I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 338

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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 338
That evening, the internet was flooded with articles about Lee Sun-hwa.
Of course, my story was the main headline.
– The Identity of South Korea’s First Industrial Spy in the IT Industry Revealed. Jeon Sung-guk’s Alpha Turns Suspected Industrial Spy Over to Police!
– Jeon Sung-guk’s Remarkable Actions! Sounding the Alarm on Covert Industrial Espionage.
– Government Signals Strong Punishment for the Incident! This is the First Time the Government Has Signaled Severe Penalties for Industrial Spies Eroding South Korea’s Economy!
[Hmm… Lee Sun-hwa, thanks to you, industrial spies across South Korea must be trembling.]
I closed my laptop and began packing.
I had decided to attend the workshop to pressure Han Myung-seok, but Secretary Park Sung-hee still hadn’t contacted me with anything concrete.
Was Han Myung-seok lying low because of Lee Sun-hwa?
* * *
Han Myung-seok paced endlessly inside his small officetel.
10 PM.
Articles about Lee Sun-hwa dominated the evening economic news.
While Lee Sun-hwa’s name wasn’t explicitly mentioned, it was unmistakably her.
Whether because of the name Jeon Sung-guk or because Alpha was a company jointly invested in by Hyojin Group and Samjeon, the government had made a sweeping announcement strengthening penalties for industrial espionage.
Until now, South Korea had been one of the more convenient countries for conducting industrial espionage.
Lawsuits weren’t as freely pursued as in the United States, and contracts themselves didn’t contain many special clauses.
But because of Jeon Sung-guk, the industry itself was gradually changing.
‘Why now of all times….’
Han Myung-seok struck an innocent desk with his hand.
At that moment, his phone rang.
It was Wang Meng.
When Han Myung-seok answered, Wang Meng asked bluntly.
– Since you’re answering the phone, I take it you haven’t been caught.
“Don’t worry. I haven’t been exposed.”
– It seems like other people have already gotten inside besides us… How do you think this will play out?
“Wang Meng, I’ll be honest with you. After I return from the workshop tomorrow, we’ll be implementing enhanced security starting next week. Once that happens, it’ll honestly be much harder to extract information.”
– That’s your problem.
Han Myung-seok felt anger rising, but he suppressed it.
The Chinese were always like this. They’d back out when things got unfavorable.
“Wang Meng, a lot of programs have been uploaded, but they’re not complete. Still, at this level, China should be able to make money off it.”
– Incomplete goods fetch a lower price though.
“That’s your job to sell it.”
– Better than getting caught and having everything fall apart. When will you bring it out?
“Soon. And the transaction will take place in Beijing.”
– Right away?
“I can’t give you a definite answer about what happens after. I’ll contact you in the meantime, Wang Meng.”
– Well, as long as you bring the goods out safely. Good luck.
Han Myung-seok didn’t even respond before hanging up.
I checked the time again.
If I didn’t show my face at the workshop, Jeon Sung-guk would certainly suspect me as well.
Han Myung-seok booked the earliest flight to Beijing for tomorrow morning.
That meant I had to move before dawn.
* * *
The phone rang loudly.
I fumbled to grab my phone.
It was Secretary Park Sung-hee, and it was 3 a.m.
I answered immediately.
“Secretary Park, it’s me.”
– Han Myung-seok is on the move. He just left in a car. It looks like he’s heading to the company. Since it’s early morning, there are barely any cars on the road and few people around, so I’m worried we’ll be spotted if we tail him.
“I’m heading to the company right now.”
– We’ll follow as discreetly as possible. Also, a flight to Beijing under Han Myung-seok’s name is booked for 9 a.m. It looks like he plans to extract the information and leave immediately.
“We need to hurry then.”
I quickly got up and woke Jeon Tae-guk and Adam.
“Sung-guk, what’s going on?”
“William, Adam. We need to go to the company right now. Han Myung-seok is on the move!”
“My dream was spot on. Let’s go! Oh, I’ll contact the Samjeon security team too!”
I quickly grabbed the car keys and rushed out.
[Han Myung-seok, just you wait!]
* * *
– He’s turning right at the intersection and entering the company parking lot now.
Throughout the drive to the company, I kept receiving updates from Secretary Park Sung-hee.
“Sung-guk, we’ll arrive soon, right?”
“Yes, William.”
“Sung-guk, but what if we give Han Myung-seok some time to extract the information? That way we can catch him red-handed. If we go in right now, it might amount to nothing.”
“Adam, I was thinking the same thing. It should take about thirty minutes to copy your program. We’ll go in exactly twenty minutes later.”
Jeon Tae-guk grinned with excitement.
“Sung-guk, this feels like we’re filming a spy movie. Did I ever tell you that when I was young, I dreamed of becoming a police officer? Of course, a third-generation chaebol heir doesn’t have many other career options, but I’ve always wanted to actually catch criminals like this.”
[Jeon Tae-guk, don’t worry—in the future, the police will be catching you, and you’ll be attending plenty of hearings.]
Adam also looked excited beside me.
“William, me too. It feels just like filming a movie.”
“Both of you, focus. Han Myung-seok is stealing our company secrets right now.”
“Well, actually… that’s a fake program anyway. So I guess I’m not that nervous.”
“Anyway, everyone stay alert. We might lose Han Myung-seok at this rate.”
Just then, an alert came through on my phone that Han Myung-seok had entered the company.
Adam confirmed through the office CCTV that Han Myung-seok had entered the office.
“Sung-guk, Han Myung-seok is in the office. Um… he’s turning on my computer.”
“Adam, does Han Myung-seok know your password?”
“Of course. We programmers shared them with each other.”
Han Myung-seok would come to understand today, bone-deep, that everything had been groundwork.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
At that moment, my phone—switched to vibration mode—buzzed in my pocket.
Who could it be?
An unexpected name appeared on the caller ID.
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung?
I answered the call immediately.
– Sung-guk.
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s voice came through the receiver.
“Yes, Chairman.”
Jeon Tae-guk stared at me with a bewildered expression.
– Secretary Park Sung-hee reported to me. Industrial spies are on the move right now.
“Yes, we’re currently monitoring the situation from the company parking lot.”
– What if we let that person go?
“Pardon?”
He’s suggesting we release Han Myung-seok right now?
– According to Secretary Park Sung-hee, he booked a flight to Beijing for 9 a.m.
“Yes, Chairman.”
– It seems he plans to conduct the transaction there, so what if we apprehend him in Beijing instead? That way, we can also catch the mastermind on the Chinese side.
“That would be ideal, but….”
– Sung-guk, you’re currently in military service, so you’ll need permission for overseas travel. If Samjeon acts immediately, he should be able to catch at least the afternoon flight. In the meantime, our Samjeon Beijing branch employees will tail Han Myung-seok, so don’t worry. We’ve been having our own headaches with industrial espionage lately.
“Chairman, if we apprehend him in Beijing, won’t the Chinese Public Security Bureau protect their own company?”
– Of course they might. But money speaks louder than anything else. I’ll contact you once we book the afternoon flight.
“Yes.”
I hung up and took a moment to gather my thoughts.
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung seemed intent on catching Han Myung-seok’s mastermind, but why go to such lengths?
“Sung-guk, don’t tell me it was our father?”
“Yes, it was Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung.”
“What did Dad say?”
“He’s saying we should catch Han Myung-seok in the act of conducting the transaction in Beijing.”
“Wow, this operation is escalating.”
Jeon Tae-guk smiled faintly.
“Everyone cancel the workshop. We’re preparing to go to Beijing.”
At my words, Jeon Tae-guk and Adam’s expressions hardened.
“Sung-guk, do we really have to go all the way to China?”
“Of course! First, once Han Myung-seok leaves the office, we’ll collect the CCTV footage and all evidence to hand over to the police.”
Just then, I saw Han Myung-seok finish copying the program and leave the office.
Shortly after, a message came from Secretary Park Sung-hee.
– Han Myung-seok’s vehicle has departed for Incheon International Airport.
* * *
3 PM flight to Beijing.
As we boarded first class, Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung, who had been reading the newspaper, greeted us.
“Father?”
“Jeon Tae-guk, whether you’re in Korea or the United States, it’s hard to see your face.”
“That’s because you’re busy, Father.”
“There’s no excuse without a grave.”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung naturally turned his gaze toward me.
“Sung-guk, sit next to me.”
Jeon Tae-guk, looking noticeably relieved, personally guided me to my seat. Then he whispered.
“Beijing’s a short flight, so hang in there. You’ve got this!”
I made my way to Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s side.
In truth, I was also curious why Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung was accompanying us all the way to Beijing.
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung lowered his newspaper, took a sip of champagne, and looked at me.
“Did you get any sleep?”
“Barely any.”
“Care for a glass of champagne?”
“I think I’d pass out if I drank. I’ll have to decline.”
“Suit yourself.”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung continued to build suspense.
What exactly was he trying to say?
“Aren’t you curious why I’m going all the way to Beijing to catch Han Myung-seok?”
“Yes…”
I answered honestly.
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung drained his champagne.
It was the first time I’d seen him drink like this on an airplane.
“A few years ago, there was an industrial spy who leaked our company’s confidential information and sold it to China.”
Samjeon had always been a target for industrial spies, so it wasn’t particularly surprising news.
“The middleman who facilitated that industrial espionage was a Chinese man named Wang Meng. The damage that Samjeon Group suffered at that time still stings. We invested over five years developing that technology, and in an instant, China copied it…”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung ordered another champagne and continued.
“Since then, we’ve strengthened our security and heightened our vigilance against industrial spies, so we haven’t suffered damage on that scale since. But that technology they stole from us back then—it still aches in my bones.”
Given Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s nature, it was entirely understandable.
“So you’re determined to catch Wang Meng, sir?”
“That’s the plan. And that man is on this very airplane with us in economy class. Of course, he won’t cross paths with us in first class.”
“Couldn’t you catch Wang Meng without going all the way to Beijing, sir?”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung nodded.
“You’re right—there’s no real reason for me to go to Beijing. Secretary Park Sung-hee will likely compile the details and report soon, but tonight at the Beijing Hotel Restaurant, Wang Meng, Han Myung-seok, and representatives from companies looking to purchase the program will meet.”
Samjeon had already completed all their investigations.
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung drained the champagne that had just arrived.
“Truth be told, I’m sometimes dissatisfied with our country’s criminal penalties.”
[What do you mean by that, Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung?]
I took a sip of water and waited for Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s next words.
“If Wang Meng and Han Myung-seok were caught in our country right now, well… The government talks about strengthening penalties for industrial espionage, but they wouldn’t spend nearly as long in prison as you’d think.”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung was right.
South Korea is a country where you can kill someone while driving drunk and still walk free on a suspended sentence.
“But here’s the thing. China is different.”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung let out a soft chuckle.
It was the laugh of someone who had dreamed of revenge for a very long time.
“Truth be told, I’ve been cultivating relationships with the Chinese Public Security Bureau for quite some time since that incident. No matter how much loyalty runs deep, money speaks louder than anything else. Since we hold leverage over them, they have no choice but to do whatever we ask. Han Myung-seok and Wang Meng will likely be arrested by the Chinese Public Security Bureau.”
No matter how much Samjeon invested or what leverage they held, the Chinese Public Security Bureau was still the Chinese Public Security Bureau.
In that moment, a thought flashed through my mind.
“Chairman, could it be… that you devised this plan knowing that the fake program I gave Han Myung-seok was already under development in China?”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s lips curved into a smile.
“When Secretary Park Sung-hee told me about that, I couldn’t help but smile. The fake program you gave Han Myung-seok—it was already under development within China, wasn’t it? And when I looked into it, it turned out to be connected to a company linked to Chinese Communist Party officials. So now, instead of them transferring a program developed by Alpha to another company, they’re transferring a program developed by a Chinese Communist Party official to another company.”
“So…”
“Both Wang Meng and Han Myung-seok will likely have a rough time in a Chinese prison.”
Chinese prisons were notorious for their harsh conditions.
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung ordered two glasses of champagne and handed one to me.
“You should have a drink too, Sung-guk. Now that you know everything.”
“But if everything was already planned out, may I ask why you’re going to Beijing with us?”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung took a sip of champagne.
“Chairman Jeon Ju-shin, who founded Samjeon, once said this: never forget kindness or revenge, and when you repay, repay it tenfold. I wanted to show you and Tae-guk that wisdom.”

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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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