Free Web NovelA few days after meeting Chairman Seo Maenggeon, I got a call from Eva.
― Boss, JC reached out.
“What did they say?”
― Surrender, what else. They’ve agreed to hand over all the Ilseong Group affiliate shares they’re holding to us.
They had no other choice. They couldn’t possibly buy JC Jeongdang shares on the open market anymore, not with how high the price had already climbed.
There was no way they had the funds for that, and even if they wanted help from Ilseong, their pride wouldn’t allow it.
If it came down to a straight shareholding fight, their chances were even slimmer, so only one option remained.
“Have you mapped out the scenario? How long do you think it’ll take?”
― Roughly six months?
“File requests for extraordinary shareholder meetings at the court for all affiliates, in a way that doesn’t reveal which one is our target. I’ll speak to the Chief Justice personally and put in a word with the court. Approval for the meetings will come quickly.”
― I know, boss. I factored that in when I estimated six months.
Even so, the time to reach the extraordinary shareholders’ meetings was longer than I had expected.
“Eva, isn’t there a way to shorten it?”
― This is already the minimum. You’re not planning to compromise, right? That means both sides will fight it to the end, and since it’s a control battle over a company the size of Ilseong Trading, it’s not simple. Neither side will hesitate to sue.
If Eva said this much, then there really was no way to cut it down further. Regrettable, but unavoidable. frёeωebɳovel.com
“Alright. You secured all the shares from Han Kyungyeong, right?”
― Of course. In a shareholding fight, we’re guaranteed to win. The problem is they might try to stall with lawsuits over other pretexts, but that’s where you’ll handle things, right boss?
“Right. I’ll take care of everything external. You just focus on Ilseong.”
Eva chuckled over the line, her voice carrying firm trust in me.
This was only the beginning. Seo Yonggeon wasn’t the kind of man to just sit still and take a blow, so I had to prepare thoroughly.
I pressed the bell beside me and Manager Ma stepped in.
“You called, boss.”
“Contact the press and get them to build up negative sentiment against Ilseong. Increase ad buys with Joongwoo Group and Hyeonhwa Group... and send people to the chief editors personally to show goodwill.”
After giving the orders, I tapped my desk lightly, lost in thought. There was a mountain of tasks, and my head was crowded.
‘I’ll need to meet the Chief Justice directly, Yoon & Jang will handle the lawsuits...’
I organized my thoughts, then stood up. Better to deal with what required immediate movement first.
“Let’s go meet the Chief Justice.”
We left the office and headed to the home of Oh Jungseok, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
The Chief Justice greeted me in the same modest apartment as always.
“It’s been a while, Chief Justice.”
“Come in, President Kim.”
Though much time had passed since our first meeting, I couldn’t help but think he looked even younger than before.
“You look younger every time I see you, Chief Justice.”
“Do I? Thanks for the compliment.”
Smiling brightly, Oh Jungseok led me into his study.
After exchanging pleasantries and some trivial small talk, we soon moved into the real discussion, prompted by his question.
“So, you’re planning a hostile takeover of Ilseong Trading?”
“Yes, Chief Justice. Eva will file the requests for extraordinary shareholders’ meetings with the court. Normally it takes over a month, but I want it pushed forward.”
“I’ll put in the word.”
He nodded as though it were a trivial matter, so I continued.
“Not only Ilseong Trading, but we’ll file simultaneously across all Ilseong affiliates. The idea is to make it impossible to tell exactly which one is our true target.”
“Hmm...”
Oh Jungseok stroked his chin, lost in thought, but only briefly before speaking.
“This time, apart from expediting the process, I can’t help. Even if the procedures are a bit shaky. Public attention will be completely fixated on Ilseong’s control battle, after all.”
“I understand. We’ll prepare thoroughly so there won’t be the slightest flaw in procedure. I’d never tarnish your name with something this minor.” freewebnovel.cσ๓
To convene an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting, many steps were required.
First, the company’s board of directors had to be petitioned. If that was rejected, only then could a request be submitted to the court.
If the court judged favorably, it held the power to directly appoint the meeting’s chairperson.
“Ilseong will definitely file all kinds of lawsuits to stall. I’ll need you to block those as well, Chief Justice.”
“Alright.”
He nodded, then smiled.
“By the way, about those people who entered the National Assembly this election.”
Quite a number of people under Oh Jungseok’s wing had entered Parliament through this last general election.
“I hear you gave them a lot of support?”
“Of course. We help each other.”
“They all came to see me after they won.”
I understood the meaning behind his smile.
No matter how much clout they held in the legal world, getting elected wasn’t easy.
Since it was effectively Oh Jungseok who had placed them on the Centrist Party’s candidate list, his influence within the cartel had no choice but to grow further.
That was the nature of cartels: they weren’t formed out of loyalty but mutual benefit.
And sending over twenty people into Parliament all at once was enough to plant real hope of controlling the legislature.
If that happened, then after Chief Justice Oh, Prosecutor Oh Hyunwoo would naturally be positioned as leader of the cartel.
“Thanks to you, we’ve become even closer.”
“It was something that benefited me as well.”
My calm reply deepened his smile.
“So Hyunwoo finally made a proper friend. The boy’s so stubborn, he was bound to at least get one good person, hah.”
“He has all the qualities of a leader. That’s why we grew close.”
“Really? Unexpected.”
Though he carried himself with composure outside, at home Hyunwoo was still just a grandson. Seeing me speak of him sparked curiosity on his grandfather’s face.
“At our gatherings, he always takes the lead in organizing and guiding his peers. He can’t attend often, but he stays in touch frequently.”
Though he traveled abroad often, he did keep in contact.
Hearing my praise, Oh Jungseok’s expression softened warmly.
No grandfather disliked hearing good things about his grandson. I smiled ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) gently as well, watching the ordinary affection in his reaction.
“But still... when will that boy finally bring a girl home? Do you know anything?”
“I wouldn’t know. We don’t talk about women.”
Han Minkyung flashed through my mind, but I didn’t mention her. Even if they were seeing each other, that was Hyunwoo’s to reveal first.
“And you? No thoughts of marriage?”
Suddenly, the arrow turned toward me.
“Not yet. I’ve got too much to do. Maybe once things are settled, then I’ll look.”
Glancing at my calm face, Oh Jungseok pressed further.
“Then how about an introduction?”
“An introduction?”
“Yes. There’s a fine young lady. Want to meet her?”
Lately more and more people had been pushing matchmaking on me. I waved it off with an awkward smile.
“No, I don’t intend to marry through introductions or matchmaking.”
“You or Hyunwoo, neither of you will find time to date at this rate. Too busy, both of you.”
“Even so, I’d prefer it this way.”
I had suffered enough from a loveless arranged marriage in my past life. A relationship that was only a façade of marriage was worse than being strangers.
He asked again, but I declined. To change the subject, I posed a question instead.
“Chief Justice, do you have no ambition for another post?”
He chuckled softly.
“Me? Where could a man who’s been Chief Justice possibly go, other than the presidency?”
Korea didn’t officially codify a ceremonial ranking like the U.S. did.
But by tradition, it went President, Speaker of the National Assembly, then Chief Justice.
The three heads of executive, legislative, and judiciary never changed, though power balances might shift otherwise.
A man who had been Chief Justice couldn’t very well take anything below those levels.
The National Assembly Speaker’s post usually went to five-term senior lawmakers, so even entering Parliament wouldn’t guarantee him that.
Only the presidency remained, but he seemed utterly uninterested.
“Even if the chance came, I wouldn’t take it. Just a hollow title for a head of state, and only for five years. I’ve watched their downfalls for decades. Why would I want it?”
I nodded.
The end of a Korean president was rarely ever good — in the past, and in the future too.
His smile faded as he warned me gravely.
“Your fight with Ilseong won’t be easy. Their protégés are already strong within the courts.”
With Cheongpunghoe’s men gone, Ilseong’s protégés had quickly taken their seats.
“But you’re right to strike now. Wait too long, and the judiciary will be fully in Ilseong’s grip. If you want to bring them down, this is the time.”
“Yes. If I delayed, it would only grow harder. That’s why I decided.”
He was reading the times exactly right. There was a reason he had stayed atop the judicial cartel for so long.
In the future, Ilseong would grow so strong it would be called the Ilseong Republic, powered by the spread of its protégés across prosecution, courts, and politics.
They would always move under Ilseong’s orders before those of the President or the people.
“At first, when you said your goal wasn’t just to acquire control but to destroy them, I was puzzled. But now I see why. Still, don’t let emotions cloud your judgment.”
“I understand. Thank you for your concern.”
“Well now, I hope I haven’t nagged unnecessarily at someone who already knows what he’s doing.”
His hearty laugh rang around the study.
After finishing our farewells, I was on my way back to Pyeongchang-dong when Eva called again.
― We’ve declared war on Ilseong. We filed simultaneous requests for extraordinary shareholders’ meetings with agenda items for the CEO’s resignation and replacement of the entire board.
“They won’t accept, will they?”
― Of course not. They’ll stall, then refuse, buying time to think of countermeasures.
It was so obvious Eva didn’t even laugh, answering me seriously.
“I just came back from seeing the Chief Justice. As long as we follow procedure, court approval will come quickly. And the chairperson will be whoever we want.”
― Okay. What about the press?
“It’ll be on the front page of tomorrow’s morning papers.”
The picture we had all painted together was now coming to life.
― Ilseong won’t just sit still. They’ll probably attack us as foreign capital.
“That happened with Joongwoo Group too. This time we’ll sway opinion by putting the bank Eva acquired under Chairman Ha Myeonghun’s management. Ownership and management are separate. And profits earned in Korea will be reinvested here. That sort of line.”
― As expected, boss, you and I are in perfect sync.
Her laugh over the line was full of confidence.
“Don’t get too relaxed. Always track Ilseong’s moves. They’re nothing like Joongwoo or the foreign exchange bank. Their power and influence are on another level.”
Maybe she had been laughing just to ease tension, because now her voice was serious again. Ilseong was never to be underestimated.
― Of course. Oh, and the public tender for JC Jeongdang shares came in smaller than expected. Probably because the price went up too much...
“That’s fine. Just buy everything that was submitted. This is likely when Seo Maenggeon’s side will clean up their holdings to prepare for succession anyway.”
The initial goal had been to raise JC Jeongdang’s share price. Everything was unfolding as intended.
Seo Maenggeon wouldn’t let this chance slip by.
“Once the announcement goes out that we’ve settled the management dispute with JC Group, the stock will plunge. They’ll buy again then.”
― Should we do the same?
Maybe still scarred by losses from derivatives, Eva asked carefully.
Chasing immediate gains only led to bigger losses. I cut her off firmly.
“No. If we do that, people might misunderstand our intent with Ilseong. We need to push the narrative that our true goal was management rights, that we gave the current management another chance, and that we aren’t selling our stake. That’s how we control public opinion.”
― Got it, boss.
No small profit was worth damaging the narrative. Against Ilseong, our moves had to be more cautious than ever.
I ended the call, slipped my warmed phone into my pocket, and let out a quiet sigh. This was truly the beginning.
Time passed quickly. As expected, Ilseong rejected every one of our shareholder meeting requests.
Eva immediately followed the plan, filing court requests for the meetings and for access to the shareholder register.
Meanwhile, in the U.S., signs of the bubble collapse had begun to appear.
