Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Bold Defiance
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Lee Dae-hyuk read the documents from start to finish.
He checked every last detail, wondering if there might be any poison pills, but there were no unusual or unfavorable clauses.
True to form, Yoo Jae-man hadn't tried any tricks with the paperwork.
Jeong Hee-ju had already set up a company called Jeong Joo Construction.
Fortunately, some of his underlings had experience running a construction firm, so there shouldn't be any issues.
"There's a company in Busan called Jeong Joo Construction. Do business with them."
"I'll leave the minor tasks to them."
Jeon Dong-hwan replied.
He would have to outsource to some labor office anyway.
It wasn't a particularly bad deal.
But.
Delivering Yoo Jae-man's orders was proving a bit difficult.
"Is that all, then?"
As Lee Dae-hyuk picked up the envelope and started to stand,
Jeon Dong-hwan hurriedly spoke up.
"Mr. Lee, hold on a moment. The Chairman asked me to pass along a message."
"The Chairman... you mean Yoo Jae-man?"
Jeon Dong-hwan's eye twitched at Lee Dae-hyuk's retort.
It was blatant provocation, obvious even to the densest person.
"...Calling him that isn't very polite."
"Is it? Sorry about that. I'm still not great at this corporate life stuff."
Lee Dae-hyuk brushed it off with a smile.
He wouldn't have provoked anyone else like this.
But the man in front of him was Jeon Dong-hwan.
In the future, he would rise to become a director in Seojin Group's Strategy and Planning Team—the real power behind the throne—and end up as an enemy of Lee Dae-hyuk's.
'He spread a lot of slander back then.'
Five years from now.
Seojin Group's retainers would split into two factions.
The elite group, like Jeon Dong-hwan, who had built the company from within.
And the off-the-books operatives like Lee Dae-hyuk, who got their hands dirty outside the company.
It was like the clash between military and civilian officials in the Goryeo Dynasty.
Sadly, the victors in that conflict would be Jeon Dong-hwan's side.
'Since I ended up dead, after all.'
The elites who grew the company despised the off-the-books crew.
From their perspective, it must have grated to see disposable pawns expanding their influence within the group.
Jeon Dong-hwan in particular had been on bad terms, attacking him personally right to his face.
"Do you think hands stained with blood are fit to sign documents? Stick to begging with your fists."
He'd wanted to punch Jeon Dong-hwan in the jaw in front of his minions, but back then, Kim Geon-woo had held back.
To survive in the rigid hierarchy they'd been forced into, he had to endure that kind of personal attack.
But looking back...
'I should have just swung.'
Tch.
His fists itched, but he had to hold back now.
Flashing a bright smile, Lee Dae-hyuk continued.
"Go ahead and relay the Chairman's message. I'm all ears."
"...He invites you to the founding anniversary on December 1st."
"Ah, thanks. I'll check my schedule and try to make it if I can."
Lee Dae-hyuk nodded with a smile.
But Jeon Dong-hwan was momentarily stupefied.
'Did I hear that wrong?'
Yoo Jae-man, who dominated Korea's economy, had personally invited him.
This wasn't just about dropping by a party—it was a summons for a private meeting with Yoo Jae-man.
And yet, he'd check his schedule?
"Do you not grasp the situation here?"
"Your Chairman might have the luxury to fuss over founding anniversaries, but I'm busy scraping by. Still, I'll make time if I can. Wait for my call."
"Hey!"
Jeon Dong-hwan suddenly raised his voice.
Lee Dae-hyuk's provocations had finally shattered his composure.
The usually serene face of Jeon Dong-hwan twisted in anger.
'That's got him furious. Nice hit.'
Satisfied with his petty revenge, Lee Dae-hyuk smiled and said,
"Oh, and I'll cover the secretary's coffee too. After all, I just took 100 billion won."
Lee Dae-hyuk gave a brief nod and stood up.
"Mr. Lee!"
Jeon Dong-hwan called after him again, but Lee Dae-hyuk didn't look back as he swiftly exited the coffee shop.
Step, step—!!
"Hah... Is he crazy? Or just that ballsy?"
Jeon Dong-hwan muttered, staring at the door Lee Dae-hyuk had disappeared through.
Even as the spoiled youngest son of a chaebol family, reacting like this to Yoo Jae-man's invitation?
There were limits to ignorance.
It was enough to make one question his sanity.
But his results demanded applause.
He'd extracted 100 billion won from Yoo Jae-man with a single land hoarding play.
'Whatever, crazy or not... I'm grateful for now.'
Impressive as that was, without Lee Dae-hyuk, Jeon Dong-hwan would still be slaving away as a vice president under Min Seung-su.
In a way, Lee Dae-hyuk had gotten him promoted.
Still, he wasn't likable.
Lee Dae-hyuk exuded the raw, feral aura of a wild beast.
The dangerous vibe he'd often sensed from his own father.
"Let's not cross paths again."
Jeon Dong-hwan muttered curtly and lifted his coffee cup.
***
The next evening.
Kim Jae-woon's hand trembled faintly as he checked the corporate account on his computer.
It was real... 100 billion won had been deposited.
"Haha... hahaha."
"There'll be taxes, and we'll have to cough up a good chunk."
Lee Dae-hyuk steadied Kim Jae-woon, who was laughing dazedly.
His gaze shifted to Kim Mi-jin.
"Of course we'll pay taxes. But wow... even I'm surprised."
"By paying taxes?"
"No, by this... number. And by you, Young Master."
Kim Mi-jin was seeing 100 billion won for the first time.
A figure she'd never even imagined in her lifetime.
"You're not fazed at all, Young Master?"
"The money's come in as expected. Why get worked up?"
Lee Dae-hyuk shrugged.
To him, money was a tool, not the goal.
No need to get rattled just because a new tool had arrived.
Besides, he hadn't spent a dime of his own.
It had started with Yoo Jae-man's artwork, and this 100 billion was pried from him too.
Even if he lost it all, he wouldn't care.
Still.
'I absolutely can't lose it.'
If his plan succeeded, he'd only make more from here—no chance of failure.
Composed, Lee Dae-hyuk looked at the two and said,
"From now on, consult me on buy and sell timings for stocks."
"Yes, got it."
"Understood, Young Master."
Kim Jae-woon and Kim Mi-jin burned with determination.
With war chest ready, all that was left was to invest.
Excitement bubbled, hands shaking already.
Lee Dae-hyuk smiled warmly at them and stood.
"I've got another appointment, so I'll head out first."
"Appointment? At least stay for dinner..."
When Kim Mi-jin sounded disappointed, Lee Dae-hyuk shook his head.
"I'd love to join you all, but this is with someone important."
"Someone important? Who? Girlfriend maybe?"
Kim Mi-jin's eyes sparkled.
Compared to before, Lee Dae-hyuk had become undeniably handsome now.
A chaebol third-gen oozing masculine charm.
A talent who'd earned 100 billion on his own.
And hadn't he always had that good-looking face?
"......"
"Please say it's a girlfriend."
"Sorry, not a girlfriend. I'm off to see my father."
"Oh... uh, what?"
Father meant Chairman Lee Myeong-guk, right?
Not the answer she'd hoped for, so a touch of disappointment, but Kim Mi-jin's face soon brightened.
"Going to see the Chairman? Is it about this deal... for praise? No, he's not the type to praise for stuff like this. Still, hmm..."
Lee Myeong-guk summoning Lee Dae-hyuk personally was good news.
But something like this 'land hoarding' wouldn't sit well with his personality.
"Will he... chew you out maybe?"
"It wasn't illegal, and I didn't scam ordinary folks. I just played the game rationally and legally. He'll probably praise me instead."
Lee Dae-hyuk dismissed Kim Mi-jin's worries.
She was fretting over Lee Myeong-guk's reaction.
But he knew his father better than anyone.
Thanks to psycho metry, he'd already mapped out Lee Myeong-guk's tendencies completely.
'Dad's a thoroughgoing, extreme pragmatist.'
He pursued maximum gain without breaking the law.
And learning he'd landed a blow on Yoo Jae-man would delight him.
"Don't worry. I'll fill you in after I see him."
Smiling, Lee Dae-hyuk left the officetel.
"...The Boss really isn't your average guy. Guess we should update the title soon. Chairman before long?"
Kim Mi-jin nodded at Kim Jae-woon's mutter.
Maybe they were witnessing a new 'history' unfolding under Lee Dae-hyuk.
'To leave our mark in that history, we'd better work hard.'
Not as some wife or close noona, but as Kim Mi-jin the professional.
Burning with ambition, she said,
"Let's start with the industry trend report. Even if he picked the target, we need the basics."
Lee Dae-hyuk gave the orders, but details were their job.
Kim Jae-woon nodded, fired up too.
"Sure. But... let's eat first..."
"No time to go out. Order delivery."
"...Yes ma'am."
Kim Jae-woon tucked tail at her word.
***
Chairman Lee Myeong-guk was reading in his study.
*Moby-Dick*.
The captain Ahab, chasing the massive white whale—a colossal disaster he could never hunt.
Lee Myeong-guk saw himself in that man.
And the sperm whale in the novel was Seojin Group.
A whale impossible to defeat.
But a massive foe that the next generation had to surpass.
Yet.
'Dae-hyuk pulled it off.'
It was joyful news.
If his son could become the hero to slay the whale, even without him...
What greater happiness?
Today, *Moby-Dick* felt especially enjoyable when Kim Dae-min's voice reached Lee Myeong-guk's ear.
"Chairman, you seem unusually cheerful."
"Feels good. I never knew my son was that clever."
Lee Myeong-guk openly showed his affection for Lee Dae-hyuk.
Call him a doting father, fine.
His youngest had delivered a heavy blow to his arch-nemesis.
He could parade him around and it wouldn't be enough—this brag was nothing to be ashamed of.
Kim Dae-min, knowing Lee Myeong-guk's heart, smiled softly.
Before serving the man he had to escort, Kim Dae-min thought of him like family, so seeing that bright face lifted his spirits immensely.
'Yeah. The Chairman deserves a bit of this happiness.'
But precisely because of that, Kim Dae-min felt a twinge of hesitation.
"......"
The phone in his hand.
Handing it over would wipe that smile from Lee Myeong-guk's face.
But what could he do?
It was an official call—the Chairman had to take it.
"It came to me since you didn't pick up."
"Hm? Must have had my phone on vibrate. Got caught up—the book's too good."
Closing the book, Lee Myeong-guk asked,
"Who at this hour?"
"Prime Minister Yoon Dong-gyun."
"......"
Lee Myeong-guk tilted his head.
'The Prime Minister at this hour?'
No tension, no guilt.
Daehan Group hadn't done anything blatantly illegal.
Sure, minor infractions were inevitable.
But they offset that with hefty 'donations' to the country, so the PM's call didn't scare him.
"I'll take it."
Lee Myeong-guk grabbed the phone and dialed Yoon Dong-gyun's speed dial.
After a few rings.
- Chairman, it's Yoon Dong-gyun.
Yoon's voice came through.
"Yes, Prime Minister. What's up in the middle of the night?"
- Aigoo, you don't sound thrilled to hear from me?
Lee Myeong-guk frowned at Yoon Dong-gyun's teasing.
He knew the man well.
He scratched at people like this before diving into the real nuisance.
But the man was Prime Minister.
Suppressing irritation, Lee Myeong-guk forced a laugh.
"Of course I'm thrilled. But who stays calm getting a call from the PM at midnight?"
- Don't worry. I'm not calling about you.
"......!"
Lee Myeong-guk's eye twitched faintly at those words.
If not him, then likely his wife or kids had slipped up.
"Did one of my family mess up?"
- Sharp as ever. Actually, I called to praise your son.
"Praise?"
Lee Myeong-guk cocked his head.
"Which one?"
- Your youngest. Sharp and clever, with a sense of justice too.
"Yes. I'll own that."
Lee Myeong-guk replied without hesitation.
Just from what Lee Dae-hyuk had shown lately, he had every reason to be proud.
But Yoon Dong-gyun's next words dripped with sarcasm.
- Land hoarding real estate for 100 billion won—impressive, truly impressive.
"......?!"