Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 179

179. 50th. The Inevitable Big Deal (5)

While the Haedong Group was gathering information on the Daeju Group’s overseas slush fund, Yoo Seong-hak took a vacation and was smoking a cigarette on the outdoor terrace of his house.

“I don’t know if this is the right thing to do.”

Even as cigarette smoke escaped his lips, Yoo Seong-hak wore a self-deprecating smile.

Wasn’t offering to help with the aftermath a sign that he would betray the Daeju Group, Kang Oh-jung? To Go Seung-ju.

As Yoo Seong-hak continued to smoke, he heard a middle-aged woman’s voice.

“Honey, what’s wrong?”

“Huh?”

“I had to nag you to take a vacation, and now you’re taking one without a word…”

“I have something to think about.”

Already, the ashtray on the steel round table in front of Yoo Seong-hak was full of cigarette butts. He had smoked over a pack of cigarettes from morning until the sun was setting.

“What is it? Don’t tell me you got fired from the company?”

Yoo Seong-hak shook his head at his wife’s gaze, which was half worried and half suspicious.

“It’s nothing like that. I just… wanted to rest.”

He had given Go Seung-ju a near-rejection proposal, assuming it was impossible, but if the Haedong Group exposed the Daeju Group’s slush fund, he would have to step in to clean up the mess. Yoo Seong-hak was uneasy about the future he might face.

“That’s strange. Doing something you’ve never done in your life…”

“Nonsense. I’m going to take a shower, so let’s have dinner.”

Yoo Seong-hak cut off his wife’s words, went into the room, grabbed his underwear, and went into the bathroom to take a shower.

“I’ve gotten old.”

After showering, Yoo Seong-hak looked at himself in the mirror with the fog wiped away and gave a bitter smile.

He was almost sixty, but he didn’t have much of a belly, and his arms were sturdier than others his age, yet Yoo Seong-hak sighed.

“Hoo-, those were the days.”

When he joined Haedong Corporation and was running around, he had strong arms that could carry boxes of fabric from the Yeongdeungpo and Jeonju factories with the factory workers and transport them to the port by truck.

He even wooed his wife, who is now preparing dinner in the kitchen, with his arm muscles. With the words, ‘I will protect you until I can no longer lift you in my arms.’

However, as he rose higher in the ranks, his arms became thinner, and now he was worried about whether he could even lift his wife, who had become a little heavier than before.

Yoo Seong-hak’s face hardened at the thought that he, like his thinning arms, was also fading away. He picked up a towel, wiped off the water, put on his clothes, and went outside.

“What… what’s the occasion today?”

Yoo Seong-hak was surprised to see the kimchi stew with pork, zucchini pancakes, rolled omelet, and cold cuts on the table in the kitchen.

“I prepared it while you were in the shower.”

“What are you talking about? I’ve only been in the shower for…”

He raised his voice in response to his wife’s words, but then scratched the back of his head when he saw the clock she pointed to.

“I must be getting dull since I’m turning sixty soon.”

His wife covered her mouth and laughed at Yoo Seong-hak’s awkward smile.

“Hurry up and sit down. I put some effort into it, but I don’t know if it will be good.”

The two sat down and enjoyed the food on the table.

“Your cooking is still as good as ever. It was delicious even when we were newlyweds.”

Yoo Seong-hak quickly emptied his rice bowl, pulled out a tissue from the edge of the table, wiped his mouth, and smiled.

“I put in some effort to give you strength. How is it?”

“I feel energized because I ate your food after so long, hehe.”

Normally, he would have eaten at the company cafeteria with his colleagues or at a restaurant outside, but today he ate his wife’s food, which was even more delicious than when they were newlyweds, and his face was filled with happiness.

Yoo Seong-hak, who was about to get up and go to the living room, made an ‘ah’ expression and approached his wife, who was clearing the dishes.

“Honey, can I use my strength for once after so long?”

“Oh my, you can’t even wait… Clear the dishes first. And do the dishes…”

Before his wife could finish speaking, Yoo Seong-hak grabbed the dishes in her hands, put them on the table, and lifted her into his arms.

The flow of time could not be reversed, and his arms had lost strength, but they were still able to hold on.

“You’re still the same.”

His wife, who had become increasingly indifferent over the past 30 years, looked at him with a more shy expression than in those days, and Yoo Seong-hak’s heart was beating again.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but go the way you think is right.”

“Thank you, honey.”

Yoo Seong-hak gave a faint smile at his wife’s words, which she had said while looking him in the eye.

***

A week later.

After receiving a call from Go Seung-ju, the three of us moved from the Standard Capital office in Yeouido [a major financial district in Seoul] to the Haedong Group headquarters. We entered the conference room as before, and Go Seung-ju spread out the documents he had prepared in advance.

“…Amazing. London BFC.”

The documents in front of us were filled with details of how the Daeju Group had committed accounting fraud and created slush funds for decades through its internal organization, London BFC. I wasn’t the only one who let out a hollow laugh.

“To embezzle 4 billion dollars… That’s something.”

“We also created slush funds, but the Daeju Group is too evil.”

Seon Hae-cheol clicked his tongue, and Park Tae-jin’s expression also hardened. The Daeju Group created such a massive slush fund that the slush fund created within the Haedong Group seemed insignificant.

“It cost hundreds of billions of won [South Korean currency] to get that out. The Daeju Group guys were so stubborn… Damn them.”

Bae Jae-hoon, who was looking at us, shook his head with a fed-up expression.

“You’ve worked hard, Vice Chairman.”

“What’s so hard about it? Even if the hardship is great, there’s a lot to gain, hehe. Isn’t that right?”

Everyone wore a wicked smile at Bae Jae-hoon’s sly gaze.

Daeju Corporation, Daeju Metal, Daeju Automotive, and Daeju Heavy Industries are the highest-quality menu items that will never be available again in the Korean business world. We had to devour them all.

The laughter that filled the conference room subsided as Bae Jae-hoon lightly slammed the table.

“Chief Go.”

“Yes, Vice Chairman.”

“I will go to Samcheong-dong [an affluent district in Seoul, often associated with political power] with the three vice chairmen and report to the Chairman. You take the three of them and go meet Yoo Seong-hak.”

“Yes, Vice Chairman.”

Go Seung-ju was the key man in this matter, so it was a reasonable decision. Go Seung-ju quickly finished his reply and looked at us.

“Let’s go.”

As soon as the words were spoken, I, Seon Hae-cheol, and Park Tae-jin got up from our seats. To meet the person needed to clean up the Daeju Group.

***

We secured a room at a Japanese restaurant with Go Seung-ju and greeted Yoo Seong-hak, who opened the door and entered.

“Have you arrived, Senior?”

“Yes, the data…?”

Yoo Seong-hak, who opened the door and entered, widened his eyes when he saw me, Seon Hae-cheol, and Park Tae-jin. Yoo Seong-hak smiled bitterly, unable to continue speaking after seeing us.

“Seeing that you’ve brought Haedong Group’s American partner, you must have secured it for sure.”

“Nice to meet you, Director Yoo Seong-hak. I’m Seon Hae-cheol, CEO of Standard Capital Korea. I’ve heard a lot about you from Seung-ju hyung [older brother or respected male figure].”

“I’m Lee Seong-min, Director of Standard Capital and Strategic Consultant for Haedong Group.”

“I’m Park Tae-jin, Executive Director of Haedong Group’s General Strategy Division.”

Yoo Seong-hak, who received our greetings, took a light breath and extended his hand.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Yoo Seong-hak, Head of the Planning Division of Daeju Group.”

After shaking hands, we sat down and had a few drinks before getting down to business.

“London BFC, it’s amazing. I could see how Daeju Group grew.”

I started the conversation and handed Yoo Seong-hak a document labeled ‘London BFC’ from my briefcase.

“Hmm…”

Perhaps it was because he saw the ugly truth of the Daeju Group that he didn’t even know about, Yoo Seong-hak let out a groan and couldn’t hide his emotions, such as sighing or his hands trembling.

After a while, Yoo Seong-hak put the document down on the floor and poured the liquor into his glass and emptied it in one gulp.

“Are you okay, Senior?”

“How can I be okay? After meeting you, I took a day off at home to think about it, and it seems that our Daeju has been doing business with the people’s money, not doing business. Now that I’ve confirmed that thought is true… Huhu.”

Yoo Seong-hak, who was smiling bitterly, sighed as if the ground was sinking.

“Borrowing money to make things that won’t sell, and borrowing money with the sales receivables created by forcibly pushing those things out… It was all a fleeting dream, haha.”

Yoo Seong-hak’s laughter sounded sad. Was it because he was facing the painful reality that the company he had built with half his life was worse than a sandcastle?

‘But you’re not ordinary, Yoo Seong-hak.’

I was amazed by Yoo Seong-hak’s attitude.

Humans tend to identify their ego with the time and beliefs they have held.

Therefore, most ordinary people cannot stand the denial of those beliefs or values, or rather, the time they have believed in them. Unlike those ordinary people, Yoo Seong-hak was self-critically criticizing those times.

“Honestly, isn’t it because the situation is so twisted, Senior? I don’t know about electronics, but heavy industry, automobiles, and metals all have technology development because of external interference…”

“No, Director Kang. Our Daeju may have been a company that should not have been created.”

Kang In-ju tried to offer words of comfort, but Yoo Seong-hak shook his head, raised his hand to block his mouth, and filled his glass.

“I dreamed of eating and living well with more people, but making that dream a reality is difficult.”

“Senior…”

Go Seung-ju called out with a voice full of pity, and Yoo Seong-hak wore a self-deprecating smile.

“I’ve been thinking about it lately. Why the Chairman in Samcheong-dong focused on internal affairs and why you and the vice chairmen silently followed…”

We just listened to Yoo Seong-hak’s bitter muttering without saying a word. Yoo Seong-hak, who was slurring his words, emptied his soju [Korean distilled spirit] glass and opened his mouth.

“I had dinner with my wife and tried to lift her in my arms for the first time in a while… and I could do it. I was worried that my arm muscles would fall out as I got further away from the field…”

What Yoo Seong-hak is saying now is not just to show off his strength. Isn’t it human nature for the mind to follow the body?

He was afraid that his passion, enthusiasm, and spirit would fade away like his fading body, but he revealed that he had decided to cooperate with us because he had overcome that fear.

‘You must have had a lot of worries.’

It must have been a big and heavy worry. The dream of youth in those days and the reality he is facing now collided, so how many storms and lightning must have struck within him.

I wanted to hold a small concert for Yoo Seong-hak and his wife. The invited singer is Park Ji-yoon, who debuted at the end of last year, and the song is ‘Sky Blue Dream’, a remake of ‘Locust’s’ song.

‘…I remember my childhood dreams that have already passed…’

I was unknowingly immersed in the song, but it wasn’t time yet. The concert could be held after calming the storm that raged within Yoo Seong-hak.

“Daeju Group, we, Haedong and Standard, will definitely stop it. Director. When Daeju Group stops, I hope you will join us next.”

Even though these words came from a young man like me, Yoo Seong-hak did not feel offended and instead wore a calm smile.

“I look forward to working with you, Director Lee.”

Yoo Seong-hak reached out his hand to me. While looking at me with a firm gaze.

‘I don’t think I should use the recorder.’

It seemed like it would be better not to use the recording of what Go Seung-ju had recorded when he met Yoo Seong-hak.

After exchanging glances with Go Seung-ju, I reached out and grabbed Yoo Seong-hak’s hand. Then, Go Seung-ju, Seon Hae-cheol, and Park Tae-jin also revealed their firm determination on their faces and placed their hands on top of our hands.

***

The next morning.

“Director, I brought you water.”

“Thank you.”

Yoo Seong-hak, who had been drinking with the four people last night, emptied the glass cup with ice and water on his desk as soon as his secretary left. He emptied half of the ice water in an instant, and then put the water bottle down with a thud.

“Hoo…”

The phone rang as Yoo Seong-hak sighed.

“This is Yoo Seong-hak.”

[Listen to what I’m about to say and don’t react in any way. Just answer ‘yes’.]

Yoo Seong-hak’s body flinched for a moment at Hwang Byeong-sik’s stiff voice. Was it because a strangely cold sense of unease was permeating his body?

“Yes, Chief.”

[Come see me in Misari [a town known for its cafes and restaurants along the Han River] right now.]

“Yes.”

Although he felt uneasy, Yoo Seong-hak put down the phone and went to the place Hwang Byeong-sik had told him about.

###

The place where the two met was a music cafe in Misari.

“Please leave your seats for a moment. No matter who asks, never say you received money.”

Hwang Byeong-sik called the owner, grabbed a few checks and as many ten-thousand-won bills as he could, and gave them all to him, dismissing the employees and even the singer.

“What’s going on, Chief? To ask me to meet you in a place like this…”

In response to Yoo Seong-hak’s worried question, Hwang Byeong-sik took something out of his pocket and placed it on the table.

“It’s because of this.”

Yoo Seong-hak’s eyes widened as he looked at the small, black object on the table.

“Isn’t that a bug [listening device]?”

“Yes. The Chairman ordered it to be installed in your room when you took a vacation. He knows you met with Chief Go Seung-ju.”

“Yes?”

Yoo Seong-hak’s face turned pale. How on earth?

“It started when you turned against the Chairman.”

“…I see.”

He nodded after hearing Hwang Byeong-sik’s words.

Wouldn’t he have done the same if he were Kang Oh-jung? It was the first time since joining the company that he had confronted Kang Oh-jung.

“What are you going to do?”

“I have to retire the Chairman. The most threatening person to Daeju right now is the Chairman.”

“I see.”

Hwang Byeong-sik, who nodded heavily, took out a yellow envelope from the bag next to him and handed it to Yoo Seong-hak.

“What is this?”

“See for yourself.”

Yoo Seong-hak, who sensed something unusual, took out the documents in the envelope and looked at Hwang Byeong-sik with his mouth open.

“Ch, Chief?”

“We have to finish it here. If it’s delayed any longer, it will be irreversible. The work has already started in London.”

Yoo Seong-hak’s eyes flashed at Hwang Byeong-sik’s words. London?

“Chief?”

“I was the one who told Haedong Group to send the London BFC data. The guys in London will be able to take a fortune and live comfortably.”

Yoo Seong-hak couldn’t believe Hwang Byeong-sik’s words. The fact that Hwang Byeong-sik had ordered the transfer of Daeju Group’s top-secret information to Haedong Group?

“But if this blows up, Chief…”

Yoo Seong-hak looked at Hwang Byeong-sik without finishing his words while holding the documents. Yoo Seong-hak’s hand holding the documents trembled, but Hwang Byeong-sik only wore a calm smile.

“The one who tied the knot must untie it. I have to take responsibility for what I did. Come out and greet me when I breathe the outside air again later. That’s all I need, Seong-hak.”

Yoo Seong-hak dropped his hand with the documents powerlessly.

Hwang Byeong-sik put his hand on Yoo Seong-hak’s hand and wore a calm smile, but Yoo Seong-hak couldn’t hold back the tears that flowed as he looked at Hwang Byeong-sik.