaining eight Ajin Group subsidiaries.”

“The scale is uneven.”

“We can adjust the merger ratio to roughly balance it out.”

“Unfortunately, that’s not enough to pique my interest.”

You stubborn old man.

You say my greed is excessive? It doesn’t even reach your toes.

Or does he really have no intention of giving me Soonyang Automobile? Or is the test not over yet?

“Take all the subsidiary shares held by Soonyang Automobile and put only the automobile company on the scale. Then I’ll be heavier.”

“You’re suggesting a spin-off of Soonyang Automobile?”

“Ajin Automobile and its eight subsidiaries, and Soonyang Automobile. Another major specialized automobile conglomerate will be born.”

“And you’ll take the owner’s seat?”

“Should I step aside for you?”

“A guy who has no intention of yielding! Don’t even utter such insincere words, you rascal!”

I couldn’t help but smile. I wouldn’t mind yielding the position to Grandfather. But the person to succeed him might be my uncle, not me. That’s something I can’t tolerate.

The look in Grandfather’s eyes conveyed a desperate desire for something more.

I needed to figure out what it was to successfully conclude this negotiation. Perhaps it was the answer he wanted from the moment I brought up the merger.

What does a chaebol chairman want, not just a grandfather?

Could it be…?

“Let’s start by announcing the complete spin-off of Soonyang Automobile and its merger with Ajin Automobile. Soonyang Automobile’s stock price is high because of the Soonyang subsidiary shares it holds. The stock price will plummet with just the spin-off announcement.”

Grandfather’s eyes widened. And shone even brighter.

“When the stock price hits rock bottom, I’ll aggressively buy it up under nominee accounts.”

“And?”

“After acquiring and merging Ajin Group, we can cite various reasons to make it seem like the spin-off never happened. This will further solidify Soonyang Group’s control and allow it to absorb the entire Ajin Group.”

“Wouldn’t that harm many individual investors?”

“When a big carriage moves, some ants get crushed under the wheels. You can’t avoid every single one while moving forward.”

I didn’t miss the brief smile that flickered across Grandfather’s lips.

“Because of the Soonyang Automobile shares you buy, you’ll become one of Soonyang’s major shareholders.”

“Wouldn’t that just be an easy inheritance? The stock price will go up, and I won’t even have to pay taxes.”

“Hahahaha!”

Bang, bang, bang-

Finally, Grandfather burst into loud laughter, pounding on his desk.

Was that a pass?

“You audacious fellow! You’ve already become a villain at such a young age.”

Thank goodness. It’s a pass.