Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Affiliate Separation and Time Bomb (2)
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-Han Seo-jun, New Chairman of Ammunition Group.
Crisp white premium cardstock embossed with gold lettering.
I looked at the fresh new business card and let out a light chuckle.
A position I had finally reclaimed after traveling back in time. Not as a foolish puppet, but as the real chairman wielding true power.
“It's been a while. This card too.”
That was why my commute to work felt exhilarating, like a child heading out on their first picnic.
It seemed autumn had arrived before I knew it. The mountains visible outside the window were dressed in shades of yellow and red.
I sat in the back seat, chin resting on my hand, staring blankly at the scenery outside. Just then, a brief news snippet flowed from the radio that happened to be on.
-FM 91.9 MHz, your traffic broadcast. Honorary Advisor Han Deok-sul of the Ammunition Group family council appeared for questioning at the prosecutor's office this morning.
The driver's eyes, reflecting in the rearview mirror, flashed with panic.
His face frozen, he glanced at me cautiously before reaching toward the radio controls.
“No need. Leave it on.”
“Understood, Chairman.”
The news about Honorary Advisor Han Deok-sul continued to play.
The first target in Ammunition Group's cleanup, handled as far as my influence allowed. His overambitious dreams now existed only in the printed words of internal prosecutorial investigation documents.
-Honorary Advisor Han Deok-sul is accused of illegally acquiring shares in group affiliates to gain undue profits.
-Reports indicate suspicions of ties to foreign funds as well.
-Following the election of a new chairman, Ammunition Group faces complications over affiliate separation in the financial sector. All eyes are on how they will resolve the Han Deok-sul case.
The car bumped over a speed bump and soon entered a tunnel.
The autumn scenery visible moments ago was replaced by my face reflected in the dark background.
And with that, a memory from earlier that dawn surfaced.
In the mansion study, where tension still lingered, my grandmother tossed a document at me with an indifferent expression.
‘I handled that bastard Han Deok-sul on my end first. With a stone dropped into the family council pond, they won’t oppose you for a while.’
YSS Precision, Yeongil Metals, BT Chemicals.
It was a declaration that Honorary Advisor Han Deok-sul’s grand ambitions had evaporated in an instant.
‘With obstacles in your path cleared, just proceed down the road you wish. However…’
My grandmother trailed off, her face troubled.
I had a gut feeling of what she meant to say, but pretended ignorance and spoke up.
‘No issue. Please speak freely.’
‘It’s about your uncle. For the affiliate separation… it seems we have no choice but to proceed as previously discussed.’
My uncle, who had staged what amounted to a coup at the shareholders’ meeting—no, even before that at the family council.
By rights, and by what my heart demanded, there should have been no affiliate separation, only a ruthless purge.
Yet…
‘He told me this: if the affiliate separation is called off, he’ll bring in Chinese funds to tear Ammunition Group apart.’
‘Chinese… funds?’
‘You know exactly where from, Seo-jun.’
On the desk lay documents on the investigation of Honorary Advisor Han Deok-sul of the family council, now under prosecutorial scrutiny.
Where my grandmother’s gaze fell, the name [Shanghai Capital] private equity firm was listed.
She let out a small sigh. Reverting briefly to her true Seo Taehu demeanor, cold and resolute, she spoke as if decided.
‘There’s no power left in Ammunition Group right now. You know what that means.’
‘I understand avoiding unnecessary fights. And that the resources depleted by the succession dispute are beyond imagination.’
I replied calmly, as if unperturbed.
Was it different from what she expected? She looked mildly surprised.
Then, soon after, she spoke with a nuance of understanding.
‘You must have other plans. You won’t let it slide quietly?’
I offered only a serene smile, like a Buddha, without answering.
As the ticking clock filled the study, she nodded.
It was a sign that, even if she didn’t fully comprehend, she would trust and leave it to me completely.
‘I know you’re not foolish enough to act rashly right away, Seo-jun.’
‘I’ll only say now is not the time.’
‘Hoo… Do as you will, Seo-jun. As long as it doesn’t threaten the group’s survival, all choices and responsibilities lie with the chairman.’
-Jolt!
Lost in thought, we had exited the tunnel.
The light pouring through the car window evoked the morning sun that had shone through the study window at dawn.
A new sun fitting for a new era.
“Chairman, headquarters in 10 minutes.”
The voice of Yoo Se-na, Section Chief—no, now Aide Yoo Se-na of the Chairman’s Secretariat.
She reconfirmed today’s schedule. After discussing a few necessary work matters, Aide Yoo Se-na cautiously posed a question.
“It might be presumptuous, but there’s something bothering me that I’d like to address. Is that alright?”
“No issue. Go ahead.”
“It’s regarding the group restructuring. As you know, Honorary Advisor Han Deok-sul was ousted.”
The radio news from earlier seemed to weigh on her.
Aide Yoo Se-na looked at me expectantly with bright eyes.
“Indeed. That man will now plummet straight to rock bottom. What he sowed, he shall reap.”
“Then… will there be no intervention regarding Finance Headquarters Director Han Hwa-gi?”
She expressed opposition to the affiliate separation. She had a surprisingly hardline side.
“Even if it strains us now, wouldn’t it be better to leave no future troubles?”
“It seems your father hasn’t told you yet, Aide Yoo Se-na.”
“Pardon? What do you mean…?”
She still didn’t grasp the implications of her father Yoo Tae-chon selling off all his Ammunition Securities shares.
A mischievous glint appeared in my face reflected in the rearview mirror as the car entered the underground parking lot with a slight sway.
“I’m just listening to the ticking. The dial of the time bomb called Ammunition Securities, about to explode soon.”
In the elevator heading to the top-floor chairman’s office, long vacant, I explained the derivatives tied to Ammunition Securities.
Aide Yoo Se-na nodded as understanding dawned, and I issued instructions.
“Alright, let’s begin my first task as chairman.”
The office exactly as my father had left it. Beneath the expansive glass window framing an open view, a new world bustled below.
“First, summon the Legal Team Leader. If they ask why, tell them this.”
[Shanghai Capital] had moved my uncle immediately after the succession conflict around the chairman position ended.
What they sought was clear, even using the detour of affiliate separation.
-Core defense industry technology transfer
-Overseas resource development rights sold at a bargain
In my previous life, they had devoured the dismantled remains of Ammunition Group like greedy hyenas.
That was why, this time, I could act one step ahead.
Because I still remembered the chunk of meat stuck to bloodied lips from that fatigue.
“Ammunition Heavy Industries President Park Han-i, Ammunition Construction President Na Deok-sul. We’ll file charges for embezzlement and industrial espionage.”
* * * *
-Thud!
Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, 6th floor interrogation room.
With a rough slam of the file binder, the veteran investigator from the Economic Crimes Investigation Division pressed the suspect like he was yelling.
“Hey, President Park Han-i! Time to spill it! You know dragging this out with clear evidence just racks up your sentence, right? Know or not?”
“What nonsense is this fool spewing from his pie hole? You there! Did your guts get installed upside down or what?”
The investigator had a burly, rugged build reminiscent of a hearty pork soup eater, but President Park Han-i wasn’t one to be intimidated by mere words.
Proving he could point accusingly even in handcuffs, he began ranting loudly.
“What crime have I committed!”
“Hey now!”
“Search every province from 1 to 8! Ain’t no one more loyal than me, ‘cept maybe Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s statue in Gwanghwamun!”
President Park Han-i taunted with absurd nonsense.
But inwardly, it was a different story. Unknowingly shaking one leg, he thought of the new chairman who had sent him here.
‘Damn… That blood-clot Han Seo-jun ain’t right in the head either. Dancing with knives on day one of taking office—definitely a Han family breed.’
The Iraq desalination embezzlement case? Fine, whatever.
But how did he know about handing documents to [Shanghai Capital]? Now saddled with industrial espionage charges too.
For President Park Han-i, balanced on a single log bridge, there was no room left to retreat.
He just pressed forward, figuring no crocodiles in the river.
“Ha… President Park, seriously. What gives you the guts? Driving me nuts.”
“Ah, I’m starving crazy here, so Investigator sir, order some food quick. A steaming hot beef stew would hit the spot.”
Eyes fixed on the old CRT TV in the corner of the interrogation room, President Park Han-i scarfed down spicy beef stew.
Seemingly filling up hearty for the long haul of questioning.
‘Begging till my palms bleed here, I’ll still do ten laps in prison. Right now… standing firm with Han Hwa-gi’s side is the full play.’
Gulping down the remaining broth amid the static TV noise, President Park Han-i wiped his mouth with his sleeve and feigned nonchalance.
“Kuh, this place serves good.”
“Done eating? Let’s resume. With a new chairman, what’s with the brass balls… Oh, perfect timing.”
“What? Who’s on now? Damn…”
News channel with a live broadcast sticker.
They’d apparently called in every economic reporter for some reason.
In the center of the screen, a familiar face.
-I declare here: the outdated rot piled up in Ammunition Group! We’ll clean it all out this time!
Subtitled ‘Ammunition Group New Chairman Han Seo-jun,’ he waved his fountain-pen-holding right hand like an orchestra conductor, preaching something.
The Ammunition Group of the future, changing ahead. How it would kindle the flames of reform.