Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Royal Family 5-4
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Kim Ho-sun glared at Ji-hyeok, trembling like a bloated toad swollen with venom, before slowly opening his mouth.
"So, how much exactly are you after?"
"Fifty billion won."
"What? That scrap of land for fifty billion?"
"Precisely the scrap of land and your grandson's future."
"Even so, fifty billion is out of the question!"
Kim Ho-sun's expression was resolute, etched with determination.
But Ji-hyeok just smirked at him.
"Is this a trait of greedy folks? I can't figure out why you keep trying to negotiate a blackmail. Chairman, it's yes or no—no middle ground. Let me say it one last time: Don't make an enemy of Taesung. Keep things as they are now, neither friend nor foe. That's what fifty billion buys. You're not harboring some vain hope that Mirae Group will protect you, are you?"
"Hmph..."
He couldn't deny a single word.
That was why only a deep groan escaped Kim Ho-sun's lips.
People love rankings.
Like celebrity feud lists or the three great beauties...
One of them was Korea's top ten conglomerates.
Sure, tenth or eleventh—what's the difference? But people insist on calling them the top ten, drawing a clear line.
Each of those top ten groups had its own corporate image.
There was the image they promoted themselves, but it often differed greatly from what the public perceived.
Ilshin Chemical's main client, Mirae Group—one of Korea's big three chaebols without fail—had a friendly image.
The kind where you felt they'd cut you some slack if you pleaded enough...
That was Mirae's vibe.
But Taesung was different.
Different, as Taesung itself claimed in its corporate image.
And people said the same when Taesung came up.
Taesung feels a bit different.
But that was for ordinary folks. To a businessman like Kim Ho-sun, Taesung was a company with crystal-clear lines between friend and foe.
Once deemed an enemy, they crushed you without mercy or hesitation, leaving nothing behind.
But they rewarded loyalty generously—overflowingly so.
That was Taesung's image.
And now Ji-hyeok was telling him not to become Taesung's enemy.
This was a warning.
You're standing on the line right now.
So Kim Ho-sun's face gradually changed.
The anger faded, leaving only a heavy weight behind.
His silence deepened.
During that time, Ji-hyeok said nothing, as if giving him space to think.
"Sigh... So if I pay that amount, everything's squared away cleanly?"
"That's right."
"Fine. How should I transfer the money?"
"First, there's something you need to do."
"What's that?"
"Contact your PR team and have them prepare a press release right now. Headline: Repaying a Debt of Gratitude. Ilshin Chemical repaying the grace Taesung Chemical has shown over the years. And send an official document to Taesung Chemical about the land purchase. It shouldn't look like we're pushing this—make it seem like Ilshin Chemical, you personally, are repaying that grace. Got it? Give Taesung a good impression."
For a split second, Kim Ho-sun's eyes flashed.
But it wasn't the glare from before.
He stared at Ji-hyeok with eyes full of astonishment.
"Just how far ahead have you planned this?"
"Does that matter? What matters is wrapping it up smoothly like this. Anyway, thank you for going along with it."
"One last question. Who the hell are you?"
Ji-hyeok gave a gentle smile at Kim Ho-sun's question.
Then he pulled a business card from his pocket and slid it across to him.
"Let me introduce myself properly. Seo Ji-hyeok of Taesung Corporation's Special Sales Department."
"No title."
"Yes. Just a regular employee."
"How much do they pay you there? I'll give you ten times—no, twenty times that. Start as a manager, and I'll make you a director within a year. Come to Ilshin."
"I appreciate the offer, but I'll pass. Instead, keep that business card close. Knowing me will become a great asset to you someday, Chairman."
It was outrageous bravado.
But Kim Ho-sun didn't laugh at Ji-hyeok's words.
Instead, he scrutinized Ji-hyeok's face even more closely.
'That guy... the more I look, the more I want him.'
But then—
"Chairman, mind if I give you some advice?"
"Shoot."
"Your grandson. Turn him in yourself. You know how it ends once someone's hooked on drugs, right? If you care about him, rein him in properly before it's too late."
"Hmmm... Yeah."
"Do it quickly. This afternoon, our department manager's heading to Ilshin Chemical. Of course, send that official document to Taesung first. Timing's key. And when the manager arrives, hand over about ten billion right away. The rest can wait a month."
"Why's that?"
"For the optics. Looks great if the manager personally delivers ten billion to the finance team. It'll spread like wildfire in the company."
"Hahaha. Kuhahaha!"
Kim Ho-sun burst into roaring laughter.
Whatever amused him so much had him clapping and laughing heartily before leaning forward from his chair toward Ji-hyeok.
"A regular employee using the manager as a pawn on the board. You're clearly cut out for big things. The more I see, the more I want you. Really won't come under me? What would it take?"
"The opposite."
"Huh? What?"
"It means I'll be the one calling you."
Kim Ho-sun didn't catch on at first.
But Han Ji-young, who had been sitting beside them listening the whole time, grasped the meaning perfectly.
It meant: when the time comes, leave Mirae Group and come to Taesung.
Ilshin Chemical was a strategic partner for Mirae Group, which lacked chemical subsidiaries.
Of course, Mirae wouldn't collapse if Ilshin left, but it wouldn't be a small matter either.
'Just how far can this man see?'
As Han Ji-young pondered that, Kim Ho-sun finally caught on a beat later and spoke heavily.
"That's no light matter."
"If you come, we'll treat it with the weight it deserves. But don't let it show. If Mirae catches on, Ilshin becomes a hot potato. I won't call then. So raise your own value at Mirae on your own. Make it a company I won't need to call for."
"Kuhuhuhu. Where the hell did a guy like you drop from? Makes sense why Taesung is so fearsome—with guys like you."
"You're busy, so you should head out."
"Kicking me out now?"
"I'm busy too."
"Heh, you rascal..."
Now Kim Ho-sun's eyes brimmed with fondness for Ji-hyeok.
Not just his eyes—his voice softened like he was talking to his grandson.
Regretfully, he rose from his seat and handed Ji-hyeok his personal business card.
"My personal card. Call if you need anything."
"Thank you. I'll delete the grandson video once this is done, so no worries."
"Good. I'm off."
As Kim Ho-sun turned to leave—
"Oh, Chairman. Don't punish those guys from yesterday too harshly. They had it coming. But yeah, the kids are a bit sloppy. Get them some training."
"Will do. Hahaha... Kuhahaha."
Laughing heartily again, Kim Ho-sun strode out of the coffee shop with far more vigor than when he'd entered.
Ji-hyeok then turned to Han Ji-young.
"Nice wrap-up, right?"
"Yes. Completely different from what I expected, though. You never planned to make an enemy of Ilshin Chemical from the start?"
"Right."
"But you still planned under the assumption they might become one."
"Yes."
"Learned a lot. My thinking was too rigid. But one more question."
"What?"
"You said a hundred billion, didn't you?"
"I did. But I never said Ilshin Chemical had to pay a hundred billion."
"Huh?"
"Contact the manager first. Report the situation so far and coordinate his schedule."
Of course, reporting to Manager Oh and coordinating was senior Han Ji-young's job.
But their conversation felt oddly reversed.
Even so, Han Ji-young naturally took Ji-hyeok's instruction and picked up her phone.
Ji-hyeok rejoined Manager Oh and Section Chief Bang just past four in the afternoon.
The fully assembled Special Sales Department sat in a circle at the same coffee shop where he'd met Chairman Kim that morning.
"Good work, you two."
"No, sir. You'll handle the wrap-up."
"I've set a meeting with Ilshin Chemical's Chairman Kim for tomorrow morning. They're preparing the contract."
"Yes. They'll need time for the press release too."
"Makes sense. But fifty billion... hard to believe even hearing it."
Manager Oh's face lit up with a smile.
It held joy over the sales, but also admiration for Ji-hyeok and Ji-young.
Manager Oh was straightforward like that.
Section Chief Bang's expression, however, was ambiguous.
His face said exactly this:
'How the hell...'
But Ji-hyeok ignored it.
Instead, he reached out and slowly closed Section Chief Bang's laptop, which the man had opened right upon sitting.
"Huh? What's that about?"
It was natural for Section Chief Bang to be startled.
But Ji-hyeok remained calm.
"What I'm about to say is extremely important. Section Chief, I know you record all department meetings."
"Why's that a problem? Taking minutes after is standard. That's why I record. And while we're at it, that's originally Seo Ji-hyeok's job as the department rookie."
"I know. The issue is those recordings going outside the department. Since we're on the topic, where do they go? First? Not second. Third?"
"Wh-what are you talking about?"
As Bang Mu-seok's face reddened and he barked—
Bam! Bam!
Manager Oh lightly rapped the table, silencing him.
"Section Chief, I knew too. Assistant Manager Han probably did as well."
"Yes. I knew from the start. Because I got the same offer you did. You too, right, sir?"
"Correct. An offer to report everything—specifically anything related to Seo Ji-hyeok—from the department. Mine came from Electronics. Of course, as a core affiliate, it's natural for the Electronics president to be interested in him. But I doubt it was the president who made the offer. Probably routed through Electronics since I'm an alum."
Feeling the mood turn against him, perhaps—
Section Chief Bang clamped his mouth shut and glared at Manager Oh, Assistant Manager Han, and Ji-hyeok.
"Seo Ji-hyeok. This is..."
"I understand. But you don't seem to fit our department, Section Chief."
"What gives you the right..."
"As everyone knows, because I'm Royal Family."
They already knew, but hearing it straight from Ji-hyeok's mouth hit differently. Manager Oh and Section Chief Bang's faces grew heavy.
"I acknowledge your skills, Section Chief. But once you accepted that offer, working with me as a colleague got tough, didn't it?"
"And you two...?"
"I'm the department head. I have to protect it—I can't accept such offers."
"I refused too. Not my style. Instead, I asked Seo Ji-hyeok directly. If he was Royal Family."
At their answers, Section Chief Bang's head drooped.
Manager Oh delivered the verdict.
"Section Chief, take a week of annual leave. I'll handle your SNS return within that. Then back to your original post."
The best possible outcome, as he'd hoped—Bang Mu-seok cautiously lifted his head.
"Thank you, sir. But... sorry, the performance bonus... I paid off my apartment loan..."
"It was earned on our watch, so it's yours. Spend it well. Loans are best repaid fast."
As expected...
Ji-hyeok thought again that he'd judged Manager Oh right.
The man knew his role perfectly.
If he'd sought Ji-hyeok's input on that issue, it might've disappointed a bit.
But Manager Oh clearly understood his authority.
Good.
Very good.
"Sorry, Section Chief, head back to Seoul now. No need to stop by the office."
"I'm sorry. And... thank you."
Section Chief Bang bustled packing his things briefly.
As he left the coffee shop, Ji-hyeok slowly spoke.
"I want a clear answer. Will you two join me?"
Ji-hyeok's eyes were clear.
Meeting that clear gaze, the two smiled faintly.