The Genius Grandson Of The Cash King Becomes A Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 199

#199

“Even though we have massive financial resources, Star Group is too big. Frankly, I’m worried about the winner’s curse [the tendency for the winning bidder in an auction to overpay].”

“There are many overlapping businesses, so there’s almost no synergy.”

Most opinions were negative.

However, Lee Soo-hong, CEO of Shinhwa Construction, thought differently.

“I think the synergy effect will be significant. If the acquisition is completed successfully, most of our affiliates can leap into the top 3 global companies.”

He expressed a positive opinion.

A buzzing sound echoed in the conference room.

Jeong-hoon looked at the CEOs sitting in their seats.

They were the ones who had grown Shinhwa Group’s affiliates into world-class companies.

He never easily dismissed their opinions.

Everyone’s opinion was valid.

However, acquiring Star Group wasn’t about profit.

It was for the same reason as absorbing Heaven Group and Ilsong Group.

They had grown in a distorted way, defiling a country’s basic order and ethics.

It was about weeding out the troublemakers.

One step back for two steps forward.

Once the acquisition of Star Group was completed and it was normalized, it would undoubtedly create powerful synergy with Shinhwa Group and leap forward.

“Even if you all oppose it, I can’t help it. We will acquire it no matter what. Growth and profit are good, but please think of it as improving Star Group’s constitution.”

“What? What do you mean? If losses occur due to the size of Star Group, it could be astronomical. We might have to bear losses of tens of trillions [of Korean won], not just trillions.”

The CEO of Shinhwa Heavy Industries was right.

It really could result in tens of trillions of won in losses.

But.

“CEO Kang Sang-sik of Shinhwa Heavy Industries.”

The middle-aged man with white hair turned his head towards Jeong-hoon.

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Do you remember when we first absorbed and merged Ilsong Heavy Industries?”

He moved his eyes, thought for a moment, and then burst into a hearty laugh.

“Hahaha, it was quite the audit, a massive audit. Bribery, accounting manipulation, and other irregularities were rampant, and mistreatment of subcontractors was commonplace. Firing corrupt individuals and correcting bad practices was the most difficult thing.”

Jeong-hoon nodded at his words.

He opened his mouth, looking at the executives.

“That’s exactly it. We are normalizing Star Group. Although it may not generate profits immediately, and may even result in huge losses. But that’s the right thing to do.”

“But if we acquire it right now, there are many companies that are raking in money. Why does Shinhwa Group have to do such a thing?”

Hong Young-shik, CEO of Shinhwa Securities, complained.

In his eyes, it seemed like a waste of money and time.

He was right.

Was there a need to suffer unnecessarily?

“There is no reason. That’s why we must do it. Because there is no reason, because no one does it, a monster like Star Group has grown. You all are creating a better future.”

Silence fell.

They knew it too.

They just didn’t do it because they thought it was a foolish thing to do.

“Let’s give it a try.”

“Yes, let’s do something foolish.”

A clear light settled in the eyes of the CEOs.

If an industry leader creates fair rules, the field becomes clear.

If the upper stream is clear, there is no need to worry about the lower stream.

“Then I will assume that everyone agrees.”

They nodded at Jeong-hoon’s words.

“So far, Shinhwa Group has secretly purchased a total of 25 percent of Star Group’s shares under borrowed names. And Chairman Lee Seok dumped 15 percent of the shares on the market, which we bought up at bargain prices. And Ms. Ha In-seon donated her shares to the Shinhwa Scholarship Foundation.”

Applause erupted. It was over ten trillion won.

Her donation renewed the highest amount in Korean donation history.

Jeong-hoon turned his head towards Ha In-seon.

She lowered her head as if ashamed and thought.

After a while, she raised her head and spoke into the microphone.

“Please lead Star Group well so that it can be reborn. I ruined it, but you can do it. I ask for your help.”

Ha In-seon stood up from her seat and bowed.

It was as if she was atoning for her sins.

“Chief of Staff, convene a temporary shareholders’ meeting to proceed with the acquisition process. And where is Chairman Lee Seok now?”

“Just a moment.”

Cha Young-mi tapped on the laptop in front of her and soon said with a chilling smile.

“He’s going to Gimpo [International Airport, near Seoul].”

“Good. Then I’ll depart too.”

Jeong-hoon stood up from his seat.

He met the gazes of the executives and employees looking at him.

“Thank you once again for growing Shinhwa Group to this point.”

He bowed deeply, expressing his gratitude for their sacrifice and dedication.

Everyone sitting in their seats was surprised by Jeong-hoon’s actions.

They hurriedly stood up from their seats.

Like Jeong-hoon, they expressed their heartfelt respect.

***

The chief of staff of Star Group opened the car door at the main entrance on the first floor.

Lee Seok slipped inside as if sliding.

“Then, Chairman, please take care of your health. It was an honor.”

He bowed deeply.

Lee Seok nodded and replied briefly.

“Yes, thank you.”

As the chief of staff closed the door, the car departed.

He waved his hand, watching the car move away.

After giving a bitter smile, he clenched his fist and gave the middle finger to the air with all his might.

“Goodbye, you son of a bitch, you X bastard, you crazy psycho! Thanks to you, I made 20 billion won, you son of a bitch!”

The chief of staff’s middle finger didn’t stop.

The car carrying Lee Seok cut through traffic and quickly arrived at Gimpo Airport.

After passing through the checkpoint, it passed the runway and moved to the hangar.

The yellow plane caught Lee Seok’s eye as he got out of the car.

“This plane is a bit unique.”

Lee Seok said questioningly.

“They said this is the most expensive one. The chief of staff prepared a good plane.”

“Really?”

A pleased expression was drawn on Lee Seok’s face.

A unique color with a subtle golden glow.

He couldn’t take his eyes off the luxuriously shining plane.

He regained his senses, went up the boarding bridge, and entered the plane.

“Chairman, you’re here?”

Tak Hyun-mi smiled brightly as she saw him and greeted him.

She stuck to his arm like a cicada and linked arms with him.

Lee Seok flinched at the sudden touch.

“Ahem, how have you been?”

He gave her a bitter smile.

‘In the end, you kneel before money, hahaha.’

“Yes, I’m so happy to be with you, Chairman. Let’s have a toast.”

“Really? Just a moment.”

Lee Seok took out the medicine that the chief of staff had given him from his pocket and poured it into his mouth.

Looking at the champagne glass with cold bubbles rising, he raised his glass.

“For the future.”

“For the Chairman.”

Tak Hyun-mi also shouted briefly.

She carefully checked his Adam’s apple moving.

She asked Lee Seok.

“What kind of medicine is that?”

“This? A medicine that makes you feel good.”

A fishy smile flashed across her face.

She raised her glass and opened her mouth.

“For our Chairman’s happy prison life.”

“What? What did you say?”

With those words, Lee Seok’s body collapsed to the floor with a thud.

Panicked, Lee Seok raised his head with all his might.

In his eyes, he saw Tak Hyun-mi’s face full of a fishy smile.

And, his vision went dark.

***

Park Chang-soo confirmed that Chairman Lee Seok was going up.

‘Now it’s the end.’

He took out a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth.

He slightly bit the filter and took out a lighter.

He looked at the flickering flame.

‘Quit it, you bastard!’

Chairman Shin Byung-gyu’s voice echoed in his head.

He spat out the cigarette he was holding in his mouth and stomped on it.

He took out the one in his pocket, crumpled it up, and threw it away.

“Hoo, I have to quit. It’s the elder’s order. Goodbye.”

He said goodbye looking at the floor and wandered near the boarding bridge leading to the plane.

A thunderous car engine sound began to approach.

A white car speeding down the runway was approaching with a roar.

It changed direction and entered the hangar at a rapid speed.

-Screech

It stopped with a sudden brake.

The hot heat of the engine struck Park Chang-soo’s face.

Frowning, he approached and opened the door.

“Everything is ready.”

Jeong-hoon got out of the car.

After nodding, he ran up the boarding bridge.

The door closed and the plane’s engine roared to life.

The massive body slowly exited the hangar and waited on the runway.

“Ready for departure.”

The captain said.

“Cleared for take-off.”

Having heard the permission from the control tower, the captain pushed up the throttle.

The plane, moving with a roar, powerfully took off.

***

Tak Hyun-mi clung to Jeong-hoon’s arm like a cicada and said.

“Chairman, what are you going to do?”

“Hey, Tak Yu-ri! I told you not to joke around.”

Jeong-hoon shouted at her.

“Ugh, you scared me, Oppa [term used by a younger woman to address an older brother or male friend]! Why are you getting so serious over a little joke!”

Yu-ri screamed.

“Hmm, it’s just that my body can’t be touched by just anyone, ahem, anyway, you’ve worked hard.”

“Worked hard my ass, you know how much I suffered because of this bastard’s stalking.”

Tak Hyun-mi looked around, looking for something to grab.

Seeing the vacuum cleaner in the corner, she separated the plastic rod.

-Thwack

-Aaaaaaack

“You crazy stalker bastard.”

-Thwack, thwack, thwack

Although he was clearly unconscious, a scream that seemed to take his breath away burst from Lee Seok’s mouth.

It was because of the medicine that made him feel good.

A medicine that makes the senses extremely sensitive.

He reacts extremely sensitively to pain.

“Hey, stop it, he’s going to die. You used your charms, which I told you not to do, and got stalked by Lee Seok. Hey, stop, stop.”

Jeong-hoon grabbed Yu-ri, who was tirelessly and relentlessly beating Lee Seok.

“Okay, stop, Mr. Park Chang-soo.”

“Yes.”

He gestured to Park Chang-soo to take the excited Yu-ri inside.

Lee Seok, who had fallen to the floor, began to twitch.

“Ugh.”

Lee Seok’s body flinched as if electrocuted when he heard Jeong-hoon’s voice.

‘Why do I hear that voice here?’

Lee Seok doubted his ears.

A familiar voice he didn’t want to hear again.

He was convinced it was a nightmare.

“I told you to apologize, but you ran away? I should tear you apart like Cheon Seong-han.”

Cheon Seong-han’s appearance came to mind, and his legs went numb.

It was a terrible nightmare.

Wake up.

Lee Seok endured the throbbing headache and opened his eyes.

Everything was visible in silhouette.

It was as if a curtain had been drawn, and nothing was visible properly.

It felt like wandering in a hazy fog.

He doubted his ears.

“Let’s get hit a little first.”

-Thwack, thwack, thwack

Lee Seok rolled around, screaming from Jeong-hoon’s beating.

He was feeling 100 times more pain than usual because of the medicine.

He beat him relentlessly, as if threshing grain.

He beat him until his voice was hoarse and his screams no longer came out.

“Save me, I’ll tell you everything.”

Jeong-hoon dragged Lee Seok and sat him in a chair.

He grabbed his hair and pulled his drooping face up.

Looking at his face filled with fear, he said.

“Do you still think of yourself as an emperor?”

“O-of course. I am the only noble bloodline of the imperial family.”

“Bloodline? Is that so important?”

“It’s fundamentally different from you lowly bastards.”

“Really? Then Cheon Seong-han, the son of the lowly slave and shaman Kim Ae-wol, must be very lowly.”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

Lee Seok hesitated and answered.

He avoided his gaze and lowered his head as Jeong-hoon glared at him.

“You’re really amazing, amazing. Do you think that will hide your dirty origins?”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Do you think no one knows that you are Cheon Seong-han’s child? The whole nation already knows.”

“What?”

“The results of the paternity test between you and Cheon Seong-han have been released on the internet. You are not of noble blood, but of the blood of a lowly slave.”

“A-no! I will kill that bastard, I will, I will.”

He raged like a madman when his dirty origins were revealed to the world.

Blood flowed from his crushed lips.

“Tsk, you pathetic bastard. To define your worth by your bloodline.”

Jeong-hoon didn’t think he was worth dealing with anymore.

He struck Lee Seok’s head as he glared at him.

-Aaaaaaack!

He was in great pain because of the medicine.

Jeong-hoon didn’t stop.

-Thwack, thwack, thwack thwack

-Aaaaaaack!

Lee Seok’s screams filled the plane.

“S-save me. Please stop, please.”

Jeong-hoon, catching his breath, looked at him and said.

“Now stop playing with bloodlines and apologize properly. Thousands of people are still suffering because of you. Confess the wrongs you have committed so far and ask them for forgiveness.”

“Ugh, I understand.”

Lee Seok, terrified, began to confess his sins.

The sins that came out of his mouth were more diverse than a holiday gift set.

Embezzlement, bribery, underage prostitution, hit-and-run, drunk driving. Rape, threats, murder conspiracy, etc. The crimes he committed while he was the group chairman were beyond imagination.

Thinking he had said everything, he drooped his head.

Jeong-hoon struck his arm again.

It wasn’t over yet.

-Ugh.

“Besides personal corruption, you also have to talk about the corruption committed by the company.”

Corporate crimes came out of his mouth again. The toilet air freshener incident caused by trying to save costs,

Industrial accidents, mobilization of hired thugs for reconstruction projects, destruction of labor unions using hired thugs, threats to representatives of rival companies, etc.

Crimes that he didn’t want to believe flowed from his mouth.

“Should I do more?”

“No, that’s enough for our people to understand.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“The whole country is listening to your confession now.”

“A-no!”

He shouted as if screaming, but it was already too late.

The captain’s voice was heard from the plane’s speakers.

“We will be landing at Gimpo Airport shortly, Chairman. And everyone is waiting on the runway now.”

“W-what are you saying? Why are we going back to Gimpo Airport?”

“If you have committed a crime, you must be punished.”

“Ah, please! I’ll give you all my money, please send me abroad.”

“That won’t work. Oh, and your money will be used well for the victims.”

“What?”

His eyes widened as if his eyeballs would fall out at the words that the money would disappear.

“I’ll use it for good.”

“What? Hey, you bastard, no. What kind of money is that?”

Jeong-hoon frowned at Lee Seok, who was raving like a madman.

“It’s too noisy, you have to be quiet when landing.”

Jeong-hoon struck his head with all his might with the plastic rod he was holding in his hand.

-Thwack

-Ugh

It struck Lee Seok’s head and shattered into pieces.

He, who had been acting like a madman, lost consciousness with a short scream.

“Hoo, it’s quiet now.”

After a while, the plane landed on the runway with a thud.

It slowly reduced its speed and stopped.

As soon as the boarding bridge was connected to the emergency exit, the door opened with a clunk.

Jeong-hoon, who was sitting in his seat, waved his hand and shouted as he saw him entering.

“Hyung [older brother],!”

“My younger brother.”

Kang Cheol-joong also waved his hand at him and smiled.