Chapter 89: So, What Do You Want? What Do You Expect Me to Do?

“So? What do you want? What do you expect me to do?”

Jin Dong-ki was just as frustrated and annoyed, it seemed. His usually polite and courteous tone had turned somewhat rough.

“Isn’t the fight for the Soonyang pie enough with just you and me? What if someone else, someone we don’t even know, is also preparing to jump into this fray? Especially if it’s someone Father is handing the spoon and chopsticks to? It feels unsettling.”

“I’ve heard enough, just get to the point.”

“Let’s ask Father. Who is he handing the spoon and chopsticks to? And why?”

“That’s always been your problem, Hyung. Don’t you know? You’re like a child, always running to him to whine whenever there’s a problem. Aren’t you tired of it?”

Jin Dong-ki didn’t use honorifics with his older brother, like he did in their younger days.

Although his younger brother had spoken harshly, Jin Young-ki’s mood didn’t sour.

For the first time in a long while, he felt like Dong-ki was his actual younger brother, not a competitor.

“If I go alone to whine, then yes. But if you and I go together? We won’t whine. We’ll ask for an update on the business situation, and offer our help. We can say we’ll put our full effort into successfully acquiring Dae-ah Construction and completing that massive project. That’s not whining, that’s business. Isn’t it?”

Jin Dong-ki considered his father’s potential reaction if they acted according to his brother’s suggestion, and he didn’t think the outcome would be bad.

But they needed thorough preparation.

If they weren’t well-prepared, they’d likely only receive a barrage of scolding from their father.

“If we’re going to avoid whining, we need to go in knowing for sure, right? How about we have a candid brotherly chat? Share what we know.”

When Jin Dong-ki suggested exchanging information, Jin Young-ki raised his hand and pointed at his younger brother.

“You first?”

“I should, shouldn’t I? First, it’s not Yoon-ki. I talked to Yoon-ki. He wants one thing. He’s become greedy for his little rascal, Do-jun. He wants to leave something for Do-jun.”

“Yoon-ki? That’s unexpected.”

“Yoon-ki is a father too. But he confided in me. If he was after the Soonyang Group, he wouldn’t have said that. It probably means he wants to be compensated enough so he won’t feel slighted.”

Jin Dong-ki dismissed the possibility of their youngest brother preparing for the fight for the pie and suggested another possibility.

“Father cherishes Do-jun, and Do-jun is someone who hasn’t disappointed his grandfather’s expectations… My guess is that Do-jun is the more likely candidate.”

Jin Young-ki shook his head at his younger brother’s words.

“No. Do-jun’s future is already set.”

“How so?”

“He’s likely going to groom Do-jun as a financial expert. A specialist in investments and M&A.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. He’s diligently learning under Oh Se-hyun.”

The two men fell silent simultaneously.

If they excluded Jin Yun-ki and Do-jun, there wasn’t anyone else who readily came to mind. The third brother, Jin Sang-ki, had bowed out early, and their younger sister had no room to interfere.

Could he have a hidden child?

As all sorts of thoughts crossed their minds, the two men shook their heads.

They had no choice but to confirm before it was too late. In the worst-case scenario, they had to be prepared for their father’s scolding.

* * *

“Come here, eldest son, and second son.”

Chairman Jin wore a bitter smile as he looked at his two sons’ faces.

“Shouldn’t you at least be able to tell if your opponent is holding a knife or a bouquet of roses before you go around claiming you’re qualified to be the successor of Soonyang?”

His two sons were taken aback by the unexpected words from their father.

“A, a knife, you say?”

“Don’t you remember? It was only three or four months ago. Miracle brought 1 billion dollars, exchanged it for our country’s currency, and took Soonyang Automobile as an exchange fee. That includes the group shares Automobile held. I’ve never seen such a blatant robber in my life.”

The two sons gaped. Wasn’t this completely different from what they had imagined?

“So, Miracle really has no connection to you, Father?”

“Why? Are you surprised that I’m not angry after being robbed?”

“No. If there’s no connection, isn’t that an extremely unfair deal? Why did you accept those terms?”

“And if I didn’t accept?”

The second son, who had asked the question, quickly shut his mouth at Chairman Jin’s piercing gaze.

He needed to be more composed. This was a time when overseas hot money settlements ranged from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars daily.

Their financial situation was so dire that they couldn’t last even two weeks, no, not even ten days, and he himself had despaired, believing a primary default was inevitable.

He would have accepted even harsher conditions.

“I apologize. I misspoke.”

“It’s common for ordinary people to easily forget hard times once the crisis is over.”

The word ‘ordinary’ stung him. How could someone who would inherit Soonyang be ordinary?

“So, Miracle is the one who robbed our Soonyang.”

“We handed over Automobile and some group shares and survived the IMF crisis. Don’t feel too wronged.”

But the two sons’ questions hadn’t disappeared.

“But Father, didn’t you send away the president of Soonyang Automobile and all the executives? Surely, we didn’t lose the people too?”

“The same goes for the acquisition of Dae-ah Construction. If they’re knife-wielding robbers, there’s no need to help them, is there?”

Chairman Jin clicked his tongue at his two sons’ questions.

“How about trying to understand my thinking before questioning me? And isn’t it a bit absurd for you to question my decisions? Tsk, tsk.”

The two sons hastily waved their hands.

“Ah, please don’t misunderstand, Father. We’re not questioning you. We’re asking because it’s difficult to understand.”

“What was it? The giant wooden horse they set up during the war… the one with soldiers hidden inside…”

“Are you referring to the Trojan horse?”

“That’s it. The Trojan horse.”

“So, sending our Soonyang people along with them… ?”

“Of course. Shouldn’t we bring it back?”

The two sons were too ashamed to lift their faces.

After hearing their father’s plan, they realized that at over fifty years old, they were still just whining sons.

They were simply relieved that they had survived the crisis and hadn’t even considered taking back what was lost. They even felt a bit relieved that the somewhat troublesome Automobile was gone.

But the questions weren’t completely answered.

Dae-ah Construction was still there, and so was Jin Do-jun. They couldn’t bring themselves to ask about them.

Looking at his two sons, Chairman Jin spoke again.

“Miracle is using me right now. They’ll use my power and connections to swallow Dae-ah Construction and carry out a major project. They’ll grow tremendously.”

Jin Dong-ki’s eyes gleamed as he listened silently. All his questions were answered, but he didn’t want to act like he knew. He was curious what his older brother, sitting across from him, was thinking. There was no need to reveal the answer prematurely.

“That enlarged Dae-ah Construction will then go to the Ajin Group, and then we’ll have to absorb the Ajin Group. We lost Automobile, but we’ll take back the Ajin Group and Dae-ah Construction as interest. Won’t we?”

Only then did Jin Young-ki’s expression brighten.

He had a vague idea of what was happening until now, but now the whole picture was clear.

“Although I don’t know when that will be, you two will probably have to do it.”

“We understand, Father.”

Jin Young-ki answered energetically, but Jin Dong-ki remained seated silently.

He was trying to understand the thoughts his father hadn’t yet revealed.

Wasn’t he the type to always seem to say everything while still hiding something? There was still something more, and he needed to say it.

Soon, Jin Dong-ki opened his mouth.

“We need to reclaim both the Ajin Group and Dae-ah Construction, but their owner won’t be Soonyang.”

“What did you say?”

Chairman Jin’s eyes changed at his son’s unexpected words. But Jin Dong-ki didn’t lose his composure.

“Since Automobile has been clearly spun off, how about giving it to Yoon-ki at this opportunity? Of course, taking the Ajin Group is the priority.”

“Yoon-ki?”

Jin Young-ki was also so surprised he couldn’t close his mouth.

“Strictly speaking, it would be Do-jun. Honestly, isn’t Do-jun the brightest among our children? Because Yoon-ki has no ambition, I feel like we haven’t given Do-jun a chance, and it’s always bothered me.”

Jin Young-ki’s eyebrows twitched.

Wasn’t this blatant belittling of his own son, Jin Young-jun, the eldest grandson of this family? But since he was in front of his father, he could only bite his lip and couldn’t raise his voice.

“Do-jun, huh….”

Chairman Jin looked back and forth between his two sons’ expressions.

One was holding back his anger, the other was pretending to be considerate.

Perhaps this is why once people’s standards rise, they never go back down.

Jin Young-ki was the eldest son, so he had special affection for him, and Jin Dong-ki was the second son, but he liked how he quietly handled matters while hiding his deep thoughts.

But hearing the second son suggest looking after Do-jun made him suppress an involuntary sigh.

Who was looking after whom?

They were the types to have their companies taken away by a young nephew as easily as stealing dried persimmons.

“Dong-ki.”

“Yes.”

“Where did you learn the bad habit of acting generous with my possessions?”

Jin Dong-ki hurriedly bowed his head as his father’s voice became a bit rough.

“I, I apologize. I overstepped my bounds. I only spoke because Do-jun’s talent seemed wasted….”

“Enough. You two have heard everything you wanted to hear, so go. Keep my words in mind and figure out how to take back what was stolen.”

“Yes.”

As his two sons were about to stand up, he added one thing he had forgotten.

“At the end of this month, we will declare the second founding of the Ajin Group. You two should attend, congratulate Oh Se-hyun, and don’t forget to encourage President Jo Dae-ho, who will be suffering away from home. And make sure you see firsthand our Soonyang Automobile falling into someone else’s hands. Understood?”

The two sons nodded their heads at their father’s words and withdrew.

Left alone, Chairman Jin let out a long sigh and muttered to himself.

“Protecting my grandson from my wolf-like sons isn’t easy either. To be living my twilight years with lies….”

* * *

The grand auditorium at the group headquarters, where the Ajin Group’s second founding declaration ceremony and the inauguration ceremony for the heads of its subsidiaries were to be held, was filled with a sense of grim determination rather than lively celebration.

Having just barely escaped a critical condition thanks to a blood transfusion right before death, it felt too early to revel in the joy of survival.

Chairman Song Hyun-chang ascended the stage where the presidents of the subsidiaries were seated.

“Distinguished executives, how do you do?

And to the honored guests who have taken their precious time to grace us with their presence today, I extend my deepest gratitude.

I, who once plunged our Ajin into crisis, stand before you again.”

Chairman Song was momentarily speechless, perhaps overwhelmed by emotion.

He then commended the hard work of the employees who had shared the difficulties and presented his vision for the future.

“We must become a company whose corporate value continuously increases, a company whose tangible and intangible values are the highest, a company whose members’ satisfaction and social contribution are the highest, and a company that races towards limitless future growth based on accumulated intrinsic value, beyond short-term external growth.”

“A perpetually young company that always dreams and prepares for the future with passion, challenges the impossible, and realizes its dreams with creative thinking and unwavering determination.

This is the image we must all reclaim.”

After Chairman Song’s inauguration speech, President Jo Dae-ho, the CEO of the merged automobile company, continued with his inauguration speech.

Near the end of his speech, which was not much different from Chairman Song’s, President Jo raised his hand and pointed to a large banner covering the wall of the stage.

“From today onwards, we will discard the past names of Ajin and Soonyang. And the newly born name, H.W, will take their place and endure forever.”

* * *

“Do-jun. Are you going to keep it a secret?”

Oh Se-hyun, who had been leisurely watching the ceremony on TV in the group chairman’s office, asked again when he saw the name HW appear on the screen.

“Isn’t this a global era? We need to leave behind Korean and go with English.”

“Who’s arguing with that? So, what does it mean?”

“The meaning is something we’ll have to think about slowly and come up with something plausible later. Doesn’t it just look good? Haha.”

His laughter kept bursting out; today, he couldn’t hold it in.

HW Group.

How wonderful does that sound?