The Genius Grandson Of The Cash King Becomes A Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 75

#075

In heavy industry, accidents often lead to significant casualties.

Choi In-soo knew this well from past experiences.

Inside Sunjae Heavy Industries, accidents, both large and small, were commonplace.

However, an accident that could be described as an explosion felt different from the minor incidents of the past.

Anxious, Choi In-soo asked into the phone,

“How many people are injured?”

“…None.”

“What do you mean? None? Are the fatalities and serious injuries not yet confirmed?”

“No. No one is hurt.”

“An explosion at the shipyard with no casualties? I can’t believe it.”

“It’s hard to believe, but President Yoon Jung-hoon anticipated this accident.”

Choi In-soo’s eyes widened.

His throat was parched, and he gulped down the water in front of him.

“If he anticipated it, does that mean someone orchestrated it?”

Jung-hoon quietly nodded.

“It’s the work of people who want to take over the company at a bargain price.”

“Even so, innocent lives were almost sacrificed.”

“They wouldn’t even blink an eye at the sacrifice of ordinary people.”

“Who are they?”

“It’s better if you don’t know. You could be in danger.”

Just then, Psycho’s voice came through the phone.

“President, this explosion will delay the delivery date. The client will probably raise the delay penalty abnormally high.”

“What? That’s absurd. It should have proceeded according to the standard contract. Just a moment.”

Choi In-soo made a call.

The wrinkles on his forehead deepened.

Hanging up, he looked up at the ceiling.

“How can there be such ruthless bastards? Fortunately, there were no casualties, but the delay compensation is more than ten times higher than other contracts.”

– Bang!

Choi In-soo slammed his palm on the table.

“I’m sorry. I was so angry that I couldn’t control my emotions.”

“It’s okay. Anyone would have reacted like you, President.”

“We must never hand over the company to them. But is there a way? The pressure coming from all sides is considerable.”

“Takeovers are done with money, not power. If you give them enough money, wouldn’t that solve it?”

Choi In-soo’s eyes sparkled.

He understood Jung-hoon’s meaning.

“You mean we’re not lacking in financial power.”

“Yes, aren’t I the grandson of the Cash King [a person known for having a lot of money]?”

Jung-hoon smiled at Choi In-soo.

Choi In-soo seemed relieved and took a long breath.

Jung-hoon spoke again.

“President, the pressure to hand it over at a bargain price with ridiculous conditions will intensify.”

“I’m sure it will. But I still have more than a year left in my term. There will never be such a problem.”

“…Are you sure there’s no dirt to be found on you?”

“Ha….”

A short sigh escaped Choi In-soo’s lips.

Then, he replied in a confident tone.

“Yes, absolutely none. From corporate cards to my personal life, everything is clean. I’m over 50 and haven’t even gotten married. I’ve been obsessed with work. You don’t have to worry about that.”

It was a stroke of luck. He had no children and no wife.

There was nothing to dig up.

“Still, you never know. Even if something like that happens, don’t panic and contact us. We’ll take care of it.”

“We? Does President Yoon Jung-hoon know about this dark organization?”

“It’s the Cheonji Association.”

As Jung-hoon revealed the name, Choi In-soo’s eyes sparkled as if he had discovered an amazing secret.

“Are you fighting against that Cheonji Association?”

Choi In-soo’s expression was strange.

He had been furious until just now, but now his face was full of curiosity.

A confirmed bachelor in his 50s.

Was he obsessed with conspiracy theories?

Or a kidult [a grown-up with childlike interests] who enjoyed playing the hero?

Jung-hoon was uncomfortable with his unnecessary interest.

“It’s not like that. I just want to make money.”

“I understand.”

He brushed it off, but Choi In-soo didn’t seem to believe him.

The meal began.

Assemblyman Jo Young-jin offered a drink.

A pleasant atmosphere continued with a simple drink.

Before parting after the meal, Choi In-soo asked Jung-hoon.

“If you have enough money, the acquisition won’t be a problem. As long as I’m here, there will never be a sale at a bargain price.”

“Thank you.”

“No, I should be thanking you. Aren’t you buying the company at a good price and contributing to the country? And I want to fight against that dark organization and realize justice. I want to be a force for good, too.”

“Thank you. But you still have to be careful. No one knows how far their reach extends.”

“I understand.”

Choi In-soo, with his curious eyes, left, and Assemblyman Jo Young-jin asked Jung-hoon.

“Money doesn’t seem to be the problem, but are you confident about the rest?”

“I think it’s possible if you help me.”

“Well, Chairman Park has to put all his strength into it, and if we fail, everything we’ve built up so far could be for nothing.”

“There is no failure.”

“Okay. We have to bet everything now. I understand. I’ll join in.”

Jung-hoon greeted Jo Young-jin and then walked for a while.

Until now, it had been a one-man fight.

Now, the will of many people is moving.

The moment when the real war begins was approaching.

***

Song Cheol-ho’s lips curled up as he watched TV.

He turned his head, looked at Song Ji-ho sitting next to him, and smiled contentedly.

“As expected of my son, he does a great job with what he’s told to do.”

“I’m sorry, Chairman. There should have been some casualties for the stock price to plummet.”

“Haha, don’t be too greedy. This is enough. And there are only two of us here. There’s no need to be so formal.”

“I’m sorry, Father.”

Song Ji-ho bowed his head in gratitude.

‘Okay. I’ve regained his trust.’

Of course, not completely yet.

“So, how’s the stock price today?”

“It’s down 7 percent.”

“Haha, amazing.”

“It’s not even the beginning yet. It will soon drop to the lower limit [the maximum amount a stock can fall in a single day].”

“What?”

“The issue of the delayed delivery of the exploded ship will be on the news. When the 10x delay penalty is announced, it will fall further.”

“He’s my son, but his business sense is innate.”

Song Cheol-ho was satisfied with his second son.

If only he had moderate greed, it would be perfect, but his uncontrollable greed was always a problem.

If he could control that, he would be worthy of being recommended as the next head of the Cheonji Association.

Or become the head of the group.

“Thank you, Father. I will work hard.”

“Ji-ho, do it moderately. Don’t cross the line. Your greed….”

Song Cheol-ho looked at his son.

“It’s different from before. I’m older now, and I’ll control myself well.”

“Okay. I believe you. You can go now.”

None of his children were satisfactory, but he had to properly raise the ones he had.

That’s how the group and the Cheonji Association can exist forever in this land.

Unsatisfactory sons.

Suddenly, Yoon Jung-hoon came to mind.

The boldness he showed in the elevator, not backing down from him,

And the unbelievable business success he has shown so far.

He was perfect as the head of the Cheonji Association.

It was a pity that he had the misfortune of having parents with no background.

Song Cheol-ho’s sigh deepened.

***

Since hitting the lower limit due to the explosion and delay penalty issues, Sunjae Heavy Industries’ stock price has been steadily declining.

Jung-hoon spoke with Kwon Young-soo of Shinhwa Securities.

“There’s a force at play, right?”

“Yes, they are intentionally suppressing the stock price. What should we do?”

“If they suppress it, we have to follow suit. But keep buying shares. Discreetly.”

“I understand. I’ll match it to 4.9 percent.”

If it exceeds 5 percent, it must be disclosed, so they decided to match it to 4.9 percent.

Hanging up, Jung-hoon gave the same instructions to Im Cheol-soo in the United States.

He told him to buy Sunjae Heavy Industries shares.

For the first time in a while, Jung-hoon headed to the Legend Company office.

Cha Young-mi and Cheon Jin-hyeok were arguing.

“We have to do it this way!”

“That’s not it!”

Harley Quinn [Cha Young-mi’s nickname] and Psycho [Cheon Jin-hyeok’s nickname] were sharply opposed.

Lee Byeong-seok and Kwak Hyun-soo were just watching from a distance.

“What’s wrong with them?”

Jung-hoon asked, and Kwak Hyun-soo replied indifferently.

“They’re bickering over something trivial. It’s an everyday occurrence, so I just ignore it now.”

“Hmm, that’s worrying. We have a big job coming up soon. By the way, what about Park Chang-soo?”

“Yes, he’s wrapping things up quickly. He’s setting up a company and absorbing it through acquisitions. It seems like Jongno and Gangdong in Seoul will be cleared up within this year.”

“He’s doing well.”

“Hey, where do you think you’re going?”

“Why are you talking down to me!”

Cha Young-mi and Psycho Cheon Jin-hyeok’s voices grew louder.

They seemed to be on good terms, but once they started, they would go all the way, Lee Byeong-seok whispered.

“If they’re always like that, does that mean they don’t get along?”

“Yes.”

“But Cheon Jin-hyeok’s speaking skills have improved a lot.”

“Young-mi takes good care of him.”

“That’s unexpected. The crazy Harley Quinn takes care of the psycho.”

Lee Byeong-seok was offended by Kwak Hyun-soo’s words about the crazy Harley Quinn.

He placed a chair leg on Kwak Hyun-soo’s foot and sat down.

– Ugh

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t see it.”

Lee Byeong-seok gave a soulless apology.

Kwak Hyun-soo couldn’t say anything.

He realized that Lee Byeong-seok was upset by his slip of the tongue.

“I’m sorry. I made a mistake.”

Lee Byeong-seok, who was still looking at the fighting duo, quietly said.

“Psycho looks a lot like Young-mi’s younger brother.”

“Younger brother? That’s why they’re so hostile.”

“It’s not that. He died in the military… in an accident.”

A moment of silence flowed.

“What nonsense are you talking about, Oppa [older brother]!”

Cha Young-mi, who heard Lee Byeong-seok’s words, shouted.

She slammed the door shut and went outside.

Everyone in the office was surprised.

“We have to sort it out anyway. We can’t leave it like this. Young-mi keeps making that mistake.”

“I know. She kept asking me to eat beef, so I thought it was a little strange, but I accidentally overheard her talking about it last time. So I tried to distance myself and acted coldly.”

Lee Byeong-seok was startled when Cheon Jin-hyeok said he knew.

“I see. Young-mi became interested in hacking after her brother died in the military. So she hacked everything from the Ministry of National Defense to the National Intelligence Service, but she couldn’t find out anything about the accident or its cause. Most of it was classified as top secret. It was in paper documents, so she couldn’t access it. But Young-mi is still looking for it from time to time.”

Lee Byeong-seok told the story of Harley Quinn’s past.

Cheon Jin-hyeok also had a troubled expression.

He wasn’t her younger brother, but he was burdened by her mistaking him for him.

And he felt sorry for her.

The reason she got into hacking was similar to his.

“It was to find out the reason for her dead brother’s accident. I was trying to find my mother, who suddenly disappeared. In the end, we were both looking for something.”

“…….”

A moment of silence flowed at Cheon Jin-hyeok’s words, revealing his inner thoughts.

Jung-hoon thought.

He had to find a way that everyone could be satisfied.

He couldn’t leave it like this.

He had an important job coming up.

He had to come to a conclusion, come what may.

“How many rooms are there in Lee Byeong-seok’s house right now?”

“Two rooms. I have to move out soon….”

“Then that’s good. Find a 40-pyeong [approximately 1422 square feet] house near the company.”

“I still don’t have enough money.”

“I’ll lend it to you interest-free. The only condition is that you take Cheon Jin-hyeok with you for three months.”

“I don’t want to. Why would I go into a married couple’s house? It’s uncomfortable.”

Cheon Jin-hyeok refused.

“I’m worried about you being alone. You don’t seem to be taking your medicine well lately.”

Jung-hoon said.

Cheon Jin-hyeok was slightly surprised that Jung-hoon knew so much about him.

He seemed indifferent, but he felt cared for.

“Medicine? He’s alone?”

Lee Byeong-seok, who seemed to be a good person, looked at Cheon Jin-hyeok with a pitiful expression.

“But is there a reason? President.”

“Just because. I hate ambiguity. You have to be close like hateful siblings or be professional like strangers. If you’re ambiguous like this, there will definitely be problems later.”

“That’s true. When I was in the intelligence agency, if there was a problem like this between team members, we would make them hold hands and go around together for a week.”

Everyone’s eyes widened.

For the first time, Kwak Hyun-soo talked about his past.

Did he break down the wall around his heart a little?

“Keep going.”

Jung-hoon said, but he mumbled as if he was embarrassed.

“Well, that’s what I mean. Hmm. Oh, and if it’s okay, please tell me about Cha Young-mi’s brother. I have some connections there.”

“Thank you.”

Lee Byeong-seok, who thanked Kwak Hyun-soo, had a stiff expression.

He didn’t know if Cha Young-mi’s personality and Cheon Jin-hyeok would get along, and he was worried about a stranger entering their space.

Then the door opened and Cha Young-mi came in.

“President, what’s the limit on that interest-free loan?”

She must have been listening behind the door.

Maybe that’s what she was aiming for.

“Well, there’s no particular restriction. About 1 billion [Korean won, approximately $750,000 USD]?”

Cha Young-mi’s eyes sparkled.

“Okay. But I’ll pay back the money whenever I want.”

“Deal.”

“From today for three months, I’ll think of Cheon Jin-hyeok as my brother. Like adoptive siblings.”

“Why would I do that? I don’t want to.”

Cheon Jin-hyeok stormed out of his seat.

Jung-hoon had to persuade him.

When he went outside, he was staring blankly at the window.

“Are you scared?”

“…….”

“You can’t avoid it. Cheon Jin-hyeok, you don’t hate Cha Young-mi’s care, do you? There’s no reason to follow her around and eat beef that you don’t even like.”

“You knew.”

“As an orphan, the hardest thing for me was building relationships with people. But it’s fun to get close to people. Like me and Cheon Jin-hyeok now. I couldn’t have dreamed of this kind of relationship before.”

Cheon Jin-hyeok looked at Jung-hoon.

Yoon Jung-hoon smiled slightly at him.

‘It was a little disgusting…….’

The day he first met him, he showed him a severed finger in front of him, and he remembered being knocked out by his fist.

Like Yoon Jung-hoon said, he showed it to him.

Relationships, connections. It wasn’t bad, and it was fun.

Different from the cold relationships when he lived as a child of a chaebol [a wealthy business owner], the warmth and consideration that melted his body were good.

“I understand. But it’s three months. And after three months, I’d like an interest-free apartment loan too. That’s my condition.”

“Good.”

As expected, people bowed their heads in front of money.

He tied them together with an interest-free loan for now.

It remains to be seen whether they will become closer than real siblings or worse than work colleagues.

***

Choi In-soo, president of the Korea Asset Management Corporation, was under relentless pressure.

The large explosion at the Sunjae Heavy Industries Geoje shipyard, which happened to occur, became a good excuse.

As the stock price plummeted, they pressured him to sell it before its value fell further.

He contacted Yoon Jung-hoon and exchanged information in advance.

He volunteered to hold a press conference and read the sale plan with a calm expression.

“We are starting the bidding for the sale of Sunjae Heavy Industries. The lead manager for the sale is Ilsong Securities. The method of sale is the highest price sale through general competitive bidding.”

The press conference hall buzzed.

Rumor had it that it would be given to a specific company through restricted competitive bidding.

Now, the person who writes down the highest price will have Sunjae Heavy Industries.

***

Song Cheol-ho was watching the Sunjae Heavy Industries sale press conference with satisfaction.

Song Cheol-ho’s eyebrows twitched at the president’s last words.

‘Highest price sale through general competitive bidding’

His fist slammed hard on the desk.

He turned his head and looked at his son next to him.

His face was already pale.

“How are you handling things? You son of a bitch!”

Song Cheol-ho’s rough shout echoed in the room.