Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 93

93. 28th. One Shot, Multi Kill (2)

After informing Bae Jae-hoon about what had just happened and getting his approval over the phone, Go Seung-ju called Standard Capital to set up a lunch appointment with Seon Hae-cheol, and they met at a Japanese restaurant.

“…Is that true?”

“I thought it would be good for Sung-min, so I told the Chairman. What do you think?”

Seon Hae-cheol tried to hide his surprise after hearing about Go Seung-ju’s conversation with Lee Dae-soo in Samcheong-dong. The reason and detailed method were different, but the idea of acquiring shares in the Australian mine was the same, wasn’t it?

Since the money had to be given first, Lee Sung-min’s Standard Capital would bear the temporary financial costs, but Hae-dong Merchant Bank, the cause of all this, was also majority-owned by Lee Sung-min. Balancing Lee Sung-min’s domestic and American assets would be a net gain, not a loss.

Seon Hae-cheol, acting as his nephew’s asset manager and another guardian, quickly finished all the calculations, changed his expression, and said to Go Seung-ju.

“I’ll have to talk to the U.S. headquarters, Hyung-nim [older brother, a term of respect]. Even if Claire is going to be my wife, public and private matters are different.”

“Tell your sister-in-law to put in a good word for me. Tell her I’ll give her plenty of interest.”

“I’ll try my best, haha.”

Go Seung-ju, unaware of Seon Hae-cheol’s thoughts, laughed heartily while looking at him.

***

After finishing lunch with Park Tae-jin with sandwiches and coffee, I heard about what Go Seung-ju had conveyed from Seon Hae-cheol, who had returned to the office.

“What do you think?”

“I almost want to thank both of them, hehe.”

Only the order was changed, but the money was coming in anyway. Even with some interest burden, it was still fattening the family’s finances, so there was no reason to oppose it. More than anything…

“I should thank Yahoo, hehe.”

It was possible because the collateral increased thanks to Yahoo’s stock being listed at a higher price than expected. Otherwise, the funding plan would have been seriously twisted.

Park Tae-jin said to me with a smile.

“Once the acquisition of the Australian mine is complete, it seems like the awkwardness between CEO Bae and the young master will be resolved. It seems like a good thing, haha.”

Hearing that, I was reminded of the meeting last time. Considering Bae Jae-hoon’s lost face because of me, I should repay him more 확실히 [definitely, clearly]…

Returning to my desk, I scribbled on a blank piece of paper, lost in thought.

If I detonate it now, wouldn’t it advance history by at least 4 or 5 years, or even more than 10 years? The development of Hancock Prospecting’s iron ore mine.

But.

Even if I change history, things that should happen don’t *not* happen, and things that shouldn’t happen don’t happen.

The Taehyun Group clearing Taehyun Construction’s Iraq accounts receivable while doing civil engineering work because of the Hadong Steel Mill, and the GK Group raising its stake in GK Refinery to 100 percent were close to resolving each group’s problems or realizing their immediate tasks when I looked back at my past life.

Accordingly, I also blocked the butterfly effect of Shinseong Corporation, so I was convinced that I could achieve my goal by calculating and moving according to the causality based on my memories.

After finishing my 고민 [worry, concern] and letting out a light sigh, Park Tae-jin looked at me and asked.

“Is something bothering you…?”

“No, Hyung [older brother, a term of respect]. It’s just that my grandfather trusts me so readily, haha.”

No matter how much our family has grown by overcoming great crises, even though I’ve shown my abilities, the elders of the group, including my grandfather, trust me, a mere child, and entrust the fate of the company to me.

If it were the old me, I wouldn’t have been able to bear that weight and would have broken. Even the current me feels that their trust is undeserved.

Park Tae-jin said to me with a gentle smile.

“Young Master. Remember what I told you in Tokyo.”

“…That? That everyone made their own choices and decisions, and everyone is responsible for them?”

When I recited the words I heard when I couldn’t sleep until dawn on the day the Kobe earthquake struck, Park Tae-jin nodded.

“I hope you don’t try to carry the burden of the world alone, Young Master. The more you share the burden, the farther you can go with more people.”

Park Tae-jin’s words were right.

There are people who share my burden, such as Park Tae-jin and Seon Hae-cheol in front of me, the elders of the family and group, including my grandfather in Samcheong-dong, and Claire and Henry across the sea.

I entered their path, and they entered my path, and they push and pull me, and I push and pull them, and we move forward.

So.

We can move towards our respective destinations separately and together. Even if our destinations are different, we are 힘이 되고 [becoming strength] to each other.

“Thank you, Hyung.”

While Park Tae-jin and I were exchanging glances like 형 [older brother] and 동생 [younger brother], Seon Hae-cheol broke the mood.

“You guys, are you filming a drama?”

“Uncle.”

When I looked at him with narrow eyes, Seon Hae-cheol erased the playfulness from his face.

“Push forward, Lee Sung-min. With the luck that follows you, everything will work out.”

It’s not that I’m followed by 천운 [heavenly luck], but that I’ve come back against the river of death, Uncle. Still, thank you for believing in me.

***

A few days later.

Around the time Lee Sung-min decided to advance history once again, Lee Dae-soo was facing Bae Jae-hoon while drinking afternoon tea.

“You want to take Sung-min to Australia?”

“Yes, Hyung-nim [older brother, a term of respect].”

Lee Dae-soo put down the teacup he was holding to his mouth.

“What’s the reason, Jae-hoon?”

“I want to repay the debt from last time.”

“Debt? Are you talking about when you changed the Yeongdeungpo redevelopment plan?”

Bae Jae-hoon nodded at Lee Dae-soo’s question, who trailed off for a moment.

“Yes. I think I went too far with Sung-min at that time, so I asked Seung-ju to convey my apology, but I didn’t feel like it. He’s the one who’s been most 적극적으로 [actively] involved in increasing the group’s 살림 [household finances, assets]…”

Bae Jae-hoon couldn’t raise his head when he thought about what happened then.

Even though he was the eldest grandson of this family, that 새파랗게 어린놈 [that green young punk] changed the deal with Standard Capital to be more 유리하게 [advantageous] for the group, even 당겨쓰면서 [pulling forward, using preemptively] himself. Unlike Lee Sung-min, he was clinging to old memories related to a mere piece of land and raising his voice at that 어린놈 [young punk], so he was ashamed.

“I also think that acquiring shares in the mine is more likely than acquiring company shares. If the deal is 성공적으로 [successful], wouldn’t it be enough to create a history for Sung-min to succeed Hyung-nim [older brother, a term of respect]?”

“That’s true, but as I said before, that 여편네’s [bitch’s] stubbornness is not ordinary. Not to mention company shares, I can’t even guess how much we’ll have to pay and how much we’ll get.”

As he said before, what Lee Dae-soo said now was also written in the report. The key was how much money to give and how many shares to get from that greedy and stubborn Jane Leonhart.

“According to the report you saw before, that 여편네 [bitch] is crazy about pearls, so I’ll prepare a pearl necklace as a gift. And if what Hyung-nim [older brother, a term of respect] said before is correct, the 상처 [wound, scar] she’s secretly hiding…”

Before Bae Jae-hoon could finish speaking, Lee Dae-soo raised his hand to interrupt.

“That 수 [move, tactic] is dangerous, Jae-hoon. It’s dangerous to do business with someone else’s 상처 [wound, scar], especially the 상처 [wound, scar] they don’t want to show. Everything will fall apart.”

“Hyung-nim [older brother, a term of respect]…?”

Even though Bae Jae-hoon showed a sign of disappointment, Lee Dae-soo shook his head.

“It’s not something to do as a businessman or as a person. How much did we 고생했었나 [suffer] trying to cover up the 사고 치던 [causing trouble] that Sung-min used to cause, even though he’s 정신을 차렸어 [come to his senses] now?”

Even though Lee Dae-soo’s voice became heavy, Bae Jae-hoon didn’t 침울해하지도 [become depressed] or 부끄러워하지도 [become ashamed].

“How could I forget? I remember and 말씀드리는 [am telling you].”

“Then, what are you going to do?”

Bae Jae-hoon responded to Lee Dae-soo’s suspicious gaze with a 음침한 [gloomy, sinister] smile.

“How about letting another 놈 헤집게 [bastard rummage through] that 여편네’s [bitch’s] 상처 [wound, scar]? If it’s going to be a 망수(亡手) [losing move], we should let another 놈 [bastard] use it.”

“Another 놈이면 [bastard]…?”

Bae Jae-hoon took over Lee Dae-soo’s 흐린 말끝 [vague ending of words].

“Jang Ho-gun’s eldest son would be good, hehe.”

“…Are you talking about Jang Yong-jae? That 난봉꾼 자식 [womanizing son]?”

“Yes. If Sung-min puts 바람 [wind, air] in Jang Yong-jae’s 허파 [lungs] and makes him cause an 사고 [accident, incident], Shinseong 놈들 [bastards] can 스스로 쫓겨나게 [be kicked out themselves] from the Australian business.”

Lee Dae-soo’s face also spread with a 음침한 [gloomy, sinister] smile at the 뒤집어씌우기에 [framing] that Bae Jae-hoon put out.

“We’ll 나서자 [step forward] after that, is that it?”

“Yes. That way, Jang Ho-gun won’t be able to 원망 [resent] us, right?”

While 고민하던 [pondering] for a moment, Lee Dae-soo twisted his 입꼬리 [corner of his mouth].

“It’ll be 재밌겠구먼 [interesting]. Let’s start right now.”

***

Called to Samcheong-dong, I blinked my eyes after hearing my grandfather and Bae Jae-hoon’s plan.

“Yong-jae Hyung [older brother, a term of respect]?”

“Don’t you like it?”

How could I not like it?

I knew that Jane Leonhart was definitely a woman with a big and deep inner 상처 [wound, scar]. I chose the 정공법 [straightforward method] because I thought my grandfather and Bae Jae-hoon wouldn’t know, but the information written in the report that Bae Jae-hoon gave me was almost identical to what I remembered.

If my grandfather’s 탁월한 [excellent] evaluation is correct, that 상처 [wound, scar] is a 역린 [reverse scale, Achilles’ heel] that will 터뜨릴 [explode] a 비명 [scream] just by touching it. Just like when Bae Jae-hoon 역정을 [got angry] at me when changing the Yeongdeungpo redevelopment plan.

“No, Grandfather. If I had known there was such a report, I would have 하자고 [suggested it] first.”

When I folded the report I was holding and placed it neatly on the table, my grandfather pointed at me with his finger and laughed 껄껄 [heartily].

“This 놈 [guy], this 놈 [guy], he’s completely a 싸움닭 [fighting cock], 으허허 [hearty laugh].”

“He’s a 판박이 [carbon copy] of Chairman when he was young, haha.”

My grandfather and Bae Jae-hoon looked at me and laughed 껄껄 [heartily]. My grandfather was a 싸움닭 [fighting cock]?

Looking at me with 멀뚱멀뚱 [blankly] eyes, my grandfather 피식 [snorted] and laughed.

“When 할애비 [grandpa] stayed in Vietnam for a while, I don’t know how much I 치고 박았는지 [fought] with the 놈들 [guys] from other companies.”

“Really?”

“Of course? I even 멱살잡이 [grabbed by the collar] with that 영감 [old man] Jinjuho over the U.S. military’s military supply transportation contract, 으허허 [hearty laugh].”

Jinjuho is the founder and first chairman of Juhan Group, the largest 종합 물류재벌 [integrated logistics conglomerate] in this country. He’s retired from the front lines, but that 영감 [old man], who is still famous for his 드센 [strong, fierce] personality, and my grandfather, who is like a British gentleman, 드잡이를 [scuffling]?

While I was 놀라는 [surprised], Bae Jae-hoon continued the story of that time.

“At that time, we almost had a 패싸움 [gang fight]. Both us and them brought 직원들 [employees] from local residents and 파병부대 [troops] with 각목 [wooden sticks] and 쇠파이프 [iron pipes] and 으르렁거렸잖습니까 [growled at each other]? Hehe.”

“That’s right. In the end, that 영감 [old man] and I 주고받다가 [exchanged] each other in the 면상 [face] with our fists and 화해하면서 [reconciled] 막걸리 [Korean rice wine], 으하하 [hearty laugh].”

My mouth 벌어졌다 [gaped open]. The group 총수들 [heads] had a 원터치 맞다이 [one-touch fight], not even 조폭 [gangsters]? Compared to my grandfather, who actually 주먹다짐 [fought with fists], I wasn’t even a 병아리 [chick], let alone a 싸움닭 [fighting cock].

My grandfather, who was sharing a 꽤 살벌한 [quite brutal] story with Bae Jae-hoon that was a 추억 [memory] of his prime, stopped laughing.

“Anyway, after 적당히 흘리고 [leaking appropriately] to that 놈 [guy] Jang Yong-jae, we’ll also 작업할 [work] in the Australian corporation. The money we’ve spent so far 막느라 [preventing] information, we’ll make it worth the price we spent 쫓아내느라 [chasing out] those 놈들 [guys] from Australia, hehe.”

It was a 발상다운 [idea worthy] of my grandfather. There’s nothing more effective than making competitors 스스로 탈락하게 [drop out themselves], right? I quickly opened my mouth.

“I understand, Grandfather. I’ll 잔뜩 넣어주겠습니다 [put a lot of] Jang Yong-jae’s 허파 [lungs] with 헛바람 [hot air, empty promises].”

I answered 자신만만하게 [confidently] and 숙였다 [lowered] my head to my grandfather.

***

After coming out of Samcheong-dong, I told Park Tae-jin and Seon Hae-cheol about my grandfather and Bae Jae-hoon’s plan, and then met Jang Yong-jae at a Korean beef restaurant.

“It’s been a while, Hyung [older brother, a term of respect]. How have you been?”

“I’ve been doing well. I went down to the Busan factory and just came up to 쉬고 [rest].”

Jang Yong-jae shook his head 절레절레 [shaking his head] and 투덜거리고 [grumbling], then 집어서 [picked up] a piece of Korean beef 익고 [cooked] on the 불판 [grill] and 넣었다 [put] it in his mouth.

“If it’s the Busan factory, is it the Sinhodong factory?”

“Yeah. I told my father and 밀어붙였는데 [pushed forward], but the 일이 너무 커졌어 [the work became too big].”

Seeing Jang Yong-jae 내쉬는 [letting out] a 한숨 [sigh], I couldn’t help but 한심하기 짝이 없었다 [feel pathetic].

He 밀어붙였다 [pushed forward] to get points from Jang Ho-gun, but business is business. He’s building a car factory on 땅에 [land] that is as 무른 [soft] as a 전봇대만한 철심 [telephone pole-sized iron core], so how could it be 싸게 먹히겠나 [be cheap]? It wasn’t a 나쁘지 않은 일 [not a bad thing] for me, but I had to 맞춰줘야 [match] the 분위기를 [atmosphere] to put 헛바람 [hot air, empty promises].

“Still, Uncle must have made the final decision, right? He had to 맞춰줘야 [match] the current 정권’s [regime’s] 비위 [whim] to 키우는데 [grow] the business, so it couldn’t be helped.”

“That’s true. I was able to 숨통 [breathe] thanks to your 할아버님 [grandfather].”

I 깜빡거렸다 [blinked] my eyes as if I was 듣는다는 듯 [listening] for the first time, looking at Jang Yong-jae, who nodded and spoke.

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. I’m talking about the 엔고투기 [yen appreciation speculation] you did at the beginning of last year. You 땡겨왔잖냐 [pulled it off] thanks to that?”

“Ah… that?”

“Yeah. I spent a 뭉텅이로 [lump sum] of money this time because of the Yeongdeungpo redevelopment, but it’s okay because I’ll 회수 [recover] it with the construction cost anyway, so it worked out well in many ways. Shinseong Corporation’s 덩치 [size] also 커졌고 [grew] thanks to SH Asset Development.”

While we were only talking about 겉도는 [superficial] things like that, Jang Yong-jae 살피며 [examining] my face and asked.

“How’s your company?”

“What?”

“I’m talking about resource development. Your house invested in the Australian zinc mine that our house 넘겨받은 [took over] from the Kazakhstan copper mine, so the 벌이가 [earnings] will be 제법 [considerable], right?”

Unlike his 은근한 [subtle] voice, his 눈빛 [eyes] was 날카로운 [sharp], so it seemed like he was 억울한 [resentful] about 뺏긴 [losing] the Kazakhstan copper mine. I 무시하며 [ignoring] Jang Yong-jae’s 눈빛 [eyes] and 대꾸했다 심드렁하게 [replied nonchalantly].

“My grandfather, 실장님 [department head], and CEO Bae are in charge of that, so I don’t know. How’s your company?”

“We also 노력했다가 포기했어 [tried and gave up]. We 돌렸거든 [turned] the money we were going to use for resource development to the Yeongdeungpo redevelopment project.”

I know why he’s not saying it. Isn’t it the acquisition of Hancock Prospecting that I, my family, and my group 찍어놨던 [had our eyes on]?

I 꽉 쥐면서도 [gripped tightly] my 주먹 [fist] under the table, but 건넸다 [offered] words to Jang Yong-jae with an 은근한 [subtle] voice.

“You should 말해봐 [tell] to Uncle. How about finding a way to 접근 [approach] after 알아보고 [finding out] one more time in the Australian corporation?”

“I don’t know… It’ll be 어려울 [difficult] because I spent all the money on the Yeongdeungpo redevelopment…”

“Just bring the 지분 인수 계약서 [equity acquisition contract]. If you give me a 두둑하게 [generous] interest, I’ll 말해서 [tell] CEO to 인수해줄게 [take over] Shinseong Corporation’s 채권 [bonds].”

When I spoke a little 뻐기듯이 [boastfully], Jang Yong-jae’s 눈에 날이 [eyes sharpened] for a moment.

“Does your company have a lot of money?”

“I don’t know about the Korean corporation, but the U.S. headquarters will be 꽤 [quite a bit], right?”

“What are the conditions?”

“5-year maturity with an annual interest rate of 9 percent. The amount is 500 million dollars. How about it?”

When I 밝히자 [revealed] the conditions, Jang Yong-jae’s 입꼬리 [corner of his mouth] 올라갔다 [went up]. How could he not 좋아하고 [like it] when I said I’d 빌려주겠다 [lend] cheaper than 시중은행 [commercial banks]?

“Really?”

“That’s right? The CEO of the Korean corporation is a friend of my father, and he’s also a 들어가는 [going] in the U.S. headquarters’ investment committee and board of directors. I’ll 말씀드려볼게 [tell him] well.”

When I spoke with a little 낮추며 [lowering] attitude, Jang Yong-jae’s 입 [mouth] 벌어졌다 [opened].

“Is it real? If I bring the 계약서 [contract], you’ll give me 500 million dollars?”

“That’s right? I’ll 걸게 [bet] my 목 [neck]. 됐지 [Okay]?”

Jang Yong-jae 씰룩거리더니 [twitched] his 입 [mouth] that looked like it would 찢어질 [tear], then 들었다 [lifted] a 소주병 [soju bottle].

“Take a drink, Sung-min. No, should I call you Director Lee? Hehe.”

“Then should I call you Managing Director, Hyung [older brother, a term of respect]? Hehe.”

It was a 꼴같잖은 임원 놀이 [ridiculous executive play], but what couldn’t I do if I could 끼얹을 똥물 [throw shit] on this 놈 [guy]. As soon as the 자리 끝나는 [meeting ends], I have to 전화 [call] to my grandfather to 진행하자 [proceed] the next 작업 [operation].

***

After finishing the 식사 [meal], Jang Yong-jae 달려갔다 [ran] to Sunguiwon right away.

“What are you doing here?”

“I have something to 말씀드릴 [tell you], Chairman.”

Jang Ho-gun 찌푸렸다 [frowned] his 눈살 [brow] while looking at Jang Yong-jae’s face, which was 살짝 홍조 [slightly flushed].

“Did you drink 술 [alcohol] from 대낮 [broad daylight]?”

“I drank it because I was 접대 [entertaining], Chairman.”

Jang Ho-gun 새로 [widened] his eyes at Jang Yong-jae’s 호쾌한 [cheerful] 대답 [answer].

“접대 [Entertaining]?”

“Yes. There was someone I had to 접대 [entertain] related to Shinseong Corporation’s Australian business.”

Jang Yong-jae was 정신이 없었다 끌어내리느라 [busy pulling down] his 입꼬리 [corner of his mouth] after seeing Jang Ho-gun’s 입꼬리 [corner of his mouth] 올라가는 슬쩍 [going up slightly].

“I understand. Let’s talk while drinking something.”

Jang Ho-gun 가져오게 [brought] 꿀물 [honey water] with the 인터폰 [intercom], then 벗어놓고 [took off] the 안경 [glasses] he used to 처리하느라 [handle] the 결재 서류 [approval documents] and 앉았다 [sat] on the 소파 [sofa].

“Even if the 일 [work] is good, only do the 술상무 [drinking business] until this time. Shinseong Group’s 후계자 [successor] shouldn’t 나서면 [step forward] easily.”

“I’ll 명심하겠습니다 [keep in mind], Chairman.”

Unlike his 꾸짖음 [reprimand], Jang Ho-gun 바라봤다 [looked at] his son 숙이는 [bowing] with a 흐뭇한 눈길 [pleased gaze]. He was worried because he 밝혀 여자를 [liked women] like himself in his 철없던 시절 [immature days], but he couldn’t 미워할 수가 없었다 [help but love him] because he didn’t 아끼지 [spare] his 몸 [body] as much as the company 일 [work], which was also like himself in his 젊은 시절 [young days].

After drinking the 꿀물 [honey water] that the 직원 [employee] 가져온 [brought] with Jang Yong-jae, Jang Ho-gun opened his mouth.

“Tell me what kind of 접대 [entertainment] it was.”

“It’s about the 자금 [funds] that will be 필요할 [needed] for the Australian mine 인수 [acquisition], Chairman.”

“자금 [Funds]?”

“Yes. If I just bring the 지분 인수 계약서 [equity acquisition contract], they said they’d 인수해주겠다 [take over] 5-year maturity 채권 [bonds] with an annual interest rate of 9 percent up to 500 million dollars.”

“9 percent for 5 years?”

Jang Ho-gun’s 목소리가 높아졌다 [voice rose]. His eldest son 따오다니 터무니없이 좋은 조건을 [brought such ridiculously good conditions]?