I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 512

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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 512
I finished the call and returned to the small reception room where Enrique and Jeon Tae-guk were waiting.
Enrique and his two daughters gazed at me with faces full of anticipation.
Power was truly a tool that made acquiring many things effortless.
As I relaxed my stern expression and offered a faint smile, Enrique seemed to understand the meaning and broke into a broad grin.
“Mr. President, it appears we’ll be adding Mexico to Sevens’ international tour schedule. Within this year. And I’ve arranged for my younger sister, Ji-hee, to visit at the same time.”
“Thanks to you, CEO Jeon, our daughters will be so happy.”
“I hope so.”
The two daughters then exchanged bright greetings and left the reception room.
Now it was time to finalize the discussion regarding the Don Julio acquisition.
Enrique poured Don Julio tequila into both my glass and Jeon Tae-guk’s.
“Within this week, articles exposing Don Julio’s misconduct will likely cascade out. The government will block all banking transactions for Don Julio. Furthermore, to prevent the Don Julio CEO from fleeing abroad, an exit ban will be issued simultaneously, and all personal accounts will be frozen.”
It meant cutting off all his means of escape.
“Once that happens, the Don Julio CEO will have no choice but to comply with the government’s demands. CEO Jeon Sung-guk, allow me to congratulate you in advance. You’ve become the CEO of Don Julio!”
Enrique raised his glass high.
“Sung-guk, I congratulate you too!”
“Thank you both!”
We toasted and drained our glasses in one gulp.
* * *
Stephanie Mayor’s interview was broadcast across Mexico through television news.
The Mexican people, who had endured unfair treatment without even being able to express their anger, erupted in fury, and a Don Julio tequila boycott began to spread.
Social media was filled with photos of Don Julio tequila stacked in supermarkets or videos of people dumping Don Julio tequila directly into trash cans.
True to his word, Enrique banned all government support for Don Julio and even halted banking transactions under the pretext of various misconduct.
He also implemented an exit ban and transaction freeze on the Don Julio CEO personally.
Daniel rushed into my hotel room.
“CEO, Don Julio has contacted us. They’re asking if we can meet at the hotel this evening.”
Enrique had likely made a threat-like proposal to the Don Julio CEO—that he wouldn’t lift anything regarding him personally unless he sold the company to me.
The Don Julio CEO was the one in urgent need now.
“Daniel, send the contract I proposed to Don Julio first. Tell them that if they’re not willing to sign that contract, I have no intention of meeting with the Don Julio CEO. And add that every clause in the contract is non-negotiable.”
“Yes, understood.”
Daniel hurried out of the room.
The contract I was offering to the Don Julio CEO wasn’t an outrageously low price.
It was conditional on my paying off all of Don Julio’s debts, and in return, I demanded the wholesale resignation of the current management.
Of course, since the company carried substantial debt, the Don Julio CEO would receive not a single peso in hand.
I had already secured special privileges from Mexican banks to repay Don Julio’s debts at long-term, low-interest rates in exchange for assuming those debts.
On the surface, it was a legitimate acquisition, but digging deeper, it bordered on unfair dealing.
In return, I had promised to honor the employment of current Don Julio employees and would provide them with in-house benefits at American standards, lifting them out of welfare gaps.
The moment the Don Julio CEO accepted this contract, he would be freed from all sanctions, including the exit ban.
For the Don Julio CEO with substantial hidden assets abroad, this was far from a bad deal.
An hour later, Daniel knocked on my hotel room door again and conveyed the Don Julio CEO’s intentions.
“CEO, the Don Julio CEO says he’ll sign the contract.”
“Reserve a Hotel Suite Room, and prepare the premium line of Don Julio Tequila, Daniel.”
“Yes, CEO.”
I rose from my seat and moved to the window.
There, I drank in the exotic landscape of Mexico.
At last, the foundation for acquiring Twitter had been laid.
* * *
Late that evening, the Don Julio CEO entered the suite room.
The Don Julio CEO’s face bore the weight of aged exhaustion from the past few days.
I stood and offered him a respectful greeting.
“It’s good to see you again.”
“Indeed.”
The Don Julio CEO’s voice had grown quieter.
It seemed the whirlwind of events from the past few days had taken their toll.
Stephanie Mayor’s exposé. The government support withdrawal and personal sanctions that followed.
This was likely the greatest crisis he had ever faced in his life.
The Don Julio CEO sat down and gazed at the bottle of Don Julio Tequila on the table.
“My great-great-grandfather founded this company….”
Diego, who was present as an interpreter, immediately relayed the Don Julio CEO’s words to me.
[Regret now serves no purpose.]
I picked up the tequila bottle and poured it into the glass before Don Julio.
“This glass will likely be the last Don Julio Tequila you drink as the CEO of Don Julio.”
The Don Julio CEO looked at me listlessly.
Not even a trace of hatred remained in his eyes.
“I went to the Church today. And I prayed.”
A church, suddenly?
I listened silently to the Don Julio CEO’s words.
“CEO Jeon Sung-guk. I will sign the contract. Or rather, shall I finish my story after signing?”
“Please do. I’m prepared to listen to anything you have to say.”
We signed the contract. Then we drained the tequila in our glasses in one gulp.
* * *
After three glasses of tequila, the Don Julio CEO wore a bitter smile.
It came after he received word that all his personal sanctions had been lifted.
“How ironic. Only after selling Don Julio do I find freedom….”
Then he looked at me intently.
“CEO Jeon, do you know what I prayed for in the Church?”
“What did you pray for?”
“I asked for blessings upon the one who took Don Julio from me.”
But I didn’t take his words at face value.
The Don Julio CEO was not the type to offer such a prayer.
The Don Julio CEO continued speaking.
“Don’t you want to know what blessing I prayed for, CEO Jeon?”
“I’m curious.”
I answered out of courtesy.
Then the Don Julio CEO smiled faintly and looked at me.
“I prayed that the person who took Don Julio from me could spend a lifetime with Don Julio. Is there a greater blessing than that?”
“….”
I neither affirmed nor denied anything.
I simply drank the tequila.
The Don Julio CEO probably thought I was one of the foreign investors trying to raise Don Julio’s corporate value and sell it.
The only difference was that it wouldn’t be me raising Don Julio’s corporate value—it would be Jack Dorsey.
“CEO Jeon, I’m counting on you. With Don Julio….”
“Don’t worry. Don Julio will become an even more valuable company.”
And we drank our final glass.
* * *
After the Don Julio CEO left, Diego, who had listened to our entire conversation and interpreted it, looked at me with concern.
“CEO, I… have something I’m worried about.”
“Diego, what is it?”
“The blessing the Don Julio CEO mentioned. Something about it feels suspicious. I’m wondering if he hired a shaman to curse you.”
Just as Samsung, a global corporation, believed in the fortune-telling of Teacher Lee of Samcheongdong, business leaders around the world also often had blind faith in their own forms of shamanic beliefs.
The Don Julio CEO seemed to be the same way.
“Diego, don’t worry.”
[I’m someone who died in my previous life and was reborn.]
I smiled slightly, and Jeon Tae-guk, who heard this story belatedly, trembled.
“Sung-guk, you’re not sticking needles in a doll that looks like you or something like that, are you?”
“Brother, I’m not scared of things like that at all.”
[Go ahead and stick as many as you want. Will I even flinch….]
I drank the tequila cheerfully while reviewing the contract.
“But Daniel, I think we need to stay in Mexico a bit longer.”
“Yes, I’ll adjust the schedule.”
And I looked at Diego.
Though he was a guide I’d met through a hotel introduction, Diego was the person who had worked hardest to help me acquire Don Julio.
It was Diego who provided information about Stephanie Mayor, and he even helped find her and get her to appear in the media.
Diego was someone who faithfully carried out his responsibilities.
“Diego, you remember our promise, right?”
“CEO, I… didn’t help you expecting such compensation. You’ve already generously covered the guide fees and interpretation costs. And it’s been very helpful for my studies too.”
“Still, a promise is a promise. I’d like Diego to help me with running the Don Julio company.”
“Me… how?”
“I need someone right now who can properly look at and resolve personnel and welfare issues at the Don Julio company. I think Diego would be perfect for that job.”
“Ah, that….”
Diego fell silent.
“Diego, if you don’t want to do this work, you can refuse. I’ll still make sure you’re compensated generously. Your contribution to this contract has been invaluable.”
“No, no, CEO! That’s not what I mean at all.”
Diego, overwhelmed with shock, spoke in a confused jumble.
“Diego, take your time. Tell me slowly.”
“Just a moment.”
Diego caught his breath, finally composing himself before speaking.
“CEO, I really want to do it. That job! I truly want to do it!”
“Excellent. Then let’s head to the Don Julio Factory tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, CEO!”
* * *
The next morning, Diego, Daniel, and I set out for Jalisco State, where the Don Julio Factory was located, to visit Tequila.
Tequila, known by the name of the spirit, had taken its name from the region where the drink was produced.
On the private jet we had specially chartered, Jeon Tae-guk and Samsung employees who were assisting him in Mexico were also aboard.
Jeon Tae-guk was brimming with anticipation at the prospect of visiting the birthplace of Tequila.
“Sung-guk, should I acquire a Tequila company too?”
“Brother, consider Samsung’s corporate image. Samsung isn’t a company known for its interest in food and beverages.”
“It just sounds cool. Imagine people around the world drinking a Tequila called ‘Tae-guk.'”
“A Tequila called ‘Tae-guk’ could become a problematic inventory liability.”
“You’re good at everything, but your imagination is lacking. Sung-guk, why don’t you create a Tequila called ‘Sung-guk’ while you’re at it?”
“Brother… I really need to focus on work.”
“So you’re telling me to shut up?”
Instead of answering, I kept my eyes fixed on the documents.
Looking solely at Don Julio Tequila, the profit structure was stable, but the corruption among the executives, including the Don Julio CEO, had been severe.
If the management structure alone were cleaned up, the company could easily be converted into a profitable enterprise.
With more aggressive global marketing, there was potential for the company to grow into a world-class enterprise.
[What am I thinking… I’m going to sell Don Julio to Jack Dorsey in exchange for Twitter….]
I shook my head vigorously and closed my laptop.
My only task was to put Don Julio in order and exchange it for Jack Dorsey’s Twitter.
* * *
The private jet landed at a small airfield in Jalisco State.
But I could see police and soldiers stationed all around the airfield.
Diego looked at me with a startled expression.
“CEO, let me go down first and find out what’s happening.”
“Diego, it’s dangerous. Let’s not leave the plane for now.”
As I was restraining Diego, a call came through from President Enrique.
I quickly answered the phone.
– Sung-guk, this morning I received intelligence that a local gang, having learned that you acquired the Don Julio Company, was planning to attack you. I immediately dispatched police and military personnel. Fortunately, the local gang has been eliminated, but just to be safe, I’ve arranged for continued security while you’re in the area.
“Thank you. But… who leaked that information?”
In that moment, the Don Julio CEO came to mind.
And the blessing he gave as well!

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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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