Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 47

47. 15th. A Friend Beyond Distance (2)

Claire lowered the beer can, as if her intense thirst had finally been quenched.

“Triumph and the American Royce family’s story began over a century ago. Since then, they’ve managed the slush funds that crossed the Atlantic from the ruling families and Standesherren [German nobles] of the German Empire.”

“European nobles aren’t any different, I see.”

I gave a bitter smile, and Claire mirrored it with a wry one of her own.

“Their slush funds were all moved out just before World War I. The American branch survived by cozying up to the American government. You can think of that as the true beginning of Triumph Capital.”

Claire’s expression clouded over as she recounted her family’s history.

“But it’s practically over now. As other families became shareholders in Triumph, the Royce family’s influence dwindled. Recently, there’s even been talk of selling off our shares altogether. Idiots.”

Listening to her describe the infighting and decline of the Royce family, I understood why Claire believed weakness was a sin. The Royce family members probably seemed pathetic to her, with her fierce fighting spirit.

I could roughly see what needed to be done.

“We need to consolidate the Royce family members’ holdings first. And have Henry acquire all the shares.”

“That’s exactly what we need to do. If we continue like this, we’ll slowly wither away. If we’re going to die anyway, we have no choice but to take a chance.”

Fierceness blazed in Claire’s eyes. It was hard to believe that someone usually so cheerful and confident could be this intimidating…

Sun Hae-chul, who had been silently observing, looked at me and spoke.

“Henry is my friend, but also my benefactor. The fact that I, an Asian, have come this far is thanks to Henry.”

“I see.”

“So, I hope you can help me persuade him.”

Finally, the main point. But… he wants me to help persuade him?

“Me?”

I pointed at myself, and Sun Hae-chul raised his voice slightly as he replied.

“Who else? You discovered Yahoo and even succeeded in the Mexican currency speculation. You were the one who suggested betting on the yen appreciation, right?”

It was something I hadn’t even considered. Persuading the person at the pinnacle of Triumph Capital, the head of a family that has enjoyed wealth and power for generations?

“A guy who’s trying to fleece even Japan is acting up?”

I blinked, and Sun Hae-chul smiled. He must have thought I was hesitant.

“I’ve been caught, hehe.”

I scratched the back of my head and laughed, and the three of them joined in. Yeah, it’s better to laugh than be depressed.

The atmosphere was relaxed, so I stopped laughing and asked Sun Hae-chul.

“If I persuade Henry, is the yen appreciation speculation a sure thing?”

“The other shareholder families are so focused on European currency speculation that they haven’t even looked at Asia. Henry and I have a firm grip on the Asian region, so all we need to do is get him on board.”

If what Sun Hae-chul said was true, we could win big. In that case…

“Okay. In return, include the Korean investors as stated in this document. The investment will be in the form of Triumph Capital convertible bonds [bonds that can be converted into stock]. If it fails, Standard will guarantee the repayment. How about it?”

Convertible bonds are like stocks. If Triumph Capital hits the jackpot with the yen appreciation speculation, the value of the convertible bonds will rise along with the stock price.

Park Tae-jin, who was watching from the side, smacked his fist into his palm.

“That would be great. If Henry buys back the convertible bonds, there won’t be any legal issues when we add the currency speculation profits.”

Not only that, but Henry and his faction would also be increasing their stake while reducing the stakes of other shareholder families, so it’s a win-win. But Sun Hae-chul clicked his tongue and said to me.

“Is that all? Henry’s slush fund of $1 billion – send it through Standard to Triumph, and we have to share the profits from there, right?”

“Uncle?”

I was surprised that he was suggesting I take advantage of his friend… Sun Hae-chul calmly explained to me, seeing my surprise.

“Henry still needs to conceal his assets. If you buy Triumph Capital shares with the funds that went through you, it’s a win-win for both of us, right?”

It was a very good plan. It was more than welcome to tie up Henry’s slush funds as Standard Capital’s managed assets and also gain a foothold in Triumph.

“I’ll take the profit when I sell it later. I’ll also need the right to take out a collateral loan, Uncle.”

“Call. I’ll persuade him on that part. What do you think, Claire?”

At Sun Hae-chul’s question, Claire nodded.

“Henry values protecting the company more than money, so he’ll accept it. What do you think, Tae-jin?”

“There’s no reason to object. If it goes according to plan, everyone will be fine, right? Although I haven’t met him, it seems like Lord Royce would be a great help as an ally.”

Everyone believed in what I had demonstrated in Mexico and agreed, so there was nothing more to say.

“We’ve reached a consensus, so let’s go and present our proposal as soon as we get to work tomorrow.”

“Let’s do that. Everyone is a friend that Henry nurtured, so they’ll be receptive, hehe.”

I know, Uncle.

They will all agree.

For me and Henry, and for everyone.

***

The next morning.

As soon as I finished explaining the yen appreciation speculation plan, the round table buzzed with discussion.

“Triumph… which side are you on, Johnny?”

Even though they were now part of Standard, they seemed cautious. It seemed the factional strife within Triumph was usually very serious.

“We’re going to join hands with Lord Royce.”

Only then did the managers’ expressions brighten.

“If you join hands with Henry, there’s no reason to object.”

“If Johnny’s skills are combined with Henry’s power, it will be a big deal, haha.”

With that, we immediately drew up a contract and got into the Mercedes-Benz limousine that Henry had sent. It took us to a large mansion in the suburbs far beyond New York City.

“This is…”

“It’s the mansion that the ancestor of the American branch built after settling on this land. It’s a place that only the heads of the family have used for five generations.”
The car, crossing the manicured green lawn with its European-style aristocratic feel, circled the fountain and stopped in front of the mansion’s entrance.

“We have arrived, Miss.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

I got out of the back door that the driver opened and entered the central entrance. A two-story lobby decorated in the Rococo style unfolded before me. Henry was standing in the center of the lobby.

“It’s the same as before.”

“Because it’s a German aristocratic family.”

I was speaking quietly with Claire, and I saw her nodding as she looked ahead.

“It’s been a while, Claire.”

Henry reached out to hug Claire, but she chose to bow instead.

“It’s been a while, Henry.”

“······.”

Seeing Henry lower his outstretched arm, Sun Hae-chul quickly approached him.

“I’ve come too, Henry.”

Only then did Henry quickly compose himself and grasp Sun Hae-chul’s outstretched hand.

“Thank you for persuading me, Sun. But…”

He paused for a moment and spoke to me.

“You, I think we’ve met before…?”

“I’m John Davidson Lee, whom you met last summer, Lord Royce. Please call me Johnny.”

“I’m Park Tae-jin, John Davidson Lee’s secretary. Please call me Mr. Park, Lord Royce.”

As Park Tae-jin and I politely greeted him, Henry’s eyes changed. Unlike before, Park Tae-jin introduced himself as my secretary, and he seemed to sense a shift in the atmosphere.

Sun Hae-chul grabbed his arm and hand and said.

“I’d like to talk inside, Henry.”

“I understand, Sun.”

Henry called out to the elderly white man in a suit behind him.

“Butler, prepare for the guests.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Let’s go to the drawing room. Follow me.”

We arrived at a large room and sat on the sofa, where we were served black tea brought in on a cart by the butler. Somehow, only the space and atmosphere were different, but it felt like I was at the main house in Samcheong-dong [a wealthy neighborhood in Seoul, South Korea].

“The fruity and refreshing scent is wonderful. The smooth, melting taste is also excellent.”

After putting down the teacup and giving my review of the black tea, Henry smiled gently.

“It seems like you’ve had quite a bit of black tea, Mr. Lee.”

“I know it well because it’s a tea I used to drink often. It’s Golden Tips… is that right?”

Henry looked at me for a moment and then at Sun and Claire, who were smiling, before turning back to me.

“Which family are you from? Seeing that you’re familiar with this tea, it doesn’t seem like an ordinary family.”

Golden Tips, which would sell for over 200,000 won [approximately $150 USD] per cup at a hotel near Buckingham Palace in 20 years.

Just by taking a sip, he accurately identified this extravagant tea, so he seemed to realize that I was not from an ordinary family.

“It’s a family that does business in Korea. It’s small compared to the Royce family’s Triumph, but it’s been around for 70 years.”

Although I answered humbly, Henry looked at me with a gentle smile.

“Orientals tend to downplay themselves and elevate others. But that’s how they elevate themselves…”

Henry took a sip of black tea and looked at me intently.

“Mr. Lee, you have to show your true colors so that the tea you’re drinking today won’t be the last tea you drink in my house.”

“Before that, I would like you to dismiss the people next to you.”

When I spoke, looking at the employees in suits behind him, Henry dismissed them with a gesture.

“Speak freely. There are no listening devices, and I will keep your secrets.”

“Thank you, Lord Royce.”

After taking a moment to catch my breath, I looked straight at Henry and revealed the secret.

“I own 91 percent of Standard Capital’s shares and have invested most of the managed funds. All of Standard Capital’s Yahoo shares and the money I made in Mexico are all mine.”

Unlike me, who was calmly speaking and drinking tea, Henry’s face hardened.

“Young man, your jokes are too much. You’ve achieved that much wealth at your age?”

“Ask Sun and Claire. They are your friends, your daughter, so they won’t lie.”

Henry glanced at me and then looked at the two of them without a word. When they looked at him with firm eyes and nodded, Henry’s complexion changed.

I didn’t miss the opportunity and continued.

“I just analyzed the situation and came up with ideas. It would have been impossible without Sun and Claire, Mr. Park, and the family members you raised.”

When I looked around at the three of them with a gentle smile, they also smiled at me.

Henry looked at us and nodded.

“It’s a good team. Good enough that Claire doesn’t want to come back.”

“Since you are Claire’s father, I have a proposal for you, Lord Royce.”

“A proposal?”

“Yes. It’s a way for you to revive the glory of the Royce family. Like a crane soaring in the sky, like a lion running through the wilderness.”

“Hmm…”

When I spoke, pointing to the coat of arms on the wall, Henry made a groaning sound.

The earnest eyes of Sun and Claire followed. Henry, who was looking at the two people’s eyes, opened his mouth.

“Tell me.”

“It seems like documents are more suitable for this kind of thing than words. Hyung [older brother/close male friend], give it to me.”

Park Tae-jin took out a file from the bag he had leaned against the sofa and handed it to me.

“This file is a contract containing my proposal. What do you think, Lord Royce?”

“You’re full of confidence, which is good, Mr. Lee. At first, I thought you were just being polite.”

“The first greeting was just the first greeting. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

I smiled and went to Henry and handed him the file. His eyes, looking at the document over his monocle, turned sharp.

“This, this is…”

Henry stopped turning over the documents and looked at me with an unbelievable expression.

“It’s a win-win for everyone. We make money, and you protect your family business, right?”

“That’s not what I mean, Mr. Lee. I would have made such a proposal myself. But if it’s you, you should know the country of Japan well, right?”

Even though it was fully detailed in the contract, he said such a thing, so it seemed like a drastic measure was needed.

“If you cower in fear of defeat, even your name will disappear, but if you fight back, you can leave your mark even if you die. You can also win and survive. Isn’t life a matter of life or death, Lord Royce?”

“Young friend, there’s nothing you can’t say. The history of the family is not something to be taken lightly.”

I don’t know why, but I could feel suppressed anger in Henry’s voice, but I felt I had the right to say these words.

“I don’t know how vast the Royce family’s wealth is, but I’m saying this because I also protected my family, which was on the verge of bankruptcy. My grandfather, who is over seventy years old, also bet $1 billion, so what are you afraid of?”

I couldn’t bring myself to say that I had gone against the river of death, so I used my grandfather as an example, but Henry listened to my words and looked at Sun Hae-chul. Sun Hae-chul nodded, and Henry, seeing that, changed his expression and looked at me.

“Is that true?”

“Of course. And your present is also my future. If you become a better head of the family, I think I will also have confidence in my future.”

I was brazen, even though I had only met him twice, but Henry listened to my words and stared at Claire and Sun Hae-chul. A low groan flowed from his nose as he looked at the two of them.

“Give me three days, Mr. Lee. It’s a big decision, so I hope you understand.”

“I’ll come back to pick up the contract then. I hope your signature is on that contract.”

As I answered readily and stood up, Henry’s expression changed.

“Are you going to trust me? I could use your plan if I wanted to.”

“I trust and entrust it to you because it’s you, Lord Royce. If you want to be a proud father and a confident friend, I believe you won’t do anything that betrays your honor. Isn’t that what a father’s heart and a friend’s heart are all about?”

With those words, I smiled and lightly bowed to Henry, who was looking at me with a blank face, and left his house with the three of them.