Free Web NovelOn the third day after arriving in Greece, news of Chairman Song Youngjoo’s passing reached the island.
“Chairman Song has passed away. I’ll have to return.”
Letting out a deep sigh, I looked up at the sky. The clear blue without a single cloud made my chest ache even more.
“Can’t even rest properly, huh. We need to go back, right?”
Though Han Kyungyeong grumbled with his lips, his face had also hardened in unspeakable heaviness.
I gave a small nod.
“Yes, we must.”
Not going to the funeral hall would also be a problem. The share restructuring hadn’t been fully completed yet, and now Song Youngjoo had passed away.
Which meant I had to be there.
“Let’s depart.”
No one spoke on the way to the airport. Even Ailee seemed to sense the grim atmosphere and quietly held her tongue.
“I’ll see you next time, Ailee.”
“Yes, next time.”
We exchanged a brief farewell, and I boarded the private jet.
Even once on the plane, I couldn’t calm my tangled thoughts.
The long flight was exhausting, but there was no time to rest.
At Incheon Airport, I immediately changed clothes and went straight to the funeral hall.
“Eva, Daehyeon Group shares aren’t completely sorted out yet, right?” ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
“Yes. Most of it’s been handled, but Daehyeon Motors hasn’t been fully cleaned up yet. Still, they won’t be able to act out. The board has mostly been filled with our people, and Chairman Song Chanseong may have the title, but without our approval he can’t start anything new.”
It seemed Eva had organized things in her own way while I was away. I gave a small nod and added:
“All the Daehyeon Motors directors will be at the funeral hall. Meet them one by one and warn them not to harbor foolish thoughts.”
“Okay, Boss.”
Though Chanseong couldn’t split Daehyeon Motors from the group in this share fight, he was still someone who could harass Song Chanwoo at every turn.
“Brother, keep buying more Daehyeon stock.”
“Got it.”
I wanted to purely mourn Chairman Song Youngjoo. But in a chaebol funeral hall, it was impossible to simply grieve and pay respects.
It was always a sordid place of scheming, where people fought over which way power would shift and which hand to hold.
“We’ve arrived.”
Together with Han Kyungyeong and Eva, I stepped out of the car.
In front of the funeral hall, reporters with cameras formed a wall.
They had no interest in me as I got out of the car with the others.
“It’s Han Kyungyeong!”
“It’s CEO Eva!”
The reporters busied themselves snapping photos of the two. At least they had some conscience and didn’t try to push interviews.
In a low voice just enough for Manager Ma beside me to hear, I said:
“Destroy every photo with me in it. If even a glimpse got captured, get rid of it all. Not a single one left.”
Leaving Manager Ma at the entrance, I went inside with Han Kyungyeong and Eva.
The very same place where my grandfather’s funeral had been held. Chairman Song Youngjoo’s altar was arranged there as well.
Their bond had been long and entangled. Even in death, to have their last moments in the same place.
Entering the altar room, I laid down a chrysanthemum and took a moment of silent prayer.
‘Chairman, may you rest well in a good place, spending time with my grandfather.’
Lifting my head, I looked at the portrait of Chairman Song Youngjoo, still stern even in a photograph.
Turning, I bowed to Chairman Song Chanseong.
“My deepest condolences.”
“Thank you for coming.”
“Of course, I had to.”
After exchanging words with the other brothers, I finally greeted Chairman Song Chanwoo last.
“You stayed with him to the end?”
“Yes.”
“How did he pass?”
“...He left no will. He was no different from usual, and then...”
In the cold atmosphere of the funeral, only Chairman Song Chanwoo wept with true grief.
Branded as an illegitimate child, his father had been the only one in the family to take his side. Now that person was gone—it was only natural he was devastated.
But as Daehyeon’s successor, he couldn’t just grieve.
“Let’s talk for a moment.”
“...Yes.”
Chairman Song Chanwoo led me to a room.
The rest of the family watched him leave in silence.
Outside the altar, in a wide hall, Daehyeon executives were seated, drinking and paying respects.
As Chairman Song Chanwoo appeared, everyone rose instantly and bowed. It was now clear who Daehyeon’s master was.
“Do we know who has come to the funeral hall?”
“Most chaebol chairmen have visited.”
“Then assign separate rooms to CEO Eva and President Han Kyungyeong. I need them to speak individually with the heads of Daehyeon affiliates.”
“Understood.”
At his signal, the secretary chief rushed over.
“Assign a room each to CEO Eva and President Han. There are spare rooms, right?”
“Yes. I’ll arrange it.”
After he bowed and withdrew, Chairman Song Chanwoo took me to the innermost room.
We sat across the table facing each other.
“I thought you’d hold a family-only funeral.”
“The family decided to set up the altar here. Father always said he wanted only a simple family ceremony, but my elder brother insisted it had to be grand...”
Still dragged along by Song Chanseong? I raised an eyebrow, and he gave an awkward smile.
“Whatever the family meeting says, from now on you must have everything in your hands. If you start sparing your brothers, they’ll take you lightly.”
“I know. I do, but... for Father’s last moment, I wanted to leave it to my brother. It felt like the right thing. But next time, I won’t.”
“Steel yourself. That seat allows not even a single moment of carelessness.”
Chairman Song Chanwoo gave a bitter smile.
“You sound exactly like Father.”
“You know how Honorary Chairman Song treated his brothers. That’s what it means to be master of Daehyeon.”
Chairman Song Youngjoo had driven out every one of his brothers who had founded the company with him.
He did hand them subcontractors supplying Daehyeon Motors and other affiliates, but for men who had been founding pillars and nurtured Daehyeon for decades, it was harsh.
Yet I fully understood his reasoning. Even if the brothers had no bad intentions, outsiders could always incite them.
“Can I lead Daehyeon without Father?”
“You’re the son of the Honorary Chairman. You’ll manage fine. Whether you grow it further—I can’t say.”
In the original flow, Song Chanwoo killed himself years after Song Youngjoo’s death. So even I didn’t ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) know his exact management ability.
There’s a saying: Tiger father, tiger son.
As the son of a tiger-like father, at the very least he would manage the basics. And if not, I would make sure of it.
“I’ll give you much support. For now, focus not on reckless expansion, but on firmly seizing the group’s power.”
“What should I do?”
His voice was weak, again reminding me how fragile he was.
“Drive out all of the Honorary Chairman’s retainers into dead-end posts. Fill those seats with your own men.”
“Father said the same. He told me to push out every executive he appointed and put my own in their place.”
New wine must be put into new wineskins. With the master changed, the others must step aside.
“But... there were also those who supported me from beginning to end. Father told me to drive them out too.”
He hesitated, but I agreed with the Honorary Chairman.
“He meant a generational shift. I agree.”
“There will be fierce backlash.”
“You must still do it. A blade rusts if not used. Once it rusts, your subordinates will see you as weak.”
“...Haa.”
“You must be ruthless.”
The sight of Chairman Song Chanwoo sighing deeply didn’t please me.
“I’m only helping because of the Honorary Chairman’s earnest wish. If you keep showing weakness like this, I’ll have no choice but to reconsider.”
“I’m trying to change, but it’s not easy. Still, it was Father’s will, so I’ll follow it.”
“No. Not Father’s will—your own. How long will you live under the Honorary Chairman’s shadow?”
Surprise flickered across his face.
“I also oppose the North Korea project, personally. That was Chairman Song Youngjoo’s final desire, so I can’t help it—but think of changing everything else. The times have changed. You must adapt.”
“I thought you’d tell me to follow Father’s path... This is unexpected.”
“Just continue the North Korea project. If it succeeds, the credit will go to Chairman Song Youngjoo. If it fails, the blame will fall on you. Keep that in mind.”
The groundwork for the project had already been laid by Song Youngjoo.
Though temporarily halted by the Pyongyang coup, the link between Kim Jongil and Daehyeon still remained.
“Chairman, you should come out now.”
At that moment, knocking was followed by the urgent voice of the secretary chief.
“What is it?”
“The President will arrive shortly.”
“What?”
Startled, Chairman Song Chanwoo jumped to his feet.
“The President himself is coming?”
“Yes, just received the call.”
Even I hadn’t expected this visit. Standing, I asked:
“Was this planned beforehand?”
He shook his head. Outside, the secretary chief kept calling urgently.
“No, there was no notice.”
“Unexpected indeed. Presidents never attend such events. But then, since he was the greatest contributor to regime change, it’s not strange either.”
“I’ll go out first.”
“Go ahead. I’ll follow slowly. We can’t have roles reversed.”
“Thank you. I’ll go out first.”
Hurriedly, Chairman Song Chanwoo left the room. Left alone, I sat back down.
“Boss, may I come in?”
After a knock, Manager Ma’s voice followed.
“Come in.”
He entered and gave his report.
“The reporters? No resistance?”
“Of course there was resistance. But after a call with the editor-in-chief, we received their memory cards and tapes. We checked them before sending them back to the stations and newspapers.”
“Good work. Noisy outside, isn’t it?”
“With the sudden presidential visit, the bereaved and all mourners are bustling.”
Exactly what I had worried about. Shaking my head, I let out a bitter smile.
“The roles have been reversed.”
“Still, having the President pay respects to Chairman Song Youngjoo on his final path—that holds meaning, doesn’t it?”
“Perhaps.”
This was the greatest difference between my grandfather, who had stayed in the shadows, and Song Youngjoo, who had lived in the light.
“Oh, and Chairman Ha Myeonghun just landed. He’s heading straight here.”
“He was in the U.S., right?”
“Yes.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen him. Not Chief Ha anymore, but Chairman Ha.”
At my slip, Manager Ma showed a rare smile.
“You always smile when Ha Myeonghun comes up. Regretting not meeting him often because of me?”
Teasing him lightly, Manager Ma quickly erased the smile and stiffened his tone.
“No, sir.”
Just then, the door suddenly burst open, and a group of unfamiliar men streamed in.
“What’s this? Who barges in here without permission?”
Frowning, I looked at the unwelcome intruders.
