I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 212
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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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Chapter 212
We boarded the limousine and cruised through the heart of Las Vegas.
The luxury limousine was stocked with an assortment of beverages, spirits, and delicate finger foods.
Of course, Jeon Tae-guk was the only one drinking.
“Sung-guk, thanks to you, I get to indulge in luxuries like this.”
“Hyung, you could enjoy this level of luxury anytime without needing me.”
“Sung-guk, only today did I realize how powerless I am without my card. It seems all strength and authority truly stem from money.”
Jeon Tae-guk gazed out the window with melancholy eyes.
[So you’re only now realizing this. Jeon Tae-guk, without money, you’re essentially a corpse.]
Jeon Tae-guk turned his sorrowful gaze from the window toward Secretary Park Sung-hee.
“Park Secretary, could I get a beer?”
“Young Master, I’m a secretary, not a servant.”
“Park Secretary, I think I misheard you. Could you say that again?”
Secretary Park Sung-hee replied with composure.
“I’m a secretary, not a servant. Surely you’re capable of retrieving a beer from the refrigerator yourself, aren’t you, Young Master?”
“Sigh… Park Secretary… You’re Fired!”
“I’m afraid my contract is with Samjeon Group, not with you personally. If you terminate me like this, it would constitute wrongful dismissal, Young Master.”
“Fine. Fine! I’ll get it myself.”
Jeon Tae-guk ultimately endured all of Secretary Park Sung-hee’s reproaches and retrieved a beer from the refrigerator to drink.
I gazed pensively out at Las Vegas.
It looked exactly as I remembered it.
[I won some money here before….]
Memories surfaced of my previous life—how I’d gambled at a casino for amusement, won some money, and gifted a necklace to an actress I was briefly seeing at the time.
Though I could have easily afforded it with my own funds, the fact that I’d hesitated to spend the money suggested she was merely someone I’d passed through.
While I was lost in nostalgia gazing at Las Vegas, Jamie Olson served as a guide, narrating the sights visible through the window. But most of it was already familiar to me.
When we grew indifferent, Jamie Olson came up with an entertaining idea.
“I’ll be asking you questions about Las Vegas. I’ll give 100 dollars to whoever answers correctly. That money should come in handy at the casino we’re visiting this evening.”
At those words, Jeon Tae-guk straightened up.
“Jamie, go ahead with the questions!”
“Alright, let’s begin. The first question: the man who envisioned Las Vegas as a gambling city….”
“Sung-guk! Bugsy Siegel.”
“Correct! You answered before I even finished, Sung-guk.”
[This is child’s play.]
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Show-off! Jamie, next question, please.”
“Yes, next question: If Bugsy Siegel was the mobster who envisioned Las Vegas, then the millionaire who created the image of modern Las Vegas….”
“Sung-guk! Howard Hughes!”
“Correct! You got it again, Sung-guk.”
I shrugged once more.
“Next question, Jamie. Come on!”
Jeon Tae-guk grew increasingly desperate, while I waited calmly for the next question.
“Then… this one’s for you, Sung-guk. Please listen to the entire question before answering.”
Jamie practically pleaded.
“This time it’s for the other two.”
“This is a very easy question. Both of you listen carefully. Now, Las Vegas. What is this city’s nickname?”
I deliberately stayed silent to give Jeon Tae-guk and Secretary Park Sung-hee a chance, but neither of them could open their mouths.
“There’s no helping it then. Sung-guk!”
“Sung-guk, go ahead.”
“Sin City!”
“Correct!”
Jeon Tae-guk yanked open the refrigerator and loudly cracked open a beer can.
“Forget the quiz. Jamie, when are we going to the casino?”
“After dinner… we’ll stop by briefly between the Celine Dion concert.”
Jamie pulled three hundred dollars from his pocket and handed it to me.
“Congratulations, Sung-guk.”
I quietly pocketed the three hundred dollars.
I was planning to use this money to buy Jeon Tae-guk tonight.
* * *
After enjoying a generous steak dinner, we followed Jamie into the largest casino in Las Vegas.
At the entrance, I grabbed Jamie’s arm.
“Sung-guk, what’s wrong?”
“Jamie, I can’t go into the casino.”
“Why not?”
“I’m… a minor.”
“What?”
Jamie looked genuinely shocked.
It seemed Donald Trumpet hadn’t mentioned that detail.
“That can’t be right. Sung-guk, are you really a minor?”
“Yes. These two are witnesses. I have my passport too—would you like to see it? I was born in ’91.”
“Ah, no. That’s fine. Then, would Sung-guk like to wait at the cafe in the lobby?”
“Sure. I really want to see the Celine Dion concert anyway.”
Once Jeon Tae-guk learned I couldn’t enter the casino, he sidled up next to me and whispered.
“Sung-guk, you know that three hundred dollars you won from the quiz? What are you going to do with it?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe I’ll buy some delicious cake.”
“Sung-guk, you can’t waste money like that. Give it to me and I’ll double it in exactly one hour.”
[Tsk tsk, I’ve never met anyone who says things like this who isn’t a con artist.]
But I readily pulled out the three hundred dollars and handed them to Jeon Tae-guk.
“Hyung, if you can’t win, don’t even think about leaving this casino.”
“I’m Jeon Tae-guk.”
[That’s exactly why I don’t trust you.]
“Oh right, hyung. Instead of lending me that money, could you do me one favor tomorrow?”
“What kind of favor?”
“I’ll tell you tomorrow.”
“Got it. I’ll definitely double this money and walk out. Just wait without moving!”
Jeon Tae-guk tucked the three hundred dollars I handed him into his pocket and entered the casino with Park Sung-hee and Jamie Olson.
* * *
An hour later, Jamie Olson emerged alone and hurried over to me, who was sitting in a cafe reading a book.
“Sung-guk, I’m sorry. Let’s head to the concert venue right away.”
“Isn’t Jeon Tae-guk hyung coming with us? What about Secretary Park?”
“Jeon Tae-guk said he’d like to enjoy the casino a bit more instead of the concert.”
It was exactly what I’d expected.
“And Secretary Park said that since Jeon Tae-guk is so absorbed in gambling, she should probably wait and leave with him later.”
“Hmm… I guess there’s no helping it. I really want to see the Celine Dion concert.”
I knew all too well that Jeon Tae-guk would choose the casino over a Celine Dion concert.
There was even a possibility I wouldn’t see him at the hotel tonight.
* * *
We arrived back at the hotel just before midnight after the concert ended.
But the Suite Room was empty.
[At this rate, he’s going to ruin the family.]
I quickly called Jamie Olson.
He answered right away.
– Sung-guk, what’s wrong?
“Jamie, I just got back, and I’m sorry to bother you, but Jeon Tae-guk hyung still hasn’t returned from the casino. I think we need to do whatever it takes to get him out of there.”
– He hasn’t come back yet? I’ll send a few of our bodyguards to bring him back right away.
“Thank you, Jamie.”
I hung up and took a shower.
While I was showering, I heard commotion outside.
I heard Jeon Tae-guk cry out briefly, and I also heard Secretary Park Sung-hee trying to comfort him.
I quickly put on my bathrobe and headed to the living room.
Jeon Tae-guk was sprawled on the sofa in the same suit he’d worn out that evening, already drinking beer.
Disheveled hair. Vacant eyes. Limp wrists.
In a word, it was painfully obvious that Jeon Tae-guk had been completely cleaned out at the casino today.
“Hyung… did you lose a lot?”
At that moment, Secretary Park Sung-hee came out with two cans of beer. She handed one to Jeon Tae-guk.
“Young master, have a drink.”
“Secretary Park, thank you.”
Jeon Tae-guk’s wrist looked bare as he accepted the beer can.
[Don’t tell me he sold the Rolex too? That thing costs a fortune!]
“Hyung, don’t tell me you lost the Rolex as well?”
“Sung-guk… you see. At first, I doubled the three hundred dollars you lent me plus ten dollars in less than thirty minutes.”
“I saw that too. And you lost it all in just three minutes.”
Jeon Tae-guk seemed to lack the strength to say anything to Secretary Park Sung-hee.
“Sung-guk, listen… I really… really… played well, you know. I had this feeling today was going to be huge. That’s why I even went all-in with Rolex, but….”
Jeon Tae-guk just guzzled down beer after beer.
There was no situation in which anyone could console him.
At the same time, Secretary Park Sung-hee sat beside Jeon Tae-guk and started drinking beer as well.
“Young Master, you can always buy another Rolex. Right now, I think you need to figure out how to explain this to your father rather than worry about the watch.”
“Park Secretary, what do you mean by that? Did something else happen at the casino?”
“The Samjeon executives came for a group training session and saw Young Master Tae-guk there. I’m sure Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung has already heard about it.”
Jeon Tae-guk drank beer with a look of despair.
* * *
What kind of proposal was Donald Trumpet trying to make to me?
Honestly, I had a rough idea of what it was, so my interest in Las Vegas was waning.
Just then, an alarm went off.
I quickly jumped up from my seat.
Click—I opened the door and stepped out into the living room, where I saw beer cans piled high and Jeon Tae-guk and Secretary Park Sung-hee sleeping soundly on the sofa.
Though their personalities didn’t match, they seemed to get along well when it came to drinking.
I left them behind and headed to the restaurant for breakfast.
When I arrived at the restaurant entrance, I spotted Jamie Olson.
[If Jamie’s here, then Trump must be too….]
I quickly walked over to Jamie and casually struck up a conversation.
“Jamie…. It was late yesterday, but what brings you here so early in the morning?”
“The CEO is having breakfast here.”
“Would it be alright if I joined him?”
Jamie hesitated at my suggestion before answering.
“I’ll ask him.”
Shortly after, Jamie led me to where Donald Trumpet was seated.
It was the best sunlit table by the window in the restaurant.
“Sung-guk, I was planning to meet you when we left Las Vegas, but here we are.”
“Thank you so much for treating me so well yesterday.”
“No need for thanks. There’s pleasure in helping smart friends like you. I didn’t earn all this money just to carry it to the grave, you know.”
[Suddenly spouting wisdom doesn’t suit you, Donald.]
I sipped my fresh coffee while observing Donald Trumpet.
Despite the early hour, he wore an immaculate suit. His hair was combed back in that signature style of his. And a red necktie to complete the look.
[Hmm… my prediction seems to be correct.]
I finished my coffee and slowly opened my mouth.
“Donald…. I’m curious about something.”
“What is it?”
“Today at the airport, when I board your private jet, I’m wondering if the cameramen from the Intern program will be filming. If so, shouldn’t I dress as impeccably as you do?”
At my words, Donald Trumpet looked quite flustered and set down the water glass he was holding onto the table.
“What are you talking about, Sung-guk?”
[Playing dumb… between competitors.]
Donald Trumpet was the type who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.
As each season progressed, the ratings for The Intern were clearly declining, and the show desperately needed more sensational cast members.
Given Donald Trumpet’s penchant for surprise reveals, he would make this proposal to me without warning, right at the moment we headed to the airport.
If I refused, the script probably already included him threatening to have me removed from the private jet on the spot. And the camera would capture my stunned reaction perfectly.
“Donald, I’m going to have to decline. I’m not interested enough in your business ventures to appear on The Intern and take orders from you.”
“Sung-guk, are you sure you won’t regret that? Honestly, FaceNote hasn’t even gone public yet, has it?”
“Donald, I have no intention of regretting this. Instead, let me recommend an interesting cast member for you.”
“Who would that be?”
“Jeon Tae-guk—a South Korean tycoon and the heir to Samjeon Group.”
I rested my chin in my hand and studied Donald Trumpet.
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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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