Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 31

Tae-soo smiled as he returned the envelope of money.

“Instead, I’d like to exchange it for your business card.”

“My business card? Hahaha.”

The secretary laughed heartily.

He guessed why Tae-soo was doing this.

“Hahaha, this is something. You’re truly remarkable. Very well.”

The secretary readily handed Tae-soo his business card.

“Please feel free to contact me anytime you have difficulties. I have the ability to handle minor tasks.”

“Excellent.”

Tae-soo readily agreed.

Watching Tae-soo, he felt an itch in his palm.

He was tempted.

He had a feeling that this man before him would become someone great.

‘Knowing one thing means knowing ten. I must recommend him to Chairman Jang.’

Secretary Kim scrutinized Tae-soo.

The more he looked, the more impressed he became.

From his appearance to his demeanor, his spirit and manners.

‘They say he’s a dragon from the gutter, but the atmosphere he exudes is more like a successor carefully raised in a *chaebol* [family-owned conglomerate] family for a long time.’

It wasn’t just that.

‘Rather than a successor, he has a more mature and sophisticated feel, almost like a *chaebol* chairman?’

Secretary Kim stopped his thoughts and shook his head.

‘What kind of bizarre delusion is this? That can’t be. A *chaebol* chairman is too far-fetched.’

Secretary Kim looked at Tae-soo again.

Even after looking again, he was a strikingly talented individual.

Despite his youth, his abilities seemed outstanding.

Looking at the documents piled on the desk, Secretary Kim nodded.

‘It’s truly amazing. He handles that many documents? He doesn’t seem to have much difficulty, like someone who has been working in this field for a long time. Is it innate?’

The more he looked, the more tempted he became.

So he asked.

“Are you married?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Oh, I see.”

Secretary Kim’s eyes lit up.

In an instant, several thoughts flashed through his mind and disappeared.

‘I shouldn’t be standing here like this.’

Secretary Kim bowed politely.

“I look forward to seeing you again.”

“Please be sure to convey my gratitude to the Chairman.”

Tae-soo smiled and subtly waved the gold business card.

Secretary Kim laughed heartily.

“Hahaha, wouldn’t you be waving my business card more often than that gold-plated one? Originally, trivial matters are more troublesome than big ones.”

“Hahaha.”

Tae-soo waved Secretary Kim’s business card this time.

A satisfied smile appeared on Secretary Kim’s face.

Tae-soo opened the office door for Secretary Kim to leave.

“It’s a long way to Seoul. Please be careful on your way.”

“Hmm?”

But in front of the office door stood a middle-aged man in his 50s, looking like he was in his 40s.

He was a dandy who paid considerable attention to his attire and posture.

“Hello. It seems I’m not the first guest?”

Tae-soo recognized him at a glance.

‘Chungil Group Chairman… Han Cheong-ho.’

Tae-soo’s eyes grew heavy.

He never expected the chairman of Chungil Group to come all the way to Gangwon-do.

Tae-soo was meeting him again after a full 25 years.

Han Cheong-ho looked at Secretary Kim with strange eyes.

“Oh, who is this? Isn’t it Secretary Kim from Geumsan Group? I heard you’ve been living on the road, commuting between Ulsan and Seoul to build a shipyard. What brings you to Gangwon-do?”

“Wouldn’t it be for a similar reason as Chairman Han?”

Secretary Kim bowed politely.

“Excuse me. I’ll be on my way.”

Secretary Kim headed to his car.

Han Cheong-ho smiled strangely as he watched Secretary Kim.

“Geumsan sent Secretary Kim. Jang Jun-yong did that, huh.”

Han Cheong-ho turned to look at Tae-soo.

“Hmm!”

Suddenly, Han Cheong-ho’s eyes widened as if they would tear.

His hands also trembled slightly.

Tae-soo was puzzled.

‘Why suddenly? What’s there to be so surprised about at our first meeting? He’s overreacting too much.’

Tae-soo opened the office door wider and politely guided him inside.

“Please come in.”

Han Cheong-ho seemed to have suddenly regained his senses, stuttering unusually.

“Y-yes, I will. Ahem.”

He sat on the chair Tae-soo guided him to.

Han Cheong-ho stared intently at Tae-soo for a long time.

He kept his mouth shut, and his expression changed rapidly.

Tae-soo tilted his head.

‘A man famous for hiding his feelings is this agitated. This is really strange.’

Han Cheong-ho was lost in thought.

Tick, tock.

The pendulum clock on the wall swung anxiously from side to side.

Tae-soo glanced at the clock and stood up.

“If you have nothing to say, I’ll get going. I’m quite busy these days.”

Han Cheong-ho suddenly smiled contentedly.

“Sit down. I was just lost in thought for a moment.”

Tae-soo looked at Han Cheong-ho calmly.

‘Why is this man in a good mood again? What’s his scheme?’

Han Cheong-ho was pointing at Tae-soo’s chair, urging him to sit down again.

‘I’m curious about Han Cheong-ho’s scheme. Since he’s come all this way, let’s hear what he has to say.’

Tae-soo had wanted to meet Han Cheong-ho at least once anyway.

Thud.

Tae-soo sat back down on the chair.

Han Cheong-ho glanced around the office.

“I heard you’re making a fortune with molybdenum these days, but your office is more modest than I thought. I should have brought a potted plant.”

“Get to the point. I’ll give you five minutes.”

It was a clear eviction notice.

Han Cheong-ho wasn’t so clumsy as to blush over such a thing.

Tae-soo wasn’t so naive as to easily reveal his emotions either.

Even if his heart was burning with revenge.

Fzzzt.

An invisible spark briefly flew between them.

Han Cheong-ho burst into a hearty laugh.

“Hahaha, I’m just as busy. I drove all the way from Seoul to Gangwon-do, and you’re giving me only five minutes for a meeting? That’s too much.”

“What can I do when I’m busy? You should have contacted me in advance.”

“That’s right. I suppose I was rude. Fine. Let’s start the five-minute meeting.”

Han Cheong-ho was relaxed.

“A guest has arrived, and you’re not even offering tea? I’ve driven a long way, and my throat is parched. Bring me something hot.”

“We only have corn tea.”

“Corn tea is good. It reminds me of the old days. I used to enjoy it when I worked at a rice shop.”

Tae-soo lifted the kettle boiling on the wood-burning stove and poured it into a cup.

He handed Han Cheong-ho a cup of tea.

‘I threatened to kick him out in five minutes, but he’s not shaken. He even looks comfortable.’

Tae-soo moistened his dry lips with corn tea.

His mouth was parched with tension.

Tae-soo had never been nervous when facing anyone else.

But Han Cheong-ho was an exception.

When Tae-soo was young, Han Cheong-ho was always a fearful, difficult, and impressive figure.

‘Han Cheong-ho. In my memory, he was superior to any other tycoon.’

To Tae-soo, Han Cheong-ho was the greatest tycoon in Korea.

It was the result of being raised and rigorously trained under Han Cheong-ho for nearly 20 years.

To the young Tae-soo, Han Cheong-ho was a great figure who held the political world in his hands and manipulated it at will.

A self-made man who created and ran the *chaebol* company Chungil Group, a legendary figure.

Han Cheong-ho took a sip of tea and opened his mouth.

“You seem to know who I am.”

“You’re a famous person. Is there anyone in Korea who doesn’t know the face of the chairman of Chungil Group?”

“Knowing that I’m the chairman of Chungil Group will make things faster.”

Han Cheong-ho put down the teacup with a clatter.

“Supply molybdenum to Chungil Group.”

“No.”

Han Cheong-ho’s eyebrows twitched as Tae-soo cut him off without hesitation.

“Why?”

“It’s my decision.”

“Yes, it’s definitely the seller’s choice.”

“If you know that, there’s no need for long words. I’m busy, so I’ll get going.”

“Sit down.”

Han Cheong-ho said firmly.

“I haven’t finished talking yet.”

“I won’t sell.”

“People’s minds, you know, they waver like reeds and change like flipping a palm.”

“Well, I have no intention of changing my mind.”

It’s not like I decided to take revenge on Chungil Group with such a half-hearted mind that I would be swayed by your proposal.

Han Cheong-ho laughed heartily.

“Hahaha, originally, I came all the way here to sign a molybdenum supply contract. But I’ve changed my mind. It’s all because of you.”

Han Cheong-ho was confident.

“Even I, Han Cheong-ho, change my mind depending on the situation. Why would you be any different? Can you be satisfied with just one molybdenum mine?”

“Would you be satisfied if you were the chairman?”

“No, of course not. So I’ll make you a good offer.”

A good offer.

Chairman Han Cheong-ho had also made Tae-soo a good offer in his past life.

Paying off his deceased father’s private loan instead.

Giving his mother a separate house and employing her as a housekeeper.

Sending his younger brother, Han-soo, to the National Security Planning Agency [Korean intelligence agency, predecessor to the NIS].

And hiring Tae-soo in the Chungil Group’s secretarial office.

‘I was sold so cheaply. As a watchdog for the Han family.’

Tae-soo chuckled.

‘I have no intention of being sold as a watchdog this time.’

Rather, he intends to tear down that family, leaving not even a single pillar.

‘Let’s see how far Han Cheong-ho is willing to go.’

For just five minutes.

“A good offer, let’s hear it.”

“I’ll buy the molybdenum mine.”

Han Cheong-ho said generously.

“They say it’s a 100,000 won mine? Let’s say molybdenum was found by chance in this abandoned mine. And let’s say you made a fortune as prices soared due to the suspension of extraction in the United States.”

It wasn’t an assumption but a fact that was actually happening.

“The reserves in the abandoned mine left by the Japanese will be limited. At best…”

“This is boring.”

Tae-soo was indifferent.

“So how much?”

“Considering the soaring molybdenum prices these days, this mine is worth 9 billion won. Even if you sell it well, you won’t get more than 9.8 billion won. I guarantee it.”

“Guarantee?”

“…”

Han Cheong-ho paused for a moment at the sudden attack.

‘Of course. Because it’s a price that’s been undervalued. I’m currently making a net profit of 100 million won a month from molybdenum alone. Of course, considering the temporary peak price, it’s a very special situation.’

Han Cheong-ho nodded shamelessly.

“If you’re curious, put the mine up for sale. It’ll be hard to get more than 9 billion won for real. I guarantee it, that’s what will happen.”

Han Cheong-ho was confident.

Tae-soo knew his intentions all too well.

Tae-soo chuckled.

“If you’re determined to block it, who would dare to reach out for this mine?”

“If you know that, things will be faster.”

“So you want to buy the mine for 9.8 billion won?”

“I’ll give you 300 million extra.”

Han Cheong-ho held up three fingers.

300 million won in 1972 was close to 10 billion won in 2020.

“It’s a very generous price. A 100,000 won mine has just become 300 million won. How about it?”

Han Cheong-ho’s eyes, as if saying, ‘How can you not accept this?’, were truly disgusting.

“I won’t sell. Get rid of your petty calculations.”

Tae-soo scoffed.

‘The estimated value of the molybdenum reserves in this Sangdong mine is 1.9 trillion won as of 2019. Where are you trying to take it for a pittance, acting like you’re doing me a favor?’

Han Cheong-ho burst into a hearty laugh.

“You’re new to business, so you don’t seem to be good at calculations.”

“I think you need to relearn how to calculate.”

“Do I look like I’m lying? I have the power to make my words come true.”

“Whether it’s a lie or the truth, it doesn’t matter. If I don’t sell, that’s it, isn’t it?”

“You’ll get into big trouble if you stubbornly insist like that. Molybdenum is a national strategic mineral. It’s not something an individual can manipulate arbitrarily.”

It was a clear threat.

And Han Cheong-ho was the one who had the power to make that threat a reality.

That’s why he had been pouring money into the political world to gain that power.

“Think carefully. With that smart head of yours.”

Han Cheong-ho was confident.

Tae-soo laughed loudly.

“Hahaha! I won’t sell.”

The confident Han Cheong-ho’s face cracked.

Tae-soo stopped laughing.

“It sounds like you’re going to put me in the KCIA [Korean Central Intelligence Agency, a former South Korean intelligence agency] and take away the molybdenum mine.”

“If you know that, sign the document quietly. If you receive 300 million won, you won’t have to live with regrets.”

“I won’t sell.”

Han Cheong-ho doesn’t know.

Why Tae-soo can confidently shout No like this.

‘A while ago, I obtained exclusive mining rights for 10 years from President Park Jung-hee. Let’s see how you can take away the authority directly approved by the President.’

Tae-soo leisurely sipped the corn tea.

‘I know better than anyone how Oh Chun-shik lost the molybdenum mine.’

President Park Jung-hee, who had his eye on it when Oh Chun-shik made a fortune with the molybdenum mine.

Chungil Group pushed the matter directly by stirring him up.

At the forefront was Tae-soo, burning with revenge.

Oh Chun-shik, the enemy who burdened Tae-soo’s family with private loans and plunged them into the bottomless pit.

Tae-soo took revenge with his own hands.

‘Knowing this would happen, I went to Park Tae-jong and made a deal in advance.’

Han Cheong-ho threatened.

“Do you have to experience how scary the KCIA is to understand?”

“Can’t you even tell if I’m serious right now?”

“…You’re serious. You’re really determined not to sell the mine.”

Tae-soo smiled.

“Isn’t it the seller’s choice?”

“Wrong. It’s the choice of the powerful, the one who can take it away.”

“Well, that mind will probably change soon.”

Han Cheong-ho twitched his lips.

“So you have something to rely on.”

Fzzzt.

This time, an invisible spark flew between Tae-soo and Han Cheong-ho.

Instead of answering, Tae-soo leisurely sipped the corn tea.

Han Cheong-ho closed his eyes for a moment.

When he opened them again, his eyes gleamed with venom.

“Fine, I’ll give up on acquiring the mine.”

“Please be careful on your way.”

“There’s still time left, and I haven’t finished speaking. Let’s move on to the second offer.”