Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 88

88. The Negotiator’s Victory (4)

Outside the conference room where Tae-soo and Han Cheong-ho had entered.

Jang Jun-yong of Geumsan clicked his tongue, listening to the loud commotion inside.

“That damned bastard is tearing up someone else’s hotel.”

Secretary Kim, standing next to him, chuckled.

“Still, we cleared everything out in advance, so there’s not much for him to break.”

Inside were just a table, four sofas, and a trash can.

Too meager furnishings to fill the spacious conference room.

And they were all items scheduled for disposal.

Jang Jun-yong nodded and smiled.

“Kang Tae-soo, that guy is quite something.”

“Indeed. He predicted that Han Cheong-ho would go berserk like that.”

“Han Cheong-ho has done some trashy things. If I were Kang Tae-soo, I would have crushed Han Cheong-ho by now. Guillotine choke, power splash, atomic drop, somersault kick, shoulder thruster, moonsault.”

Secretary Kim rolled her eyes at Jang Jun-yong, who was pretending to perform pro wrestling moves.

It was a signal to stop talking nonsense.

Embarrassed, Jang Jun-yong cleared his throat.

“Anyway, the one who should be rampaging inside is Kang Tae-soo, not Han Cheong-ho.”

“That’s right.”

Secretary Kim knew what Han Cheong-ho had done.

That’s why she had joined Jang Jun-yong in making a fuss in the Geumsan Hotel lobby.

But the one actually going crazy in the conference room was Han Cheong-ho, not Kang Tae-soo.

“Losing Cheongil Oil was a foregone conclusion. There’s no reason to be this noisy.”

“I wonder what Kang Tae-soo said?”

“That’s what I’m curious about. When Han Cheong-ho, who cares so much about his image, throws such a tantrum, there must be a good reason.”

Secretary Kim was curious too.

But there was no way she could interfere in a corporate merger negotiation.

Jang Jun-yong of Geumsan smacked his lips.

“It would be better to ask him casually over a celebratory drink later, right?”

“Good idea, Chairman.”

Jang Jun-yong and Secretary Kim looked at each other and smiled.

Telling stories about Han Cheong-ho’s misfortune would make for an unusually enjoyable drinking session.

* * *

The photo Tae-soo was waving.

“Make a decision. Should I send this to the President [of South Korea], or not?”

It was a photo of Han Cheong-ho and Park Jeong-hwan’s wife walking arm in arm out of a hotel.

There were also photos of them kissing in a car and embracing.

“Give it here!”

Han Cheong-ho quickly snatched the photo from Tae-soo’s hand.

The hand holding the photo trembled.

‘This, this must never fall into Park Jeong-hwan’s hands! If Park Jeong-hwan sees this, Cheongil is finished!’

It was the lobby.

Since Park Jeong-hwan wouldn’t easily budge, he had no choice but to reach out to the First Lady.

In return, Cheongil was able to establish Cheongil Heavy Industries with national support.

‘This bastard knew about that and deliberately demanded Cheongil Heavy Industries!’

He had prepared a one-page contract in advance.

He must have anticipated this situation and deliberately included Cheongil Heavy Industries.

‘If Park Jeong-hwan finds out I touched his wife, I’ll die, that bastard will die, everyone will die! Park Jeong-hwan won’t leave someone who knows his secrets alone!’

Han Cheong-ho glared at Tae-soo as if he wanted to kill him.

“If this gets into Park Jeong-hwan’s hands, you’ll die too, you bastard. Are you betting your life to kill me? Don’t be ridiculous. You can’t do it.”

“I don’t know about that.”

Tae-soo grinned.

“I don’t think I need to risk my life.”

“Don’t play dumb. Do you think Park Jeong-hwan will believe you if you do that?”

“He’ll believe me. And aren’t I not even involved? The parties involved will die, right? Isn’t that so?”

Han Cheong-ho scoffed at Tae-soo’s words.

“Be honest. Where did you get this?”

“Where do you think I got it? I got it from a dead man.”

There was someone he could guess.

The one who knew his movements inside and out.

“The driver, that bastard!”

The driver was already dead.

He had been disposed of to cut off the tail when the special agent was taken to the Central Intelligence Agency last time.

But now that dead man was clinging to the living.

Han Cheong-ho hid his true feelings and asked subtly.

“Is this the only photo?”

“This is the only one.”

“Good.”

Tear, tear, tear. Rip. Tear.

Han Cheong-ho tore the photo with all his might.

Until it was finely shredded and unrecognizable.

‘Damn it! I almost died.’

Han Cheong-ho stroked his chest.

A stream of cold sweat running down his spine felt cold.

Han Cheong-ho glared at Tae-soo and laughed lowly.

He couldn’t help but laugh after getting through this crisis.

“Heh heh heh. What to do? The only evidence photo has disappeared? How are you going to tell Park Jeong-hwan now?”

“Fortunately, thanks to you, I don’t know anything about it anymore. So my life will be safe and sound.”

Something else came out of Tae-soo’s pocket.

“I’m just going to hand over the film. It’s just delivering the belongings of Han Cheong-ho’s driver, so how would I know what I saw? Isn’t that so?”

A fountain of cold sweat poured down Han Cheong-ho’s back.

“You crazy bastard!”

“If the President prints out the photos, is it clear who he’ll kill now? Can you be sure I’m included in that?”

Han Cheong-ho reached out to snatch the film canister.

But unlike the photo, Tae-soo didn’t easily give it up this time.

“The contract! Or the film! Choose!”

“Ugh!”

Han Cheong-ho’s eyes rolled back as he tried to snatch it, but it wasn’t easy.

“Secretary Park! Take that!”

“Yes? Yes!”

Secretary Park, who had been trembling in the corner, finally took a step.

But Han-soo stood in front of her.

“Stick to the wall.”

“Yes?”

Han-soo punched the wall near Secretary Park’s temple.

The loud bang made Secretary Park flinch.

Her whole body trembled like an aspen leaf.

“I said stick to the wall.”

“Yes…”

Secretary Park turned around and pressed her forehead against the wall.

“You know what happens if you come off the wall, right?”

“Yes…”

Secretary Park trembled and couldn’t look back.

Seeing that, Han Cheong-ho felt frustrated.

Unlike the smart and capable Secretary Song, Secretary Park was too weak-hearted.

That’s why he hadn’t given Secretary Park important roles, and he was now paying the price for leaving her in a comfortable position at this crucial moment.

“Kang Tae-soo! If that gets into the President’s hands, you’ll be involved too! I’ll drag you in no matter what! I can guarantee that!”

“It’s just being involved in an affair. Is that a big deal compared to Cheongil Group collapsing?”

Tae-soo smiled and shook the film canister.

“To eat Cheongil Oil and Cheongil Heavy Industries for 10 won each [a very small amount, practically worthless], a total of 20 won, you have to put up with that much, right? Isn’t that so?”

Han Cheong-ho glared fiercely.

“Even if you take the film out of here, it’s a long way to reach the President! Do you think I can’t interfere in the middle? You’ll die without anyone knowing!”

Tae-soo didn’t care about the threats.

“Chairman Jang of Geumsan and his secretary are probably outside the conference room right now. They’re just waiting for us to finish the contract.”

“What?”

He had met them in the hotel lobby when he came in earlier.

“Should I hand the film over outside the door? Do you think Jang Jun-yong of Geumsan would yield to Han Cheong-ho’s threats? Do you think he won’t be able to deliver the film to the President?”

Tae-soo’s words didn’t sound like a lie.

“You have too much to lose, don’t you? Han Cheong-ho, make a choice now!”

Tae-soo’s words fell like thunder.

“Hand over the film to Park Jeong-hwan and Cheongil Group collapses! Or hand over Cheongil Oil and Cheongil Heavy Industries to me! I’ll give you 10 seconds to decide! 10! 9! 8! 7…”

Counting down, Tae-soo walked towards the conference room door.

He fearlessly reached for the doorknob and opened the door.

“2! 1!”

Through the opened door.

Chairman Jang of Geumsan and Secretary Kim were indeed standing outside.

At that moment, they and Han Cheong-ho made eye contact.

“0!”

“Stop!”

Han Cheong-ho finally raised both hands.

“Sign the contract…”

“You’ve made a good decision.”

Tae-soo closed the conference room door again.

The sight of Jang Jun-yong reaching out with a desperate face and Secretary Kim hurriedly stopping him was obscured by the door.

Click.

The door was completely closed.

Thud.

Han Cheong-ho, relieved of the tension, collapsed to the floor.

He took out a pen from his pocket with trembling hands.

He fumbled to unfold the crumpled contract.

He signed it while lying prostrate on the floor.

‘The way he’s signing looks just like a sinner doing Seokgo-daejae [a Buddhist ritual of repentance].’

Tae-soo looked down at him from afar.

Han Cheong-ho’s bowed head and cowering back were very pleasing.

“It’s over.”

“There are still two more copies of the contract. One for me and one to give to the President. You have to sign them.”

“Where are they? Give them to me. I’ll sign them.”

“You pick up what you threw.”

It was the contract on the table.

Han Cheong-ho had kicked the table, sending it flying far away.

Han Cheong-ho picked up the contract that had fallen on the floor and signed it.

Han Cheong-ho looked at Tae-soo with a drained face.

“Are you satisfied now?”

Not yet.

He had only taken Cheongil Oil and Cheongil Heavy Industries.

But seeing Han Cheong-ho’s resigned face was very satisfying.

“You signed the contract. So give me the film.”

Tae-soo threw the film canister to Han Cheong-ho.

Han Cheong-ho took the film out of the canister and held it up to the fluorescent light.

“It’s definitely the original.”

“I don’t play around with things like that.”

If light gets in, the film will be damaged and won’t develop properly.

Not satisfied with that, Han Cheong-ho brought a lighter to the end of the film and lit it.

Whoosh.

It burned well because it was a flammable material.

Han Cheong-ho stared blankly at the burning film.

He swept up the scraps of the photo and threw them into the fire.

In an instant, everything burned to ashes.

Han Cheong-ho’s face also looked as white as the ashes.

“Cheongil Oil, Cheongil Heavy Industries. I’ll use them well. This is the agreed-upon acquisition amount.”

Tae-soo took out two 10-won coins from his pocket and threw them down as if giving alms.

Clang. Clatter.

The 20 won rolled towards Han Cheong-ho.

Accurately rolling and stopping in front of Han Cheong-ho.

“Ha, haha, hahahaha.”

Han Cheong-ho laughed hollowly.

But it was a laugh that felt like deep-seated hatred was boiling inside.

“Kang Tae-soo, you won this time.”

Han Cheong-ho looked up and glared at Tae-soo.

Unlike before, his eyes were filled with venom again.

“But I’m not finished yet. The winner is the one who laughs last.”

“Then I’ll be the one laughing last.”

Tae-soo turned his back.

Han-soo followed behind him.

Han Cheong-ho said, looking at Tae-soo’s back.

“Aren’t you afraid of future troubles?”

“Future troubles? What future troubles?”

“You have a lot to protect now.”

“The company? The safety of me and my family?”

Tae-soo turned around.

He walked towards Han Cheong-ho.

Step by step.

Tae-soo stood in front of Han Cheong-ho.

Tae-soo looked down at Han Cheong-ho, who was sitting on the floor.

“The words of the father and son are so similar. It’s a family I think I know who educated.”

Tae-soo’s eyes were also burning with more venom than Han Cheong-ho’s.

“Try it. I can do what you can do.”

It was a cold voice.

“Just know this. The moment something happens to me or my family, there’s one more thing left to go to each newspaper, broadcasting station, and the President.”

Han Cheong-ho’s complexion changed.

Those three things he had agonized over for six hours in his study that day.

It was revealed that they all existed.

‘Damn it!’

Secretary Song had blown one.

The driver had blown one.

And the last one…

“Cheongil Group will be shattered by the President’s hands even without me. That’s all I need.”

The last one left was the most fatal.