Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 84

84. At the Geumsan Hotel Banquet Hall (5)

On a roll, Tae-soo quietly recited,

“Kim Kwang-hyun, Sung Yeon-jae, Lee Hee-jung, Yoon Hyun-gon, Yang Geum-seop, Hwang Ji-won, Park Young-joo, Lee Man-jong, Hong Hyun-kyung, Choi Jae-moon, Ha Jae-wook, Jeon Woo-seok, Kang Yoo-shin, Jo Chan-ik, Park Soo-yeon, Kim Soo-hwan, Jang Seung-wan…”

These were the names of the people Han Il-kwon had hospitalized for at least 12 weeks.

“I don’t recognize any of those names.”

Han Il-kwon shrugged.

“Am I supposed to know the names of every little bug?”

*What a brazen guy.*

“Bae Soo-jin, Ahn Joo-young, Lee Yeon-joo, Lee Hyun-kyung, Kim Yi-sook, Seo Yoon-jin, Lee Eun-ji, Jung Yu-ran, Kim Yu-ji, Seo Hee-jung.”

These were the names of the women Han Il-kwon had sent to the OB/GYN [Obstetrics and Gynecology department, dealing with pregnancy, childbirth, and women’s reproductive health].

“Still don’t know anyone. You must have a lot of time on your hands, memorizing useless names like that.”

A few hundred bugs wouldn’t be a challenge.

“I’m disappointed, Kang Tae-soo. You think you can get to me with that?”

Han Il-kwon also raised his whiskey glass.

*How did that bastard find out? How far did he dig? I thought I handled everything perfectly!*

He feigned composure, but his mouth was parched, so he drank to moisten his throat.

Han Il-kwon moved closer to Tae-soo.

He whispered softly, so others couldn’t hear.

“My father is Chairman Han Cheong-ho, the head of Cheongil Group. That means I can cover up anything.”

His only faith was in his father.

“No evidence, witnesses bribed, and if any annoying rumors pop up, we’ll just stomp them out again. You think I’m scared of that crap?”

Han Il-kwon chuckled, his shoulders shaking.

“What’s so hard about throwing a pathetic life into the gutter? Is there anyone among them who can judge me? How? Heh heh heh.”

*He still thinks this is the ’70s, where power and money can cover up anything.*

In the 21st century, with CCTV [closed-circuit television], smartphones, and black boxes everywhere, even Han Il-kwon had to be careful.

But the younger Han Il-kwon was running wild without hesitation.

“That’s how it’s been until now. But Han Il-kwon, you need to be more careful from now on. I’m watching you.”

Just because there are no CCTV, smartphones, or black boxes doesn’t mean you can’t be judged.

Judging criminals has been done since the time of Hammurabi [an ancient Babylonian king known for his code of laws].

*In this era, I’ll make him pay the price in a way that fits this era.*

If he can cover it up with power, I can throw him in with power.

The era of dictatorships and military regimes is the world of the powerful.

And Tae-soo was also building his power.

“Want me to show you a good place?”

A place Han Il-kwon had never seen in his past life.

“Never been to prison before, have you?”

You’re going to rot in jail because of those bugs whose names you don’t even know.

“Who can send me to prison?”

“Me, Kang Tae-soo.”

Tae-soo swirled his whiskey glass.

“Don’t believe me? Want to bet?”

Poisonous words blooming in laughter.

“I’m confident. I’ll give you a tour of prison and a taste of life at the bottom.”

Cheongil Group, I’m going to crush you.

“Having money, power, and connections, then ending up in the gutter—life will be hell. Don’t you think?”

“That will never happen. I’m Han Il-kwon, the heir to Cheongil Group.”

“That’s what they all say. Until it happens.”

Han Il-kwon clenched his fist.

At that moment.

Click.

The door opened, and Han Cheong-ho came out.

The people gathered in the 5th-floor hall all looked at Han Cheong-ho.

Han Cheong-ho, on the other hand, was only looking at Kang Tae-soo.

“Kang Tae-soo…”

“You’ve come out. Did you have a good talk inside?”

“You’ll only get trash, Kang Tae-soo.”

“Oh, Cheongil Oil? I don’t mind.”

Tae-soo turned his gaze from Han Il-kwon to Han Cheong-ho.

“From now on, everything you have, everything precious to you, everything you don’t want to lose, I’m going to take it all from you.”

Tae-soo smiled, raising his whiskey glass.

“So, you can call it all trash if you want. Trash only sees trash. I understand.”

Han Cheong-ho clenched his fist.

So tightly that it was bloodless.

“Kang Tae-soo… you’ll regret this moment. I won’t go down easily.”

Han Cheong-ho sneered.

“So, you can hold onto it and die together.”

Han Cheong-ho passed by Tae-soo after saying those words.

Tae-soo returned the words to Han Cheong-ho.

“No matter how much you insist it’s trash, the essence doesn’t change.”

Tae-soo smiled.

“Forcibly, by force, inevitably—you lost Cheongil Oil to me. You lost. No matter how much you deny it, the result won’t change.”

Han Cheong-ho gritted his teeth.

“The one who laughs last is the winner. You may be laughing now, but just wait. Even if you take Cheongil Oil, you won’t be able to laugh. I’ll make sure of it.”

It was the ugly struggle of the loser.

Han Cheong-ho shouted to Han Il-kwon.

“Let’s go! You’re going to be busy from now on. There’s a lot to learn and a lot to do!”

It was a declaration that he would use Han Il-kwon heavily.

Tae-soo sneered at Han Cheong-ho, who was making the worst choice on his own.

Conversely, Han Il-kwon was moved and smiled.

*Father finally! I’m returning to Cheongil Group!*

Han Il-kwon also turned and followed his father.

After the father and son left, the 5th-floor hall buzzed with chatter.

“I wonder what happened inside.”

“Cheongil’s Han Cheong-ho left like that.”

Lee Byung-chun, the head of Samcheong Group, who had been discussing oil supply rights with the heads of his affiliates as soon as he left the room, approached Tae-soo.

“Thanks to you, Samcheong was able to overcome the crisis smoothly. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“But seeing Chairman Han of Cheongil, he seems to be quite poisoned [bitter and vengeful]. Be careful.”

Lee Byung-chun took out a blue business card from his pocket and handed it to Tae-soo.

The color symbolized the vastness, height, and lushness of the sky, sea, and forest.

It was the blue that symbolized Samcheong (三靑).

“If you need help, contact me.”

“Thank you.”

The card was too extravagant to be called a business card.

From the material to the design, the writing, and the size, it went beyond a business card.

It was closer to a high-end invitation.

It was a precious item worthy of comparison to Geumsan’s golden business card, befitting Lee Byung-chun, who only dealt with luxury items from head to toe.

At that moment, Cha Ki-beom came out of the room.

“Chairman Lee of Samcheong, the President is calling for you.”

“Then I’ll be on my way.”

Lee Byung-chun handed over the business card and turned away.

Cha Ki-beom also conveyed the message to Gu Ja-gyeom of Lucky Seven.

“Chairman Gu of Lucky Seven, the President is calling for you.”

Gu Ja-gyeom also took out a snow-white business card from his pocket.

Since Lucky Seven started with chemicals, such as Lucky Seven toothpaste and Dongdong Cream cosmetics, the symbolic color was white.

The business card was too simple for the head of a group, contrasting with Samcheong and Geumsan.

Gu Ja-gyeom handed the business card to Tae-soo.

“I won’t say much. Use it when you need it.”

“Thank you.”

Cha Ki-beom then turned to face Park Tae-jong of Pohang Steel.

“President Park of Pohang Steel, the President is calling for you.”

“Hmm. I’ll be on my way. See you later.”

Park Tae-jong also entered the room.

And Cha Ki-beom followed Park Tae-jong into the room.

Thus, the door closed.

*It’s time to go.*

Tae-soo turned and left the 5th-floor hall.

Park Cheol-wan was waiting at the entrance of the 5th-floor hall, smiling.

“Sir, you turned the 3rd floor upside down while I was in the bathroom?”

“I don’t know. I don’t remember much.”

He hadn’t stayed long.

Someone suddenly gave him trash, so he just threw it in the trash can.

“The heiresses of the chaebol [large family-owned conglomerate] families have been talking about you the whole time? You’re a star.”

Park Cheol-wan shook his head.

“One of them knew I was the vice president of Taeyang Construction, so I was surrounded and grilled until I ran away.”

“An unintended spark flew your way. I’m going to leave now.”

“I’ll go with you. I can’t stand the girls.”

Park Cheol-wan shuddered, trembling.

As they passed through the hallway together, someone called out to Tae-soo from the stairs.

“Just a moment.”

It was a woman’s voice.

Turning around, a lady was leaning against the railing on the stairs leading to the 6th floor, looking down at Tae-soo.

“Kang Tae-soo of Taeyang Construction. I’ve heard about you from my father. I heard you returned from Saudi Arabia?”

Park Cheol-wan recognized her and quickly whispered in Tae-soo’s ear.

“That’s the President’s daughter.”

Tae-soo already knew that much.

Knowing what she would become in the future, there was no way he wouldn’t recognize her face.

Park Kyung-hye came down the stairs, her heels clicking.

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

Tae-soo said firmly.

“I think I’ve had a bit too much to drink. So, let’s promise for next time [let’s do it another time].”

Tae-soo bowed politely and ran away.

“Hey, wait! Just a moment!”

“I’m not feeling well, so I’ll be going!”

Tae-soo ran down the stairs at full speed.

“Hey! The bathroom is this way…! Hey!”

Dada da dat.

Tae-soo quickly came down to the 1st floor and left the Geumsan Hotel without looking back.

“That was a close call.”

He wasn’t trying to ruin anyone’s future right now.

He absolutely, never, no matter what, didn’t want to get involved with that woman, not even for a moment.

Tae-soo quickly headed to the hotel parking lot.

“Ah, I drank whiskey.”

He couldn’t drive like this.

To call a taxi to the Geumsan Hotel at this hour, he would have to go back.

Only then did he realize that he had left Park Cheol-wan behind in his haste to escape.

“Excuse me, Tae-soo *oppa* [an honorific term used by women to address older brothers or close male friends]?”

A woman’s voice made him sweat from his back.

Could it be Park Kyung-hye who followed him all the way here?

Tae-soo forced himself to turn and check the voice.

“It’s me. Jung Yoon-ah.”

Jung Yoon-ah was standing there.

Tae-soo breathed a sigh of relief.

“What brings you here?”

“I came as a day helper. I heard the pay is quite high.”

That meant she was working part-time.

“How are your acting lessons going?”

“Great. Thanks to someone, I’m busy learning acting every day with a talented acting teacher. I’ve improved quite a bit.”

She smiled brightly.

“*Oppa* was right. If I had debuted back then, I wouldn’t have avoided being called a bad actress. I was so embarrassed during acting class.”

She shyly tucked her bobbed hair behind her ear.

She looked like a squirrel again.

“I volunteered, hoping that *Oppa* might come here.”

Various influential figures from all walks of life gather at the large-scale commemorative event and celebration banquet held at the Geumsan Hotel.

Isn’t it a place where celebrities and models are invited to brighten the occasion?

“The Geumsan Hotel was recruiting day helpers through the acting teacher to help with the event.”

Many of the students and theater members taking acting classes were beautiful.

The Geumsan Hotel wanted beautiful helpers to assist with the event.

Theater members and students who had not yet become stars accepted the offer, tempted by the generous pay.

Among them, Jung Yoon-ah, who shone as the overwhelmingly beautiful number one, was also there.

“But is the matter of going abroad all over? Have you returned completely?”

“No. I came in for a short time because of an important matter.”

It was to bankrupt Cheongil Oil and swallow it up.

“Ah…”

She couldn’t hide her disappointment.

“*Oppa*, I’m sad to part like this, how about we have a beer together…”

“Shh!”

The sound of clicking heels came from that way.

It was a nervous sound.

“How could you run away with someone in front of you? What an impolite person.”

It was Park Kyung-hye.

Tae-soo quickly grabbed Jung Yoon-ah’s hand.

He forcibly lowered her posture by pressing down on her head.

And quickly hid behind the car.

Park Cheol-wan was being dragged along by his tie.

“Kyung-hye, I can’t breathe. Let go of this.”

“Cheol-wan *oppa*, where is that man’s car?”

Park Cheol-wan turned his eyes and met Tae-soo’s eyes, who was hiding behind the car.