Chapter 73

Chapter 73

Reconnaissance Battle

The second uncle receiving the massage smiled gently.

“In-gyeong was the most refreshing. You select first.”

“Nice!”

The cousin older sister who was in charge of the second uncle’s shoulder rejoiced and rummaged through the box.

The daughters’ generation character is gyeong, the sons’ generation character is hyeok.

If removing the middle character, it’s ‘in-ui-ye-ji-sin’.

That is, uncle’s who has only two daughters is In-gyeong and Ui-gyeong, the second uncle’s who has only three sons is Ye-hyeok, Ji-hyeok, Sin-hyeok.

‘Father’s generation also used Dae-gi-man-seong with the middle character. Naming really easily.’

So it was Dae-jun, Gi-jun, Man-yeong, Seong-jun.

“All selected.”

Older sister In-gyeong selected Namjin concert tickets and one bundle of Taeseong Theater movie tickets, a few latest pop song album records, Alain Delon bromide.

“You know the rules? Then questioning.”

“Yes.”

“What received from the maternal family last year?”

“One Geumjo apartment and two Hyunmu apartments.”

“Then what received as last year’s birthday gift?”

“One horse and 0.1% of Taeseong Automobile stocks and one Picasso painting.”

“What are the parents most upset about these days?”

“Ui-gyeong’s condition not being good? Is there more? Hmm, mom getting irritated saying white hair and wrinkles increased? I don’t really know that.”

“Good. Can take all the selected ones.”

“Hehe, thank you. Little uncle.”

The hand gestures of the remaining cousins massaging the second uncle’s arms and legs became even busier.

“This time Ji-hyeok’s turn.”

“Oh! Dad, ask anything. I can answer all!”

“That Geumjo Group daughter who was in the same class then. Thinking of engaging you with her. How about it?”

“Ugh! I don’t like it!”

“Reason?”

“She’s really ugly and fat!”

“Not that disliking because of other flaws? For example having a boyfriend, or having a nasty habit.”

I flowed a hollow laugh seeing that appearance.

‘Amazing.’

The second uncle was digging out secret information using items that kids would like as bait.

‘But from the kids’ position, it wouldn’t be such a bad deal. Because now it’s difficult to obtain foreign products, and a time when enthusiastic about foreign culture.’

Revealing gifts received from maternal family or parents, no one will snatch them.

On the other hand, for kids of that age, obtaining items difficult to easily get on the market was soon ability.

If taking that to school, a big commotion would occur.

‘From the second uncle’s position, it would also be a remaining business.’

The second uncle frequently went abroad in charge of trade and distribution.

Relatively for him, obtaining such items would be a very easy matter.

Simply grasping the property change situation of nephews by exchanging with a few items.

That would be the purpose of coming to the basement playroom instead of attending the affiliate executive meeting.

“Our youngest nephew’s name was what.”

“Cha Jeong-hyeok.”

The second uncle approached my side.

“Yes, why doesn’t the nephew even rummage through the box once?”

The second uncle put a chair in front of me and sat and asked.

“Seems nothing desired here?”

“Are you asking me now?”

I quietly put down the latest issue of the children’s monthly magazine ‘Manga Kingdom’ I was reading.

“Saying there’s no free in the second uncle’s dictionary. So I also think I have to follow the second uncle’s rules.”

“Good.”

“If wanting to ask the desired, put out the corresponding price. That’s the rule, right? So this is the first debt.”

I counted one finger.

“Haha, this got hit one. So the answer?”

“I want to live quietly.”

“Don’t touch a person who’s staying still? I heard properly, right?”

I selected and answered with words that could be interpreted differently on purpose, but he understood properly.

“What’s the reason for deliberately hanging as debt? If no items you desire here, what are you trying to receive back with?”

“That question would have to hang as the second debt. Will it be okay?”

“Instead, have to answer certainly. If wanting to hang as debt, have to properly pay the price.”

“Of course.”

Life is originally give and take.

If received money, have to do the money’s worth, and if wanting to hang debt, have to provide appropriate service.

I counted one more finger.

“No items desired from the second uncle, but there is a desired answer.”

“Desired answer······.”

“Let’s repay questions with questions.”

“Meaning that as the price of me asking questions, you will also ask me questions?”

“Shall I hang as the third debt?”

“No, let’s exclude that. If having to incur debt, can’t waste the opportunity with such a trivial question.”

The second uncle laughed low.

Immediately corrected his posture and sat and lowered the rolled up sleeves again.

“Third question. What did you decide to receive from the maternal family?”

“I don’t know.”

I counted one more finger.

“Don’t know? I promised earlier. If wanting to hang debt, have to return with a sincere answer.”

“Haven’t even gone to the maternal family yet, what receive?”

The second uncle slightly tilted his head.

“At times like this, usually don’t say ‘received nothing’?”

“Shall I hang that as the fourth debt?”

“Ha······?”

When I folded one more finger to the end, the second uncle looked at me as if looking at a thief.

“Too trivial for an additional question? It was you who promised to answer certainly.”

“Not a question added without reason. Because there’s a reason that must confirm and pass, didn’t you ask subtly? So I also deliberately hung as the fourth debt.”

I shook the hand with only the pinky finger stretched straight.

“From now on, please select questions carefully. I’m answering with all sincerity. Hoping the second uncle also responds with answers full of sincerity.”

Then the smile that the second uncle always hung on his mouth corner became thicker by one layer.

“Good. The reason for answering ‘don’t know.’ instead of the words ‘never received.’?”

“Because I really don’t know. If the maternal family took care of something as my share, it would become a lie. If there’s something the maternal family took care of as my share, I don’t particularly intend not to receive either.”

The second uncle’s narrow eyes curved even thinner.

But the sharp gaze that briefly flashed between those narrow eyes was not easily covered.

“Then let’s make this the last question.”

“Good. Instead, since said last, I won’t receive additional questions until the second uncle clears all the debt. How about it?”

“Let’s do so. Earlier you went to meet President Shim separately. Why did you do that? What’s the business.”

How did he know that I met President Shim of Taeseong Chemicals with Secretary Kim.

Then why asking me instead of asking President Shim?

“Me and mom came to this place in exchange for Taeseong Chemicals, they say. Earlier President Shim of Taeseong Chemicals gave a farewell greeting to father. So I also greeted.”

“Have to be a more sincere answer.”

“Talked about Taeseong Chemicals.”

“······Taeseong Chemicals? What did President Shim say to you?”

I shook the hand with all five fingers folded.

“We decided not to receive additional questions, right? This time is my turn.”

“Hmm, this is expected. What would our nephew be curious about to me.”

“Earlier you proposed the Taeseong Food affiliate president to President Shim. But there’s already a president separately at Taeseong Food.”

Taeseong Food is the core affiliate of Taeseong Distribution.

No way not to plant a confidant in such a place.

Yet the second uncle revealed the intention of pulling President Shim of Taeseong Chemicals.

‘A decision that an ordinary person wouldn’t choose.’

If the person in charge of Taeseong Trading’s overseas branch, that might be different.

Driving out one’s person from an existing position is a more picky matter than newly making and filling a non-existing position.

So I had to ask.

“Is what you’re aiming for President Shim, or our dad?”

The second uncle who was fiddling with the watch stopped his action upright.

Then began looking at me silently without answering.

“An interesting question.”

The second uncle began retying the loosened tie.

Also filled the buttons and returned to the attire exactly as when first met.

It meant intending to leave this place soon.

“Is it President Shim, or Seong-jun. Is there a need to distinguish that?”

I caught what the second uncle’s answer meant.

President Shim was father’s person who would help father.

If snatching and using the capable President Shim, father’s power would naturally weaken, and the foothold would also narrow.

“Second question. What’s the reason for deliberately trying to issue President Shim to the overseas branch?”

“Instead of requesting additional explanation, going over to the second question?”

The second uncle scratched the bridge of his nose instead of answering.

“This trying to reduce the debt but rather about to incur more debt. How did you know that I was trying to plant President Shim in the overseas branch?”

“Is that because of uncle, or because of our dad?”

Eyes and eyes met.

No one opened their mouth.

In an instant, a heavy silence descended between the two of us.

“Nephew, what was the name earlier? Jin-hyeok?”

Then there were two people coming down to the basement.

Secretary Yang who assists the second uncle and President Shim of Taeseong Chemicals.

“President Shim, a person who should be in the study, why came down to the kids’ playroom?”

“The young Young Master sat on grandfather’s knee and ate rice cake soup. Thinking if indigestion and gas, so came to take care of digestive medicine.”

President Shim of Taeseong Chemicals took out children’s digestive medicine from the suit pocket.

“Even calling it an affiliate executive meeting, no particular words to say. Even saying strict secrecy for security, continuously pouring annoying questions so I just ran away.”

President Shim of Taeseong Chemicals narrowed his eyes seeing the second uncle and me sitting facing side by side.

“Young Master Gi-jun, it seems good to go up now. How much that Secretary Yang came all the way here to escort the Young Master.”

“Hmm, not that came all the way here because there’s separate words to say to me?”

“Well, anyway I thought have to give a thank you greeting.”

President Shim of Taeseong Chemicals slightly blocked in front of me.

Then bent his body 90 degrees and greeted politely.

“The words of using me heavily even putting out Taeseong Food, really thank you. Please understand that I can’t follow because there’s the duty I’m in charge of.”

“It would have been okay to speak honestly saying the condition I put out doesn’t suit so refusing.”

“Wouldn’t requesting better conditions than that also be a rude matter? For me, there’s the important duty of Taeseong’s future, foundation stone of the great plan, secret for security.”

President Shim of Taeseong Chemicals grinned.

“So I came to say that there’s no need to ponder better proposals from now on.”

“A perfectly falling answer. Don’t leave lingering either? Hahaha.”

The second uncle stood up from the chair.

“I properly understood President Shim’s intention.”

The second uncle looked back at me and smiled.

“Jeong-hyeok, hang the remaining debt today on the credit ledger.”

It was the sound that the reconnaissance battle ended.

The second uncle held out his hand not to me but to President Shim of Taeseong Chemicals.

“President Shim, don’t draw the line so stingily. Human matters are unknown. Who knows? Might work for Taeseong together with me. Then see again next time.”

The second uncle smiled and turned his body.

Secretary Yang took the paper box that the second uncle brought and followed behind.

Only after confirming that the second uncle completely left did President Shim of Taeseong Chemicals open his mouth.

“Young Master, earlier you said wanting to look around the Taeseong Chemicals factory, right?”

It was the real business that President Shim of Taeseong Chemicals came to the playroom for.

The reason I asked to tour the Taeseong Chemicals factory is very simple.

Because according to the Taeseong Group report, only the conclusion was briefly written about the Taeseong Chemicals accident.

‘I passed it as a safety accident, but Uncle Cheol-gu used the word suspect and dug into the connection between the dead Kim Gwang-pil of U-gwang Construction and Taeseong Chemicals.’

Because there’s a one in ten thousand, I wanted to confirm thoroughly.

With this accident, 23 people died, and 166 people were transported to the hospital.

The decisive opportunity that Taeseong walked the path of worsening was exactly this Taeseong Chemicals fire accident.

‘If a fire occurs at Taeseong Chemicals at this point now, what happens?’

It becomes a mess.

Because unlike the past, acquisition sounds came out.

If picking the person who would receive the biggest damage due to the fire, by far President Shim of Taeseong Chemicals and grandfather would be the top.