Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Hanmyeong Chairman's Chair
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Hanmyeong Group.
Official ranking in the business world: 3rd place.
Owns 15 affiliates.
Affiliates spanning telecommunications, heavy industry, trading companies, department stores, construction, and even defense industries.
A true conglomerate, entrenched across a vast array of sectors.
Koo Yong-nam, the chairman steering such an empire, was a monumental figure in the nation.
As a top-tier chaebol heir, his influence extended far beyond business and politics, woven through an immense network.
He'd recently pushed through a major overhaul for national defense—a bold crackdown in its own right—cementing his status as an extraordinary leader.
'Impressive. A world apart from a lightweight like Yoo Kyung-soo.'
Their ambitions were poles apart.
So were their capabilities.
Hanmyeong Group had undoubtedly laid every foundation needed to leap from a modest Eastern nation to global elite. Plenty to learn from them, in every sense.
"Kim Do-jun here. It's truly an honor to meet you, Chairman."
Time for some smooth flattery.
Praise makes even whales dance, after all.
"Hahaha. They say young success breeds arrogance, yet your first impression is far from off-putting. My own sons could stand to learn a thing or two."
The air thickened with tension.
Anyone else might not have dared meet his gaze.
'Koo Yong-nam has to be pulled into our camp.'
Korea runs on school ties, regional bonds, and bloodlines.
I planned to stick close to him for the foreseeable future. Even Lee Dong-wook, for all his sleazy personal life, had talents impossible to dismiss—I'd said as much plenty of times.
Brotherly terms would be ideal.
The age gap was wide, but hardly unheard of in chaebol circles.
"Take a seat here."
"Thank you."
"Well now, such fine manners. Korea's future shines bright indeed."
I sipped the secretary's coffee and scanned the room.
For a man commanding trillions as business rank three, his office was stark—only essential furniture, nothing more.
My eyes caught a peculiar decorative piece on the windowsill.
"What's that?"
Odd design.
A chair that wasn't for sitting.
Koo Yong-nam chuckled at the sight.
"My wife gave it to me."
"A gift from Madam, then?"
"Kahaha, 'Madam' already? You've mastered the social game quick."
Palm-sized ornament.
He cradled the unsittable chair, his face softening with memory.
"When I claimed this seat, she skipped the congrats and handed me this instead."
"……"
"Curious, isn't it? A chair you can't sit on."
I widened my eyes.
Then it clicked—the true meaning.
"It means lead by example."
"Kekekeke. First young man to catch on."
The chair symbolized example.
Don't park in the chairman's throne—get your feet dirty.
Whoever she was, his wife was sharp as a tack.
'A man like this, cheating? What the hell for?'
I choked back the bile rising in my throat.
No point sabotaging a budding alliance.
"So, you wanted to see me about charity for war veterans?"
I nodded at his words.
"Yes. They deserve our respect."
"My, such magnanimity. Most in your shoes chase petty gains."
"An acquaintance descends from one. With my power and wealth, standing by isn't an option."
"I see... That's the story."
The mood softened palpably—not my imagination.
Koo Yong-nam's smile lingered, eyes beaming like a father praising his boy.
"How do you intend to help?"
I'd mulled options.
Not just Jin-seong's family—all veterans and theirs.
"News broke days ago—a veteran stealing from a convenience store, crushed by poverty."
"……"
"Sure, I'm a merchant. You are too, Chairman. Merchants trade even: give one, take one. No shame in admitting it."
Exactly.
This went beyond Jin-seong.
Selig's Korea push still drew wary eyes. Sabotage wouldn't derail us, but ignoring it was foolish.
Time to tackle the nation's sorest spot.
Prove we weren't foes.
"Foreign capital makes folks uneasy. History's full of local firms gobbled by outsiders."
"...Fair point."
Examples? Endless.
SMEs devoured by Chinese giants even now. National health demands their growth—that's why Japan's subsidies flow.
Chaebol Republic or not, Korea's skeleton is SMEs.
"Hence the suspicions. No such plans here, but we did swallow Future Distribution whole."
"Ah, Future Distribution..."
Thriving since my takeover.
Recent 200% bonuses won public favor.
Fair, transparent ops.
My north star.
"So, show our sincerity: we're allies. Starting with veterans."
"Solid plan. Botch the execution, though, and backlash bites."
Countermeasures? Locked and loaded.
The world's sharpest trio at my side.
"All veterans. Every one."
"Every last one...?"
"Families for the fallen. Lifelong care for the living."
"...Eyeing politics?"
"Zero interest."
"No politics, yet this scale? It'll cost a fortune."
"Budgeted from the start."
"My word..."
Massive veteran aid.
Go big or go home.
Business blows small deeds enormous.
"That's why I need Hanmyeong Construction."
Won't budge on pleas alone.
Mutual gain seals deals.
"Entrusting our new HQ build to you."
"...!"
"Lagging Ilseong and Daeyoung lately?"
"Ahem..."
He turned away, irked.
Ilseong-Daeyoung mentions? Old wounds.
Hanmyeong was poised to leapfrog Daeyoung to second place. Then Ilseong propped Daeyoung to kneecap them—canceled projects beyond count.
Billions lost.
Still burned him.
"Rough cost?"
"Over 300 billion."
"Th-three hundred billion!?"
"Could climb higher. Like I said—do it right, make it count."
Yeah.
Want folks to see foreign cash boosts the nation.
Philippines DJ Investment spits out that sum easy.
No sweat.
"Thought you'd build a shack... Bold vision for a youngster."
I caught Jin Seol-hwa's eye—she'd been listening quietly—winking approval.
'President, nailing it.'
Started as aid for Jin-seong's vet family.
Evolved.
One? Nah—all.
Foundation billions before.
Not enough.
Impossible.
I spoke with iron certainty.
"Age means zilch in business. Fellow merchant—you get it."
Coffee bittered today.
Prime beans, deep notes.
"So, Chairman? Grab my hand?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Huh? All veterans?"
Cough! Cough!
Jin-seong, mid-sip, choked hard on the shock, hacking away.
I handed him a tissue from the table.
Grateful grab, wiped his mouth, stared blankly.
"P-President..."
"I know. Pricey."
"M-money's not it. My family's vets too—screw up, every grudge lands on you..."
Possible.
Folks'll wonder: what's the angle?
Hate mail inbound?
Didn't matter. Resolve steel.
"No them, no me."
"President..."
"Truce state like ours—vets scraping by? Criminal."
All over the net lately.
"Help even a buck?"
No skin off their backs, yet they rallied.
Why fundraise from empty pockets?
Simple.
Gratitude.
"Which brings me to..."
Jin-seong essential here. Broadcaster beats my direct touch.
Avg 150k viewers.
Wedding stream hit 400k.
50 mil pop—not peanuts.
"Jin-seong, lend a hand?"
"...Me?"
"Yeah. I drive—you vibe as you feel."
Brief hush.
Then:
"Count me in—one hundred percent!"
Parents' grim tales fresh: a vet buddy of Grandpa's scavenging trash.
Yearned to help—no leads, no intel.
"President, I'll make it happen. Hell, my whole stream career on the line!"
Koo Yong-nam of Hanmyeong Group.
Jin-seong, internet broadcast king.
Allies locked. Time to roll.