Free Web NovelChairman Seo Yonggeon sat back on the sofa, eyes closed, immersed in deep thought.
In the quiet of Ilseong Group’s chairman’s office, the only sound was the low sighs he gave off while brooding.
At length he opened his eyes and pressed the bell. Lee Seokmin stepped in through the office door.
“You called, Chairman.”
“Get in touch with the Blue House and set an appointment with Kim Hakgwon. This is no time to sit around waiting.”
“Understood.”
The truce proposal he had offered at Cheon Taesan’s funeral had failed.
But waiting idly while Kim Muhyuk started a full-scale war was out of the question.
“And what about Cheon Sooman’s whereabouts?”
“Even the NIS has failed to trace him. The same goes for us.”
Seo Yonggeon looked at Lee Seokmin with disapproval, shaking his head.
“Is Kim Muhyuk’s reach greater than the NIS, or is the NIS simply that useless?”
“······.”
“Enough. By now he’s been killed a hundred times over. Thinking back on what Kim Muhyuk said at the funeral, it’s hard to believe Sooman could have survived. Forget the search.”
With a displeased frown, Seo gestured for Seokmin to sit. Once he did, Seo spoke again.
“How are Jiwon and Jisoo moving?”
“Young master Jiwon is······.”
Seokmin faltered, hesitant.
“Tsk. His father might be dead or alive for all he knows, and he’s still out wasting himself in nightlife? That bastard dares call himself a man?”
Seo clicked his tongue, having guessed the rest from Seokmin’s hesitation.
How was it that he had no one useful around him? Irritation surged.
“And Jisoo?”
“Miss Jisoo has been focused ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) solely on the hotel business since the funeral. She has shown no other movements.”
A small sigh of admiration escaped Seo as he stroked his chin.
“Jisoo is wasted potential. She doesn’t know her place and runs wild, but her ability is undeniable... ruined by empty ambition.”
He had always begrudged Cheon Jisoo’s talent.
Had she been a Seo instead of a Cheon, had she been a man instead of a woman—then instead of Seo Jaehun, she would have been his successor.
The proof was there: she had taken the perpetually loss-ridden hotel division and turned it to profit within a year.
Shaking off thoughts of Jisoo, Seo asked again.
“Jaehun is negotiating in Japan, isn’t he? What’s your take?” ƒгeewebnovёl.com
“Even if you are close with the Japanese firms, Chairman, if the Japanese government refuses, there is no answer. And the companies themselves hesitate because we are Korean.”
Seo rubbed his temples and shook his head.
Having seen the future in semiconductors, he knew Japanese companies were indispensable.
“And the Japanese cabinet? No word?”
“None.”
“Taiwan, though—their government is in talks with the cabinet, isn’t it?”
Taiwan had staked its future on semiconductors, pouring state support into the industry.
As a result, Taiwan’s semiconductor sector had risen rapidly, nearly on Ilseong’s heels.
If Taiwan acquired Japanese semiconductor firms and gained their technology, even Ilseong Electronics’ superiority could no longer be guaranteed.
“Yes. I hear high-level Taiwanese officials have already flown to Japan to aid negotiations.”
“And no updates from Jaehun?”
“He reported that talks with Nihon Electric are going smoothly. Your long-standing friendship with their chairman seems to have helped.”
Seo nodded silently, a deep crease forming between his brows.
Lee Seokmin spoke cautiously.
“If only we could persuade the Japanese cabinet, we’d still have an advantage over Taiwan.”
“Then it’s time Jaehun proves his worth. The Future Strategy Office is to give him full support.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
But none of the reports pleased him. Seo’s voice was edged with irritation.
“What the hell is our own government doing? I’ll have to meet Kim Hakgwon and get his help on this too. Go now. Call the Blue House and fix the schedule as I said. We paid dearly; it’s time to see the receipt.”
Lee Seokmin rose and bowed deeply.
“Understood. I’ll arrange the visit swiftly.”
When he left, Seo was alone in the office again.
The humiliation from the funeral flashed in his mind.
― Ilseong? I don’t need it. I’ll destroy it, uproot it, and erase its name from Korea.
Every time he recalled those words, rage surged. Seo ground his teeth until they squeaked.
“How dare he dismiss Ilseong—dismiss me, Seo Yonggeon?”
His cold murmur lingered in the empty office.
* * *
“Then I’ll trust Chairman Kim.”
“Yes, sir.”
I got into the car as Kim Byungwoo bowed. The vehicle slowly rolled forward.
Watching him bowing from the window, I muttered,
“Chairman Kim is good, but he cherishes his employees too much. Maybe because he himself rose from the bottom.”
As we cleared the restaurant lot and merged onto the main road, Ha Myeonghun turned from the front seat.
“You don’t find him suitable?”
Still gazing out the window, I finally looked at him and replied.
Kind men were hard to use. Greedy and ambitious ones were easier tools.
“It’s not that I dislike him. He has the ability. After all, he stabilized Joongwoo Group after the chaos of the crisis and the acquisition.”
“Indeed, he’s proven capable. He rose from ordinary staff to vice president by merit alone. That’s why even Chairman Park kept him close.”
Han Kyungyeong had said the same. That was why I entrusted Joongwoo to him.
And indeed, he had managed the company without issue.
Still, I felt Ha Myeonghun was defending him a bit.
“Well, let’s wait and see. If he disappoints, I’ll decide then.”
Hearing that, Ha Myeonghun smiled faintly.
“That will do.”
We arrived at the Myeongdong office shortly after.
At the door, I called to him before he could wait outside.
“Chief, come in with me.”
Dismissing the others, I shut the door behind us.
“You have good ties with domestic banks, don’t you?”
“Yes. Serving the Chairman, I often had to deposit large sums in cash. So we’ve maintained decent relations with most banks.”
“Then after you’re inaugurated as chairman of Taesan Finance next week, meet with the bank presidents.”
He seemed to understand the intent at once, smiling as he answered.
“If it’s to cut off Ilseong’s funds, I’ll see it done.”
Conglomerates like Ilseong had survived the crisis only by leaning on government bailouts and banks.
“Good. I saw from their financial statements that Ilseong maintains a dangerously high debt ratio. Tell them to refuse extending their loans.”
“Yes, sir.”
No need for detailed instructions—he handled such matters better alone.
Still, I could help ease the way.
I went to the safe and retrieved two passbooks, both in his name in Grandfather’s handwriting. Running my fingers across them, I returned to my seat.
I set one before him.
“This, Grandfather left for you.”
At that, his eyes widened.
“Open it.”
He picked it up but didn’t open it—only gripped it tight, lips pressed shut.
“Sir... would you explain?”
“He asked me to. The password is the date you first met him. He said you were never to accept it while he lived. Only after his death was I to hand it over.”
I smiled softly, gesturing for him to open it.
With a stiff face, he finally did.
“You may think of it as severance pay, or as an inheritance.”
Inside the account Grandfather had left was the sum of ten billion won.
“This is too much. I can’t accept it.”
He pushed it back toward me, shaken.
Grandfather must have foreseen even this refusal.
Meeting his eyes, I shook my head.
“It’s Grandfather’s legacy to you. You gave decades of service to him. You are worthy.”
“······.”
“So keep it.”
My resolute gaze left him no room to refuse. At last, he tucked it inside his jacket.
“And this one—use it when dealing with bank presidents. Offer it in exchange for shutting down Ilseong’s loans. For them, personal gain outweighs corporate duty. They’re just salaried men.”
I handed him the second account.
“Understood.”
“I’ll handle the foreign banks myself. Just focus on the domestic ones. We can’t erase Ilseong’s existing debt, but blocking new loans will suffice.”
Then my phone rang. The caller ID showed Chief Ma.
― Boss, this is Ma Seokdae.
“Chief Ma. How are things in China?”
― Elder Jang Daeho has reunited with his family.
So he had met them safely. He would have been bitter if I had delayed longer.
“That’s good. And Jang Songthaek?”
― I just met him. When he asked why you weren’t here, I said you had urgent matters in Seoul. He told me to pass on a message: if you wish to contact the Leader, go through the DPRK embassy.
“The Leader? Understood.”
Kim Jongil had given me his direct satellite line. Yet now he suddenly had Songthaek tell me to go through the embassy?
It was puzzling, but I kept calm.
― I felt it had to be told directly, so I asked Chief Ma to relay it.
“You did right. How long will you remain in China?”
― I return tomorrow. But I’ll likely visit Seoul in autumn, to coordinate with the South.
Sooner than I’d expected.
“Then we’ll meet in Seoul. I enjoyed your hospitality in Pyongyang; I’ll repay it with good liquor here. Would you pass the phone back to Chief Ma?”
― Haha, I’ll look forward to it.
A door opened, and Chief Ma came back on.
― Boss, I’m on.
“No one around? Where did you meet him?”
― At his hotel.
There might be eavesdropping. He must have suspected the same, since he gave no other report.
“Part with him and call me again.”
― Yes, Boss.
I hung up and stared at the blank screen, deep in thought.
‘Jang Songthaek is impossible to read.’
Across from me, Ha Myeonghun asked carefully. He seemed worried, since the promised detailed report hadn’t come.
“Was that Chief Ma?”
“Yes. We’ll speak later.”
“Understood. Then I’ll wait outside.”
As he rose, I stopped him with a question—one I could ask no one else.
“Chief... what if, say, Grandfather gave you an order, but days later sent someone else—like Chief Ma—to deliver instructions completely opposite. What would you do?”
He slowly sat back down, considered, and shook his head.
“The Chairman would never send such a contradiction. But if Chief Ma did deliver such words, I’d suspect him.”
“I see. You can go now.”
Once he left, I sat alone, turning the matter over.
‘Is Kim Jongil testing what deal lies between us? What does he really want?’
The only sound was my fingers tapping the desk in the silence.
By the time I stirred, the sun was already setting outside the window.
The next day, Yoo Seongjin arrived at the Myeongdong office.
“I’ve finished the task cleanly.”
He placed a small icebox on the table.
