Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: All-In Bet
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“90 billion all in?”
Kim Jae-woon widened his eyes in disbelief, questioning Lee Dae-hyuk.
Kim Mi-jin and Yoon Tae-ho also stared at Lee Dae-hyuk in shock.
In gambling terms, it was an all-in situation.
Reckless and dangerous.
“Young Master, that’s too much. It would be better to diversify the investment…”
Lee Dae-hyuk shook his head at Kim Mi-jin’s dissuasion.
“Sometimes, you have to go all in. Even if we lose the money this time, we can earn it back.”
Faced with Lee Dae-hyuk’s bold declaration, Kim Mi-jin, Yoon Tae-ho, and Kim Jae-woon could no longer object.
He had turned 9 billion into 100 billion before.
If he set his mind to it, he could surely gather that much capital again.
Kim Mi-jin nodded.
“I’ve seen your abilities firsthand, Young Master. I’m anxious, but I’ll trust you this time too.”
Kim Jae-woon chimed in agreement.
“I’ve believed in you from the start.”
“Jae-woon, saying that makes me look like the bad guy.”
Kim Mi-jin, who had grown close to him while working together, teased Kim Jae-woon pointedly.
“Hahaha… Sorry.”
Kim Jae-woon apologized with an awkward laugh.
But goosebumps prickled the back of his hand.
No matter how high the odds, investing 90 billion in a single stock.
He was astounded by Lee Dae-hyuk’s daring bet.
‘No, is this how chaebols operate?’
On one hand, he thought that, but Kim Jae-woon knew Lee Dae-hyuk was different from ordinary chaebol heirs.
He had earned his money through his own skills.
Chairman Lee Myung-guk must have trusted his son’s judgment to invest.
Even without his father, Lee Dae-hyuk would have somehow secured even more funds.
‘Alright. I’ll pledge my full loyalty.’
When he made such bold decisions, he had no choice but to follow.
“We’ll buy as soon as the U.S. market opens tonight and report back.”
***
Lee Dae-hyuk left the officetel with Yoon Tae-ho and rode in the security vehicle toward Lee Myung-guk’s house.
It was nearing year-end, and his trip to the U.S. was just days away, so he wanted to pay his respects.
“Young Master really isn’t like ordinary people.”
When Yoon Tae-ho suddenly brought it up, Lee Dae-hyuk playfully furrowed his brow.
“Why bring that up out of nowhere?”
“Investing 90 billion in one go… Whew, I couldn’t even imagine it.”
Yoon Tae-ho whistled in admiration.
He might never see 90 billion in his lifetime.
Let alone bet it all on one stock.
But Lee Dae-hyuk remained calm.
If he were an ordinary person, he never could have dumped the full 90 billion into it.
‘If not for the regression, that is.’
It was a game where he already knew the outcome.
He wanted to throw in his personal assets too, but…
‘There are employee salaries to pay… so I’ll hold back.’
Lee Dae-hyuk wisely restrained himself(?).
Unlike Yoon Tae-ho, Kim Jae-woon, Kim Mi-jin, and Kim Min-gyu’s subordinates received salaries from him.
Plus, he needed to keep personal funds for unexpected situations.
‘At least I want to sell the stocks…’
Other assets aside, he wanted to offload the 2,000 shares of Daehan Group stock.
Daehan Group was a holding company anyway.
It was holding steady around 600,000 won now, but in time, like other groups, it would steadily spin off affiliates for listing.
When affiliates list, profits decline, and the holding company’s stock price plummets.
Retail investors called this phenomenon the “holding company discount.”
‘Meanwhile, the chaebols get even richer.’
The listed affiliates would boast market caps in the trillions.
The chaebol families would pocket tens of trillions.
But no matter how much the parent stock fell due to affiliate spin-offs, the Daehan Group shares held by him and the chairman’s family were precious ammunition.
‘Having even one more share than the opponent gives the edge in taking over Daehan Group.’
In the end, to capture the stock premium, he’d have to sell to his family.
It was like holding an auction.
‘Sell now, then buy back when the subprime mortgage crisis hits.’
As Lee Dae-hyuk pondered using his shares for the auction.
Yoon Tae-ho’s voice reached him.
“Well, even aside from the investment, you’ve changed a lot compared to before.”
“Yeah, I’ve changed quite a bit.”
Lee Dae-hyuk smiled brightly.
He knew exactly what Yoon Tae-ho meant.
In the ‘past,’ he wouldn’t have set foot in the main house so casually.
‘Right. That house was hell for the old Lee Dae-hyuk.’
The original Lee Dae-hyuk feared everyone in the main house, including Lee Myung-guk.
But he was different.
‘Now those bastards will fear me.’
No, even if they didn’t yet, he’d make them soon enough.
Being a source of fear to them meant he had to take even better care of family-like people like Yoon Tae-ho and Kim Mi-jin.
“You’ll get a bonus after the U.S. trip.”
“Young Master.”
Yoon Tae-ho’s voice grew heavy at Lee Dae-hyuk’s words.
“Yes?”
“Honestly, you’ve already done me a huge favor.”
He meant his daughter’s surgery costs.
Lee Dae-hyuk shook his head.
“You’ve more than repaid that debt already.”
“So I don’t need a bonus…”
“But Noona does, right?”
When Lee Dae-hyuk mentioned Kim Mi-jin, Yoon Tae-ho’s mouth fell open.
He hadn’t thought of his wife.
Then came Lee Dae-hyuk’s follow-up attack.
“If you come back from the U.S. without a bonus… you’ll get an earful for a week. And she’ll hate me too.”
“Mi-jin would never hate you, Young Master. But the nagging… yeah, that’s guaranteed.”
“You’ll take it, then?”
“Please take care of it.”
In the end, Yoon Tae-ho bowed politely to Lee Dae-hyuk’s affection and capitalism(?).
Lee Dae-hyuk’s expression brightened at his banter.
Petty happiness soothed his heart.
It felt just like being with family.
‘Family…’
Lee Dae-hyuk thought of his real family.
The ones who only hurt him.
“…….”
Soon, lost in thought, Lee Dae-hyuk’s eyes widened.
‘Huh?’
As they pulled onto the road in front of Lee Myung-guk’s house.
He spotted one of his enemies through the car window.
“That’s the second brother.”
His second brother, Lee Dae-cheol, stood in front of the main house with bodyguards.
“Are you… getting out now?”
Yoon Tae-ho asked worriedly.
He knew Lee Dae-hyuk had changed, but it still concerned him.
Instead of answering, Lee Dae-hyuk silently gazed out the window at Lee Dae-cheol and his entourage.
They were standing there, apparently waiting for him.
“When my brother’s waiting, of course I have to get out.”
“I’ll escort you.”
As Yoon Tae-ho moved to exit first, Lee Dae-hyuk raised a hand to stop him.
“It’s a brotherly meeting. You can’t interfere. Heh heh heh.”
Lee Dae-hyuk even joked, but worry lingered in Yoon Tae-ho’s eyes.
“Young Master…”
“It’s fine. Wait here.”
Clunk!!!
Without hesitation, Lee Dae-hyuk stepped out and walked toward his second brother.
.
.
.
“…Dae-hyuk?”
Lee Dae-cheol spotted Lee Dae-hyuk’s security vehicle coming to a stop.
It was pure coincidence.
Lee Dae-cheol hadn’t expected to run into him here.
He had just finished dinner with his parents for the holidays and was heading home.
“…….”
Normally, he might have ignored him and left.
He usually avoided meeting or talking to Lee Dae-hyuk.
Every time he saw him, memories surfaced of himself abusing his half-brother.
But now, he couldn’t avoid it.
No, he didn’t want to.
He wanted to warn him somehow that the eldest brother was targeting him.
Truth be told, it wasn’t just for Lee Dae-hyuk.
‘It’s to lighten my own burden.’
Call it selfish.
Still… if his words helped Lee Dae-hyuk avoid trouble, it would benefit them both.
But he couldn’t apologize outright or mention Lee Dae-hwan in front of others.
“Dae-hyuk. Good to see you.”
Lee Dae-cheol smiled first and offered a handshake.
Lee Dae-hyuk gripped his hand with a calm expression.
“Likewise, Second Brother.”
And then.
Flash!!!
Psychometry activated, just like always.
‘Hmm? Definitely different from Lee Dae-hwan.’
Reading Lee Dae-cheol’s info and thoughts via psychometry, Lee Dae-hyuk felt intrigued.
Lee Dae-cheol had become a director at Daehan Motors through his own talents.
Not a parachuted chaebol son, but a businessman who carved his own path.
Exporting hundreds of thousands of Daehan Motors vehicles to Vietnam and across East Asia was entirely his achievement.
He had personally gone overseas to open markets in each country.
It was something even Lee Dae-hyuk respected.
However, on a personal level, Lee Dae-cheol was still a accomplice in abusing the young Lee Dae-hyuk.
He only felt guilt now.
‘What good is that?’
A perpetrator’s remorse isn’t for the victim.
Still, Lee Dae-hyuk released Lee Dae-cheol’s hand without revealing his true feelings.
He wouldn’t see him as a real brother even if he apologized.
Instead.
‘I’ll use him.’
Using Lee Dae-cheol could create an opening against Lee Dae-hwan and Park Ji-sook, even if briefly.
“You look well. You’ve bulked up even more.”
At Lee Dae-hyuk’s compliment, Lee Dae-cheol scratched his chin sheepishly.
“Just work and workouts. You need stamina to do a proper job.”
“I’ve been going to a combat sports gym myself. Trying to act like a proper human from now on.”
“Combat sports gym?”
Lee Dae-cheol’s eyes widened at Lee Dae-hyuk’s words.
After the siblings’ gathering, he had grown curious about Lee Dae-hyuk.
He’d even looked into rumors about him personally, but hadn’t heard about martial arts training.
“Wow, I heard you were working at a company, but not about the combat sports.”
“Not aiming to go pro or anything. Just a hobby workout. I’m terrible at it.”
Lee Dae-hyuk scratched the back of his head and laughed shyly.
Lee Dae-cheol waved it off.
“Don’t say that. You’re really impressive.”
Lee Dae-cheol was straightforward.
For someone who’d suffered depression to change this much.
He couldn’t help but admire it.
Maybe that’s why.
Lee Dae-cheol wanted to see more of his brother like this.
‘I need to talk.’
After brief hesitation, he resolved and spoke first.
“Want to talk somewhere, just us?”
***
On a bench in the neighborhood park near Lee Myung-guk’s house.
Lee Dae-hyuk and Lee Dae-cheol sat alone, no bodyguards.
“…….”
Now that they’d moved spots, Lee Dae-cheol hesitated.
Apologizing or bringing up Lee Dae-hwan wasn’t easy.
After a few minutes of silence.
Tired of it, Lee Dae-hyuk spoke first.
“If you have something to say, go ahead.”
“Yeah. We need to talk.”
Gulp.
Lee Dae-cheol swallowed dryly, bowed his head with an apology.
“Dae-hyuk. I’m sorry.”
“…….”
Lee Dae-hyuk remained expressionless as he accepted his second brother’s apology.
He wasn’t naive enough to be moved by mere words.
But for now.
“B-Brother?”
He had to pretend to be touched.
That way, he could make an important request of Lee Dae-cheol.