Unlike my cold eyes, a smile hung on my lips. Seeing this, Park Dong-soo looked at me with a slightly sickened expression.
"I will contact them."
"You must never hurt them or anything like that. Even when you threaten them, do it in a way that creates a situation where they feel the fear of 'I could die at any moment'. You are a professional, so you know this better than I do, right? I will trust you."
"That's something our boys are good at. Don't worry. Usually, setting the mood so they can't even sleep properly is scarier than beating them. It dries a person out to death."
I gave a small nod, and this time shifted my gaze to Lee Sang-geun.
"How is the company?"
"There were no big issues taking it over. The problem is... once the construction in Cheongju is finished, it seems it will be hard to get more contracts from there."
"It can't be helped. Don't worry about the construction work. We can just talk to Daehyun Construction and get subcontracts. For the time being, step away from illegal activities and only focus on Geukseong Construction."
"I understand."
While I briefly talked about the construction company with Lee Sang-geun, Park Dong-soo listened while looking back and forth between Lee Sang-geun and me. I looked at him with a slight smile.
"Boss, you should start by taking over Yeongdeungpo. I know there are no large organizations there, but a lot of time has passed so I don't know exactly how it is now. You can do it well, right?"
"I have to."
"Don't worry about the funding issue, and if you can absorb them, absorb them. You took in some of Jo Hyeon-gu's subordinates too, right?"
Park Dong-soo nodded.
"I forced all the big heads to retire, and took in the little kids. Rather than war, if I can resolve it with conversation, I will try that."
"Yes. Contact me if you need money. I'll give you however much it is, so absolutely do not touch drugs or anything like that."
"I won't. Don't worry."
When I finished speaking and got up from my seat, Park Dong-soo stopped me.
"You're leaving already? Let's have a drink today."
"I think I'll be a bit busy for a while. Let's drink some rice wine together next time."
Smacking his lips, Park Dong-soo saw me off with a regretful expression.
"Little brother, let's definitely have a drink next time."
"Yes."
The car door closed, and the car driven by Section Chief Ma slowly began to move. Outside the window, the Geukseong Construction building gradually faded away.
"That person really doesn't change either."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, he is exactly the same as when I first saw him. Even though he gets serious when talking about work, he still likes people."
Perhaps because of the smile on my lips, Section Chief Ma also pulled up the corners of his mouth and smiled, which was rare for him. As if to tighten the slightly loosened atmosphere inside the car, I asked.
"How are things progressing with Cheon Su-man?"
"I understand Manager Ha is in the middle of preparations."
"Manager Ha's work is flawless, so let's wait and see. Just in case, keep an eye on him."
"Yes."
Cheon Su-man glared at Manager Ha with an absurd expression.
"What is this?"
"It is divorce papers. You just need to stamp your seal."
"Ha... are you crazy?!"
Cheon Su-man finally yelled and threw the papers. Despite being thrown roughly, the papers fell powerlessly to the floor with a fluttering sound. Manager Ha, as always, did not bat an eye as he picked up the papers and handed them out again.
"It is the Chairman's orders. Please stamp it."
"...Why on earth?"
Cheon Su-man looked at the papers with empty eyes.
"What on earth is the reason my father is doing this to me? Getting a divorce. Is he doing this because I was greedy for Ilseong Group?"
Manager Ha did not answer his question. He only conveyed the words he needed to convey.
"The Chairman will take back everything he gave you. Quickly organize your affairs and prepare to go abroad."
"What?"
Cheon Su-man stared at Manager Ha blankly, more surprised than when he received the divorce papers.
"No, why? Is it because of that bastard Mu-hyeok? Is that punk more important than his own child? He threw a few buildings at his eldest grandson like charity and told him to live on his own, and now he is chasing me out too? Did that punk order this? Did my father go fucking senile or something!"
Manager Ha's face hardened slightly. However, Cheon Su-man seemed quite angry, and continued to shout without even realizing that his expression had changed.
"This is not right! Because I'm staying quiet, does he think I'm a fool? Does he think I'll be kicked out quietly like this!"
"If you are believing in the Blue Wind Association, I hope you drop that thought. We have already warned them as well. This is the last consideration the Chairman is giving you."
Blue Wind Association. Cheon Su-man only then looked at Manager Ha's face. Realizing something was wrong from Manager Ha's hardened expression, Cheon Su-man asked in a trembling voice.
"What's the reason? Why is the Blue Wind Association coming up here?"
"Don't you know."
"Wh-what!"
"Did you really think the Chairman would never know?"
"What are you talking about!"
At Cheon Su-man's shameless reaction, Manager Ha's face hardened even more, and his voice finally rose.
"Why on earth did you do that? What harm did Young Lady Mi-sook ever do to you? She was someone who threw everything away and left, saying she would live with all ties cut. But did you really have to find her and kill her?"
Cheon Su-man's face turned as white as a blank sheet of paper. Manager Ha's intense reaction, despite not usually expressing his emotions easily, was essentially telling how he thought of Cheon Mi-sook. It was also the reason he was friendly toward Kim Mu-hyeok.
"Myeong-hun, I need to see my father."
"He said he does not want to see you. He said if you come looking for him at the house, then he will throw away even his last bit of affection for his own flesh and blood. Stamp the papers. I will take care of organizing your assets. Talk with the Madam, Young Master Ji-won, and Young Lady Ji-soo, and once your affairs are organized, leave for Australia next week."
Cheon Su-man, who only stared at Manager Ha with an empty face for a while, eventually began to scream again.
"Starting from father, you're the same too! It's always Mi-sook, Mi-sook! Just because she cut ties, do you think father wouldn't have looked for Mi-sook again later? No! Look at him even now. The moment he found Mi-sook's son, I was left out in the cold. In the end, I heard him say he would give the succession to that guy!"
Cheon Su-man's empty cries did not reach Manager Ha. As Manager Ha just looked at him with cold eyes, Cheon Su-man screamed even harder.
"Don't look at me with those eyes! I am Cheon Tae-san's son, Cheon Su-man! I'm not someone a servant bastard like you can look at with those eyes!"
"Please stamp the divorce papers."
"No. It wasn't me. I didn't kill her, I'm telling you no!"
In the end, it was Cheon Su-man who muttered while looking at the ceiling.
"I had no choice..."
A moment later. In the end, Cheon Su-man stamped the divorce papers and sent Manager Ha out. As soon as Manager Ha went out the door, he started making a phone call somewhere.
When the other party answered the phone, he spoke in an urgent voice.
"This is Boss Cheon of Myeon District. Where the elder is..." — Do not contact us.
The phone call was abruptly cut off. Cheon Su-man's expression, staring at the receiver with an empty face, contorted into a mess.
"Do you think I will just die alone quietly like this?"
Cheon Su-man muttered like a crazy person and continued to make phone calls everywhere. However, the answers he got back from anywhere were not much different.
"Did Su-man leave the country?"
"Yes, I confirmed it at the airport."
Chairman Cheon was looking at Manager Ha with an appearance no different from before, as if he had escaped the shock.
"Did he go obediently?"
"There was no major resistance."
"With his personality, he wouldn't just take it sitting down. Just in case, keep a constant watch on him. What about Su-han?"
"I was told he will be transferred to Yeongdeungpo Prison this week."
Nodding lightly, Chairman Cheon furrowed his brows.
"Still, make sure both of them have enough to eat and live."
"I understand."
With a small sigh, Chairman Cheon forced himself to shake off the lingering attachment that kept raising its head from deep within his heart.
"How are Ji-won and Ji-soo?"
"When they exchanged greetings at the airport, there was no particular reaction. However, she just didn't say anything; Young Lady Ji-soo's eyes were unusual."
"Did they go to their maternal family? That guy Seo Yong-geon, now that his head has grown big, he tries to be on equal footing with me."
"Young Lady Ji-soo and the Madam moved into Chairman Seo's main house. I heard Young Master Ji-won got a separate house to live in."
When Cheon Ji-won's name came up, Chairman Cheon's furrowed brows narrowed even further.
"That guy still hasn't come to his senses. Leave him be. What about Ji-young and Ji-young's mother?"
"Since Young Lady Ji-young's maternal side is already in ruins, I let her continue living in her original house. All support is being provided as before."
"Right, keep supporting them. Send Su-han abroad as soon as he gets out, too. Somewhere other than Australia where Su-man is."
"I understand."
Chairman Cheon changed the topic.
"That's enough about them now. What is Mu-hyeok doing?"
"He is checking the loan documents. I don't know what criteria he is using to look at them, but he is investing most of his time in that."
"Hmm... How much have you handed over to him?"
"I handed over everything outside the top 20 in the corporate rankings. I also handed over all the bonds that Boss Cheon was managing."
"It will take quite a while just to check them. I understand. Keep an eye on him for now, and if he asks for advice, teach him well."
"I understand."
"Boss Cheon Su-man has left the country."
I, who was checking the loan documents, lifted my eyes and looked at Section Chief Ma.
"He went to Australia. It seems they created enough conditions for him to settle down there."
"I'm sure they did. Even Grandfather cannot be cruel to his own flesh and blood. Just keep a watch on him for the time being. Manager Ha is probably watching him too, so don't cause any problems."
"I understand."
I looked again at the loan documents scattered in front of me. They were piled up so much that they more than filled the large table.
"There are more than I thought."
Section Chief Ma did not answer, but I continued to speak to myself.
"There are more bonds to recover than I thought. Things that are highly likely to eventually become problems later."
My eyes were blurry from the continuous document review, but I did not stop looking. The entirety of our country's private loan market was right here. Reviewing the loan documents while recalling knowledge about the future was torture on my eyes, but it was quite a fun task.
Time passed, and it had been a few weeks since Cheon Su-man left the country. I visited Grandfather's study for the first time in quite a while.
"Grandfather, it is Mu-hyeok."
"Come in."
Grandfather welcomed me as if he had been waiting.
"The loan sorting task is finished."
At my words, Grandfather's expressionless face changed. It was the face of Chairman Cheon that I used to know.
"You finished quickly. Tell me."
"Most of them had a high probability of becoming bad debts. I plan to recover most of them."
Using private loans meant that their financial situation was that bad. Most of the bonds had a high probability of becoming pieces of scrap paper before receiving support during the IMF crisis. Chairman Cheon let out a scoffing laugh as if surprised.
"Most of them?"
"Yes."
I didn't know the scale of the loans given out to the top 20 companies, but from the bonds I checked over the past few weeks, I could partially grasp the scale of Chairman Cheon's wealth.
"I plan to recover everything that can be recovered."
"Are you thinking of closing down the private loan business?"
"No. But with the private loan business, isn't it hard to get your money back when a problem arises later? I plan to organize that in advance."
The foreign exchange crisis was not a disaster that suddenly struck. It was a case where problems that had been piling up since the past eventually couldn't hold out and collapsed. Right now was an era of expanding businesses by taking on debt.
Saying I would recover most of the bonds right away could likely sound like an absurd story. Chairman Cheon tapped the desk with his fingers as if he was thinking about my words. And a moment later, he asked Manager Ha, who was next to him.
"What are your thoughts?"
"I think the Young Master's words also have a point, but our work is not a market that runs only on documents, is it? We should consider that and proceed slowly."
Hearing his answer, Chairman Cheon seemed to close his eyes and think for a moment. Unexpectedly, his contemplation was short.
"Do whatever you want. If there is anything you need help with, tell Manager Ha."
"Thank you, Grandfather."
"Right. What do you plan to do with the recovered money?"
I spoke with a smile on my face.
"I plan to lend more to blue-chip companies. I will eliminate the causes of problems and deal with bonds that can be recognized."
After the IMF crisis, the influence of the creditor groups becomes a powerful force that holds the lifeline of the companies. I planned to hold that lifeline and shake it.
< I plan to recover most of them. > The End.