Max-Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 54

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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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54. Golden Documents

 

Chairman Kim limped toward President Kim of Wookwang Construction.

 

Each step he took with his walking cane was heavy.

 

Chairman Kim’s voice was even heavier than that.

 

“Chairman Cha said he planned to raise only the child and send the mother back. But in the midst of all that, he found out about someone’s manipulation, so he decided to cast out his younger brother and call off the marriage with my daughter.”

 

Chairman Kim’s gaze pierced like a blade.

 

“Why did you do it?”

 

President Kim of Wookwang Construction kept his mouth shut.

 

Instead, he frantically racked his brain for what excuse might safely resolve this situation.

 

“Don’t give me nonsense. Tell me everything as it is. What does this matter have to do with you?”

 

How much should he reveal?

 

His mouth wouldn’t open easily.

 

“And what about making the Japanese technical advisor return to Japan? Why did they say they’d never deal with Wooguang again?”

 

“That’s because Taeseong pulled some manipulation in between…”

 

“What manipulation?”

 

Again, he had nothing to say.

 

It seemed certain that Taeseong had definitely pulled some trick on the Japanese.

 

He had suspicions but no evidence.

 

“There was a misunderstanding in between…”

 

“What misunderstanding?”

 

There was no way President Kim of Wookwang Construction could answer.

 

He hadn’t even managed to have a single conversation with the Japanese person before losing the opportunity.

 

“Yesterday at Year-End Night. Those cold stares that people from political circles were sending toward Wooguang?”

 

“That was…”

 

“Do you have any idea how many complaint calls I received?”

 

“I’m sorry. That will be handled later…”

 

“So you can’t properly explain this either.”

 

Chairman Kim loosened his necktie.

 

“You ruined my daughter’s marriage prospects, ruined relationships with political circles, ruined the technology agreement, and it seems you’ve even ruined the Subway Line 2 construction project.”

 

Chairman Kim began wrapping his loosened necktie around his fist.

 

“You can’t even give a proper explanation when asked, just rolling your eyes thinking of excuses – should I put up with a guy like that?”

 

Chairman Kim clenched his fist with the necktie wrapped around it.

 

President Kim of Wookwang Construction backed away in terror.

 

“I-I can explain!”

 

“Shut your mouth.”

 

“It’s all trivial matters! The bidding for the Subway Line 2 construction hasn’t even started yet…!”

 

Thwack!

 

Chairman Kim’s punch sent President Kim of Wookwang Construction’s head spinning.

 

Chairman Kim grabbed President Kim of Wookwang Construction by the collar and threw punches.

 

Thwack! Thud! Smack!

 

Blood splattered, spit flew, and dull sounds echoed.

 

Instead of fighting back against his hyung, President Kim of Wookwang Construction prostrated himself flat on the floor.

 

“This Subway Line 2 construction project – Wooguang will definitely secure it! You know what kind of guy I am – I somehow make results happen and bring them back!”

 

Chairman Kim’s fist stopped abruptly.

 

President Kim of Wookwang Construction shouted desperately.

 

“Whatever the process, we just need to prove it with results! As long as the business works out, everything else can be fixed!”

 

Chairman Kim’s cold gaze pierced down into the back of President Kim of Wookwang Construction’s head.

 

“A subway running through Seoul City! An 180 billion won construction project! When we dangle the subway stations and development sites as bait, political circles will never turn their backs on Wooguang!”

 

President Kim of Wookwang Construction shouted as if coughing up blood.

 

“I’ll prove it with ability, I’ll take responsibility with results! It’s not too late to hold me accountable after I’ve completely failed! The Subway Line 2 construction – please trust me and leave it to me!”

 

Heavy silence flowed.

 

Even breathing was heavy, making the tick-tock sound of the wall clock annoyingly audible.

 

“You mess up work this badly and then just ask me to blindly trust you?”

 

It was a cold voice.

 

“You were acting like a fool yesterday without any sense, and you still haven’t come to your senses.”

 

Chairman Kim this time unbuckled his leather belt.

 

President Kim of Wookwang Construction turned pale.

 

“The decision-maker for the Subway Line 2 construction is Mayor Gu! The person responsible for management and supervision is also Mayor Gu!”

 

Chairman Kim’s hand, which had been raising the belt high, stopped abruptly.

 

President Kim of Wookwang Construction shouted desperately.

 

“No matter what people in political circles say, whether Taeseong turned their backs, whether the marriage fell through, whether investment money flowed to Taeseong, nothing has been decided yet! The person who decides that is Mayor Gu! If Mayor Gu takes Woo-gwang’s side, the game is over!”

 

President Kim of Wookwang Construction’s words became faster.

 

“I’ll do my best to work on Mayor Gu first, using any means necessary! There’s still over two weeks left until the Subway Line 2 construction bidding, so it’s too early to give up! It’s not over until it’s over!”

 

Crash!

 

Chairman Kim threw his belt and smashed the flower pot by the window.

 

White porcelain fragments and dirt particles scattered chaotically.

 

“Get out.”

 

“Th-thank you, Hyung!”

 

“Team Leader Song, drag this brat out right now.”

 

“Yes, Chairman!”

 

Wooguang Group Security approached the Wookwang Construction President.

 

“I’ll go back on my own… Ugh! Let go, you brats! Urgh!”

 

President Kim of Wookwang Construction was dragged out.

 

Bang!

 

The Woogang Group Chairman’s Office door closed.

 

When Wooguang Group Security released their grip and stepped away, President Kim of Wookwang Construction staggered and finally fell to the floor.

 

“Damn it.”

 

The curse came out naturally.

 

His teeth ground together and his fists naturally clenched with force.

 

Secretary Choi, who had been waiting outside the chairman’s office door, approached with a surprised expression and offered a handkerchief.

 

“President, you’re bleeding…!”

 

“Damn it!”

 

President Kim of Wookwang Construction vigorously wiped away the blood with the handkerchief.

 

His lip was split, and the nosebleed wouldn’t stop.

 

“The Subway Line 2 construction project – no matter what happens, I absolutely must secure it. Otherwise, I’ll be the first one to die.”

 

If he failed to secure the Subway Line 2 construction project, he could clearly see how his hyung would react.

 

Afraid of that, he had been desperately trying to win over high-ranking government officials in political circles with bribes.

 

“I never thought I could beat Taeseong with skill from the beginning. But you don’t necessarily win construction projects just because you have ability. The world operates on the logic of strength anyway. If push comes to shove, I can just crush them with force.”

 

President Kim of Wookwang Construction stood up abruptly and walked with heavy steps.

 

Secretary Choi followed behind, asking worriedly.

 

“President, what do you plan to do?”

 

“Let’s go to City Hall.”

 

“City Hall?”

 

“I need to meet with Mayor Gu. If I can just pull Mayor Gu to my side, there’ll be nothing to fear.”

 

“You haven’t been able to win over Mayor Gu with bribes and pressure until now – how would that be possible at this point?”

 

“I heard that Mayor Gu has been under tremendous stress lately over changing the route of Subway Line 2. He said he really doesn’t like the route that Former Seoul Mayor Yang Taek-seok conceived and wants to completely scrap it. I need to exploit that opening.”

 

As urgent as his heart felt, his steps quickened as well.

 

“Let’s take the position of a construction company that shares the same vision as Mayor Gu. We need to propose joint cooperation where we can look in the same direction as Mayor Gu, dream the same dreams, and work together.”

 

“Joint cooperation?”

 

“If a construction company with rich field experience participates from the route map decision stage, we can reduce trial and error and share the political burden. Mayor Gu, who has political ambitions, would be tempted by that.”

 

President Kim of Wookwang Construction clenched his fist tightly.

 

“Actually, it doesn’t matter if I can’t immediately win over Mayor Gu. We have a final method.”

 

President Kim of Wookwang Construction had something he was counting on.

 

Swoosh.

 

Something like dark and transparent smoke followed behind President Kim of Wookwang Construction and Secretary Choi.

 

It was because they had been ordered to conduct close surveillance as soon as the Year-End Night event ended.

 

This was Cha Jeong-hyeok’s hidden card, his ace in the hole.

 

* * *

 

I watched the scene the Grim Reaper sent me carefully.

 

I rolled around on the bed at Hyeonmu Hotel, thinking.

 

‘Hmm, it’s certain that the Wookwang Construction President has something he’s counting on. What could it be? If it’s a last resort to secure the subway construction even without persuading Mayor Gu…’

 

Something comes to mind.

 

‘Could it be the Taeseong Chemical fire accident after all?’

 

This accident killed 23 people and sent 166 to the hospital.

 

The President, greatly angered by the massive loss of life and property, summoned Grandfather to the Blue House.

 

After that, Grandfather had to make a public apology and donated 3 billion won of his private funds to establish the Taeseong Foundation.

 

He temporarily stepped down from his chairman position as a gesture of self-reflection, and the Subway Line 2 construction went to Wooguang.

 

Rustle.

 

I took out a small, neatly folded paper from my coin purse.

 

It was the statement Uncle Cheol-gu had written in his own handwriting.

 

It was still gleaming with golden light – an extraordinary piece of paper no matter how many times I looked at it.

 

‘Hey, Guardian Spirit.’

 

[…Why?]

 

‘Look into the backgrounds of the Taeseong Chemical suspects written here too.’

 

[You want me to investigate that cunning and despicable bastard?]

 

‘I can’t let him slip away either.’

 

[Is your conscience doing well? At this rate, I might die from overwork…]

 

‘Oh, can Grim Reapers die again? I’ve learned something new.’

 

[…I’ll be back.]

 

The Grim Reaper disappeared smoothly.

 

Rolling around in bed all day made me laugh spontaneously.

 

My mind and body couldn’t be more at ease.

 

Breakfast buffet in the morning, hotel Japanese cuisine for lunch, and hotel Western cuisine for dinner.

 

“This is what a hotel vacation is all about. Ah, this is great.”

 

It’s exactly like the life of a carefree unemployed person.

 

This is the best thing about becoming a child.

 

I can rub my eyes and wake up during other people’s commute time without having to go to work.

 

Under my parents’ protection, I don’t have to worry about meals.

 

No entanglements in money fights, sword fights, territory fights, or power struggles that could endanger my life.

 

“A child’s job is to eat well, sleep well, and play well – how wonderful is that.”

 

In fact, in the past I only thought about growing up quickly to become an adult.

 

The money a child could earn was like ant’s tears.

 

‘The world of the Back Alleys. Life as a child without a guardian was truly harsh.’

 

I had to sell gum, do Pickpocketing, beg, or at the very least keep watch for thugs and gangsters.

 

Without a Home, I often slept rough at the Subway Station or in the Park, and in winter there were countless days when I’d sneak into a Warehouse or Boiler Room to sleep, only to get caught and have to run away.

 

‘It was a life where I couldn’t survive without begging for others’ goodwill. My childhood was miserable and filthy, day after day.’

 

The more I recall it, the more disgusting those times become.

 

I don’t want to experience such horrible things twice.

 

‘But now it’s different. My Parents are all alive, I eat and sleep at a Hotel, and while Mother gets a massage, I can laze around like this.’

 

I’m lounging around without working and no one’s hitting me!

 

Wow, this is truly Heaven itself!

 

It was a life unimaginable in the Back Alleys.

 

‘Still, I was relatively lucky when I went under Master’s wing.’

 

What did Master say when he saw me rummaging through a Trash Can looking for something to eat?

 

-Tsk tsk, what terrible Eyes you have. You’re about to pick up and eat bread that’s obviously been sprinkled with rat poison? Follow me.

 

-You need to learn reading and arithmetic at Elementary School to be useful for anything. Why are you wasting such a good brain.

 

Thanks to him, I was able to enter Elementary School, albeit late.

 

It was thanks to Master slipping bribes and arranging a Fake Family Register for me.

 

Back then, the resident registration and Family Register systems weren’t fully established, so there were many gaps.

 

Government Officials wrote everything by hand, and quite a few people had missing records here and there.

 

Thud!

 

I got up from my seat.

 

Being too comfortable was making me have too many useless thoughts.

 

Getting some cold air would clear my head.

 

“For a change of mood, nothing beats a walk!”

 

The Hyeonmu Hotel Garden was quite beautiful with its prettily decorated Christmas Tree and properly maintained walking paths and garden.

 

After seeing it last night, I thought I’d like to look around once more in broad daylight.

 

I put on my coat and came down to the hotel first floor.

 

‘Huh…?’

 

I was startled to see a familiar face entering the Hyeonmu Hotel Lobby.

 

‘Master!’

 

What business brought the gentleman who should be at the Pawn Shop at this hour all the way here?

 

‘…Huh?’

 

Golden light was sparkling and bursting out from the paper envelope Master was holding.

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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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