Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: A Dog Wanting to Become a Tiger (4)
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U.S., Silicon Valley.
A heavy cloud of worry hung over Vice President Im Jae-ho's face as he visited J-Coco's headquarters.
Just a few hours after regaining consciousness, his father had collapsed again.
His health had deteriorated to the worst possible state, so Im Jae-ho had already steeled himself for it. It wasn't a huge shock.
The real issue was that during that brief moment when his father had woken up, the first person he had asked for wasn't Im Jae-ho himself.
Instead, it was... a young tiger carving out his own territory—unlike Im Jae-ho, who was mocked as a "tiger father, dog son."
"Han Seo-jun... Maybe that's the image my father wanted me to become. Is that why he looked upon him before his own flesh and blood?"
It was hard to grasp. And his twisted interpretation grew more distorted.
The swirling complex emotions were enough to cloud Im Jae-ho's mind, preventing him from facing his current situation squarely.
"But if this deal succeeds, it'll be different. It'll be enough to prove my worth as his successor... and as his son."
Im Jae-ho gritted his teeth. A harsh cracking sound came from his clenched jaw.
His rival, far superior and thus someone he desperately wanted to emulate, was fuel enough for the fire of inferiority.
He had even instructed his close aides to hide the investment details from Shanghai Capital from the chairman.
"Finance Headquarters Director. If our father, lying on his sickbed, pours too much energy into this matter, what will happen to our SA Group?"
"......"
The SA Group's Finance Headquarters Director held his tongue, gauging Im Jae-ho's mood.
Caught between the era of a fading old tiger and the rise of a young dog, he cautiously stepped onto the tightrope.
"That would mean directly defying the chairman's orders. And from a financial risk management perspective, it's problematic..."
"Hey! Are you not understanding me, or just pretending not to!"
Im Jae-ho snapped at him. With sharper eyes than usual, he approached the Finance Headquarters Director and spat out a veiled threat.
"Sometimes in management, you have to play moves that seem reckless. They might look excessive now, but think long-term. For the group and your career, both."
"...Understood. We'll follow your instructions."
And so, the Shanghai Capital investment proceeded cautiously.
A reckless gambit he knew it was. That's why... Im Jae-ho had to make it succeed no matter what.
It was his one and only chance to finally earn his father's recognition before he departed forever, as his son.
"Oh, you've arrived. Vice President Im. Nice to meet you."
The Black man extending a handshake stood before Im Jae-ho.
He was J-Coco's top finance executive, greeting Im Jae-ho with a greedy smile rivaling his boss's.
"Please, come on in. Our boss is eagerly waiting for you."
* * * *
"I told you to ensure the developers can't exercise any patent rights! Why the hell are you handling it like this!"
-Slap!
The sharp crack echoed through the office.
Dick Johnson, fuming and snorting in rage, couldn't contain his anger. Before him stood a Korean-Asian employee clutching his reddened cheek.
"The instructions conflict with current laws..."
"Useless bastard, just making excuses! I'm almost sorry I pay your salary!"
A torrent of insults poured down like a storm, leaving no room to breathe.
The company sale had already frayed his nerves, and the Korean employee's report of difficulties shattered Dick Johnson's composure.
Until a voice came from outside.
"Boss? Can I come in?"
"...Wait a moment!"
The Black subordinate arrived earlier than expected. It seemed the meeting with Im Jae-ho had wrapped up quickly.
Dick Johnson gripped the Korean employee's shoulders tightly and hammered in his plea.
"Hide it, no matter what! Until the sale goes through! The developers are clueless about the law anyway—they won't notice what happens to their rights."
"...Got it, boss."
J-Coco held a vast array of IT tech patents. But as a startup, the ownership was incredibly tangled.
It was hard to assume all patents belonged uniformly to the company. That's why... a dark temptation clung to Dick Johnson's outstretched hand.
"Once this is done, even a worthless yellow monkey like you gets stock options and a green card sponsorship. Your little sister too."
"......"
"So handle what I said quietly."
After agonizing hesitation, the Korean employee finally nodded.
Was it the long gaslighting? He accepted Dick Johnson's words without a peep of protest.
His shoulders slumped as he walked away. In stark contrast, as if on cue, Dick Johnson opened the door with a beaming smile to welcome Im Jae-ho.
"My dear friend I always love seeing, Vice President Im. Come on in!"
"Nice to see you again, President Dick Johnson."
* * * *
"So... the funds going to the Bermuda account will be wired directly from China."
"SA Group finds unofficial financial transactions like that a bit uncomfortable, you see."
"Fine by me. You'll handle the Shanghai Capital equity adjustments anyway."
Im Jae-ho looked like he was bewitched by a will-o'-the-wisp.
His father's recognition. Fixated on that elusive light, he teetered along the cliff's edge.
Unable to even imagine his future plummeting beneath the dizzying precipice of J-Coco, Im Jae-ho pulled out a fountain pen like a man possessed and said,
"Just handle the patents. They need to be registered with Chinese authorities too—that's their condition."
"...Understood. We'll take care of it without issues."
Im Jae-ho's arm froze as he brought the pen tip to the signature line.
Dick Johnson gulped, his throat bobbing.
'Damn it... Is he bringing up the patent issue? An outsider shouldn't catch on.'
Dead eyes gleamed behind silver frames. Im Jae-ho's next words, laced with an odd glint, were a godsend to Dick Johnson.
"Uh, the Commerce Department review. I hear it usually takes quite a while?"
"Ah, no need to worry about the Commerce Department at all."
Dick Johnson smiled, suppressing his relief.
He placed a business card on the table.
An eagle perched on a shield emblazoned with a sailing ship and lighthouse. The card of a high-ranking U.S. Commerce Department official.
-John Johnson, Chairman of the U.S. Commerce Department's Strategic Materials Export Control Review Committee.
"My cousin."
"Ah...! That explains it."
Im Jae-ho exclaimed in admiration. Dick Johnson, eyeing his prey, slid the approval board with the contract toward him.
"Just sign here, and all your worries vanish, Vice President Im. Everything you've ever wanted."
No need to hide his relish now, as Im Jae-ho approached like a moth to flame, eyes shut and ears plugged.
"One signature, and poof—like magic, it all comes true."
The scratch of the fountain pen.
Even then, Im Jae-ho didn't realize.
The black ink dancing across the rough paper was, in truth, the blood flowing from his own throat.
* * * *
"Oh man, Chairman Im Gye-hyeon. That old man's so pitiful."
"How'd you even know I was here?"
"I'm kinda the chairman's sticky rice cake buddy. Would I not know?"
My hopeful plan for quiet contemplation at the Yangpyeong fishing spot shattered to pieces.
Just as I was setting water on the burner to boil ramen with Aide Yoo Se-na, Uncle Kim Won-cheol suddenly appeared and pulled out an extra ramen pack for himself.
"Imagine if my boy was like Vice President Im Jae-ho. Even in death, his eyes wouldn't close peacefully."
"You never cared about your son before. Why now?"
"Heh heh heh. He's inheriting the company, ain't he? So he can live like a freeloader like me. Though Park Ja-ok, who's stuck with him, seems to think differently. Anyway."
Even amid this, he smoothly segued into gossip about his ex-wife.
Sucking up the perfectly cooked ramen with chopsticks, Uncle Kim Won-cheol turned to me.
"Chairman Im Gye-hyeon. There must've been some deal before he collapsed."
"You're a ghost, seriously."
"No time to get sentimental. These things need quick communication. Of course... can't help thinking of the old man."
Uncle Kim Won-cheol knew I'd come to this Yangpyeong fishing spot quietly, even the reason—my father.
He'd planted a confidant brilliantly somewhere. I sipped some ramen broth from the paper cup and began recounting the hospital events one by one.
"So that's how it went. IT and white goods swapped, plus one extra affiliate on my side."
"Wow, Chairman Im Gye-hyeon. What a guy... Going out with a bang."
"No other choice if he wanted to save both the group and his son."
"So SA Group survives as is? Feeding the prodigal son too?"
Among my original options was one to deal a fatal blow to SA Group.
Simply put, without Chairman Im Gye-hyeon, Vice President Im Jae-ho would crumble after a few massages.
However.
"Didn't he hand me a blank check? Can't just pocket it and walk away clean."
SA Group's key affiliate, not yet named on that blank slate.
That company, essential for the near future, had shaken my resolve alongside the chairman's paternal side.
"Well, fair enough. So we proceed as discussed last time. Starting with the Commerce Department strategic materials export control review."
"No way it gets approved unless the world turns upside down. Wanna bet? Pricey whiskey."
The harbingers of the U.S.-China hegemony war crept ever closer.
Around this time, the U.S. was already firing subtle checks at China. Especially on core tech leaks.
However.
"Chairman...! Urgent call from headquarters!"
The world turned upside down easier than I thought.
Hearing Aide Yoo Se-na's frantic voice, I mused that soon... I'd have to treat this stubbornly lucky bald uncle to expensive whiskey.
"The U.S. Commerce Department Strategic Materials Export Control Committee... has approved the J-Coco sale!"