Chapter 170
Chapter 170
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 170
Chapter Title: The Old Fox and the Baby Tiger
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Two days had passed since the slight uproar caused by the birth of Kim Bada.
But in the heart of Taesung Group, Chairman Cheon Myeong-hwan's office remained shrouded in an icy silence as cold as a freezer.
Cheon Myeong-hwan sat behind his massive desk, gazing at his daughter standing before him with an utterly emotionless stare.
His daughter, the executive director of Taesung Pharmaceuticals, and the failed "traitor," Cheon Hye-yeon.
She stood there like a lifeless doll, all traces of the arrogance and ambition that had burned in her just days ago completely gone.
On Cheon Myeong-hwan's monitor was an internet news article.
['Gyeong' Kim Bada's Birth Day 'Blessings' Banners Cover Paju City...']
The article featured photos of massive banners hung throughout Paju city, along with news that 10 billion won had been donated to infant welfare groups in the name of "Kim Bada, 0 years old."
Cheon Myeong-hwan finally tore his eyes from the article and spoke.
His voice carried no emotion whatsoever.
"That guy... kept his promise."
This promise wasn't the one he'd made with Cheon Myeong-hwan himself.
It was the verdict and pledge that the young predator Kim Cheolsu had imposed on his new trophy, Cheon Hye-yeon.
'Second wife.'
Kim Cheolsu had announced the birth of his daughter—born to his first wife, Yoon Chae-won—to the entire world with this extravagant fanfare.
By splashing around 10 billion won to etch the name "Kim Bada" into everyone's minds,
and using the royal term "birth day" to nail down exactly who his sole legitimate heir was.
The meaning was crystal clear.
Cheon Hye-yeon, you are nothing but a mere "concubine" who can never usurp the position of the principal wife, and any child you bear will be nothing more than a bastard.
That was the proof of the "promise" Kim Cheolsu had extracted from her in exchange for sparing her life.
There was only one reason she could stand here unscathed after her coup against her father had failed.
Cheon Myeong-hwan spoke softly to his daughter, who stood there with empty eyes.
"Now, your ransom is set by him, not you."
At his words, Cheon Hye-yeon's shoulders trembled faintly.
The only lifeline keeping her afloat in this place.
It was the promises Kim Cheolsu had made to her.
First, withdrawing the 1 trillion won punitive damages lawsuit in New York that had been choking Taesung Group's lifeline.
Second, attaching the "Taesung" name to the massive bio research complex Kim Cheolsu was building in Paju.
Up to here, it looked like the "carrot" offered to a surrendered enemy.
A leash of domestication, keeping Taesung alive under his influence.
As if flaunting the predator's leisure, holding the knife handle that could strangle them again at any moment.
But the most vicious move was the one his own daughter had proposed first: the "Double Dragon Motors" acquisition.
Cheon Myeong-hwan saw right through his daughter's intentions.
Her clever yet foolish ambition to seize the core automotive business to bulk up Taesung,
then offer the enlarged Taesung to that bastard as her "dowry" to secure her position.
Kim Cheolsu hadn't rejected the proposal.
On the contrary, he'd eagerly accepted it.
Pretending to take her hand and acknowledge her desires, he'd set up the board to claim all the fruits for himself.
Now, the acquisition was no longer Cheon Hye-yeon's achievement but a venture proceeding under Kim Cheolsu's permission.
He would wield influence beyond that of a mere shareholder in Taesung's business, overseeing every process and piece of information like it was in the palm of his hand.
Cheon Myeong-hwan gave a bitter smile.
"That guy... isn't a mere merchant. He wants to be a king."
And in that kingdom, his daughter had become the most expensive hostage and the most useful tool.
With all emotion wiped from his face, Cheon Myeong-hwan issued his final order to his daughter.
"Get out. Prepare the Paju bio research complex without any hitches."
"...Yes."
The princess who had failed her coup was now just an ordinary employee obeying her father's command.
Cheon Myeong-hwan silently watched Cheon Hye-yeon leave the chairman's office with lifeless eyes.
Once the heavy door closed and perfect silence returned, he finally clicked his tongue lightly.
Raising kids...
Was a failure.
But there was no time to wallow in sentiment.
Cheon Myeong-hwan turned his chair, gazing out the floor-to-ceiling window at the Seoul skyline as he pondered his next move.
Kim Cheolsu.
That young, arrogant predator.
The flashy show he'd put on to celebrate his daughter's birth told Cheon Myeong-hwan many things.
'A stupid stunt, advertising his weakness to the whole world.'
The 10 billion donation, the banners blanketing the city.
It wasn't a blessing—it was a shield bought with money.
A desperate defense mechanism to protect his most vulnerable spot: his newborn daughter.
A faint smile crept onto Cheon Myeong-hwan's lips.
"Yoon Chae-won. And now Kim Bada..."
The Achilles' heel of that seemingly flawless, arrogant bastard was, in the end, the most clichéd thing: "family."
Attacking him right now would be foolish.
A beast protecting its cub is at its fiercest and incapable of rational judgment.
But that ferocity doesn't last forever.
One who wants to be king is bound to stand tallest and most exposed.
And the wind at the highest peak is the coldest and fiercest.
Cheon Myeong-hwan's next move wasn't "attack."
It was "waiting."
Until the young lion, intoxicated by his new kingdom, grew overconfident and made a fatal mistake.
Until he made an irrational move to protect his one weakness.
He would simply crouch like an old tiger, waiting for that moment.
"Wait, and the opportunity will surely come."
His quiet soliloquy scattered chillingly over the Seoul nightscape.
Cheon Myeong-hwan's "waiting" was different from the resignation or laziness of the weak.
It was the predator's patience—gathering all information and controlling every variable for the perfect moment to snap the prey's neck.
He quietly picked up his phone.
Pressing and holding a shortcut key, a calm voice answered before the first ring even finished.
It was his shadow, the secretary general who handled all of Taesung's dirty work.
[Yes, Chairman.]
"...Have you found the 'in-law'?"
Every fortress has a hidden door.
If Kim Cheolsu's impregnable castle had one weakness—"family"—then digging into its roots was the obvious next step.
[I'm sorry. Not yet... We found records of departure to China, but after that...]
At the report from the other end, Cheon Myeong-hwan's eyes narrowed.
"Find them, no matter what."
[Yes, we'll hurry.]
"No, you fool."
Cheon Myeong-hwan smoothly but firmly cut off his subordinate's promise to rush.
"Rushing will only ruin things. Haste is for losers. Just... thoroughly. Without letting even a single rat escape. Perfectly. Absolutely. Understood?"
[...Yes, Chairman.]
The call ended.
Cheon Myeong-hwan turned his gaze back to the Seoul nightscape.
The young king flaunted his castle with fanfare, while the old tiger quietly sharpened his claws on the weakest stone in its walls.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Rrr... peekaboo. Rrr... peekaboo."
My ultimate childcare killer move from the orphanage days, the one that had snot-nosed brats losing their minds in delight.
Now, I was unleashing that secret technique before the VIP of my life, Princess Kim Bada.
But our haughty Kim Bada (0 years old, stone-faced) was like the final boss who doesn't flinch at any provocation—she just stared blankly at me,
refusing to crack even a giggle.
Hmm, good.
This haughtiness.
This prickliness.
That ironclad defense against cheap tricks.
Definitely the poise of a girl who won't let any boy within 10 meters in the future.
I nodded in utter satisfaction.
Right then, a pathetic voice came from the side.
"What the hell are you even expecting from a newborn?"
In my holy sanctum, the VIP hospital room, an unwelcome intruder had barged in without even knocking.
My empire's number two, Han Yura.
"Tch... You here to pick a fight? Why'd you come?"
At my curt reply, Han Yura pressed her forehead with a small sigh and said,
"You gonna go to the office or what?"
"If there's anything more important than an audience with Lady Bada right now, report it."
"Always stirring up shit and then playing dumb... Tch... You're not hitting post-nut clarity, are you?"
Han Yura eyed me suspiciously.
She was the expert at cleaning up the massive screw-ups I made during post-nut clarity.
"Nah, I am."
".....You wanna bang the woman who gave birth two days ago?"
Han Yura asked in shock. Well, that'd be the normal reaction.
"What? I already did it with Choi Yang."
I answered nonchalantly.
You have to periodically refuel to maintain post-nut clarity.
At my matter-of-fact response, Han Yura shook her head in total resignation.
"Good for you, really."
"Anyway, if it's not important, fuck off? Lady Bada's sleeping."
"Sigh, sorted the New York lawsuit. Trading profits via API are still fine. Taesung called. They wanna discuss the Paju bio research complex. What do you wanna do?"
Han Yura rattled off her report like a machine gun.
I replied half-heartedly without taking my eyes off my daughter.
"Talk it over with Dr. Kim Seul-gi. 50-50 stake ratio, proceed as promised and it'll be fine."
"....You sure that's okay? It's a massive conglomerate. A chaebol."
"Not with Cheon Hye-yeon, but Chairman Cheon Myeong-hwan isn't the type to pull stupid shit."
That old fox was probably right now mulling over his daughter's failed coup, calculating his next move.
He wasn't dumb enough to hit me in the back of the head right away.
"Tch..."
Han Yura clicked her tongue, clearly unhappy with my laid-back attitude.
Only then did I turn to look at her.
"Oh, right—how'd that thing I asked you about go?"
At my question, Han Yura's expression turned grave.
"Taesung contacted people from the orphanage you lived at. We left a trail leading to China for now... but it won't hold long. Numbers game—we're way outnumbered no matter what."
Numbers game.
Taesung Group's total employees: 150,000.
Against us: just me, Choi Yang, Han Yura, Dr. Kim Seul-gi, Councilor Oh Sea, and Financial Supervisory Service team leader Park So-jin.
Li Soo-hee and her security detail were out for info warfare,
and Councilor Oh Sea plus her two "prospective" assemblymen were useless for this.
150,000 vs. 5.
Fuck, what a lopsided fight.
I turned my gaze back to Kim Bada.
To protect that tiny sleeping bundle, I'd take on 1.5 million if I had to.
"You said your old university contacted you about some senior lecture thing, right?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Go do it."
"......"
"Go spill some stories, scout some promising kids, and kidnap 'em back."
Han Yura's face soured at my words.
"......Forgot how I dropped out of college?"
Karaoke helper, handjobs, kiss rooms...
Got caught earning tuition in the sex trade and labeled a "whore," forced to quit.
"It's been two years—who's gonna remember a professor? Your classmates are graduated by now."
".........."
"Go on, Yura-mon. Tame some useful ones and bring 'em back."
"...Just post a job ad."
"Post one, and that geezer Cheon Myeong-hwan will plant spies openly."
At my point, Han Yura muttered a low "Haa... fuck..."
She knew with the straight path blocked, she had no choice but to follow my crazy idea.
"Pay's not chump change. Get to work."
".....I don't remember ever getting a paycheck from you, boss?"
Han Yura shot back incredulously.
"I toss you a company here and there instead."
At that, Han Yura grimaced but nodded.
".......Tch."
As always, she headed out to execute my insane plan.
I smiled in satisfaction and turned back to Bada.
"Alright, Princess. Just you and Daddy now."