The Tributary Can Be Diverted (2)

No sooner had Choi Deok-bae finished speaking than Yoon-gi cut in. "Why won't Park Gyeong-ja die?"

It was 1979. To become the greatest business leader, he had been meticulously executing his plans in sync with the death of P, but what Yoon-gi had been anticipating most wasn't P's death. It was the death of Park Gyeong-ja. According to Choi Deok-bae, she was supposed to die at the age of 34. Yet, from his first birthday until now, at age 12, ten years had passed, and there wasn't the slightest sign of her demise. Even though there was only about a month left before her 34th year concluded.

"Didn't you say that, according to the original timeline, she was supposed to die a sudden, violent death in a car accident?"

Choi Deok-bae found Yoon-gi's incessant questioning frustrating, yet he understood the sentiment to some degree. 'Well, if I were in his shoes, I'd probably feel the same way.' Choi Deok-bae had lived for over a century as a ghost, and as a mere observer at that, so he possessed emotions independent of the reality of the living world. But Yoon-gi was different. He was living in this reality, and he desperately wanted the events he had been waiting for to unfold.

"There are still about two months left, but honestly, I don't think Park Gyeong-ja is going to die within that time."

"So, in the end, you're saying history wants Park Gyeong-ja to stay alive?"

Listening to Choi Deok-bae, Yoon-gi fell into deep thought. 'What I want most right now is for Grandfather's Samwoo to become the greatest company.' To be precise, his current goal was for himself, the bloodline of his grandfather, to become the world's greatest business leader. Because for Choi Ki-hyun, and for Yoon-gi himself, what mattered most was the 'family,' not the name 'Samwoo' itself.

'That doesn't mean I don't have a desire for revenge against Park Gyeong-ja.'

Yoon-gi lay flat on his bed, staring at the ceiling. A ceiling hung with a fluorescent light, not an LED bulb. His pupils, dilated from being lost in thought, softened the stinging glare of the light, drawing him even deeper into his reverie. 'Is what I want really Park Gyeong-ja's death?' After slowly ruminating on his thirst for revenge, a smile bloomed on Yoon-gi's lips. 'Right, I was thinking about it all wrong.'

Yoon-gi jumped up from the bed, sat on the edge of the mattress, and wore an even deeper smile. "I realized that my way of thinking was flawed."

"Yes. Just letting her die is too easy a revenge."

"I should keep her by my side, slowly, and ruin her over the course ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of her entire life. I don't know why I wanted her to die quickly until now. I can get much more certain revenge if I'm the one who destroys her."

Watching Yoon-gi with that wicked smile, Choi Deok-bae was reminded of the kings of the past.

While Yoon-gi was in the process of making contact with Choi Chul-kyu and JSD, Ryu Geun-tae was busy managing Yoon-gi's assets, including supporting the construction office. Since a few months ago, as Yoon-gi began to grasp the concept of self-study, Ryu Geun-tae had been busy handling tasks independently unless there was something that specifically required a report. And today, October 27th, Yoon-gi called for Ryu Geun-tae for the first time in a while.

"Did you bring the materials I asked for?"

The announcement of P's death to the public would be tomorrow, October 28th. As of this morning, the day before, Ryu Geun-tae had no idea about this fact.

"Yes, sir. These documents here represent your current asset situation."

The data was dense but well-organized. Among them, the materials related to Microsoft stood out the most.

Even based on 1978, it had recorded a staggering 2.4 times the revenue compared to original history. Microsoft's net profit margin was currently around 15 percent; earlier this year, Yoon-gi had received a dividend of about $126,000, and if the current trend continued, he would receive a dividend of well over $400,000 by early next ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠year.

"Is there any major problem with the interest payments to my grandfather or the purchase of land in Yongsan and Gangnam?"

Ryu Geun-tae nodded. "There are no problems there at all. The scholarships for graduate students at top-tier American universities, including Harvard, are also being paid sufficiently. However..."

"However?"

"There are difficulties in purchasing new shares for Microsoft's paid-in capital increase. Originally, according to the special agreement, we should be buying the entire 49 percent priority stake, but since Bill Gates' parents and grandfather keep investing, it's becoming difficult to purchase everything with current assets."

The rapid revenue growth of Microsoft compared to original history. This wasn't achieved solely through Yoon-gi's investment; the influence of the capital injected late by Bill ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Gates' parents and grandfather was also significant. Should one call it a synergy effect? But in Ryu Geun-tae's view, too much money was being invested for Yoon-gi to defend his stake with his own assets. Yoon-gi's stake had already fallen below 90 percent.

"Ah, you don't need to worry about that. Ultimately, my stake needs to fall below 50 percent anyway."

"Yes...?" Ryu Geun-tae reacted with confusion, not quite understanding Yoon-gi's words.

"It's only natural. Microsoft is growing at an incredible speed right now. That means the validation of the talent is already complete. If I monopolize the entire pie in this situation? If I were them, I'd leave the company and start a new one. Bill, Paul, and Steve are people with enough capability to do just that."

"Ah!" Watching Ryu Geun-tae realize his misunderstanding, Yoon-gi continued.

"My stake might gradually decrease, but the absolute profit is bound to keep rising. That is what I want from Microsoft."

"My thinking was short-sighted. Even so, shouldn't we use the strategy of using surplus funds to defend the stake through new share purchases?"

"That goes without saying. The goal is to keep at least 40 percent until Microsoft goes public. I don't know when that will be, though."

Yoon-gi had considered aiming for 49 percent, but he set it at 40 percent, considering that Ryu Geun-tae would be under excessive pressure. Even this was the same level as the stake Bill Gates would have held in original history.

'As far as I know, Microsoft's IPO is in 1986. By then, I must have become a tiger. Because Microsoft will give me wings.'

Having confirmed that his previous instructions had been carried out well, Yoon-gi began to check what needed to be done from now on.

"How is the construction office side?"

"Including my uncle, the original staff of 6 has now increased to 15. If we receive the dividends from Microsoft early next year, I think we can more than double the personnel."

"What about the networking for key personnel, including heavy equipment operators?"

"That, too, is proceeding without a hitch."

"Good. I suspect we'll be entering actual construction around the middle of next year."

At the news that the full-scale business was finally beginning, Ryu Geun-tae's heart began to race. 'Telling me this probably means I should give my uncle a proper hint as well.' As Ryu Geun-tae was thinking, Yoon-gi spoke again.

"You are well aware that I am currently making connections with the JSD side through my second uncle, right?"

"Yes, you've mentioned it several times, and I've also met with Deputy Choi to talk about it."

"Then this will be quick. I'll give you two weeks; buy a luxury watch worth 2.5 million won, and go to this art gallery to buy a painting of a similar price range."

2.5 million won was roughly 20 million won in modern value. Ryu Geun-tae, who received the paper with the address, focused on the word 'art gallery.' 'He intends to make a connection to JD through the JSD side. Well, if it's someone like JD, he could provide appropriate convenience regarding the department store construction without even having to report it to P.'

However, if there was one more thing Ryu Geun-tae was miscalculating besides P's death, it was that the art gallery in question was not run by an associate of P, but by an associate of JD.

"I will proceed as quickly as possible."

"You only need to do it within two weeks. Then, let's have our next contact when the watch and the painting are secured."

"Yes."

Ryu Geun-tae bowed to Yoon-gi, opened the door, and stepped outside.

"It won't just be the two of them. Everyone except me will be shocked. At least, if they are people of the Republic of Korea."

Several months passed by truly quickly. Through the vote of the National Conference for Unification, the 10th President was hastily elected, and they 'tried' to handle the aftermath that arose after P died. However, JD soon staged the 12.12 Military Insurrection and seized power, and the 10th President effectively became a puppet. In this process, JSD's influence also rose significantly, yet his relationship with Yoon-gi and Choi Chul-kyu remained solid.

"These days, when I meet soldiers, the praise for the Colonel is very high."

At Choi Chul-kyu's words, JSD gave an awkward smile, and from the head seat, he raised his hand slightly with his palm facing up, as if suggesting Choi Chul-kyu have a cup of coffee.

"Ah, I will drink it gratefully."

"What could I have done? It is JD who is great. I am just doing as I am told from above."

In reality, even in original history, JSD hadn't volunteered to be the Chief of Presidential Security; he had gone because JD called him. So, as of March 1980, he had no self-awareness that he had become the second-in-command, and in fact, he wasn't the second-in-command yet. Because stories about JSD were so prevalent in the modern era, Yoon-gi had thought JSD would become the second-in-command immediately after the 12.12 Military Insurrection, but JSD becoming the practical second-in-command was something that would happen in 1981, when he became the Chief of Presidential Security.

"Still, the fact that the social chaos caused by P's vacancy could be calmed so quickly is largely due to the power of the Capital Garrison Command. My father also said that thanks to that, the flow of business was not broken."

"Haha..., I just did what I had to do."

Since there is no one who dislikes praise, JSD tried to suppress his laughter, but he couldn't quite block it from showing on the surface.

"Ah, and this..."

Choi Chul-kyu took out a small, antique box from the bag he had brought and handed it to JSD.

"What is this?"

"It is a small gift for the Colonel, who has been promoted this time."

"For me?"

JSD cautiously opened the box and let out an exclamation.

"This is...!"

A luxury watch that high-ranking members of the Hanahoe often wore on their wrists. JSD's exclamation continued once more because he had never imagined he would receive it himself.

"Heh..., such a precious thing for me..."

"It is a connection formed because my son became friends with the Colonel's son, but I want to continue the relationship with the Colonel. Please think of this as a token of that."

"I am not a person worthy enough to receive this..."

"How could that be? JD himself personally visited you in the hospital in Vietnam, Colonel. JD will surely promote you even further."

Because JSD firmly believed that JD favored him, he could not bring himself to say anything humble at Choi Chul-kyu's words and just smiled.

"Why don't you try wearing it once? After all, a watch is supposed to shine brightest when it is on its owner's wrist, isn't it?"

"Shall I do that?"

JSD wore the watch on his wrist and showed it off to his wife, and this conversation in the living room reached the ears of Yoon-gi, who was teaching Jae-jun in the room.

'JSD hasn't become the second-in-command yet, but it seems I can start the paperwork related to the department store construction.'

The downfall of Yoon-gi's first uncle, Choi ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Chul-min, and his first aunt, Park Gyeong-ja, was about to begin.