Chapter 54
Chapter 54
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Affiliate Separation and Time Bomb (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Shanghai's nights were always as bright as day.
The lights of skyscrapers that refused to fade even in the dark like fireflies.
Among them, Yan Long's office emitted an especially dreamlike glow.
With a click of his metal lighter, he exhaled a thick gray mist and opened his mouth.
"From cleaning up after the financial crisis to the Ammunition Group mess. Things are getting more complicated by the minute."
A war over control of Ammunition Group, backed by a massive 5 billion yuan investment.
The battle map on his desk, marked only in numbers, bore the scars of a brutal defeat.
"Tactical loss followed by strategic failure..."
Tactics.
The financial crisis had tanked the value of stocks invested in Ammunition Securities.
Losses over -15% in parentheses. But that wasn't why Yan Long lit another cigarette.
"Hoo... Short-term returns are one thing, but losing on strategy is the real problem."
Strategy.
His intervention in Ammunition Group's succession battle.
Yan Long's eyes turned to the locked metal drawer. One that held secrets no one else should see.
With a click and a creak, the drawer opened. In the corner inside, the first page of the documents he picked up read:
-Core defense technology transfer
-Overseas resource development rights sold at a bargain
Goals that were now nearly impossible to achieve.
A thick vein bulged on his forehead as he irritably puffed gray smoke into the air.
"I can't bring any more shame to my lord. Never again."
Yan Long removed his glasses and rubbed his bloodshot eyes. He showed no sign of getting up from his seat.
Three hours already, immersed solely in work.
The only sign that time hadn't stopped was the ticking clock. Finally finishing his review, he roughly loosened his tie.
"This approach might cost a bit more, but I can still secure the strategic objectives. Now, to Han Deok-sul..."
Without a hint of hesitation, Yan Long reached for the phone.
Had his mood shifted suddenly?
His finger, heading for the familiar buttons, paused just before the last digit.
"No, no. That old man's no use anymore. No need for a middleman at this stage."
Disposal.
The end for an old man who had lost all power along with the Munjung Faction's influence.
Soon after erasing Han Deok-sul from his mind, a new voice reached Yan Long's ear—the voice of another key player.
"Han Hwa-gi here. My apologies."
A defeated wild dog in the fight.
Just hearing his sunken, dejected voice conjured images of claw marks torn into bloodied flesh.
To the man who looked on the verge of death, Yan Long said,
"I have urgent business. As of now, we're cutting out the useless middleman old man. Clear the room first."
"......!"
A dog on the brink of death.
But Han Hwa-gi was sharp. He instantly grasped the implication in Yan Long's words.
A hand extended to him, fallen to the bottom—and heading into an abyss with no end in sight.
Han Hwa-gi, ready to wag his tail for his master and bare his fangs at prey, heard a new song of hope.
"Start with the affiliate separation."
"Won't they refuse? They've seized the momentum."
"Those fools must be exhausted from the war. Threaten them with Chinese capital's power—in this financial crisis, they won't have a choice."
The deepening Shanghai night.
A small ripple from the Yangtze River delta was crossing the Yellow Sea eastward once more.
"Hoo... Looks like the basic framework is in place for now."
Ashtray piled high with cigarette butts. Yan Long stubbed out his last smoke amid the hazy fog.
Past midnight already. Staring at the phone back in its cradle, he muttered to himself.
"For now, Han Hwa-gi can proceed like this. As for the rest..."
Click. A photo appeared on the bright monitor screen.
A man who had stepped from mere annoyance into real danger.
"Han Seo-jun."
Ammunition Group's new chairman, displaying uncanny brilliance beyond his years.
Yan Long stared at the photo of him smiling confidently.
Having sorted his thoughts, he leaned back in his chair and spoke.
"Extremely dangerous. He'll have to be eliminated eventually."
* * * *
The price of backing the wrong horse.
Failed faction warriors had few options: leave voluntarily or get booted.
Thus, Audit Team Leader Yoo Ji-won was practically suspended. On the verge of forced expulsion, he was half-resigned.
Even rank-and-file employees whispered loud enough for him to hear.
"Team Leader Yoo? He's done for, no doubt."
" Hundred percent out the door. Han Hwa-gi botched his coup so badly. Yoo's finished too."
"Heard he sent his daughter abroad to study? Guy with a lot to protect got caught with a lot to lose... Family's headed for ruin."
"Fate, oh fate. Those who win on tightropes lose on tightropes."
Unable to show he heard, Yoo Ji-won sat quietly, waiting for them to pass.
He glanced sidelong at the departing subordinates and sighed.
"I'm totally screwed."
A life wagging his tail as Han Hwa-gi's loyal dog.
Tied to his fallen master wholesale, the dog's fate was nothing but ruin.
"If Han Seo-jun shakes things down hard, even I'll get caught in something big, right?"
Sighing, Audit Team Leader Yoo Ji-won stood.
His head hung toward the floor, hand on the empty desk's edge.
"Embezzlement, dereliction of duty... Prison merry-go-round five or six times. At least it's not as bad as President Park Han-i's case?"
A bitter, self-mocking laugh escaped.
Once his head dropped, it wouldn't lift again.
There was nothing left for Audit Team Leader Yoo Ji-won to do but close his eyes in desperate prayer for an impossible miracle.
-Ring ring ring ring! Ring ring ring ring!
Would his wish reach somewhere?
A red light flashed on the desk phone in the corner—mere decoration until now.
The bell, thought silent forever, urgently called for him.
"Finance... Headquarters Director? Why call me...?"
"Come to my office now."
The usual curt order. But Han Hwa-gi's next words erased all of Yoo Ji-won's torment.
"There's a way out. It's urgent—come up immediately."
* * * *
Ammunition Group HQ, 45th floor. Han Hwa-gi's office.
Audit Team Leader Yoo Ji-won's face paled at the absurd plan.
"Is this... even possible? I mean, it might be technically, but... eek!"
His head shrank back like a gazelle spotting a predator.
Fortunately or not, Han Hwa-gi didn't snap at the unnecessary whimper. He just glared as usual.
"Be clear. Technically possible or not?"
"It... it can be done. If it succeeds, we might sweep it under the rug. As long as it succeeds."
Ammunition Group affiliate separation plan.
A bluff to stir another rebellion with [Shanghai Capital]'s aid, claiming financial affiliates as fiefs. Plausible enough.
The problem was the attached clause.
"Core defense tech transfer, overseas resource rights sold cheap. That's the issue, right?"
"Exactly. How?"
"To meet [Shanghai Capital]'s demands... we separate those two rights first."
A scheme to bundle defense tech patents and overseas resource rights under the separated financial affiliates, exploiting complex ownership ties.
Having gotten a positive from Audit Team Leader Yoo Ji-won, Han Hwa-gi lowered his voice.
"Can we do it without Han Seo-jun knowing?"
"Using the post-inauguration chaos? Yes. But it won't stay hidden long. Two weeks max?"
"We'll move fast. Start drafting the framework today."
Audit Team Leader Yoo Ji-won nodded reluctantly.
It felt off. Bad vibes. Guilt gnawing at him.
A far riskier stunt than the audits he'd fudged for Han Hwa-gi before.
'Snip... Can I really go through with this?'
But... his last chip in hand.
He had no choice but to sit back at the roulette table, like a gambler after an all-nighter.
-Knock knock!
"Ah, Father."
Han Seo-ho entered, knocking just in time.
A seemingly bright face. But to Audit Team Leader Yoo Ji-won, he looked shadowed by worry.
As if hiding something from his father.
"Uh, the Munjung Faction's been handled. You can rest easy."
"Both?"
"Yes. Chairman Han Hyung-min's just a local thug, and old man Han Deok-sul's too distracted to care."
"Good work. Stay vigilant."
Han Seo-ho bowed and left quickly. His trembling hands were noticeable enough to unsettle onlookers.
As the office door closed, Audit Team Leader Yoo Ji-won, who had watched, spoke up.
"Young Master Seo-ho seems quite upset."
"He's dealing in his own way. None of your concern."
"Ah, r-right. I overstepped. This mouth of mine... Anyway, about the Munjung Faction earlier?"
Eager to please his superior, Audit Team Leader Yoo Ji-won shifted topics.
Amused by "Munjung Faction"?
As if it were absurd, Han Hwa-gi scoffed softly and replied.
"We don't ride with the Munjung Faction scum."
"What do you mean...? Weren't we in the same boat?"
"We were. Until yesterday."
Discarding them like worthless trash, Han Hwa-gi stated his cutoff plainly.
Regaining some composure, he lounged in his chair, leg crossed, back leaned, and continued.
"The Shanghai captain says he has no use for middlemen. That greed-filled old fool... He'll self-destruct soon enough."