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Chapter 66




< Meeting a friend always feels good. >
#66
Meeting a friend always feels good.
It was the first time I had seen Hyunseong in a year. Our gazes met in mid-air.
“What? Why are you standing there like a statue. Sit down. I already ordered.”
At Myeongsoo’s scolding, I took off my coat, hung it on the hanger, and sat down.
I thought it would be awkward to meet Hyunseong again since we hadn’t been in touch after parting in Busan.
“Have you been well?”
“Yeah, and you?”
“I’m always the same. You said you visited my grandmother every day, right? Thanks.”
“Hmm.”
But it felt as natural as if we had met yesterday.
That’s what true friends are like.
Even if it’s been a long time, there’s no awkwardness.
“Save the family reunion for later. Today’s star is me, you guys.”
We all laughed for a while at Myeongsoo’s playful words.
It felt good to meet and laugh with my friends after so long.
“Myeongsoo, this is just the beginning.”
“I know. I have to maintain the grades to be appointed as a prosecutor, right? I’ll have to study hard. I can study with the kids.”
“At least you won’t be lonely with the kids around.”
“Yeah, that’s true. Anyway, I’m going to think of it as being dead for two years.”
“Alright.”
Myeongsoo pointed at Hyunseong, who was silently eating.
“He’s going to stay at my place for a while. He’ll help me focus on my studies.”
Hyunseong nodded.
“Is everything sorted out now? Are you still scared of me?”
“Oh, you’re being ridiculous. Is Kim Muhyuk scary? I’m not scared anymore.”
Myeongsoo said something, but I waited silently for Hyunseong’s response.
Hyunseong put down his chopsticks.
“I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?”
“I understand now. Why you went to such lengths...”
“Alright, that’s enough. What do you plan to do now?”
“I’m going to stay at Myeongsoo’s place for a while.”
“Is that okay for you?”
“Yeah, I’m all better.”
“Take your time and think about what you want to do.”
It had been a year since the accident. There were no signs of aftereffects, as Hyunseong said, though he might be hiding them...
“I’d like you to help me with my work, but that’s just my wish. If you have something you want to do, just let me know. I’ll help you if I can.”
“Okay.”
“Thanks for taking care of my grandmother.”
“You’re welcome. I went there to make things easier for you.”
It would be convenient to entrust work to Hyunseong, who I could trust, but he was a friend who had been hurt too much for me to just use him for my own desires.
“Let’s eat.”
Just then, the dishes came out, and we reminisced and talked a lot, something we hadn’t done in a long time.
The pleasant mealtime soon came to an end.
On my way to Pyeongchang-dong after parting with my friends.
I leaned my head against the seat and closed my eyes.
“Boss, are you feeling good? Your expression is good.”
I opened my eyes at Manager Ma’s words. I must have been smiling without realizing it.
“Meeting a friend always feels good.”
I closed my eyes again and leaned back against the seat.
* * *
In early 1995, the yen, which had been maintaining a rate of around 100 yen to the dollar, began to strengthen sharply after the Great Hanshin Earthquake.
Hedge funds in the U.S. fueled the yen’s strength by buying large amounts of yen and Japanese government bonds.
Han Kyung-ryeol also bet on the yen’s strength using the funds he had earned in Mexico in January.
Now was the time to bet again.
He planned to liquidate all positions and bet his entire fortune on the yen’s weakness.
The Japanese foreign exchange futures market was on a different scale from Mexico.
It was large enough for us to make the trades we wanted.
In Mexico, we had created the product, but in Japan, there was no need to do so.
The derivatives available for us to trade were not lacking.
The yen, the second reserve currency after the dollar, and the dollar, the primary reserve currency. Their tug-of-war would bring astronomical profits to me.
The initial investments in Netscape and Steve Jobs in the U.S. were to disguise myself as an investment firm that invests in stocks.
Of course, those investments also made me a lot of money, but they were nothing compared to derivatives.
‘Everything is going according to plan...’
I didn’t know how the future would change because of my actions.
But to take control of Korea, there was no other opportunity besides the IMF crisis.
Even if I risked losing everything, I had to take the gamble.
Perhaps because I had already confirmed that the future didn’t change in Mexico, I wasn’t nervous even with the larger amount.
Having done what I needed to do in the U.S., it was now time to act in Korea.
“Grandfather, it’s Muhyuk.”
“Come in.”
I went straight to Grandfather’s study.
“I want to recover the funds invested in Hyunbo Group.”
“Hyunbo? Why there?”
Grandfather asked with interest at my unexpected request.
“Their debt is too high. They are continuously borrowing money from banks. We need to get the money back, or convert it into stocks and throw it into the market.”
Hyunbo Group.
A large conglomerate centered around Hyunbo Corporation, specializing in construction and manufacturing.
The Eunmi Apartments in Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, were also built by them.
It was the 18th largest conglomerate in the business world, but it was a hollow giant.
They had faced a crisis of disintegration due to the Sujeong District land privilege scandal, the largest power corruption case during the Sixth Republic.
However, they managed to avoid it by the chairman’s bribery tactics, but...
“Chairman Jang is just a real estate speculator, nothing more, nothing less. He’s too greedy. It will eventually come back to haunt him. I think it’s right to recover the funds before that happens.”
Grandfather stared at me for a moment without saying anything.
The regular sound of his fingers tapping the armrest of the sofa filled the study.
After a while, Grandfather nodded.
“I don’t fully understand your reasoning yet, but I trust you. Take charge of this matter yourself. Can you get Myunghoon’s help?”
It meant he was asking me to recover the funds from the chairman of a large conglomerate.
This was a kind of test.
I could sense the expectation in Grandfather’s face as he spoke.
I smiled calmly and shook my head.
“No, I’ll prepare and act with Manager Ma directly.”
Grandfather seemed pleased with my answer and called Secretary Ha with a smile.
“Transfer all the Hyunbo bonds to Muhyuk.”
“Hyunbo Group?”
“Yes, transfer them all.”
Grandfather looked at me again.
“Do you really not need Myunghoon’s help?”
“If Secretary Ha acts, it won’t be me recovering the funds, right? What Secretary Ha does is what Grandfather does. Everyone knows that.”
“Haha. Alright, give it a try.”
I bowed to Grandfather, who looked satisfied, and left the room.
* * *
“What’s the financial status of Hyunbo Group?”
“It’s not much different from other large conglomerates. If Hyunbo is in danger, all other large conglomerates are in danger too.”
Inside the study after Muhyuk left.
The smile had disappeared from Chairman Cheon’s face.
“There must be a reason why Muhyuk keeps insisting on recovering all the bonds. He said he has recovered most of the funds from companies outside the top 20, right?”
“Yes, we recovered all the funds, but for some companies, we bought more convertible bonds instead of recovering the funds.”
“What is that guy thinking, I wonder.”
“Why don’t you keep an eye on him since you’ve entrusted him with this?”
Chairman Cheon nodded but frowned.
The issue was already decided, but he couldn’t help worrying about his grandson.
“Losses aren’t that important. People who have been successful all along often collapse with just one mistake.”
“He’s always so confident.”
“That’s why I’m more worried. Too much confidence turns into arrogance. And that will eventually lead to pride.”
Chairman Cheon already trusted Muhyuk.
A successor who had never made a wrong judgment in all his actions so far.
He trusted Muhyuk, but he was worried that this trust might turn into a poison.
“Keep an eye on him. By the way, what about the Cheongpunghoe’s movements?”
“They won’t have the energy to focus on us right now. The current president is so stubborn...”
Chairman Cheon’s voice carried a hint of amusement.
The Cheongpunghoe had tried to pressure politicians and bureaucrats, but the president was pushing through with his own determination.
He had already caused a stir by implementing the real-name financial system, and now he was announcing the real-name property system.
“Have you transferred the ownership of the properties?”
“Yes, all the properties held in trust have been transferred to Master Muhyuk.”
“Good. Make sure there’s no room for problems in the future, even after I’m gone.”
“... Chairman.”
Secretary Ha looked at him with a troubled expression.
Chairman Cheon chuckled and waved his hand.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m not dead yet.”
“...”
Although his recent health checkup showed no abnormalities, Chairman Cheon knew his physical strength was gradually declining.
After dismissing Secretary Ha, Chairman Cheon looked out the window and muttered.
“Misook, I’m sorry. I’ll come to you soon.”
* * *
After receiving the bonds and financial statements from Secretary Ha, I began to review them.
I had already assigned Manager Ma to conduct a separate investigation.
There were no major issues on the financial statements.
The debt ratio was high, but it wasn’t much different from other large conglomerates.
However, I knew the inside was rotten to the core.
There were too many short-term loans. If one payment failed, the entire group would collapse.
The bonds Grandfather held were convertible bonds of Hyunbo Corporation, which were not even listed.
Using these, I could take over Hyunbo Group with some effort, but...
‘There’s no need to do that.’
There would be more tempting companies on the market later, and I didn’t want to eat this poisonous apple.
“Indeed, excessive external borrowing is causing excessive financial costs. They keep getting loans by bribing, but how long can that last?”
After listening to Manager Ma’s report, I was even more certain.
It was time to settle the matter.
“Let’s go. To collect the money.”
The headquarters of the 18th largest conglomerate, where we arrived under Manager Ma’s guidance, was in a truly absurd location.
I had never known this before.
“Are you sure this is the right place?”
I looked up at the commercial building of Eunmi Apartments and asked in disbelief.
“Yes.”
The answer didn’t change.
I let out a hollow laugh.
“This guy is not an ordinary person.”
The headquarters of Hyunbo Group was on the third floor of an apartment commercial building.
“This won’t be easy.”
I sighed involuntarily.
< Meeting a friend always feels good. > End