Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1574

Taekwang Group headquarters, first-floor lobby.

The main doors swung open, and a security guard shouted.

“The Chairman is arriving!”

At those words, the employees turned their gazes toward the main entrance and stopped in their tracks.

‘He’s early today.’

‘I should have come to work earlier.’

Taekwang is a rather old-fashioned company.

Even in today’s world, where progressive corporate cultures are prevalent, Taekwang still clings to its old ways. To be precise, Taekwang is a place where the authority of superiors is still excessively strong.

In such a place, what more needs to be said about the authority of the chairman?

Regardless of what they think inside, they must show perfect respect on the outside. That’s the minimum required to survive in Taekwang, one of the top 10 companies in South Korea.

Thud, thud, thud, thud.

The employees, standing stiffly, saw Jeong Hong-geun approaching the main entrance.

‘He’s fast?’

‘Why is he like that? Does he have something urgent?’

The employees looked slightly puzzled.

Usually, Jeong Hong-geun would walk as slowly as possible in this situation.

It was Jeong Hong-geun’s bad habit to feel a sense of satisfaction watching the busy employees stand there and bow to him, respecting his authority.

But today, Jeong Hong-geun seemed uninterested in such things, striding quickly through the main entrance.

“Good morning, Chairman!”

“Good morning!”

“Have a good morning!”

Jeong Hong-geun waved his hand without stopping.

“Good morning. Go back to work!”

The employees’ heads snapped up. Then, they stared at Jeong Hong-geun with wide eyes.

Usually, Jeong Hong-geun would not even respond, leisurely walking while enjoying their discomfort as they bowed. The employees, who were used to this routine that had never changed since they joined the company, couldn’t help but be surprised, as if the sun had risen in the west.

‘Why is he like that, really?’

‘The Chairman seems a bit different today?’

It wasn’t just his attitude that had changed.

His appearance also seemed different.

His slightly hunched back was now straight.
The cane he always carried was nowhere to be seen.

Above all, there was strength in every step he took.

As the slightly changed parts came together, he looked about ten years younger.

“I’ve received your greetings, so go back to work.”

“Yes, Chairman!”

“Have a good day!”

Watching Jeong Hong-geun wave his hand decisively, the employees began to move away. Still feeling uneasy, they glanced at him, and when they realized that Jeong Hong-geun wasn’t even looking in their direction, they slightly opened their mouths.

Something had changed.

It might be a short-lived whim, but the fact that Jeong Hong-geun, who was as unchanging as an evergreen tree in a bad way, was showing even a short-lived change was a big shift.

‘Could something have happened?’

‘I’m uneasy…’

A company is like a giant ship.

To steer a giant ship, it’s important for many people to do their jobs in their respective positions, but ultimately, it’s the captain who decides the ship’s course. In a company, the captain is naturally the chairman.

The fact that something might have happened to that captain caused Taekwang to stir.

“Executive Director Park.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Pull all the information related to Japanese distribution.”

“Yes! What kind of information do you want?”

“Can’t you understand what I’m saying! I said pull it all!”

Park Sang-woo’s eyes widened.

“But, the amount of data is too vast.”

“I don’t care. Gather all the data you can. Create an investigation team to investigate, and if necessary… no, create a team and send them to Japan for on-site investigation.”

“Yes!”

The answer came out before he could even think.

Park Sang-woo looked at Jeong Hong-geun with eyes full of energy. Jeong Hong-geun’s eyes were exceptionally clear and sharp. It was as if he was seeing the man from twenty years ago, when he was at the peak of his career.

“Pick out the best guys from each department, create new teams, and prepare to launch a new subsidiary.”

“With ace-level personnel? That will impact each department.”

“I don’t care.”

“But, Chairman…”

“Didn’t you hear me say I don’t care?”

He doesn’t get angry.

He just repeats himself in a low, clear voice.

And that fact made Park Sang-woo tremble.

That’s what Jeong Hong-geun used to be like.

Who doesn’t know the bad stories about Jeong Hong-geun?

A pro-Japanese collaborator.
A lackey of the military regime.
A businessman who would sell his soul for profit.

But even with all those negative evaluations, the reason Taekwang was able to get this far was because Jeong Hong-geun’s charisma was able to firmly control at least his own organization.

He had become an old man with a loud voice and pointless anger, his passion gone, but the Jeong Hong-geun he had brought back was like this.

“This is an all-out war.”

Jeong Hong-geun said, growling.

“There are times when you have to bet everything, including the company’s fate.”

“Are you thinking of getting involved in the Japanese distribution network?”

“Yes.”

“…Chairman, it’s presumptuous of me to say this to you, but that’s too risky a gamble. We may be called a large corporation in Korea, but in Japan, we’re barely in the top 100. A snake can’t swallow an elephant.”

Park Sang-woo immediately lowered his head.

“Please consider it.”

Sweat beaded on Park Sang-woo’s forehead as he looked at his shoes.

This was Park Sang-woo’s own experiment.

What he said was right and just. If it were the Jeong Hong-geun of the past, he would have issued a harsh reprimand just for questioning his opinion, no matter how right it was.

But if Jeong Hong-geun had changed…

Click.

At that moment, the sound of a lighter flicking on was heard.

“Haaah…”

A long sigh-like sound escaped, and the smell of tobacco stung his nose.

“Raise your head.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“You spoke well.”

Joy filled Park Sang-woo’s eyes.

‘He’s back.’

He didn’t know what had happened in just one night, but Jeong Hong-geun had completely recovered his old self in just one night.

“Hey, Executive Director Park.”

“Yes, Chairman. Please speak.”

“That was good advice. In the future, if I try to do something, point it out like that. That’s why you’re getting paid, right?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“However, this matter is not something I’m doing without a plan, as you think. This is not something to be reviewed, but something that must be done. And it’s not something Taekwang will try to do alone, so don’t look at me like I’m a senile old man.”

“Ah, then a joint venture…”

“Yes.”

Park Sang-woo nodded vigorously.

If that’s the case, then it’s different. It would be difficult with Taekwang’s power alone, but if two or three other top ten companies participated, they could secure at least a minimum stake.

Whether they can grow it is another matter.

“If I may be so bold, may I ask which companies are in talks?”

“MK.”

“Yes?”

“I’m going to form a joint venture with Chairman Kang of MK. They will be the main party, and we will be in charge of the practical work.”

“…I think I misheard, did you just say MK?”

“You don’t need a hearing aid. It seems your ears are still working fine.”

“Ch, Chairman, but…”

Park Sang-woo couldn’t continue.

There were too many things he wanted to say, but he didn’t know where to start.

MK?

MK, of all places?

Of course, Park Sang-woo wasn’t stupid either. He knew in his heart, even if not in his head, the extent of MK’s power. That’s why he had supported Jeong Hong-geun’s efforts to persuade Kang Jin-ho, even neglecting his work.

But this was a separate issue.

Power works with a foundation. The reason MK can have immense power in Korea is because they have an agreement with the government.

But that agreement doesn’t work overseas. It means that MK’s power won’t work in Japan. And yet, he’s going to do business in Japan with MK.

Isn’t this like carrying firewood into a fire?

Jeong Hong-geun chuckled, reading Park Sang-woo’s changing expression.

“Hey, Executive Director Park.”

“Yes, Chairman…”

“Do I look like I’ve gone crazy?”

Park Sang-woo looked at Jeong Hong-geun.

Seeing his stubbornly closed mouth and his clearly shining eyes, Park Sang-woo shook his head.

“No, Chairman.”

“Right, I’m not. I’m in my right mind. I haven’t been this clear-headed in the last ten years.”

Jeong Hong-geun chuckled softly.

“Executive Director Park, sometimes business needs to be reckless. Especially when going through big changes, you’re always going to be told you’re not in your right mind. Isn’t that so?”

“…That’s right.”

It had been like that many times before.

Every time they were told they were crazy, Taekwang had grown. If they had followed the obvious path like everyone else, Taekwang would never have become a large corporation.

But Park Sang-woo also knew that it was a precarious tightrope walk.

If they had slipped even once, Taekwang would have disintegrated.

It was the same now.

“Brace yourself.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t tremble like a coward. Where did the Park Sang-woo go, who used to advise me to straighten my shoulders and smile in front of the employees even if I felt like I was going to die of fear!”

A voice like a roar.

Hearing that voice, he snapped back to his senses.

“It’s time to move forward again. If I seem reckless, you should lay down a safety net under me. Isn’t that the basic thing?”

Park Sang-woo nodded.

“Let’s start. Let’s start first and then talk. It’s not our way to decide everything before starting. If we try and it doesn’t work, we can just walk away, can’t we?”

“I understand, Chairman.”

He answered like that, but Park Sang-woo knew. Chairman Jeong Hong-geun was not the kind of person who would just casually walk away from something he had started.

Perhaps something that would determine Taekwang’s fate was beginning.

“I’ll form a team right away.”

“Okay.”

“Then!”

As Park Sang-woo turned around, Jeong Hong-geun said quietly.

“Ah, and…”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“About Myung-cheol.”

“…Are you talking about President Jeong?”

“Yes. Fire him and tell him to leave the group. Don’t let him handle any Taekwang-related matters in the future.”

“Ch, Chairman?”

Park Sang-woo was so surprised that his mouth fell open.

Wasn’t he the Chairman who had opposed cutting him off, citing the bloodline of the Jeong family? But he had changed his position overnight.

“Why are you so surprised? It’s something I should have done from the start. I was just being stupid and dragging it out. What’s so special about blood ties?”

“…I understand.”

“Okay. Go now.”

“Yes. Then.”

As Park Sang-woo bowed deeply and went outside, Jeong Hong-geun chuckled and put a new cigarette in his mouth.

Click.

Jeong Hong-geun, having lit his cigarette, turned his chair with a calm look.

The view of Seoul was visible at a glance through the floor-to-ceiling glass window.

“A new beginning…”

A smile formed on Jeong Hong-geun’s lips.