Plucking the Low-Hanging Fruit
Han Du-hak might have been a dim-witted fool driven by pure greed, but like Chairman Kang Jin-gwang, he was a legendary figure who had built his group from nothing. Contrary to the personal disdain for him, Namdo Group enjoyed a solid reputation in the market. It encompassed chemicals—which had made it the enemy of the nation thanks to Min-ho—construction involved in national projects, and cash cows like securities and distribution.
If Namdo's core pillars of construction and securities fell into JK's hands, the group would crumble without a fight, while JK would emerge as a true titan. Min-ho's plan was to rock the political and financial worlds with an exclusive scoop on the land lottery scandal, then quietly devour Namdo's prime assets.
The newspaper Min-ho had brought contained a nuclear bomb that hadn't yet detonated. And here, he had mentioned Namdo Group. Chairman Kang, with his antennae more sensitive than anyone's, couldn't miss the implication.
He lit a cigarette and smiled slyly.
"You're saying we strike the enemy's head when all eyes are fixed on one corner, breaching the weakened walls?"
"Yes, Grandfather. Namdo Group is drowning in one bad headline after another right now—their stock's in freefall."
"Once this news breaks, Han Du-hak will beg for mercy, but no one will lift a finger to help, no matter how desperately he reaches out."
"And the opponent isn't just anyone—it's you, Grandfather. There's no reason to earn their enmity by taking his side."
"They won't dare... not when the blade's already at their own throats."
A vision that pierced to the group's future. The instincts of a hunter who never missed an opportunity. And a plan so meticulous no one else could even detect it. It was flawless.
The chairman couldn't help but feel deeply satisfied. But there was one more thing. He was curious just how much of his own mind Min-ho had read.
Though genuinely surprised by Min-ho's words, he kept his composure and asked, "Alright, say we go with your proposal—what do you think this old man covets from that bastard Du-hak?"
"Namdo Construction and Namdo Investment Trust Securities."
Just as the chairman had anticipated, the answer was spot-on. He couldn't suppress the grin of satisfaction leaking through.
"I'm curious why you picked just those two."
"The biggest prize is Namdo Construction, of course. Tied to the government's 2 million housing project, it'll have steady work for years—no more worrying about the next meal."
"True enough... What about Namdo Investment Trust Securities and distribution?"
"Grab Namdo Securities, and we merge it with JK Securities. That catapults us to industry number two."
"And the rest? Nothing worth taking?"
"Yes, sir. We've already vetted them all."
Min-ho's analysis was precise, without a single margin for error. Namdo's backbone was construction and chemicals. Chemicals had already crossed the river of no return—no need to acquire it. With securities—the group's vault—in hand, Namdo would collapse.
The chairman couldn't be anything but pleased with Min-ho's intricate scheme. Yet worry crept in alongside it.
With antennae keener than anyone's, Chairman Kang had always hoped his four children would inherit his traits. But against his wishes, they overflowed with raw ambition, their eyes fixed hungrily on the throne, lacking his strengths.
In stark contrast stood his grandson Min-ho, who mirrored him most closely. The void in the chairman's heart wasn't just filled by Min-ho—it brimmed over.
Min-ho was the very figure he had longed for. Yet if his affections tilted too heavily one way, his four children wouldn't stay quiet. The sharper Min-ho's brilliance shone, the deeper the chairman's concerns grew.
He exhaled his worries in a puff of cigarette smoke, then reconsidered the situation. The newspaper Min-ho brought, the exclusive scoop, Han Du-hak's hobbling state—it was no coincidence. This was a meticulously scripted play.
As Min-ho said, securing construction and securities would propel JK Group forward another step. The chairman's heart began to race. He took a sip of water to mask his excitement and continued calmly.
"This old man sees more prime cuts out there. Why exclude the rest so thoroughly?"
"Namdo Chemicals has crossed the point of no return. Even if we acquired it, rebranding the image would drain time and money."
"No sense picking a lame horse when choosing a thoroughbred?"
"Exactly. Factoring in cash flow and future profits, those two are optimal. The rest wouldn't move the needle much."
What if Min-ho hadn't engineered this, and JK attempted a hostile M&A on Namdo Construction? The same incomprehensible regulations would pile up, and everyone threatened by JK's growth would foam at the mouth in opposition.
The landscape had flipped 180 degrees. With blades at every throat, no one could spare a thought for Namdo Group.
When the government's 2 million housing policy kicked off—a time when Chairman Kang couldn't even dream of touching a construction firm—he'd simply licked his chops and stuck to his usual money games. Snagging Namdo Construction, set to build countless apartments for years, would hand JK dominance in finance, telecom, and construction.
It was Min-ho's perfect strategy, piercing the one hole in the chairman's otherwise impenetrable heart. He'd always coveted a construction firm. He sensed this chance wouldn't come again.
"Du-hak's under investigation... He couldn't dream I'd swoop in... It's a castle without a lord."
"The chairman's seat is empty, and the puppet vice chairman sits clueless."
"Then the fall of the castle is just a matter of time."
Namdo's king and his guards—none remained at Han Du-hak's side. The chairman tapped at his calculator with swift satisfaction.
"Sang-oh, run the numbers."
"Yes, Chairman. At current prices, Han Du-hak's stake plus Namdo Construction comes to about 2.5 trillion won—enough for control."
"Namdo Investment Trust Securities is smaller, so far less."
"Indeed."
"Prepare four trillion and move quietly. When the grandson serves it up on a platter, this old man had better chew fast."
"Understood."
The financial real-name system was still far off. With ample funds, snapping up Namdo Construction and securities under proxies was child's play.
Gazing at his grandson with eyes full of affection, stroking his hair repeatedly, the chairman said, "To think my grandson brings a gift this old man never dared dream of—my heart's soaring."
"Grandfather, you haven't even unwrapped the present yet."
"What do you mean? You've already piled on a bundle—how's it not unwrapped?"
"You won't need all four trillion. I'll slash the acquisition cost way down."
This, even the chairman hadn't foreseen. Maintaining his calm grew harder; he leaned forward, fixing his gaze on Min-ho.
"What do you mean we won't need four trillion?"
"But first, I need to ask something. Answer precisely."
The nine-tailed fox Min-ho cleverly leveraged his grandson status. Flashing a bright smile, he raised his pinky.
No grandfather could resist a grandson's charm. Already enchanted, Chairman Kang hooked his pinky without thinking.
"Whatever it is, I'll answer. Promise."
"How's the investigation into Chairman Han Du-hak progressing?"
Given Han Du-hak's nature, he was surely hunting a scapegoat. But Min-ho had no prosecutorial ties, so he couldn't track Seocho-dong's moves. The odds were high, but he needed certainty now, not guesswork.
"Don't beat around the bush—ask straight."
"Chairman Han Du-hak's looking for a sacrificial lamb to bleed in his place. I need to know exactly who."
"Are you pretending not to know, or do you really not?"
"I need to be certain who's going on the altar."
"Asking what you already know..."
"It's Chief Secretary Yang Sang-pil."
The chairman nodded with a sly grin.
"Got another ace up your sleeve?"
"That's beyond me, Grandfather. You'll have to help there."
"Name it."
"Block the arrest warrant for Chief Secretary Yang Sang-pil."
Winning over Namdo's strategist was the safest, surest path. But if Yang's loyalty held firm, the plan could unravel early. They might use a sickle when a rake would suffice.
The chairman voiced his concern gravely. "Winning him over risks poison in the broth. Clear and tasty on the surface, but deadly underneath—no way to tell."
"Give me solid justification, and with your timely help, Grandfather, I can bring him in."
"Taking Sang-pil... Not a bad choice. But never trust him fully."
"Yes, Grandfather. I'll keep that in mind."
The chairman nodded with a meaningful smile. Min-ho's cunning reaffirmed itself, mirroring his own youth most closely. It was the satisfied smile of a grandfather, not a chairman.
"That's the full gift lineup for today. What do you think?"
"Perfect—no complaints. But this time, this old man has something prepared too."
The chairman directed Moon Sang-oh. "Clear the parking lot—no one sets foot there."
"Yes, Chairman. Right away."
Moon Sang-oh hurried out. The chairman rose with a pleased smile.
"Can't just keep receiving as a grandfather. I've got something ready for my grandson."
"Huh? I didn't ask for anything."
"Others beg for gifts—you say you don't need one, and now I'm the one getting anxious. Come on, let's go down."
At his word, the headquarters emptied of people. The chairman still didn't want to expose Min-ho to the world. Grandfather firmly clasped his grandson's hand as they headed to the parking lot.
Moon Sang-oh stood by a luxury sedan. Of course, this was the car Chairman Kang had won from Han Du-hak in their bet. The chairman had placed the wager, but Min-ho was the true victor.
A single car meant nothing to him. In his current mood, he'd give Min-ho anything—but he held back. Still, the thrill of victory through Min-ho lingered.
"Grandfather, you're giving me this beauty?"
"Like it?"
"Who wouldn't? It's the latest model—wow! You're really giving it to me?"
"Of course. You handed this old man a golden goose— what's a car compared to that?"
An old-timer by Min-ho's standards, but that only made it fresher. His eyes sparkled, glued to the vehicle.
"Wow, Grandfather—I love this car."
"Check the back door too."
The promised car phone sat there precisely. Brick-sized, but priceless—beyond ordinary folk.
"You even installed the car phone?"
"So this old man can hear his grandson's voice anytime."
"Thank you, Grandfather. I'll treasure it."
"Seeing you smile like this—my heart's flying."
The chairman turned to Lawyer Choi Jong-hoon, who sweated nervously.
"Yes, Chairman."
"Old cars like this must've been rough on the shocks over the years. From now on, you ride with our Min-ho."
"I'll remember, Chairman."
"Take good care of our Min-ho going forward."
"It's an honor, Chairman."
"Look at me—almost forgot... Sang-oh."
At his cue, Moon Sang-oh rushed over with a black briefcase. Lawyer Choi knew its contents well.
"You've worked hard. Take this one."
The "bag" held 100 million won—an unimaginable sum for a salaryman.
Lawyer Choi broke into a sweat, refusing desperately. "Chairman, I'm not worthy of this."
"Not from the chairman—from this grandfather, as a bribe to watch over our grandson."
"No, Chairman, I'm sorry, but..."
Moon Sang-oh nodded beside him.
"Thank you."
"Hop in the new ride and cruise Seoul. Take calls from the back seat—hear from Grandpa."
"Yes, Grandfather. I'll call later."
Min-ho's car pulled away. Lawyer Choi gripped the wheel with trembling hands, tension unrelieved.
"Pull over up ahead and take a breather. Driving that tense, you'll cause an accident."
"Young master... Sorry, I'll do that."
"First time meeting Grandfather—how was he?"
"Far kinder than the rumors—honestly surprised. But can I really take this bag?"
"Go ahead. It's fine. Give me a sec for this call."
"Yes, young master."
Min-ho pulled out the car phone, checked the number, and dialed. A man with a cold voice answered, as expected.
"This is Chief Secretary Yang Sang-pil of Namdo Group."