Chapter 84

Chapter 84

How Did This Happen?

I couldn’t take my eyes off the news screen.

Chemical factory fire accident, current time deaths 52, injured 137

Rubbing eyes and looking again, nothing changed.

So couldn’t believe more.

“How did this happen?”

In surprise, ended up muttering monologue like an idiot.

Because only the number of deaths and injured different from the past Taeseong Chemicals fire accident, the large outline too similar so goosebumps rose straight on the spine.

‘Guardian deity, asking how this happened.’

[······.]

‘The Taeseong Chemicals fire accident. Wasn’t it the one we blocked?’

The underworld messenger didn’t answer.

‘Right. The underworld path countdown or orange arrows blinking above people’s heads all disappeared too.’

[······.]

‘There was no abnormality at the Taeseong Chemicals factory either. Repeatedly requested to President Shim not to omit safety facility inspection while doing the Taeseong Chemicals acquisition negotiation and came out.’

The Taeseong Chemicals fire accident 23 deaths, 166 injured changed to U-gwang Chemicals fire accident 52 deaths, 137 injured.

‘Tried to block, but in the end was a matter that couldn’t block.’

[Up to there is not your jurisdiction.]

A bit bitter that couldn’t block the accident where many people died and got hurt.

I really did my best.

[Anyway, wasn’t your goal saving Taeseong’s family?]

That’s so, but.

[Did the Taeseong family you tried to save die? Or did you deliberately drive innocent people to death?]

That also wasn’t, but.

[Think why His Majesty settled merit to you in real time.]

Suddenly the words the underworld messenger conveyed came to mind.

-You decided to save human lives even accepting damage. That is also merit.

-You saved 23 scheduled deaths and 166 scheduled sufferings with this matter. His Majesty regards this as very satisfied.

-Whether how in this world, in the underworld, the preciousness of human lives is regarded as the highest above all. The reason His Majesty forced the real-time settlement of merit that can be called a special favor.

So puzzling.

‘If calculating so, did I get recognized as merit for saving the lives of people who haven’t died yet and are fine and alive?’

[You saved ‘those scheduled for death and suffering’. That also gets recognized as merit. Experienced in the underworld too.]

Ah, come to think of it, I once heard the words of recognizing the merit of saving fifteen young souls scheduled for death and forgiving the sins committed in the previous life.

Of course that ‘sins committed in the previous life’ was revealed as a groundless false accusation.

[Their deaths are unrelated to you. That you did your best, you know, I know, heaven knows, earth knows.]

The underworld messenger made a bitter smile.

An expression that passed in a very moment so I almost thought I saw wrong for a moment.

[If there is merit accumulated with good will, there is also karma filled with intent and malice. That is also each’s share.]

A very small muttering close to monologue.

To the extent I almost thought I heard wrong.

‘What sound is that?’

[Up to there is heavenly secret leak.]

Saying heavenly secret leak, there’s no way to argue?

Anyway, dongti for listening to my request······ Ah!

‘Dongti. This time didn’t particularly receive reprimand, the words?’

[Why that?]

Not even saying absolutely no intention of causing dongti again from now on.

Oho, got the sense!

‘Seems even using dongti no problem?’

[······!]

‘Anyway. Even land gods or ghosts have no words of paying the price for causing dongti.’

[······Eh!]

The underworld messenger rolled eyes and pretended not to know and diverted attention.

‘Hey, guardian deity.’

[I don’t know the matter. This underworld messenger seems not remembering how to cause dongti.]

‘Not that, because of the Taeseong Chemicals, no, U-gwang Chemicals fire accident. A place you have to go a bit appeared.’

[Aaaaa, ebeubeubeubeu. This underworld messenger didn’t hear. Ah! Time for the serial drama!]

The underworld messenger turned around abruptly.

Before knowing, in the television screen the news flash ended and an advertisement for the next daily serial drama came out.

[Shh! Doing this will miss the serial drama. Don’t interfere. Passed serial dramas don’t return!]

Oh?

Seeing as not particularly denying this time either, sounds like the meaning of causing dongti again if needed next time.

Illusion?

Ring!

“Hello?”

-Jeong-hyeok? It’s grandfather. If Seong-jun got off work, change a bit.

“Dad? Hasn’t gotten off work yet. Recently dad’s in charge of constructions are very many. Busy working until late every night.”

Already over ten days since seeing father’s face.

Entered the Subway Line 2 construction full-scale, and the Gangnam Seoul Express Bus Terminal road expansion construction is in full swing so busy without time to open eyes.

If the last meal together was the rice cake soup eaten at grandfather’s house on the first day of the new year, words all done.

-Is that so? Understood. Perhaps if your dad gets off work······.

Then the front door opened and father came in.

The face seeing after as much as ten days because getting off work late every night.

“Ah, grandfather! Wait a bit, dad just came!”

I held the phone to my ear and smiled brightly.

“Dad, welcome back?”

“Yes.”

“Grandfather’s phone. Receive. Looking urgently.”

“Is that so?”

Father walked with big strides and received the phone.

Thinking intervening in adults’ conversation is not courtesy either so trying to yield, father held me with one arm and grinned.

“Ugh!”

Lifted up unexpectedly, I tightly hugged father’s nape with both arms not to fall.

Along with the heavy and luxurious perfume smell, father’s body scent hit strongly.

Father turned his head and lightly kissed my cheek.

Surprised and opening eyes round, father smiled gently.

“Kiss.”

A greeting conveying only moving lips while tapping his cheek with fingertips.

Holding the phone between ear and chin.

When lightly putting lips on father’s cheek, father smiled brightly only then.

“Good.”

Beyond the phone, grandfather’s voice flowed out.

-The chemical factory fire accident news, you also heard?

The purpose grandfather looked for father urgently.

-Come to the Taeseong Group headquarters meeting room right now. Convened an emergency meeting calling all affiliate presidents.

“Yes, understood.”

-Sorry for urging a person who just got off work, but not the time to be like this now.

“I haven’t eaten dinner yet either.”

-Heard Chairman Kim of U-gwang received the Blue House call and ran out. The current issue is that level.

“I’ll depart right now.”

Father put down the phone.

Sighed small.

It was a face with fatigue stuck thickly.

‘Father, no need to worry so much. Probably not bad news from Taeseong’s position.’

Taeseong Chemicals is already handed over to U-gwang.

No matter of father being reprimanded, no matter of taking responsibility for this fire accident.

‘Perhaps the matter might become very easy? Heard called Chairman Kim of U-gwang at the Blue House.’

At the past Taeseong Chemicals fire accident where 23 died and 166 got hurt, the Blue House was extremely angry and called grandfather who is the Taeseong Group head.

‘In the past grandfather had to apologize to the public due to the Blue House’s pressure, and contribute 3 billion won of personal assets to make the Taeseong Foundation. There even step down from the head position.’

Would the matter Taeseong suffered in the past be experienced intact by current U-gwang.

‘If Chairman Kim of U-gwang steps down from the head position for a while in the meaning of self-restraint, and contributes 3 billion won of personal assets to make the U-gwang Foundation, what happens to Taeseong Chemicals?’

In the past, using that gap, Taeseong Construction separated affiliates and went independent, and Taeseong Chemicals was absorbed into U-gwang.

Ate 50% of Taeseong’s shares for free without spending even one penny.

The one who decided that was Cha Yun-seong who was the Taeseong Construction president and the group head’s younger brother, and grandfather who stepped down from the head position had no choice but to be snatched helplessly.

Would Taeseong not be able to do what U-gwang did in the past?

‘Hmm, somehow seems obtained an opportunity borrowing others’ misfortune.’

I was preparing the reacquisition negotiation while worrying how to take back Taeseong Chemicals.

Instead of the unreasonable number like street thugs used in the back alleys, intending to use the era situation of oil shock.

So deliberately strung even U-gwang Securities and set a trap. But what?

Thanks to the U-gwang Chemicals fire accident, that time seems greatly reduced.

‘A hard to catch opportunity again. Not particularly sinned, no need to refuse the luck that rolled in?’

Just in time we have even the contract regarding acquisition merger.

‘This if doing well, not only taking back Taeseong Chemicals but even U-gwang Securities of course and claiming even 15 billion bills seems possible?’

The head began spinning hard.

‘For that······.’

The matters to do were neatly fitted like puzzles in the head.

Then father rubbed my cheek with the cheek where rough stubble was rising.

“Today came early to buy delicious things for our Jeong-hyeok, what to do this?”

Knowing all that father is having a hard time working busy enough that even sleep time is insufficient recently.

“Have to buy jajangmyeon next time.”

Jajangmyeon? Suddenly why that again······ Ah!

‘When big uncle took out money from the wallet and asked if like jajangmyeon, casually answered yes.’

What is that jajangmyeon all.

‘This is all doing to eat and live. Grandfather is really too much. Have to feed rice while making work!’

Like that father went out without even scooping one spoon of rice.

‘Why did I pick anchovy shit!’

Did so to boil the kalguksu that father likes.

‘Hey, guardian deity. Follow and see.’

Became curious why Taeseong is suddenly bustling so much.

[The serial drama hasn’t ended yet······!]

‘This if doing well, seems able to eat a few thick companies for free.’

[Will go and return quickly.]

The underworld messenger disappeared smoothly like smoke.

* * *

In the Taeseong Group headquarters meeting room, an emergency president group meeting was held with all affiliate presidents gathered.

Everyone was a serious face.

Grandfather sat in the highest seat of the meeting room.

“Everyone heard? Due to the fire accident that occurred at the Taeseong Chemicals, no, U-gwang Chemicals factory, Chairman Kim of U-gwang received the Blue House call and was called out. So called everyone to gather.”

Big uncle and second uncle of course even our father and aunt sat in place.

Big uncle asked.

“Why did the accident occur at U-gwang, but the mess is Taeseong making?”

“Before asking that, read the news briefing about this U-gwang Chemicals fire accident and speak.”

The affiliate presidents were also busy reading the materials placed on the table.

Grandfather asked.

“Secretary Kim, how much is the damage from the chemical factory fire?”

“Currently tallied as 56 deaths and 142 serious and minor injuries.”

The number of casualties increased from what was broadcast as flash on the news.

“There’s difficulty confirming the identities of the laborers who suffered the U-gwang Chemicals factory accident?”

“U-gwang side damage hasn’t been accurately tallied yet, but the fire was large at factory 6 so probably human lives of course even property damage will be considerable, estimated.”

“How much is the property damage?”

“Even catching small, about over 1 billion won.”

Grandfather frowned.

“Why did the factory fire occur on earth? What’s the fire cause?”

“Well. According to the Blue House’s announcement, seems a safety accident.”

This also was similar to the past.

A matter processed in one line without special notes in the Taeseong Group report too.

With the Taeseong Chemicals fire accident, 23 died, and 166 were transported to the hospital.

But the Taeseong Chemicals fire accident ended up becoming a major turning point that drew a line in Taeseong’s history.

The Taeseong Group report recorded this like this.

After the Taeseong Chemicals fire accident, Taeseong walked an uncontrollable worsening path like dominos collapsing without time to even use hands.

Excluding Taeseong Chemicals and Taeseong Construction that separated affiliates and went independent, the remaining affiliates began dividing into eldest son and second son.

Like that Taeseong plummets from business world ranking 5th to business world ranking 198th in 5 years.

The dark period of Taeseong that everyone worried wouldn’t disintegrate in midair like this.

Somehow this time not Taeseong but U-gwang walks that dark path seems a bit different.