Free Web NovelCheon Taesan—a living legend of Myeongdong’s private moneylending market.
Born to a farmhand father during the Japanese occupation, he ran away to Seoul at age twelve and scraped by doing whatever jobs he could find to earn money.
After Korea’s liberation in 1945, he quickly began purchasing enemy-owned properties—real estate sold off at dirt-cheap prices by departing Japanese nationals. Following the Korean War, he also bought government-distributed property seized from the Japanese.
With this capital, he dove headfirst into the loan shark business, narrowly escaping death on multiple occasions.
And now, he had become one of the wealthiest men in Korea—renowned for his unmatched ability to mobilize cash.
Impregnable Fortress.
Neither the Third Republic—formed through a military coup—nor the Fifth Republic that followed, nor even any current regime, had ever managed to strip this loan shark king of his fortune.
This was the man whose home even the chairmen of Korea’s largest conglomerates waited hours just to visit.
“You’re here?”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“Hahaha. ‘Grandfather’... I like how that sounds. This is only our second meeting, but you remind me so much of Misook. Sit.”
“Yes.”
I sat across from him on the sofa.
“I heard the news. You placed first in your entire grade?”
“Yes.”
“Have you always studied? Or is this just impossible to explain?”
I shook my head calmly.
“No. I suppose those stormy teenage years helped me a lot. My grandmother collapsing also played a big part.”
“Uwahaha! ‘Stormy’ youth, huh... I had it rough too growing up. Fought, stole, hid—that’s how I lived.
So what did you gain from your stormy youth? Or was it a meaningless time?”
It didn’t feel like a grandfather-grandson conversation at all.
Every question came with a look sharp enough to feel like a blade brushing against my neck.
“I gained a friend. Someone I believe will be by my side until the day I die.”
“Oh? A friend? How young. So young.”
I met Chairman Cheon’s piercing gaze head-on.
“From beggars begging on the streets to the President in the Blue House, it all comes down to dealing with people.
I think the road you walk depends on how many people you can trust with your back.
And I’ve made a friend I can trust like that. So you could say I’ve already gained everything.”
“Hahaha. Am I speaking with a young grandson, or a seasoned old politician?”
That smile on Chairman Cheon’s face...
I had never seen it once in my past life.
“Do you want something?”
“We agreed on two years. I’ll tell you after I finish the college entrance exam.
Just don’t forget you promised to grant whatever I ask.”
“Fine. I’ve never broken a promise in my life. You should learn how heavy a promise can be.”
He nodded, clearly pleased.
“Still, that’s just a wager between you and me. I want to give a gift to a grandson who’s come to his senses...
What would be good?”
I said nothing.
“You know what I do, don’t you? Why haven’t you asked even once?”
“Does that matter? Whatever you do, you’re still my maternal grandfather. That doesn’t change.”
“Hoho. I suppose that’s true. Well, let’s eat first. Anseong!”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“Is it ready?”
“Yes.”
I followed Chairman Cheon as he rose and headed to the dining room.
There were about five or six side dishes on the table.
“Eat plenty.”
“Thank you for the meal.”
I picked up my chopsticks as he did. We ate in silence.
Chairman Cheon never speaks during meals.
He once said it was an old habit, maybe because of memories of going hungry, though he never explained further.
After the meal, we returned to the living room.
“I want to give my grandson a gift. Since you say you don’t want anything, I guess I’ll have to choose myself.
Manager Ha!”
Manager Ha came in at once from where he’d been waiting.
“Yes, Chairman.”
“What should I give the boy? I’m not used to this, so I’ve no idea.”
“Just give him what he wants.”
“He’s not saying anything.”
“Maybe he wants you to give what you think he deserves. That’s the kind of boy he is, from what I’ve seen.”
“Oh? Hahaha. So you’ve seen something in him too, Manager Ha?”
Chairman Cheon chuckled and fell silent for a long time, deep in thought. Then he spoke.
“Manager Ha, you still have those Daehyeon shares in your name, don’t you? Was it 4%?”
“Yes.”
“Transfer them to the boy’s name. Make sure the taxes are clean. I don’t want any noise surrounding a gift to my grandson.”
“Understood.”
Daehyeon...
A top-10 conglomerate—arguably the top one.
In the future, after the founder dies, it gets split up due to inheritance fights.
But for now, it’s unrivaled.
Even after the split, the resulting companies held second and sixth place in the chaebol rankings.
“This should be a fitting gift for a grandson.
You might not understand yet, but one day you’ll realize the weight behind the name Daehyeon.”
Oh, I know.
I know it’s not something you can buy just because you have money.
4% isn’t just about money—it means influence in the succession fight...
An absolutely unexpected gift.
“Thank you.”
“Can’t you speak more casually?”
“...I’m not comfortable yet. Maybe later.”
I deliberately trailed off.
He could’ve taken it the wrong way, but surprisingly, he nodded easily.
“Alright. Stay in Seoul for a few days. If you want to go somewhere, tell Manager Ha.
I’ll inform Busan. Relax and enjoy yourself.”
“Yes, sir.”
Manager Ha led me to the room I’d be staying in.
It was the same room I used to live in after entering university.
“If you need anything, just call.”
“Yes.”
Once the door closed and I was alone—
That smile. free𝑤ebnovel.com
That shocking gift.
None of it had ever happened in my past life.
Daehyeon shares.
I thought he’d just throw me some cash.
But he handed over something with immeasurable value.
‘He really is in a league of his own.’
I found myself wondering if I’d truly understood Chairman Cheon at all.
My life in Seoul was simple.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner with my grandfather.
During the day, Manager Ha took me on a “Seoul tour.”
...I wasn’t some country bumpkin, but whatever.
We stopped by a department store for a watch, shoes, clothes—
Manager Ha sincerely gave his best over the next few days.
* * *
The day before returning to Busan—
I was scheduled to meet Cheon Sooman and Cheon Suhan, my uncles.
“Father, we’re here.”
First to arrive was the ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) elder son, Cheon Suhan, with his wife Lee Soogyeong, son Cheon Jiwon, and daughter Cheon Jisoo.
I can endure this... I can endure this...
I repeated it in my head.
But the moment I saw Cheon Sooman’s face, I almost punched him on reflex.
Soon after, Suhan’s family arrived too, and the previously quiet mansion turned noisy.
At dinner, the whole family sat silently—everyone knew Chairman Cheon didn’t talk during meals.
Throughout it, both brothers kept darting glances at me, trying to gauge me.
When the cold, silent meal ended and everyone gathered in the living room—
“That kid is supposed to be Misook’s son?”
“Yeah. Got a problem?”
“Isn’t it ridiculous? The daughter who ran away because she didn’t want to live under your rules suddenly sends her son after seventeen years? And you expect us to believe that?”
“Agreed. Where’s Misook? Why’d she only send the kid? Are you sure this is legit?”
The two brothers desperately tried to deny me.
In the past, I feared and hated them.
Now they just looked pathetic.
As I sneered inwardly, Chairman Cheon’s fury erupted.
“Misook? You two have the nerve to say her name?!
As her brothers, you never once looked for her—not even to see if she was dead or alive—and now you dare question her son?
You’re asking where Misook is?!”
Both of them started stammering.
“B-but Father, you said you only had two children...”
Bullshit. They were probably thrilled.
Their youngest sister—spoiled and loved by their father—disappeared, and they likely danced with joy.
“When have you ever done what I told you?
You want to know where she is? She’s dead.
She died fifteen years ago—so young that this boy here doesn’t even remember her face.
Seventeen years. You had all that time to find her if you wanted.
Don’t think I didn’t know. Or maybe you did know and just kept it from me?”
Sweat began to bead on their foreheads.
They probably didn’t know she was already in a grave.
And now they were asking why she didn’t come with me?
“Whether you two accept it or not, he is my grandson.
I don’t need your approval.
I called you here just so you could at least recognize his face.
But from what I see now, there’s nothing good about letting him associate with you.”
“Father...”
“Dad, that’s not what we—”
Chairman Cheon turned away, visibly displeased.
“Muhyuk, go to your room.
Sooman and Suhan, bring your wives and follow me to the study.
The kids can go to their rooms.”
The moment he said I could go, I didn’t even look back.
“Yes, Grandfather. I’ll head up.
And it was nice meeting you both, uncles.
Hopefully, next time we can smile when we see each other.”
Saying something so fake nearly twisted my stomach.
“Haa...”
Only after reaching my room could I finally sigh.
Thankfully, no one noticed the murderous rage I felt when I first saw them.
Lying on the bed, I stared at the ceiling, trying to clear my head.
That’s when the door opened—without knocking.
“Hey~”
I turned my head.
Cheon Jiwon, Sooman’s son, entered with a sneer.
Right. That bastard.
“You’re Aunt Misook’s kid, right?”
“So?”
“So? That’s a rude way to talk.”
“You started it with informal speech.”
“You’re 17, right? I’m 23. Use honorifics.”
“I don’t want to.”
“You little shit...”
Same routine as before.
I turned back to the ceiling and waved my hand lazily.
“Go away. You’re annoying.
Turn the light off on your way out, would you?”
He didn’t expect that.
He just glared at me in silence.
He was probably used to everyone sucking up to him.
No one had ever talked back to him like this.
Delinquent.
There’s no better word to describe him.
His dad was the first son of Cheon Taesan, king of Myeongdong.
His mom was the daughter of Ilseong Group’s chairman.
Who’d dare touch him?
That privilege completely rotted his personality.
“You little bastard with no pedigree dares talk to me like that?!
Get up. Who told you to lie down in front of me? Huh? Not getting up?”
“Yes, hyung. We’re family, right?”
“What?”
“My pedigree’s yours too. Learn to read the room, genius. Be dumb or be a dick—not both.”
“You bastard! You trying to die?!”
God, so annoying.
I sat up from the bed.
“What? What now? I’m up. Say your piece and get out. I’m tired.”
“I told you to use honorifics. Last warning.”
“Yessir~ Please, speak your wisdom, hyung! I shall listen with humble ears.”
“...”
“If you’ve got nothing to say, please get out so your dongsaeng can sleep, hyung.”
“Hah! You crazy fuck. Fine—just take the money and piss off.
This place isn’t for someone like you. How much do you want? 100 million? A billion?”
It was hard to stop myself from laughing.
That exact line.
He said the same thing last time.
Back then, I said nothing—just stood there like an idiot.
“Wow, hyung’s giving his little brother an allowance?”
“What?”
“Isn’t a billion just pocket money?”
Cheon Jiwon scoffed.
“You really are crazy.
Keep this up and you’ll disappear without a trace.
You’re young, so maybe you don’t get it yet—but in this world, fists come before law.
Don’t ignore my warning.”
“Yes, sir~”
“Hah... I guess growing up without parents does that.
No manners.
This is why you don’t talk to kids raised without parents.”
...This bastard crossed the line too?
“Your grandma raised you? Or was it your grandpa?
Looking at you, I can tell how messed up those old geezers are.”
I grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the door.
“Yeah. I’ve got no parents. Nothing to lose.
You wanna see what getting beaten by a parentless bastard feels like?”
< Impregnable Fortress (1) > End
