Free Web Novel“Hyung, focus on splitting the legal entities for now.”
― That takes a lot of time.
“Well, yeah. We’re dividing everything into dozens, even hundreds of companies, then merging them back again. It’s a huge job. You hired trustworthy brokers, right?”
― Where the hell do you find trustworthy people in this field? Money’s the only thing you can trust. I handed out fat commissions to all the companies doing the restructuring.
“Don’t skimp. It’s better to overpay now than have problems later.”
― I wasn’t gonna ask, but I’m really curious. Is it because of taxes?
“If it were about taxes, we would’ve set up corporations in tax havens from the start. We have to make sure no one can ever trace who owns the money. Not even the brokers should know what they’re actually doing.”
― Hmm, I get what you’re saying.
“We’re distributing the funds according to usage. You have to remain the clean investor.”
I added that as Han Kyungyeong sounded a bit tangled in thought.
“Right now, only Wall Street knows who you are. But if your name keeps popping up in every investment, it’ll only backfire. You want to make a triumphant return to Korea, right?”
― [N O V E L I G H T] Hahaha. A triumphant return...
“We’ve already started construction on Dreamhigh’s Korean branch building. By the time you’re back, it’ll be smack in the middle of Gangnam. Look forward to it.”
― I already am. Coming back to Korea... but you’re not gonna tell me when, are you?
“It’s no fun if you know. Just wait. Get close with the big Wall Street names. You’re meeting politicians too, right? Back them.”
I was planning to turn Han Kyungyeong into a high-profile figure in the U.S.
I couldn’t do everything myself.
The more well-known I became, the less freedom I had to move. It was more useful for me to stay behind the curtain of someone like Han Kyungyeong.
Of course, I couldn’t hide my identity completely.
But at least ordinary people wouldn’t know who I really was.
― Yeah, I’ve been donating to both Democrats and Republicans. But do we really need to butter up politicians?
“The U.S. isn’t like Korea. Lobbying is legal here. The more politicians and business leaders you know, the more power you have later.”
― Okay. I’ll start seriously building connections. When are you coming to the U.S.?
“I’ll be there before the IPO.”
― Got it. We’ll talk properly then.
I ended the call with Han Kyungyeong.
The yen was likely to stay weak for a while. We agreed to liquidate everything a month before maturity.
After that, I’d halt forex trading, then resume with aggressive investments during the 1997 Southeast Asian financial crisis to grow our capital.
I had gotten up early for this call, and now I felt a little drowsy. But I got up to eat breakfast with Grandpa.
* * *
Geukseong Construction had begun work on the Daechi-dong project alongside Daehyeon Construction.
Park Dongsu’s forces had now entered Gangnam.
“Be ready. You can’t show weakness like last time. Got it?”
He hadn’t brought in the Busan crew, but the humiliation of being steamrolled by Baekho faction clearly still stung. He ended up calling them up after all.
“Aigoo~ Boss, why so tense? You head to Seoul and suddenly turn into a scaredy-cat.”
Yang Soohyeong, now managing Busan, joked around, but Park Dongsu didn’t bite like he usually would.
“Soohyeong, don’t mess around. It’s Baek Jeonggi we’re dealing with. He’s no easy opponent. Even Brother Saseong bowed his head to him.”
Park Dongsu was clearly nervous this time.
“But boss, didn’t you say after that brawl in Myeongdong that a full-on war was off the table?”
“That’s why we need to be ready in case they come at us first. That’s why I called you. We’ve got to claim the surrounding commercial district. Muhyuk told me not to worry and to do what I needed.”
“Keh~ That tiny brat really turned into a big shot.”
“Watch what you say. He’s not the Muhyuk you used to know.”
“Understood, boss.”
“Also, Director Lee.”
Park Dongsu called out to Lee Sanggeun, who was reviewing something at the side.
Lee looked up from his papers.
“Yes, boss.”
“You don’t need to be on-site. Just focus on securing the workforce and materials for the project. Even if Daehyeon is the main contractor, this is Muhyuk’s building. Everything has to be perfect. And if I hear anyone’s playing dirty with the materials, they’re done. Got it?”
“Yes, boss. I understand.”
Both Park Dongsu and Lee Sanggeun were reminded of Chief Ma and his men from Myeongdong.
They were fewer in number than their own crew, but their skills were terrifying.
“We can’t disappoint Muhyuk again. At the very least, we shouldn’t embarrass ourselves. Got it? Anyone messing around gets dealt with.”
“Yes, boss.”
Despite all this preparation, Baek Jeonggi made no moves after the project began. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
But just as the tension began to ease, a message came from Baekho faction asking for a meeting.
“What’s he thinking?”
“Are you going? It could be dangerous.”
“It’s fine. If he were going to hit us, he would’ve done it already. I’ll go.”
Though deep in enemy territory, Park Dongsu headed to the meeting location with only Yang Soohyeong.
It was a room salon under Baekho faction control.
As they parked and stepped out of the car, several large men stationed outside the establishment rushed forward.
“Welcome, sir.”
Park Dongsu casually acknowledged the greetings of the younger guys and scanned the area.
It was Gangnam nightlife territory, so it was still lively despite the late hour.
“Is Brother Baekho inside?”
“Yes, sir. He said to escort you in.”
“Let’s go. Lead the way.”
Following the Baekho member’s guidance, Park Dongsu and Yang Soohyeong entered the room salon.
Inside, a madam waited to escort them to the back room.
“Here it is. I’ll leave you now.”
The madam bowed like she was done with her role and stepped away.
Yang Soohyeong took a deep breath and opened the door. Park Dongsu walked in.
Baek Jeonggi sat at the head of the room. All the Baekho faction lieutenants were present.
They were familiar faces—ones he’d seen at events multiple times.
Without hesitation, Park Dongsu walked up to the table and bowed.
“It’s been a while. Good to see you, Brother Baekho.”
Despite their hostile relationship, he gave a proper greeting to his senior. Then he straightened up and looked Baek Jeonggi in the eye.
Baek Jeonggi, intrigued, burst into laughter.
“Hahaha, Dongsu! The little brat under Saseong really grew up. Well, you’re a boss now—I should show some respect. Good to see you.”
He gestured toward the couch, but Park Dongsu didn’t take a seat beside the other lieutenants.
“Soohyeong, chair.”
“Yes, boss.”
Though it was a bit awkward, Yang Soohyeong brought over a separate chair. It faced Baek Jeonggi directly.
“Apologies, sir. I have many men under my command. I can’t exactly sit shoulder to shoulder with the lieutenants. I’ll sit here.”
It was a deliberate move—he’d effectively created a second head seat.
The lieutenants around Baek Jeonggi didn’t like that.
“You little bastard. Hey! Park Dongsu! You wanna die?”
One of the lieutenants on the left shouted. Though part of Baekho faction, he was also senior to Park Dongsu.
But Dongsu knew he couldn’t back down here. His expression hadn’t changed since the moment he stepped out of the car.
“You stay out of this, unless you're the boss. And try swearing at me one more time—that will be war. Got it?”
“What did you just say?”
“Sit down.”
“But, Chairman—”
“Did you not hear me? Sit.”
At Baek Jeonggi’s frigid command, the furious lieutenant sat down again.
Though he kept glaring, Park Dongsu ignored him completely.
“Brother Baekho, I know all the gentlemen here outrank me. But you called me to talk boss to boss. If this is how it's going to be, there’s no point in continuing. If this is what you intended, I’ll be leaving now.”
Baek Jeonggi said nothing—just locked eyes with Dongsu.
A suffocating silence gripped the room.
Yang Soohyeong, standing behind Dongsu, was already preparing to block the exit if anything went down.
Then, the tension snapped—Baek Jeonggi smiled as if nothing happened.
“Haha, yeah. My lieutenants just wanted to see your face again. If you’re upset, my bad. Everyone out.”
“Chairman...”
The lieutenants exchanged looks of protest, but Baek Jeonggi gestured to the door.
“Dongsu, how about your guy waits outside too?”
Park Dongsu nodded at Yang Soohyeong.
Once they were alone, Dongsu got up and sat on the left sofa near Baek Jeonggi.
“Excuse me, sir.”
“No worries. Have a seat.”
Baek Jeonggi, still smiling faintly, began.
“I never thought you’d take over the vacant territory in Yeongdeungpo. Got yourself a solid sponsor, huh?”
Seoul was divided into three major sectors.
The southwest—Yeongdeungpo, Gangseo, Guro. The wealthy Gangnam area. And the faded glory of Gangbuk, where the old-timers still ruled.
Even Gangnam wasn’t under Baekho’s full control. Three factions shared the region in an uneasy alliance.
“Yeah, I got lucky. But you’ve got solid backing too, don’t you, sir?”
Dongsu shrugged. He didn’t know much about the power behind Baekho faction.
But he had a good idea they were stronger than Muhyuk.
‘President Park. Don’t overreach. We’ve got the moral high ground, but that doesn’t mean we can afford a full war. I have no replacement for you. They still do.’
That was Muhyuk’s warning.
“You’re not planning to push into Gangnam, right?”
Baek Jeonggi poured a drink as he asked.
Dongsu accepted it with both hands, downed it in one shot, then poured for Baek Jeonggi in return.
“He’s building in the area. I can’t let others sabotage the job. We’ll operate in the Daechi-dong zone only.”
Baek Jeonggi downed his glass too. His eyes glinted cold blue.
“Can you handle it?”
“Whether I can or not... I have to. This has to be done. And really, if we clash, the only ones who’ll benefit are the other two groups in Gangnam.”
“Hmm...”
“And sir, you’re the one who sent men into Myeongdong first. I don’t know the full details, but wasn’t that a no-go zone? That was the rule.”
Baek Jeonggi, cornered on principle, didn’t reply and just drank.
Park Dongsu smiled faintly.
“We’ll stay within Daechi-dong. It’s not even part of the nightlife zones. There’s no need for blood to be spilled over an area no one even pays attention to.”
It was all logical—but Baek Jeonggi was still annoyed.
“If word gets out I backed down to you, I won’t be able to show my face around here. You know that, right?”
“Then is this war?”
Park Dongsu asked, as if compromise was no longer an option.
Baek Jeonggi’s face twisted with rage.
“What did you just say, you bastard?!”
It felt like the temperature in the room dropped.
But Park Dongsu’s expression didn’t change.
“I don’t mind. Just don’t forget—whatever happens from now on, it’s on you. It’ll be war until one side is wiped out. Well then, I’ll take my leave, sir.”
He stood without hesitation.
For the first time, Baek Jeonggi was flustered.
“Hey, sit down. We’re not going to war here. You think I’d call you here if that were the case?”
He had no choice.
The Cheongpunghoe backing him had given no orders—they were busy with other matters.
And if he started a war on his own, other groups would pounce on him.
“Fine. But only Daechi-dong. One step beyond that, and it’s war.”
Park Dongsu smiled.
“Thank you, sir. Allow me to pour you another drink.”
Since War on Crime, any turf war between gangs meant mutual destruction. The two resolved it through negotiation.
Baek Jeonggi didn’t demand accountability for Oh Jeonggil being crippled.
Because gangsters shake hands with enemies if there’s profit in it.
No one could blame them.
* * *
It was a time when most people were fast asleep.
I sat on the edge of my bed in the dark, staring at my phone.
Then the call I’d been waiting for came in.
― We settled. He’s allowing Daechi-dong.
“You did well. No trouble?”
― If I’d brought the crew, Baek Jeonggi would’ve lost face. That’s why it was just the two of us.
“Thank you. Please make sure the project finishes on time. Use the best materials. Don’t worry about the cost.”
― Got it.
“See you soon, Dongsu-hyung.”
News had come: we’d secured a foothold in Gangnam without a single clash. Only then did I lie back on my bed.
The first time is always the hardest. The second, third time—much easier.
Park Dongsu was doing an excellent job.
A few days passed, and it was Grandpa’s birthday. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
He was hesitant about inviting Cheon Jiwon and Cheon Jisoo, but I told him to go ahead.
They were no longer my enemies.
Still, perhaps not wanting them in his home, Grandpa invited everyone to a hotel in Jongno.
Cheon Jiwon kept glancing at Grandpa, Cheon Jisoo glared at me, and Cheon Jiyoung remained by Grandpa’s side, acting affectionate as always.
“It’s been a while since we’ve all gathered like this.”
The restaurant had been booked out—there were no other guests.
“My successor is Muhyuk.”
At the end of the meal, Grandpa officially named me as his heir.
< Then Is This War? > End.
