Chapter 72: The Negotiation is Over

“The negotiation is already settled. Today’s exchange rate on the 8th is ₩1,342. You’ve agreed to ₩1,600, so there’s no hidden agenda,” I stated.

“It could go over two thousand won. By the time your ten billion dollars are in my hands, you’ll be taking a huge loss.”

“Will the exchange rate really climb that high, though?”

I should check Soonyang Economic Research Institute’s prediction capabilities. I wonder if the rumors are true that they’ve gathered all the truly brilliant minds.

“There’s over a 90% chance it’ll hit ₩2,200. That’s the research institute’s Ph.D.s’ prediction. They’re not always right, but they do get it right sometimes.”

Grandfather subtly observed my reaction.

“Why? Are you regretting it now, thinking it’ll reach two thousand won?”

“I mentioned it before, didn’t I? That it would go over two thousand won. But I’m not regretting it at all. Aren’t I your grandson? I’m not petty enough to think I’m losing out to my own grandfather.”

“I know you’re not petty. But you’re not one to take a loss either. What is it? What’s the additional condition?”

Trying to feign ignorance with someone as perceptive as him would only create unnecessary suspicion. I should get this over with while we’re on the topic.

“I have two requests.”

“Knew it. Alright, tell me. Let’s see if it’s enough to cover your loss or if you’re trying to squeeze out an even bigger profit.”

Before my grandfather, who was now showing his curiosity, I unfolded the map I had brought.

“Isn’t this a map of Seoul?”

“Yes. Please take a look at the red circles here.”

Grandfather carefully examined the dozen or so locations before raising his head.

“What are these?”

“They’re public lands owned by Seoul City.”

“Public land?”

“Yes. I want to buy this land at a low price.”

“Hmm… Is your request for me to put pressure on the Seoul mayor?”

“No. He only has six months left in his term. We need to ask, no, demand, it from the next mayor.”

At the word ‘demand,’ Grandfather’s eyes flashed.

“Are you perhaps thinking of your aunt’s husband?”

“That’s correct.”

“No.”

He pushed the map away as if there was no need to hear more.

“I’ll provide the election funds for Uncle. Once Uncle becomes the Mayor of Seoul, he can sell the public land, and you, Grandfather, can pressure the assemblyman of this public land’s district to approve the sale. Or perhaps the pressure on the assemblyman won’t even be necessary.”

I continued speaking, pretending not to hear Grandfather’s firm refusal.

“I said no!”

“The justification is sound. If Seoul City sells all its non-essential land to raise funds during this national economic crisis, there won’t be any public opposition.”

“Tch! You little rascal!”

“Could you tell me the reason for your opposition?”

“That man is a Choi, not a Jin. Isn’t that reason enough?”

As expected, bloodline refers to the man’s blood. The daughter’s blood is outside the family’s domain.

I pretended not to understand and said something irrelevant.

“The Mayor of Seoul doesn’t have much influence on Soonyang Group.”

“Choi’s desire to enter politics comes from his wife’s head. That man is nothing but his wife’s puppet.”

My aunt, Choi Seo-yun, intends to overcome the handicap of being a daughter with political power.

Very few politicians in Korea dare to oppose Chairman Jin.

Even without a microscope or magnifying glass, you can see all sorts of illegal and underhanded dealings by Soonyang Group. But everyone closes their eyes and pretends not to see. Even if someone mentions these facts, they are quickly buried.

If a powerful politician starts speaking out through the speakers, it’s obvious that troublesome things will keep happening.

I know very well that my aunt is trying to use that power to demand as much of Soonyang’s shares as a son would, or even more.

“Grandfather.”

“I said stop!”

“Why don’t you consider making Uncle a puppet of Soonyang Group?”

“What?”

“By the time he sits in the Mayor of Seoul’s chair, he’ll be covered in all sorts of filth and dust. If you hold onto that, won’t he be a puppet?”

“That filth and dust come from Soonyang. If it’s exposed, Soonyang will also get hurt.”

“I’ll take on that dust and filth. So, you don’t have to worry, Grandfather, because I’ll be holding tightly onto Uncle’s collar.”

“Look at this guy. I’m providing the money, but you’re taking the credit? You little rascal!”

Grandfather scoffed, seemingly dumbfounded.

“No. I’ll provide the money too. And Grandfather, you can use it occasionally when you need to.”

“What? You’ll provide the money too? Then just go ahead and push it through. You don’t need my permission, do you?”

“Couldn’t you prevent him from even getting the party nomination with a single phone call to the Democratic Justice Party leader? Or am I wrong?”

Grandfather silently began to stare into my eyes.

“Just twice, allow him to act as the owner of Seoul City Hall for eight years. Wouldn’t that be enough time to take everything he needs?”

I could practically hear the gears turning in his head. Finally, Grandfather opened his mouth.

“What’s the second request?”

“Are you agreeing?”

“Not yet. Tell me the second one first.”

“Please block government subsidies from flowing into Dae-ah Construction.”

“What did you say? Dae-ah Construction?”

Grandfather’s eyes widened at the unexpectedly mentioned name.

“I’m not planning to make it a parking lot after acquiring the public land. I need to build something on it. To do that, wouldn’t I need at least one small construction company?”

“Small? Dae-ah is ranked 5th in terms of construction contracts. Do you think it’s some corner store?”

“Grandfather, I own Ajin Group and Soonyang Automobile. Compared to them, Dae-ah is a corner store.”

Suddenly, a smile spread across Grandfather’s face. Is that a yes?

“You cheeky brat, you’re serious.”

“About what?”

“About building a company on your own. Instead of begging for a piece of Soonyang Construction, you’re thinking of acquiring Dae-ah…”

“Were you planning to give it to me if I begged?”

As I asked jokingly, Grandfather’s expression shifted again to something peculiar.

“I might have… or might not have… Well, it’s meaningless now. You said you’d acquire Dae-ah.”

No, don’t be fooled. He’s just trying to provoke me.

I repeated this to myself several times, but a sense of unfairness crept in at the thought.

“Dae-ah Construction, huh….”

“Yes. No company can escape this current foreign exchange crisis. Dae-ah Construction will surely be thirsty for dollars. If you just cut off the government subsidies, they’ll go bankrupt. I’ll pick them up then.”

“Dae-ah is a good company. A few blood transfusions will get it back on its feet.”

“That’s right. Oh Se-hyun and his staff meticulously researched and selected this company over several days.”

“So, Dae-ah and Choi’s run for Seoul Mayor are a package deal.”

“Yes. If I supply the blood and Uncle provides the fertilizer, it will bloom beautifully.”

“And there’s no connection between Choi’s election and Soonyang, so there won’t be any problems?”

“That’s correct.”

Grandfather started his habit of tapping the desk with his fingers when deep in thought.

I also remained silent and waited patiently.

“And after Dae-ah Construction blossoms beautifully….”

“Naturally, I’ll put the Soonyang name on it.”

“That’s certainly music to my ears. You’re the only one in this family besides me who’s expanding Soonyang’s subsidiaries. Ha ha.”

This doesn’t feel right. That laughter isn’t a happy one.

“I’ll think about both requests. Anyway, our contract is settled, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then go back and hurry. Even the group presidents are becoming agitated. Ten billion dollars coming in quickly will calm things down a bit.”

“Yes, I will.”

Without pushing further, I withdrew. Just in case, I should meet with my aunt and firmly instruct her.

# # #

As his grandson’s retreating figure disappeared from the study, Chairman Jin abruptly stood up from his chair.

He paced around the study, wanting to calm the shock he had been suppressing.

The justification is good: a Seoul mayor who cooperates in overcoming the nation’s economic crisis will sell public land as a means of raising funds.

He’ll create that mayor with his own hands, secure the land, and then acquire a construction company as a means to turn that land into a pile of money.

The picture he’s painting is too good.

To complete this perfect picture, he’s willing to give up trillions of won despite the obvious surge in the exchange rate. That takes guts.

Isn’t that another way of saying he’s confident he can extract more than trillions of won?

The moment he heard his grandson’s explanation, he had to forcibly suppress the urge to agree immediately. He couldn’t lend his strength so easily.

And he felt fear once again.

That kid hides the nature of the most ferocious beast beneath his cute and handsome face.

The sweet words about putting the Soonyang name on Ajin Group and Dae-ah Construction… He mustn’t be fooled.

He’s definitely the one who will take away Soonyang Automobile and Soonyang Construction.

A grandson who tries to take away what’s his is much more admirable and lovable than his own children trying to get his possessions.

But the feeling of fear and unease was also unavoidable.

* * *

“…You told him?”

“Yes.”

“Do-jun! How many times have I told you not to? If your father finds out, everything will fall apart. He’ll never allow it. We’re doomed now. We’re all dead.”

My aunt was in a panic with a truly deathly expression, while my uncle had a sullen look.

“Aunt, please calm down. I’m telling you it’s alright.”

“What’s alright about it?!”

“Honey, calm down and let’s hear Do-jun out. He must have thought it through, right?”

He’s a fool swayed by his wife, lacking in thought. He’s just wearing an expectant expression, excited about becoming the Mayor of Seoul.

“Grandfather said he’d think about it. He’s not outright opposing it.”

My aunt took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

“Honestly, both of you know why Grandfather is against it, right?”

“Why? What did he tell you?”

“He seems uneasy about the election funds for Uncle flowing from Soonyang. If a political scandal breaks out, it’ll be a big problem.”

My aunt began to scrutinize my expression, trying to glean something from me.

“That’s why I told him. Since the election funds will come from somewhere else, just pretend not to know.”

“Anything else? Did he say anything else?”

“I also mentioned that since you’re involved in politics, it would be nice to become the Mayor of Seoul and then retire gracefully from the political scene.”

“What? End as just the mayor? That’s absurd!”

You stupid bastard. You can’t understand what I’m saying!

“Honey! Overcoming the mountain in front of us is more important. Just be quiet for a moment!”

My aunt is much more perceptive.

“Do-jun, if your father allows it and pretends not to know, is the election funding possible?”

“How much will it cost?”

I blinked innocently.

“A special party membership fee of three billion won, about five billion won to spread around to key figures in the party… and around thirty billion won for election campaign funds. Generously, let’s say forty billion won?”

My uncle rattled off the numbers as if he had been waiting for the question.

Forty billion won isn’t some puppy’s name…. This guy really has no sense of reality.

Shouldn’t he have at least prepared a detailed breakdown by now?

“Wow! That’s a lot.”

I widened my eyes and pretended to be startled, causing my uncle’s expression to darken.

“Why are you surprised? Don’t you have that much?”

“I’m quite short on funds. And I also need to set aside the money to build Father’s theater.”

My aunt, who had been silent, finally spoke.

“I can prepare about 15 billion won. You just need to come up with 25 billion won. Is that possible?”

“Yes, that much is possible.”

The expressions on their faces are so ridiculous it’s almost embarrassing to watch.

They have the faces of children, both surprised and delighted.

“I can’t withdraw 15 billion won all at once. First, I need to pay the special party membership fee early next year… so prepare about three billion won first.”

Is this the brain structure of people from chaebol families who lack a sense of reality?

They casually talk about billions and tens of billions of won to their twenty-year-old nephew. Does their concept of money really start from billions?

“Yes, I’ll prepare it quickly. Oh, but before that, we need to write up a contract, right?”

“What? A contract? What contract?”

The two of them stared at me with bewildered expressions.

“It’s money that doesn’t even get a receipt, so we need at least a contract, right? Don’t you think?”

I also started to stare back with a bewildered expression.