Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 178

178. 50th. The Inevitable Big Deal (4)

Shortly after the meetings with Lee Sung-min, Park Tae-jin, and Seon Hae-cheol.

Go Seung-ju was sitting at a table in a private room at a Japanese restaurant. He was there because of someone he had to meet alone, even while turning down the Haedong Group’s heir, who was like a close nephew.

[Dear customer, your companion has arrived.]

“Just a moment.”

Go Seung-ju quickly reached into his jacket pocket with a click, took his hand out, and said,

“Show them in.”

The door slid open with a creak, and Go Seung-ju stood up.

“It’s been a while, Senior.”

“It’s been over 20 years since I saw you after you left Haedong Corporation. Sit down.”

Yoo Seong-hak, who entered the room, shook hands with Go Seung-ju and sat down, immediately helping himself to the food and drinks that filled the table. Beside the table, six opened bottles of Jinro soju [Korean distilled spirit] and four unopened ones were lined up.

“I’m glad I didn’t bring you along. Haedong Group’s finances have really blossomed.”

“Not at all, Senior. All I do is run a junkyard, cleaning up after others.”

“Don’t try to fool me, Go Seung-ju. You’ve taken over Ado Motors, Shinseong Steel, and the Daesan Petrochemical Complex. Junkyard, indeed?”

Go Seung-ju, neither denying nor admitting Yoo Seong-hak’s blunt retort, picked up a piece of sashimi with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.

Yoo Seong-hak chuckled as he watched Go Seung-ju.

“You and I were opposites. I was fire, and you were water… Yet, you were the only deputy who could put up with my crazy personality, haha.”

“It was tough because you were my mentor, Senior. You practically lived in the office, setting up a cot to sleep and eat while calling buyers to supply our fabric to American clothing companies, clashing with superiors, and almost getting into fights with competitors, haha.”

Unlike Go Seung-ju, who laughed while recounting the hardships they shared when they were in the same field, Yoo Seong-hak gave a bitter smile.

“Those are old stories. These days, even if I want to work, I can’t push things like I used to, hahaha.”

Yoo Seong-hak, letting out a bitter laugh, put down his chopsticks and emptied a glass full of soju in one gulp.

“So, what’s the reason you wanted to meet me?”

“How is Daeju Group doing?”

“What do you want?”

Unlike Yoo Seong-hak, who glared, Go Seung-ju maintained his smile.

“Just as I said. The internal affairs of Daeju Group.”

“…Pour me a drink first.”

Yoo Seong-hak hesitated, then held out his glass, and Go Seung-ju respectfully took the soju bottle and filled it. Seeing the glass filled to the brim, Yoo Seong-hak chuckled.

“Trying to get me drunk quickly to extract information?”

“I’m not that amateurish, Senior. I’m offering it so you can drink it all down and shake it off.”

“Let’s assume that’s the case, haha.”

Yoo Seong-hak, grinning, brought the glass to his lips and emptied it in one go.

“Kuh… It’s tough. Very tough. Lots of debt, and things aren’t selling well… Haha.”

“Things aren’t selling well? But the sales are so high?”

“Are you asking without knowing? With Haedong Corporation’s overseas network and Bae Jae-hoon’s and your personalities, you would have poked around everywhere from Seoul to London, Warsaw, and St. Petersburg, wouldn’t you?”

Go Seung-ju, who asked while feigning ignorance, was hit right on the mark by Yoo Seong-hak. He righted two empty beer glasses that were upside down and opened a new soju bottle, filling the glasses to the brim.

“Let’s drink this and talk openly.”

“Good.”

The two lightly clinked glasses and emptied the soju-filled glasses without hesitation.

“Haa-, As you said, Senior, I’ve searched everywhere from London to Seoul. I’ve also secured quite a bit of Daeju Motors’ false sales data through Daeju Corporation’s overseas subsidiaries.”

At Go Seung-ju’s answer, who put down his glass and sighed, Yoo Seong-hak nodded.

“Typical of you. That tenacity and meticulousness… That’s why I wanted to bring you with me when I came to Daeju, haha.”

“It can’t be helped. The Chairman raised me like his own son, so I can’t betray him, haha.”

The two, already quite drunk, looked at each other and chuckled like they used to at drinking sessions in their younger days. Nevertheless, their expressions were not very bright.

“I’ve also looked into Daehan Credit Distribution. There’s a reason why they only give work to construction companies founded by executives from Daeju Group. I’m also investigating the London side, so I think I’ll see the end of it soon.”

“Hoo, if you’ve poked around that far, haven’t you seen everything? If you file a complaint with the prosecution or the Blue House [the presidential residence], it’ll be over. Why did you want to see me?”

Unlike Yoo Seong-hak, who let out a self-deprecating laugh, Go Seung-ju shook his head.

“Even if we bring it to an end, we’ll need to clean up the aftermath, won’t we?”

“So, you’re going to use me to take over Daeju Group’s affiliates?”

At Yoo Seong-hak’s rough retort, Go Seung-ju silently nodded, and Yoo Seong-hak, who had been staring intently at Go Seung-ju, turned his gaze away and poured the soju he had filled into his empty glass into his mouth.

“I can’t be a voluntary traitor. If you, or rather Haedong Group, secure the data and stop the Chairman, I will cooperate with the aftermath.”

With those words, Yoo Seong-hak staggered out of the room, leaving Go Seung-ju with a minimum of goodwill and a heavy, near-impossible task.

***

Park Tae-jin and I, having arrived at Haedong Investment & Securities headquarters, checked the CP [commercial paper] and corporate bond issuance status of Daeju Group with Jo Young-chan.

“How long has it been since they secured $4 billion, and now they’re increasing it by 1 trillion won…”

Whether it’s CP or corporate bonds, they’re just different names for debt. I couldn’t help but laugh at the state of Daeju Group, which had brought in a ton of debt money as soon as they brought in $4 billion in slush funds.

“They’ve pulled in not only Daeju Securities but also other securities firms to release the volume. Chairman Kang is completely out of his mind.”

It was the first time that Jo Young-chan, who was usually so composed, had spoken so harshly. There was a minimum to be observed even when playing with money, but it must have been because Kang Oh-joong had sold off bad products to customers who knew nothing.

“We have no choice but to bring them down.”

“If we leave them alone any longer, it will be irreversible, Vice Chairman.”

Cancer cells are lives that shouldn’t grow, so they must be caught early. Jo Young-chan also nodded at our opinion that they should be dealt with quickly.

“That’s right. Jae-hoon hyung [older brother/male friend] needs to bring the information from London quickly…”

Even at this moment, the people in charge of Haedong Corporation’s London branch are contacting those in charge of Daeju Group’s London branch to extract information. Nevertheless, the information from London BFC [British Film Commission, likely a front] was not easily coming out, so they could only fret.

I put down my glass and opened my mouth as I was drinking coffee with Jo Young-chan, who was making a groaning sound, and Park Tae-jin, who had a stiff expression.

“Vice Chairman.”

“Did you think of something?”

“No. While exchanging information with the head of the headquarters yesterday, he said that there was someone he had to meet in person.”

“Director Go?”

Jo Young-chan’s eyebrows twitched. Did he have something in mind?

“Yes. He said he would take the lead, so I said I would do it together, but he refused, saying I should come forward later.”

“Hmm… Did he meet Yoo Seong-hak…?”

My eyes widened at the unfamiliar name that came out of Jo Young-chan’s mouth, who was making a groaning sound. Park Tae-jin also seemed to be someone he didn’t know, blinking his eyes.

“Yoo Seong-hak?”

“That friend, in the past…”

While Jo Young-chan was about to talk about Yoo Seong-hak, the door opened.

“Director Go?”

“What brings you here?”

Jo Young-chan and I greeted Go Seung-ju, who opened the door and came in. We sat down with Go Seung-ju and drank the newly set tea.

“I think you met Yoo Seong-hak yesterday. How did it go?”

“How did you know that, Vice Chairman…?”

Go Seung-ju, who put down his glass after drinking tea, blinked his eyes, and Jo Young-chan took a light breath and said.

“I guessed after hearing what Director Lee said just now. Who else would you meet alone at Daeju Group headquarters other than Yoo Seong-hak?”

“…I see.”

Seeing Go Seung-ju smiling bitterly, I quickly lowered my head.

“I’m sorry, Director.”

“No. I thought you would believe and wait because you put up with it yesterday. It’s also my fault for insisting without telling you who it was, haha. It’s okay.”

At Go Seung-ju’s comfort, who waved his hand, I raised my head and asked with an awkward smile.

“I’m sorry, but who is this Yoo Seong-hak?”

“He is the head of the Planning Division of Daeju Group’s Secretariat. He used to be the manager of the Textile Department of Haedong Corporation.”

“He’s from our company?”

I couldn’t believe Jo Young-chan’s answer, which came out instead of Go Seung-ju’s. There was no company that took better care of its employees than Haedong Group, so why did he change jobs?

Jo Young-chan took a long breath through his nose at my incredulous expression and then said.

“As you know, our Haedong has only focused on maintaining financial soundness and developing technology so far. Of course, we couldn’t even dream of expanding our business. Yoo Seong-hak was frustrated with such Haedong and moved to Daeju.”

I haven’t met Yoo Seong-hak, but his character was unique. He wasn’t just an ordinary salaried man who received a salary and worked, but a person with the blood of a pioneer with clear dreams and goals.

“There was such a person.”

“He was my mentor, and he’s a great person. In the mid-70s, he exported $5 million worth of fabric to American clothing companies. He’s good at what he does, but he’s also proud and has a strong sense of self-esteem, so I met him alone.”

“Ah…”

Only after hearing Go Seung-ju’s answer did I understand everything about why he tried to meet him alone.

Since he was a person who had risen to the core executive of Daeju Group, how heavy would the dilemma of having to betray the organization be? If I had gone to that position, Yoo Seong-hak could have been overloaded and the situation could have been ruined.

While I was letting out a low exclamation, Jo Young-chan opened his mouth.

“Yoo Seong-hak was a good friend. If he had suppressed his fiery temper, he would have taken the position of Chief of Staff of Haedong Group instead of Director Go.”

At Jo Young-chan’s words, Park Tae-jin and I nodded.

He exported $5 million worth of fabric in the 70s, which was much more difficult and difficult than now, and if he had risen to the head of the Planning Division of Daeju Group’s Secretariat, what more could he say?

Jo Young-chan, who was smiling bitterly at us, turned his head towards Go Seung-ju.

“How did that friend seem, Director Kang?”

“He said that if we secure the data and overthrow Chairman Kang, he will cooperate with the aftermath.”

Both Jo Young-chan, who asked the question, and Go Seung-ju, who answered, did not have bright faces.

“I guess so. He can’t do anything to abandon his lord with that friend’s personality.”

“Still, it’s rare to see someone as popular and capable as Senior Yoo in Daeju. If we destroy Daeju Group, just using Senior Yoo to quell internal unrest will reduce the pain of the merger and acquisition process.”

Putting a person with great ability and popularity among the enemy generals at the forefront is a textbook method used when embracing defeated enemies. But there was the most critical problem.

“To destroy Daeju Group, we need to secure slush fund information. But we…”

Go Seung-ju raised his hand and stopped me from saying that we didn’t have that decisive blow.

“I met with Vice Chairman Bae before I came, and he said that he received a report that the London branch had secured the information an hour ago, local time.”

Jo Young-chan and I were speechless. They managed to secure the information?

“Is that true, Director?”

“Yes. It’s not that all the people at Daeju Group’s London branch have joined hands with us, so it will take about a week to extract the slush fund, or rather the London BFC data. We will bring it into the country as soon as all the data is secured, not the original, but a copy.”

If we secure the London BFC data, the story will be different. We could wait about a week.

“Still, Yoo Seong-hak may change his mind, Director. If that happens, the process of destroying Daeju Group and then reviving it will be difficult.”

It is people who move companies. To prevent the sabotage of the high-nosed Daeju Group executives and to elicit cooperation, Yoo Seong-hak had to be firmly tied down.

Unlike us, who expressed concern, Go Seung-ju put his hand in his suit jacket with a calm expression and took something out and put it on the table. We looked at Go Seung-ju with wide eyes as we looked at it.

“Typical of you, haha.”

“I didn’t want to do this to Senior Yoo, but the situation is what it is, haha.”

Go Seung-ju pressed the record button on the tape recorder on the table, and after listening to the contents, we raised the corners of our mouths and enjoyed the joy of the winner.

***

“Yoo Seong-hak, that bastard…”

Kang Oh-joong was grinding his teeth as he looked at the picture on his desk.

Unlike the appearance he had seen so far, he had doubts about Yoo Seong-hak’s recent behavior, which showed a different intention from his own, so he had a errand runner attached to him, but he went to the same Japanese restaurant as Go Seung-ju!

Kang Oh-joong, who was trembling with betrayal, calmed his breath, suppressed his anger, and picked up the receiver.

“Secretary Hwang, come to the hotel.”

About 10 minutes later, Kang Oh-joong, who greeted Hwang Byung-sik who came up to the office, got up from his desk and sat at the conference table.

“What’s going on, Chairman?”

“Look at this first.”

Hwang Byung-sik, who saw the picture Kang Oh-joong handed over, was puzzled.

“Isn’t that Director Yoo?”

“That bastard seems to have betrayed us.”

Hwang Byung-sik was startled after hearing the details.

“That’s a big deal.”

“Yes. I think we should use that bastard.”

Hwang Byung-sik was startled by Kang Oh-joong’s subsequent instructions.

“Chairman?”

“Now that it’s come to this, we have no choice but to move before the Haedong bastards. Use the traitor, isn’t that the basics of strategy?”

Hwang Byung-sik nodded at Kang Oh-joong’s question.

“I understand, Chairman. I will prepare for additional funding more quickly.”

“If you say one thing, you know ten. Good work.”

Kang Oh-joong, who got up from his seat and headed for the door, called Hwang Byung-sik.

“About this corporate bond and CP issuance volume… It’s smaller than I thought.”

Hwang Byung-sik turned around as it was and received Kang Oh-joong’s sharp gaze.

“Considering the current floating funds in the market, issuing a large amount at once can lower the value of our CP and corporate bonds. We will prepare for additional issuance in the near future, so don’t worry.”

Kang Oh-joong, who was contemplating for a while, nodded.

“I understand. If we suddenly pull in a lot, the market will be suspicious and the government will make a fuss again, so it’s better to take a breather. Go ahead.”

“Yes.”

Hwang Byung-sik, who bowed his head, left the office and walked down the street without taking a car, unlike usual, and made a phone call somewhere with his cell phone.

“This is Hwang Byung-sik. Yes? Do that. Useless sound. You guys do well.”

Hwang Byung-sik sighed after finishing the call in the midst of the crowded people.

“It needs to be processed quickly…”

Hwang Byung-sik is moving to Daeju Group headquarters.

His face was more anxious than ever.