A Vicious Bastard
The table in front of them was cleared away, and warm tea was brought out.
In the brief silence that followed, Jang Hyung-cheol took a sip of his tea before staring intently at In-hyuk.
“Did you already know that Raison Energy was going to sign a contract with the Ministry of National Defense?”
That was the reason behind the stock’s sudden surge.
But for an outsider to know about a contract signed between the U.S. Department of Defense and a company was no easy feat.
“That’s correct.”
“How did you… No, never mind. Information is a trader’s lifeblood. I almost crossed the line there.”
In-hyuk gave a small nod at the man’s show of courtesy.
“Thank you for understanding.”
“Then can I look forward to more in the future? If needed, I can add more capital for you to manage.”
In-hyuk had come to this meeting fully anticipating Jang Hyung-cheol’s intentions. Of course, he had his own objectives as well.
“Does that include the funds you’re operating in Busan?”
At the same time, Jang Hyung-cheol’s face hardened.
“…You knew who I was?”
“If you’re referring to the loan shark king of the southern region, the famous Mr. Jang of Haeundae… then yes.”
Jang Hyung-cheol’s public persona as “Mr. Jang of Haeundae” was not widely known. Because he had built such a fearsome reputation running illegal lending in the south, his true identity had been kept tightly under wraps.
That was why even the first stock management team had simply labeled him a “claimer” and passed him off like unwanted baggage to the third team.
His publicly disclosed assets sat at around ten billion won. In reality, he was a man sitting on at least a hundred billion won in cash.
“Was I that famous?”
“I happened to hear some rumors about you, sir.”
“My rumors probably weren’t very flattering. Aren’t you afraid?”
The title of loan shark king came with an enormous amount of liquid capital that let him manipulate the black money flowing through the southern provinces. Most of the underworld enforcers followed him as well.
“Not particularly.”
“Well now. You’ve got bigger balls than I thought.”
“However, I’m not interested in those particular funds. While I know they’re money you worked hard to earn, sir, if they were ever traced back, our firm could get entangled as well.”
Jang Hyung-cheol nodded with a satisfied smile.
“That’s exactly why I only put in the money I earned from real estate in Bundang. Oh, it’s not speculation or anything. I bought the land dirt cheap years ago, and it just happened to skyrocket.”
“I understand. In that case, I’ll manage the funds you’ve entrusted to me as they currently stand. However, if you’re also interested in investing those other funds, I can introduce you to a suitable company.”
Curiosity colored the older man’s expression.
“Don’t tell me it’s the same place that gave you the Raison Energy information?”
“Something like that. If you can trust me even a little, I’ll recommend you as a client.”
“Oh-ho… Does that mean they can guarantee returns on par with what you’ve shown me?”
“They won’t fall short of that.”
When it came to investing, In-hyuk had absolute confidence.
Sensing that confidence, Jang Hyung-cheol’s smile deepened.
“You wouldn’t introduce me to such a place without any conditions, would you?”
“You’re sharp.”
“I’ve spent fifty years in the money-making business reading people’s faces. If I couldn’t pick up on something like that at my age, I’d deserve to be buried already.”
“Then would it be all right to make the introduction?”
Jang Hyung-cheol thought for a moment before speaking.
“You’re not trying to scam me, are you?”
“If you’re not interested, you don’t have to respond. That place will have plenty of other people lining up even without you, sir.”
“You’re very confident. Just how impressive is this place?”
“It’s a private equity fund called AMK Partners, established in the Cayman Islands. They only take on a small number of clients and manage their stock portfolios. I can assure you the returns will be far greater than you might expect.”
It was the company Go Mi-ah had set up at In-hyuk’s request not long ago.
Naturally, In-hyuk would be the source of its information. The plan was to rapidly expand its foundation and use it to confront the people behind Baek Si-hwan.
And Jang Hyung-cheol would become one of the important puzzle pieces he had coincidentally discovered.
“Then what are the management fees and incentive rates?”
His voice grew serious now that genuine interest had sparked.
“3.5 percent and 30 percent.”
“That’s quite high.”
The industry average was usually 2 percent management fees and 20 percent incentives.
The fact that this fund took a larger cut was naturally suspicious.
“Because the returns justify it.”
“Then I’ll start with two billion won. Just give me the fund account number and I’ll wire it.”
“You’re not even going to meet the manager in person?”
This wasn’t pocket change. It was two billion won.
It was strange that he would entrust such a sum based solely on In-hyuk’s words.
“Opportunities don’t wait forever. Besides, I’m sure you’ll handle it well.”
“I’ll make sure to repay that trust with more than satisfactory results.”
“Can I look forward to it?”
“You most certainly can.”
With the conversation concluded, In-hyuk exchanged final greetings with Jang Hyung-cheol and got into his car.
Just as he was about to start the engine, his phone rang. When In-hyuk checked the screen, his brow furrowed slightly.
【Tae Yeo-jun】
It was Tae Yeo-jun, the eldest grandson of Tae Geon-seung, chairman of Taeshin Group, and the son of Tae Seok-hyun, the leading candidate to succeed as head of Taeshin Electronics.
As the husband of an illegitimate child, and considering Tae Yeo-jun took after his mother Lee Seon-hye in his intense dislike of In-hyuk, the call was unwelcome.
In-hyuk let out a small sigh and pressed the answer button.
[Hey~ my dear brother-in-law! Why don’t you come over here right now?]
Noisy music and the sound of people talking could be faintly heard in the background.
“What’s this about?”
[Just come if I tell you to come. Why are you making such a long-winded answer? I’ll send you the location, so get your ass here within ten minutes.]
Click―
The call ended abruptly, and a single address arrived via message.
【Riseburn Club VIP Room 1, Yeoksam-dong】
In-hyuk couldn’t think of any reason this would be happening right now. This was something that had never occurred to the original Kang In-hyuk.
Some invisible change must have drawn Tae Yeo-jun’s attention.
“This doesn’t feel good at all…”
In the original timeline, Kang In-hyuk had attended the same high school and university as Tae Yeo-jun thanks to support from the Taeshin Education Foundation. Back then, Tae Yeo-jun had treated him like a dog he kept at home, tormenting him whenever the mood struck.
And yet In-hyuk had gone on to work at Taeshin Group and even married Tae Ju-ha, the illegitimate daughter of that very family.
He briefly considered ignoring the summons, but that would only make things more troublesome later.
With no other choice, In-hyuk sighed and entered the address into his navigation before driving off.
─┼
Even though it was still early evening, a long line of people stretched in front of the luxurious club Riseburn on the eight-lane road.
The interior was even more chaotic than the outside. In the most expensive VIP room, Tae Yeo-jun—the eldest grandson of the Taeshin Group chairman—sat drinking with his high school friends Kwon Seung-hyun and Moon Jae-min.
“You really called that bastard?”
Moon Jae-min asked from the side.
“I did.”
“What if he doesn’t show?”
“Who wouldn’t come when I call? Besides, Yeo-jun’s position is completely different from ours.”
Kwon Seung-hyun was the third son of the KSE Fund chairman, and Moon Jae-min was the second son of the Moonseong Corporation chairman. While they both worked at their respective family companies, their lack of ability kept them far from the actual succession race.
Tae Yeo-jun, however, was the eldest son of Tae Seok-hyun, the Taeshin Group heir apparent. There was no comparison.
After a brief silence, Kwon Seung-hyun spoke again.
“I was wondering why you didn’t call any girls tonight. Why did you suddenly summon Kang In-hyuk?”
He hadn’t been given a reason.
“We had dinner together at my house last time.”
“Oh, right. You said everyone gathered because Ju-ha came back. But what does that have to do with anything?”
“That bastard just stood there stiffly even when our eyes met.”
The other two had also attended the same high school and university as Tae Yeo-jun and Kang In-hyuk. Naturally, they had been present whenever Tae Yeo-jun bullied him.
“Just because of that?”
“His head’s gotten stiff now that Ju-ha’s back. Bastards like him need to be stepped on regularly. Otherwise, that stiffness turns into ideas way above their station.”
Moon Jae-min nodded as if he completely agreed.
“Exactly. Exactly. Guys like that think staying quiet is some kind of right.”
Kwon Seung-hyun let out a long sigh.
“We’re thirty-three now. How long are we going to keep doing this?”
A scoff escaped Tae Yeo-jun’s lips.
“What does age have to do with who’s above and who’s below? The problem is when someone who should be bowing their head refuses to do so.”
“You really are a vicious bastard…”
Back in high school, Tae Yeo-jun would beat Kang In-hyuk whenever he got irritated. That behavior had become a habit. If something displeased him even slightly, he had to act on his temper to feel satisfied.
As they drank and talked, a knock sounded at the door.
Knock knock―
Along with the club’s loud music, In-hyuk stepped inside.
‘Kwon Seung-hyun and Moon Jae-min, Tae Yeo-jun’s usual crew, are here too?’
During his time with the TSS security team, they had been considered part of the VIP’s innermost circle.
Of course, not in a good way. They had caused all kinds of trouble while hanging around Tae Yeo-jun, the Taeshin Group heir.
“Hey~! My brother-in-law is later than I expected?”
Tae Yeo-jun stared at In-hyuk with heavy sarcasm.
In-hyuk met his gaze, then answered with a sigh.
“Looks like you’re all having a great time. Why did you call me?”
On the table sat an expensive bottle of Western liquor and several glasses that had clearly been emptied multiple times.
Tae Yeo-jun frowned deeply, displeased by In-hyuk’s overly calm attitude.
“What’s with that arrogant tone?”
“I don’t see any reason to act intimidated.”
“Wow… Has my brother-in-law grown some balls because we haven’t seen each other much lately?”
The moment he snapped, Tae Yeo-jun hurled the whiskey glass he had just emptied at In-hyuk.
The glass flew straight toward In-hyuk’s face.
Clack―
But the glass was already caught firmly in In-hyuk’s hand.
“…”
A brief silence fell.
In-hyuk lowered the glass he had snatched right in front of his nose and stared piercingly at Tae Yeo-jun.
“Ha— I was planning to just listen to some useless talk and leave quietly, but this has gone way too far.”
The original Kang In-hyuk had always used polite speech with Tae Yeo-jun once he became officially tied to the Taeshin family.
The sudden shift to informal speech made Tae Yeo-jun’s face twist even more violently.
“What? Gone too far?”
Moon Jae-min, unable to hold back, shot to his feet and grabbed In-hyuk by the collar.
In-hyuk didn’t move an inch. He simply seized Moon Jae-min’s wrist, squeezed hard, and twisted.
“Aaagh—!”
Startled by the unexpected strength, Moon Jae-min screamed.
Kwon Seung-hyun jumped up and rushed over.
“Hey! What the hell are you doing?!”
“Can’t you see? He grabbed my collar first, so I grabbed his.”
Even as he spoke, In-hyuk continued applying pressure, and Moon Jae-min’s screams grew louder.
“Let go right now?!”
In the end, Moon Jae-min threw a punch at In-hyuk out of pure rage.
At that moment, In-hyuk didn’t dodge. Instead, he kicked the man’s left ankle out from under him.
Moon Jae-min’s balance collapsed. His body lifted into the air without him realizing it, then slammed into the floor.
Thud―
“Ugh—!”
The other two stared in shock at the scene.
Soon after, Kwon Seung-hyun tried to charge at the still-calm In-hyuk.
“You… have you lost your mind?”
“Why? If you want to end up like him, go ahead and grab me.”
Kwon Seung-hyun had no choice but to stop. In-hyuk still had a firm grip on Moon Jae-min’s arm.
A heavy silence hung in the air.
While looking at the other two, In-hyuk twisted the wrist he was holding even harder.
“Aaaagh! L-let go!!”