Song Hyeon-ji leaned in close and whispered, as if she was going to tell a secret.
"Actually... Grandfather said he would marry me off to some other guy if I did not listen to him."
"I get it, so I would like it if you backed up a bit."
At that, Song Hyeon-ji glared at me and moved back a little.
"What is it? Are you all nervous or something?"
"No." I spoke as if I was calm, but my heart had not settled down yet.
"Brother?"
"Just keep saying what you were saying."
I hurriedly changed the subject. Song Hyeon-ji raised her chin and spoke as if laying down a threat.
"I want to date. I hate the idea of just blindly marrying someone my family chooses for me. I only met you because he told me to just meet you, not marry you right away. I am trying to buy time even if it means doing this. If I meet a man I like, I am going to run away."
I ended up bursting into laughter.
"Hahaha, are you telling me right to my face that you are going to use me?"
"Hmm... but now that we have met, you seem pretty decent. Maybe I do not need to look for another man."
"You are really the first person I have met like you."
She was beyond honest, to the point where I felt she was quite bold.
"What about you?"
"We just met today, what are you talking about."
I had no thoughts about dating or marriage. Just thinking about revenge against the ones who killed me was overwhelming enough. I had succeeded in eliminating my maternal uncles, but it could not be called a complete revenge.
Because a major enemy called the Blue Wind Association still remained.
"Hey now, you flinched when I got close just a second ago."
I did actually like her refreshing and honest attitude. However, this was not the time to be flirting around.
"That is only natural. Who would not be surprised when someone suddenly leans in close? It is not even a secret."
"But it is fun."
Song Hyeon-ji laughed heartily. It seemed she did it on purpose just to tease me.
"Is it fun?"
"Yes."
She is a total fox, a fox. I felt like I would get swept up if I kept talking to her.
"Well then, it was nice meeting you. Let us see each other again next time."
"Where are you going. You have to answer. So, what do you think of me?"
"About what? Are you asking if I like you?"
Even as I asked, Song Hyeon-ji's eyes held the certainty that I would agree. It was the look of someone who knew exactly what others thought of her.
"I will think about it."
"Wow! Really. Do not play hard to get! You should not do that."
As I was smiling at the huffing Song Hyeon-ji, Chairman Song's secretary approached us. Chairman Song had called for the two of us. When we went inside, Chairman Song was looking at me with a face full of mischief.
"So the two of you finally met?"
"Grandfather! It has been a while. Have you been well?"
Song Hyeon-ji quickly approached Chairman Song and immediately sat down next to him.
"You little rascal. We have a guest here."
"Hehe."
Even while scolding her, Chairman Song's expression was very bright. He said she was his cherished granddaughter, and it seemed to be true. Soon, Chairman Song spoke boastfully, as if asking what I thought.
"How was it? It was a good thing you met her, right? She is my granddaughter, but she is first-class bride material no matter where she goes."
"Yes. It seems so."
Chairman Song clicked his tongue, as if he did not like my indifferent response.
"Tsk, what a boring fellow. That Cheon guy and you, your reactions are just... Hyeon-ji, how was it for you?"
"I like him."
"Hahaha, really?"
I quietly stared at Song Hyeon-ji, who was sitting across from me. At that, Song Hyeon-ji did not avoid my gaze and opened her eyes wide. It was as if she was saying, 'What?
What do you want me to do about it?' A chuckle escaped me without me realizing it.
"Then try meeting up from time to time. Mu-hyeok, you should try meeting her and get attached. I introduced her to you because she is the granddaughter I cherish the most."
Since our first meeting was nice, I nodded as well.
"I understand."
"Haha, good."
"Grandfather, you have to keep your promise now. I have no interest in business or the company, so you did not forget that you agreed to let me live freely, right?"
"Haha, you rascal. Do you think things will just go the way you want?"
It was a moment that showed Song Hyeon-ji's true nature. Was it even possible to live freely after being born as the granddaughter of Chairman Song of the Daehyun Group? No, before that, was there anyone who did not covet the massive empire known as Daehyun?
I felt like I understood why I had never heard of Song Hyeon-ji's name before. She probably never appeared in the media or the rumors of conglomerate families. She might have just left everything behind and lived freely because of the dirty fights that would break out after Chairman Song's death.
"You promised. You said if I met Brother Mu-hyeok, you would not tell me to get married or do this and that."
"Haha."
Thinking of helping Song Hyeon-ji, I opened my mouth.
"I will try to meet her and have conversations from time to time. I like that Hyeon-ji is different from the people of conglomerate families that I know. You know my family history, do you not."
Song Hyeon-ji did not understand my words, but Chairman Song understood right away. A person who gave up everything and left because of love. Perhaps I liked Song Hyeon-ji more because she reminded me of my mother.
"Yes, I hope the two of you get along well."
In the end, Chairman Song nodded. Song Hyeon-ji's face immediately brightened. I would find out through experience if she was happy because she did not have to be sold off in an arranged marriage with another conglomerate family, or if she genuinely liked me.
This was something that would not have happened originally. How and in what form this connection with Song Hyeon-ji would continue was still an unknown. More importantly, it was time to ask about the results of the matter I came here for.
"Did you have a good talk with the boss of Daehyun Construction?"
"You little punk, do you understand what it means for Daehyun Construction to participate in a project that just builds a single building?"
Daehyun Construction currently boasted the number one rank in contracting and the number one rank in construction capability evaluations. It was the top construction company in the country and ranked within the top twenty in the world. However, I gave a relaxed smile toward Chairman Song as he scolded me.
"I know. But the scale will probably be quite significant. A lot of money will go into it as well."
"How much could it even be. Anyway, I have spoken to them about it. Send the people from Geukseong Construction over to Daehyun Construction for the details."
"Thank you."
Having gotten the result I wanted, a satisfied smile spread across my lips. Chairman Song looked at Song Hyeon-ji and asked.
"Did the two of you exchange contact numbers?"
"Ah, right. Brother, give me your number."
Even if she disliked it, a conglomerate family was still a conglomerate family. It was still an era where pagers were more common than mobile phones, yet she asked for my number as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Chairman Song, who was warmly watching us exchange contact info, gestured to Song Hyeon-ji.
"Hyeon-ji, you can go now. Your grandfather has more to discuss with this fellow."
"Yes, Grandfather. I will come again."
Song Hyeon-ji lightly hugged Chairman Song. Then, while Chairman Song laughed heartily, she shot a wink at me.
"Brother, see you next time!"
And then she vanished like the wind. I wonder if I should call that being cool.
"She is immature, is she not?"
"Not at all."
"Still, she is the granddaughter I cherish the most in our family. Maybe it is because I spoiled her, but she does not care about what I think at all. She is still so reckless even though she is all grown up..."
"That is why she seemed even better. It looked like you liked it too, Chairman."
"That is true."
It was fascinating that Chairman Song, who was known to be a tiger even to his family, showed such a weak side only to Song Hyeon-ji. I thought about asking whose daughter she was, but I stopped myself. It was information I did not need to know.
But making my thoughts pointless, Chairman Song brought it up first.
"I have a hidden child."
Chairman Song had only married once, but he met many women and had children. It was such a famous story that it was not even surprising. It was to the point where Chairman Song's wife was called the model of a devoted wife in the Republic of Korea.
Among his current children, three were born out of wedlock. Yet he still had a hidden child. Seeing my expression, Chairman Song nodded as if he understood.
"It is famous that I have a lot of children. But there was one child that no one knew about. The mother stubbornly refused, so the child never ended up on the family register... Anyway, she is the daughter of that child. My child and their spouse died early, so she is living with her grandmother."
Chairman Song spoke calmly, but bitterness could be felt in his expression.
"That might be why I cherish her even more. That child had no greed, and just like that, Hyeon-ji has no greed either. I want you to look after her even after I die. You should understand what I am saying."
Chairman Song seemed to anticipate the things that would happen after his death.
"I understand. I will treat her like a younger sister and look after her. Please do not worry too much."
Upon hearing my answer, Chairman Song nodded his head a few times. The bitter expression on the old man's face quickly changed.
"I heard rumors that you are recalling your funds these days, what is going on?"
The rumor that Chairman Cheon of Myeon District was recalling his funds had already spread widely. Except for the conglomerates I had not yet taken over, I had recalled most of it.
I left alone the truly solid companies among those that would survive after the IMF crisis, but those companies would not take more loans even if I wanted to give them out.
Perhaps because it was an era where banks and merchant banks lent money at low interest rates, no one wanted to take out private loans unless they were extremely desperate.
"I am organizing the bonds overall. I have not sorted out the top conglomerates yet. Daehyun will not have any issues. If we recall our funds now, the company would go under, after all."
"Haha. What did you say? The great Daehyun?"
Chairman Song laughed loudly, as if he found it absurd. However, it was true that Daehyun could not get loans due to pressure from the government. Thanks to Grandfather continually lending them urgent funds, they did not suffer from a liquidity crisis, but they were in a state where making aggressive investments was difficult.
Of course, even so, Daehyun was still the greatest corporate group in the Republic of Korea. Even the Ilseong Group, which would later cause the Republic of Korea to be called the Ilseong Republic, was no match for the current Daehyun.
The secret tales between the founder of Ilseong and Chairman Song of Daehyun were talked about continuously even after their deaths. It was an anecdote that showed just how great their influence was in this era. However, they would not be able to avoid the IMF crisis.
There was not a single conglomerate in the Republic of Korea that could avoid the foreign exchange crisis.
"It is partly because I want to secure cash assets. And Grandfather said he is going to rest now as well. It is just easier to sort out the old loans."
"Hmm... You are not doing this because you think what you said before about the Republic of Korea going bankrupt will actually happen, are you? Do you not know how much of a boom we are in right now? The interest will keep rolling in even if you just leave it be, so why bother holding onto cash assets?"
He was right. An era of economic boom that would never come again. Low interest rates, low oil prices, and a low exchange rate.
The Republic of Korea was growing at a rapid pace. However, in a few months, a strong dollar would continue and the weakening of the yen would begin due to negotiations between major powers like America and Japan. The era of the boom would end right there.
"I think our country's economy is far too abnormal. The corruption and the collusion between politics and business are too severe. The debt ratio is also way too high. A day might come when it all explodes at once like a bomb. No, I believe it will absolutely come. Though even I cannot know exactly when that will be."
"Hmm..."
Chairman Song placed his hand on his chin and focused on my words.
"But that is not why I am recalling the funds. I plan to run the private loan business in a different way from Grandfather, and this current recall of funds is a part of the preparations. Because Grandfather's power will disappear once he passes away."
"The times have changed. But still, it is not like that Cheon guy's money goes anywhere, does it? That itself is power."
The saying that money was power was half true. However, I could not achieve the revenge I wanted with just money. The Blue Wind Association was not an opponent I could fight with money alone.
"In your era and Grandfather's era, money was power. But that is not the case now. You know that things are different from back then too, Chairman. You must be feeling it more than anyone."
"Hahaha."
These were conglomerate chairmen who thrived by offering bribes even during the fierce military regime. Many powerful figures bowed their heads before them even at places like hearings or parliamentary inspections, calling them the people who supported our country's economy. But Chairman Cheon was different.
That was because Grandfather only had money. If not for Grandfather's ledger, all of that wealth would have been torn to shreds and handed over to those with power. The IMF crisis was the final opportunity.
An opportunity for me to gain power... to be able to face the Blue Wind Association. The Blue Wind Association would be completely frantic right now.
On March 1, 1995, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of National Liberation, a declaration ceremony for the demolition of the former Japanese Government General of Korea building was held, along with a special address from the president. Right now, when Japan was showing an intense reaction.
Because the Blue Wind Association was using all their strength in an effort to stop it. Time passed, and the movements of major powers like Japan and America finally began. The yen had started to weaken. — You... monster-like bastard.
It was perhaps natural for Han Gyeong-yeong to show this kind of reaction. It was because we bet on the weakening yen faster than anyone else. We would likely make an incomparable amount of profit compared to other hedge funds.
< I hope the two of you get along well. > The End