The Genius Grandson of the Loan King - Chapter 94 (94/840)
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#94
Are you all set?
"Brother, that... our dad is getting out next month, right? I want to bring him home..."
After watching my reaction for a long time, she finally spoke with difficulty.
"I'll take care of it. Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Still..."
I playfully ruffled Chanji-young's hesitant head.
"Ah!"
"Alright. Do what you want. But I don't want to get involved with your dad. You understand that, right?"
"I know. Thanks, brother."
Seeing how relieved Chanji-young looked, I realized she must have been really worried about telling me.
In the end, Chansuhan decided to end it here.
"Do you often meet the other cousins?"
While drinking the beverage in front of her, Jiyoung shook her head at my question.
"No, we lost touch. Honestly, our family is like a kite with its string cut. Even on the maternal side... But not with Jiwon and Jisu."
Grandfather, angry about Chansuhan's involvement in the slot machine incident, used all his power to bring down Chanji-young's maternal family.
It was a clear example of how far a politician could fall once their political career was over.
"I can understand why I'm not close to them, but shouldn't it be different for you?"
My mouth felt dry.
I thought I couldn't help at all, but when I heard that Jiwon and Jisu had cut ties with Chanji-young, I didn't feel good.
"Well, we weren't that close to begin with. It's fine. I only need you, brother."
What can I do with this bright smile?
"Is there anything you want to do?"
"Hmm... I want to be a singer."
"Can you sing well? Being a singer isn't something just anyone can do. Is it just something you want to try?"
"I haven't heard anyone say I can't sing, but Mom is against it."
"If you need help, just let me know. I'll help you."
"Okay, thanks."
After finishing the conversation with Chanji-young and going back to my room, I casually mentioned to Masukdae:
"Section Chief, I think the pressure on Chansuhan can stop now. Please contact them."
"Yes, Boss."
"When is Black Bear coming in?"
"They're sending staff next month. They said the company has already been established."
"We need to hire staff in Korea too."
"Eric said he'll take care of it. Korean special forces are quite well-known among mercenaries."
"Got it."
Eva, despite some difficulties, successfully negotiated a good deal to acquire Peregrine.
- Boss, what about the bonds tied up here?
"Do you have someone to manage Hong Kong?"
- Well... I do.
"Just maintain the status quo. You don't need to negotiate with the countries that have the bonds, including Indonesia. You'll be able to collect them in a few years. We needed the Peregrine name."
- Okay, Boss.
Eva said cheerfully:
Then I'll hire the risk management team leader from HSBC. He's not aggressive in investments but is excellent in risk management.
"When are you coming to Korea?"
- Next week.
"Real estate acquisition?"
- We've set up a dedicated team and are focusing on buildings that have dropped by more than 50% compared to 1996.
"Buy all the units of Eunmi Apartments without haggling over the price. There are a lot of large buildings on the market, so we're still waiting."
I instructed Eva, who was humming:
"When you come to Korea, there will be something that requires your full effort. You'll need to use the influential figures from the mob you've recruited. We'll talk more when you get here."
I ended the call with Eva.
Due to restrictions on foreigners owning real estate, we couldn't buy properly yet. So, we set up a real estate company to buy indirectly.
But once the Kim Hak-gwon government is in place, the real estate market will be fully open, so we just need to hold on a bit longer.
Time passed, and it was the day of the presidential inauguration.
I sat in my room, watching the inauguration, lost in thought.
The preliminary work to take over the Jungwoo Group was almost complete.
- I am Kim Hak-gwon, taking office as president at a time when the Korean economy is in unprecedented crisis...
Behind President Kim Hak-gwon, who was giving his inaugural address in front of the National Assembly, I saw Han Kyung-young.
'Sure, he looks good on camera.'
On the right side, I saw the former presidents, whose pardons Kim Hak-gwon had agreed to last year for national unity.
I turned off the TV as the motorcade began after the inauguration.
I picked up the phone and called Prosecutor General Yun.
"President, I want you to move immediately tomorrow. Are you all set?"
- Yes, the Central Investigation Bureau will move in right away. The problem is the president's reaction, but we plan to arrest him immediately. We need to catch Chairman Park Daeho while he's in the country for the inauguration.
Chairman Park Daeho, who spends most of the year abroad, was in the country for Kim Hak-gwon's inauguration.
"Yes, that's why we set D-Day for the day after the inauguration. Today, all the newspapers will focus on the inauguration. We'll start raising suspicions in the morning papers tomorrow. Move into the Jungwoo headquarters in the morning. The warrant will be issued immediately. We've already talked to the court."
- If the warrant comes on time, we can move in before the news spreads.
"We need to finish before the president can properly exercise his authority. He'll probably watch the public reaction for a while."
- Are you getting support from abroad?
"There will be foreign capital talking about hostile takeovers of key Jungwoo Group subsidiaries."
- Got it. I'll call you again tomorrow.
"Understood. When this is over, I'll send you a variety of seasonal fruits. Give them to your wife."
- Hahaha, she'll love that. I'll hang up.
As soon as the call with Prosecutor General Yun ended, I dialed another number.
"Chief Justice, it's been a while. How are you?"
- Yes, it's been a while.
It was Chief Justice Oh Jeong-seok.
"About what I mentioned last time, it will start tomorrow. Please contact the court."
- You mean the Jungwoo Group?
"Yes."
- Got it. I'll pass the word.
"Thank you. I'll visit you once this is over. Your role is crucial. We can't let foreigners take Korea's wealth. In a few years, you'll be remembered as the one who protected Korea's assets."
- Hahaha.
I couldn't directly move Chief Justice Oh Jeong-seok, but the judges I had connections with would all get positions in the Jungwoo Group and other companies to be acquired.
After ending the call with Chief Justice Oh Jeong-seok, I called Yoon Hyung-min, the CEO of Yoon & Jang.
"Father, it's been a while."
- Muhyuk, is it? Is it finally starting tomorrow?
"Yes. Have you talked to Future Investment?"
- The fee will be substantial. Foreign capital is generous.
Yoon Hyung-min laughed on the other end of the line.
"This is just the beginning. We need to handle various lawsuits. Please support Future Investment with all your might."
- Understood. I've set up a dedicated team. They're all our top lawyers, capable of dragging out even losing cases to buy time.
"Yes, Father. Thank you."
- Jungwoo Group... I'm looking forward to it.
The call with Yoon Hyung-min ended.
I mobilized all the connections I could, starting a full-scale operation.
Money alone wasn't enough to take over a major Korean company.
Even in my previous life, the speculative capital that flooded in could only acquire a few companies.
But Korea was a country where backdoor methods worked better than straightforward ones. Foreigners wouldn't understand.
Lone Star, which acquired the foreign exchange bank, quickly learned this and hired Koreans to lobby and bribe comprehensively.
But other hedge funds and investment banks attacked Korea straightforwardly, not understanding the country.
* * *
The next morning after the inauguration, a search warrant and an emergency arrest warrant for Chairman Park Daeho were issued simultaneously.
The headquarters of the Jungwoo Group, located in front of Seoul Station, was in chaos due to the people from the prosecution and the National Tax Service.
Chairman Park Daeho was taken to the Central Prosecutors' Office without any resistance from his home.
In the interrogation room at the Central Prosecutors' Office.
Chairman Park Daeho, though he was arrested without resistance, sat with his arms crossed and his legs crossed, looking completely unconcerned.
'What's going on all of a sudden?'
A simultaneous search and tax investigation of the Jungwoo Group couldn't happen without the president's approval.
The three major investigative agencies of the Republic of Korea:
Prosecution, National Tax Service, and Board of Audit and Inspection.
'Why would Kim Hak-gwon do this to me? Who is behind this?'
While Chairman Park Daeho was thinking, the door to the interrogation room opened.
He turned his head to look at the door.
"What? Some young punk is coming in? Trying to intimidate me? Forget it, get the head of the Central Investigation Bureau."
A young prosecutor he had never seen before entered.
Despite Park Daeho's loud protest, the young prosecutor sat down in front of him without changing his expression.
"What? Can't you hear me?"
"The head is busy. I'm in charge of you. Nice to meet you, I'm Oh Hyun-woo."
Oh Hyun-woo smiled and introduced himself to Park Daeho.
"How long have you been a prosecutor? You look like a rookie."
Despite Park Daeho's continued disrespect and ignoring, Oh Hyun-woo continued to smile.
"Chairman Park Daeho, you are currently under investigation for charges including financial fraud, embezzlement, fraudulent loans through financial fraud, slush fund creation, and violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Ah, Chairman Jang of Hyunbo Group is a gentleman. We only found out how corrupt the Jungwoo Group was during the investigation."
While Oh Hyun-woo was joking, Park Daeho's mind was racing.
'It feels like they're determined to take me down. Is Kim Hak-gwon trying to kill me?'
Oh Hyun-woo turned on the laptop in front of him and prepared to start the investigation.
"Your name is Park Daeho, right?"
Snapped out of his thoughts by Oh Hyun-woo's question, Park Daeho glared at him.
"Cut the crap. Get me a lawyer. Can I use the phone?"
"The legal team of the Jungwoo Group is in chaos. The tax investigation is happening at all subsidiaries, and investigators have been dispatched from the prosecution."
"Call Yoon & Jang."
"Wait a moment."
Oh Hyun-woo took out his phone and called Yoon Hyung-min.
"Yes, this is Oh Hyun-woo. Father, Chairman Park Daeho wants to contact Yoon & Jang. I'll put him through."
Oh Hyun-woo calmly handed the phone to Park Daeho.
"This is Yoon Hyung-min, the CEO of Yoon & Jang. Talk to him."
Snatching the phone, Park Daeho immediately spoke.
"Hey, Yoon. It's Park Daeho from Jungwoo. How are you?"
- Oh, Chairman Park. It's been a while. What's going on? Is it the prosecution?
"Yes, it's urgent. I need your help. I'll pay a hefty fee."
- Hmm...
"Hey, Yoon. This country is going to fall apart. Everyone is losing their minds."
- I'm sorry, Chairman. We're handling a case that conflicts with representing you. I can't help you.
Yoon Hyung-min's words shocked Park Daeho, who was silent for a long time.
- I'm sorry, Chairman. I'll call you later.
"Hey, Yoon..."
The call was disconnected.
Park Daeho's face showed a sense of despair.
"Are you done with the call?"
Oh Hyun-woo took back the phone with a smile. Park Daeho glared at him.
"You... Do you know what's going on? Who are you? Who's targeting me?"
"What would a rookie prosecutor like me know? Are you going to wait for the group's legal team, Chairman?"
Seeing Oh Hyun-woo's indifference, Park Daeho gradually realized he couldn't get out of this easily.
* * *
- Hey, Muhyuk. The legal team of the Jungwoo Group just rushed over.
"Hyun-woo is handling it, right?"
- It wasn't supposed to be my case, but I got an order from above. I didn't expect you to be behind it.
"Do it well. It will be a significant case for your career. Make sure to nail it so he can't escape."
- Got it. I'll keep you updated.
- When it's over, let's get together with the friends for a drink.
After ending the call with Oh Hyun-woo, I looked at Eva in front of me.
"Start now."
"Okay, Boss."
Eva got up and started making calls.
That evening.
Future Investment's announcement of a hostile takeover of key Jungwoo Group subsidiaries dominated the evening papers and the news.
It was the first time since the IMF crisis, and it was happening to one of the top companies in Korea.