Chapter 77

Chapter 77

"Allow me to introduce everyone at the table today. First, this is Chairman Lee Jong-myeong of Semyeong Investment Group. And this is Chairman Jeong Yong-gap of Himchan Savings Bank."

Director Lee Ji-hun was diligent. Whether he did this at every table was unclear, but he'd started by introducing the people seated at Yi-hyeon's table to one another. There were five of them, including Yi-hyeon.

"This is Representative Kim O-hyeon of GN Investment Securities. And this is Ms. Kim Yeong-seo, the newly appointed CEO of Narae Investment. She's the eldest daughter of Chairman Kim Hyeon-su of Narae Financial Group and was recently appointed to the position."

The woman sitting beside Yi-hyeon, the only woman at the table, gave a slight nod.

"Oh! Chairman Kim's daughter, you say? A pleasure to meet you. Is your father keeping well? I haven't seen him since the year-end gathering. Haha."

Chairman Lee Jong-myeong was the first to speak. Immediately afterward, that unpleasant fellow Jeong Yong-gap of Himchan Savings Bank joined in, determined not to be outdone in greeting her.

As a result,

"And this is Representative Song Yi-hyeon of S&K Investment, who's attending for the first time today···."

"Haha, it's a pleasure, Representative Kim. I'm Jeong Yong-gap, chairman of Himchan Savings Bank. Hahaha."

Director Lee Ji-hun's introduction of Yi-hyeon was effectively drowned out by Jeong Yong-gap's interruption.

What an ill-mannered bastard!

Yi-hyeon sat there feeling uncomfortable when, unexpectedly, the woman acknowledged him. It was Kim Yeong-seo, CEO of Narae Investment.

"Oh! You're the representative of that S&K Investment! It's such a pleasure to meet you. Let me introduce myself properly. I'm Kim Yeong-seo."

She rose from her awkwardly positioned seat, took out a business card, and offered it with a courteous bow.

Naturally, Yi-hyeon, who'd been sitting comfortably beside her, had no choice but to rise as well.

"I'm Song Yi-hyeon."

He handed her his card. It felt like the first proper exchange of greetings he'd had since sitting down.

There was a reason everyone here was so eager to please the youthful Kim Yeong-seo. Narae Financial Group was a financial investment giant built from the ground up by its current chairman, Kim Hyeon-su.

Originally an ordinary stockbroker, Kim Hyeon-su had soon demonstrated an extraordinary talent for investing. Once he gained the absolute trust of the clients whose money he managed, he established a small boutique investment office and struck out on his own.

Wealthy investors who trusted his abilities flocked to him, and as he steadily increased their fortunes, his company also grew spectacularly, eventually becoming a fully fledged investment firm. Thirty years later, it was the investment group managing the most assets in Korea, excluding state-owned banks and giant institutional investment companies.

She was the daughter of a chairman whose investment group reportedly managed more than ten trillion won. Naturally, everyone was smiling at Kim Yeong-seo, hoping to make a favorable impression.

But when the daughter of such an important chairman treated Yi-hyeon with exceptional courtesy, the others became curious about his identity. Men like Lee Jong-myeong of Semyeong Investment Group and Kim O-hyeon of GN Securities began studying him carefully.

Unfortunately, they hadn't even bothered exchanging business cards when they first met. They were already acquainted with one another, so there had been no need for introductions. And Yi-hyeon had looked so young that they'd hardly considered it necessary to exchange cards with him.

But now···

Kim Yeong-seo had recognized Yi-hyeon's company, and their attitudes began to change.

"You said your name was Representative Song, correct? What areas does S&K primarily invest in?"

Jeong Yong-gap, however, apparently had no intention of becoming more cautious around Yi-hyeon. He tossed out the question without a second thought. Then, just as Yi-hyeon opened his mouth to answer, Jeong turned to Kim O-hyeon of GN Securities.

"By the way, President Kim, how's that investment you made in the Indonesian nickel mine? Have you started seeing any returns?"

"···How could it be generating returns already? It hasn't even been a year."

Kim O-hyeon hesitated before giving a perfunctory reply. Judging by his expression, he had no desire to prolong the conversation.

Yi-hyeon observed the faces around the table. Chairman Lee Jong-myeong looked much the same as Kim O-hyeon. Clearly, Jeong Yong-gap wasn't someone people ordinarily found pleasant to be around.

"S&K's performance really is astonishing. I was genuinely shocked when I read the report from our company's analysis department."

Ignoring everyone else, Kim Yeong-seo spoke softly to Yi-hyeon.

"Oh, it's nothing special. We haven't even established a proper system yet, so we're relying on the individual abilities of a few people. Our company is still young, and we don't have much of a track record."

Yi-hyeon offered a vague answer, but Kim Yeong-seo apparently had no intention of ending the conversation there.

"That makes your results even more impressive. You're making me want to recruit whoever's in charge of investments at your company. Hoho."

"Haha. Now that would be a disaster."

As Yi-hyeon and Kim Yeong-seo chatted and laughed, Jeong Yong-gap watched them with obvious displeasure. Then the event began.

The proceedings followed the scheduled program. There was nothing particularly remarkable about them.

Although its members were private businesspeople, the Chamber of Commerce was a public institution. Unlike organizations led by private business interests, such as the Federation of Korean Industries, its foundations had been established by the government. Consequently, all the event organizers were Chamber employees.

Naturally, the proceedings were rather tedious.

They began with the national ceremony, followed by congratulatory remarks from the Chamber president. Then a representative of AmCham, the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, stepped forward and delivered a speech in English.

AmCham represented the interests of American companies operating in Korea, so its interests could sometimes clash with those of Korean businesses. Nevertheless, the representative's speech was full of polished pleasantries.

Our American companies and all of you can prosper together··· and so on.

Once noon passed, lunch was served. Since everyone was already seated at round tables, the staff simply brought the food to them.

"Good grief, the food around here is always like this. Don't you agree, Chairman Lee?"

Jeong Yong-gap addressed Chairman Lee Jong-myeong. Apparently finding it troublesome to use both a fork and knife, he'd cut his entire steak into pieces and was now eating with the fork in his right hand. He spoke with his mouth wide open, even spraying bits of food as he talked.

In short, he was eating like a pig and complaining about the food. Kim Yeong-seo, watching him, discreetly frowned.

Finally unable to tolerate it, President Kim O-hyeon spoke up.

"Come now, Chairman Jeong. This was prepared by a first-class chef from the Plaza Hotel across the street, wasn't it? I think it's quite good. Perhaps your tastes are simply too refined."

"Oh, come on, Representative Kim. You must never have visited a truly fine restaurant. I'll take you to one sometime."

The man just kept getting worse. He was plainly looking down on Kim O-hyeon because Kim was a hired CEO rather than an owner.

Whatever the case, Yi-hyeon stopped paying attention to him. Dealing with people like that only grew more exhausting the longer it went on.

But Jeong Yong-gap apparently had no intention of leaving Yi-hyeon alone.

"Say, young man, isn't this your first time at one of these gatherings? If so, you shouldn't just sit there eating. Shouldn't you be going around introducing yourself to everyone?"

He was effectively asking what an inexperienced youngster like Yi-hyeon thought he was doing sitting there eating instead of greeting his elders. The table fell silent. His outrageous behavior had abruptly made the atmosphere awkward.

This bastard really···

Clink.

Having finally reached his limit, Yi-hyeon quietly set down his fork and knife. He was just about to speak when Kim Yeong-seo, who'd been listening beside him, unexpectedly interjected.

"You said your company was Himchan Savings Bank, didn't you? Apparently, your employees work according to their age. Otherwise, I don't see why you'd be making such a fuss about age at a gathering like this."

After delivering those words, Kim Yeong-seo pressed her lips together and glared at Jeong Yong-gap. The corners of her eyes were raised sharply. She'd clearly made up her mind to confront him.

She'd heard of Himchan Savings Bank. Despite calling itself a bank, it had once been a private moneylending business. She understood that it had subsequently attracted investment from various sources and expanded its operations. There were even reports that much of that investment came from suspicious Japanese interests.

She also knew that Jeong Yong-gap had once been a prominent gangster in Myeong-dong. He'd discovered the profits to be made in private lending, secured a wealthy financial backer, and worked his way up to his current position.

So what if he'd once been a gangster? No matter how much a gangster strutted about, his life was worth little before a genuine chaebol. Jeong Yong-gap knew that perfectly well, and he was suddenly flustered.

He'd been saying whatever came into his head without thinking, and somehow he'd managed to offend the young daughter of Narae Investment Group as well. She was quite young herself, after all.

"Ah, haha. Of course our company doesn't assign work based on age. What I meant was that this young representative···."

When he continued spouting nonsense, Yi-hyeon decided he'd heard enough and intervened.

"Listen here, Chairman Jeong, was it? Are you always this interested in people you've just met and businesses that don't belong to you? You scrape together a little money and run a lending business, and suddenly you think you're better than everyone else?"

"Wh-what did you say? You little brat, how dare you···."

Jeong Yong-gap began trembling with indignation, but his words abruptly died. A chilling force was radiating from Yi-hyeon. Then his eyes met Yi-hyeon's directly.

Tremble, tremble···

"Wh-what is···."

Jeong Yong-gap felt as though his entire body had been plunged into a pit of ice. His teeth began chattering uncontrollably.

"······."

"······."

The others seated around the table also sensed something unusual and fell silent.

Amid that silence, Jeong Yong-gap was experiencing hell. He felt as though he stood naked before an irresistible demon. Then Yi-hyeon's voice reached him.

"Careless words can get you badly hurt."

With that quiet warning, the oppressive force constricting Jeong Yong-gap withdrew.

"Hup."

As the tension abruptly left his body, Jeong Yong-gap suffered a humiliating accident. The cord drawn taut by terror and strain had suddenly snapped, and with it, the muscles controlling his bladder relaxed.

"···?"

"What on earth···."

Lee Jong-myeong and Kim O-hyeon recoiled in disgust. Only then did Jeong Yong-gap look down at his trousers.

"Fuck!"

Nearly choking with humiliation, he snatched up a white napkin to cover his crotch and hurriedly stood. He needed to get to the restroom, immediately.

He was having the worst experience of his life.

The others were watching his retreating back, unable even to laugh, when someone approached their table and introduced himself in English.

"Hi, I'm Thomas Mitchum, the representative of AmCham. You're Mr. Song, aren't you?"

Yi-hyeon looked around. It was the AmCham representative who'd delivered a greeting from the podium earlier. He'd been making his way around the tables, exchanging pleasantries, and had now arrived at theirs. But he'd singled Yi-hyeon out, extending his hand directly to him.

"A pleasure to meet you. I'm Song."

Yi-hyeon rose and shook his hand.

"Actually, I specifically asked the Chamber's organizing committee to make sure Representative Song of S&K attended. I'm finally getting to meet you today."

He meant the Chamber of Commerce's organizing committee. Judging by the gleam in his eyes, he'd genuinely gone to some effort to meet Yi-hyeon.

The man was heavyset, with neatly combed blond hair and a broad, friendly smile.

Why does this fellow want to meet me?

Thomas glanced at Yi-hyeon's plate, rubbed his hands together, and spoke.

"If you've finished eating, could you spare me a little time? I'd like to invite you for a cup of tea."

He made the invitation without so much as glancing at the other guests, leaving Yi-hyeon momentarily hesitant.

Come to think of it, if he stayed at this table, he would probably end up clashing with that ignorant fellow Jeong again. No, it was practically guaranteed. That bastard didn't seem particularly mild-tempered, either.

It would be better to accompany Thomas for tea and hear what he had to say.

Yi-hyeon nodded.

"Yes, certainly. I've just finished eating anyway. Well then, Representative Kim, I'll see you again."

He turned to Kim Yeong-seo, the only person at the table who'd shown him genuine goodwill.

"Yes. It's a shame we have to part already. I hope we'll have time for a proper conversation next time. If I call the number on your card, will I reach you directly?"

Kim Yeong-seo held up the business card Yi-hyeon had given her.

"Haha, well··· that's actually a phone I only use at the office. One of my employees will answer."

"Haha. I see. Mine's the same, actually. Could you give me my card back for a moment?"

She took back the card she'd handed him, carefully wrote a number on it with a pen, and returned it.

"That's my direct number. Please make sure you call."

Her clear eyes remained fixed on him as she spoke, leaving Yi-hyeon feeling slightly pressured. What was with this woman now···?

"All right, then."

Yi-hyeon said his farewells and turned away. Thomas, who'd been waiting patiently, took the lead.

They rounded a corridor and reached a room where two people were waiting. Both rose when they saw Yi-hyeon, and one of them spoke.

"Hello, Mr. Song. It's been a while."

A woman wearing a softly colored pantsuit and a white linen blouse greeted him with a radiant smile.

"Seldy?"

© Saedungi#1tjzr