Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: New Weapon Development Project (3)
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Federation of Korean Industries.
This was the first time I'd ever attended one of these FKI gatherings—a networking club for business elites—both before and after my regression.
Back in the day, when I was powerless, even wearing the "Chairman" name tag didn't earn me a lick of respect. That said it all.
Of course, things were the complete opposite now...
"Aigoo! Chairman Han, you've arrived! How uncanny—you look just like your late father. Heh heh heh."
"Come on, man. Whether you judge by build or face, the son's got the old man beat. So, Chairman Han, any marriage prospects coming your way?"
These were chairmen from mid-to-lower-tier conglomerates, barely scraping by as proper chaebol groups.
They were desperate to tie the knot through marriage alliances—with me, and with Ammunition Group.
And maybe they still saw me as some green kid.
"I've got a niece just hitting marriageable age. A big-shot businessman like you ought to start a family early, right?"
"I'll think about that later. The group's internal cleanup has me swamped right now."
"Ahem, I'll take that as a positive for now and pass the word along to Director Seo Myung-hee pronto. Heh heh heh."
Ammunition Electronics' President Lee Tae-gyu had already dropped a massive bombshell, giving me enough headaches. Marriage? Now?
My blood pressure spiking, I massaged the back of my neck with my right hand and shifted to a spot a little away from the crowd.
Stepping out to the outdoor terrace for some air.
Was someone else feeling the same exhaustion?
Dark circles under his eyes, hunched back, a neck wart, cane in one hand.
There, leaning on the railing, was a familiar old man puffing on a cigarette.
"Hm? Hold on. You're...?"
"Long time no see, Chairman Seo Guk-cheol. Han Seo-jun of Ammunition Group."
Cheolhwa Group—the other pillar of Korea's defense industry alongside Ammunition Group. And its leader, Chairman Seo Guk-cheol.
At a glance, the old man looked gravely ill. He could keel over right there, and no one would bat an eye.
But maybe because he'd built a chaebol empire with his bare fists...
Deep in those pitch-black eyes burned a spark of life, fueled by unquenchable desire, scorching his last flickering wick.
"Heh, right. I've heard the news. Must've been quite the ordeal these past days."
"Haha... ordeal? Not really. Everything's just falling into place naturally."
"This is awkward... My daughters—all three—up and got married, leaving me high and dry. Now you've climbed to the chairman's seat."
*'If I'd pushed that bastard illegitimate daughter forward, I could've swallowed Ammunition Group whole before I kick the bucket. What a shame.'*
His final words rang in my ears like a whisper of his true thoughts.
A creeping disgust welled up.
The wind carried the acrid stench of his cigarette straight to my nose. Greed-tainted smoke.
No need to let on that I'd caught it, though.
I suppressed a scowl, plastering on an innocent smile like I hadn't a clue.
"Tell me about it. Yun-ah, Yun-mi, and... big sis Yun-ji, all three tied the knot."
"Heh, Yun-ah and Yun-mi. Those two only snagged lanky losers. As if I'd approve."
Those no-background lanky losers? You hooked them up yourself, Chairman Seo Guk-cheol.
A family with nothing but daughters. Needed a son-in-law to guard the vault.
Two sons-in-law who were total figureheads in the group, powerless window dressing. Wives who called every shot over their husbands' heads.
Of course... that only applied to the two legitimate daughters.
"Still, you found a solid match for Yun-ji noona. SA Group? I was shocked when I heard."
The concubine's daughter.
At the mention of illegitimate Seo Yun-ji, Chairman Seo Guk-cheol averted his eyes and cleared his throat.
"Ahem, the baby girl's finally doing her duty, even if late. Vice President Im Jae-ho... er, my youngest son-in-law's just that good a guy."
"Yeah... anyway, I was remiss. Should've sent congrats ages ago."
"Don't sweat it. A man's got bigger fish to fry than petty formalities. Folks like us are always swamped."
The talk turning to bastards like me must've made things awkward.
He stubbed out his half-smoked cigarette carelessly and moved to leave.
*Click*
A dull metallic hinge creaked, and in that instant, someone pushed open the terrace door.
"Father? There you are. My husband's got something to discuss about SA-Cheolhwa TechOne..."
A woman in a suit, short black bob.
She turned, eyeing me with an odd look. Seo Yun-ji, CEO of SA-Cheolhwa TechOne.
"Han Seo-jun? What are you doing here...?"
* * * *
"Well, you two catch up. I've got business with my son-in-law."
Chairman Seo Guk-cheol of Cheolhwa Group stepped out to meet Vice President Im Jae-ho.
He'd brought a strange tension with him.
On the windless terrace, two awkward people simply stared at each other.
"Never got to say congrats on the wedding."
"Same here, right? I didn't congratulate you on becoming chairman."
Seo Yun-ji.
No good memories with this woman.
Before my regression, when Ammunition Group's defense division shattered and vaporized, SA-Cheolhwa TechOne snatched it up.
Urban, shrewd—like her father, always ready to pounce on me and Ammunition Group.
That was Seo Yun-ji.
"Surprised me a bit, though? Didn't think you had that cunning side, Han Seo-jun."
"Cunning, huh..."
"Well, probably not all you, anyway."
Like a dry reed scanning prey in a marsh, she circled with sidelong glances.
What was she thinking?
Observing me top to bottom like some novel curiosity, she trailed off.
Her silver-logo leather clutch twitching, she finally spoke, slow and probing.
"Defense Acquisition Program Administration. Word is Ammunition Group's gearing up to bid on the new weapon development project."
"Got a rat in Ammunition Group, huh. Leaking to outsiders."
"Ha, a rat? The guy's just doing his job, trying to spare his master embarrassment. Should I feed him peak rice as a reward?"
High-handed attitude.
She'd drawn her own conclusions.
"SA-Cheolhwa TechOne. The name says it—two backers. Ammunition Group can't win solo. Not even close."
Her marital family and birth family. Herself bridging them, plus SA-Cheolhwa TechOne.
Any skill gaps would be covered by top talent dispatched from both sides.
Easy verdict based on that flawed logic.
She figured she could openly antagonize me because victory was assured.
"Especially Ammunition Group, fresh off its civil war with limbs blown off. Thoughts?"
"Bullshit. Not worth hearing."
Hiding a smirk, I dug my pinky in my ear.
Like flicking away idle chatter buzzing by.
Blatant dismissal of Seo Yun-ji.
Not the reaction she expected?
Her smile cracked bit by bit as she stammered.
"Bull... shit? Excuse me, Chairman Han Seo-jun. Can't you show some decorum?"
"Hanging with weird old-timer honoraries all day warps you. Cut me some slack."
No need to get serious with someone broadcasting hostility.
Bored demeanor and dismissive look—that was plenty.
As if proving my point, she sighed.
Twisted pride and inferiority coiled around her like vines. Her parting shot, her "ultimatum."
"Whatever. One warning: back out of the new weapon project now. I hate wasting energy either."
She seemed genuinely pissed. Spat her piece and stormed off.
Immature, impatient new joint venture boss.
Watching her retreating back, I thought.
"Time to dig deeper... on Vice President Im Jae-ho of SA Group and his ties to Cheolhwa Group's Chairman Seo Guk-cheol."
* * * *
Ammunition Group HQ, 32nd floor.
Ammunition Electronics' domain. Even in the military-vibed Ammunition Group, this place was infamous for its thunderous salute chants.
"Fight! Win!"
"Yeah, fight and win. Good work, Executive Director Song. How'd Team 3's Seoraksan climb go? Team 1's wimps bug me."
President Lee Tae-gyu of Ammunition Electronics returned the salute from his Marine Corps ROTC junior, Executive Director Song.
Whenever the so-called "Lee Tae-gyu line" folks entered the president's office, it was always like this.
"Young bucks these days are soft. No fire in their guts—we gotta pack it in, right?"
"A true Ammunition man needs that fighting spirit in his heart. So what'd you do?"
"Told the bus driver heading to Seoul to reroute. Took 'em out to the Gosung coast for a few rounds of guerrilla training. Finally, they screamed like beasts."
"Good man. Always instill grit first before big jobs. That's how you forge unity, move as one."
The two grinned in satisfaction.
The female secretary who'd brought coffee while overhearing their trash talk shook her head as she reached the break room.
*'Those crazy old dudes at it again...'*
Oblivious or not to their subordinate's thoughts, the two execs basked in bliss.
Before the ice in his iced Americano could melt, President Lee Tae-gyu downed it and spoke.
"Anyway, got a dilemma. Can't read the Chairman's intent."
"What intent?"
"Kim Won-cheol dropped by yesterday, said to quit the nonsense and focus on production management."
Blind to how their brute-force faith was dead wrong.
A simple math problem anyone could see became a convoluted political chess game in their heads.
All smoke, no substance.
"Should we grill the field guys more?"
"Nah, nah. My take? Key word's 'production management.'"
"Then it clearly means..."
President Lee Tae-gyu, striking gold.
His muscle-packed arm slammed the chair armrest. Out came his brilliant conclusion.
"Manage the production management! Meaning, execs lead by example!"
"Ooh! Exactly! That's what I thought!"
"Start with those pampered foreign execs in Future Business Division. Gotta drain the Euro trash and rearm their souls."