Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 90

90. Not Cheongil Heavy Machinery (1)

Tae-soo headed to Myeongdong.

He parked the car in front of Jang Mal-dong’s house.

“Hyung [older brother or close male friend], why are we here? Weren’t we going to Cheongil Heavy Machinery?”

“I need to see Elder Jang Mal-dong. I’ll join you right after stopping by Cheongil Heavy Machinery.”

That meant Han-soo had to meet Jang Mal-dong alone.

Han-soo chuckled dryly.

“What business do I have with Elder Jang Mal-dong? I don’t really have anything to say.”

“You have plenty to say. Like reporting on the status of the investment fund’s money laundering.”

“Ah······.”

The money from selling weapons in the Middle East was passing through Han-soo’s American investment company and entering Jangsu Bank.

By agreement, they occasionally made stock investments or diverted the money to other facility investments.

“Ask the Elder to pull out a list for me in advance.”

“List? What list?”

“A list of prime companies.”

“Prime companies? Why all of a sudden?”

“There’s money left over from trying to acquire Cheongil Oil, right? I’m going to acquire other companies instead.”

Thanks to Han Cheong-ho’s shallow trick, the money prepared to pay a fair price was now idle.

“Let’s bulk up our size this time.”

Even prime companies were fearing bankruptcy these days.

It was due to the oil shock triggered by the Middle Eastern oil-producing countries.

The sudden surge in oil prices was causing rapid business deterioration, to the point of even profitable companies facing bankruptcy.

“I’m going to pick and choose only the prime ones to acquire.”

Tae-soo, with ample funds from selling 100 million barrels of oil, had nothing to fear.

He had no intention of missing this golden opportunity to acquire prime companies at bargain prices.

“If you tell the Elder, he’ll pull out a list of companies for you.”

After all, he was an information merchant in name and reality.

Moreover, he was a big shot in Myeongdong, running everything from private loan businesses to banks.

He probably knew the financial status of various companies like the back of his hand.

“Okay. I’ll do that.”

“Just pull out the list for now. We’ll narrow down the companies to acquire together while looking at it.”

“Okay.”

Just mentioning it made it seem like he could already smell money.

The global event of the oil shock was an opportunity only those with plenty of money in their pockets could enjoy.

A luxurious and fierce corporate acquisition party was about to begin.

‘While I’m visiting Cheongil Heavy Machinery, Han-soo will roughly outline things. He’s quite insightful, so let’s entrust it to him.’

That was the reason he was asking Han-soo to make the request in advance.

“One more thing.”

Tae-soo grabbed Han-soo as he was about to get out of the car.

“Ask the Elder to check on Han Cheong-ho’s movements.”

Something about the look in his eyes at the Geumsan Hotel banquet hall bothered him.

Han Cheong-ho’s eyes had changed after meeting Park Jeong-hwan.

‘If it’s Jang Mal-dong’s intelligence network, he’ll soon find out what he’s up to.’

Tae-soo started the car.

It was time to go to the president’s office at Cheongil Heavy Machinery.

‘I need to hurry before Han Cheong-ho comes barging in. Before he destroys all the evidence.’

Han Cheong-ho had left behind quite a few things he hadn’t managed to take care of while emptying Cheongil Oil.

He had temporarily moved them to the Cheongil Heavy Machinery office, which was closest to Cheongil Oil.

Heavy machinery wouldn’t have prepared either, so there should be quite a few traces left by Han Cheong-ho.

That was the reason Tae-soo specifically pointed out Cheongil Heavy Machinery for the acquisition.

* * *

Han Cheong-ho and Secretary Park left the hotel.

They coldly brushed off Jang Jun-yong and Secretary Kim from Geumsan, who tried to hold them back.

Han Cheong-ho, who got into the car, said to the driver.

“Where’s the nearest bank from here?”

“Daesung Bank.”

“Let’s go.”

Han Cheong-ho turned to Secretary Park and said.

“While I’m meeting the bank manager at Daesung Bank, you call all the other bank managers. Tell them Han Cheong-ho from Cheongil wants to see them. The location is Daeungak in Seongbuk-dong.”

“What time should I schedule the appointments for?”

“30 minutes from now.”

That was too tight.

He doubted if they could make it on time even if they left immediately.

But Han Cheong-ho wouldn’t care about their circumstances.

“Tell them to deal with the consequences if they’re late. Tell them I’ll report those guys to the President.”

“Chairman, the President has already banned loans to Cheongil through the banks······.”

“The Cheongil Oil M&A ended a while ago! This time, it’s for the soccer stadium construction that the President is pushing for! Whatever the reason, just bring the bank managers.”

Han Cheong-ho was already angry because of Tae-soo.

If Secretary Park hadn’t joined forces and just taken the film, things wouldn’t have escalated this far.

Han Cheong-ho’s anger was bubbling just from looking at Secretary Park’s face.

“To think that such a moron is the chief secretary. Tsk, tsk [a disapproving sound].”

Secretary Song would have appropriately exercised his skills without needing detailed instructions.

But Secretary Park was weak-spirited and not as quick-witted as Secretary Song.

His work skills were also incomparable.

At times like this, he realized there was no one like Secretary Song.

“If you keep disappointing me like that, it’ll be hard for you to keep your position. Keep that in mind.”

“···Yes.”

Secretary Park lowered his head.

“After this, we’re going straight to Cheongil Heavy Machinery.”

There was something he needed to retrieve from there.

* * *

Cheongil Heavy Machinery President’s Office.

The presidents of Cheongil Heavy Machinery and Cheongil Oil were sitting together on the sofa, drinking tea.

“The Cheongil Oil thing didn’t work out.”

“Why are you suddenly worrying about me?”

“We’re colleagues. Who else would worry about you if not me?”

They were both in their late 40s, joined the company at the same time, and had risen through the ranks rapidly under Han Cheong-ho’s favor, competing with each other.

“All of Cheongil Oil’s employees are relying on Cheongil Heavy Machinery because they don’t even have a place to put their desks. How can I not worry? They’re crowded in the lobby of another company.”

“I knew this would happen.”

But the two were also bitter rivals who would tear at each other whenever they met.

“Oh, come on, why are you like this? I accepted the Cheongil Oil people with good intentions, saying it’s the closest factory and office to the heavy chemical industry within the same group.”

He couldn’t refuse because it was the Chairman’s order.

As a result, Cheongil Oil employees had set up temporary offices in the Cheongil Heavy Machinery building.

“Where did the Chairman tell you to move the office to?”

“He only said there would be a major personnel reshuffle soon.”

He didn’t specify exactly where.

That was because the time to turn Cheongil Oil into an empty shell was too short.

Thanks to that, Cheongil Oil employees were in a floating state with no assigned affiliation.

“Why don’t you end this refugee life and come to Cheongil Heavy Machinery? I’ll leave a spot open for you.”

It seemed like he was being generous, but his intentions were obvious.

He wouldn’t give up his position as president, so he meant to put him under his command as a subordinate.

“The Chairman will take care of it. This life will end when the personnel reshuffle starts.”

“With Cheongil Oil gone entirely, is there a suitable position? You don’t even have a place to put your desk right now.”

The Cheongil Oil president’s eyes sharpened.

The Cheongil Oil president’s heart was in turmoil right now.

‘The Cheongil Oil M&A negotiations must be in full swing in the Geumsan Hotel conference room right now.’

Soon, Cheongil Oil, which he was in charge of, would be in someone else’s hands.

But it was someone else’s problem for the Cheongil Heavy Machinery president.

“Since you lost valuable Cheongil Oil, you’ll be lucky if you don’t get fired this time.”

“Even if I get fired, I’ll get fired by the Chairman. Mind your own business.”

“Why are you so prickly? Take my hand when I offer it. Don’t act so expensive.”

The Cheongil Heavy Machinery president chuckled.

“I’ll get you an executive position. Executive Managing Director would be embarrassing, so Senior Managing Director. How about it?”

Executive? Senior Managing Director?

To offer me, who was once the president of Cheongil Oil, a mere Senior Managing Director position instead of a vice president and show off?

“You’re hilarious.”

“Hey, that’s harsh.”

“I’d rather roll around somewhere else than work under you.”

“Do you have anywhere to go? I’m planning to ask the Chairman to send you under me?”

“I’d rather submit my resignation than do that.”

“Then do that. Who knows, if we bring in an unlucky guy, we might lose Cheongil Heavy Machinery after Cheongil Oil?”

This is too much!

At that moment, someone burst open the door without knocking.

The Cheongil Heavy Machinery vice president rushed in with a pale face.

“P, President!”

“What?”

“The President has arrived!”

“Which president? The Cheongil Chemical president?”

“The Heavy Machinery president!”

What nonsense is this again?

“How many heavy machinery company presidents are there? Which company’s president?”

“Cheongil Heavy Machinery has been taken over! The president who acquired it is here right now······!”

“What?”

This was a bolt from the blue.

“Why Cheongil Heavy Machinery? We completely cleared our accumulated deficit this time!”

“In, in the M&A······!”

“That’s Cheongil Oil! Where is there an M&A that the president doesn’t know about? Get your facts straight. You scared me.”

The Heavy Machinery president stroked his chest.

Tae-soo, who was standing outside the president’s office, chuckled.

‘Unexpected. The presidents of Cheongil Oil and Cheongil Heavy Machinery are in the same office.’

Tae-soo knew these two well.

When Tae-soo joined Cheongil, they were still in charge of oil and heavy machinery, firmly supporting Cheongil Heavy Industries.

‘The two biggest rivals in the Cheongil Group are together, so it must be noisy.’

These two presidents were talented individuals who would lead the Cheongil Group.

Soon, they would be called the ‘Twin Engines of Cheongil Heavy Industries’ for driving Cheongil’s heavy chemical industry as a pair.

But it was very difficult to hold the reins of the twin engines that frequently went on a rampage.

Han Cheong-ho had also reportedly sweated a lot to coordinate between the two.

‘I’m glad I came here today. I can steal the talent that will support Cheongil along with finding Han Cheong-ho’s secret ledger. It would be even better if I could get their voluntary cooperation.’

Tae-soo’s initial plan was to raid the cabinet where the documents were stored.

Therefore, the first thing to do was to kick out the guy occupying the president’s office.

But the people currently in the president’s office were the ones who would become the pillars of Cheongil in the future.

Since he had met such significant talents, shouldn’t he throw out the bait?

‘What would happen if Han Cheong-ho lost them?’

The collapse of the Cheongil Group would accelerate.

Moreover, Tae-soo desperately needed talent right now.

It would kill two birds with one stone.

‘But establishing dominance comes first. If I’m seen as easy from the start, it’ll be a headache later on.’

Tae-soo had made up his mind.

‘There’s no need for me to bow down first just because they’re talented. I need to make them obedient first.’

They would already have stiff necks as presidents of a Cheongil conglomerate affiliate.

But Tae-soo was confident he could bend their backs 90 degrees.

In fact, after Han Cheong-ho’s death, they were the people Tae-soo had taken control of and used instead of Han Il-kwon.

“Go find out how the Cheongil Oil M&A is going. Get the situation straight this time without talking nonsense. Got it?”

Tae-soo shouted as he strode into the president’s office.

“You’re the one who needs to get the situation straight.”

The people in the president’s office simultaneously looked at Tae-soo at his sudden appearance.

“You’re just guarding the president’s office as presidents and don’t even know what’s going on outside. The company is running really well.”

Tae-soo clicked his tongue.

“The children start picking fights by presenting their father’s business cards as soon as they see someone. The fathers are fighting at the company. This place is a mess in pairs.”

The Heavy Machinery president glared.

“You little punk, being so cocky! Who let this bastard in here?”

“Who dares to stop me when I’m entering my office?”

“Dares? Hey, who are you?”

“Your new superior.”

“Stop with the bullshit······!”

Tae-soo cut him off.

“One rank demotion for that statement.”

“What?”

Tae-soo smiled.

“I am the new owner of Cheongil Heavy Machinery. You received the report properly a while ago, didn’t you? Are you still not grasping the situation?”

“······!”