Free Web NovelFor someone who had hesitated, Kim Seonghyuk confessed rather calmly. But what came out of his mouth was far from light.
It was a secret of the Hyeonhwa Group that had never been revealed in either the past or the future.
“There were three of us siblings. Our father was strict, but maybe because of that, we were unusually close for a chaebol family.”
Kim Seonghyuk’s eyes grew distant as he began to recall the past.
“Everything fell apart when Father died suddenly. As the eldest son, I was abroad undergoing succession training. By the time I rushed back to Korea... everything was already over. There was nothing I could do. My youngest sibling’s name was Kim Miju.”
When he mentioned his sibling’s name, Kim Seonghyuk’s eyes were slightly red.
“Miju said, of course I should be the one to become chairman. But I didn’t want to fight. No—I avoided it. That was my mistake.”
He paused for a moment, seemingly to collect himself.
I waited quietly. It wasn’t my place to say anything here. The best thing I could do was give him time.
“...The youngest was barely in her early twenties. She kept objecting to Seonghak becoming chairman and kept raising issues. From Seonghak’s point of view, that must have been intolerable.”
He couldn’t hide his bitter expression.
“And then... one day, the youngest supposedly got drunk and crashed into a streetlight while driving, dying on the spot. But I know. Miju couldn’t drink even a single drop. But I couldn’t raise any objections. I was afraid. That I might end up the same way...”
He didn’t say any more, but I could read it in his expression and eyes—the regret.
That incident had become a lifelong wound for Kim Seonghyuk.
“I didn’t truly understand Seonghak. He pretended to be a caring younger brother in front of us, but his greed for the group was greater than anything else.”
I finally understood why this man had said he didn’t care about management rights or anything else.
There’s a saying that the poorer you are, the more miserable you become.
But having money doesn’t mean you’re happy either.
In fact, the more you have, the more your greed grows.
“You’re the first person I’ve ever told this to.”
The memories that had brought me here began to stir again.
My mother and father—murdered at the instigation of men I didn’t even want to call my uncles. My grandmother and grandfather, who lost their child in an instant. And me, who grew up without parents.
“I understand completely.”
I didn’t share my story, but I could tell why he had come to me with that expression.
“Then... will you take my hand?”
“If we can bring Ilseong to our side, just as you said, we can remove the entire board. But Chairman Seo Yonggeon of Ilseong Group is not an easy man. We don’t know what he’ll demand.”
We would have to offer him more than what Kim Seonghak promised.
But I couldn’t afford to hand over the shares I held in Ilseong.
“It’s difficult for me to meet anyone. Even meeting you like this in secret wasn’t easy. Seonghak always has his watchers tailing me.”
“I’ll go. I’ll find out what he wants.”
“Thank you. No matter how much support I have or how much stock I own, without Ilseong’s shares, there’s no way to bring down Seonghak, who controls the board. Please convince him.”
Seeing Kim Seonghyuk bow sincerely made it impossible to refuse.
“You should be the one to take control of Hyeonhwa Group. I have no interest in it. I just have personal revenge to settle with Kim Seonghak and his son, Kim Hyunjik.”
I didn’t trust Kim Seonghyuk completely, but I chose to believe that what he said now was sincere.
“But...”
“Hyeonhwa Group should be yours. I won’t sell the shares I own.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Yes. But I’ll need three board seats. We need safeguards.”
“Of course. I’ll do whatever you ask.”
Because of the eyes watching us, I couldn’t talk with Kim Seonghyuk for long.
After sending him off, I was left alone, deep in thought.
‘What did Kim Seonghak promise Seo Yonggeon?’
Seo Yonggeon wasn’t the kind of man to act without gain.
If he had decided to help Kim Seonghak despite knowing I was involved, it meant there was something he could gain that was worth souring relations with me.
With a low sigh, I leaned back.
Just the thought of facing such a formidable opponent was already exhausting.
Not long after, I headed for Ilseong Group headquarters.
Being led into the chairman’s office brought back a wave of feelings.
I had come here a few times in my previous life, but back then, I couldn’t even speak properly in front of him. That’s how great Chairman Seo Yonggeon’s presence was.
If Chairman Song of Daehyeon was the setting sun, Seo Yonggeon was the rising one.
The so-called “Ilseong scholars” he had been cultivating since his days as a successor had infiltrated every sector—law, politics, and beyond. People even joked that Korea wasn’t a democratic republic but the Ilseong Republic.
Even when whistleblowers came forward, Chairman Seo never once received a prison sentence.
While other chaebol chairmen were in and out of jail, it made no difference. Whether it was the Progressives or the Conservatives in power, not a single president had ever sent Seo Yonggeon to prison.
His son, who would inherit his position, was a different story—but that came later.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Chairman Seo.”
“I’ve heard plenty about you. First time seeing you face-to-face though. Come in. The trip wasn’t too uncomfortable, was it?”
“No, sir. I’ve heard a lot from my grandfather as well.”
“I hope Chairman Cheon’s health improves soon. I’m quite concerned.”
“Thank you. He’ll recover quickly.”
Even while exchanging pleasantries, I could feel his eyes sweeping over me, observing. But I pretended not to notice.
Soon, Seo Yonggeon spoke.
“Alright. Let’s hear why you wanted to meet.”
“It’s about the Hyeonhwa shares you recently acquired. I’d like you to support us. I don’t know what was promised to you, but if it’s within Hyeonhwa Group’s ability, I can promise you the same.”
As if he had already expected this, Seo Yonggeon’s expression didn’t change.
He threw his response out casually.
“Do you know what was promised? I’m not about to betray trust for the same thing. I was close with Chairman Kim’s father.”
In the end, it meant if I could promise more than what Kim Seonghak offered, he’d consider switching sides.
The part about being close with his father was just noise.
“What did he promise you?”
Seo Yonggeon shook his head.
“Kim, the one who needs something is the one who should make the bet.”
There was one thing that hadn’t changed from my previous life.
Back then or now, Seo Yonggeon was still a detestable bastard.
“Please. I’m asking you.”
Seo Yonggeon fell silent, seemingly deep in thought.
“Let me ask you one thing. Just what did Kim Hyunjik do to you that you’re shaking an entire conglomerate over it? Even Chairman Cheon never shook the foundations of a chaebol. If anything, he profited off them.”
“It’s a personal matter.”
“You’re doing all this over a personal grudge? Do you have any idea how irrationally high Hyeonhwa Group’s stock has risen because of you lately?”
Looking a bit disappointed, Seo Yonggeon glanced at me as if I were pathetic and said in a lecturing tone:
“So the rumors are just bullshit, huh? Even the people I have planted in the Blue House speak highly of you. That you’re someone who can meet the president in private. That you’ve turned that Wall Street monster Han Kyungyeong into your lackey... but now you’re acting like a childish kid.”
“This is a difference in values, sir.” freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
“A difference in values... Well, whether it’s childish or not, I suppose that’s none of my business. Just tell me what you can give. I’ll consider it.”
“Please tell me what you want.”
“You’ll give me anything I ask?”
Now Chairman Seo seemed intrigued.
“Don’t tell me to exchange for Ilseong Electronics or Ilseong Group shares.”
I blocked that route before he could even try.
“Hmm... That’s what ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ I really wanted though.”
Of course he would.
As if he’d expected me to say that, Seo Yonggeon muttered and smacked his lips, disappointed, before finally speaking.
“What Chairman Kim Seonghak promised me was that he’d grant me whatever I wanted. I asked for Hyeonhwa Life.”
“Hyeonhwa Life?”
“That’s right.”
“But doesn’t Ilseong already have a life insurance company? If I’m not mistaken, it’s the number one in the country.”
At that, Seo Yonggeon chuckled.
“Mr. Kim, I want to beat Daehyeon. And I’ll do anything to achieve that. I knew acquiring Joongwoo Motors would be a losing deal, but I took it anyway. Sure, the government pressured me, but more than half of it was just my own greed.”
He was clearly a man with ambition.
Even amidst crisis, Seo Yonggeon was always looking for a chance to overtake Daehyeon.
The reason he wanted Hyeonhwa Life was probably because of the law separating banking and commerce, which prevented him from acquiring a bank.
Insurance, securities, and credit cards were the limits for a chaebol. They were the vault.
I could sense his desire to expand Ilseong’s size even further.
“I’ll give you Hyeonhwa Life, and Hyeonhwa Card too.”
Seo Yonggeon shook his head with a subtle expression.
“Don’t go handing out blank checks. Even if I transfer my shares, it won’t be easy for you to control Hyeonhwa Group. The entire board is filled with Seonghak’s people. Can you really win with just that?”
He had a point—but there was one thing he didn’t know.
Now that I had joined hands with Kim Seonghyuk, the odds were in my favor.
It was obvious that Kim Seonghyuk wouldn’t hesitate to hand over a few subsidiaries if it meant taking down Seonghak.
“If you help, it’s possible. And if I break my promise, I’ll hand over my shares in Ilseong Electronics.”
There was no need to tell him I had teamed up with Kim Seonghyuk.
Seo Yonggeon tilted his head, thinking for a moment, then nodded.
“I have nothing to lose. Fine, I’ll help you. But I won’t transfer my shares. I’ll support you at the general meeting. But if I think there’s no chance of winning, I won’t raise my hand. That day, you’ll have to show me all your cards.”
He was planning to sit on both sides and decide which one to eat based on how things played out.
“Thank you.”
I added with a blank expression:
“But if I lose at the general meeting because of Ilseong’s betrayal, I’ll use everything I have to fight you to the death.”
Chairman Seo Yonggeon stared at me, but said nothing in return.
“I’ll take my leave now.”
Just before I stepped out, I heard him mutter one last thing:
“I can’t tell if he’s fearless or just overflowing with confidence.”
* * *
“Wow, and you didn’t even tell us? I felt guilty like crazy! Right, Eva?”
Eva nodded in agreement.
“James is right. That’s too much, boss.”
“It’s not because I didn’t trust you two—I just wanted to see how surprised you’d be.”
Security was important, yes, but truthfully, I hadn’t told them because I’d felt playful. It wasn’t about trust.
“We’ll talk about it later.”
It was hard to say more with people around.
There was nothing more for me to do here. I left the conference hall, leaving the rest in Kim Seonghyuk’s hands.
In front of the elevator heading to the lobby, Kim Seonghak was being restrained by security guards.
As soon as he saw me, he tried to charge, only to be held back by the guards.
“You bastard! What the hell did you do?!”
Once the guards parted, Kim Seonghak came rushing at me, but couldn’t get close thanks to Chief Ma. He just pointed a finger furiously in front of me.
“How did you manipulate Kim Seonghyuk? And Ilseong, too... Why the hell are you doing this to me? Just because of your cousin?!”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
That’s what he thought this was?
“‘Just because’...? Coming from a man who lost the chairman seat because of one rotten son, that’s rich.”
Kim Seonghak, who had been screaming with bloodshot eyes, shut his mouth tightly.
“Hell hasn’t even started yet. You still have money, right? Good. That’s where it all begins, so look forward to it.”
Now that he’d lost the title of chairman, Kim Seonghak was nothing more than a man with money.
All his power had come from his position. Money without power is nothing but dangerous bait.
“If you’d just handed it over when I asked, none of this would’ve happened. Hold on tight to that son of yours and watch closely what happens. Got it?”
I passed him by as he stood there in a daze. Han Kyungyeong and Eva followed behind me.
Kim Seonghak snapped out of it a moment later and started hurling curses—but they were nothing more than the pathetic cries of a loser.
