Max-Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 39
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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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39. Getting the Invitation (2)
Yoo Jong-tae entered Hyeonmu Construction President’s Office.
He bowed politely at the waist in greeting.
“I am Yoo Jong-tae, Team Leader of the 5th Team under Taeseong Group Security Department.”
“I called you because I was curious about your intention in suddenly visiting me and delivering such a note. If you’re trying to mock me, it won’t be amusing.”
“That’s not the case at all. I came to deliver this to you.”
Yoo Jong-tae took out several documents from the document envelope and held them out.
President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction widened his eyes upon checking them.
“This is…!”
It was land in Suseo-dong.
Geographically, it wasn’t a particularly good location, and the land area was small for building a large apartment complex, but it was still Gangnam land.
President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction looked back at Yoo Jong-tae.
“I heard that Taeseong Construction’s financial situation is very poor these days, not doing any construction work and just playing around throwing money up and down. I guess they’ve reached the point where they have to sell off apartment sites in Gangnam of all places?”
It was a sneer.
“Did President Cha of Taeseong Construction send you? They used to mock us so much when we were barely managing to build apartments by selling off apartment sites, but their situation is even worse than ours? No wonder Taeseong Construction stock is dirt cheap!”
President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction deliberately waved the apartment site documents back and forth.
It was to shake Yoo Jong-tae’s composure.
“I heard the president of Taeseong Construction is going around meeting bank presidents saying he wants to sell land? To think he’d even send someone to me in the end. Are you that short on money these days?”
However, Yoo Jong-tae answered in a relaxed voice.
“Please don’t misunderstand. We’re not disposing of that because Taeseong Construction’s financial situation is poor.”
“You’re being ridiculous.”
“That’s not land owned by Taeseong Construction. It’s privately owned land.”
“What?”
President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction checked the Suseo-dong land documents once more with surprised eyes.
“…Huh?”
That land was something Grandfather had secured for my share.
It was also land that the Former President of Taeseong Construction had previously transferred ownership of, claiming he would embezzle and sell it beforehand.
“I thought Taeseong Construction had already obtained all the development permits to build apartments. Who, and why, would send me something like this?”
“······.”
Yoo Jong-tae’s eyes shifted slightly.
He seemed to be gauging how much and what he could answer.
“······.”
In the end, Yoo Jong-tae chose to hand over the note marked with the number 2 without delay.
He definitely didn’t know what was written inside the note since he hadn’t looked.
‘Not a bad choice. A guy who’s faithful only to his assigned tasks is better than one who carelessly leaks unauthorized information.’
My second note contained the following:
【This is both a gesture of goodwill and a bribe that I’m sending to Hyeonmu Construction. I’ll only accept exactly the market price. Aren’t you more curious about why this land is being sold so cheaply rather than who owns it?】
President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction’s eyes widened.
“You’re saying you’ll sell this at market price?”
Yoo Jong-tae’s eyes flashed.
Then he nodded with a much more relaxed attitude.
“This isn’t a proposal made without knowing Hyeonmu’s situation.”
“Right. If you clearly knew our Hyeonmu’s situation, you would have demanded a price higher than market value. I’m wondering why you’re only asking for fair value?”
Usually, the person who’s in a hurry and desperate has no choice but to make a losing deal.
This was why President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction was tilting his head in confusion.
“No matter how I think about it, we and Taeseong Construction don’t really have any connection. So there’s nothing to compromise on business-wise either.”
Currently, Taeseong Construction could be considered the largest construction company in the Republic of Korea.
Taeseong Construction made a big name for itself by rebuilding Seoul City after the war.
Taeseong built the bridges over the Han River, and constructed government offices and roads, as well as schools and hospitals.
Compared to such Taeseong Construction, Hyeonmu Construction was somewhat behind in scale.
“When you receive such favorable conditions that benefit only one side, there are exactly two things to suspect. Either fraud, or a bribe.”
That’s why I had explicitly written “bribe” in the note beforehand.
But President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction frowned.
“But why would Taeseong give us bribes? Even if they were to make requests, we should be the ones doing it.”
“You said it’s either fraud or bribery, right? From the very beginning when I came here, I clearly revealed that I belong to Taeseong Group. Would someone like me commit fraud? How could I handle the consequences?”
“So it’s a bribe?”
Yoo Jong-tae nodded with a serious expression.
“Instead, I’d like to exchange it for invitations for a few guests we want to invite to the year-end night event.”
I had revealed the purpose of this mission to Yoo Jong-tae from the beginning.
It didn’t matter if I acted clueless and got kicked out, but it would be troublesome if I couldn’t get the invitations.
“Invitations?”
President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction wondered if he had misread the note and read it again.
Even after rubbing his eyes and looking again, it was still the same.
The words saying they would sell at market price couldn’t have changed.
“You’re going to sell the apartment site in Gangnam cheaply just to exchange it for a few invitations to attend the year-end night?”
His expression seemed to ask if the money calculations didn’t add up at all.
“These days, because of the Gangnam development, land prices are going up like crazy even if you just sleep one night and wake up. Is this really right? You’re willing to accept such a loss for just that reason?”
Yoo Jong-tae let out an exaggeratedly long sigh.
“As President Oh knows, we could have taken advantage of Hyeonmu Construction’s situation and sold it for much more than market price. But the reason we’re not doing that is…”
“The reason is?”
“Because we hope Hyeonmu Hotel will generously accommodate the guests we request.”
Yoo Jong-tae closed his eyes tightly and handed over the final note.
【Decide. The apartment site or the invitations. I’ll follow President Oh’s wishes. Three minutes should be enough time to think about it, right?】
President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction couldn’t hide his bewilderment.
“You want me to decide this in just 3 minutes?”
Yoo Jong-tae’s eyes flashed again.
“Three minutes! Not a second more! We’re busy people too.”
“Hyeonmu Construction’s apartment project is at stake! To review the business feasibility, you should give me at least 3 days!”
“Three minutes! It’s just exchanging for a few invitations.”
President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction crossed his arms and deeply furrowed his brow.
His expression seemed to say ‘Who has time to spare?’ but what he held in his hands was the Suseo-dong apartment site.
It was Hyeonmu Construction that was in the position of having to squeeze out even non-existent time to visit the landowner and beg them to please sell.
The Hyeonmu Construction president fired off questions rapidly.
“You call it a bribe? What’s your scheme? Will just a few invitations really do? The conditions are too good. Who at Taeseong is being so favorable to me? No matter how I think about it, there’s no one who would give this generously?”
“······.”
When President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction pressed him as if he might grab him by the collar and shake him, Yoo Jong-tae snapped irritably.
“Oh, come on! We’re just trading for a few invitations! No matter how you look at it, we’re the ones taking a loss, so what’s so difficult about this decision.”
Yoo Jong-tae stuck his belly out forward.
“If you don’t want it, then don’t do it!”
The Hyeonmu Construction president looked back and forth between Yoo Jong-tae and the Suseo-dong documents in his hand.
He couldn’t help but groan.
Yoo Jong-tae deliberately looked at his wristwatch for all to see.
“Thirty seconds have already passed. Tick-tock!”
He made ticking sounds with his mouth, pressuring him annoyingly.
He was being so blatantly mocking that I, watching from the sidelines, couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.
‘I didn’t tell him anything, but he’s doing quite well on his own intuition.’
Suddenly, I remembered what Secretary Kim had said.
-Yoo Jong-tae alone would be difficult for you. Just dealing with the Hyeonmu Construction president would be problematic from the start.
But contrary to expectations, Yoo Jong-tae was handling things calmly and well.
‘Certainly, with just the status of a Taeseong Group Bodyguard, it would be difficult to deal with the Hyeonmu Construction president.’
That’s why I deliberately wrote the note.
Because Yoo Jong-tae, a Taeseong Group Bodyguard, presented himself as an ‘errand boy,’ the Hyeonmu Construction president might have been suspicious of the proposal but didn’t dismiss it as fraud.
If just a Taeseong Group Bodyguard had come to sell a Gangnam apartment site, he would have been treated as a literal scammer and kicked out immediately.
“President, this seems like an opportunity that won’t come again!”
“Compared to the apartment site as a bribe, the favor requested is just a few invitations! It’s a heavily tilted scale, isn’t it?”
“This is clearly Taeseong’s goodwill! Is there any need to slap away a hand that’s extended first?”
The executives cheered.
Favorable reactions poured out from here and there.
“The apartment site is solid. You absolutely can’t get land like this these days.”
“This is a place that has already obtained development permits from Seoul City.”
“If it’s here, we can start construction immediately right now.”
“We have the presale funds. We can pay the full balance today and acquire the land.”
Hyeonmu Construction had plenty of money thanks to the great success of the Apgujeong Hyeonmu Apartment presales.
“Two minutes have passed. Tick-tock!”
The Hyeonmu Construction executives burst out in irritation with one voice.
“Stop nagging us!”
“We’re doing our best right now too!”
The Hyeonmu Construction executives frantically flicked their abacus beads at lightning speed.
The scale of the apartment to be built on the site, land price, apartment construction unit cost, presale price, promotional costs, as well as short-term borrowings and bank loan interest.
They were reviewing it all, even if roughly, in that short time.
“Ding! Three minutes are up! If you can’t reach a conclusion, please return the documents you’re holding.”
This was Yoo Jong-tae’s final pressure.
Finally, President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction raised both hands.
“Take the invitation!”
“Thank you.”
Yoo Jong-tae smiled brightly.
Then he took out a contract from the document envelope and held it out to President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction.
“The person who sent me here today greatly prefers documents over words, thumbprints over pinky promises, and official papers over promissory notes.”
“······.”
Yoo Jong-tae tapped the signature and seal section with his fingertip.
“Please sign and seal here, and press your thumbprint firmly as well. The down payment is due by today, and the balance by the date written in the contract.”
President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction, who had received the contract, let out a hollow laugh.
“In all my years, this is the first time I’ve seen such a lightning-fast contract when purchasing an apartment site. And yet the contract itself is properly done. Really, it feels like being played by ghosts.”
President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction pretended to be relaxed as he handed the contract to an executive.
“You should head back now. We’ll thoroughly review the contract on our end and give you a definitive answer as soon as possible······.”
“Should I have included this in the 3-minute countdown?”
“······!”
Yoo Jong-tae smiled smugly.
“I understand. Then let’s consider this deal never happened······.”
“3 minutes, I’m counting exactly!”
President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction quickly snatched back the contract he was about to hand over.
He placed it on the desk and rapidly scanned through it with his eyes.
“Tick-tock! 30 seconds have already passed.”
The Hyeonmu Construction executives also crowded around President Oh to read the contract and burst out in irritation.
“Stop rushing us, will you!”
“We’re reading our eyes out here!”
“Even if we’re going to stamp it, we need to check if there are any poison clauses or special provisions!”
“Though it doesn’t look like there are any such conditions!”
Yoo Jong-tae smugly tick-tocked as he looked at his wristwatch.
“3 minutes. Time’s up!”
“Take it! Take it!”
President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction irritably held out the contract.
It was a contract with signature, seal, and even the company stamp properly affixed.
Yoo Jong-tae politely bowed as he greeted them.
“I hope we won’t argue over gains and losses about this matter later. After all, this started with goodwill and bribes, and the decision was made by President Oh and the Hyeonmu Construction executives in agreement.”
I was very pleased with Yoo Jong-tae’s final nail in the coffin.
I was already planning to cause quite a scene at the year-end night event anyway.
President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction rubbed his face with a very tired expression.
“Since I’ve given out the invitation, they’re my guests too. I won’t mistreat my guests, so don’t worry about that and get lost. I’m exhausted from dealing with you.”
“Thank you. I’ll see you next time then.”
Having obtained even a satisfactory confirmation, Yoo Jong-tae leisurely left the Hyeonmu Construction President’s Office.
* * *
‘Perfect!’
I cut off the Vision Sharing.
“Hehehe.”
Laughter came out naturally.
Uncle Cheol-gu, who was crouched down next to me against the parking lot wall eating hardtack, turned to look at me.
“Little Kid, didn’t you just laugh really sinisterly?”
“I laughed because the steamed bun is delicious.”
I took a bite of the steamed bun while blowing on it to show him.
The soft sweet red bean filling and fluffy steamed bun skin tasted absolutely amazing.
Yes, this is exactly the taste!
“Young Master!”
The quick-witted security guard, self-proclaimed number two, who claims to be my right-hand man, the capable Yoo Jong-tae came running like he was flying.
In his two hands were four luxurious-looking invitations held proudly.
‘Ooh, golden invitations!’
Wow, they’re sparkling this much even from that far away.
Anyone who sees this would think he’s carrying the Olympic torch.
“Team Leader Yoo!”
I had been waiting so eagerly that I jumped up as soon as I saw him.
Of course, for the invitations!
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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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