The Genius Grandson Of The Cash King Becomes A Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 71

#071

Two hundred men followed a single man.

Myeongdong Street, usually teeming with people, parted like the Red Sea. [A biblical reference to the parting of the Red Sea by Moses, signifying a dramatic and awe-inspiring division.]

People stepped back to the sides of the road.

Their eyes were filled with curiosity and terror.

Jeong-hun walked forward.

Numerous people trailed behind him.

This fight couldn’t be lost.

He had to destroy and purify everything.

He had to wipe out the illegal loan sharks infesting Myeongdong.

Park Chang-soo, following close behind Jeong-hun, frequently issued instructions and dispatched his men into various buildings.

After they entered, crashing sounds echoed from within.

After walking for about ten minutes, they arrived in front of the building housing Song Yun-ho’s office.

Eun-soo and Uncle Hyun-soo were also present.

“You didn’t have to come.”

“Hey, you’re doing something dangerous, so I have to protect you.”

“Bullshit, don’t say such cheesy things.”

Jeong-hun smiled at Eun-soo, masking it with harsh words.

“Uncle, what’s the situation inside?”

“Harlequin and Psycho teamed up to hack the building’s CCTV. Most of the thugs trying to ambush us are in the underground parking lot, and the executives are holed up on the 5th floor.”

“Mr. Park Chang-soo.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“Take care of the underground parking lot.”

“I’ll assign about ten of my fastest guys to assist you, Young Master.”

“It’s okay. Eun-soo and Uncle Hyun-soo are enough.”

“Still…”

There was a valid concern that an extra hand would be helpful.

If Park Chang-soo failed to subdue them quickly, and they managed to reach the 5th floor, they would be in danger.

“Don’t worry. No one can beat the three of us. It’ll be quick. Wipe them out in there so they can’t escape.”

“Yes, then we’ll move out first.”

Park Chang-soo shouted to his men.

“Let’s go!”

The ground trembled as over a hundred people charged into the underground parking lot.

Jeong-hun, accompanied by Eun-soo and Uncle Hyun-soo, headed to the 5th floor.

***

“Young Master, we’ll strike today.”

Han Hyun-dong reported the plan to Song Min-ho.

They had originally intended to strike that day, but they postponed it.

The opposition had a considerable number of guards.

And Yoon Jeong-hun was nowhere to be seen.

They needed to eliminate them all in one fell swoop.

Crippling Yoon Jeong-hun would prevent him from causing further trouble.

He’d heard that Yoon Jeong-hun’s Shinhwa Finance was opening tomorrow.

He also received information from Lee Hyung-joong that Yoon Jeong-hun would be in his office from this afternoon until evening.

Finally, the day of reckoning had arrived.

“Is it today? Is everything ready?”

“Yes, we plan to infiltrate late at night and destroy everything.”

Han Hyun-dong, the chief secretary, was pleased with the confident tone of the action leader.

“Keep a close watch on the Young Master.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“He’s a kind-hearted person trying to become strong. It won’t be easy. There’s such a thing as inherent nature, and I’m worried that the Chairman is making a bad move.”

“But he’s doing well.”

“That’s why I’m even more worried. I’m afraid it’ll fester inside. Give him this from time to time.”

He placed a blue powder on the table.

“What is this?”

Han Hyun-dong, who had been leaning back on the sofa, straightened up and beckoned with his finger.

– Slap

“Don’t ask unnecessary questions. Don’t you know?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Now, I’ll wait to hear good news.”

The door burst open, and someone shouted urgently.

“We’re under attack!”

Han Hyun-dong’s eyebrows twitched.

“How are you doing your job!”

“Let’s evacuate from here first.”

Executives above the action leader level escaped outside via the emergency stairs.

The group that Park Chang-soo brought from Jungbu Market swept away all those connected to the Cheonji Association.

The executives cleverly evaded capture.

Still, they managed to secure their ledgers and computers.

They were full of information related to the Cheonji Association.

Harlequin, who had hacked the building’s CCTV, sent Song Yun-ho’s location.

[Song Yun-ho is in a secret room on the 6th floor.]

Jeong-hun went up to the 6th floor and forced open the door to the secret room.

The smell of alcohol hit him like a wall.

And he saw Song Yun-ho sprawled on the sofa, grinning vacantly.

He was just smiling.

‘Is he high on drugs?’

Jeong-hun thought it was almost too perfect.

He was a fitting trophy for the hunt.

Eun-soo, who followed behind, hoisted Song Yun-ho onto her back.

They couldn’t leave him in that drug-addled state.

He needed treatment.

He exited through the external stairs with Eun-soo.

They had to avoid the CCTV.

As he descended the external stairs, he heard an enraged voice.

“Yoon Jeong-hun… die!”

Lee Hyung-joong was charging towards him with a sharp knife.

“Die, you bastard!”

Jeong-hun easily sidestepped his attack.

However, Lee Hyung-joong, caught up in his momentum, couldn’t stop.

Unable to regain his balance, he tumbled over the railing and plummeted below.

– Thud.

He lay motionless after falling from the 3rd floor.

He ultimately tried to kill Jeong-hun once again.

This time, however, the arrow was aimed at Lee Hyung-joong himself.

A life floundering in greed and loneliness.

A lonely death was a fitting end for him.

Jeong-hun gazed down at his corpse for a moment and then went down to the first floor.

Kwak Hyun-soo was waiting.

“Who is this person?”

“This is Song Yun-ho. He is the youngest son of Ilsong Group.”

“Is he high on drugs? He’s just smiling like an idiot.”

“Yes, we need to get him help.”

“Right. Let’s get him in the car first.”

Jeong-hun got in the car and headed to Jongno Police Station.

He dumped Song Yun-ho in front of the police station.

A conscripted policeman on guard approached.

“He seems to be on drugs. He claims he’s the heir to Ilsong Group.”

“Okay.”

Song Yun-ho was handed over to the police.

Reporters, always on the lookout for breaking stories in the police station’s press room late at night, spotted Song Yun-ho being dragged away by the police.

“Hey, isn’t that Song Yun-ho from Ilsong Group? The genius who goes to Seoul National University’s law school?” [Seoul National University (SNU) is considered the most prestigious university in South Korea.]

Numerous reporters swarmed around him.

Jeong-hun sent a text message to Song Cheol-ho using Song Yun-ho’s phone.

‘This is Yoon Jeong-hun. This is a gift from me.’

Jeong-hun tossed Song Yun-ho’s phone away and returned to the car.

Everything was settled in an instant.

The Cheonji Association forces in Myeongdong who were trying to target Jeong-hun were eliminated at once.

***

“Yun-ho is at the police station, high on drugs?”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Chief Secretary Han Hyun-dong replied.

“What happened?”

“It seems he turned to drugs because of the mental pressure.”

“…Was he not cut out for it?”

A long sigh followed.

“I’m sorry, but it seems so.”

“Find out who gave him the drugs thoroughly. How dare those bastards…”

Song Cheol-ho’s cheeks twitched.

“I will investigate and report.”

“Call the media and suppress the article. Call the Prosecutor General too.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

But he was unaware.

Articles about Song Yun-ho had already been uploaded to the internet in real-time.

“Chairman, it’s difficult to suppress the article…”

“What?”

“It seems to have already spread all over the internet.”

Articles that wouldn’t have surfaced in the past spread like wildfire.

The youngest son, who had brought shame to the family, seemed even more pathetic.

“There’s nothing we can do. Contact the prosecutor’s office. Handle it yourself.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

The youngest son, whom he thought would resemble himself, was weaker than he thought.

He even tarnished the group’s reputation.

He wasn’t fit to be the head of the Cheonji Association.

He bit his lip in disappointment.

Han Hyun-dong left the study and went to the bathroom to make a call.

“Young Master, it’s been handled well. It seems he’s been definitively excluded from the candidates because of this incident.”

“Thank you.”

A satisfied smile spread across his face.

The next day, the Ilsong Group’s youngest son Song Yun-ho’s drug case was splashed across the front pages of major newspapers.

It had already spread through internet media, so it was impossible to contain.

The moment the secrets of the chaebol [A South Korean term referring to a large, family-controlled industrial conglomerate.] family were exposed, they realized.

There were things that money couldn’t stop.

“Isn’t that the guy who said creepy things to Senior Da-hye before?”

Eun-soo asked.

“Yeah.”

“Then we’ll head down now.”

“Thank you for your hard work. Lay low for now. And when things calm down, let’s start a new job.”

“What kind of job?”

“I’m thinking of cleaning up the factories run by the Cheonji Association.”

“What? Factories…”

“Yes, there will be several drug factories. We have to find them and destroy them. I’ll contact you when you’re ready. Keep building your forces as you are now.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“Mr. Kang Sang-cheol, start preparing in earnest now. It’s the opening tomorrow, right?”

“Yes.”

“If TV commercials are broadcast extensively, many people will come. There are many people who need urgent money even at high interest rates. We are still the only company that lends to those people legally. We need to take the lead as much as possible.”

“Yes, I will do my best.”

“Well then, you’ve done a great job, so let’s all go out for a meal. We’ve done a great job, so let’s go to Daehan Restaurant and eat meat.”

“And tell all the people Park Chang-soo brought to drink hard today. As long as they don’t cause any trouble.”

“Yes, what should we set the budget at?”

Park Chang-soo looked at Jeong-hun’s mouth. His Adam’s apple bobbed.

“Unlimited.”

“Thank you, Young Master.”

Park Chang-soo bowed deeply, watching Jeong-hun’s back as he walked away.

Jeong-hun, who went outside, looked at the sky.

The sun was setting.

A lot had happened from yesterday to today.

He eliminated the Cheonji Association forces in Myeongdong who were targeting him at once.

He attacked them just before they attacked, when they were all gathered together, so it was relatively easy to resolve.

He was about to get in the car, feeling satisfied.

He saw Grandpa Park approaching from afar.

He dashed to the pharmacy and bought a box of Bacchus. [Bacchus is a popular energy drink in South Korea.]

It was a gift for him on a good day.

“Elder.”

As Jeong-hun greeted him, he heard Kwak Hyun-soo’s voice from behind.

“Chairman, how have you been?”

Jeong-hun had a bewildered expression.

First, he handed him the box of Bacchus he was holding.

“Grandpa, no, Chairman. Have this.”

“Yes, you cleaned up the Cheonji Association guys.”

“How did… you know?”

“If you’re one of the Four Kings of Myeongdong, wouldn’t you have that much information? I’ll enjoy this.”

Jeong-hun’s pupils dilated as if there was an earthquake.

‘Grandpa Park is one of the Four Kings of Myeongdong?’

He gathered his thoughts.

‘That person was the one who comforted me in the last life. Then did he know me back then too?’

He had many questions, but Chairman Park was already disappearing into the distance with the Bacchus.

***

Daehan Restaurant, which boasted a long tradition, was most popular for its marinated ribs.

“Please give us 20 servings of marinated ribs here.”

Charcoal was brought in, and the rolled marinated ribs were carefully spread out and placed on the grill.

While waiting for them to cook properly, Jeong-hun asked.

“Was that person Chairman Park? Then he’s Chairman Park of the Four Kings of Myeongdong?”

“Didn’t you meet the Four Kings elder last time?”

Kwak Hyun-soo asked back with a puzzled expression.

“He didn’t come out that day.”

“I see. He is Chairman Park, one of the Four Kings. He has the most money and the most greed. The important thing is that it’s really hard to get him to pay for anything.”

“Ah, I see.”

He seemed to have gotten a few meals from him in his past life.

But was that such a difficult thing?

Everything was confusing.

Well-cooked meat appeared in front of Jeong-hun’s eyes.

Let’s focus on eating.

There was no need to worry about things that he couldn’t know even if he worried about them now.

Kang Sang-cheol closed his eyes and savored the aroma.

Eun-soo’s chopsticks were holding three pieces of meat.

Uncle Hyun-soo was sniffing the meat right in front of his nose.

Korean beef marinated ribs costing 50,000 won per serving.

He hoped that a piece of meat could bring them a little happiness.

Jeong-hun also picked up his chopsticks.

When he put the perfectly cooked meat in his mouth, the sweet soy sauce marinade and the savory juice filled with oil flooded his palate.

It was a happy moment.

He thought of her.

‘Da-hye.’

He missed her.

***

TV commercials started airing from the evening of the next day.

Through extensive advertising, perceptions of high-interest loan businesses began to shift.

People who used to borrow money from gangsters in dark and dingy offices,

Were now freed from the fear of being unable to trust even while borrowing money.

An image as bright and clean as a commercial bank, and the kind service of friendly employees.

And even if you fell behind on payments, gangsters wouldn’t come after you.

Everything was done according to the law.

It was natural for people to flock to it.

A market where there was demand but no supply.

As Jeong-hun predicted, Shinhwa Finance was packed with people.

Kang Sang-cheol’s mouth stretched into a wide grin.

With so many people gathering, Kang Sang-cheol went to the entrance of Shinhwa Finance.

It was chaotic trying to get in first.

He surveyed the crowd.

And he shouted in a loud voice.

“Line up, line up.”

He nonchalantly shouted the lines from a hit drama from a few years ago. [This is a reference to a common trope in Korean dramas where characters dramatically shout lines.]

He waved his arms around.

“Everyone, please line up.”

People who saw that scene smiled and formed a line.

Jeong-hun, who entered the president’s office of Shinhwa Finance, drank the coffee that Kang Sang-cheol had made for him.

“The police have been coming and going a lot these days. The fact that we swept away the Cheonji Association guys last time was on the news, and the problem has gotten a bit bigger.”

“Really? They won’t be able to find those friends. They don’t have any ties here, and I told them to go into hiding, so they can’t find them.”

“Yes, so… how should I put this… should I say they’re pitiful? Anyway, the guys who got beaten up by us are about to get dragged away.”

Kang Sang-cheol had a happy face even while saying they were pitiful.

“Yes?”

“Isn’t it true that burly men were causing trouble in Myeongdong because of illegal private loans? Because citizens are uneasy about seeing that, they have to catch someone and throw them in jail… Right now, the only people they can catch and throw in jail are those guys.”

“The situation is turning out interestingly. If the business is destroyed and even the people are caught… Chairman Song must be feeling very…”

“Shitty.”

Kang Sang-cheol added.

“They’re going to make an example of a few of those guys.”

“Hmm, but since they’re all in the same group anyway, they’ll be out in a year, or if things calm down, due to insufficient evidence.”

Jeong-hun smiled wryly.

“Right?”

“So, we need to build our strength here for the future. We need to prepare so that those guys can’t gain a foothold. So, I’m thinking of calling Park Chang-soo, what do you think?”

Kang Sang-cheol said he didn’t care.

Kwak Hyun-soo also said that he could rest assured if it was him.

Now that Myeongdong had been cleaned up, someone was needed to protect this place.

And Gangnam can’t just be left alone.

It needs to be cleaned up.

Someone with Park Chang-soo’s abilities was even more necessary.

***

The daughter of the chairman of Rio Tinto came to Korea from Japan.

They were originally going to meet in Daegu, but she said she wanted to see the mine in person.

So, they decided to meet at the Yujeong-ri village hall.

“Young Master, this is Yoo Min-cheol.”

“Yes, I’m heading down now. I’ll be there in an hour and a half.”

“I’ll get there on time too. I’ll check the abandoned mine near Yujeong-ri before I go.”

“Be careful.”

Eun-soo said she was tired of driving and would rest in the car.

Jeong-hun walked around the Yujeong-ri village hall.

While taking a stroll along the rice paddies in the countryside, a foreign woman was running towards him.

She was wearing mint-colored sportswear that accentuated her figure and pink running shoes.

A foreigner jogging on a country road, not in Seoul or a big city.

It was a unique sight.

The woman, who was running at a fast pace, stopped in front of Jeong-hun.

The blonde, blue-eyed foreigner stared at Jeong-hun.

“Huff, are you Mr. Yoon Jeong-hun?”

He hadn’t expected it, but it seemed clear that she was the daughter of the chairman of Rio Tinto.

There couldn’t be such a foreigner in the rural village of Yujeong-ri, Goesan-gun.

“Yes, Scarlett of Rio Tinto?”

She nodded.

She was still breathing heavily, and her chest was heaving.

She was definitely a fitness enthusiast.

“Hello, I’m Yoon Jeong-hun.”

Jeong-hun greeted her fluently in English, which he had been diligently studying.

“Hello, I’m Scarlett.”

“Were you exercising?”

“Yes, the scenery here is beautiful. It reminds me of my hometown, so I ran a bit. I love seeing good scenery and running.”

“Now is the time when the mountains of Korea are at their most beautiful. They are so colorful.”

“That’s right. Huff, huff.”

She caught her breath for a moment.

The two walked towards the village hall.

“You’re kinder than I heard. Our technical team leader said you were arrogant, like you had a stick up your ass.”

“That technical team leader was really arrogant. He said, ‘I don’t eat smelly food.’ I thought he only lived on water. How can food not smell?”

“Haha, you’re quite witty, Jeong-hun.”

“Thank you. CEO Yoo said that technical team leader Daniel is now crazy about smelly kimchi. Haha.”

“I heard that too. I heard that he eats grilled pork belly and kimchi with CEO Yoo every day.”

“It’s good news that the two are getting along well.”

Jeong-hun moved towards the village hall while talking to her.

CEO Yoo Min-cheol, who should have already arrived, was nowhere to be seen.

He called, but he only heard a recorded message saying that he could not be reached and that he would be connected to voicemail.