Chapter 100

Chapter 100

Sincerity Visible to the Eyes

Grandfather swallowed dry saliva with a gulp.

The promise of the Blue House security chief who is the number 2 of this country was no different from a guarantee check of power.

Since he revealed the meaning of accepting the request, caught an uncommon opportunity.

“If a matter of having to transfer Korea Petroleum Corporation to the private sector arises, please think of Taeseong first then.”

“Yugong?”

The Blue House security chief looked at grandfather with peculiar eyes.

“Seems eyeing Yugong because Taeseong has no oil refining company. But don’t know if a matter of putting Yugong on the market would arise unless another oil shock bursts.”

“I know.”

“The shares we have, even if giving for free, Gulf’s shares are as much as 50%. Would those guys easily put out that?”

“So.”

“Conclusively the sound that nothing particularly wanted right now? Hahaha, good! If privatizing Yugong by any chance, Taeseong is 1st priority!”

The Blue House security chief’s laugh became even thicker.

The meaning of very satisfied.

“Chairman Cha, knew early that you don’t show political greed, but didn’t know even business greed wouldn’t be shown.”

“What would a merchant do showing political greed. But as much as a merchant, business greed belongs to a great axis. So daring to covet Yugong.”

“This person is really foolish. When others are busy kicking the back pocket colluding politics and business, Taeseong is excessively upright.”

The Blue House security chief clicked his tongue small.

“Remember the fact that when a typhoon sweeps, reeds bend but pine trees break. Don’t foolishly hang only on business and you also need to properly use the thing called request.”

“Will keep in mind.”

“Cut the money poured saying technology development, facility investment and oil a bit evenly up and down. Acting so tightly, Taeseong can’t grow only up to there.”

“Will keep in mind.”

“Well, Taeseong has a firm core so not bad. Even though you act so stiff, what would it mean that His Excellency didn’t chase Taeseong. His Excellency is seeing moderately.”

The Blue House security chief whispered subtly.

“Not enough just doing business well. Do like today. Then His Excellency will also see prettily.”

Didn’t forget advice too.

“The moment Taeseong falls out of His Excellency’s eyes, will know by looking at U-gwang.”

The Blue House security chief’s eyes shone sinisterly.

“What sincerity visible to the eyes is, will get to see soon.”

* * *

The alcohol gathering ended.

Grandfather came out in front of the room and bent his waist.

“Please go carefully.”

The Blue House security chief left with light steps.

Holding the thick document envelope in the side.

“Hoo.”

Only after the Blue House security chief completely disappeared out of the field of view.

Grandfather let out a deep sigh.

“This is also really a thing that can’t be done. If a businessman does business well, enough, a matter to be scolded for not colluding politics and business?”

“What to do. This is reality.”

Secretary Kim who was waiting in the corridor approached.

“If money to oil up and down, just raise Taeseong employees’ bonuses. Tsk. Anyway being torn a lot saying political funds is regrettable to death!”

“What to do. If not paying support funds, won’t be able to do business.”

“Really hard to do business!”

“Not a matter of yesterday or today. Now the time to do so has come.”

“Like it hurts every time raw flesh is torn, raw money also hurts every time torn. Where is so be it in pain?”

Manager Go was also together next to Secretary Kim.

“Sincerity visible to the eyes······.”

Grandfather held out the car key of the truck loaded with apple boxes.

“Manager Go, deliver this to Jangchung-dong. Secretly. Know?”

“Yes, chairman.”

“Secretary Kim, you······.”

Just in time, the news anchor’s voice flowed from the television installed in the hotel Japanese room lobby.

-The U-gwang Chemicals fire being revealed as arson is giving shock.

It was headline news.

Grandfather and Secretary Kim turned eyes at the same time and concentrated on the news.

-Let’s hear the Central Intelligence Agency’s announcement.

Uncle Cheol-gu went up on the podium and announced.

In the middle of camera flashes bursting noisily, Uncle Cheol-gu dressed neatly and brought his mouth to the microphone.

-The Central Intelligence Agency secured decisive evidence that the U-gwang Chemicals fire occurred due to arson.

Click! Click! Click!

Camera flashes burst noisily.

-Reporting that U-gwang affiliates put even such a self-defeating move because of U-gwang’s power struggle and expanding the investigation.

At the words of U-gwang power struggle, the reporters’ question sounds became even larger.

But Uncle Cheol-gu seemed determined to convey only the words to convey instead of receiving questions.

-Confirming the accomplice status of U-gwang presidents. Will intensively inquire how far intervened in the arson.

-As much as the sacrifices due to the disaster were many, the Central Intelligence Agency promises to the citizens an investigation without external pressure, clarifying a more certain truth.

Uncle Cheol-gu bowed his head and stepped down from the podium.

Grandfather snorted a laugh.

“That friend, tomorrow will decorate the headlines of all kinds of newspapers. Will become a star? The comment is very good.”

“That friend is precisely the one who brought the U-gwang Construction bribe ledger to Taeseong.”

“Went well. If this much achievement, no matter of being pushed receiving side glances somewhere. Unfortunate for U-gwang though.”

Grandfather’s laugh changed bitterly.

“Since the U-gwang Chemicals arson was announced with a public press conference like that, now can’t pull out or put in. Tomorrow’s newspaper articles will be covered with U-gwang.”

“Would be so.”

“The fall is a scheduled result, and only how far smashed remains. Already those guys seem determined to bite······.”

Grandfather closed his mouth and immersed in thought for a while.

“Chairman, want to return now?”

“No. Today thinking of tilting the alcohol cup more.”

“Celebration alcohol.”

“Worry consultation application. Secretary Kim, have time?”

“······Of course.”

* * *

As soon as grandfather sat in the seat, swallowed alcohol first.

“Honestly speaking. Didn’t even think that the big shot helping Taeseong would advise to eye Yugong. Yugong? Too large a size for Taeseong to swallow.”

“Even if catching cheaply, a size that has to put out 400 million dollars to swallow.”

“So. How many of Taeseong’s affiliates have to sell to eat Yugong?”

Grandfather laughed.

“The sound of an ant swallowing a dinosaur comes out naturally. Even if Yugong comes out on the market, wonder if there is a company in the Republic of Korea that can buy that.”

“Would it?”

“Of course. Even introducing foreign loans, don’t know if can swallow. No, no way there is a sucker who would put out as much as 400 million dollars loans from the beginning.”

Grandfather’s laugh became thicker.

“Thanks to that, could avoid the Blue House security chief’s suspicion and check and only incur debt. Convey thanks once more to the big shot who helped Taeseong.”

“Yes, chairman.”

“Secretary Kim, speak honestly. Surely the matter of hurriedly handing Taeseong Chemicals to U-gwang was also the big shot’s picture?”

Secretary Kim couldn’t answer.

“He whispered to you to bake the Blue House security chief and secretary chief with the U-gwang Construction bribe ledger, right?”

Secretary Kim silently tilted the alcohol teapot and filled the alcohol cup.

Silence became the answer.

“Certainly that guy is one hand above me. I realized that to the bone today. How thought of the trick of sending the bribe ledger as a gift.”

“But the chairman also made the same conclusion.”

“The decision to remove the lists of the Army Security Command commander and Central Intelligence Agency director?”

“Yes.”

“That also I was one hand behind. I was busy worrying whether to hand this as a gift or not regarding the political enemy purge list with only small fries remaining. Conflicted who of the two to put in front of the purge’s blade.”

Grandfather drank the alcohol in one go.

“When hesitating unable to choose either, he found a side path of not touching the dangerous person while only incurring debt enough to promise Taeseong’s future to the number 2 of this country and skillfully withdrawing.”

Grandfather let out a low exclamation.

“How great a skill this is. If such a guy took charge of Taeseong’s head position, Taeseong might have become the Republic of Korea’s number 1 company early.”

“Chairman!”

“The words that if not the big shot helping Taeseong behind, our Taeseong wouldn’t have avoided U-gwang’s appearance.”

The reason grandfather drank alcohol repeatedly.

“How much force would claim to be a shield and protect when Taeseong is in difficulty? U-gwang even after U-gwang Chemicals burst ended with a public apology announcement, but if thinking the fire burst at Taeseong Chemicals······.”

Grandfather shivered.

“Would have been terrible. At the point of being called to the Blue House, Taeseong’s downhill path would have been scheduled.”

“Chairman.”

“Why weren’t the Blue House security chief and secretary chief’s names on the U-gwang Construction bribe ledger? Because the head U-gwang is feeding generously directly, as that younger brother guy, no gap to attack and gave up in advance.”

“Would have been so.”

“What does it mean that preserved the head position even after causing such a large accident, and didn’t even put out affiliates?”

“The meaning that there was the protection of the Blue House security chief and secretary chief.”

“If a fire burst at Taeseong Chemicals, probably I would have lost the head position of course even the personal assets would have been stripped clean? Half would have been offered to His Excellency, half would be establishing a foundation and settling the accident.”

Grandfather drank the bitter alcohol.

“Is that all? Taking the gap I stepped down, if U-gwang, would have worked saying will swallow Taeseong for free? Taeseong Chemicals that guy would take out empty-mouthed and still remain.”

Clack!

“Clearly would split Taeseong in half over the head position. Would have made the children fight each other and separated Taeseong Construction and Taeseong Chemicals independently.”

Exactly as written in the Taeseong Group report.

In the past, it happened exactly as grandfather guessed.

“Would it be fortunate if ends only there? Someone among my children might have died. If U-gwang sets mind and steps forward and tries to offer Taeseong as prey to the upper line······.”

Grandfather quickly shook his head and blew away the ominous delusion.

“If no bold decision to hand Taeseong Chemicals to U-gwang, if didn’t bring the U-gwang Construction bribe ledger, if he didn’t call the underground financial world big shots and attract investment funds······.”

Grandfather did a dry face wash.

“If the state of beating U-gwang who holds the media like this······, how much would our Taeseong be minced.”

“Chairman, Taeseong is not that incompetent either.”

“This is not a matter of competence. Our Taeseong has no guy as skilled in politics as U-gwang, that’s the problem. That is also Taeseong’s limit.”

Clack!

“The first is only good at people, the second has a small vessel, the third is not shrewd. Even I received a scolding from the Blue House security chief because lacking political power, who would discuss whose lack.”

So the sigh that comes out.

“So can’t help but express thanks to that skilled big shot who helps Taeseong like a drought’s sweet rain.”

“The chairman’s fortune.”

“Why helped Taeseong?”

Grandfather immersed in thought only looking at the alcohol cup blankly.

“Why help Taeseong without reason? Without wanting anything, without even demanding. Is this a possible matter? Even if I saved that guy’s life, seems wouldn’t help so devotedly.”

Secretary Kim had an expression with many words to say.

But swallowed with a gulp without putting even one word out of the mouth.

“If received a favor, have to repay properly. This only debt is piling more and more so the heart is heavy.”

Secretary Kim took out one paper from the bosom and held it out in front of grandfather.

“What is this? Write a thank you letter again?”

“Too large a merit to settle with a thank you letter. So this time seems have to write a memorandum.”

“Memorandum?”

Grandfather opened eyes round.

Whether so or not.

Secretary Kim took out his Montblanc fountain pen and put it in grandfather’s hand.

“That sincerity just did, write directly.”

“What?”

“Because that person believes documents more than words, sincerity visible to the eyes more.”

“No, Secretary Kim. Whose person are you?”

“All this is the path for Taeseong. Will know if watching. Why I’m doing this.”

Secretary Kim grinned.

“My thought, but soon that person will come find the chairman holding this document and claim his legitimate rights.”

“What?”

“All this is the chairman’s fortune, Taeseong’s fortune. So don’t worry and write.”

Secretary Kim tapped the paper with fingertips.

“The dinosaur that an ant swallows Yugong and U-gwang’s affiliates including Taeseong Chemicals are about to fall in front of Taeseong in a row, not a person who would suck fingers behind and have his rice bowl snatched by others.”

As expected a memorandum where golden light bursts splendidly.

* * *

Cut the field of view sharing with the underworld messenger.

“Anyway seems can’t hide anymore.”

I fiddled with grandfather’s memorandum in the coin wallet.

“To take care of Taeseong Chemicals as mother’s share, and take care of Yugong as my share, have to directly negotiate with grandfather.”

I grinned.

“Rather went well.”

Even in the days of Sillim-dong Ant Hell, I was not the type who sits digging a trap and waits when the prey falls.

Because the board I set has to command the underwork from the front to be satisfied, and the board others set I have to overturn directly to feel refreshed.

“From now on, can ride on grandfather’s back and stir around freely?”

Good?