"Brother, focus on separating the corporations for now." — It takes a lot of time.
"It is a task of splitting it into dozens or hundreds of companies and merging them back together, after all. I bet. You left it to a reliable broker, right?" — Where is there a reliable guy in this field?
Money is trust. I fed a huge amount of commissions to the companies doing the work.
"Do not hold back. It is better to pay a lot in commissions than to have problems later." — I was not going to ask, but I am really curious.
Is it because of taxes?
"No, if taxes were the problem, I would have set up a corporation in a tax haven from the start. We have to make it so that no one can ever track who the owner of the money is. To the point where even the brokers do not know what they are doing." — Hmm, I understand what you mean.
"You are dispersing it according to where the funds will be used. Brother, you need to remain a good investor."
I added to Han Gyeong-yeong, who seemed to have a complicated mind.
"Right now, your identity is only known on Wall Street, but it will not be good if your name is brought up in continuous investments later. You have to return to Korea in glory." — Hahaha.
Return in glory...
"Construction for the building where the Dreamhigh Investment Korean branch will enter has already begun. By the time you return to Korea, you will be able to move into the middle of Gangnam. Look forward to it." — I am already looking forward to it.
The day I return to Korea. You are not going to tell me when that is, right?
"It is no fun if you know. Just wait. Get along well with the big hands on Wall Street. You are meeting with politicians too, right? Sponsor them."
I planned to make Han Gyeong-yeong an influential person in America. I could not do everything myself. Furthermore, the more I became known, the narrower my range of movement would become, so it was more advantageous to stay behind Han Gyeong-yeong.
Of course, it would be difficult to hide my identity completely. I just hoped that ordinary people, rather than big figures, would not find out. — Yeah, I am already sponsoring both the Democratic and Republican parties without discrimination. But is there a need to do this for politicians?
"America and our country are different. It is a country where lobbying is legally possible. The more you know politicians and entrepreneurs, the more it will help later." — Okay.
For now, I will focus on building connections for a while. When are you coming to America?
"I will go before the IPO." — Got it.
Let's talk properly then. I ended the call with Han Gyeong-yeong. For the time being, the yen would continue to weaken.
I decided to liquidate everything a month before maturity. After that, I planned to stop foreign exchange investments and increase capital through aggressive investments during the Southeast Asian foreign exchange crisis in 1997.
Perhaps because I woke up early for the call with Han Gyeong-yeong, I was a little tired, but I got up from my seat to have breakfast with Grandfather.
Geukseong Construction began construction in Daechi District together with Daehyun Construction. Park Dong-soo's forces had entered Gangnam.
"Prepare yourselves thoroughly. You cannot show weakness like last time. Got it?"
He had not brought up the family members from Busan before, but perhaps angry at being pushed back helplessly by the Baek-ho faction, Park Dong-soo called up the family members from Busan as well.
"Oh, Elder brother. Why are you so scared? You went to Seoul and became a complete coward."
Yang Su-hyeong, who was currently managing Busan, joked around, but unlike usual, Park Dong-soo did not entertain him.
"Su-hyeong, do it right. It is still Baek Jeong-gi. He is not an easy opponent. He is someone even Elder Brother Sa-seong had to step back from."
Park Dong-soo was quite tense, unlike his usual self.
"But Elder brother, didn't you say an all-out war would be difficult because of the brawl in Myeon District recently?"
"Shouldn't we prepare for them to suddenly attack? That is why I told you to come. We have to take over the surrounding commercial districts too. Mu-hyeok told me not to worry and to stir things up as I please."
"Wow, that little kid. He has become a big shot."
"Watch your words in front of him. He is not the Mu-hyeok you know."
"I understand, Elder brother."
"And Director Lee."
Park Dong-soo called out to Lee Sang-geun, who was reviewing something on the side. Lee Sang-geun, who was looking at the documents, raised his head.
"Yes, Boss."
"You do not need to come to the site. For the time being, just pay attention to the manpower and materials going into the construction. Even if Daehyun Construction is the contractor, it is Mu-hyeok's building. We have to do it right. There must absolutely not be anyone messing around with the materials. You know what I mean, right?"
"Yes, Boss. I know."
Park Dong-soo, as well as Lee Sang-geun, were recalling Section Chief Ma and his subordinates they had seen in Myeon District. They were less than half their number, but their skills were terrifying.
"We must not create another situation that disappoints Mu-hyeok. It should at least not be embarrassing. Right? Keep my words in mind. If anyone plays tricks, deal with them without mercy."
"Yes, Boss."
Despite Park Dong-soo's preparations, Baek Jeong-gi made no moves for a while after the construction began. However, just as the tension was loosening, a message came from the Baek-ho faction asking to meet.
"I do not know what he is thinking."
"Are you going? It might be dangerous."
"It is fine. If he was going to do that, he would have attacked already. I will go and come back."
Although it was the middle of enemy territory, Park Dong-soo headed to the meeting place with only Yang Su-hyeong. It was a room salon managed by the Baek-ho faction. When they stopped the car in front of the store and got out, several large men guarding the front ran toward them.
"Have you arrived, Elder brother."
Receiving the sloppy greetings from the young punks, Park Dong-soo looked around. Because it was an entertainment district in Gangnam, it looked lively despite the late hour.
"Is Elder Brother Baek-ho inside?"
"Yes, Elder brother. He told us to guide you when you arrived."
"Let's go. Lead the way."
Guided by the Baek-ho faction member, Park Dong-soo and Yang Su-hyeong entered the room salon. The madam waiting inside guided them to the innermost room.
"It is here. I will take my leave."
Before opening the door, the madam also bowed as if her role was over and left the spot. Yang Su-hyeong took a deep breath and opened the door. Through the open door, Park Dong-soo stepped inside.
Baek Jeong-gi was sitting in the seat of honor. All the underbosses of the Baek-ho faction were gathered around him. They were all familiar faces.
They were faces he had seen many times at events. Park Dong-soo walked to the front of the table without hesitation and bowed his head to greet Baek Jeong-gi.
"It has been a long time. Elder Brother Baek-ho."
Even if they had a hostile relationship, since he was a senior, Park Dong-soo greeted him politely, then straightened his back and watched Baek Jeong-gi. Seeing that, Baek Jeong-gi's eyes sparkled with interest and he started to laugh loudly.
"Hahaha, Dong-soo! The little brat who was under Sa-seong has grown a lot. Yes, you are the boss of an organization now, so I should treat you properly. Good to see you."
Baek Jeong-gi gestured for him to sit on the sofa, but Park Dong-soo did not go next to the underbosses.
"Su-hyeong, a chair."
"Yes, Elder brother."
Although it was uncomfortable, he sat on the auxiliary chair brought by Yang Su-hyeong. It was right in front of Baek Jeong-gi.
"Elder brother, I am sorry. I have many younger brothers I am responsible for. It is difficult to share a table with underbosses, so I will sit here."
As if he already knew all of Baek Jeong-gi's thoughts, Park Dong-soo created another seat of honor. The faces of the underbosses sitting around Baek Jeong-gi distorted.
"Has this bastard gone crazy? Hey, Park Dong-soo! Do you want to die?"
One of the underbosses on the left spat out a curse. He was an underboss of the Baek-ho faction, but he was also Park Dong-soo's senior. Park Dong-soo knew very well that he must never bow down here.
His expression had not changed since he got out of the car earlier.
"Stay out of it while the heads are talking. And try cursing one more time. It will be war then. Got it?"
"What did you say?"
"Sit down."
"But Chairman."
"Can't you hear me? I told you to sit."
At Baek Jeong-gi's fierce words, the furious underboss sat back down. The underboss glared, huffing, but Park Dong-soo did not even pay attention.
"Elder Brother Baek-ho, I know all the seniors here have higher seniority than me. You called me to have a conversation organization to organization, but if it is going to be like this, is there a need to talk further? If that is your intention, I will go back now."
Baek Jeong-gi exchanged glances with Park Dong-soo without answering. A suffocating tension wrapped around the room. Yang Su-hyeong, who was standing behind Park Dong-soo, was preparing to block the door because he did not know when or what would happen.
The explosive tension disappeared the moment Baek Jeong-gi smiled as if nothing was wrong.
"Haha, alright. Our underbosses wanted to see their younger brother's face after a long time so I called them, but I am sorry if you were offended. Everyone wait outside."
"Chairman."
The underbosses tried to stop him with their eyes, but Baek Jeong-gi gestured toward the door with his head.
"Dong-soo, why don't you send your subordinate out and we talk just the two of us?"
Park Dong-soo also gave Yang Su-hyeong a look. The underbosses and Yang Su-hyeong went outside, and Park Dong-soo got up from his seat and sat on the sofa to Baek Jeong-gi's left.
"Excuse me, Elder brother."
"No. It is fine."
Baek Jeong-gi started speaking with a slightly smiling face.
"Dong-soo, I never imagined you would take over the Yeongdeungpo area, which was ownerless. You got a proper sponsor, didn't you?"
Seoul could be broadly divided into three areas. The southwestern region encompassing Yeongdeungpo, Gangseo, and Guro, Gangnam which was the most profitable in Seoul, and Gangbuk where the elders were settled down despite it being a faded glory. Gangnam was also not entirely occupied by the Baek-ho faction alone.
It was a situation where a total of three major factions united and shared it.
"Yes, luckily. Isn't it the same for you having a solid backing, Elder brother."
Park Dong-soo shrugged. He did not know well about the force behind the Baek-ho faction. However, he roughly noticed that they had more power than Mu-hyeok.
'Boss Park.
Please absolutely do not overdo it. The justification is with us, but that does not mean an all-out war is okay. I do not have a replacement organization, but they still have organizations to replace yours.'
Those were Mu-hyeok's words.
"You are not coming into Gangnam, are you?"
Baek Jeong-gi said as he poured liquor into a glass. Park Dong-soo, who received the liquor with both hands, emptied the glass at once and poured liquor for Baek Jeong-gi.
"He said he would build a building there. Should I let other guys ruin the work I was entrusted with after a long time? We will enter the Daechi District area."
Baek Jeong-gi also drank the received liquor at once. His eyes reflected in the glass shone pale blue.
"Can you handle it?"
"I do not know whether I can handle it or not. But I have to do it. It is something I must do. Elder brother, if our family members fight for no reason, wouldn't it only benefit the other two organizations in Gangnam?"
"Hmm..."
"And you were the one who sent people to Myeon District first, Elder brother. I do not know the complex situation well. But wasn't it a rule not to touch Myeon District?"
Pushed back in justification, Baek Jeong-gi could not answer and only tilted his glass. Park Dong-soo wore a faint smile.
"We will only enter up to Daechi District. It is not even an area with entertainment districts, is it? It is a zone you do not even care about, so is there a need to shed blood, Elder brother."
Everything he said was right, but Baek Jeong-gi felt bad for no reason.
"If rumors spread that I was pushed back by you once, I will never be able to work in this field again. Are you saying that while knowing it?"
"Then is it war?"
Park Dong-soo said as if there were no concessions. Baek Jeong-gi's face distorted fiercely.
"What did you say? This bastard!"
The temperature in the room seemed to drop in an instant. But there was no change in Park Dong-soo's expression.
"I do not care. Whatever happens in the future, do not forget that it is something you brought upon yourself. It is war until one of us is annihilated. Then I will greet you next time, Elder brother."
Without saying anything more, Park Dong-soo got up from his seat. Baek Jeong-gi was flustered for the first time.
"Hey, sit down. I am not saying let's go to war. If I was going to do that, would I have called you here?"
For Baek Jeong-gi, it could not be helped. His backing, the Blue Wind Association, was not giving any orders regarding this matter because of other things. However, if he started a war on his own, it was obvious that the other organizations would bite and tear at him.
"Alright. Only Daechi District. I am only allowing up to there. If you take one more step from there, it is really a war."
Park Dong-soo smiled broadly.
"Thank you, Elder brother. Have a glass of liquor."
After the War on Crime, conflicts between organizations meant mutual destruction. The two people eventually resolved this situation through agreement. Baek Jeong-gi did not hold Park Dong-soo responsible for Oh Jeong-gil, who became crippled.
Because gangsters join hands even with enemies if it is profitable. No one could blame them.
A time when everyone was fast asleep. I was looking down at my cell phone while sitting on the edge of the bed in a room with the lights off. At that moment, the call I was waiting for came. — We reached an agreement.
He says he will allow up to Daechi District.
"You did well. There was no fight, right?" — If he tried to work me over there, Baek Jeong-gi would not be able to show his face around.
We went as just the two of us because we knew that, didn't we?
"You worked hard. Then please finish the construction without problems within the deadline. Only use the best materials. Do not worry about the construction costs." — Understood.
"Then see you next time, Brother Dong-soo."
It was news that they had settled in Gangnam without conflict. Only after hanging up the phone did I lie down comfortably on the bed. Only the first time is hard, the second and third times are easy.
Park Dong-soo was carrying out his role sufficiently well. A few days passed, and it became Grandfather's birthday. Seeing Grandfather hesitating whether to call Cheon Ji-won and Cheon Ji-soo, I told him to call them first.
They were people who could no longer be my opponents. However, perhaps still reluctant to invite them to the house, Grandfather called everyone to a hotel in Jongno. Cheon Ji-won read Grandfather's mood, and Cheon Ji-soo glared at me.
Cheon Ji-young was acting cute next to Grandfather without changing.
"It has been a long time since everyone gathered like this."
Because we reserved the whole place, we were the only guests.
"My successor is Mu-hyeok."
Around the end of the meal, Grandfather officially declared me as the successor.
< Then is it war? > End