Max-Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 44

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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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44. Killing Three Birds with One Stone! (3)

Horse Head and the House Managers couldn’t hide their bewildered expressions.

“Damn it all!”

Crash bang!

This was after they had firmly locked the door with double and triple locks.

Their hands and feet became frantic, and they couldn’t hide their dismayed appearance.

“Wait. Stop moving.”

It was Uncle Cheol-gu.

The quick-witted Yoo Jong-tae had already picked me up and swiftly hidden behind Uncle Cheol-gu.

“Hey, you spy brats. Resisting won’t be fun. Move and I’ll shoot.”

Uncle Cheol-gu had a pistol in his hand.

It was the property he had taken from the KCIA Agent who had invaded Our House.

“By the way, I’m thinking of dragging you guys to the KCIA Basement instead of the Police Station Holding Cell. I wonder if you’ve heard of the Seobinggo Water Torture Room?”

Uncle Cheol-gu said while conspicuously showing the KCIA Agent’s ID Card.

“I’m from the KCIA Public Security Bureau. You guys are North Korean money transfer agents, right?”

It was an absurd false accusation and a bluff.

But in a situation where the Police, a Public Authority, were deployed, when a KCIA Agent from the Public Security Bureau declared it, there was no way it wouldn’t work.

“North Korean money transfer agents!”

“That’s absolutely not true!”

“We’re innocent! We don’t even have money for Gambling, so why would we send money to the North!”

The Government of the 70s put anti-communism at the forefront.

Armed communist infiltrators actually penetrated and caused disturbances, and even plotted to assassinate the President.

To be caught as North Korean money transfer agents in such times?

They would surely witness sights too horrible to watch with open Eyes.

“Investigation will reveal everything.”

The KCIA practically exercised investigative and prosecutorial powers.

It’s even notorious for making people confess to crimes they didn’t commit.

“If we drag you in and shake you down thoroughly, we’ll find out. Whether you’re guilty or not.”

It was hard to imagine what would happen if they were dragged away.

Once caught by the KCIA, rumors were rampant that you’d either come out half-crippled or as a corpse.

“Nothing to worry about. If you’re innocent, you’ll be released quickly.”

Uncle Cheol-gu pulled out a silver recorder from his pocket.

It was a recorder issued by the KCIA.

-You fool, what good is all this money after you die and get buried in the wild mountain? Planning to use it as travel money for the Path to the Underworld?

-Choose. Money or your life?

Uncle Cheol-gu turned off the recorder.

“Is this incitement to murder or death threats? Let’s have the KCIA investigate this first, shall we?”

Horse Head and the House Managers turned pale.

With irrefutable evidence presented, the level of pressure was completely different from baseless accusations.

Just as malicious intent began to flash in their eyes toward Uncle Cheol-gu, police car sirens wailed loudly.

If they caused trouble now, they would literally be arrested as criminals in the act.

Then how would they deal with the consequences?

Resignation and fear seeped into the eyes of the gambling house people.

Up to this point was the stick of threats.

Next came the carrot of persuasion.

“Hmm, there’s a way to avoid being dragged to the KCIA right now.”

“What is it?”

“Write a promissory note first. We need to settle our accounts properly.”

What Uncle Cheol-gu presented was a promissory note he had written in advance with a Montblanc fountain pen.

“Let’s see. All rights pertaining to the Houses in Maljuk Intersection, Hyochang-dong, Sinsa-dong, Mugyo-dong, Insa-dong, Seongbuk-dong, Sinseol-dong. Is that correct?”

“Uncle, Ojang-dong is missing. Add Ojang-dong.”

“Ah, right. Ojang-dong, I’m writing it now. Done.”

Uncle Cheol-gu smiled innocently as he waved the corrected promissory note.

“Sign, seal, and put your fingerprint. Oh, if you haven’t decided yet, you can do it later at the Seobinggo Water Torture Room. The ink pad there has a beautiful red color because it’s expensive.”

Horse Head silently took the promissory note.

His eyes widened instantly.

“89.8% interest rate?”

“This gambling house uses an 89.8% interest rate, right? When in Rome, do as the Romans do, so I applied the same rule. Why? Don’t like it?”

Gamblers stamp their seals on promissory notes even with such murderous high interest rates.

-I’ll win and pay it back!

-I’m going to win this round!

-I’ll turn it all around in one shot!

These are words frequently uttered by those blinded by gambling.

It was also the reason Horse Head boldly shouted ‘All-in Three Round Match!’

He was confident he would somehow win within three rounds.

“When you were receiving it, it was natural, but now that you have to pay, it’s precious? This place guarantees settlement, doesn’t it?”

The promissory note Horse Head was holding trembled violently.

A massive amount that even I couldn’t calculate precisely right now!

What was written on the promissory note wasn’t a round sum, but the entire property rights of that house.

“In my life, such a terrible gamble has never… Damn it!”

Those who rise through gambling fall through gambling.

I could almost hear the sound of Horse Head’s mental state cracking in real time.

“Hmm, there’s a way to lower the interest rate to 67.8%, the average private loan rate.”

“Good. What do I need to do?”

He reacted immediately when told the interest rate would be lowered from 89.8% to 67.8%.

“Year-End Night. Let’s settle the debt there.”

Uncle Cheol-gu placed an invitation in Horse Head’s hand.

This was the reason we came to this gambling house, and the purpose of grabbing Horse Head by the leash to force his participation.

“Declare in front of the dignitaries gathered there. That you’ll invest about 5 billion in Taeseong Construction. Simple, right?”

“You want me to put out another 5 billion?”

“Do you have more money to put out here? Just think of it as paying off debt. I’m telling you we’ll settle it there.”

Uncle Cheol-gu pointed to the promissory note.

“Sponsorship sounds better than gambling debt, doesn’t it.”

“So you’re telling me to play the clown right now?”

“Why? Don’t like it? I guess you prefer the stick over the carrot after all?”

Uncle Cheol-gu grinned wickedly.

“Should I clean out the rest of the gambling houses too? There are about seven more left, right?”

“······!”

“What? Think I can’t do it?”

If Uncle Cheol-gu hadn’t completely cleaned out the gambling house today, Horse Head would have snorted and refused to yield to the threats.

But he had already witnessed Uncle’s skills with his own eyes, and the pre-prepared promissory note had the exact business locations written on it.

Having seen all that, Horse Head had no choice but to submit.

“I’ll do it. But don’t touch my capital anymore.”

“Sure thing. Once you put your fingerprint seal on this promissory note.”

The new promissory note Uncle Cheol-gu pulled from his jacket had an interest rate of 67.8%.

“Taeseong?”

Horse Head’s eyes widened.

【Until this debt is completely forgiven, I will cooperate fully with Taeseong’s events. I swear on the name of the gambling house and Horse Head. This is a settlement condition.】

The new promissory note had that clause added along with the new interest rate.

The House Manager hastily added.

“I reported earlier that the errand boy who brought the invitation was a Taeseong Security Guard.”

“You think I care about that right now? Hey, you spotted bear! Were you helping Taeseong?”

“I owe that family a life debt.”

“Taeseong, huh. So that’s why the police were mobilized in such large numbers.”

Horse Head let out a hollow laugh.

“For people like us who live in the shadows, public authority intervention is a disaster itself. This is a perfect checkmate.”

Horse Head closed his eyes tight and pressed his fingerprint seal.

“Fine. I accept. The settlement needs to be done properly.”

He didn’t whine, nor did he pathetically beg for mercy.

He just smiled bitterly and vigorously wiped his thumb stained with red ink pad on a tissue.

“Gambling is about crying and laughing over a single match. Just because you lost today doesn’t mean you’ll lose again tomorrow. Since it’s a settlement promise, my Taeseong will definitely back you up.”

Horse Head took the invitation.

“Don’t look down on me just because I got into some debt. Those houses I handed over today, I’m planning to get them all back soon.”

I took the promissory note that Uncle Cheol-gu handed over.

It felt as if the golden glow of the invitation given to Horse Head had transferred to this promissory note.

It was so dazzling it was almost enchanting.

Crash!

Just then, the iron door of the house was smashed loudly and fell backward.

Police burst out as if they had been waiting.

“Hands up! You are all surrounded!”

“Don’t resist and surrender quietly!”

Weeeeeeee.

The siren sounds were still loud outside, and the people who had been gambling were caught by the police.

Secretary Kim walked over with the Taeseong Group Security Guards.

Secretary Kim spoke to the police officer.

“As I mentioned earlier, these are KCIA agents and Taeseong Group Security Guards.”

“Thank you for cooperating with the investigation. The small reward for reporting illegal gambling is…”

“The reward is fine. I just need to take our people. Would that be possible?”

When the police officer nodded, everything was resolved easily.

Uncle Cheol-gu, Yoo Jong-tae, myself, and even Horse Head were all released.

Horse Head didn’t look back.

“I won’t say thanks or hold a grudge. This is something you always have to be prepared for when running a gambling house. Well then, see you at Year-End Night.”

Horse Head disappeared into the darkness.

Secretary Kim watched his retreating figure with cold eyes.

“Secretary Kim, you must be very busy, yet you came here personally?”

“This involves moving police officers. No matter how busy I am, I have to handle it personally.”

Secretary Kim wrapped a children’s scarf he had brought around my neck.

“Young Master, what is all this about? How did you end up at such an illegal private gambling den?”

“To collect this.”

I handed the promissory note to Secretary Kim.

“No way, this is······!”

Secretary Kim’s eyes widened in shock.

“You managed to get a promissory note from Horse Head?”

“Taeseong Construction needs to take on the subway construction, but we’re severely short on funds, right? This should help.”

“······!”

Secretary Kim read through the promissory note once more with sharp eyes, examining it thoroughly.

The corners of his mouth were turning upward.

“This will be a good card to use when dealing with Horse Head.”

“Do you have any intention of directly operating the gambling house?”

“No. I’m going to shut it down. Running an illegal private gambling den might bring in cash, but it would tarnish Taeseong’s reputation.”

The gambling house wasn’t to my taste.

I had no intention of taking on troublesome business just to make money.

“I’ll take action on the house assets before the police can seize them.”

He was saying he’d intercept the gambling house money before it could be returned to the national treasury.

At Secretary Kim’s instruction, the Taeseong Group Security Team rushed out immediately.

“If we give them a generous gesture of goodwill, there shouldn’t be any trouble. Once public authority gets involved, we have to accept some losses.”

For people like us who operate in the shadows, the involvement of public authority was a disaster in itself.

“Don’t worry, Young Master. That’s my specialty.”

Such reliable and reassuring support that inspired natural confidence!

While I was at it, I pulled out another contract from my coin purse.

“Hyeonmu Construction will be sending the balance payment. I’ll add this to Father’s construction funds too.”

“You managed to sell this at market price too? I expected you’d have no choice but to sell it at a bargain price as a distressed sale.”

Secretary Kim’s eyes gleamed dangerously bright.

His eyes looking at me were filled with amazement.

“Actually, I received a call from President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction. He said Yoo Jong-tae had visited him, and he wants to pay the balance by tomorrow and have the land transferred immediately.”

“That’s good news. Tomorrow, receive the balance payment and hand over the Suseo-dong apartment site. I’ll ask you to handle that as well.”

I smiled bitterly.

“I can’t receive it under my name anyway. I haven’t even been registered for birth yet…”

“Young Master, you don’t need to worry about that problem. By the Chairman’s orders, your birth registration and family register have all been cleanly sorted out.”

My eyes widened without me realizing it.

It was good news.

“At Year-End Night, the Chairman will formally introduce you and Mother. From now on, you’ll be recognized as Taeseong’s direct lineage wherever you go.”

It meant I wouldn’t have to hear talk of being a hidden illegitimate child.

“You’ve worked hard, Young Master. Father and Grandfather will be very pleased as well.”

“Please pretend you don’t know about this. I have no intention of revealing the truth.”

“Pardon? If you’ve achieved merit, you should rightfully receive a reward. The Chairman will take good care of you.”

“How do you think I got the promissory note from the gambling house?”

Secretary Kim closed his mouth.

“If Grandfather finds out, he’ll be greatly shocked, won’t he? And what about Team Leader Yoo and Uncle Cheol-gu who helped me? They might fall out of Grandfather’s favor and earn his hatred.”

I couldn’t be branded as a yellow-prospect gambling addict instead of a precious grandson.

“Let’s look at the results instead of the process.”

I grinned.

“In the same sense, I just need to show that Taeseong received investment from a big shot using this promissory note. At this Year-End Night.”

“Young Master, will that be alright?”

“Of course. That’s the most certain and effective way to demonstrate Taeseong’s power. What we need to show is the expectation of victory. People cheer for winners.”

Secretary Kim nodded.

“If that’s what you want, Young Master, yes, I understand. I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

“Then please do.”

* * *

The Hannam-dong mansion bustled all day with Taeseong Construction people coming and going busily.

Having dismissed all the Taeseong elites who worked tirelessly.

Cha Seong-jun, Cha Jeong-hyeok’s father, was lost in deep thought in his study.

“The financial situation is really a mess. The construction funds for Subway Line 2 are woefully insufficient.”

This was really a big problem.

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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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