The Genius Grandson Of The Cash King Becomes A Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 41

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The buzzing of voices and the intensity of gazes directed at him were palpable.

Half of those gazes were hostile.

He had fully anticipated it.

He chose not to care.

If he had cared, he would have appointed David Lim, Lim Cheol-soo, as the president.

The younger and more flamboyant the entrance, the better.

If he achieved successful results, it would deeply resonate in people’s minds.

This was precisely why Jeong-hoon was pushing himself to take that position.

Jeong-hoon stood on the platform in the center.

It was the same spot where Chairwoman Hyeon Jeong-ok had been moments before.

The buzzing gradually subsided, and a quiet stillness filled the large space.

Only occasional dry coughs could be heard.

“I am Yoon Jeong-hoon.”

The sound echoed from the speakers.

“Everyone must have doubts. Currently, BHC Securities is facing a bankruptcy crisis. We’ve extinguished the immediate threat, but we can’t rely on Chairwoman Hyeon Jeong-ok’s funds forever. We also need to cover the damages from the hacking incident—a whopping 100 billion won. 100 billion!”

The faces of the people turned cold at the mention of the sum of 100 billion won.

It was a number that felt out of place at the banquet.

Jeong-hoon, intentionally emphasizing the loss of 100 billion won, didn’t miss a single person’s gaze.

He planted a sense of crisis in their hearts.

People who had come to enjoy the banquet realized the gravity of their situation and became uneasy.

Someone had to give them hope to overcome this crisis.

A captain.

A moment when a reliable leader was needed.

Jeong-hoon couldn’t be their captain yet.

He understood why they couldn’t trust and follow him, given his lack of experience.

“I fully understand your distrust. However, BHC Securities needs an excellent captain. Therefore, I would like to announce an in-house investment competition for one month, starting now. The first-place prize is 100 million won. The second and third-place winners will be given the opportunity for promotion.”

People stirred at Jeong-hoon’s announcement.

“And I will also participate in the competition. If I don’t win first place…”

People swallowed hard.

“I will step down from the position of president.”

People’s eyes widened, and they whispered to each other, creating a buzz. A competition with a first-place prize of 100 million won and promotions for second and third place.

It was a win-win situation.

“But the bottom 10 percent must be prepared. In reality, those who are obsolete must be weeded out. Everyone will participate in this competition.”

The expectant gazes hardened once again.

People were more accustomed to despair than hope.

But Jeong-hoon was confident.

He believed he was the one who could safely guide the ship to port with these people in despair.

“Now, please enjoy the banquet. Executives, please gather in the next room. We will have a brief executive meeting.”

The buzzing sound filled the banquet hall.

Half were distrustful of the new president,

Some young female employees admired his aloof, handsome face.

Some had greed for the 100 million won prize written all over their faces,

While others harbored the desire to be promoted by placing second or third.

Meanwhile, executives in the crowd quietly moved to the next room.

***

“Damn it, he’s doing whatever he wants. Well, he wouldn’t know the proper procedures, would he? Don’t you think so?”

Vice President Kwon Yeong-soo spat out the words with a stiff expression.

“Haha, that’s true, but try to show some respect.”

“Respect? He’s not even old enough to be my son.”

Kwon Yeong-soo sneered.

“Keke, that’s what I’m saying. Is Chairwoman senile? If she wanted to throw money away, she should have given it to me. It seems like she’s really made up her mind.”

“Tell me about it.”

Vice President Kwon Yeong-soo added to Director Ahn’s words.

“You never know, though. Maybe he’ll actually win first place. Well, it’s impossible, but you never know with people.”

Director Hong Yeong-ho, who usually didn’t like Kwon Yeong-soo’s line, expressed a hint of expectation.

“To beat all the top-notch securities company employees and win first place… It’s absurd. He’s young, so he must not be thinking straight.”

Kwon Yeong-soo shook his head.

“You never know. It’s not good to look down on someone just because they’re young. Being old isn’t something to be proud of. When you get old, you just become full of stubbornness and prejudice.”

Director Hong Yeong-ho looked at Kwon Yeong-soo, subtly pointing out his old age.

A stagnant water older than the president.

He should have retired, but he was clinging to a lifeline.

“Hey, Hong Director, that’s a bit harsh. Are you trying to switch to a new line? A man should have some backbone…”

Kwon Yeong-soo sneered at Hong Director.

“What?”

Hong Director responded with informal language, and Kwon Yeong-soo’s face turned red.

“Hey, how dare a director talk to a vice president like that…”

Just then, the door opened, and the new president, Yoon Jeong-hoon, entered.

Everyone was sitting down, looking at him.

Jeong-hoon also scanned them once and frowned.

And with a scowl, he shouted loudly.

“Are the executives here so lacking in manners that they eat them for breakfast when the president enters?”

Only then did everyone hurriedly stand up.

“We apologize.”

“Please show some respect in the future. The workplace is not a place where you are treated well just because you are old.”

Jeong-hoon said, looking directly at Director Kwon Yeong-soo.

“Yes, I apologize, President.”

“Sit down.”

Jeong-hoon, taking the central seat of honor, had the executives sit down.

“The reason I called you here is to inform you of this year’s goals and the new project we will be starting.”

“This year’s goals have already been established at the beginning of the year. And shouldn’t we be focusing on solidifying our internal affairs now?”

Kwon Yeong-soo tried to lecture the new president.

“I’ve already checked that. But if we only achieve that level of goals, we’ll go bankrupt even if we achieve them.”

“That’s true, but…”

The CFO [Chief Financial Officer], flustered by Jeong-hoon’s accurate point, opened his mouth.

“So, I have newly established this year’s goals. Everyone.”

Jeong-hoon looked at the directors who were paying attention to him.

And he opened his mouth and said clearly.

“This year’s goal is 1 trillion won in sales and 200 billion won in operating profit.”

Upon hearing those words, everyone stopped moving and looked at Jeong-hoon.

“Yes? Really?”

The first to react was Director Hong, who was friendly to Jeong-hoon.

“Yes. 1 trillion won in sales. Do you think it’s impossible? I think it’s possible…”

Kwon Yeong-soo looked around.

The atmosphere was skeptical. He had to seize the initiative at times like this.

He gave Director Ahn a look, and he nodded.

It’s easy to become timid after being embarrassed once.

“President, aren’t you being too ambitious? 1 trillion won in sales isn’t child’s play. Our current sales are 100 billion won. How are we going to achieve 1 trillion won?”

“Do you really think it’s impossible?”

Jeong-hoon looked at the directors.

They quickly lowered their heads when their eyes met his.

The skeptical thoughts were written all over their faces.

Only one person met his eyes.

A familiar face.

According to the personnel file he had received in advance, he was the youngest executive to be promoted.

Managing Director Choi Joon-gi.

A man in his mid-40s with his long hair tied back, wearing jeans and a white t-shirt.

An impossible attire and hairstyle unless it was due to overwhelming performance.

The one who broke countless records while working at BHC Securities.

The one who set an unprecedented record of an average annual return of 75% during his tenure.

The one who made a name for himself as a super-ant [individual investor with significant influence] in the mid-2010s was right there.

‘He even appeared on TV… so he became a super-ant while working here.’

Jeong-hoon thought.

“It’s impossible. No matter what, ten times…”

Choi Joon-gi also opened his mouth with an expression that he couldn’t accept it.

“Managing Director Choi Joon-gi, is it really impossible? Use your imagination. I thought you would be able to sense it, but I guess I expected too much.”

Choi Joon-gi flinched and then looked at Jeong-hoon.

A flash of an idea suddenly ran through his head.

The secret to achieving 1 trillion won in sales.

“Could it be… President, could it be?”

Choi Joon-gi couldn’t continue speaking.

“Hey, speak up, you’re frustrating me!”

People around him urged him.

“That’s… could it be that you’re thinking of M&A [Mergers and Acquisitions]?”

The people who heard those words had blank expressions.

And soon, short sighs erupted from various places.

Looking at their surprised expressions, Jeong-hoon slowly nodded.

“We will acquire. A securities company. There is a securities company that will be put up for sale in the second half of the year. At a very low price.”

Curiosity grew at Jeong-hoon’s words.

Because no securities company was listed for sale in their minds.

They quickly began to calculate in their heads what company the new president was talking about.

***

“Chairman, please accept my cup.”

A woman wearing a splendid hanbok [traditional Korean dress] that could be seen in dramas opened her mouth.

Madam Jeong of Daewongak in Seongbuk-dong, who had a beauty no less than an entertainer, offered wine to Chairman Cheon Sang-soo.

“Chairman, please drink.”

“Yes, yes. The taste of the wine you pour is exquisite.”

As the man’s hand reached for her body, she refused without being offensive.

“Puhaha, it seems my hand made a mistake.”

After bursting into an awkward laugh, he emptied the glass filled with wine in one gulp.

“Chairman, it’s Yeong-soo.”

“Come in.”

Vice President Kwon Yeong-soo entered with cautious steps.

“Yes, how’s the atmosphere?”

“Everyone is just enjoying watching the reckless colt running wild.”

“A reckless colt… Hyeon Jeong-ok wouldn’t have given up her position so easily.”

Cheon Sang-soo closed his eyes and pondered.

Information about a genius grandson was coming in.

Such a child suddenly took over the position of president of a securities company.

Was there some kind of scheme?

No matter how many times he thought about it, there was nothing that child could do.

He concluded that it was an unnecessary worry.

“Aren’t people more lenient with their grandchildren than their own children?”

“Yes, that’s true.”

Chairman Cheon Sang-soo looked at the back of Kwon Yeong-soo’s head, which was bowed.

The traces of the wound from being hit with the ashtray had almost disappeared.

“Is it all healed now? There’s almost no trace of the ashtray… Should I make you a new one?”

Startled, he raised his head and checked the chairman’s face.

Fortunately, his face was full of playfulness.

“No, Chairman. I will do well.”

Kwon Yeong-soo bowed his head.

“You’re doing well now, so just try a little harder. If you succeed in that, even Hyeon Jeong-ok won’t be able to hold out. Take good care of the company until then.”

“I understand. Chairman. I will do well.”

“Come here and have a drink.”

“Thank you.”

He filled a beer glass with 40-degree Andong soju [traditional Korean distilled spirit].

Kwon Yeong-soo turned his head and emptied it in one gulp.

“Jin-hyeok, when would be a good time for this plan?”

“It’s possible even tomorrow. I will start immediately if I have Father’s orders.”

“I like that, being able to do it right away at any time.”

“Prepare well. We need to properly avenge what happened last time, right?”

“Of course.”

A deep sense of hostility could be felt in Cheon Jin-hyeok’s eyes.

“We need to detonate the bomb when they’re in a really good mood. Hehehe.”

Cheon Sang-soo smiled, stretching his lips wide.

Cheon Jin-hyeok looked at Kwon Yeong-soo.

“Vice President, is there anything unusual about Yoon Jeong-hoon’s childish games?”

“No, he doesn’t even come to work properly. He says he’s preparing for the college entrance exam…”

“Khahaha, the college entrance exam, this little brat is making me laugh.”

Cheon Sang-soo’s laughter erupted.

Kwon Yeong-soo couldn’t laugh at the timing when he should have laughed.

The previous wound remained as trauma.

Cheon Jin-hyeok also smiled.

“Yes, Father. Preparing for the college entrance exam? Keke, for a guy like that to say he’s going to increase the securities company’s sales tenfold… it’s absurd.”

“Yes, he says he’s going to do a merger and acquisition… In a situation where there are no properties for sale, everyone couldn’t understand what he was talking about at all. He’s definitely a crazy madman.”

Kwon Yeong-soo conveyed the atmosphere of that day.

“What? Merger and acquisition?”

Chairman Cheon paused and looked at Kwon Yeong-soo.

‘If it’s a merger and acquisition, it’s possible to increase it tenfold… no, even twentyfold. But what company is it?’

After thinking for a moment, he opened his mouth.

“There are no properties for sale right now.”

“Yes, Chairman. So everyone laughed it off.”

But Cheon Sang-soo couldn’t laugh it off.

The only way to achieve rapid growth is through M&A.

It wasn’t a method that a high school student preparing for the college entrance exam could think of.

It started to bother him strangely.

“Jin-hyeok, Yoon Jeong-hoon acquired Joongbu Construction last time, right?”

“Yes.”

“It seems like he’s only picking off what we’ve been eyeing. We need to properly repay him this time, right?”

“Yes, Father, don’t worry. If it goes well, even Chairwoman Hyeon Jeong-ok will suffer a big blow.”

“That’s my son. Hahaha.”

Cheon Sang-soo laughed heartily, but he couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling.

Madam Jeong, who noticed his feelings, filled his glass.

“You’re the only one who knows my heart.”

He smiled so wide that his lips stretched out and emptied his glass.

It was a day when he wanted to get rid of his uneasy worries with a glass of wine.

***

“What? What are those things?”

On his way to work, which should have been refreshing.

Cheon Sang-soo was bothered by the people loitering in front of the headquarters.

“They’re reporters.”

“Did I ask you that?”

He shouted angrily.

“Why are those things camped out in front of my company?”

“They’re doing that because of rumors. Because of internet rumors that Heaven Group is involved in the BHC Securities incident.”

“What are you talking about?”

“There are rumors circulating on the internet that Heaven Securities hacked BHC Securities and caused the last incident.”

“The internet? Isn’t that a place where young guys play around with keyboards? Do I have to care about the public opinion there? Handle it well, unless you want to get hit with an ashtray.”

The startled executive secretary quickly replied.

“Don’t worry. I will handle it well.”

“Go to the underground parking lot.”

But he couldn’t go forward.

A dilapidated van was blocking the entrance to the parking lot.

It was flashing its hazard lights with an apologetic expression.

“Stupid bastards… What are the security guards doing?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Ugh, I trust these things…”

Cheon Sang-soo didn’t think he had any reason to be intimidated by the reporters.

It was just a rumor, and there was no evidence anywhere.

His son Jin-hyeok had said that he had cleanly erased the traces.

As he got out of the car, the reporters surrounded him.

He greeted them with a benevolent smile.

“Thank you for your hard work from the morning.”

“Chairman Cheon, please say a word about this incident?”

“It’s a false rumor. There’s no reason for Heaven Securities to do such a thing.”

“Is Heaven Securities representing the foreign fund company that has an option contract with BHC Securities?”

“I can’t tell you the details. The president of Heaven Securities will give you the details.”

“Chairman, what do you personally think about this incident?”

A man who looked rather young to be a reporter asked a question in front of Chairman Cheon Sang-soo.

He was familiar.

He felt like he remembered him.

It was because he had drunk too much last night and the intoxication hadn’t worn off.

“What do you mean?”

Cheon Sang-soo asked again.

“Do you think the option contract should be fulfilled due to hacking? Most securities companies have terminated the option contract in good faith. Only foreign hedge funds are maintaining the contract. I’m curious about what you think, Chairman.”

“A contract is a contract. Regardless of the reason, the option contract that has been signed must be fulfilled. I will get all the money. Hahaha.”

“Even if Heaven Securities suffers the same thing, would you still say that?”

At that moment, Chairman Cheon Sang-soo felt a chill down his spine.

He felt like he would soon remember the name of the familiar man in front of him.

“Of course… you… bastard.”

The man in front of Chairman Cheon Sang-soo.

Finally, he remembered his name.

“I am Yoon Jeong-hoon, the president of BHC Securities. I will remember your words well, Chairman.”

It was Yoon Jeong-hoon, the president of BHC Securities, who had asked him the question.

Cheon Sang-soo felt like he had been caught in a trap.

The unpleasant flashes started to irritate his nerves.

He wanted to smash the heads of those annoying things with an ashtray.

But regardless of his uncomfortable mood, the reporters took pictures.

They were busily pressing the shutter to record this moment when Chairman Cheon and Yoon Jeong-hoon sharply confronted each other.

Genius Grandson of the Cash King, Becoming a Tycoon.