Mixed Emotions
***
Namdo Group. JK Chairman Kang Jin-gwang was swiftly snapping up shares in Namdo Construction and Securities. Min-ho had secured friendly stakes and convertible bonds, seizing control of Namdo Distribution. Now, only the temporary shareholders' meeting stood in the way.
Han Du-hak, locked behind bars, could do nothing to stem the tide, no matter how desperately he schemed. Cracks were spiderwebbing everywhere, and the fortress walls of Namdo Group were collapsing fast.
Min-ho had boldly planted his flag at Namdo Group headquarters. That alone was enough to drive Vice Chairman Han Tae-young out of his mind. Even more heartbreaking was the absence of his father—the one man who had always shielded him. Now, he had only one person left he could trust.
Just as Min-ho had planned, Han Tae-young was cornered into total dependence on Director Yang.
Normally, he would have leisurely summoned Director Yang, but desperation had him scurrying to the chief secretary's office on quick little steps, flinging the door open.
"Vice Chairman, you've arrived?"
His heart raced, but Director Yang looked utterly unflappable, as calm as a summer sky.
Habit had foul curses bubbling on Han Tae-young's tongue, but he swallowed them down. His throat was parched with thirst. Instead, he flashed a toothy grin, pandering to the man.
A royal family member—no less than the vice chairman—surreptitiously gauged the chief secretary's mood before broaching the subject.
"That bastard Athena... He came into our boardroom and sweet-talked the execs. You weren't clueless about it, were you?"
"I knew."
Han Tae-young nearly exploded at the nonchalant reply. He clenched his jaw and pressed on.
"What the hell? You should've decked him in the lobby or grabbed him by the collar—something! How could you just stand there? Does that make any sense?"
Chairman Han Du-hak had already tried to kill him once. Director Yang harbored not a shred of loyalty left for Namdo Group. He responded dryly, as if discussing a stranger's woes.
"There was no choice."
"What? What did you just say? Even if my father were here, you'd give the same answer?"
"Sometimes, it's better to sacrifice an arm to save your life. We couldn't save Construction, Securities, and Distribution."
"That doesn't make sense! You're the chief secretary! You should've done something! Am I wrong?"
Han Tae-young was little more than a whining child. His body had grown, but his mind seemed stuck at five years old.
Director Yang sighed, pulling a few sheets from the towering stack of documents on his desk and handing them over with an explanation.
"This is the limit on loans from the financial sector right now. We've put real estate up for fire-sale prices, but nothing's moving."
"Where the hell did Father stash all the money?"
"A ton went into expanding Namdo Chemicals, and that's what's got us tripped up."
"How... Then what about issuing more corporate bonds? Huh? Couldn't we cover some ground that way?"
"In theory, yes. But bond issuance doesn't happen overnight. Even if we rushed it, everything would be over by the time it was ready."
JK was already hoarding shares. In raw cash terms, they were untouchable. Namdo Group was trapped in a perfect dilemma—advance or retreat, both led to ruin. Even securing cash would take time they didn't have, and they couldn't match JK's firepower anyway.
The moment Min-ho planted his flag, victory was sealed. Construction and Securities would go to JK, Distribution to Athena. It was far beyond what a mere seat-warmer like Vice Chairman Han Tae-young could handle.
His face blank in panic, he puffed blankly on his cigarette.
"Director... Yang. You're the expert on this stuff, right? Say we give up Distribution—Construction and Securities are Namdo's core. We have to block this, yeah?"
"I'm fully aware."
"Let's just hold those two somehow, okay? If it works out, I'll... yeah, whatever you want, Director Yang. That should do it, right?"
Director Yang pondered for a moment, then nodded with a cold tone.
"Understood. I'll do what I can."
"That's my Director Yang! Nail this, and I'll make good on anything you ask. Got it?"
"Understood. I have a call to make, so if you'll excuse me..."
"Yeah, yeah, I'll get out of your hair. I trust you, Director Yang, and only you."
Those who trust the axe that fells them often bleed out from ruptured arteries.
Director Yang dialed Min-ho, briefing him on the situation and receiving orders for the next phase.
"Yes... Understood. I'll proceed."
Min-ho's instructions were simple: play the bystander, drag out time, and hand over whatever documents were needed.
True to orders, Director Yang stalled on everything. The next day, and the day after, he didn't lift a finger.
Growing frantic, Vice Chairman Han Tae-young stormed back in.
"So, Director Yang, any progress?"
"Real estate sales are in motion. But our credit rating's tanking, so loan amounts are shrinking fast."
It was plain fact. Bad news kept piling up, rumors of a hostile takeover swirled through Yeouido. Banks, sensing imminent collapse, scrutinized every loan application.
"Do something quick—I'm too anxious to sleep these days."
"Understood."
Director Yang gave empty replies and did nothing. The next day, and the one after, same story.
"I'm doing my best. No need to worry."
Han Tae-young, who now pestered him several times a day, had become as annoying as summer mosquitoes.
"If the vice chairman asks, say I'm out on external business."
"Understood, Director."
Director Yang fled the pests for a sauna, savoring long-lost leisure.
Three weeks passed like that—hands off, pure observation. It was practically a vacation. Director Yang's face glowed brighter than before.
The phone rang. He picked up.
"Kang Min-ho speaking."
"Yes, President. How's the situation?"
"Construction, Securities, Distribution—all wrapped up. Just open the temporary shareholders' meeting, and it's done."
"Understood."
"Wrap things up and head to Yeouido. Great work so far. Start fresh here."
Director Yang paused, deep in thought, then replied.
"I have one stop to make first. Should take a couple hours."
There was only one place Director Yang needed to go: a final goodbye to Chairman Han Du-hak.
Min-ho had already given the green light.
"You remember what I said?"
"Yes, President."
"Hold their weakness till the end to prevent any sloppy revenge. Wrap it up just like I told you."
"Understood."
Yang Sang-pil set down the receiver and gazed intently at his office—the place where he'd poured his youth.
It had been tumultuous, but now it was all just bar snacks from a bygone era.
No longer chief secretary; time for a new start at Athena.
He stared at the nameplate on his desk. When he'd first earned it, he'd felt like he'd conquered the world—a symbol of his risen status, reward for grueling effort.
The trembling thrill of that nameplate, the office where he'd spent more time than home—this was goodbye.
Yang Sang-pil calmly took it all in, corner by corner, bidding farewell to Namdo Group.
He carefully tucked the nameplate into his bag and headed to the detention center where Chairman Han Du-hak was held.
***
JK Group Chairman's Office.
Unlike the war zone at Namdo Group, JK was serene as a lake.
Min-ho had detonated a nuke via More Times, diverting all eyes. Chairman Kang Jin-gwang seized the chance, locking down shares in Namdo Construction and Securities.
Now JK Group boasted a full lineup: telecom, construction, securities, mutual savings bank, credit info. Unprecedented speed in history.
Chairman Kang, pipe in mouth, smiled indulgently at Butler Moon.
"Tell me how Construction and Securities turned out."
"Secured 25% of Construction. With friendly shares from Namyoung Securities, Nara Securities, and others, it's 35%."
"That's plenty. And Securities exactly?"
"30% of Namdo Investment Trust Securities, 39% with friendlies. Even in the worst case, Chairman Han Du-hak can't win. That's the report."
Even if Han Du-hak got out and threw every penny at a hostile takeover, he'd lose. Min-ho laid the mat; Chairman Kang just rolled the dice and won Namdo Construction and Namdo Investment Trust Securities as gifts.
His mood soaring, Chairman Kang grinned—until a sudden thought wiped it away.
He sighed, staring out the window, then confided softly in Butler Moon.
"Shouldn't I give Min-seong and Beom-seong a seat each?"
He'd handed the mutual savings bank to eldest son Du-seong. Fiery youngest daughter Myeong-seon got credit info.
Per his orders, second son Min-seong and third son Beom-seong ran loan shark ops in Myeong-dong. They'd obeyed silently, with promises of future rewards when the group grew.
Chairman Kang figured it was time to honor that. Seats were cheap. But Min-ho's rise had deepened his dilemma.
Butler Moon read him like a book.
"In my humble view, we should keep the promise."
"I focused on growing the group—never even thought about placing those boys."
"If their influence grows... friction with Young Master Min-ho down the line?"
"Friction... I'd welcome that. No, it's deeper than that."
Pacing with hands behind his back, Chairman Kang finally voiced his worry with a deep sigh.
"Min-ho... that kid, once a fight starts, he doesn't stop till the opponent's dead. Like a spider spinning its web, patiently waiting for prey."
"I've come to the same conclusion from my experiences. If your feared scenario unfolds, what then?"
"The family shatters. That's not the picture I want—you know that. Jinseong Group... their eldest was just like Min-ho."
As family patriarch and chairman, he had too many angles to weigh. Even for seasoned Kang Jin-gwang, it wasn't easy.
Deep down, he wanted Min-ho as future heir. But that meant princes' rebellion was inevitable.
His brilliant grandson brought boundless joy in his waning years—but also an insoluble worry.
"What's your wise counsel, Chairman?"
"We'll honor the promise for now. Put second son Min-seong in Construction, third son Beom-seong in Securities. What do you think?"
"Considering their natures, it fits best. But there's a gap between loan sharking and real management."
"I know... Hell, I know. Du-seong and Myeong-seon were shaky at first too—look how they've thrived. Maybe this old man's just fretting."
Worrying over unsolvables wasn't his style.
Only one thing could turn his furrowed brow to a smile.
Butler Moon handed over a report at the perfect moment.
"I was about to grab lunch now that morning's done—what's this?"
"Changes at Athena."
Chairman Kang's face lit up at Min-ho's name.
"What'd the boy do now? Let's see... Namdo Distribution? Min-ho bought Namdo Distribution?"
"Yes, Chairman."
Classic joy from Chairman Kang—he threw his head back in booming laughter, inevitably choking a bit after.
Butler Moon swiftly offered water, patting his back gently.
"Sorry, Chairman. You always laugh so hard at Young Master reports—it worries me."
"I figured something was up, but even as his grandfather, I still can't guess what's in that summer fan of his."
"Namdo Distribution's temporary shareholders' meeting is next, then acquisition by Athena."
Staring at the papers, Chairman Kang asked.
"But from what I know, Min-ho lacked the cash to buy up Namdo Distribution shares. How'd he pull it off?"
"He used More Times to woo execs holding over 1% each."
The sight he'd longed to see in his own children shone through Min-ho.
The office shook with another roar of laughter before he continued.
"True tiger cub! Beyond expectations—our grandson will command the world. Yanking the leash and shaking it... splendid."
"I was quite shocked confirming this."
"That puts Min-ho at around 4%, right?"
"Yes. Excluding friendlies, 3.56%."
"He's in the chair, but it's not fully his."
Pipe in mouth, he scribbled numbers in his notebook before issuing orders.
"Grandpa'll buy him a proper chair. Can't have those old bats swarming to suck blood later."
"Yes, Chairman. Say the word, and it's done."
"Snap up 15% of Namdo Distribution—pump the stock too."
"Understood. Chairman, time to head to the shareholders' meeting."
"Call Min-ho. Tell him Grandpa wants to show him how it's done."
"Understood."
Chairman Kang and Min-ho headed to the Namdo Construction temporary shareholders' meeting.