Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 195

195. Let’s Make a Bet (3)

Han Il-kwon exaggeratedly shrugged. “Oh, I’m so scared.”

He raised both hands and stepped back, a sly smile playing on his lips. “I’m not the type to be threatened or blackmailed. You’ve got some nerve.”

“It’s not blackmail.”

“Then, is it a threat?”

“A declaration of war.”

Han Il-kwon narrowed his eyes and chuckled. “You’re picking a fight with me? You’ll regret it.”

Tae-soo smirked. “Why? Do you think I can’t? It’s my turn this time.”

Tae-soo, who had even taken down Han Cheong-ho, known for his formidable power. Why would he be afraid of Han Il-kwon?

*Wasn’t* Tae-soo the one who removed the most reliable shield to properly deal with Han Il-kwon?

“Kang Tae-soo, you have so many people to protect. Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Han Il-kwon counted on his fingers as he spoke. “Let’s see… two parents and one sibling. Oh, you’re not married, are you? Do you have a lover? It would be heartbreaking if the people you love died or got hurt, one by one, right?”

Tae-soo couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “Why is your repertoire always the same? Is threatening me with my family the only thing you can say?”

Losing his family in his past life was enough. In this life, it’s Han Il-kwon’s turn to lose his family, not Tae-soo’s.

“Your father, Han Cheong-ho, who used to be your reliable shield, will rot in prison for the rest of his life.”

Han Cheong-ho *is* finished. He will have to watch Cheongil [the family business] collapse without being able to lift a finger for the rest of his life. The pain of watching the destruction of the kingdom he built with his own hands… that will be a greater frustration for Han Cheong-ho than death itself.

“Your vain younger sister won’t be able to show her face anywhere anymore.”

Han Cheong-ho’s daughter was a vain princess. She liked to show off among women, riding on her father’s power. She never missed a gathering, loved to spread rumors, and always wanted to be in the spotlight at the center of glamorous events.

That’s how her wedding, along with the promotion of the Cheongil Hotel, was broadcast live nationwide. But she was injured while plotting a rebellion at her wedding, and the Cheongil Hotel had to close due to a fire on the day it opened.

“Or should I congratulate you on taking on another incompetent brother-in-law, just as you wished?”

Jeon Doo-ho’s younger brother blamed his wife for his brother’s death and all his misfortunes, turning into a deadbeat husband. He has no decent job and is wasting his fortune on alcohol and gambling. There were even rumors that he beats his wife whenever he gets drunk.

A miserable married life and a current position of being pointed at and gossiped about… Han Cheong-ho’s daughter must feel like the whole world is collapsing. For her, this life would be a more terrible misfortune than death.

“Your mother, who suddenly threw her husband and daughter into the gutter and came back to life… I heard she’s half-crazy these days and rampages every night?”

Han Il-kwon’s mother collapsed as soon as she heard the news. It was a stroke. She was saved because she was discovered quickly, but she became paralyzed on one side of her body. Moreover, her husband was taken to the Central Intelligence Agency, and her daughter had an unhappy married life. It is said that she cries bitterly every night and attempts suicide before collapsing from exhaustion.

“I’m just getting started.”

*This is not enough.* ‘I’ll pay you back several times the pain I suffered. This time, you’ll lose your entire family to me.’

Tae-soo laughed. When would Han Il-kwon have felt this kind of threat?

Han Il-kwon, who had lost his composure, glared at Tae-soo as if he wanted to kill him. “I swear, I’ll chew every last bone of yours without leaving a trace.”

“You will be deprived of everything.”

Behind Han Il-kwon, thugs with tools glared fiercely. Behind Tae-soo, the Taeyang Group bodyguards stood their ground.

Tae-soo said coldly, “Get lost.”

Han Il-kwon turned his back first and shouted loudly, “What are you doing? Guys, smash it! We have to demolish that illegal building today!”

Han Il-kwon pointed to the Taeyang Apartment model house, walking along the path cleared by the thugs. “Don’t leave a single cornerstone or roof tile! Smash it thoroughly!”

“Yes, sir! We will do that!”

“Smash all those who interfere! The government is behind us! It’s a job that the President himself requested!”

“Yes, sir! Understood!”

The thugs shouted, corners of their mouths raised in anticipation.

“Okay, it’s time to demolish it.”

Kim Kwang-rok was furious. “Those bastards are going to die!”

Tae-soo raised his hand to stop Kim Kwang-rok. “Leave it alone.”

“Tae-soo!”

“It’s nothing to destroy that model house ten million times over.”

“Kang Tae-soo!” *Don’t you have any pride? How can you tell me to leave it alone after seeing this?*

Tae-soo acknowledged Kim Kwang-rok’s silent protest. “If they destroy our house, we can just destroy their house.”

*What does that mean?*

Kim Kwang-rok was bewildered.

Tae-soo turned his back. “Just watch. I’ll pay them back several times more than what we suffered. From financial losses to honor, future… everything will be multiplied and ruined.”

Tae-soo instructed Secretary Song Chang-joon, who was closely following him: “Has the Cheongil Apartment pre-sale started?”

“Yes, it has.”

“I ordered you to buy the most expensive royal suite [penthouse] in Cheongil Apartment. How did that go?”

“Ah, I bought it a while ago, as you instructed, but…”

Tae-soo nodded. “Call all the TBS Dongin Broadcasting Station, KBC Korean Broadcasting Station, and MBS Literature Broadcasting Station.”

“Yes?”

“Call Dongbang Ilbo, Jirashi [tabloid newspaper], Jungse Ilbo, Joseok Ilbo, Hangang Ilbo, Hanmaeul Ilbo, and Namguk Ilbo. Call them all.”

“Yes?”

Secretary Song Chang-joon still didn’t understand.

*Crash. Crack. Bang.* Demolition work resumed with a loud noise from behind.

Only then did Song Chang-joon pick up his pen and notepad with a determined expression, anger dripping from his eyes. “What kind of place is our model house! These bastards are really… You’re all dead!”

There’s no way to stop the guys who were delegated by the administration from acting recklessly. Song Chang-joon’s heart ached.

“Ah! That’s a good idea!” He suddenly realized why Tae-soo told him to call reporters and broadcasting stations. “Chairman, I understand your intention. I will call the reporters and broadcasting station people here.”

*He’s obviously trying to show this scene and report it.* Song Chang-joon bit his lip. “Everyone will be outraged to see the unfair forced demolition of the Taeyang Apartment model house. We must spread the word that the regime’s tyranny is this severe!”

That was a naive thought. Would Acting President Kim Jong-pyo, who is hiding behind the thugs, even blink an eye? If he was afraid of that, he wouldn’t have started it in the first place.

Tae-soo was aiming for something else.

“The place is wrong.”

“Yes?”

Tae-soo smiled meaningfully. “Tell them to come to the Cheongil Apartment we bought.”

“Yes?” Song Chang-joon couldn’t understand. Not the Taeyang Apartment model house, but the Cheongil Apartment.

“Are you saying that we’re going to gather newspaper reporters and broadcasting station people and promote someone else’s apartment?”

“Of course not.”

“Then why? Why would we go to Cheongil Apartment!” Song Chang-joon’s lips naturally pouted out. *I think you’re so generous, even after seeing that outrage.*

“I said it’s a current affairs reporting program. Are you still misunderstanding?” Tae-soo said as he got into the car. “Cheongil Construction saved a lot of materials because of financial difficulties, right? Aren’t you curious about what will come out of the walls of the highest-end premium apartment?”

*I called the person in charge of Cheongil Apartment construction a long time ago and checked it. I saw the evidence photos, so there was no need to hesitate.*

“Oh? Then maybe…”

“Hurry. We have to finish demolishing that house before the demolition of the Taeyang Apartment model house is over, right?”

Secretary Song Chang-joon clenched his fist tightly and shouted desperately, “Give me an hour! No matter what happens, I will properly uphold the Chairman’s wishes!”

*Vroom.* The car carrying Tae-soo left first.

* * *

Cheongil Apartment Royal Suite.

Located on the 11th floor, it was a 32-pyeong [approximately 1,138 square feet], 20 million won luxury apartment.

The news bureau cameramen and newspaper reporters buzzed. “What’s going on?”

“Why did the Taeyang Group president buy a Cheongil Apartment and call us?”

“I heard that the next president of Cheongil is calling thugs to the Taeyang Apartment model house or sample house and making a mess.”

When the information came together, a rough picture was drawn. The reporters looked at each other. *I’m in a situation where I’m being dragged around in a fight between the presidents of two chaebol [large family-owned conglomerate] groups.*

Then Tae-soo stood in front of the reporters. “The reason I gathered you here is none other than to introduce this house.”

Tae-soo took out the pre-sale contract from his pocket and waved it around. The buzzing people focused.

*Chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa.* Camera flashes burst from all directions. Newspaper reporters took out their pens and notebooks and started writing. The broadcasting station camera was also running. Long rods came in to pick up the microphone.

“Everyone knows the Cheongil Apartment advertisement, right?”

“You mean the advertisement that top star Kang Bu-ja is promoting?”

Laughter broke out softly among the reporters. The Cheongil Apartment advertisement remained a complete failure, but it was a hit with parodies in comedy shows, so it is still talked about.

Tae-soo looked at them and said calmly, “Apartments are where people live. A place to rest today for the future, a haven where you should be most comfortable.”

A just argument about the house was unfolded.

“A place to eat, take a bath, raise children, share love, and make food.”

The reporters listened quietly to his words.

“What would it feel like if our house was full of garbage?”

It would be a terrible feeling. No one in the world wants their house to be full of garbage.

“From now on, let’s take a good look at this house.”

When Tae-soo reached out his hand, Kim Kwang-rok handed him a sledgehammer. Tae-soo firmly grabbed the sledgehammer and stood in front of the living room wall.

*Bang. Thud. Smash.* The living room wall was broken with a loud noise. This is because cheap cement was used, and only a small amount of rebar was put in.

*Rustle.* The reporters were shocked to see the exposed wall.

“What is this?”

“Is this the construction material for the highest-end apartment?”

There was not much rebar, gravel, or cement to fill the wall. Instead, it was full of industrial waste and garbage such as vinyl.