Genius Grandson Of The Loan Shark King

One month in Busan gave me a new kind of energy.

People said it didn’t suit me, but in front of Grandma, I was like a puppy of a grandson.

Of course, staying in Busan didn’t mean I could just ignore all my work.

Especially urgent was the matter related to the shell companies I’d set up in tax havens.

It had taken over a year—a massive project.

It could’ve been handled more quickly if I’d gone the simple route, but I twisted the structure as much as possible. No matter who tried to dig into it, they couldn’t be allowed to discover my or Han Kyungyeong’s involvement.

The paperwork had gone through several accounting firms in rotation. The total fees alone had exceeded tens of millions of dollars.

Finally, that work had come to fruition.

—Should I bring the documents to Korea?

In Han Kyungyeong’s hands was a file listing the entire tangled web of how one corporation passed through another, and which ones owned which parts—a complex maze of connections.

“Bring it to Busan. Just for a few days.”

That file had to be in my hands, no matter what.

—Okay. I’ll get the next flight. Haven’t been to Korea in a while.

“Yeah. Let’s talk when you get here.”

Starting next year, Han Kyungyeong’s role would become even more important. I needed to explain everything to him properly.

“Han Kyungyeong is flying in soon. Any other reports from the U.S.?”

“No. He’s been focused entirely on stock investments. His investment firm has gained some reputation in the U.S., and he’s been networking regularly.”

He’d been executing exactly what I had asked him to do.

“Now is when it all starts to matter. Only report directly to me for major issues—Chief Ma, you handle the rest.”

“Understood.”

“When is Eric arriving?”

“He lands tomorrow morning. We’ve booked a hotel for him in Haeundae. Should I bring him here?”

“No, I’ll go see him myself.”

“Alright, I’ll prepare accordingly.”

As I was talking with Chief Ma, I heard Grandma call out from outside the room.

“Muhyuk! Come eat!”

“Coming! Chief, let’s eat first and talk after.”

“Yes.”

Chief Ma had been staying in the guest room at the house.

After eating, I went for a walk in the nearby park with Grandma, just to help digest and talk a bit. Then we returned home.

“Chief, you have our men nearby, right?”

“Yes.”

“What about the car you mentioned last time?”

A while back, he had reported a vehicle that kept showing up along my usual routes.

It had appeared too often to be coincidence, so I’d asked him to investigate.

“They disappeared as soon as we tried to follow them.”

“And since then?”

“No other unusual movement.”

I didn’t show it in front of Grandma, but I’d definitely felt a strange gaze during our walk in the park.

Maybe I was being overly sensitive, but it didn’t sit right.

“Take a good look around. Something’s bothering me.”

“Understood.”

I hoped it was just my imagination.

If someone dared to invade my only sanctuary, I couldn’t forgive them—no matter who it was.

The next day, I met Eric Clarke for the first time at a hotel in Haeundae.

He was completely different from the image I had in mind—a refined middle-aged gentleman.

I’d expected a rough-looking man since he was a former Navy SEAL turned mercenary.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Charlie.”

“Oh! The young boss? I’m Eric.”

He seemed like a pleasant guy.

We moved into his hotel room to talk in private and began discussing the PMC’s establishment in detail.

“I’ve already started recruiting SEALs who served under me. They’re seasoned and highly experienced. You’ll be pleased.”

Eric clearly took pride in his team.

“What kind of company are you envisioning?”

“What kind... I just want a company that protects those who must be protected, no matter who the enemy is.”

“In that case, why even form a PMC? A private security firm could do that. I’d prefer if you were more specific—your vision will determine the company’s scale.”

He clearly understood that I was his superior—likely a product of years of taking orders in the military.

“I want the strongest, most famous, and largest company in the world.”

“Oh! That’s quite the ambition.”

Eric smiled and got into specifics.

“Then you’ll need someone with real influence—someone with a general’s background.”

“A general?”

“Yes. The U.S. military is more insular than you might think. I know the operatives well, but a military doesn’t run on operators alone. If you plan to headquarter this company in the U.S., it’ll be necessary.”

That made sense, and I nodded.

In countries like the U.S. and across the EU, lobbying was legal—and highly influential.

“Do you have someone in mind?”

“I know two possible candidates. Both have strong pull in Washington... but getting them on board will cost a lot.”

“Don’t worry about the money.”

“You really are just like Black said. If money isn’t an issue, I’ll bring in both.”

“Black?”

“Oh, that’s Mr. Ma’s nickname.”

“Hoo.”

I glanced at Chief Ma. He didn’t flinch at all—even when they were talking about him.

Truly a dull man.

Eric went on to explain the salaries and working conditions for operatives, along with the training academy plans in detail.

“The most important factor is equipment. No matter how well-trained your team is, if they’re under-equipped, it’s meaningless.”

He emphasized gear repeatedly.

“Weapons will be expensive.”

“Indeed. There are two options.”

Eric held up two fingers.

“First, the company can purchase and issue weapons to field operatives.”

“And the second?”

“Have the operatives purchase their own gear. Let them own their firearms.”

“Is that even allowed?”

“Yes.”

To be fair, the operatives probably knew better channels to get what they needed.

“What’s your opinion?”

“Both approaches have pros and cons, but I think the company should issue the gear—even if it means slightly lower salaries.”

“I agree. Let’s go with company-issued weapons.”

Eric added cautiously.

“This setup will be costly. But the more you invest in them, the more loyalty you’ll gain. And when your people know their gear is top-tier, they’ll also have a better chance of survival.”

I smiled at him.

“Don’t worry about the money. The best gear, the best people—let’s make everything the best.”

“I still don’t understand why you’re building a PMC. Mercenaries work for money. They fight for profit, not ideals or causes...”

Eric still seemed puzzled by my motives.

“I know. And I have plenty of money. I’ll make more. Once the company is fully built, you’ll be able to generate strong returns, right?”

“Of course. That’s «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» why I agreed to Black’s proposal and came to Korea. It’s just that I haven’t heard a word about how we’ll make a profit after putting in such astronomical sums.”

“I’m leaving that part to you, Eric. You’re the person I chose because I trust you. I’m investing—and if necessary, I’ll need soldiers I can use. Aside from that, you handle everything. Of course, all orders must ultimately come from me.”

As I smiled and spoke, Eric nodded in understanding.

“Soldiers are simple creatures. All that changes is who they’re loyal to—from nation to company. The company boss is our commander-in-chief.”

“Alright then. For the rest, speak with Chief Ma. I’ll connect you with my contact in the U.S. to handle the funding. He’ll be arriving in Korea soon—take some time to explore while you wait.”

“Understood, boss.”

Now that he had his instructions, Eric stopped asking questions.

He seemed trustworthy. If the compensation was sufficient, I doubted he’d betray me.

“He’s more refined than I expected. I was worried since he’s ex-special forces.”

“Not all operators or mercenaries are brutes. The muscles you build in training are nothing like gym muscles. Most look like average fit civilians. In modern combat, small arms and tech dominate—most of them stay around 80 kilograms.”

“I see, Black.”

I teased him, but he didn’t react. No fun.

“Well, let’s trust him.”

“He’ll be reliable. As long as he’s compensated, he won’t waver.”

With Chief Ma’s assurance, I let it go.

We could place a general as the figurehead CEO for influence, and leave operations to Eric.

A few days after the meeting with Eric, Han Kyungyeong arrived and called me from the airport.

I sent him to Eric’s hotel and then headed there myself.

“Muhyuk!”

Seeing Han Kyungyeong in a suite felt surreal.

The first time we met, it had been in a shabby inn.

“It’s been a while, hyung. A year, right? Since last year.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

As soon as we sat down, he pulled a thick envelope from his briefcase and handed it to me.

“This is the only original. No copies.”

Inside was a thick stack of documents listing complicated corporate names, account numbers, and more.

Even skimming it was enough to give me a headache, so I stopped midway.

“Even knowing the structure, it makes my head spin.”

“Right? I gave up trying to map it out.”

If this ever landed in the hands of U.S. authorities, Han Kyungyeong would spend the rest of his life in prison.

I chuckled at his slightly grim expression.

“This data exists only on paper. Never transfer it to any digital device. Even if it’s inconvenient.”

“I know.”

“I’ll give you the copy when you’re back in Korea. Don’t leave anything behind in the States.”

If even a few pages were destroyed, it could take forever to retrace the money flow.

There were six major shell companies.

Crown Water in the Cayman Islands, for instance, was structured so that 12 companies owned different shares.

We’d set up flagship investment companies in six major tax havens.

Each with $5 billion in capital—$30 billion total.

And in my secret account in the Bahamas: another $10 billion.

Dozens of accounting and law firms had helped, and even they didn’t know who actually controlled these entities.

“What’s next year going to be like? Keep monitoring Wall Street. I think we’ll start with Southeast Asia.”

“They made big profits in Mexico and Japan, so it feels like another target is coming.”

When hedge funds and investment banks on Wall Street joined forces, few countries could hold out.

Even Britain had to wave the white flag.

For developing nations, it was hopeless. Hyenas like them saw Southeast Asia as ripe hunting grounds.

And I’d be the one picking the fruit they left behind.

“Run the U.S. firm within legal bounds. It should operate without you. You’ve set it up, right?”

“Yeah. I recruited A-listers. Thanks to our generous compensation, I got the best of Wall Street. Money really works.”

“A-listers are opinionated, though.”

“Of course. But they’ve all suffered major losses before. When they see my results, they shut up. I built a system where they only take my orders. In this era, internet and phones are all you need.” freeweɓnovel.cøm

“Next winter, you’ll come to Korea. There’ll be a major event here. When that happens, you’ll appear as Korea’s ‘Black Knight.’ Powerful people will wait days just to meet you.”

Right now, he was just another hedge fund manager—but after the Southeast Asian crisis, he’d become a Wall Street legend.

When Korea turned to the IMF and received humiliating demands, those in power would stall and delay.

Then, like a comet—Han Kyungyeong would arrive.

If he came with a pile of dollars, he’d be treated like visiting royalty, and wield immense power.

Whether he realized that or not, he just smiled in front of me.

“Let’s eat. There’s someone I want to introduce. You’ll be covering their fee through your U.S. firm, so talk it over.”

“Who?”

“A soldier.”

Kyungyeong looked confused, not getting what I meant. I took him down to the restaurant.

Eric was already waiting.

“This is James, who runs a hedge fund in the U.S. And this is Eric Clarke, former Navy SEAL.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m James Han.”

“Eric Clarke.”

It was the first meeting of two men who would soon become close friends like no other.

< Let’s Make Everything the Best > End.