A Poisoned Chalice Filled with Seeds of Discord
For a long while Jo Chung-sep stared at Kim Seong-ho as if the man had lost his mind. At last he forced his trembling lips to move.
“How are we supposed to…?”
His hands shook as badly as his voice when he lifted his coffee cup. He blew across the hot surface until he had regained a measure of composure, took a couple of sips, and spoke again.
“Director. We’ve only just established this advisory firm. How on earth are people like us supposed to acquire a securities company?”
The tremor had largely left him, yet a faint quaver still clung to every word. Kim Seong-ho regarded him in silence for a moment before answering.
“Under ordinary circumstances it would of course be absurd. The Securities Association would never even consider it. But these are not ordinary times, are they? Right now even the Association will be in no position to stop Future Asset from joining their ranks.”
Jo Chung-sep swallowed hard.
Becoming a securities firm meant stepping inside the system. It meant no longer standing on the margins of the industry, merely matching its steps, but participating directly and shaping the current itself. That was precisely why those already inside the system rejected every newcomer so ruthlessly. A small circle of privileged players was far more profitable for them.
Moreover, people who had clawed their way up from the bottom in a short span of time would never, even in death and rebirth, be allowed to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the old guard. So Jo Chung-sep had never once imagined becoming a securities house. Managing private equity as an asset-management firm had been the outer limit of his ambition; anything beyond that had not even appeared in his dreams.
Yet Kim Seong-ho was speaking of exactly that unimaginable thing.
“Including Goguryeo Securities, there are already seven securities firms on the market. And far more will collapse before this is over. Under those conditions the Association will not be able to block Future Asset’s acquisition. In fact, the moment we signal interest they will come running to us. So stop fretting and seize the opportunity.”
“Will it… really go that way?”
“It will.”
Kim Seong-ho’s voice carried absolute certainty. In his previous life Future Asset had climbed into the securities business under far worse conditions, and still the Association had accepted them without serious resistance. He remembered that fact with perfect clarity, which was why he could speak so confidently now.
He glanced out the window at the building he owned and continued.
“Once you acquire a small securities firm, move in there with me. After you’ve established yourselves as a proper securities house, you’ll take over the entire building.”
“The entire building…?”
Jo Chung-sep followed his gaze. Fifteen stories, more than two thousand pyeong of land. Filling every floor of that tower would mean rising into the very top tier of the industry.
His heart pounded at the mere thought of reaching such heights when they had not even begun the acquisition. Yet Kim Seong-ho’s vision went still further.
“That is only the beginning.”
“The beginning?”
“Yes. Occupying that whole building will be the starting point for Future Asset—no, for Future Asset Securities.”
“Future Asset Securities…”
Jo Chung-sep repeated the name under his breath. Simply saying it aloud filled him with a strange, rising anticipation.
Kim Seong-ho smiled at the look on his face.
“We’ll talk about the name when the time comes.”
The words snapped Jo Chung-sep out of his daze. He nodded quickly.
“Yes. That would be best. I… still can’t quite sort out what is happening.”
Kim Seong-ho’s smile remained gentle.
“For now your only task is to find a suitable securities firm and acquire it. Through that firm you will obtain a securities license and enter the system. That is the first mission of Future Asset.”
“I will keep it firmly in mind.”
Jo Chung-sep bit his lower lip, deliberately using the sharp little pain to burn every word into memory. Watching the resolute set of his face, Kim Seong-ho allowed himself a quiet smile.
Even without anyone pointing the way, Jo Chung-sep and Future Asset had once risen by their own power to become the finest securities house in Korea. With Kim Seong-ho’s help added to that innate drive, they would climb higher and faster still. He looked at Jo Chung-sep and pictured Future Asset soaring into the sky.
At that moment Jo Chung-sep’s secretary entered the office.
“Sir.”
The flush of excitement still on his cheeks, Jo Chung-sep turned.
The secretary spoke carefully from the doorway.
“Chairman Jang has arrived.”
The report brought Jo Chung-sep fully back to the present. Important business waited right in front of him; he needed to clear his head and deal with what was at hand.
“Show him to the conference room.”
After giving the order he looked at Kim Seong-ho. A faint smile had already curved Seong-ho’s lips at the news that Jang Chan-pyeong—Jang Eun-ah’s father—had come calling.
Kim Seong-ho and Jo Chung-sep entered the conference room where the giant of the private-loan world, Chairman Jang Chan-pyeong, waited. The broad-shouldered man remained seated and fixed his gaze on Seong-ho.
“So you’re the famous Director Kim Seong-ho everyone’s talking about these days.”
“It is an honor to meet you, sir. I am Kim Seong-ho, head of the Restructuring Headquarters of the Ilhyeon Group.”
Receiving the formal greeting while still seated, Jang Chan-pyeong’s expression softened a fraction and he gave a short nod.
“No need for all that formality. When you get down to it, we’re family, aren’t we?”
A light smile touched Kim Seong-ho’s face at the reference to their connection through Jang Eun-ah; he took a seat. Jo Chung-sep settled beside him. Jang Chan-pyeong looked from one man to the other.
“Is this place also backed by the Ilhyeon Group?”
“It is not.”
“Then is it privately owned by you?”
“Nor that either.”
Kim Seong-ho shook his head and glanced toward Jo Chung-sep.
“I invested here purely out of personal acquaintance. All decisions regarding management and investment rest entirely with CEO Jo. I hope you will not misunderstand, Chairman.”
Jo Chung-sep felt a surge of calm simply knowing that Seong-ho was there to give him the right answers. To him, Kim Seong-ho was far more than an investor; he was a mentor. There was no reason, however, to advertise that fact to Jang Chan-pyeong, so he merely smiled quietly under Seong-ho’s gaze.
Jang Chan-pyeong studied them both, then nodded.
“You call yourself a simple investor, but my eyes tell me otherwise. Still, if you say so, I’ll take it as such.”
He had not come to quibble over such details. He turned straight to the point.
“What did you want to discuss that made you call me here?”
Kim Seong-ho straightened in his chair and began to speak, slowly and carefully, of the reason he had asked Jo Chung-sep to arrange the meeting.
“I am certain you have already heard the talk surrounding Ilhyeon, Chairman.”
“Heard it? Of course I’ve heard it.”
A bitter smile twisted Jang Chan-pyeong’s mouth.
“It involves my own daughter, so I know every filthy detail.”
He paused, nose wrinkling in disgust.
“The story is too filthy to keep in my mouth, so I won’t drag it out. But one thing you should know: they persuaded my daughter—against her will—to accept her husband’s illegitimate child as her own.”
His hand clenched over his chest. Face contorted with pain, he glared at Kim Seong-ho.
“None of you can possibly understand how that feels.”
Believing he had failed Jang Eun-ah, he squeezed his eyes shut, still clutching his chest, and drew deep, ragged breaths in an effort to master his emotions.
Jo Chung-sep watched with open concern and cast an anxious glance at Seong-ho. He did not know every detail, but the rumors that circulated were enough for him to grasp the outline: Jang Eun-ah was the clear victim, while the Ilhyeon Group and Lee Chang-jong were the perpetrators who had no defense no matter how many mouths they opened. He worried that Seong-ho might be dragged into the mess and suffer for it. Yet this was precisely the situation Seong-ho desired. The more Jang Chan-pyeong’s heart bled, the more difficult life became for the Ilhyeon Group—and that was exactly what Seong-ho wanted.
He gave Jo Chung-sep’s thigh a light, reassuring tap, then addressed the man whose eyes were still closed.
“I am aware that you have recently been facing financial difficulties, Chairman.”
Jang Chan-pyeong’s eyes snapped open. He dropped his hand from his chest and glared.
“What exactly are you trying to say?”
Even under the shout, Kim Seong-ho’s expression never changed. He continued evenly.
“The credit crunch sweeping the market has hit you hard as well. Quite a few places that borrowed from you have failed to repay… or am I mistaken?”
Bang!
Jang Chan-pyeong slammed the same hand that had clutched his chest down onto the table.
“I asked what you want!”
“Persuade your daughter one more time.”
“What?”
“Ilhyeon is preparing a press conference. At that conference, please persuade your daughter to declare that the child is her own.”
“Have you lost your mind?”
His hands trembling violently, Jang Chan-pyeong shot to his feet. Jo Chung-sep rose at once, face pale, ready to intervene if necessary. Kim Seong-ho remained seated, looking calmly up at the towering figure.
“Then Ilhyeon will help you.”
“……What?”
“We will relieve you of the funds that are currently strangling you. Without us, Chairman, you will have no choice but to throw up your hands.”
“You…”
Jang Chan-pyeong jabbed a finger at Seong-ho. At that exact moment the conference-room door opened and Lee Sang-jong walked in.
“Oh my. Already started without me?”
He glanced from the still-shaking Jang Chan-pyeong to the seated Kim Seong-ho and the protective figure of Jo Chung-sep standing between them.
“How far have you gotten?”
Lee Sang-jong dropped into the chair beside Seong-ho.
“Have you already told him that we will support his company?”
Jang Chan-pyeong’s brow furrowed at the sudden appearance. Lee Sang-jong only offered him a light, easy smile.
After the storm had passed, only Kim Seong-ho and Lee Sang-jong remained in the conference room of Future Asset.
“What exactly is this place? Is it yours?”
Lee Sang-jong spun one of the chairs as he surveyed the room, then stopped it directly in front of Seong-ho. Seong-ho smiled and shook his head.
“No. It is not my company.”
“Then what is it?”
“I’m on good terms with the CEO here. Using this firm lets us erase any awkward misunderstanding that Ilhyeon is directly supporting Chairman Jang.”
“True enough. If we handed over the money ourselves, people would question the sincerity of the press conference. Better to run it through a middleman.”
Lee Sang-jong nodded and drummed his palm lightly on the table.
“Anyway, well done. You made the whole thing easy. And…”
He kept tapping the wood, a smile curling his lips.
“Thanks to you, I get to put my hand in the pie as well…”
“What if you become the main character of this entire affair, hyung-nim?”
“The main character?”
The corner of Lee Sang-jong’s mouth twitched. Seong-ho read the expression clearly—not reluctance, but eager anticipation—and smiled brightly.
“Weren’t you the one who persuaded Chairman Jang? And you will be the one negotiating the support funds. Naturally the leading role should be yours.”
“You’re sure you’re all right with that?”
The question was polite, but the smile already said yes. Kim Seong-ho took his brother-in-law’s hand.
“It looks far better for people to see that you finished the job rather than me. And I know you are not the sort of man who would ignore me afterward.”
“That’s right.”
Lee Sang-jong squeezed the hand tightly.
“You thought it through well. Better that people believe you helped me and that I did the persuading, rather than the other way around. Hahaha. Don’t worry—I’ll look after you properly.”
He nodded in deep satisfaction and pumped Seong-ho’s hand up and down, unable to hide his delight.
What he did not know was that the cup Kim Seong-ho had pressed into his grasp was no prize of victory, but a poisoned chalice filled with the seeds of discord.