Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 94

94. 28th. One Shot, Multi-Kill (3)

Jang Ho-gun, aware of Jang Yong-jae’s gaze, composed himself.

“How did you get that money?”

“I met with Sung-min, Chairman.”

Jang Ho-gun’s eyes widened again at Jang Yong-jae’s response.

“Sung-min?”

“Yes. I met him, coaxed him gently, and got a loan commitment. If he secures a $500 million investment deal so soon after starting his job, what will his position in the company be?”

It was a lucky break, but Jang Yong-jae couldn’t miss this opportunity. Wasn’t this a chance to regain the points he had lost with his father, who was displeased with the Busan automobile factory?

Jang Ho-gun didn’t completely believe his son’s words, but since he had managed to secure the necessary funds, he decided to let it pass without making a big deal out of it.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Thank you, Chairman.”

“Chairman, my foot. Call me Father, Yong-jae.”

Jang Yong-jae couldn’t believe his ears. Calling him Father instead of Chairman in this place, which was practically the group’s office?

“F-Father?”

“You’ll handle the Australian resource development project. I’ll move you in a few days, so you can stop pouring cement and stacking bricks in Busan, haha.”

Jang Yong-jae felt like his mouth was about to split open. The factory construction was done by the workers, but this meant he wouldn’t have to face the salty sea breeze anymore?

“Thank you, Father! I’ll secure this project no matter what!”

Jang Yong-jae jumped up from his seat and bowed deeply to his father.

“Yes. Work hard and do well.”

Jang Ho-gun sent Jang Yong-jae out and made a phone call.

“Standard Capital? This is Jang Ho-gun from Shinseong Group.”

***

“…Yes, Chairman. No, thank you. I felt bad for making my innocent nephew do the begging, haha. No, it’s nothing. Shinseong Group bonds are as good as government bonds, aren’t they? Of course. Just bring the contract, and I’ll acquire it immediately. Yes.”

I smiled as I watched Seon Hae-cheol hang up the phone with a cheerful expression.

“You could be in a movie, hehe.”

“This is just basic, hehe.”

We both chuckled, looking at each other. Even Jang Ho-gun is getting impatient? Park Tae-jin smiled as he saw me and Seon Hae-cheol laughing.

“You enjoy a good fight, don’t you, Young Master.”

“Just because I don’t fight doesn’t mean I can’t. I fight when I need to, Hyung [older brother/friend].”

Even if it was this time in my past life, I am now a mad dog who has been rolling around in the economic battlefield, biting and tearing. I didn’t hesitate to backstab as well as face head-on, so I was a cunning mad dog.

Tapping my finger, I had something to ask Park Tae-jin.

“The Australian branch should have lifted the security by now, right?”

“There’s not much time difference, so it should have started, Young Master.”

I nodded lightly at Park Tae-jin’s answer.

From today, Haedong Corporation will stop blocking Shinseong Corporation from obtaining Hancock Prospecting’s information, specifically Jane Leonhart’s personal details, by using money and surveillance. Shinseong Group will use the information we gathered, unaware that it will become poison.

I imagined how Shinseong Corporation would fail and raised the corners of my mouth as I looked at the clock.

“Hyung, I think Uncle will be here soon.”

“Yes, Young Master. I’ll prepare right away.”

Even without me saying everything, Park Tae-jin put his nameplate and Haedong Group-related documents in the drawer. I felt sorry that I couldn’t reveal it yet.

“I’m sorry, Hyung.”

“It’s alright, Young Master. I’m satisfied with the fun of deceiving. Who in this country would deceive Chairman Jang Ho-gun? Hehe.”

Seon Hae-cheol’s eyes widened at Park Tae-jin’s mischievous laughter.

“You enjoy that kind of fun too?”

“I’m human too, Hyungnim [term of respect for an older brother/friend]. It’s more thrilling than when I was on operations in the military, haha.”

Park Tae-jin, who had been laughing heartily, stopped and got up from his chair.

“Let’s go to the reception room and wait.”

“Let’s do that, hehe.”

The three of us enjoyed a leisurely tea time while waiting for Jang Ho-gun to arrive.

About 30 minutes after drinking tea, an employee entered the reception room.

“CEO, Shinseong Group Chairman Jang Ho-gun has arrived.”

“Show him in. Take away all the teacups.”

Seon Hae-cheol had the employee prepare to receive the guest, and we got up from the sofa and walked to the entrance. When we arrived at the entrance, Jang Ho-gun smiled at me.

“Hello, Chairman.”

“It’s good to see you doing well, Sung-min. But…”

Jang Ho-gun, who had patted my shoulder after greeting me, trailed off as he looked at Park Tae-jin.

“What brings you here? I heard you were promoted to director at the beginning of the year?”

“I stopped by to see Young Master and for some group-related work, Chairman.”

“I see. Congratulations on your promotion to director, though it’s late. I was sad to see a talent like you stuck in the position of deputy general manager for years, but now you’ll finally spread your wings, haha.”

Jang Ho-gun laughed heartily and extended his hand, and Park Tae-jin politely extended his hand to shake it.

“Thank you, Chairman.”

“Work hard. But don’t neglect taking care of Sung-min.”

“Yes, Chairman. Then, I’ll be on my way.”

“Alright.”

As Park Tae-jin entered another room, Seon Hae-cheol extended his hand to Jang Ho-gun.

“Nice to meet you, Chairman Jang Ho-gun. I’m Seon Hae-cheol, the head of Standard Capital’s Korean branch.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you, CEO Seon. I never thought the man who sank Japan would be the head of Standard’s Korean branch, haha.”

Jang Ho-gun shook hands with Seon Hae-cheol and took out a business card from his card case, handing it over.

“This is my card. I hope we see each other often.”

The card he handed over was made of thin gold. It only had the words ‘Jang Ho-gun, Shinseong Group’ and his phone number on it.

“May I give you one as well? I don’t think there’s a client as good as Shinseong Group if I want to make a splash in the Korean market, haha.”

“So, you were only going to receive my card? Haha.”

The two men laughed heartily, as if they were old friends meeting after a long time. As expected of people who knew the basics of business, their masks didn’t slip.

Jang Ho-gun looked at Seon Hae-cheol’s business card once and put it in his wallet, then handed a card to me as well.

“Sung-min, you should take one too. You’ll be the only one your age to have that card.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

I had to show etiquette, so I quickly took out a business card, held both corners with both hands, and politely handed it over. Jang Ho-gun looked at the business card I handed him.

“Lee Sung-min, Director of Standard Capital’s Korean branch…”

“That’s because of the condition I set when I brought Sung-min over when he changed jobs, Chairman Jang.”

Jang Ho-gun let out a soft exclamation at Seon Hae-cheol’s words.

“Is Sung-min that good that CEO Seon would do that?”

“Is there any need to ask? He earned over a hundred billion won with Korea Mobile Telecom and successfully consulted for department stores and discount stores, so there’s nothing more to see, haha.”

Jang Ho-gun nodded as he looked at Seon Hae-cheol, who was laughing heartily.

“I see. Please take good care of him, since he’s my friend’s son, CEO Seon.”

“Of course. He’s Chairman Jang’s friend’s son, but he’s also my friend’s son, so I’ll teach him diligently and well, haha.”

After the formal greetings mixed with subtle tension, Jang Ho-gun opened his mouth.

“Well, I’d like to talk to CEO Seon alone, is that alright?”

“Of course.”

Seon Hae-cheol nodded and looked at me.

“Director Lee, go take care of your work.”

“Yes, CEO.”

I bowed and returned to the office. I wonder if my uncle can handle Jang Ho-gun well.

***

Jang Ho-gun looked around the reception room he had entered with Seon Hae-cheol and tilted his head.

“That’s unexpected. I thought a company like Standard Capital would have decorated it more lavishly.”

“The Korean branch has only been open for six months, so we had no choice but to keep it simple. The US headquarters is quite luxurious, haha.”

Even with Seon Hae-cheol’s friendly expression, Jang Ho-gun didn’t let his guard down. If Park Tae-gon’s report was correct, wasn’t this the man who had made tens of billions of dollars in Japan through yen-dollar speculation? This man, Seon Hae-cheol.

Jang Ho-gun sat on the sofa and drank the black tea that the employee had brought.

“The aroma is wonderful. The taste is good too…”

“It’s Golden Tips, I don’t know if it will suit your taste. We drink it like water, so we offered it to you.”

Jang Ho-gun, who had been nodding calmly, paused for a moment. Drinking tea worth tens of thousands of won per cup like water?

“There’s no need to be surprised, Chairman. Isn’t eating the most important thing for people?”

Seon Hae-cheol scratched at Jang Ho-gun’s nerves while walking a tightrope. Wasn’t the man in front of him Chairman Jang Ho-gun, who was like a fox and a wolf?

Jang Ho-gun couldn’t have been unaware that Seon Hae-cheol was scratching at his insides, so his eyes narrowed, but he calmed himself by savoring the aroma and taste of the tea.

“Sung-min may have told you, but is it true that you will buy Shinseong Corporation bonds if we bring the Hancock stake acquisition contract?”

When Jang Ho-gun put down his teacup and got to the point, Seon Hae-cheol nodded.

“Of course, Chairman Jang. The Korean branch is just taking its first steps, but the US headquarters has plenty of funds, so there’s no problem. It’s a 5-year maturity with an annual interest rate of 9 percent, you know that, right?”

“I know.”

“Good. Just bring the stake acquisition contract, and we’ll lend it to you right away.”

Jang Ho-gun’s stomach churned as he looked at Seon Hae-cheol, who was responding lightly as if it were nothing, but he was also amazed by his boldness in handling hundreds of millions of dollars so easily.

Seon Hae-cheol shrugged his shoulders as he saw Jang Ho-gun’s eyes waver for a moment.

“There’s no need to be surprised, Chairman Jang. As I said on the phone, Shinseong Group bonds are equivalent to Korean government bonds, aren’t they? I accepted Sung-min’s proposal because I thought other customers would come if we made a deal with Shinseong. It’s also to take care of that guy’s performance.”

Seon Hae-cheol’s arrogant attitude, as if he were the friend of a friend who had passed away, was annoying, but Jang Ho-gun nodded without showing it.

Although it was still lower than the Republic of Korea government, Shinseong Group was the number one conglomerate in this country. If they made a deal with Shinseong, other companies would come and ask for help, and Lee Sung-min, who had opened the floodgates, would receive good evaluations from the company.

“I understand. Let’s prepare as soon as the contract is signed.”

“Of course. However, all $500 million will be in dollar-denominated bonds.”

“Of course.”

Jang Ho-gun nodded and started a personal conversation.

“What do you think of Sung-min?”

“What do you mean?”

“His work ability, behavior, and so on.”

Seon Hae-cheol stopped humming and smiled.

“He’s a good kid. He’s a promising talent as a nephew, as an investor, and as a businessman. There would have been no reason to bring him if he wasn’t.”

Jang Ho-gun smiled slightly as he listened to Seon Hae-cheol’s evaluation.

“He’s Myung-woo’s son, so I guess blood is thicker than water, haha.”

“That’s right. He’s Myung-woo and Sister-in-law’s only child.”

Seon Hae-cheol recalled the friend he and Jang Ho-gun had regarded as brothers, then opened his mouth.

“Since Myung-woo’s name came up… trust me from now on.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The observer, I mean. Aren’t Chairman Jang and I friends with Myung-woo?”

Seon Hae-cheol looked at Jang Ho-gun with a serious expression.

“Even though I’m a guy who makes money with money, I don’t do the gangster act of not giving money that I owe, Chairman Jang Ho-gun. I’ve achieved enough in this industry.”

Jang Ho-gun wanted to grab that arrogant bastard’s mouth with his hand and twist it. How dare he lecture him!

Nevertheless, Jang Ho-gun only glared with a flushed face.

Wasn’t the observer issue clearly his fault? Thanks to the profits that were several times higher, it was easier to reinforce the base ahead of the civil war, and his personal slush fund had grown considerably, so he had nothing to say.

Seon Hae-cheol waved his hand as if he thought this was enough.

“I didn’t mean to just scratch your insides, Chairman Jang. I want to have good deals with Shinseong in the future, but how can we do business if you don’t trust me? Isn’t trust the basis of a deal?”

Seon Hae-cheol was doing his best in his role. As someone who took care of Lee Sung-min, it was more profitable not to make one enemy than to make ten allies, so he quickly tried to ease Jang Ho-gun’s mood.

Jang Ho-gun nodded at Seon Hae-cheol’s fluent words. It wouldn’t be bad to know an investment company like Standard Capital, as it could be helpful at any time.

“I understand. I’ll apologize for what happened last time. Let’s work well together in the future, CEO Seon.”

“Thank you, Chairman Jang.”

Seon Hae-cheol took Jang Ho-gun’s outstretched hand. The force with which they gripped each other’s hands was excessive, but the two men tried not to lose their smiles.

***

Some time later.

Jang Yong-jae had been reviewing the Australian resource development project data since moving from the Shinseong Corporation’s automobile business division to the resource development division.

“Even if it’s an estimate, the reserves are good, but it’s about 300 kilometers from the coast to the inland… Transportation is a problem.”

“That’s true, but it’s a good business in the long run if the trading division invests money in expanding the mine infrastructure and the construction division recovers the construction costs, Managing Director.”

As the person in charge said, they could earn money twice by investing in overseas raw materials, recovering some of the investment through construction work, and sharing the profits from the sale of raw materials. Jang Yong-jae nodded with a satisfied expression.

While reviewing the documents and writing down important information, Jang Yong-jae raised his head and shouted.

“Team Leader Im, what happened to what you asked the Australian branch to find out?”

“Are you talking about the president of Hancock Prospecting, Managing Director?”

Jang Yong-jae shouted in a slightly annoyed voice.

“Isn’t that the only one? Hasn’t it arrived yet?”

“Please wait a moment.”

The person in charge, having finished answering, quickly picked up the phone and dialed the number. It wouldn’t be good to be targeted by the owner’s family, would it?

“…Really? I understand. Send the fax as soon as it’s organized.”

The face of the person in charge, who had put down the phone, brightened.

“They said they’ve collected everything. They said they’ll organize it and send it by fax in 30 minutes, so please wait a little longer, Managing Director.”

“I will.”

He answered calmly, but Jang Yong-jae’s face brightened.