The Genius Grandson Of The Cash King Becomes A Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 173

#173

“Senior, say that again. Forty percent of Alibaba’s stock?”

“Yeah. Those Chinese bastards really got one over on me. Don’t you think?”

“Ah, no, that’s… that company is a huge, huge jackpot…”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

Son Kyung-young was flustered. He couldn’t reveal the top-secret information he knew.

He was a fourth cousin of Son Jeong-eui, the chairman of SoftBank.

Though relatives, they were distant, with little interaction since Son Jeong-eui lived in Japan.

But he had gotten Son Kyung-young this position.

Son Kyung-young, a discreet parachute appointment [a job given as a favor], had coincidentally heard about the growth potential of online shopping malls.

Son Jeong-eui had asserted that Amazon in the US and Alibaba in China would divide the world.

So, he secretly tried to acquire shares, but the world was inaccessible to a super-minimalist ant like himself.

“Senior, so you’re saying Shinhwa Group bought 40 percent of Alibaba’s stock?”

“Yeah.”

“Which affiliate?”

“I don’t know… Electronics? Or games? Shipbuilding? Securities?”

Unlike Lee Pan-soo’s indifferent tone, Son Kyung-young’s eyes were about to pop out.

“No, Senior, that’s a jackpot, a super-duper jackpot.”

“What are you talking about?”

“We have to buy Shinhwa Group stock no matter what. SoftBank Chairman Son Jeong-eui in Japan said it’s an incredible stock.”

He had to find out quickly and buy the stock.

His urgent mind took over, and he showed no interest in the interview at all.

“What? Son Jeong-eui said that? Really?”

“Yes.”

If Son Jeong-eui said so, it was a different story.

‘Could Alibaba really dominate half the world, as Yoon Jeong-hoon said?’

Yoon Jeong-hoon’s seemingly absurd words felt like they were about to become reality.

‘How big will Shinhwa Group become with 40 percent of Alibaba’s stock?’

How could he make such predictions?

An unimaginable future where Shinhwa dominated the world unfolded in his mind.

Lee Pan-soo calmed his surprised heart.

Together with Son Kyung-young, he prepared interview articles and special features.

For several days, with Son Kyung-young’s help, he analyzed Alibaba’s stock and organized the interview. He emailed his relative, Son Jeong-eui, asking about the value of Yahoo without Alibaba shares.

The next day, his reply was simple.

‘If that’s the case, Yahoo is just another portal company. Absolutely not worth $30 billion.’

At the end of the email, Son Jeong-eui pitied Yahoo’s two founders, calling them pathetic.

After reviewing it several times, he published the interview article and special feature on the front page of the business section.

The mission of a journalist is to deliver accurate information.

Shinhwa had seized Yahoo’s core assets, and Star only had Yahoo’s shell.

‘Shinhwa Takes Yahoo’s Heart, Star Indulges in Yahoo’s Shell.’

A small local newspaper’s online article.

From the beginning, he didn’t expect it to cause a big stir.

However, Star Group’s stock price began to decline little by little.

The thoughts and writings of people worried about Star Group’s future were gradually filling the internet.

***

Jeong-hoon looked at the interview article in the Joongbu Ilbo.

The company that owns Yahoo’s heart.

It was a cliché, but praise was always enjoyable.

Because Joongbu Ilbo was not large, its impact was limited.

Jeong-hoon couldn’t just leave this good article alone.

He resolved to spread it widely and benefit everyone.

Buying Star Group’s stock now was crazy.

He couldn’t let the weakest ants in the stock market be devoured by fund managers.

It was time to reveal the truth.

“Chief, are we doing viral marketing on blogs and cafes?”

“Yes, for cafes, we are focusing on representative communities in each region, and for blogs, we are working with power bloggers. We are exuding negative nuances about Star Group’s acquisition of Yahoo.”

“Good. What about phase two?”

“We will cover it in the four major daily newspapers and cable stock broadcasts. Oh, and institutional investors and foreigners are already dumping Star Group stock.”

“As expected, those guys are quick. Anyway, we’re buying it up cheap, right?”

“Yes.”

Everything was proceeding as planned.

Now that it was exposed to large media outlets like newspapers and broadcasts, the stock price would fall even faster.

Right now, they were just dismissing it as simple concerns.

“Chairman, it’s time to leave for the Kketalk presentation. All the reporters are gathered in the auditorium.”

“Okay.”

“But are you really going to announce it like that? It’s not too late. It could hit the lower limit [the maximum amount a stock price can fall in a single day].”

“Then it’s a good opportunity. It’s a chance to buy back our own shares cheaply.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“That amount of loss is nothing to Shinhwa Group. You know that.”

Cha Young-mi couldn’t agree no matter how much she thought about it.

A free messenger?

No one agreed with Chairman Yoon Jeong-hoon’s opinion.

But he wouldn’t budge from his position.

She was worried that he might even make phone calls free, and he was really thinking about it.

Even just with text messages, the losses were enormous, but if he later made phone calls free….

‘Has he fallen for charity work?’

Was he not thinking about Shinhwa Telecom, which was acquired from KP Group?

After acquiring the number one telecommunications company in Korea, he was developing a free messaging app and later making calls free.

Cha Young-mi was getting a headache.

But no one could stop his firm will.

Performance, it was because of the performance he had built up so far.

His management performance had never failed so far.

She had no choice but to follow.

On the one hand, she was curious.

What would happen if everyone in the country really used his free messenger app as he predicted?

If people gathered, it wouldn’t just be losses.

As Chairman Yoon said, they could generate huge advertising revenue and start various businesses based on the messenger.

But would that really happen?

Her thoughts deepened, and her headache grew even more.

Cha Young-mi stopped thinking.

“Then, Chairman, fighting!”

Jeong-hoon got up from his seat, stretched, and loosened his body.

Facing reporters always involved some tension.

He moved his long limbs and stretched his body here and there.

Leaving the chairman’s office, he walked to the conference hall, picturing in his mind the content he would present today.

A mobile free messenger that would dominate Korea.

National app Kketalk.

The yellow icon was impressive.

He made all the functions and designs the same as his memory as much as possible.

And the internet and mobile market, where preemption is more important than any other field.

Jeong-hoon launched Kketalk today, several years ahead of its original history.

He opened the door to the auditorium.

The reporters’ eyes were on Jeong-hoon.

Their faces were full of anticipation.

Jeong-hoon always did his best and focused on new product presentations.

In particular, he had increased trust in products with the best presentations.

That’s why people paid more attention to Shinhwa Group’s product launches than any other company in Korea.

In the dark room, a spotlight shone on him.

The faces of the reporters sitting in their seats were full of curiosity.

“Hello, today I will reveal a revolutionary messenger to you.”

He skipped the boring introduction and went straight to the point.

The app designed in yellow appeared on the large screen behind Jeong-hoon.

“It’s a free messenger, Kketalk.”

Silence fell for a moment.

The reporters doubted their ears.

He asked his colleague sitting next to him.

“Hey? I misheard, right?”

“Yeah, you must have misheard. Free, haha.”

But they looked at each other and quickly raised their hands to ask questions.

“Is it really free?”

“Yes.”

That one word was the end.

The reporters began to quickly send articles while listening to Jeong-hoon’s presentation.

What dominated the reporters’ minds now was the free messenger.

That was all.

As soon as the announcement was made, Shinhwa Telecom’s stock price hit the lower limit.

And Shinhwa Group’s stock price also fell.

A satisfied smile appeared on Jeong-hoon’s face as he watched TV in the chairman’s office.

The fact that the stock price was falling showed how worried people were about the free messenger announced by Shinhwa.

As much as the worries and concerns, the stock price fell, and Jeong-hoon was very much looking forward to how much it would rise in the future.

‘Free? Free for a month?’

‘It’s free forever.’

‘Did they give up on the company?’

‘Wow, a charity project for the whole nation?’

Most people didn’t understand Jeong-hoon’s plan.

‘Wow, if this happens, Shinhwa Telecom will dominate the mobile internet.’

Only a very small number of people perfectly understood Jeong-hoon’s plan.

***

Lee Seok’s eyebrows shot up as he watched Star Group’s stock price on TV in the chairman’s office.

The stock price had been falling for four consecutive days.

He thought it would rebound today, but it continued to fall.

“Chief Secretary.”

“Yes.”

“Chief Secretary Kim Joon-hyuk.”

A nervous voice filled the room.

“I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?”

“I will do my best to manage the stock price.”

“What? So you haven’t been managing the stock price until now?”

“No, from today, I will defend the stock price even by buying back our own shares.”

Lee Seok approached Lee Joon-hyuk, who was standing in front of him.

He punched him hard in the chest in time with the beat.

-Thud, thud, thud

“Let’s do a good job, Lee. Joon. Hyuk, you freaking Chief Secretary!”

“I understand.”

“Get out!”

As soon as he opened the door and went out, Ha In-sun came in.

With a stiff expression, Ha In-sun came in and took the seat of honor that Lee Seok had occupied.

Lee Seok’s face hardened coldly, but he quickly hid it.

Half of the property his father would give would go to his mother.

It was a huge amount of money.

Lee Seok’s eyes sparkled.

Sitting next to Ha In-sun, he carefully examined his mother, who had closed her eyes and completely leaned back on the sofa.

“Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”

“……”

“Mother!”

“You finally made the acquisition. Giving over 30 trillion won [approximately $25 billion USD].”

“The atmosphere is good. The media is already full of praise.”

Ha In-sun looked at her son’s eyes, which were full of expectations.

He was her precious son, but he was pathetic.

She learned the facts through media articles.

She couldn’t overturn it, so she endured it.

The media was accepting the praise, which was given in the hope of getting advertisements, and the executives were accepting it to avoid being criticized.

She thought he was… lacking to lead the huge Star Group.

She pushed away the negative thoughts.

If she helped, her lovely Lee Seok could lead this huge ship sufficiently.

“Yes. Everyone is praising you. But I’m worried about the group’s cash flow because of the acquisition funds. What are you going to do?”

“Yes, there will be no problem if we use the real estate owned by the company and the inherited real estate from Father.”

Ha In-sun had no choice but to nod.

If it was Lee Heon’s real estate, all problems would be solved.

But Park Soo-gil was now holding the key.

She felt frustrated.

“By the way, when will the inheritance procedure for Mother be processed?”

“Well, Representative Park Soo-gil will contact you.”

“I don’t understand. Why are they processing things like this when they’re not even snails? I should go and grill them [confront them aggressively].”

“Leave it alone.”

She quietly scolded her son.

“No, Mother. I have to grill Park Soo-gil and kill the spirit of those bureaucrats.”

“Leave it alone! Didn’t your mother tell you?”

Lee Seok was flustered by the sharp voice.

“Yes…”

“Your mother will take care of the inheritance issue, so Chairman Lee should secure cash. There are more concerns around you than you think.”

“What? If I just receive the inheritance…”

“Chairman Lee Seok!”

The voice grew louder again.

“Yes, Mother, I understand.”

Her mother’s voice was particularly sharp today.

Ha In-sun, who was biting her lip, thought of her affair with Park Soo-gil.

He had only filled his own desires and still hadn’t contacted her.

Even when she called, he only repeated the word ‘wait’ in a perfunctory manner.

‘He shouldn’t take the warning that he will be torn apart and killed lightly.’

A cold murderous intent that she had never seen before flashed in Ha In-sun’s eyes.

***

Jeong-hoon closely watched Star Group’s stock price.

He was very pleased that it was steadily declining.

And he thought it was time for the inheritance funds to come in.

But there was no such atmosphere.

‘Who will receive it? Lee Seok? Ha In-sun? Surely not Eun-soo… If that bastard receives the inheritance, my stomach will hurt a little.’

Jeong-hoon thought it was absurd.

He decided to resolve his curiosity while he was at it.

He wanted to confirm what he was curious about regarding Lee Heon’s inheritance, so he called Lee Pan-ho, a lawyer from the legal team.

“This is Lee Pan-ho, a lawyer from the legal team.”

“Come in.”

Lee Pan-ho, with a gentle expression, hesitated and entered the chairman’s office.

“Did you call for me?”

“Yes, there’s something I need to confirm.”

“To me?”

“I have something to ask you regarding Lee Heon’s will.”

Lee Pan-ho’s face hardened.

Jeong-hoon asked Lee Pan-ho why Lee Heon’s will had not been released yet.

Lee Pan-ho said briefly with a stiff expression.

“There is no answer I can give you.”

“Pardon?”

Jeong-hoon’s face also hardened at his unexpected answer.

The Genius Grandson of the Cash King Becomes a Tycoon.