Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Host Bar Secrets
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Ego was what they called a host bar.
A place where men fulfilled women's sexual desires.
Normally, it would be filled with dim lighting and sultry heat, but today Ego was unusually bright.
All the lights that could be turned on were blazing, and the staff were all kneeling in one corner.
Standing before them were men with sturdy builds.
And as soon as they spotted Jang Woo descending the stairs, they bowed their heads in unison.
The men kept their heads down but didn't utter a word.
Because Jang Woo hated the typical gangster routine of bowing deeply and fawning, "Have you arrived, boss?"
As Jang Woo and Ji-hyeok entered, one of Jang Woo's trusted lieutenants whom Ji-hyeok knew well approached them.
"We've reserved a private room over there for you."
"Good. Where?"
"This way."
A moment later, they were led to a fairly spacious lounge.
It was big enough for at least ten people to party comfortably, and at the end of the sofa, one man was huddled up small.
Ji-hyeok was the one who approached him.
"You're Min-hyuk, right?"
"Yes! Yes! That's me."
"No need to be tense. One of your clients is Kim Su-jin, yeah? The president of Rich Trading."
The name that came from Ji-hyeok's mouth was Kim Su-jin, Heo Yu-rim's stepmother.
As soon as Ji-hyeok finished speaking, Min-hyuk nodded vigorously up and down.
"Yes! Yes! She is."
"Answer once. It's hurting my ears. Tell me everything you know about Kim Su-jin."
Min-hyuk had striking looks.
He could pass for an idol, and it even looked like he'd done some makeup.
Min-hyuk swallowed hard, his tension plain on his face, and carefully opened his mouth.
"Th-that... bitch..."
"Go on."
"Yes. That bitch can't go a day without a man. Total nympho. Seriously. I'm pretty experienced myself, but playing with her just drains me completely."
"What else?"
"Well... She went ghost for a bit not long ago."
"Ghosted? Tell me more."
"You know she runs a luxury import business, right? Well, there was a huge scandal. They mixed fakes in with the real stuff and sold them. Got caught, sued, reported—total chaos."
A luxury importer dealing fakes was no small issue.
Trust was everything in that business.
From what Ji-hyeok knew, Kim Su-jin's Rich Trading supplied several boutiques in Gangnam regularly.
If those shops sold fakes and got complaints from customers, it was a massive problem.
Once word spread that a shop handled counterfeits, it was done in that world.
"And?"
"Yes. But she came back saying it was all sorted, and now she's spending even more lavishly. These days, she comes every other day and books double casts."
"What's that?"
"B-book two... and play with both."
Hmm...
If she'd been caught with fakes, Kim Su-jin was surely tangled in lawsuits right now.
Yet splashing cash like that?
It meant she'd reached settlements...
'Maybe she's already in bed with Seyeon Group.'
Ji-hyeok, lost in thought for a moment, spoke up again.
"Every other day?"
"Yes. She was here yesterday, so tomorrow or the day after."
"You know nothing about us, got it?"
"Yes. Of course. I know nothing."
"When Kim Su-jin comes, butter her up and dig for info. Record everything."
"Yes. I can handle that."
"Here."
Ji-hyeok pulled a check from his wallet and handed it over.
Min-hyuk jumped up, bowed, and took it with both hands.
"Thank you."
"I'll pay more based on the info's value. But if you get clever, that money becomes your life insurance."
"Of... Of course. Trust me. I'll do it right."
With that, Ji-hyeok ended the talk and headed back to the car with Jang Woo to continue on.
Their next stop was a massive club in Hongdae.
A long line of young men and women waited to get in.
"Here?"
"Yeah. Good revenue."
"Corporate entity?"
"Yeah. I own all the shares, but it's incorporated. Bought it personally, so the crew doesn't know about it."
"That works."
"But like you said, I did acquire it, but feels like someone's skimming off the back, so it's iffy."
"I'll explain later."
"Got it. Honestly, I haven't taken my cut from the organization anyway, so this much won't raise flags."
Ji-hyeok aimed to solve three things through this Daecheon Transport deal.
First, revenge for Yu-rim.
Second, securing a logistics affiliate to fill Taesung Group's gap.
Third, funds for his and Jang Woo's future.
The two talked for a while longer after that.
They parted around 1 a.m.
Thus ended Ji-hyeok's long day.
"We'll step in as white knights."
The strategy team leader nodded at Ji-hyeok's words.
It meant he'd grasped the general plan from the "white knight" mention.
"How many shares in Daecheon Transport total?"
"One million shares at 10,000 won each."
"Capital at 10 billion won, then. Announce a paid capital increase tomorrow. 10 million shares. Mix of shareholder allocation and third-party allocation."
"Yes. For Seyeon Express to exercise their rights, they'd need 49 billion won."
"Right. If they can't pay, their stake drops from 49% to 4.4%."
"But, head. What if Seyeon Express buys the new shares?"
"Doesn't matter. Better if they do. Boosts Daecheon Transport's capital. But with second and third rounds, Seyeon Group's poor liquidity won't keep up."
The strategy team leader nodded at Ji-hyeok's response.
"Yes. I agree. Better if they follow once."
"That's a bonus. Follow or not, we secure the stake. Then it's our turn. Use Daecheon Transport's 24.9% in Seyeon Express to demand an audit."
"To block funds flowing from Express to Airlines, right?"
"Exactly. Seyeon Group's not a holding structure—it's circular investment: Express → Airlines → Shipping → Construction → Express. Each with subs. Poke one hole, and it all crumbles."
"But head, if Taesung's involvement leaks, Seyeon Airlines and Construction stocks—already bottomed—could rebound and create variables."
"Yeah. So we stay in the shadows. Later, just pick up Shipping and Airlines."
"You mean..."
"Yes. What you're thinking. Securing funds myself for group takeover."
Maybe too direct.
The strategy team leader looked slightly surprised.
But he soon bowed to Ji-hyeok.
"Wise decision. I'll be your firm stepping stone."
"Your words alone give me strength. Shall we start?"
"Yes. I'll timeline it and send to the dispatched staff."
With that, the team leader stood, bowed, and left.
Ji-hyeok picked up the phone.
Heo Gyu-seok.
"It's me. Treatment starts tomorrow?"
"Yeah. Kinda scary."
"Why fear now, when you were ready to leave untreated?"
"Ha ha ha... Good point."
"Business first. Settle with Kim Su-jin. Give her half your Daecheon Transport shares as she wants. But forfeit other assets."
"Really... is that okay?"
"Yes. But transfer in three weeks. Paid increase disclosure is two weeks. Hand over after, she'll get peanuts."
"Got it. She'll cry blood. Heh heh..."
"Staff will explain in detail."
"Thanks. After discharge..."
"Talk after discharge."
"...Fine."
"Rest."
Ji-hyeok hung up and stared at the phone.
Changed.
Did facing death do that to people?
Heo Gyu-seok's face, actions, speech—all different.
If Chairman Kang Wook faced death, would he change?
But Ji-hyeok stopped there.
No reason for pity.
Even if Kang Wook wasn't the blue notebook culprit, he wasn't pitworthy.
No excuse justified his last 28 years.
Especially as one of the culprits still.
Ji-hyeok shook his head to clear it and sat at his desk.
He buried himself in the piled-up monitor work, filling his mind with tasks.
Jo Chung-ho furrowed his brow at his three sons before him.
'Sigh, trusting these idiots...'
His gaze first went to eldest Jo Seong-yeon.
Seyeon Airlines president—secretary's office called daily.
Over twenty staff he'd messed with already.
Six pregnant, four rape suits.
Money spent blocking it? Uncountable.
Next to him, second son gnawed nails, legs crossed—another sigh.
Why wear ripped jeans? Fashion bullshit looked stupid to Jo Chung-ho.
His thirty-two-year-old son prancing in that.
No interest in running the company, just chasing celebs, flashing cash, wasting.
Jo Chung-ho's face eased at youngest Jo Dong-yeon.
Thought him too young, but he'd brought the Daecheon Transport play.
Wouldn't fix the group, but could buy breathing room on cash.
Amazed it came from the kid's head.
"Dong-yeon."
"Yes, Dad."
"Wrap this well, join management. Enough playtime."
"Yes. I'll learn under my brothers."
"No. Nothing to learn from them. Again: nail this, and I'll hand you Express."
His other two sons whipped sharp glares at him.
"Father!"
"Dad!"
Simple reason for their anger.
Seyeon Group's circular: Express → Airlines → Shipping → Construction → Express.
Maknae → Eldest → Father → Second → Maknae meant third son as de facto heir.
Express and Shipping were the cash cows.
Control those, done.
Jo Dong-yeon bowed low, hiding from his brothers.
Seemed lost, but his mouth quietly smiled.