Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: The Chairman's Qualifications (2)
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Before the regression, no one would have even dreamed of adding so much as a footnote to Grandmother's words.
Especially not me. I'd clawed my way into the chairman's seat, undeserving as I was, and I had no intention of ever letting it go.
That's why, just moments ago in the living room, when Grandmother heard my bold ambitions, she clicked her tongue in response.
"Tch… Acting like a man with your empty boasts. Your vessel is set in stone, boy. And yet here you are, crawling up beyond your station."
"I may not know the full size of my vessel yet, but I do know the size of the Ammunition Group."
Seo Taehu raised one eyebrow.
Grandmother, her face twisted in displeasure, tilted her chin slightly toward me. It was a signal: go on, if you think you can finish what you started.
"If things continue like this… the Ammunition Group won't last past the year after next. It'll disintegrate into thin air. Bankruptcy."
"How dare you spout such irreverent nonsense! What could a punk like you possibly know!"
Was it because my response fell short of what she'd expected?
Seo Taehu's fiery wrath turned on me in an instant.
For a brief moment, it might have seemed like her deficient grandson had finally grown a spine. But to think his retort was something so trivial.
Her rage seemed ready to erupt at any second. No, it already had.
Faced with that inferno of anger, I simply remained calm and listed three subsidiaries of the Ammunition Group.
"Ammunition Heavy Industries, Ammunition Construction, Ammunition Shipbuilding & Marine."
Heavy industries, construction, shipbuilding & marine. Sectors that would shrink rapidly after the 2008 financial crisis.
In the global downturn that was right around the corner, massive project-based businesses like these were primed for failure. They'd even lose out on payments already owed.
And… these three sectors formed the core of the Ammunition Group's operations.
"How… how did you know about that, Seo-jun?"
Seo Taehu, the one regent-ruling the kingdom that was the Ammunition Group. The moment she heard those three subsidiary names, her pupils trembled.
The razor-sharp fury that had raged just seconds ago had long since turned to shock.
"Holding dying subsidiaries will kill the group. You'll be strangled by invisible debts."
No need for lengthy explanations. Seo Taehu would surely grasp the size of my vessel from these keywords alone.
Grandmother looked lost in thought. I bowed briefly in respect and excused myself.
"You must be busy with company matters, but please give this some consideration. I'll take my leave now."
No one in the household could utter a word at the scene. It wasn't just Mother, stunned by her transformed son, or Grandmother.
Even the chatty estate manager and the laid-back maid Cheongju-ssi—all of them clutched their mouths, rolling wide-eyed stares at one another.
"Heavy industries, construction, shipbuilding & marine…"
As I climbed the stairs to my room on the second floor, the only sound was Grandmother's low murmur. Nothing else.
* * * *
Hotel Florence. The Ammunition Group's five-star luxury hotel in Gangnam.
A black German sedan pulled up right in front of the hotel lobby.
The rear door opened soon after, and an elderly noblewoman stepped out, assisted by the driver.
"Heavy industries, construction, shipbuilding & marine…"
Seo Myung-hee, Director of the Ammunition Cultural Foundation. Mother of the late Han Hwa-yak, former Chairman of the Ammunition Group, who had perished in an explosion not long ago.
"It doesn't seem like the boy just pulled those names out of thin air… But this alone isn't enough to say for sure."
She muttered to herself, recalling the events from earlier at home.
By the Han family traditions, the eldest grandson was the rightful heir to the chairmanship. But as an illegitimate son with seemingly lacking abilities, he'd always been a source of worry.
Yet today, that deficient grandson had changed. As if awakened, he'd stepped out from under his mother's skirts and pinpointed the group's weak spots.
"Still… just in case. What if my suspicions are right?"
Seo Taehu's mind was a whirlwind. Handing her coat to her secretary, she issued an order.
"It'll be quick, so wait downstairs."
"Yes, Director."
"Oh, and one more thing."
Seo Myung-hee, Director, hesitated for a moment before deciding. Soon, her eyes took on a different glint.
Like a child embarking on a new adventure.
"Get in touch with Kim Won-cheol. Tell that guy to come back."
"……"
Kim Won-cheol. The most trusted confidant of the late Han Hwa-yak Chairman.
After the funeral, he'd left the Ammunition Group, declaring he would serve only one master in his lifetime.
Was it the unexpected command? The secretary couldn't respond right away.
As if reading the secretary's thoughts, Seo Taehu scoffed lightly and snapped.
"Don't waste time with useless thoughts!"
"How could I ever presume… I'll see to it as instructed, Director."
Only after Seo Taehu boarded the private elevator to the upper floors did the secretary glance around cautiously and pull out his phone.
The number on the screen belonged to someone he wasn't supposed to contact personally.
-010-2039-XXXX. Executive Director Han Hwa-gi
With bated breath, lest anyone see, the call connected amid ringing tension that made his skin crawl.
Just as the secretary's nerves were about to melt away, a man's voice came through the phone.
"What is it?"
"Executive Director. The Director has just entered the clan council."
"Mother? She said she wasn't going today—what's going on?"
The Han clan council effectively served as the family's shareholder voting body.
Since the Ammunition Group was built on their funds, the council's 20% stake wielded immense influence.
"She didn't specify details… but there's one unusual point."
"Unusual? Speak."
"Kim Won-cheol. The Director wants to bring Kim Won-cheol back."
"Kim Won-cheol? Did you just say Kim Won-cheol!"
* * * *
The top floor of Hotel Florence housed a secret space off-limits to the general public.
Reserved for the utmost VIPs, it boasted panoramic views and opulent interior decor.
Chairs arranged against the glittering Gangnam nightscape visible through the glass windows. Seated there were members of the Han family, each according to their shareholdings.
As Seo Myung-hee Director entered, an elderly man in the seat right beside the head welcomed her. The ebony nameplate before him read:
[Ammunition Group Honorary Advisor Han Deok-sul]
The old man was Seo Myung-hee Director's much older brother—and Han Seo-jun's great-uncle.
"Well now… Director Seo, you've arrived. I hope the aftermath has been handled well?"
"My foolish son left me in such a mess. From compensation issues to family matters, I've put out the urgent fires for now."
The Gumi factory explosion.
A catastrophe where the warehouse's explosives detonated while the late Han Hwa-yak Chairman was inspecting the plant.
The incident had saddled the Ammunition Group with enormous compensation liabilities.
To make matters worse, the chairman himself had passed away. In the end, deep wrinkles etched themselves between Seo Myung-hee Director's brows as she managed the regency.
"The insurers will cover 6.5 trillion won. But our own payout obligations exceed 3.8 trillion won."
"My goodness… You've been through so much, Director. And so… about that matter."
The mild-mannered elder of the Han family. But as he broached the main topic, his expression shifted in an instant.
"The next chairman. Who have you chosen?"
"……"
Seo Myung-hee Director held her tongue.
Her mind seemed deeply conflicted.
There were two candidates for next chairman. The top successor was Han Seo-jun, the late chairman's only son.
But Han Seo-jun carried the secret of his illegitimate birth. Thus, the late chairman's younger brother—and second in line—Executive Director Han Hwa-gi had a shot at the crown.
Honorary Advisor Han Deok-sul stroked his white beard.
He took a sip of the green tea before him and spoke.
"Regency has its limits—we need to settle on a successor soon. A ship without a captain is bound to run aground."
"…I'm still considering. It might take some time."
An uncharacteristically lukewarm response from Seo Taehu.
Honorary Advisor Han Deok-sul, who held the greatest sway in the clan council, grew impatient. The chairman's seat could not remain vacant.
The old man closed his eyes, deep in thought for a moment. Then, as if struck by inspiration, he turned to Seo Myung-hee Director.
"It'd be ideal if we had someone capable of leading the group. But if not… a lightning rod to weather the coming storm wouldn't be bad."
"A lightning rod? More like a scapegoat."
"We can pin all the blame on him and start fresh from a clean slate. In any case, please decide as soon as possible."
* * * *
The living room, swept by the storm.
Several hours had passed, but Mother was still trembling.
Fanning herself with her hand to cool off, she heard Cheongju-ssi set down a cup of calming green tea and remark.
"Little Madam, my… What if you burst out like that all of a sudden?"
"Oh my, oh my! Would you look at this lady, slipping away after getting her money!"
In truth, they were both at fault. Cheongju-ssi for selling dangerous info for 100,000 won, and Mother for charging forward with a shout upon hearing it.
As always, Cheongju-ssi scratched her head and played dumb with Mother.
"I don't know nothin'. My head's no good—can't even remember."
"I shouldn't have said anything! Fine, whatever—the outcome seems good anyway."
Mother suddenly turned to me. Our Kim Seong-hye gazed at me with eyes full of worry.
"Son, why did you do that? You scared me half to death—do you know how much I fretted?"
She gripped my right hand tightly with both of hers. Her maternal concern came through loud and clear.
"You never talked back to Grandmother like that before. What happened?"
"What do you mean? I just stated the facts as they are. Don't worry and get some rest."
"You melt my heart with worry, then talk so smoothly. What's really going on in that head of yours?"
She scolded, but a smile tugged at her lips despite herself. The son who'd always seemed so weak now felt reassuring in his own way.
And the way he'd spoken up to Grandmother so boldly. It seemed to please her that he'd handled it so well no one would care about his illegitimate bloodline.
Mother's name wasn't even on the Han family registry, after all, listed under the concubine's line.
"Just wait a little longer, Mom. I've got a plan in mind."
As Mother and I shared a rare smile-filled conversation, Cheongju-ssi, who'd taken a call, approached me.
Cheongju-ssi, who never lost her composure even when scolded by Grandmother. But now, a hint of fluster showed on her face.
"Um, Young Master. You ain't goin' out this evenin', are ya?"
"No particular plans. Why?"
"Well… the Director says come for dinner no matter what—she's got somethin' to say. Told ya not to go anywhere."
The bite had come quicker than expected, just hours later.
Those words—heavy industries, construction, shipbuilding & marine—must have burrowed deep into Grandmother's mind.
As I reviewed the past knowledge I'd organized in my head, Cheongju-ssi continued.
"But Young Master, she said the Little Elder’s comin’ for dinner tonight too…"
"Little Elder? You mean Uncle…?"
Uncle, Han Hwa-gi, Finance Director at Ammunition Group headquarters.
The man who'd played a key role in hiding the group's cooked books before the regression.
And the one who'd pinned all that blame on me, the puppet chairman at the time.
"You gonna join for dinner…? If it's uncomfortable, I can say I didn't tell ya—I’ll take the scoldin' instead."
Cheongju-ssi looked at me with concern. Sharp as a fox despite her bear-like build, she'd grasped the context perfectly.
"No need for that."
Cheongju-ssi blinked in surprise at my firm reply. Mother, overhearing from the side, seemed caught off guard too.
"I'm actually looking forward to it. I need to have it out properly with Uncle… or rather, Finance Director Han Hwa-gi, don't I?"