Max-Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 16

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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16. Negotiation (3)

I grabbed the end of the Document File.

“I never said I was selling this Account Book, did I?”

“Huh?”

“This is the third time already. I said it was business worth eight million won, but when did I ever say I’d sell this for eight million won?”

It was a situation where Master held one end of the Document File and I held the other end.

Neither of us let go.

“I said I prepared two items as collateral. The Watch and Business Card. Did you forget again already?”

“Th-that was…!”

“This means I had no intention of putting this up as collateral.”

The strength completely drained from Master’s hand.

“But since I came all this way because I need money, there’s no reason I can’t sell this either.”

I tucked the Account Book under my arm.

I pointed over my shoulder with my thumb.

“By the way, that Uncle over there offered ten million won.”

“…”

Master once again looked at Secretary Kim instead of me.

Secretary Kim raised the corners of his mouth as if extremely satisfied.

“You, what kind of scheming did you do with the kid while I was briefly away?”

“Scheming? I merely presented a fair price.”

Secretary Kim smiled coldly.

“It’s the owner’s decision whether to sell Property to the Pawn Shop or not, and Taeseong intends to buy that Account Book. Is there any problem with this?”

“…”

Master’s mouth fell wide open.

I clapped my hands together.

“Well then, let’s start the auction from now.”

“Auction?”

“Auction?”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“There’s one property but two people who want it, so wouldn’t it be cleanest to decide the property owner according to capitalist logic?”

“······.”

“You were planning to buy this anyway, keep the original safely stored, and resell copies at high prices to competing companies in the subway construction bidding.”

“Oh, my head hurts. A customer holding an auction against me in my own pawn shop – does this even make sense!”

“Taeseong is at ten million won, what about Songgolmae Pawnshop? Will you give up?”

“Who said I’m giving up? Ten million fifty thousand!”

Master shouted loudly.

This account book would be too valuable for Master to let slip away.

‘How many construction companies are drooling over the subway construction? Just distributing copies would earn several times the original investment. Finding out where subway stations will be built by working with that guy would be a bonus.’

For Master, who has Sharp Eye and seizes opportunities well, this would be a windfall he’d never want to miss.

But Secretary Kim Uncle also had no intention of backing down.

“Fifteen million!”

While many construction companies are eyeing the subway line 2 construction, Taeseong and Wooguang are in a league of their own.

‘If they just push out Wooguang, there’s no construction company that can match Taeseong – would Secretary Kim let this golden opportunity slip away?’

No way.

I know he’s been by Chairman Cha’s side as his closest aide for over twenty years.

There’s no way he’d fall out easily for lack of ammunition.

“Ugh! Fifteen million fifty thousand!”

“Eighteen million!”

I raised my hand there.

“Then I’ll stop here.”

“Why! I’m willing to bid more? Eighteen million fifty thousand!”

“Whether to sell or not is up to the property owner, isn’t it?”

“······.”

Master’s mouth gaped open and closed.

After a moment, he burst into incredulous laughter.

“What, a guy who came to a pawn shop with collateral to get money refuses even when someone offers to pay more?”

“Oh, and about that. Could you return the property you were about to take as collateral earlier?”

“······.”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“The reason I came here was to cover the 18 million won shortfall for the remaining balance. But now I’ve managed to secure all the money, right? In this situation, should I really need to put up collateral? Why would I?”

“Heh heh heh.”

Master raised both hands as if he couldn’t stop me.

“Fine, take them.”

Master had no choice but to obediently return the two items that were about to be taken as collateral.

According to pawn shop rules, items only become the pawn shop owner’s property after the collateral items and money have been exchanged.

But since I hadn’t received the pawn shop’s money yet, our transaction wasn’t completed.

So the pawn shop owner had to return my items.

‘Thank goodness.’

I collected Father’s Watch and Secretary Kim’s business card just as I had brought them.

‘I don’t have to sell Mother’s memories.’

This watch is the only item of Father’s that Mother has kept.

Even while renting a small room in Guro-dong Shantytown, even while selling vegetables at the market, Mother never sold this watch.

She kept it preciously in her jewelry box.

The reason she treasured this watch that clearly looked valuable instead of selling it was obvious.

‘Even if she kept it to prove that I’m Father’s bloodline, it doesn’t change the fact that this item holds Mother’s precious memories.’

It bothered me that I had to sell even Father’s belongings to buy a house.

Even while bringing this from the inn, I felt uneasy the whole time.

But since I was able to secure the money without selling this, nothing could be more relieving.

‘If Secretary Kim hadn’t followed me, I couldn’t have solved the money problem this easily.’

I’m lucky.

‘Secretary Kim said he came to deliver Chairman Cha’s message, but if the Chief Secretary who assists the chairman is away from his post for several hours, the reason is obvious.’

It must be because of me.

‘He’s probably here to observe me and report his conclusions to Chairman Cha. About what kind of potential I have.’

Whatever the case.

Thanks to Secretary Kim’s help, I benefited greatly, so that kind of thing doesn’t matter anyway.

Swoosh.

I placed the Western Pastries I had bought from the Bakery on the way here onto the Pawn Shop counter.

Master raised his Monocle as if asking what this was about.

“It’s a gift.”

“Hmph, you might as well give me a Bribe instead. Something like that Account Book you’re carrying under your arm. Hmm hmm!”

“A Bribe is given to make a request. What would I need to request from the Pawn Shop owner? Unless I’m putting up collateral and borrowing money.”

“······.”

“A gift is something given from the heart without expecting anything in return. So you can accept this without thinking there’s any ulterior motive.”

I placed both hands neatly together and bowed politely.

“Stay healthy. Next time I’ll come visit with a better gift than Western Pastries.”

Ding.

I turned around and left the Pawn Shop.

Secretary Kim silently followed behind me.

I only opened my mouth after we left the building.

“This Account Book is a Bribe.”

Secretary Kim looked down at me with a strange expression as he took the Account Book I handed him.

“Well. According to Young Master’s dictionary, a Bribe is given to make a request, but didn’t I pay a fair price?”

“Even though there was someone who would raise the auction price higher, you refused and only took exactly eighteen million won. That’s why it’s a Bribe.”

“······.”

Secretary Kim stopped walking mid-step.

“Besides, I’m doing business at a loss right now. I haven’t even received the money yet, but I’m handing over the Account Book first. Could there be a more certain credit transaction than this?”

“······.”

“That’s my goodwill.”

This person is one of the closest confidants that Chairman Cha of Taeseong Group trusts and cherishes.

It’s good to make an impression when you can.

As he said, when living life there are times when you see dirty things, and at those times you need at least one Joker you can pull out.

“If we win the Subway Line 2 construction contract, how much will Taeseong’s stock price soar? What about the brand value of Taeseong’s name that will be etched into people’s minds?”

“······.”

“The estimated bid for Subway Line 2 construction alone is about 180 billion won. Compared to that, the 18 million won for the bribe account book is really cheap, so cheap! This won’t even cover the bribes that Wookwang scattered around.”

“······.”

“Present that account book to Chairman Cha. It will return more than what you lost to me. This is service.”

I winked with one eye.

“That’s why I’m calling it a bribe.”

“Hahaha!”

Secretary Kim burst into loud laughter for the first time.

“I will gratefully accept the bribe that Young Master has provided without declining.”

Of course.

This is all the grease that makes worldly affairs run smoothly.

Where else could you find such effective lubricant?

“So about that. The KCIA Agent Park Cheol-gu who was dragged to Seobinggo Basement. The person who wrote this account book.”

“Yes.”

“Uncle can get him out, right?”

Secretary Kim smiled slyly.

“Of course. When there’s not even clear evidence that he investigated Wookwang Construction, what could be difficult about it?”

This is all thanks to me stealing away the original.

The Grim Reaper gave a thumbs up from beside me.

‘If Uncle Cheol-gu had thought to blackmail the Political Figures listed in the account book first, this wouldn’t have happened to him. Tsk tsk, I guess he didn’t think that far ahead? No, what was he doing all this time without even making a copy?’

A man with good instincts but terribly slow hands.

It’s a matter of life and death, so what was he doing to get dragged away like that?

“Please take care of it.”

“Don’t worry about it. If Wookwang can do something, then Taeseong can do it too. Leave this matter to me.”

How reassuring this is.

As expected of Secretary Kim! The fixer who handles all of Taeseong Group’s dirty work cleanup!

“I’ll consider this my courtesy in return for Young Master’s sincerity. Since I’ve received something, I should provide service too.”

Trust sprouting within the exchange of sincerity!

I was able to achieve my goal without using Secretary Kim’s business card.

As expected, greasing the wheels in advance is the best.

“There isn’t much time left until your appointment with the Chairman.”

Secretary Kim checked his wristwatch and said.

“Let’s hurry and finish the house contract first, then move to Taeseong Hotel. I’ll guide you.”

* * *

The Taeseong Hotel 2nd Floor Coffee Shop was luxuriously decorated in European style.

A barista who studied in Italy brewed freshly roasted coffee upon order, and a tea master who learned tea ceremony in Japan personally steeped tea in pottery sets.

“I’ll have milk coffee, and Jeong-hyeok would like cocoa, right?”

“······.”

Cocoa!

Cocoa in a place with such wonderful coffee aroma!

Not English milk tea, not ssanghwa tea with two eggs floating in it, but cocoa?

“By the way, how did you come up with all that money? You even got back the watch you were going to pawn, so how?”

“······I’ll have cocoa.”

I gulped down cold water.

There’s no way to explain this?

As expected, at times like this I should just shut up and drink.

Even if it were sewage water or lye, there are times when you just have to shut up and drink it.

“You didn’t force Secretary Kim to give you money, did you?”

“Am I a beggar? A robber? I really didn’t do that.”

Secretary Kim, who was drinking espresso across from us, also nodded in agreement.

On Secretary Kim’s table, there was only an account book wrapped in a paper envelope.

Suddenly, Secretary Kim put down his teacup and stood up abruptly.

“Chairman, have you arrived?”

Chairman?

I turned my head toward where Secretary Kim’s gaze was directed,

“Oh my, my precious brat!”

The man who had been running toward me with his arms spread wide and a goofy grin suddenly grabbed me in a tight embrace.

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