Max-Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 58

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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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58. The Appearance of a Big Shot (2)

 

I was curious.

 

The fact that such a remarkable figure I had only encountered in books and documents would soon arrive here was simply fascinating and surprising.

 

‘Why would such a person call for Father? And to a private drinking gathering at that?’

 

He was already such a busy man that he wouldn’t have time to spare.

 

So I asked.

 

“Are you sure it’s our Father he called, not Grandfather? Are you certain?”

 

“Secretary Kim also asked Mayor Gu twice to confirm. The Chairman wasn’t invited, it seems.”

 

So it was only natural to find it puzzling.

 

‘Father isn’t of the right rank to attend the President’s drinking gathering.’

 

The President of this era was someone even our Grandfather, the head of Taeseong Group, would have to bow his head to and crawl on his knees in desperation.

 

Our Father, who was young and green and merely the president of Taeseong Construction?

 

Even a Blue House Secretariat official wouldn’t grant him an audience.

 

‘The fact that he specifically called for a subordinate who doesn’t match his rank to a drinking gathering means there’s definitely a clear purpose. What could it be?’

 

Yoo Jong-tae whispered quietly.

 

“Since we’ve been summoned, we can’t keep His Excellency waiting. We immediately went into emergency deployment and were in the process of moving all related materials to set up for immediate response when needed.”

 

The materials that our Father and the Taeseong Group Security Guards had prepared would naturally be construction documents related to Subway Line 2.

 

‘No. That would be sufficient just by receiving a report from Mayor Gu. This means there’s another important matter he wants to confirm directly with Father.’

 

Just then, a black limousine appeared on the Hyeonmu Hotel access road.

 

Immediately, the Blue House Security Guards’ control became even more thorough.

 

The Seoul Mayor and ministers who had been waiting in the lobby also quickly rushed out and began lining up in two columns.

 

‘Hey, Guardian Spirit!’

 

[Yeah.]

 

I shared vision with the Grim Reaper.

 

* * *

 

A vivid scene unfolded that felt as real as if I were seeing it right before my eyes.

 

This meant the Grim Reaper was showing interest as well.

 

The owner of the limousine that had lined up the Seoul Mayor and Ministers in two columns.

 

I couldn’t help but recognize who he was immediately.

 

‘The President and his closest aides have arrived!’

 

The limousine stopped at the Hyeonmu Hotel Main Entrance.

 

Click.

 

Blue House Security Guards rushed over to secure the perimeter and provide cover.

 

A sharp-looking man opened the passenger door and got out.

 

I knew who he was.

 

‘The KCIA Director.’

 

When the KCIA Director quickly tried to open the Back Door, the opposite Back Door opened first.

 

“Step back. I’ll escort His Excellency.”

 

When the stern-looking Blue House Security Chief growled these words, the KCIA Director stepped back.

 

Only then did the Blue House Security Chief dust off his lapels and walk over with heavy steps to open the Back Door.

 

“Your Excellency, we have arrived.”

 

“Good.”

 

Step.

 

The Premium Leather Shoes that emerged through the Back Door gleamed without a speck of dust.

 

The creases in his Suit pants were pressed sharp as a blade.

 

Wearing a Black Long Coat trimmed with lustrous, glossy premium Mink Fur.

 

The President stepped out of the Car.

 

‘The biggest power player in this Government!’

 

The President of this era wasn’t just some temporary power holder with a mere 5-year term.

 

It was truly an age of absolute power, where a single word from the President could fill tidal flats, tunnel through mountains, and build factories even if it meant borrowing foreign loans.

 

‘This tension, this excitement. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this way.’

 

Who would have thought I’d feel again the emotions I only experienced in my youth.

 

‘Perhaps it’s because he’s the only president I never experienced firsthand.’

 

That’s why it was more intriguing, and that’s why I was more excited.

 

‘But he’s someone who has nothing to do with me. We’re walking different paths.’

 

In this lifetime too, there would be no reason for us to meet or become entangled.

 

The President fluttered the hem of his coat.

 

“Your Excellency, you’ve arrived!”

 

As the President revealed himself, the Seoul Mayor and ministers who had gathered in two columns bowed 90 degrees at the waist and greeted him loudly.

 

“We’ll escort you inside!”

 

“Mm.”

 

The President nodded lightly.

 

He swept his sharp gaze around the surroundings.

 

As a result of the Blue House Security Guards’ control, Hyeonmu Hotel was completely cleared from the hotel main entrance to the lobby without even a single ant.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

The President adjusted his attire and walked with long strides.

 

It was a confident gait.

 

Maintaining their long line in two columns, the heavyweight figures of this country began walking in step with the President who led at the front.

 

‘The hierarchy is properly established. Even if a division commander came, they wouldn’t maintain such perfect formation.’

 

Of course they would.

 

Even if an Army division commander or even the Army Chief of Staff came, they couldn’t even present their business card before the President of this era.

 

He was known for his long-term rule of 18 years, the absolute power holder and military dictator of this country.

 

Ding.

 

The elevator doors opened.

 

The President walked in with long strides and boarded the elevator.

 

Though the capacity still had plenty of room, only three people could ride with the President.

 

The Blue House Security Chief, the Blue House Chief of Staff, and the KCIA Director.

 

Ding.

 

The elevator began rising quickly.

 

The Blue House Security Operations Chief spoke.

 

“In the next elevator, the Seoul Mayor, Minister of Finance, Minister of Construction, Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Minister of Foreign Affairs will be going up.”

 

The Blue House Security Service had even designated the elevator boarding order.

 

‘I can clearly see how this government operates. Power hierarchies, really.’

 

A visible power hierarchy.

 

This seemed to be the code of conduct for absolute power holders.

 

The Blue House Security Operations Chief had a lower rank than not only the Seoul Mayor but also the ministers of each department.

 

Yet everyone was obediently following the operations chief’s orders.

 

There wasn’t even a hint of displeasure or the slightest resistance.

 

‘Far from resistance, they all look full of worry. Why is everyone so nervous and flustered about a private drinking gathering?’

 

Mayor Gu was equally tense.

 

He kept fidgeting with the paper envelope he’d been holding since earlier while licking his dry lips with his tongue.

 

The Blue House Security Guards smirked.

 

“The rest of you please wait here. Even cold water has its top and bottom, so you must go up in order. Isn’t that right?”

 

Of course, among all of them, Father and President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction were assigned the very last order.

 

‘Even worse things will happen at the drinking gathering. If we prepare carelessly, we won’t even break even and will get kicked out.’

 

I realized why the Taeseong Group Security Guards had brought bundles of Subway Line 2 construction documents to a drinking gathering.

 

I clenched my fists tightly.

 

‘If only I weren’t just a seven-year-old child. It would have been good if I could handle the negotiations directly myself. This is quite regrettable.’

 

The surge of regret was brief.

 

I recalled a more important task than that.

 

‘This is a drinking gathering the President invited us to. I need to prevent Father from being humiliated first.’

 

No, wait. I shouldn’t waste such a fortunate opportunity so trivially.

 

‘How about taking this chance to not only make a solid impression on the high-ranking official, but also properly establish Taeseong Construction’s position?’

 

I’ll pursue practical benefits instead of honor!

 

‘Good. Let’s create a picture that will tempt the President.’

 

This was the conviction I had chosen while living in the shadows.

 

‘Sounds good? I could create a favorable situation that would allow Mother to attend our first New Year family dinner with her shoulders back and head held high?’

The news that Taeseong Chemical might collapse because of Mother must have reached the family members’ ears.

She couldn’t bear to hear insults to her face about being a woman who clung to a man using her child, a woman who blocks a man’s future.

‘If word gets out that Father had a private meeting with the President, the other brothers won’t be able to look down on Father.’

They might feel envious hearing that Father had found a path to success.

Father was born as the late child of a second wife, and due to spending a long time moving between provincial areas and the Middle East, he lacked a solid foundation.

In contrast, the other family members had each properly secured important positions in Taeseong’s major subsidiaries.

But even those brothers had never had a private drinking session with the President!

“Team Leader Yoo, could you call Secretary Kim for a moment?”

Secretary Kim, being Grandfather’s closest aide, would know much more about the President than I do.

Of course, he would have proper countermeasures prepared as well.

That’s probably why the Taeseong Group Security Guards had packed all those documents.

* * *

 

“I don’t know.”

Secretary Kim’s answer left me speechless.

“I have no idea what this could be about.”

 

“Nothing at all? Not even a guess?”

 

“Since the drinking invitation came through Mayor Gu rather than Chairman Cha, I suspect it might be about the Subway Line 2 construction.”

Secretary Kim’s expression was filled with concern.

“So this is quite a troublesome situation. Since I have no idea what this is about, our preparations are also inadequate.”

Secretary Kim was more on edge than usual.

Yoo Jong-tae had tactfully gone out to the corridor to stand guard, leaving only Secretary Kim and me in the room.

Secretary Kim said.

“For that reason, the external situation is not very good in many ways. I cannot be away from my post for long right now. Please understand, Young Master…”

 

“Wait a moment.”

I picked up a memo pad provided by Hyeonmu Hotel.

I began scribbling away with the crappy ballpoint pen also provided by Hyeonmu Hotel.

Secretary Kim checked his wristwatch and hardened his expression.

“Young Master, we don’t have time to be doing this here right now.”

 

“If there’s nothing I can guess and our preparations are inadequate, that means we have no countermeasures. So just wait a bit. I’m writing up countermeasures right now.”

 

“Countermeasures… you say?”

 

I held out three neatly folded notes with the numbers 1 through 3 written on their surfaces.

 

“I’d like you to give these to Father.”

 

“What are these?”

 

“Answer sheets with my predictions.”

 

Secretary Kim took the notes.

 

“What do the numbers on the surface mean?”

 

It was because the memo pad was small and couldn’t fit all the text.

 

There was another reason too.

 

“I marked them so they wouldn’t get mixed up according to the expected questions.”

 

“May I check the contents?”

 

“Of course. However, whether to buy my trust or satisfy your curiosity – that choice is yours, Secretary Kim.”

 

“Then I’ll take that as permission.”

 

Secretary Kim unfolded the notes without hesitation.

 

It was a completely different choice from Yoo Jong-tae, who had chosen trust over curiosity.

 

“You’ve abandoned my trust and chosen curiosity. Won’t you regret it?”

 

“I only regret when I bring wrong information to the person I serve and ruin things.”

 

Secretary Kim bowed politely.

 

“I apologize to Young Master. Whether you resent me or are disappointed in me, I’ll accept it gracefully.”

 

As expected. I like this.

 

I was satisfied.

 

‘Secretary Kim shouldn’t make the same choice as Yoo Jong-tae. Secretary Kim is someone who can’t remain just an Errand Boy.’

 

Secretary Kim began reading the notes frantically.

 

His reading speed grew faster and faster.

 

After reading all the way through to the third note, Secretary Kim looked up at me.

 

His expression was one of shock.

 

“The Young Master did all of this······!”

 

Secretary Kim rubbed his face with his hands.

 

“This is truly unbelievable. How can this be the insight of a preschool child··· Whew!”

 

It was an uncharacteristic reaction from Secretary Kim.

 

“If things go according to this plan, it couldn’t be better.”

 

Secretary Kim clenched both fists tightly.

 

“If we’re lucky, Taeseong will get the exclusive bid for the Subway Line 2 construction, and if we’re even luckier, there’s a high possibility we’ll get it through a private contract.”

 

“And if we’re even more fortunate, Taeseong will win all those additional projects I wrote down earlier.”

 

When the President, who rarely shows up, has finally appeared, where else would there be such an easy opportunity to catch a big fish?

 

When opportunity comes, you have to seize it!

 

‘This is the first time I’ve seen a note I wrote glowing golden.’

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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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