The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 143

143. Time to Decide (1)

Jeong Hyun-woo was met by an unexpected figure at Gimpo International Airport.

“I didn’t expect you to come out, Great Uncle.”

It wasn’t Chief Hong Won-ik who was waiting for him, but Vice President Jeong Min-seok.

“I don’t think I’ve done anything so wrong that I can’t even see my nephew’s face.”

Vice President Jeong Min-seok narrowed his brow as he looked at the men standing behind Jeong Hyun-woo.

‘Sturdy men wearing sunglasses.’

They didn’t seem like employees from the Daeun Group’s secretary office.

‘I wonder which side he’s working with.’

He wondered if Jeong Min-young might have made a move instead of Chief Hong Won-ik.

“It doesn’t seem like you received Chief Hong’s help this time.”

Jeong Hyun-woo nodded and replied.

“I got some help from someone else this time. I can’t always rely on the chief.”

The people behind him were agents from the National Intelligence Service (NIS). In other words, he was under the protection of the Blue House [the South Korean presidential residence] and the NIS.

‘The fact that Great Uncle has come to the forefront means… Chief Hong has been pushed to the back.’

Chief Hong Won-ik would likely be waiting for him somewhere out of sight.

Vice President Jeong Min-seok asked.

“Aren’t you rushing back too quickly?”

Jeong Hyun-woo raised his right hand and answered his question.

“I have a lot of schedules at the end of the year.”

“A lot of schedules at the end of the year? Is it thanks to the great success of your business?”

Vice President Jeong Min-seok was probing about Victoria Corporation.

“Wouldn’t even someone who hasn’t succeeded in business have a year-end party?”

Jeong Hyun-woo lightly brushed off his probe and smiled.

Vice President Jeong Min-seok could tell that Jeong Hyun-woo was not an easy opponent.

“A year-end party, huh.”

“Great Uncle, you were waiting for me here… Didn’t you have something important to say?”

Jeong Hyun-woo immediately pressed for the main point.

“Are you saying we should talk here?”

Vice President Jeong Min-seok wanted to talk in a more private place, like the airport lounge.

However, Jeong Hyun-woo refused.

“I don’t have much time before my flight.”

It was his way of saying they should talk there unless it was truly important.

“Are you saying that Daeun Group is nothing to you now?”

He was asking if Jeong Hyun-woo looked down on Daeun Group because of his success in the United States.

“Uncle, it’s really because I don’t have much time left.”

Jeong Hyun-woo told him not to misunderstand, but Vice President Jeong Min-seok’s expression was already stiff.

“Alright. I’ll say it here. If I become chairman, I’ll give you the vice chairman position.”

Jeong Hyun-woo smiled at his offer.

“It doesn’t seem like you’ve thought this through and made a solid decision.”

He was telling him to refrain from making impulsive suggestions.

Vice President Jeong Min-seok’s face hardened at his nephew’s remark.

“It’s an offer I’ve made after careful consideration.”

“Isn’t it uncertain whether I’ll even return to Korea permanently or not?”

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t return to Korea.”

He meant it wouldn’t be a vice chairman with real power.

“Are you saying I should become vice chairman in name only, just to fill the seat?”

“The vice chairman is the one who fills the chairman’s vacancy. I think you know what I mean.”

You’re next in line after me.

Vice President Jeong Min-seok was implying this.

Jeong Hyun-woo clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘Tsk, he’s throwing bait that’s so sweet it smells like sugar.’

Jeong Min-young had also made the same offer as Vice President Jeong Min-seok. But Jeong Hyun-woo had refused the offer back then as well.

Instead, he had countered that he would only take a few of the affiliates he wanted.

“If Uncle becomes the chairman of Daeun Group, it’s only right that Uncle’s son becomes the next chairman.”

“Are you saying I’ll change my mind after I become chairman?”

“Even if you don’t change your mind, people around you will demand it.”

Vice President Jeong Min-seok straightened his shoulders.

“What if I write a pledge?”

Jeong Hyun-woo shook his head from side to side.

“I don’t believe what’s written on paper.”

“Hyun-woo.”

“I don’t want to get involved in the fight between the two uncles.”

As Jeong Hyun-woo tried to pass by Vice President Jeong Min-seok, the latter narrowed his brow.

“Have you already joined hands with Min-young?”

“I’m not that available.”

As Jeong Hyun-woo’s face hardened, Vice President Jeong Min-seok reached out his hand to him.

At that moment, two agents from the National Intelligence Service who were standing behind him stepped forward and blocked his hand.

“Please step back.”

Vice President Jeong Min-seok raised his voice at them.

“Are you Min-young’s subordinates?”

At his shout, the National Intelligence Service agents sighed.

“We’re from the NIS.”

The NIS.

At that one word, Vice President Jeong Min-seok’s hand stopped.

‘The NIS?’

The National Intelligence Service, which has immense power.

Vice President Jeong Min-seok’s eyes widened as he learned of Jeong Hyun-woo’s backing.

“H, how…”

How could this happen?

Not only had he become a great rich man in the United States, but he was also under the protection of the National Intelligence Service; he couldn’t believe it.

Jeong Hyun-woo said as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“I was a little busy, so I got some help from these people.”

The National Intelligence Service agents were not like a fast track.

‘He called the NIS because he was busy?’

Who could believe this?

Jeong Hyun-woo passed by Jeong Min-seok and said.

“I hope we can have a conversation with more time next time.”

After he left, Vice President Jeong Min-seok drooped his shoulders.

“I’ve been completely played.”

Jeong Hyun-woo didn’t even consider him a threat.

‘Has he really become a chaebol [a wealthy business magnate] in the United States?’

He hadn’t fully believed the report that Jeong Hyun-woo’s assets amounted to $10 billion.

But even if he only had 10% of $10 billion, which is $1 billion, he was one of the richest people in Korea.

“Vice President.”

His attendants approached him belatedly, but he waved his right hand.

“It’s over.”

“Are you really alright?”

“I’m alright.”

Vice President Jeong Min-seok let out a long sigh.

“Hoo… If Hyun-woo doesn’t return to Korea permanently, that’s all that matters.”

He had thought Jeong Hyun-woo had no interest in Daeun Group or Korea.

‘But why did he come to Korea?’

When he heard the news that Jeong Hyun-woo had returned to Korea, he assumed it was to spend the end of the year and holidays in Korea.

But Jeong Hyun-woo left for Gimpo International Airport without even spending a day.

‘Could it be that he entered the country because of Chief Hong?’

He rushed back to repay the favor because Chief Hong Won-ik, who had helped him, was in danger?

‘If he only deals with Chief Hong’s matter and returns, it makes some sense.’

But not all the questions were answered.

‘Since even the NIS is involved, it’s better to back off here.’

Vice President Jeong Min-seok thought that he might get into trouble if he got more deeply involved.

‘Judging from the way he treats me, it seems like he doesn’t know that I was the one who interfered.’

Jeong Hyun-woo’s life became twisted because of his parents’ unexpected death.

But the reason his life became twisted in the United States was because of Vice President Jeong Min-seok.

He had tried to corrupt Jeong Hyun-woo so that he would be completely excluded from the Daeun Group’s successor candidate list.

He hired someone to set him up with a woman, and he bribed the woman and her friends to take stimulants.

When Jeong Hyun-woo became addicted to drugs, he admitted Jeong Hyun-woo to a drug addiction treatment center.

In short, everything was Vice President Jeong Min-seok’s scheme.

* * *

Gimpo International Airport Lounge.

Jeong Hyun-woo, who said he didn’t have time, sat down with Chief Hong Won-ik.

“I was late because I had a guest.”

Chief Hong Won-ik nodded and accepted his words.

“You mean Min-seok.”

“Did you know?”

“I heard a report this morning that Min-seok’s side checked our schedule.”

“Hmm, so you’re saying the chief didn’t tell me directly.”

Chief Hong Won-ik held up a cup of coffee and said.

“I’m not that close to Min-seok.”

“Then are you enemies?”

“Enemies?”

“Aren’t you on the same team as Little Uncle [Jeong Min-young] right now?”

Chief Hong Won-ik took a sip of coffee and answered his question.

“Rather than enemies, would it be more like the feeling of a competing team’s coach or owner?”

“You’re saying your position is different from Little Uncle.”

“I can retire at any time, after all.”

He meant that his situation was different from Jeong Min-young, who was desperately competing, and himself, who was helping him from the side.

“Little Uncle doesn’t have many allies yet.”

Jeong Hyun-woo’s words were true.

Jeong Min-young was Chairman Jeong Woo-sun’s youngest son, but he had not yet received the support of the affiliate presidents.

“I want to help too, but the situation isn’t easy.”

“Is it because of me?”

“It seems so.”

Chairman Jeong Woo-sun didn’t fire him, but he didn’t treat him as closely as before.

He was only treating him as the chief of staff.

“Chief, I’ll help you with anything I can.”

Chief Hong Won-ik slightly raised the corner of his mouth.

“Are you serious?”

“If I wasn’t serious, would I have a reason to take the time to meet the chief?”

“Well, seeing you fly in from the United States like this, I can tell you’re serious.”

Jeong Hyun-woo’s day was different from the day of an ordinary office worker.

Moreover, Jeong Hyun-woo wasn’t just spending one day. His trip to Korea required at least three days, no matter how short it was.

“I think I told you last time? Daeun Group is like a workplace.”

“Is the success you had in the United States a lottery win?”

“I think one big stroke of luck in life is enough.”

He wouldn’t have the same luck as Victoria Corporation again.

“I understand your intentions.”

“Little Uncle, I’m asking you one more time.”

“I’ll try my best.”

Jeong Hyun-woo got up from his seat and said.

“If Little Uncle becomes chairman, the vice chairman position will probably be taken by the chief.”

Chief Hong Won-ik couldn’t help but pause at his words.

“Vice chairman?”

“There’s no one as good as the chief around Little Uncle.”

Jeong Hyun-woo’s words were not empty flattery. Hong Won-ik was the only key figure Jeong Min-young could trust and entrust with important tasks in Daeun Group.

“Vice chairman, that’s a bit much.”

Jeong Hyun-woo smiled slightly.

“Chief, aren’t you still too young to end your career as the chief of staff of Daeun Group?”

He instilled ambition in Hong Won-ik.

“Still young?”

“Even if it’s hard to work as long as Grandpa, you should work until you’re sixty.”

Hong Won-ik gave a faint smile at Jeong Hyun-woo’s words.

‘Sixty, huh. It would be really nice if I could work until then.’

Daeun Group Vice Chairman.

As Jeong Hyun-woo said, it wasn’t an unattainable goal.

If Jeong Min-young became the chairman of Daeun Group, he could also become the vice chairman of Daeun Group.

He was the right person to assist Jeong Min-young from the side.

* * *

“I heard you met Hyun-woo?”

The owner of the sharp voice was Jeong In-hae, the eldest daughter of Chairman Jeong Woo-sun.

“I was rejected in a cool way.”

The man sitting in front of her was Vice President Jeong Min-seok.

Clunk.

Jeong In-hae put down the glass containing the drink and said.

“I told you that kid is on Min-young’s side.”

She thought Hong Won-ik and Jeong Hyun-woo were one and the same.

Vice President Jeong Min-seok narrowed his brow and accepted her words.

“Hyun-woo seemed like a kid who had no interest in Korea.”

Jeong In-hae tilted her head as if she couldn’t understand his words.

“No interest in Korea?”

“Didn’t he become a chaebol in the United States?”

“How much money did Hyun-woo make in the United States?”

Vice President Jeong Min-seok leaned back on the sofa and asked.

“Doesn’t Noona [older sister – a term of address] know better than I do?”

Jeong In-hae held up the glass containing the drink and spoke in a high tone.

“I just heard what the kids were saying. I don’t know exactly how things happened.”

Vice President Jeong Min-seok closed his eyes and said.

“It’s at least twice as much as Father’s.”

Jeong In-hae’s eyes widened at his words.

“Twice as much as Father’s?”

“That’s the minimum.”

“No way.”

“Noona, didn’t you read the articles that were scraped?”

“I read them. But the articles are gossip.”

Jeong In-hae acknowledged Jeong Hyun-woo’s success, but she didn’t think he had earned more than $1 billion.

“It’s gossip, so it’s $1 billion. According to the newspaper articles, he’s a chaebol who can shake Korea.”

He narrowed his brow after saying that he could shake Korea.

‘Could it be that?’

The wealth to shake Korea.

If the reason the National Intelligence Service is protecting Jeong Hyun-woo is because of that huge wealth?

‘That’s ridiculous.’

Vice President Jeong Min-seok didn’t want to acknowledge Jeong Hyun-woo’s wealth. No, he couldn’t acknowledge it.

If Jeong Hyun-woo had achieved such wealth, he and Jeong Min-young, who were competing for the position of chairman of Daeun Group, would become a joke.

‘That’s a foolish thought.’

No matter how much opportunity there is in the United States, not just anyone can achieve that kind of wealth.

“If he has $1 billion in assets, I should get close to Hyun-woo.”

Vice President Jeong Min-seok frowned at Jeong In-hae’s words.

“Who are you saying you’re going to get close to?”

Jeong In-hae was smiling like a predator that had found a delicious meal.

“If Hyun-woo has that much money, we’ll have a lot of things to spend Hyun-woo’s money on, right?”

“Noona.”

“No, I’m not just saying that. Even though Daeun Group’s financial situation has improved, we’re always short on dollars.”

Even if they could raise $100 million, they could gain momentum in the Middle East business.

‘But I can’t ask Hyun-woo directly.’

Jeong Hyun-woo was a boy he had tried to bury. Even the devil would have a hard time reaching out to that boy.

‘Reaching out is different from holding hands.’

He sighed inwardly and said.

“Noona, not all of the $1 billion will be in his account.”

“If it’s not in his account, then what is it?”

“Most of it will be company shares.”

Jeong In-hae clicked her tongue as if she was disappointed.

“Haa… It would have been nice if it was all cash.”

She seemed to have a lot of things to spend money on.

“Noona, you’re not that extravagant, so why do you like money so much?”

Jeong In-hae narrowed her brow and replied.

“It’s because our husband doesn’t earn enough money.”

Her husband was the second son of the president of Hongik Bank.

“Is the salary of the Jongno branch manager meager?”

“How can I live on his salary? I need assets.”

Jeong In-hae’s spending was small compared to other chaebols, but it was difficult to handle with the salary of a bank branch manager.

Moreover, Jeong In-hae had sent two children to study in the United States.

‘Right now, Daeun Group is giving out scholarships, but if Min-seok loses the successor competition, that will be cut off too.’

Jeong In-hae was on Vice President Jeong Min-seok’s side, but she couldn’t help but think about the possibility that he would lose the competition.

‘That won’t work. If I only trust Min-seok, things could get difficult.’

She decided to extend her line to Jeong Hyun-woo as well.

Vice President Jeong Min-seok, who didn’t know her thoughts, raised the corner of his mouth.

“Noona, haven’t you been having fun with real estate lately?”

“What’s so fun about buying a few apartments? The big shots are in land.”

The big shots are in land.

Starting with the hosting of the Asian Games, Seoul real estate was gradually heating up.

“Land, then…”

“Min-seok, do you happen to have any land?”

Vice President Jeong Min-seok shook his head.

“I don’t.”

“…”

“Instead, there’s Daeun Construction.”

If the real estate market heats up, the construction companies will benefit.

‘Is the sky helping me?’

If Daeun Construction records good results due to the real estate boom, Jeong Min-young will have a hard time beating him no matter how hard he tries.

‘It’s already a won fight.’

Jeong Hyun-woo’s matter was finished in an unsatisfactory way, but Vice President Jeong Min-seok thought it wouldn’t be difficult to beat Jeong Min-young.