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Chapter 70




The Genius Grandson of the Loan King - Chapter 70 (70/840)
< Then, is it war? >
#70
Then, is it war?
“Brother, focus on the corporate separation for now.”
― It took a lot of time.
“Of course, splitting into dozens, hundreds of companies and then merging them again is a huge task. That’s understandable. Did you entrust it to a reliable broker?”
― Where are the reliable guys in this business? Money is the only trust. I paid the companies working on it a huge commission.
“Don’t skimp. It’s better to pay a high commission than to have problems later.”
― I didn’t want to ask, but I’m really curious. Is it because of taxes?
“No, if taxes were the issue, we would have set up the companies in tax havens from the beginning. We need to make sure no one can trace the owner of the money. The brokers should not even know what they are doing.”
― Hmm, I understand what you mean.
“Distribute the funds according to their use. You need to remain a good investor.”
Seeing the complexity in Han Kyungjeong’s mind, he added:
“Right now, only Wall Street knows your identity, but if your name keeps coming up in investments, it won’t be good. You need to return to Korea in glory.”
― Hahaha. Return in glory...
“Construction of the building for the Korean branch of Dream High has already started. When you come to Korea, you can move into the heart of Gangnam. Look forward to it.”
― I already am. The day I return to Korea. You won’t tell me when, right?
“It wouldn’t be fun if you knew. Just wait. Get along well with the big players on Wall Street. Meet and support politicians too.”
Han Kyungjeong was planning to make him a powerful figure in the U.S.
I couldn’t do everything myself.
The more I was known, the narrower my room to maneuver would become, so it was better to stay behind Han Kyungjeong.
Of course, it would be difficult to completely hide my identity.
I just didn’t want the general public to know, not just the big players.
― Well, I’m already supporting both the Democratic and Republican parties. But do we really need to do this for politicians?
“America is different from our country. It’s a country where lobbying is legally possible. The more you know politicians and business leaders, the more it will help you in the future.”
― Okay. I’ll focus on building connections for now. When will you come to the U.S.?
“Before the IPO.”
― Got it. Let’s talk properly then.
He ended the call with Han Kyungjeong.
The yen would continue to weaken for a while. He decided to liquidate everything a month before the maturity date.
After that, he planned to stop foreign exchange investments and aggressively invest during the 1997 Southeast Asian financial crisis to increase capital.
He felt a bit tired from waking up early for the call with Han Kyungjeong, but he got up to have breakfast with his grandfather.
* * *
Gukseong Construction started the project in Daechi-dong along with Daehyun Construction.
Park Dong-su’s influence was entering Gangnam.
“Prepare well. You can’t show weakness like last time. Got it?”
Although he didn’t bring the members from Busan, Park Dong-su was angry about being pushed back by the Baekho faction and called the members from Busan.
“Hey, brother. What are you so scared of? You’ve become a coward just by coming to Seoul.”
Yang Su-hyung, who was currently managing Busan, teased him, but Park Dong-su didn’t accept it as usual.
“Su-hyung, be serious. It’s still Baek Jeong-gi. He’s not an easy opponent. Even Sa-seong had to back down.”
Park Dong-su was more nervous than usual.
“But, brother, didn’t you say a full-scale war would be difficult after the fight in Myeong-dong?”
“Shouldn’t we be prepared for a sudden attack? That’s why we’re waiting for Ora Kan. We need to take over the surrounding commercial areas. Mu-hyuk said to stir things up without worrying.”
“Wow, that guy who used to be a nobody has become a big shot.”
“Watch your words in front of him. He’s not the Mu-hyuk you know.”
“Understood, brother.”
“And Manager Lee.”
Park Dong-su called out to Lee Sang-geun, who was reviewing something on the side.
Lee Sang-geun looked up from the documents.
“Yes, sir.”
“You don’t need to come to the site. Focus on the workforce and materials for now. No matter how much Daehyun is the contractor, it’s Mu-hyuk’s building. We need to do a good job. Absolutely no messing around with the materials. Got it?”
“Yes, sir. I understand.”
Park Dong-su, as well as Lee Sang-geun, was thinking about the section chief Ma and his subordinates he saw in Myeong-dong.
They were a terrifying force, even though they were fewer in number.
“We can’t disappoint Mu-hyuk again. At the very least, we shouldn’t embarrass ourselves. Remember that. Deal with anyone who messes around without mercy.”
“Yes, sir.”
Despite Park Dong-su’s preparations, Baek Jeong-gi took no action for a while after the construction started.
But just as they were starting to relax, a call came from the Baekho faction to meet.
“I don’t know what he’s thinking.”
“Are you going? It might be dangerous.”
“Enough. If he wanted to attack, he would have done it already. I’ll go and come back.”
Although it was the heart of the enemy’s territory, Park Dong-su went to the meeting place with only Yang Su-hyung.
It was a room salon managed by the Baekho faction.
As they parked the car in front of the shop, several large men guarding the entrance rushed forward.
“Welcome, brother.”
After receiving the greetings from the young members, Park Dong-su looked around.
It was late, but the Gangnam entertainment district was bustling.
“Is Baekho brother inside?”
“Yes, brother. He said to guide you in when you arrive.”
“Let’s go. Lead the way.”
Guided by a Baekho faction member, Park Dong-su and Yang Se-hyung entered the room salon.
A madam waiting inside led them to the innermost room.
“Here it is. I’ll leave now.”
The madam bowed and left before opening the door, indicating her role was done.
Yang Su-hyung took a deep breath and opened the door. Park Dong-su entered.
Baek Jeong-gi was sitting in the seat of honor, surrounded by the Baekho faction’s underbosses.
They all knew each other. Faces he had seen at various events.
Park Dong-su walked up to the table without hesitation and bowed to Baek Jeong-gi.
“It’s been a while, Baekho brother.”
Despite the hostile relationship, he greeted Baek Jeong-gi respectfully as a senior. He then straightened up and looked at Baek Jeong-gi.
Impressed by his demeanor, Baek Jeong-gi started laughing loudly.
“Haha, Dong-su! The kid under Sa-seong has grown a lot. Now that you’re the boss of an organization, you deserve respect. Nice to see you.”
Baek Jeong-gi gestured for him to sit on the sofa, but Park Dong-su didn’t sit next to the underbosses.
“Su-hyung, chair.”
“Yes, brother.”
Although it was uncomfortable, he sat on the auxiliary chair Yang Su-hyung brought, facing Baek Jeong-gi.
“Brother, I apologize. I have many subordinates under me. It’s hard to sit with the underbosses, so I’ll sit here.”
As if he already knew Baek Jeong-gi’s thoughts, Park Dong-su had created another seat of honor.
The expressions of the underbosses sitting around Baek Jeong-gi twisted.
“This kid, is he crazy? Hey, Park Dong-su! Do you want to die?”
One of the underbosses on the left side cursed.
He was also an underboss of the Baekho faction but a senior to Park Dong-su.
Park Dong-su knew he couldn’t back down here. His expression hadn’t changed since getting out of the car.
“Don’t include yourself in our conversation. And if you curse me again, it’s war. Got it?”
“What did you say?”
“Sit down.”
“But, Chairman.”
“Didn’t you hear me? Sit down.”
With Baek Jeong-gi’s stern command, the underboss, who was fuming, sat back down.
He glared at Park Dong-su, but Park Dong-su ignored him.
“Baekho brother, I know all the seniors here are higher in rank than me. You called me to talk organization to organization, but if you treat me like this, is there any point in talking? If you don’t want to, I’ll leave now.”
Baek Jeong-gi exchanged a look with Park Dong-su without answering.
The room was filled with suffocating tension.
Yang Su-hyung, standing behind Park Dong-su, was ready to block the door, not knowing what might happen.
The tension that could have exploded was suddenly defused by Baek Jeong-gi’s casual smile.
“Haha, yeah. My underbosses said they wanted to see you after a long time. If you were upset, I’m sorry. Everyone, go out.”
“Chairman.”
The underbosses tried to dissuade him with their eyes, but Baek Jeong-gi nodded toward the door.
“Dong-su, why don’t you send your subordinate out too and talk alone?”
Park Dong-su also nodded to Yang Se-hyung.
After the underbosses and Yang Se-hyung left, Park Dong-su got up and sat on the sofa to the left of Baek Jeong-gi.
“Excuse me, brother.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Baek Jeong-gi started with a slightly smiling face.
“I never imagined you would take over Yeongdeungpo. You’ve got a good sponsor, haven’t you?”
Seoul could be divided into three major areas.
The southwestern region covering Yeongdeungpo, Gangseo, and Guro; Gangnam, the most profitable area in Seoul; and Gangbuk, where the elders still held sway, though its glory had faded.
Even in Gangnam, the Baekho faction didn’t have complete control. It was a situation where three organizations were sharing the area through an alliance.
“Yes, I was lucky. Brother, you also have a strong back, don’t you?”
Park Dong-su shrugged. He didn’t know much about the forces behind the Baekho faction.
But he had a rough idea that they were more powerful than Mu-hyuk.
‘Mr. Park. Don’t push it. We have the right, but a full-scale war is out of the question. I don’t have a replacement organization, but they do.’
That was what Mu-hyuk had said.
“Aren’t you planning to enter Gangnam?”
Baek Jeong-gi poured himself a drink.
Park Dong-su took the drink with both hands, finished it in one gulp, and then refilled Baek Jeong-gi’s glass.
“They said you’re planning to build a building there. If other guys mess it up, what’s the point? We’ll take over the Daechi-dong area.”
Baek Jeong-gi also finished the drink in one gulp. His eyes, reflected in the glass, glowed blue.
“Can you handle it?”
“I don’t know if I can handle it, but I have to. It’s something I have to do. Brother, if we fight each other, the other two organizations in Gangnam will be the only ones to benefit, right?”
“Hmm...”
“Also, you sent people to Myeong-dong first. I don’t know the complicated situation, but wasn’t it a rule not to touch Myeong-dong?”
Baek Jeong-gi, who had lost the moral high ground, couldn’t answer and just drank.
Park Dong-su smiled faintly.
“I’ll only enter Daechi-dong. It’s not an entertainment district, is it? There’s no need to shed blood over a place no one cares about, brother.”
It was all true, but Baek Jeong-gi felt annoyed for no reason.
“If the rumor spreads that you beat me, you won’t be able to work in this business again. You know that, right?”
“Then, is it war?”
Park Dong-su said, as if there was no room for compromise.
Baek Jeong-gi’s face twisted nastily.
“What did you say? This kid!”
The temperature in the room seemed to drop instantly.
But Park Dong-su’s expression didn’t change.
“I don’t care. Whatever happens from now on, remember that it’s your fault. It’s war until one of us is completely wiped out. I’ll see you next time, brother.”
Without a second thought, Park Dong-su got up.
Baek Jeong-gi was taken aback for the first time.
“Hey, sit down. I’m not suggesting war. If I wanted war, I wouldn’t have called you here.”
Baek Jeong-gi had no choice.
His backer, the Cheongpung-hoe, had not given any orders regarding this matter due to other issues.
If he started a war alone, other organizations would surely attack him.
“Alright. Just Daechi-dong. If you take one step further, it’s real war.”
Park Dong-su smiled.
“Thank you, brother. Let’s have a drink.”
After the war on crime, a conflict between organizations meant mutual destruction. The two eventually reached an agreement to resolve the situation.
Baek Jeong-gi didn’t hold Park Dong-su responsible for the injury of Oh Jeong-gil, who was now disabled.
Gangsters would ally with their enemies if it was beneficial.
No one could blame them.
* * *
It was late, and everyone should have been asleep.
I was sitting on the bed in the dark room, looking at my phone.
Then, the call I was waiting for came.
― We reached an agreement. He said it’s okay to go up to Daechi-dong.
“Good job. There was no conflict, right?”
― If I had messed up there, Baek Jeong-gi wouldn’t be able to show his face. That’s why we went there.
“Thank you for your hard work. Please finish the construction on time without any issues. Use only the best materials. Don’t worry about the cost.”
― Got it.
“See you next time, brother Dong-su.”
The news that he had secured a position in Gangnam without conflict was a relief. After hanging up, I finally lay down on the bed.
The first time is hard, but the second and third times are easier.
Park Dong-su was doing his job well.
A few days later, it was my grandfather’s birthday.
Seeing my grandfather’s hesitation about whether to invite Cheon Ji-won and Cheon Ji-su, I suggested inviting them.
They were no longer my equals.
But perhaps because he was reluctant to invite them to the house, my grandfather gathered everyone at a hotel in Jongno.
Cheon Ji-won was watching my grandfather’s reaction, Cheon Ji-su was glaring at me, and Cheon Ji-yeong was as usual being affectionate to my grandfather.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve all gathered like this.”
We were the only guests because the entire hotel was reserved.
“My successor is Mu-hyuk.”
Near the end of the meal, my grandfather officially declared me as his successor.
< Then, is it war? > End