I Became a Black Market Tycoon with an Inventory - Chapter 100

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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100-Private Equity
100.
“What the hell? Why is this psychopath here again? Didn’t you hear me tell you to get rid of him?”
I glared at Shin Jung-gi as he walked toward me in nothing but underwear.
“I disposed of him earlier, but it seems he’s returned. I apologize. I’ll remove him immediately.”
“This time, take him far away. Somewhere he can’t walk back from.”
“Understood.”
As my subordinates moved to drag Shin Jung-gi away, he rushed toward me and dropped to his knees.
“Please, spare me just this once. I was wrong.”
The wretched Shin Jung-gi bowed his head, begging for his life.
This wasn’t the same man who had held his head high and shouted defiantly before.
The desperation to survive was palpable in every fiber of his being.
Had Mindanao’s harsh lessons finally gotten through to him?
“Spare you? I have no intention of killing you. The truth is, I simply have no interest in you whatsoever. Whether you live or die, whether you perish in some forsaken place—I couldn’t care less. We each live according to our own fate. I live my life, you live yours. Okay?”
“I will do better.”
“Do better at what? Confessing to an ex-girlfriend? ‘I’ll do better’? Like that? I’d just prefer if you’d quietly disappear.”
“Please, I’m begging you. Spare me just once.”
“What are you babbling about, you psychopath? Take him away already.”
As my subordinates approached, Shin Jung-gi pressed himself even lower to the ground.
“Please, I beg you, spare me.”
“If you keep this up, I might just cut your Achilles tendon and be done with it. Then you’d really be finished.”
“If I’m going to die anyway, please just kill me here. If death is inevitable, it seems better to die here.”
“What are you saying? Why would I kill you? I don’t want to. It’s too bothersome. Go contact South Korea instead. Go back to South Korea. Prison would suit you well. Three meals a day, living according to the routines you enjoy—you’d be happy there.”
“If there’s anything I can do to be useful here, I will do it.”
“I don’t trust psychopaths like you. What if you suddenly snap and bash someone’s head in with a rock again?”
“That won’t happen. I can change. I will live with sincerity and diligence. I mean it. Please, spare me just once. I will do whatever you command.”
“Sigh… this is so troublesome…”
******
The Assand Factory in Tarapanan, Philippines.
Edward was absorbed in his research in the laboratory, oblivious to the setting sun.
All to increase production tenfold.
When Alex had asked if production could be increased by ten times, he’d answered affirmatively, more out of the atmosphere of the moment than anything else.
It felt like saying it was impossible would make it truly impossible.
And part of him had thought, well, maybe it could work if done right.
So the research began.
Now he was painfully aware that thought and reality were fundamentally different.
It wasn’t working.
Nothing was proceeding as he’d envisioned.
Simply multiplying the materials tenfold wouldn’t achieve it.
Having people help wouldn’t make it possible either.
Consider this: imagine cooking ramen noodles.
A person who once cooked one bowl now needs to cook ten.
Cooking one bowl and cooking ten are entirely different matters.
It’s difficult enough to adjust the broth and water ratios,
and if you throw all ten portions into one pot, you’ll end up with mush.
So why not cook one bowl each in ten separate locations?
But we don’t have ten pots.
Then just buy ten pots, right?
Then we’d need ten chefs.
But this isn’t something that can be done at a ramen-cooking level.
It requires far greater precision and specialized knowledge.
Even with the pots, there’s no one to cook in them.
So either Edward cooks ten pots alone,
or we must devise a method to cook ten batches in one location.
Naturally, every pot must yield the same flavor.
The broth quantity, water quantity, heat intensity, and noodle texture must all be identical.
Medicine is the same.
It must be produced at the same purity.
Edward was wracking his brain trying to solve this unsolvable problem.
The problem was so intractable that he sometimes thought of abandoning it all.
But the current environment was too good to leave.
By day, I make medicine, and in spare moments, I conduct research.
I socialize with people, eat delicious food, and in the evenings, I fall asleep watching dramas while eating chicken and beer.
Honestly, I’m happy here.
I don’t want to leave this place.
Besides, now I have someone helping me.
I said it wasn’t necessary, but they insisted on coming along and working.
I always worked alone and thought having someone around would be inconvenient, but having someone here actually made things easier.
“Jung-gi, go fetch some materials.”
“Jung-gi, could you clean up this area?”
“Jung-gi, what did I say earlier? You don’t remember this?”
“Jung-gi.”
“Jung-gi.”
Edward had found his favorite button to push.
********
MHK Private Equity Seoul Branch.
Seo Dae-hun visited the office located in Gangnam.
Kim Chang-soo, the M&A CEO of MHK Private Equity, asked Seo Dae-hun.
“You wish to purchase Dae Yeon Development?”
“For now?”
Seo Dae-hun sank deep into the sofa, absently turning the coffee cup in his hand as he answered with indifference.
Kim Chang-soo’s expression darkened slightly at the sight.
He disliked how this young-looking man had come seeking to purchase Dae Yeon Development, and he disliked even more how he sat with his legs crossed, speaking in casual language.
In Kim Chang-soo’s memory, he had never encountered anyone conducting negotiations in such a manner.
It seemed their true purpose was not to acquire Dae Yeon Development, but something else entirely.
Though what that might be, he couldn’t say.
He decided to wrap this up hastily and send them on their way.
Time was being wasted.
“For now? What do you mean by that?”
“What else would I mean? I need to see the merchandise before I can give you a quote.”
“Ah, I see. Our CEO is quite cautious. You haven’t heard of Dae Yeon Development?”
“I’ve heard of it, but we can’t buy something just because of its name, can we?”
“Sometimes a reputation speaks volumes. Surely the name ‘Dae Yeon Development’ alone is sufficient, is it not?”
“We’re practical types who value specifications over names. I’d like to examine the package details.”
“We’ll prepare the documents for you.”
“I’m not good with reading documents. And don’t you usually show the actual merchandise when selling something?”
“Of course we do. Only to prospective buyers, naturally.”
“Isn’t that backwards? Shouldn’t I see the merchandise first to decide whether to buy or not?”
Kim Chang-soo was determined to prevent any on-site inspection.
The private equity firm had already liquidated everything profitable from Dae Yeon Development.
Land, assets, construction contracts, licenses—everything.
They had even sold the building Dae Yeon Development occupied and converted it to a rental arrangement.
In the long term, it was nonsensical, but the private equity firm didn’t care—they were planning to exit anyway.
If something could be monetized ‘now’, they sold it.
Later? That was the buyer’s problem to solve, not the private equity firm’s concern.
An on-site inspection in these circumstances would reveal the deterioration and diminish the appeal.
He couldn’t take them to an office that reeked of desperation.
Everything had to be hidden and concealed.
The inspection had to be cursory, with the real work done through documents.
Bury the information deep within mountains of paperwork so that even if they read it, they won’t find it.
That way, the private equity firm could claim they had provided all information.
No legal liability.
That’s why they insisted on documents only.
Manipulating documents to make the company look good was what the private equity firm did best.
Drafting absurd contracts was also what they excelled at.
If he didn’t like it, he could walk out of here.
That was precisely what Kim Chang-soo hoped for.
“Each asset does have its differences, doesn’t it? The standard procedure is to review the documents, and once you approve, proceed to an on-site inspection. I’ll give you the documents—review them carefully, and if you decide you want to purchase, we’ll schedule another appointment. As for the on-site inspection, it’s just an office. What could there possibly be to see?”
“Sigh… it’s been a while since I felt this uncomfortable buying something. Your customer service here is terrible. Would it be considered abuse of authority if I asked to speak with the CEO?”
“Possibly?”
“Then let me throw my weight around a bit. Get the CEO out here.”
“Hahaha. That’s not the kind of CEO who comes out at a summons. Strictly speaking, he’s not even a CEO. And here, I’m the highest authority.”
“This place is interesting. Director Go.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“What business card did I give this bastard?”
“I gave him a Seoul Security Representative card.”
“That’s why this bastard’s being so stiff-necked. Don’t you have anything else?”
“Well, there’s the bar card and the loan shark card.”
“Give him one of those. Maybe that’ll scare him a little.”
“Hahaha. It doesn’t matter what you give us. We get truckloads of people coming here every day with business cards that aren’t even worth a day’s wages. Most of them are fake anyway. We’re just looking for people willing to pay fair value for our merchandise.”
“That’s why I came to buy. But you won’t even show me the goods and expect me to purchase? Is this how it works?”
“I told you. I’ll give you the documents, you verify them, and we agree on an appropriate price. These things take time and care.”
“I see. Director Go, what was the estimated acquisition price you mentioned?”
“One billion won.”
“Then if I say I’ll pay two billion, will you still take your time and care?”
“Sir. If you pay the expedited fee, we’ll accommodate accordingly. Shall I prepare the contract right away?”
“Krhaha. This bastard’s entertaining. What’s your name?”
“I’m CEO Kim Chang-soo.”
“Do you know who I am?”
“I heard you’re a Seoul Security Representative.”
“Who usually becomes a security representative? I have loan shark cards and Ten Pro cards too.”
“······”
“The fact that you’re not answering means you either don’t know or you know but won’t say. You’ve got more guts than I expected. Problem is, you’re using those guts wrong.”
“Sir, wouldn’t using violence here create various complications?”
“True. Violence does create complications. That’s why we prefer clandestine burial instead. If we bury someone so they can’t talk, there’s no problem.”
Kim Chang-soo’s confident expression shifted slightly.
This man wasn’t making idle threats—he sounded like he meant every word.
“Director Go. There’s a broker who set up this meeting, right? Call that bastard here. I think he’s the problem.”
“Sir, you can’t do this here. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave now. If you refuse, I’ll call security.”
As the atmosphere turned strange, Kim Chang-soo stopped Seo Dae-hun.
“Call him. You do things your way, and let me try mine.”
“What are you doing?”
“What? What am I doing? I came here to buy merchandise, you won’t show it to me, I’m being treated like a con artist, and now I’m about to be thrown out—and you’re asking if I’m upset?”
“You never intended to buy in the first place, did you? You don’t even have the money.”
“Look at this bastard. You never had any intention of selling from the start? Then why the hell did you set up an appointment? Saying you’re busy, come here, go there.”
“Did I drag you here? You said you’d come, so I told you to come. And watch your mouth with your elders, you punk. You’ve got no future.”
Lawyer Go Seung-min moved to step in, but Dae-hoon stopped him.
“I never thought I’d get this worked up over someone in a suit and tie. Not gangsters, just a guy in business attire.”
Seo Dae-hun picked up his phone.
“Geun-su. Ten minutes. No, twenty. Round up everyone in Seoul and line them up in front of the MHK office.”
Through the phone, I heard a simple acknowledgment without any hint of doubt.
After hanging up with Geun-su, Dae-hun dialed another number.
“Hyung-nim. How have you been? Some of the guys will be gathering in Gangnam today. I’m calling ahead so you won’t be surprised. The thing is, some bastard treated me like a con artist. So I’m just saying I’m not a con artist, you know? Since we’re gathering in Gangnam anyway, we should grab some meat. I heard Gangnam has the best marbled beef? Yes, yes, yes, I’m calling to tell you not to worry. Hyung-nim, have I ever caused you concern? I’ll handle my own affairs quietly without anyone knowing. Isn’t handling things quietly without anyone noticing what I do best? Yes, yes, yes. Our weekend plans remain unchanged, right? Yes. Then I’ll see you this weekend.”
After hearing the conversation, Director Go Seung-min asked Dae-hun.
“May I ask who you were speaking with?”
“The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner. But shouldn’t I also call the Gangnam Police Station Chief at this point?”
“I think it should be fine. What could go wrong?”
“Yeah, it feels like it might. I really can’t stand that bastard.”
“Then we just need to handle that bastard quietly. Don’t worry. Hyung-nim. I’m here. If you handle it, I’ll finish it.”
It meant that even if Seo Dae-hun dealt with Kim Chang-soo, Go Seung-min would take the blame in his place.
Director Go Seung-min recited a passage from the Seo Dae-hun Biography aloud.
Chapter 15, Verse 2.
‘When the youngest stabbed someone with a knife, Dae-hun hyung-nim, who was standing beside him, said: I will bear all the consequences of what I’ve caused. So don’t worry. But everyone there wept and cried out that they were the guilty ones.’
“I’m not weak enough to depend on you. Don’t worry. None of us will be hurt.”
Dae-hun spoke softly to Director Go Seung-min.
But to Director Go Seung-min, those words resonated deeply.
Tears fell without warning.
Then Geun-su opened the door and entered.
Through the open doorway, security personnel could be seen kneeling, captured by members of the Dae-hoon Faction.
“Hello, hyung-nim. I’ve finally arrived.”
“You must have had a hard time getting here. How many of the guys?”
“I stationed them at the main entrance. About two hundred came, and more will arrive soon.”
Glancing out the window, the front of the building was packed with people in black suits.
“You’ve worked hard. You’ve been through a lot because of my mood.”
“Is this the bastard? The one who upset hyung-nim?”
Geun-su glared at Kim Chang-soo with a terrifying expression.
“This bastard called you a con artist to the Chairman.”
At Director Go Seung-min’s words, Geun-su’s face twisted.
“What? This bastard’s mouth ran off like that? I’ll bust that mouth open for him. No wonder hyung-nim, who rarely gets angry, was so furious. There was good reason for it.”
Geun-su pulled out a long sashimi knife from his waistband.
Kim Chang-soo’s face, already shocked by the crowd filling the front of the building, turned even paler.
This was the first time he’d actually seen a sashimi knife in person.
When watching movies, Kim Chang-soo used to mock people who were frightened by knives.
He’d thought, what’s so scary about that?
But seeing it in reality was far more terrifying.
His knees trembled.
His pants grew damp.
“Geun-su. Put the knife away.”
“But hyung-nim, he said terrible things about you. Shouldn’t I at least slit his mouth or take a few of his fingers as payment?”
“Just leave it. We came here to make a deal, not to settle scores with this bastard.”
“Still, this won’t do, hyung.”
“It’s fine. Guard this place instead of Geun-su. Make sure no one gets in here. Can you do that?”
“Of course. I won’t let a single ant escape.”
“Understood, hyung. Then I’ll head out now.”
“Yeah, thanks for your trouble. And when this is done, let’s grab some meat. Find a place where the guys can eat well.”
“Understood, hyung.”
As Geun-su opened the door to leave, the Broker who had arranged this contract stood in the doorway.
“Welcome. Your first time in an atmosphere like this?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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