Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 119

119. Not Selling! (2)

Cheongil Group Headquarters.

Chairman Han Cheong-ho’s office.

Han Cheong-ho slammed his fist on his desk after receiving a report.

“You’re telling me you’ve only managed to buy this much land in Jamsil?”

Secretary Park lowered his head.

“There were others who bought up the land one step ahead of us.”

“Then buy the land from them!”

“Loan sharks bought it up. We don’t know who they are yet…”

“How much land could loan sharks even buy! Do they have more capital than Cheongil?”

Irritation surged within him.

“Don’t try to cover up your incompetence with a long excuse! I’m giving you ten days. Got it?”

“Ten days is too short.”

“Do it! Is there anything you can’t do if you throw yourself at it? Ten days! Don’t bother me with such trivial matters and go find land right now!”

Secretary Park shook his head.

“Aside from everything else, there are two houses right in the middle of the apartment complex site. If we can’t buy those, the apartment project approval itself won’t be issued.”

“What? Explain properly.”

“Right in the middle of the apartment construction site, like two houses in the bullseye of an archery target.”

Secretary Park pointed to the location on the land registry map as he explained.

“The area we’re building on is like this. The land we’ve bought so far is here, this, this…”

It was right in the middle with uncanny precision.

“So it’s land speculation.”

This was land that had to be bought no matter what.

Nothing could be done without it.

There was no way to avoid it, and it couldn’t be left out of the construction.

“The area is quite large to ignore, isn’t it?”

“This house is small. Including the garden, it’s about 350 *pyeong* [approximately 12,400 square feet]?”

It was Hol쭉yi’s house.

Secretary Park pointed to Tae-soo’s house and land on the land registry map.

“This is the problem. It’s 1,800 *pyeong* [approximately 64,000 square feet].”

“1,800 *pyeong*? We can’t ignore that.”

1,800 *pyeong* was enough for two small villa complexes.

They couldn’t leave such a big hole in the middle of the apartment construction site.

“If we can’t buy this, the project approval itself won’t be issued. What about the land next to it?”

“This side is a lake, this side is a planned subway line, this side is a planned national highway, this side is…”

It was impossible.

It was a serious problem.

“Who is the landowner? Is it private or public land?”

“It’s privately owned. The land and house deeds are definitely in order.”

There was only one way.

“Buy it no matter what!”

“No matter how much I persuade them, they just keep repeating that they won’t sell…”

“Offer them more money!”

“They say they don’t want it. They don’t want double the price, they don’t want apartment pre-sale rights either…”

Han Cheong-ho threw a pen that was rolling on the desk.

It hit Secretary Park squarely on the forehead and bounced off.

“Hey, you bastard! Why are you making such a fuss over just one piece of land? Persuade them! Use any means necessary! Get out!”

Secretary Park quickly turned around and left the chairman’s office.

Han Cheong-ho glared at the door of the chairman’s office after Secretary Park left.

“Dealing with such incompetent guys makes me so frustrated.”

You incompetent fool.

* * *

Secretary Park went to the door of the Cheongil Construction CEO’s office.

Knock knock.

“Come in.”

A young man with his feet up on the desk of the Cheongil Construction CEO, humming a tune.

It was Han Il-kwon.

“The Chairman has ordered us to put all our efforts into securing the Cheongil apartment site.”

Secretary Park gave Han Il-kwon the same explanation.

But Han Il-kwon didn’t even listen.

He smirked while twirling a Swiss Army knife in his hand.

“You skipped me and reported to the Chairman?”

Han Il-kwon’s eyes gleamed menacingly.

“Are you ignoring me too?”

“N, no, sir.”

“Just because I messed up a few projects before, you think I’ll mess this one up too?”

Secretary Park wiped the cold sweat with a handkerchief.

He planned to quickly deliver the message and run.

“He said to complete the land acquisition within ten days. The Chairman said absolutely…”

Han Il-kwon threw the Swiss Army knife he was playing with at Secretary Park.

The Swiss Army knife narrowly grazed Secretary Park’s temple.

Thwack.

The knife was embedded in the center of the dartboard on the wall.

Kim Jae-hak, who was watching from the sofa, clapped and whistled.

“Oh, nice! Perfect score!”

He almost got a hole in his head.

Secretary Park trembled and said.

“T, the, the Chairman said…”

“You do it then.”

Thwack.

The Swiss Army knife flew towards his head.

Secretary Park collapsed to the floor.

“Too bad! 9 points!”

Han Il-kwon smiled at Secretary Park.

“Ten days. Got it? Go buy the land. Won’t answer?”

“Y, y, yes, I understand.”

“Get out.”

Thwack.

The Swiss Army knife was stuck in the floor between Secretary Park’s legs.

Secretary Park was terrified and turned pale.

Kim Jae-hak shook his head and shouted.

“Fail! A complete miss!”

Secretary Park couldn’t stand it any longer and ran out of the Cheongil Construction CEO’s office.

Only then did Han Il-kwon put the Swiss Army knife on the desk.

He turned to Kim Jae-hak and smiled.

“Hey, get up. Let’s go buy that land.”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yeah, you.”

“Why? Secretary Park just went to buy the land. Isn’t that enough?”

“If that was enough, would he have come to me?”

How did I get back to this position?

I can’t afford to be on the outs again.

Han Il-kwon nodded.

“Call the boys and go.”

“The gang members?”

“It’s gotten to this point because words didn’t work. We need to make a proper mess so those bastards will hand over the land willingly.”

It was a very appealing suggestion.

Kim Jae-hak got up from the sofa and stretched.

“Okay. Shall we go?”

I’ve been holding back for too long anyway.

Kim Jae-hak was already smiling at the thought of making a fun mess.

* * *

Kim Jae-hak was sitting in a chair, watching the situation.

Men in black suits were swinging clubs and smashing things.

“Aigo! Aigo! [Oh no! Oh no!]”

The family members were wailing as they watched their household belongings being destroyed.

“Are you going to sell the land or not?”

Kim Jae-hak said this exactly twice.

This hell began from the moment he heard the answer, ‘I will not sell.’

“I’m asking you one last time. This time it’s not about the objects. It’s the people’s turn.”

Kim Jae-hak’s eyes chose a sacrifice.

“Hey, kid. Should I start with you?”

Inevitably, the landowner burst into tears.

“I’ll sell! I’ll sell. So please, stop!”

Kim Jae-hak nodded, and one of the men in black suits took out a document.

“Stamp it.”

The landowner stamped the document while trembling.

That’s how the land deed was taken away.

For 1/4 of the initially offered price.

“See, it would have been good for everyone if you had handed it over willingly when we were being nice.”

That’s how Kim Jae-hak left.

As Kim Jae-hak met with the landowners in Jamsil and went around, the speed of Cheongil Construction’s apartment site acquisition began to increase.

* * *

Hol쭉yi’s house in Jamsil.

Hol쭉yi was busily preparing a liquor table, going back and forth between the living room and the kitchen.

“Today, it’s *soju* [Korean distilled spirit] and beer, also known as a bomb shot.”

That was the reason they gathered at Hol쭉yi’s house today.

But Tae-soo was busy reviewing documents.

Han-soo was also busy taking out an English dictionary and reading documents in English.

Hol쭉yi rubbed his hands together, enjoying himself.

“Han-soo, what about Hyung-nim [older brother/respected elder] Gwang-rok?”

“He said he’s organizing the warehouse.”

“At this hour? He could have finished it tomorrow. Can you go and call Hyung-nim?”

“I don’t want to be beaten to death. You know Hyung-nim Gwang-rok’s temper.”

“…Let’s wait.”

Hol쭉yi looked back at Han-soo.

“Han-soo, can I bring some kids from the public relations team to use?”

“Kids? Who?”

“I’m talking about the kids you had with you when you were a shoeshine boy.”

“Ah, those guys?”

When Han-soo lived in Yeongdeungpo, he gathered kids from the market and acted as a fixer.

“Why those guys?”

“There’s some work in the public relations team that’s very similar to what you used to do. Gathering information, organizing it, solving problems. Making contacts, lobbying.”

Originally, it would have been good if Han-soo had done it.

Because it would be very similar to the work Han-soo did in the Agency for National Security Planning in his past life.

But Han-soo had to go to America this time.

“Secretary Song will teach you a lot. Be sure to learn a lot from her side, Han-soo.”

Secretary Song had settled in the United States.

She runs an investment company, but she’s busy handling the remaining work in Korea in place of Han-soo.

Tae-soo also nodded.

“She said she found quite a few companies to invest in while acquiring the American bank this time. Go and take a look.”

“Okay.”

For that reason, Han-soo was also busy these days.

“I’ll introduce you to one guy.”

“Who? Jeong-hwan? Or Woo-seok?”

“Do you know Jeong-hwan?”

“Of course, why wouldn’t I know a younger brother who lives in the same neighborhood? I’ve had a few drinks with him too.”

“That’s good. Jeong-hwan has taken my place in the market.”

Tae-soo also remembered.

He was the guy who came to his house to deliver the ballot on Han-soo’s errand when he acquired the cement factory and limestone mine.

“Are you going to use informants?”

“Well, I’m going to start rolling them properly. Tae-soo, allocate a generous budget for the public relations team. I need to meet with the related public officials and grease the wheels.”

It was something Hol쭉yi was good at in his past life.

Lobbying and sales.

Tae-soo nodded.

“Go ahead and push it forward like that. I’ll allocate a generous budget.”

At that time, a loud noise was heard from next door.

“Hey, homeowner, come out!”

It was the sound of kicking the steel gate.

Tae-soo, Han-soo, and Hol쭉yi simultaneously turned their heads towards the outside.

“What kind of crazy bastard is messing with Hyung-nim Gwang-rok?”

“I know, right? He’s the kind of person who throws a punch first when you call him when he’s concentrating.”

The loud voice was fearless.

“Didn’t you hear me telling the homeowner to come out?”

It was a voice that Tae-soo knew very well.

This voice was always so annoying no matter when he heard it.

“Jae-hak is here. But he’s starting with the house next door?”

Tae-soo smirked and went outside.

“What’s going on?”

“What’s the matter?”

Han-soo and Hol쭉yi followed him outside.

* * *

Kim Gwang-rok shouted loudly.

“What bastard comes into someone else’s house without knocking?”

“Knock? Is this okay?”

Crash.

Kim Jae-hak and his gang kicked the steel gate, and the gate rattled and broke.

“Knock, for sure, right?”

Kim Jae-hak swaggered in through the broken gate.

“If you’re too greedy, you’ll get into trouble. Does Cheongil Construction look like a pushover to you?”

He had his hands in his pockets and was chewing gum.

“If we offered you a reasonable amount to fill your belly, you should have said, ‘Oh, thank you,’ and spat out the land deed. Who told you to test the waters? Do I have to call in thugs to make you come to your senses? Ugh!”

Kim Jae-hak was startled as he came through the gate.

The muscular giant, Kim Gwang-rok, was smiling.

He was organizing the warehouse, so he had a hammer and a chainsaw in his hands.

The magic unfolded as the chainsaw looked like a portable saw because the person holding it was so sturdy.

“Welcome to our house. Thank you for breaking the gate. Really good.”

“Huh?”

“Thank you for bringing so many things in your hands. It’s good because I don’t have to think about your intentions.”

Kim Gwang-rok threw the hammer and chainsaw away.

He welcomed the guests with open arms.

Then Kim Jae-hak smiled brightly.

“Yeah, it’s good because we can communicate like this. It would have been great if you had handed over the land earlier, right? Let’s stamp the document.”

Kim Gwang-rok smiled broadly, revealing his gums.

“Let’s get hit first.”

“Huh?”

“You broke the gate. Let’s call it even by breaking your bones.”

Kim Gwang-rok disappeared from Kim Jae-hak’s sight in an instant.

“Block the retreat first. Block the nostrils too.”

Kim Gwang-rok’s fist was planted on the face of the guy standing closest to the gate.

Nosebleeds burst out along with the unpleasant sound of a broken nose bone.

“Ugh!”

“Clench your teeth tightly.”

Unless you want to live with dentures at a young age.

Kim Gwang-rok stretched out his fist and flew away after being hit on the cheek.

Two or three teeth flew together in the air. Further away.

“Steel pipe is good.”

It’s perfect as a cane.

The shin bone was broken with one low kick.

“Aaaagh!”

“Awl? If you carry something like this around, you can’t breathe if you get stabbed by mistake.”

Bang.

When he planted his fist heavily on his solar plexus, the opponent gasped and fainted from difficulty breathing.

Seeing that, two gang members swung steel pipes.

It was a full swing.

“Aaaaaah!”

Whoosh.

Kim Gwang-rok avoided it by lightly shaking his head.

“Cane! Cane! Side! Side!”

Crack. Crack. Crack. Crack.

The sound of bones breaking naturally followed the continuous kicks.

The gang members grabbed their legs and sides and rolled on the floor.

Kim Gwang-rok slapped the chin of the last remaining seventh guy.

Whirr.

He turned 360 degrees, and his pupils were already turned white.

The last guy collapsed to the floor and foamed at the mouth.

In an instant, all seven men became incapacitated.

“Now, shall we have a conversation between heads?”

Kim Gwang-rok wiped the saliva and blood that had splattered on his fist on his shirt.

“Ugh, ugh…”

Kim Jae-hak, who had turned blue, staggered backwards.

His legs got caught on the bench, and he tumbled to the floor with a loud noise.

“What did you say we should stamp earlier? What should we spit out? What should we look at? What should we prepare?”

He said to stamp the document. He said to spit out the land deed. He said he was testing the waters. He said to come to his senses.

Kim Gwang-rok smiled, revealing his gums.

“Get up. Our eye level doesn’t match. Should I squat down?”

Kim Jae-hak’s legs were shaking, so he couldn’t get up.

“If you don’t get up by the time I count to three, your intestines might burst.”

As Kim Gwang-rok raised his foot high and finished preparing to kick, Kim Jae-hak, who was rolling on the floor, jumped up like a spring.

“Earlier, you kicked the gate, right? Was it your right foot or your left foot?”

Kim Jae-hak ended up wetting his pants.