Free Web NovelAcademic ties and regional ties. In Korean society, these were assets that could never be ignored.
If Oh Hyunwoo chose to disregard those academic connections and punish them harshly, he himself would inevitably receive the same treatment someday.
Especially since, thanks to his grandfather’s influence, he was °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° practically sitting at the very top of the legal cartel, he was in no position to completely ignore academic ties.
Of course, Oh Hyunwoo wasn’t the kind of man who would obsess over such things—but saying it didn’t weigh on him at all would be a lie.
“Then who do we leave out?”
“Assemblymen Kim Hancheol, Lee Seongmin, and Hong Seokhyun.”
“They were all just elected this time.”
“Exactly. That’s what makes it even crazier. They weren’t defeated—they survived by winning as independents.”
Including this election, all of them were mid-career politicians with three or more terms under their belts.
They were also people with enough value to be pulled out and brought over to our side.
“Alright. Let’s see what Han Jiho puts on the table first, then decide. But if the negotiations fall apart, we proceed as planned.”
“In that case, there’s nothing we can do. Got it. Let’s do that.”
After that, we talked through a wide range of other issues.
Hyunwoo and Myungsoo, in particular, had a lot to say, since they were bound to be involved with me often.
As the drinking went on and everyone reached a comfortable level of intoxication, I brought up one last matter before wrapping things up.
“I’m setting up a new corporation this time. I want your names on it too.”
The friends who had been chatting among themselves all turned to look at me. Hyunseong, who was the most interested in things like this, asked first.
“A new corporation?”
“Yeah. A special-purpose corporation to oversee the Iraq reconstruction project. We’ll establish it as a limited liability company so it stays outside external audits—there shouldn’t be any major issues. There’ll be annual dividends, and...”
I went into detail about the corporation we were about to establish. freewebnσvel.cѳm
When I finished explaining everything, the most shocked among them was Myungsoo.
“You swallowed the housing and transportation rights of the Iraq reconstruction project all by yourself?”
It probably didn’t fully register for everyone, but those who understood international politics would take it differently.
When I nodded, Myungsoo immediately cursed, just as expected.
“What the hell. How did you pull that off? Is that even possible?”
“It just sort of happened. I actually got more than what was originally promised. Still, it wasn’t bad for me, so I took it. It’ll probably help the domestic economy a lot too. If nothing else, construction and the Middle East go hand in hand.”
There was no industry that brought more momentum to the domestic economy than construction.
Whenever an economic downturn hit, any government would loosen the purse strings through infrastructure projects.
And back in the 70s and 80s, during the Middle East boom, Korean construction companies had all gone overseas and earned massive amounts of foreign currency.
That had become the driving force behind the country’s economic growth.
This Iraq reconstruction project was so large it was already being called a second Middle East boom.
For me to secure a major stake in such a project meant that Korean construction companies would effectively take up a core role in rebuilding Iraq.
“I’m planning to bring in Joongwoo Construction, Daehyeon Construction, and Poongsan Construction first. I’ll think about the rest slowly.”
“Wow. We can’t run this as a news piece yet, right? Your approval ratings would skyrocket.”
This guy Myungsoo—he’s doing great, then suddenly says something completely absurd.
“Say something that makes sense. If we run an article about a secret agreement like this, do you think the U.S. would just sit still? You think the Korean government would announce, ‘Yes, this report is true. We’ve already distributed all the Iraq reconstruction rights behind the scenes, so don’t get any ideas and get lost’? The project would collapse before anything else. Nothing good would come of it. Just wait quietly. I’ll have it properly packaged and delivered when the time comes.”
At my scolding, Myungsoo stuck out his lips and nodded.
Turning the Iraq reconstruction project into the president’s achievement wasn’t difficult.
All the president had to do was visit the U.S. or dispatch a special envoy and show that he was making efforts for Iraq’s reconstruction.
If domestic construction companies ended up winning contracts anyway, it would all be credited to the president in the end.
There was no need to create future problems by rushing out an article.
“Anyway. I can’t give you a huge stake—each of you will get roughly 3%.”
Combined, the five people here would hold 15%. I would take 51%, and Han Kyungyeong would hold 10%.
Add the 5% promised to Obama, and ownership of 81% was already decided.
“Hyunseong and Jaeha can put it under their own names. The rest of you might run into trouble, so let’s register it under proxies. Family is fine—just someone you trust.”
At that moment, Hyunseong asked cautiously.
“Can I put it under someone else’s name too?”
“Why? There’s nothing tying you down.”
“No... I was thinking of putting it under my daughter’s name...”
He trailed off, clearly feeling self-conscious even as he said it.
You want to put it under the name of a baby who’s not even a year old yet? He’s already turned into a full-blown doting father.
I couldn’t help but chuckle as I looked at him.
“I don’t really mind, but then you’ll run into gift tax issues. Whoever receives the shares has to put up the investment capital... Kyungyeong will handle the paperwork on that. But if it’s under your daughter’s name, you’ll have to pay the gift tax yourself. You okay with that?”
“I am. I’d rather transfer it cleanly without any issues.”
“Alright, then let’s do that. Hyunseong, we’ll talk about the details separately later.”
“Thanks.”
After seeing Hyunseong nod, I turned my gaze toward Jaeha.
“You’re fine with it, right, Jaeha?”
“Yeah. I’m not living off the state’s payroll, so what’s the problem?”
With Hyunseong out, the only one putting his name on it directly would be Yoon Jaeha.
Oh Hyunwoo and Han Minkyung, who were currently serving as a prosecutor and a judge, couldn’t do it—and Myungsoo, being a politician, was even more out of the question.
“Then find a proxy as soon as possible and let me know.”
Everyone nodded.
I’d always called them friends, but it had bothered me that I’d never really done much for them.
Only now did it feel like a weight had finally lifted from my chest. Smiling softly, I pushed my glass forward.
“Alright. Let’s have one last drink and call it a night. Thank you all for celebrating Grandma’s seventieth birthday today.”
Everyone smiled and clinked their glasses together. The bright, pleasant sound rang loudly through the room.
