The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 139

139. Crisis and Opportunity (2)

Chairman Jung Woo-sun’s voice was stern.

“You’re not calling because Director Hong asked you to?”

The one answering his question was Jung Hyun-woo.

“Director Hong said it was his fault. But I thought the truth should be clearly revealed.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun sighed briefly at his grandson’s clear voice.

“Hoo… What truth is it that you want to reveal?”

Jung Hyun-woo put strength into his voice and said,

“Director Hong is only guilty of granting my request.”

He received excessive criticism just for fulfilling his request. That’s what he wanted to say.

Of course, Chairman Jung Woo-sun wouldn’t readily listen to his story.

“Even if you asked him, Director Hong should have informed me.”

He was angry at Director Hong Won-ik’s actions.

Jung Hyun-woo slightly raised his voice at the end.

“Is it because Grandfather pays Director Hong’s salary?”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun didn’t deny his question.

“Director Hong is my employee and works for me.”

“Grandfather, even so, Director Hong and I have known each other for several years now. Besides, the articles in the media aren’t accurate, so he probably thought it was okay to grant my request.”

Instead of coming on strong, Jung Hyun-woo tried to persuade him gently.

However, Chairman Jung Woo-sun was stubborn.

“Which do you think is more important, your request or my instructions?”

Jung Hyun-woo sighed briefly.

“Hoo… Grandfather, Director Hong must have been worried about the chaos in Daewoon Group.”

“Chaos in Daewoon Group?”

“Doesn’t the media and rumors tend to exaggerate the truth?”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun groaned softly at Jung Hyun-woo’s question.

“Hmm…”

As he said, rumors usually exaggerate the original facts.

‘He was worried that the truth would be distorted and Daewoon Group would fall into chaos? It’s not entirely unfounded, but…’

However, he couldn’t understand why he hadn’t reported it to him based on that alone.

Moreover, it wasn’t just hidden for a few days. According to Jung Min-seok’s report, Director Hong Won-ik and Jung Hyun-woo had been hiding this fact for at least half a year, possibly close to a year.

And furthermore, they even sent explanations to each media outlet stating it wasn’t Jung Hyun-woo, along with requests for cooperation not to publish the articles.

“Grandfather, the articles in the American media were already greatly exaggerated. What would happen if the domestic media reported these articles? Director Hong couldn’t help but worry about that situation.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun responded to his words in a dry voice.

“Let’s say everything is as you say. Still, I can’t understand why you didn’t tell me.”

No matter what the situation, it was something that shouldn’t have been hidden from him.

‘Because he’s the chief of staff.’

Jung Hyun-woo hardened his face and said,

“That’s… partly Grandfather’s fault.”

Instantly, Chairman Jung Woo-sun’s eyebrows shot up.

“My fault, you say?”

“Before the last request, I asked Director Hong this: Wouldn’t Grandfather be happy if he heard my story? Director Hong replied like this: He would be surprised but also happy. Then he told me about when I got accepted to MIT [Massachusetts Institute of Technology].”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun was quietly listening to his grandson’s story.

“Director Hong said that when I got accepted to MIT, Grandfather was very happy and told many chairmen about me. I was worried when I heard this story.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun opened his mouth.

“You were worried that I would go around telling everyone about you?”

His voice had thorns in it.

“That’s not it. If, even once, Grandfather told other chairmen an exaggerated story that was different from the truth, what would happen to Grandfather’s position when the truth came out? Director Hong and I were both concerned about that.”

He couldn’t make his grandfather a liar or a braggart. So he asked Director Hong Won-ik.

Chairman Jung Woo-sun narrowed his brow.

“So, what is the truth?”

Are you really that successful in America?

That’s what he was asking Jung Hyun-woo.

“I didn’t succeed alone.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun thought it was obvious.

‘No matter how outstanding Hyun-woo is, he couldn’t have succeeded alone in that big America.’

He raised his voice again.

“Then?”

“The computer system mentioned in the article is a program developed by the MIT research team.”

This was a clear lie.

Nevertheless, the effect was certain.

MIT was a famous American university, and Chairman Jung Woo-sun had learned about it through various channels after his grandson was accepted to MIT.

“You’re saying that you went into the lab and researched that computer thingy?”

To Chairman Jung Woo-sun, who had lived through the turbulent era with his bare hands, the computer system was an unfamiliar term.

“That’s right. And I had been researching with them since before entering the lab.”

Before entering the lab.

So, if it was before he took a leave of absence, the timing was somewhat understandable.

“So, you’re saying that the newspaper exaggerated and reported that you alone did what the research team did together?”

“It’s not 100% the newspaper’s misreporting. We founded a company with the system we researched together.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun raised his right hand and asked.

“Then, what is the truth and what is the lie?”

Jung Hyun-woo thought this was the most important part.

‘I have to match the context.’

He had to carefully match the context of his words so that Chairman Jung Woo-sun wouldn’t listen and doubt him.

“Well… the reason why the American newspaper featured my name so prominently is that my colleagues said I solved the most important part, so they put my name as the company representative.”

“You solved it, not the professors or graduate students?”

“I was lucky.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun was only half convinced.

“So, to summarize your words, you’re saying that you solved an important part, so your colleagues made you the president?”

“I’m not the president in terms of what I do, but formally, that’s what happened.”

Formally, he is the president.

That meant that he was registered as the president in the company’s registry.

“If you’re the president, you’re the president. What do you mean you’re not doing the job?”

“Miss Hilton is in charge of management.”

Jung Hyun-woo had no choice but to bring in Sarah.

“You’re the president, but someone else is in charge of management.”

“I’ve heard that’s often the case in America.”

There were many cases where the owner and the CEO were different, but it was rare for someone registered as CEO not to manage the company.

Nevertheless, Jung Hyun-woo raised the shield of ‘in America.’

‘Because I have no choice but to do this.’

The moment he let out a long sigh inwardly, Chairman Jung Woo-sun said,

“Your colleagues put your name up with good intentions, but the media exaggerated it greatly. You were worried about that, so you asked Director Hong.”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded and took his words.

“From my point of view, I had no choice.”

“Then what is the IPO [Initial Public Offering], and what is the 10 billion dollar fortune?”

“The IPO is what the team members who researched together wanted, and the 10 billion dollars is the sum of everyone’s shares spoken in my name.”

The truth that might be revealed someday.

However, Jung Hyun-woo thought that he had to stop and reduce it somehow now.

“If everyone’s shares are 10 billion dollars, how much is your share?”

“If it goes well, it will be 1 billion dollars.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun let out a long sigh.

“Hoo… 1 billion dollars, huh?”

After the military regime came to power, they put export-led growth as the most important policy of the country.

South Korea sold anything it could sell.

Agricultural and marine products, as well as hair and leather made from rats, were sold off.

They even caught squirrels living in the mountains and exported them as pets.

Even after a long time, what they achieved was 1 billion dollars in exports.

It was hard to believe that Jung Hyun-woo personally had 1 billion dollars, not in sales but in assets, which South Korea had achieved with difficulty.

“If it’s 1 billion dollars… you’re richer than me.”

“It’s not like the listing has succeeded yet, and even if the listing succeeds, I can’t sell the shares in my name.”

Jung Hyun-woo said as if making excuses, but Chairman Jung Woo-sun was quite shocked.

‘It’s not as much as Min-seok said, but Hyun-woo has really succeeded greatly.’

He said in a low voice.

“America is America.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun thought that Jung Hyun-woo had achieved the American dream.

‘Come to think of it, did Director Hong suggest sending Hyun-woo to America?’

He realized that his success was not without his contribution.

And he seemed to know why Jung Hyun-woo was defending Director Hong Won-ik.

“I understand. Since you’re asking me this much, I’ll think about it one more time.”

Jung Hyun-woo raised his voice greatly.

“Thank you, Grandfather.”

There was no grandfather who was strong against his grandson.

Chairman Jung Woo-sun hung up the phone and let out a long sigh.

“Hoo… It’s a problem even if your grandson is too successful.”

He leaned back in his chair.

“Director Hong’s greatest contribution is not the one he made by my side, but sending Hyun-woo to America.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun was filled with mixed emotions at his grandson’s unexpected success.

* * *

Victoria Corporation President’s Office.

As Sarah opened the door and entered, Jung Hyun-woo put down his mug.

“Preparing for the meeting?”

Sarah shook her head and replied.

“No.”

“Then?”

“I came to see if Charlie is doing well.”

Jung Hyun-woo shrugged his shoulders and took her words.

“As you can see, I’m doing well.”

It wasn’t a question to ask between people who commute together.

“Who are you talking to on the phone every dawn?”

This was the main point of why she came to find Jung Hyun-woo. She had witnessed Jung Hyun-woo raising his voice in the living room without sleeping for the past few days.

“It’s from Korea.”

“Charlie’s family?”

“That’s right.”

Sarah remembered Jung Min-young, whom she had met last time.

“Did something happen?”

“It seems my story was in the newspaper.”

“If it’s Charlie’s story…”

Relatives who learned about Victoria Corporation’s size or sales might have made excessive requests to him.

“Are the relatives asking Charlie for help?”

“No. It’s not like that.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

Sarah was ready to jump in if it was Jung Hyun-woo’s problem.

“They just can’t believe it, I guess.”

Jung Hyun-woo, who wasn’t even an adult, had achieved great success in America.

It certainly wasn’t an easy story to believe.

“Hmm, is it about the truth? Then, should I testify directly?”

Jung Hyun-woo quickly shook both hands.

“No.”

If she intervened, things would get out of hand.

“Why are you so serious?”

“I wanted to keep this a secret for the time being.”

“Because the relatives might ask for help?”

“That too, and it’ll be noisy in many ways.”

Sarah nodded as if she understood.

“Heeum. That’s it. Charlie didn’t want to let his relatives know about Victoria Corporation, but it was revealed because of the article here.”

“It’s a difficult situation.”

Sarah didn’t think it was a serious problem.

“Just tell them everything and crush their spirits.”

“Sarah.”

Sarah raised her right index finger and shook it left and right.

“If it’s a problem that can’t be solved by worrying, it’s better to destroy the problem itself.”

Jung Hyun-woo let out a long sigh.

“Hoo… I’ll take care of it myself.”

Sarah already knew that Jung Hyun-woo’s family was complicated.

“Since Charlie says so, I’ll stop. The meeting is in 20 minutes, so come to the conference room.”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded at her words.

“Okay.”

As Victoria Corporation grew, he attended more executive meetings than development team meetings.

20 minutes later.

As Jung Hyun-woo entered, Robert picked up his pen.

“Charlie, you’re late.”

Jung Hyun-woo tilted his head.

“Sarah said the meeting was in 20 minutes…”

Robert pointed to Sarah’s empty seat with his pen.

“Sarah is also late.”

It seemed that Sarah had mistaken the time.

‘If not, Robert must have mistaken it.’

But seeing John, Hendrix, and Corey sitting next to Robert, it seemed more likely to be the former.

“Let’s start when Sarah arrives.”

Robert nodded and took his words.

“Okay.”

As he put down his pen, Sarah opened the door and entered with a relaxed motion.

“Everyone came early?”

“They say we’re late.”

At Jung Hyun-woo’s answer, Sarah tilted her head to the side.

“We’re late?”

“They said it was starting at 30 minutes, not 45 minutes?”

Sarah gave an awkward smile.

“Oh, was it.”

Robert sighed briefly.

“Sarah, shouldn’t you reduce your workload a bit?”

He knew that she and Jung Hyun-woo had recently been working overtime again, so he said worriedly.

“It’s just a simple mistake.”

Forgetting the appointment time was a mistake anyone could make. But Sarah was a woman who rarely made such mistakes.

“Sarah, you have to take care of your health when you’re young.”

Jung Hyun-woo thought while listening to the two people’s conversation.

‘Isn’t Robert the one who should be most worried about his health?’

Robert was almost twenty years older than the two of them and traveled a lot on business trips.

Frankly speaking, it wouldn’t be strange if he collapsed at any time.

“Okay, okay, let’s start the meeting.”

As Jung Hyun-woo raised his voice, everyone nodded.

“Okay.”

“Let’s start the meeting.”

The first topic was about the newly released starting game, Lambda.

“According to G-Shop’s report, it’s recently difficult to secure Lambda’s inventory [amount of product available].”

G-Shop was the result of Project G, led by Robert. He had acquired game shops all over the United States and unified them under the brand name G-Shop.

Jung Hyun-woo had asked him when he wanted to name the game shop G-Shop.

– Isn’t G-Shop too insincere for a game shop?

At the time, Robert replied.

– It’s okay because G is not for the game, but for Project G.

Jung Hyun-woo thought it was a sophistry.

Because G of Project G came from G of the game.

Of course, this anecdote had nothing to do with the current situation.

“Hendrix, why is there a shortage of inventory?”

At Jung Hyun-woo’s question, Hendrix answered.

“There was a strike last week.”

“A strike?”

He hadn’t heard of a strike at the game package production factory.

‘If it’s a factory strike, it’s a serious problem.’

It was when he narrowed his brow.

Hendrix added a detailed explanation.

“Trailer drivers in New Jersey and Philadelphia went on strike last week.”

“You mean it’s a distribution problem, not a production problem.”

“Distributors are negotiating, so it will be resolved soon.”

It wasn’t their problem, but it certainly wasn’t a good thing for Lambda’s sales.

“Robert, is the issue resolved?”

“The issue is resolved, but I don’t think the problem is completely resolved.”

Robert thought it was too one-dimensional to see it as a problem that would be solved simply by the end of the strike.

“You mean you have something more to say.”

“There should be an alternative in case this happens.”

“Um, but what can we do to deal with the trailer drivers’ strike?”

“That’s…”

Robert’s words were blocked by Jung Hyun-woo’s question.

“How about using a courier service?”

At Sarah’s opinion, Robert raised his voice.

“Are you talking about DHL [international shipping company]? But that would increase the cost too much.”

“But it seems better than not being able to sell the goods?”

The two turned their eyes to Jung Hyun-woo. It meant that he would listen and judge.

Jung Hyun-woo thought for a moment and then came to a conclusion.

“Let’s send it by courier.”

“Charlie?”

“Even if our margin decreases, it’s better than making gamers wait.”

Jung Hyun-woo thought it was important to meet the time even if he gave up some profit.

‘Because this is a matter of trust.’

He often chose to maximize the number of customers rather than maximizing profits.