The Price of Ambition
The few days it took for Ryu Geun-tae to travel to Seoul and bring Yoon-gi back down were not spent idly by Kim Jeong-sun. He had mobilized every connection he had to investigate the Samwoo Group as thoroughly as possible. While the vast disparity in power meant he couldn't uncover the finer details, he at least managed to piece together the organizational chart of Samwoo Corporation.
"Samwoo Group doesn't have a dedicated construction firm yet, but there is a department within the trading arm that handles construction projects."
This fact sparked a major question in Kim Jeong-sun's mind. "Why would they bypass Samwoo Corporation's own department and go through the trouble of establishing a new company?" Of course, he could think of a few reasons. But because those reasons carried such immense risk, Kim Jeong-sun was determined to clarify the situation.
"President," Yoon-gi said in a low voice. Kim Jeong-sun replied in kind.
"Go ahead."
"How many children do you have, President?"
In that instant, Kim Jeong-sun realized that the young master before him was no pushover. If he had spilled every detail about his life, the young man would have understood the situation quickly, but at the same time, he wouldn't have been able to shake the thought, "He really is just a kid." Even if he was the secretary's uncle, pouring his heart out to a stranger was hardly a sound way to conduct business.
"At the very least, it means he’s either already at odds with the Chairman’s son at Samwoo Corporation, or he intends to be. If that’s the case, it makes sense why he wouldn't use Samwoo Corporation."
Even though he ran a regional business, he hadn't reached his current position through luck alone. Kim Jeong-sun asked about the next step.
"Why should we take on such a risk?"
Yoon-gi could tell that Kim Jeong-sun understood him perfectly. "I don't know if he's a snake or a bear, but at least he didn't bring someone incompetent just because of a connection." Kim Jeong-sun’s tone wasn't sarcastic; it was a sincere inquiry. Even a company in the top 100 could easily crush a regional business if they set their mind to it. In fact, Jeil Textile, a solid small-to-medium enterprise, had effectively seen its owner turned into a puppet because of Lee Won-hee’s mistake.
"Life is a series of choices. I’m not forcing you. Continuing to run your regional business is a choice, and betting on someone like me to eventually become the president of a major conglomerate subsidiary is also a choice."
President of a major subsidiary. The risk was undeniably high, but the fruit felt incredibly sweet. "If I accept this offer, it’s not just me—everyone in my company will be taking on that risk." If he were still a small operation with just a handful of people, he would have jumped at it. "But if it were that small, this young president probably wouldn't have taken an interest in us in the first place."
Watching Kim Jeong-sun lost in thought, Yoon-gi offered a secondary plan.
"Then, how about this?"
"What do you mean?"
"Once you come under my wing, you’ll have to work in Seoul. The construction itself will take place there."
"I had vaguely anticipated that."
"But if you consider building ties with Seoul’s labor offices and making connections with heavy equipment operators, you’ll definitely need preparation time."
"How do you know about that...?"
"If you wander around the neighborhood and treat people to a bowl of makgeolli and a side of snacks, you can easily pick up on life experiences."
In truth, it was a memory from before his rebirth, but to Kim Jeong-sun, Yoon-gi’s words sounded perfectly plausible.
"Are you saying you go to such lengths just to verify field operations?"
"I can't pretend to know what I don't."
Kim Jeong-sun suddenly recalled the Microsoft revenue graph he had seen a few days ago. As his estimation of the young president skyrocketed, his tone began to grow more respectful.
"I’d like to hear the rest."
"Judging by what Secretary Ryu said, the scale of your business isn't exactly 'small'."
"That’s true. We have a name in this area, and we receive project requests from other regions and even Seoul."
"Then, open a branch in Seoul. However, that branch won't be a subsidiary of your current company—it will be under my business entity."
"Does that mean...?"
Yoon-gi nodded.
"Have one mid-level manager, two field-level staff, and one or two assistants submit their resignations. I will hire those individuals. Then, we’ll start warming up for the business in Seoul."
Kim Jeong-sun, with the instincts of someone who had run a business, felt this was the moment to make his move. "If I refuse even now, this president will lose interest in us!"
Indeed, Kim Jeong-sun’s prediction was accurate. Since Yoon-gi’s funds were currently depleted, it was true that Ryu Geun-tae couldn't afford aggressive scouting. If Yoon-gi had ordered Ryu Geun-tae to scout next year instead of this year, Geun-tae would never have visited his uncle.
"I accept your offer, President. Based on that, I’d like to discuss the details from here."
The moment the answer was given, Kim Jeong-sun saw a smile form on Yoon-gi’s lips. It was a smile clearly meant to be seen, and it didn't matter that it was seen. Because the meaning behind that smile was pure, unadulterated composure.
"Between the first option and the second, which are you thinking of?"
"Honestly, if I were younger and didn't have a family to support, I’d liquidate the office right now and move to Seoul. But the reality is that I can't. You know as well as I do how terrifying the world of corporations can be."
"That’s why I’m not forcing you."
Kim Jeong-sun nodded.
"So, I’ll go with the second option. I’ll select the most reliable people to send up to Seoul, so I hope you take good care of them."
Yoon-gi nodded as well.
"That goes without saying. I also hate making empty promises, but in this situation, I have no choice. So, I will use an empty promise just this once. The personnel who move to the Seoul branch first will be appointed as senior management when the department store opens in four years. That means they will receive better treatment than those who join later."
"A-a department store?"
Kim Jeong-sun was shocked by the news he was hearing for the first time.
"Yes. The reason I want a construction company is precisely for the department store construction. I intend to build the greatest luxury department store of our time, one that far surpasses the old Hwashin."
Hwashin Department Store had been the number one store in Jongno before liberation, and Kim Jeong-sun still had memories of going there as a child, holding his parents' hands. "The president’s intention is, nine times out of ten, to aim for the expansion of the department store... No, at the very least, it’s certain that he’s planning additional construction with the profits earned from the department store."
If he didn't let this connection slip, it meant the business Kim Jeong-sun ran would no longer have to grovel for work.
"I will handle things quickly so you don't have to worry. Give me one week... no, five days, and I will send the personnel through Geun-tae."
"Understood. Then, I shall take my leave."
"Yes, have a safe trip."
Watching the car leave with Geun-tae, Kim Jeong-sun thought of a lottery ticket.
"If I misjudged the man, I could just be used and then discarded."
But on the half-scratched ticket, it felt as if he could see three identical numbers. "The look he gave me right before getting into the car..." The expression worn by the eldest grandson of the Samwoo Group Chairman, the master of Geun-tae, clearly carried a message.
"This is the only chance we have to grow together."
Kim Jeong-sun clenched his fist tightly.
* * *
Three days after Yoon-gi and Kim Jeong-sun met. In just three days, Kim Jeong-sun knocked on the door of Ryu Geun-tae’s house. It was a rooftop room so dilapidated it was hard to believe it belonged to Yoon-gi’s secretary. It wasn't even a legal rooftop room like those seen in the 2000s, but a makeshift structure roughly built on top of the house’s roof.
Kim Jeong-sun, who had knocked after receiving the address, was surprised once when a plump woman with a perm—not his nephew—came out, and surprised a second time when he listened to her and climbed the stairs next to the house to see the rooftop room.
"Oh, Uncle. You’re here?"
"Hey, Geun-tae... You... the treatment... how could..."
Kim Jeong-sun, who had come up to Seoul with great resolve, couldn't finish his sentence. Ryu Geun-tae hurriedly shook his head at Kim Jeong-sun, who felt as if his heart were cracking, much like the walls of the rooftop room.
"It’s not what you think, Uncle. Come inside first. I’ll explain everything."
Inside, the situation was even worse. The building should have blocked the wind, making it less cold, but the rooftop room felt like a freezer. "Come in this way." Ryu Geun-tae called Kim Jeong-sun into a tent set up inside the room. Entering the tent, which at least had blankets laid out well, Kim Jeong-sun sighed as he felt the cold subside a little.
"Why do you live like this? Can I really trust you? I’m starting to feel like I shouldn't have come up here..."
"It’s not like that. I’m actually making more money than when I was in the secretary’s office."
"Really?"
"I’m telling you. It’s the salary from the secretary’s office, plus the extra salary the President gives me. It’s just that I’m..."
Ryu Geun-tae lowered his voice and whispered into his uncle’s ear.
"I’m buying up land nearby, following the President’s plans. To the extent that the young master implicitly allows. And I’m also buying some stock in the primary supplier of the company the President deals with."
In short, his nephew was reinvesting his salary by following Yoon-gi. Yoon-gi knew this fact, but he was tacitly overlooking the actions of Ryu Geun-tae, who was effectively the second-in-command. Because this, after all, was the privilege of being the second-in-command.
"Is it worth going that far?"
"Of course. I’m surprisingly wealthy. Well, the family of the master probably doesn't think so at all, though."
Ryu Geun-tae laughed, thinking of his recently increased land and stocks.
"Hey, if it’s that good, let me in on it too."
As Kim Jeong-sun scooted closer to Ryu Geun-tae, Geun-tae shook his head firmly.
"Not yet."
"Why? I’m telling you to let me in on it."
"This is only possible because the President is turning a blind eye. If you join, Uncle, you’ll end up offending the President."
"Hey, I’ve been so good to you..."
Ryu Geun-tae still shook his head.
"Not right now."
"If not right now, then when...?"
"Earn the President’s favor. Then you’ll be able to share that information, Uncle."
"Hmm..."
As Kim Jeong-sun still looked slightly disappointed, Ryu Geun-tae spoke with intensity in his eyes, as if telling him to get his head straight.
"Uncle, wake up. The President has the mindset of a head of a major conglomerate... no, even if not quite that level, he has the potential to be at least a successor. Do you know why the President understands this behavior of mine?"
"Isn't it because you follow orders well?"
Ryu Geun-tae shook his head.
"No, the President has me on a leash. If I’m a loyal dog, I’m currently swallowing the candy he gave me. But if I’m not a loyal dog, but a dog that bites the President...?"
"If you do...?"
"Snap!"
Ryu Geun-tae placed his palm on his uncle’s neck and gave it a slight twist.