Max-Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 73

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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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73. Reconnaissance

 

Second Uncle, who was receiving a massage, smiled broadly.

 

“In-gyeong was the most refreshing. You pick first.”

 

“Nice!”

 

The cousin sister who had been in charge of Second Uncle’s shoulders rejoiced and rummaged through the box.

 

The generation character for daughters was ‘gyeong’, and for sons was ‘hyeok’.

 

If you take out the middle characters, it’s ‘In-ui-ye-ji-sin’.

 

So Uncle (Elder)’s family with only two daughters had In-gyeong and Ui-gyeong, and Second Uncle’s family with only three sons had Ye-hyeok, Ji-hyeok, and Sin-hyeok.

 

‘Father’s generation also used the middle characters for ‘Dae-gi-man-seong’. They really make names easily.’

 

So it was Dae-jun, Gi-jun, Man-yeong, and Seong-jun.

 

“I’ve picked everything.”

 

In-gyeong had chosen Nam Jin Concert Tickets, a bundle of Taeseong Theater Movie Tickets, several Latest Pop Album Records, and Alain Delon Bromide.

 

“You know the rules, right? Then I’ll ask questions.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“What did you receive from your Maternal Family Home last year?”

 

“One Geumjo Apartment and two Hyeonmu Apartments.”

 

“Then what did you get as birthday Presents last year?”

 

“One Horse, 0.1% of Taeseong Automotive Stocks, and one Picasso Painting.”

 

“What are your Parents most upset about these days?”

 

“Ui-gyeong’s condition not being very good? Is there more? Um, Mother getting annoyed about her gray hair and wrinkles increasing? I’m not sure about that.”

 

“Good. You can take everything you picked.”

 

“Hehe, thank you, Youngest Uncle.”

 

The hands of the remaining Cousins who were massaging Second Uncle’s arms and legs became even busier.

 

“Now it’s Ji-hyeok’s turn.”

 

“Ooh! Father, ask me anything. I can answer everything!”

 

“About that Geumjo Group Daughter who was in the same class back then. I’m thinking of arranging your engagement with her. How about it?”

 

“Ugh! I don’t want to!”

 

“What’s the reason?”

 

“She’s really ugly and fat!”

 

“It’s not because she has other flaws? Like having a boyfriend or bad habits.”

 

I let out a hollow laugh at the sight.

 

‘How absurd.’

 

Second Uncle was using items that kids would like as bait to extract confidential information.

 

‘But from the kids’ perspective, it’s not such a bad deal. Right now it’s hard to get foreign products, and it was a time when people were crazy about foreign culture.’

 

It’s not like anyone would take away the presents they received from their maternal family or parents just because they revealed them.

 

On the other hand, for kids that age, being able to get items that were hard to find in stores was a sign of ability.

 

If they took those to school, it would cause a huge commotion.

 

‘From Second Uncle’s perspective, it would be a profitable business too.’

 

Second Uncle frequently traveled abroad because he was in charge of trade and distribution.

 

For him, getting those kinds of items would be relatively very easy.

 

Trading a few items to easily grasp his nephews’ property situation changes.

 

That must be why he came to the basement playroom instead of attending the executive meeting of affiliated companies.

 

“What was our youngest nephew’s name again.”

 

“Cha Jeong-hyeok.”

 

Second Uncle approached me.

 

“Right, why doesn’t our nephew even try rummaging through the box once?”

 

Second Uncle placed a chair in front of me and sat down as he asked.

 

“I suppose there’s nothing you want in here?”

 

“Are you asking me that question right now?”

 

I quietly put down the latest issue of the children’s monthly magazine ‘Manga Kingdom’ I had been reading.

 

“You said there’s no such thing as free in Second Uncle’s dictionary. So I think I should follow Second Uncle’s rules too.”

 

“Good.”

 

“If you want to ask what I desire, you put up a corresponding price. That’s the rule, right? So this is the first debt.”

 

I held up one finger.

 

“Haha, you got me there. So what’s your answer?”

 

“I want to live quietly.”

 

“Don’t bother someone who’s staying still? Did I hear that right?”

 

I deliberately chose words that could be interpreted differently when answering, but he understood properly.

 

“What’s the reason for deliberately keeping it as a debt? If there’s nothing you want here, what are you planning to collect in return?”

 

“That question should be kept as a second debt. Would that be alright?”

 

“Instead, you must answer clearly. If you’re going to keep it as a debt, you need to pay the proper price.”

 

“Of course.”

 

Life is originally give and take.

 

If you receive money, you must do your money’s worth, and if you’re going to keep a debt, you must provide appropriate service.

 

I raised another finger.

 

“I don’t want any property from Second Uncle, but I do want an answer.”

 

“A desired answer…”

 

“Let’s repay questions with questions.”

 

“You mean in exchange for my question, you’ll also ask me a question?”

 

“Should I keep that as a third debt?”

 

“No, let’s skip that. If I’m going to owe a debt anyway, I can’t waste the opportunity on such trivial questions.”

 

Second Uncle laughed quietly.

 

He immediately straightened his posture and rolled down the sleeves he had rolled up.

 

“Third question. What did you agree to receive from your Maternal Family Home?”

 

“I don’t know.”

 

I raised another finger.

 

“You don’t know? You must have promised earlier. You said if you’re going to keep it as a debt, you must repay with a sincere answer.”

 

“I haven’t even been to my Maternal Family Home yet, so what would I receive?”

 

Second Uncle tilted his head slightly.

 

“In situations like this, don’t people usually say ‘I haven’t received anything’?”

 

“Should I keep that as a fourth debt?”

 

“What…?”

 

When I folded one more finger, Second Uncle looked at me like I was a thief.

 

“Isn’t that too trivial to be called an additional question? You were the one who promised to answer clearly.”

 

“It’s not a question added without reason. You asked it casually because there’s a reason you absolutely need to confirm before moving on, right? That’s why I deliberately kept it as a fourth debt.”

 

I waved my hand with only the pinky finger standing straight.

 

“Please choose your questions carefully from now on. I’m answering with sincerity and devotion. I hope Second Uncle will also respond with equally sincere answers.”

 

Then the smile that Second Uncle always wore at the corners of his mouth deepened even more.

 

“Good. Instead of saying ‘I never received anything,’ why did you specifically answer ‘I don’t know’?”

 

“Because I really don’t know. If my maternal family had set aside something for me, then I would have been lying. If my maternal family has prepared something for me, I wouldn’t refuse to take it either.”

 

Second Uncle’s narrow eyes curved even thinner.

 

But the sharp glint that flickered between those narrow eyes was not easily hidden.

 

“Then let me make this the last question.”

 

“Fine. But since you said it’s the last one, I won’t accept any additional questions until Second Uncle pays off all his debts. How about it?”

 

“Let’s do that. Earlier you went to meet President Shim separately. Why did you do that? What was your business?”

 

How did he know that I had met with President Shim of Taeseong Chemical along with Secretary Kim?

 

Then why is he asking me instead of asking President Shim?

 

“You said Mother and I came to this position in exchange for Taeseong Chemical. Earlier, President Shim of Taeseong Chemical was saying farewell to Father. So I greeted him too.”

 

“You should give a more sincere answer.”

 

“We talked about Taeseong Chemical.”

 

“······Taeseong Chemical? What did President Shim say to you?”

 

I waved my hand with all five fingers folded.

 

“We agreed no additional questions, right? Now it’s my turn.”

 

“Hmm, this should be interesting. What might our nephew be curious about?”

 

“Earlier you offered President Shim the position of president of Taeseong Food affiliate. But Taeseong Food already has a separate president.”

 

Taeseong Food is a core affiliate of Taeseong Distribution.

 

There’s no way he wouldn’t have placed a loyal subordinate in such a place.

 

Yet Second Uncle had expressed his intention to bring over President Shim of Taeseong Chemical.

 

‘It’s not a decision an ordinary person would make.’

 

Maybe if it were for an overseas branch manager position at Taeseong Trading.

 

Removing your own person from an existing position is more complicated than creating and filling a new position.

 

That’s why I had to ask.

 

“Are you targeting President Shim, or our Father?”

 

Second Uncle, who had been fiddling with his watch, suddenly stopped his movement.

 

Then without answering, he began staring at me silently.

 

“That’s an interesting question.”

 

Second Uncle began retying the necktie he had loosened.

 

He also buttoned up, returning to the same appearance as when I first met him.

 

It meant he would be leaving this place soon.

 

“President Sim or Seong-jun. Is there really a need to distinguish between them?”

 

I understood what Second Uncle’s answer implied.

 

President Sim was Father’s person who would help Father.

 

If he took away the capable President Sim for his own use, Father’s power would naturally weaken, and his position would also narrow.

 

“Here’s my second question. What was the reason you were going to transfer President Sim to an overseas branch?”

 

“You’re moving on to the second question instead of asking for additional explanation?”

 

Instead of answering, Second Uncle scratched the bridge of his nose.

 

“I was trying to forgive a debt but now I’m about to incur even more debt. How did you know I was planning to place President Sim at an overseas branch?”

 

“Is that because of Uncle, or because of my father?”

 

Our eyes met.

 

Neither of us opened our mouths.

 

In an instant, a heavy silence settled between us.

 

“Nephew, what was your name again? Was it Jin-hyeok?”

 

Just then, two people were coming down to the basement.

 

It was Secretary Yang who assisted Second Uncle, and President Shim of Taeseong Chemical.

 

“President Sim, what brings you down to the children’s playroom when you should be in the study?”

 

“The Young Master sat on Grandfather’s lap and ate rice cake soup. I was worried he might get indigestion, so I came to bring him some digestive medicine.”

 

President Shim of Taeseong Chemical took out children’s digestive medicine from his suit pocket.

 

“The executive meeting of affiliated companies didn’t really have much to say anyway. Even though they said to maintain strict confidentiality for security reasons, they kept bombarding me with annoying questions, so I just ran away.”

 

President Shim of Taeseong Chemical narrowed his eyes when he saw Second Uncle and me sitting face to face.

 

“It would be best for Young Master Gi-jun to go back upstairs now. Secretary Yang wouldn’t have come all the way here to escort the Young Master for no reason.”

 

“Hmm, you didn’t come here because you had something to say to me separately?”

 

“Well, I was thinking I should give you my thanks anyway.”

 

President Shim of Taeseong Chemical subtly stepped in front of me.

 

Then he bent his body 90 degrees and greeted politely.

 

“I’m truly grateful for your words about valuing me highly enough to offer Taeseong Food. Please understand that I have duties I must fulfill and cannot comply.”

 

“It would have been fine if you had honestly said you were rejecting it because my conditions didn’t appeal to you.”

 

“Wouldn’t it be rude to demand even better conditions than that? I have important missions regarding Taeseong’s future, strategic planning, and security secrets.”

 

President Shim of Taeseong Chemical smiled wryly.

 

“So I came to tell you that you probably won’t need to devise better proposals in the future.”

 

“That’s a clear-cut answer. Don’t even harbor any lingering hopes? Hahaha.”

 

Second Uncle stood up from his chair.

 

“I understand President Sim’s intentions clearly.”

 

Second Uncle turned to look at me and smiled.

 

“Jeong-hyeok, put today’s remaining debt on the credit ledger.”

 

It meant the probing battle was over.

 

Second Uncle extended his hand not to me, but to President Shim of Taeseong Chemical.

 

“President Sim, don’t draw such a harsh line. You never know what might happen in life. Who knows? You might end up working with me for Taeseong. Well then, let’s meet again next time.”

 

Second Uncle turned around with a smile.

 

Secretary Yang picked up the paper box that Second Uncle had brought and followed behind.

 

Only after confirming that Second Uncle had completely left did President Shim of Taeseong Chemical speak.

 

“Young Master, you said earlier that you wanted to tour the Taeseong Chemical Factory, right?”

 

This was the real business that brought President Shim of Taeseong Chemical to the playroom.

 

The reason I asked for a tour of the Taeseong Chemical Factory was very simple.

 

According to the Taeseong Group report, only brief conclusions were written about the Taeseong Chemical accident.

 

‘I had dismissed it as a safety accident, but Uncle Cheol-gu used the word “suspect” while digging into the connection between the deceased Kim Gwang-pil of Woo-gwang Construction and Taeseong Chemical.’

 

Since there’s always that one-in-a-million chance, I wanted to check thoroughly.

 

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

 

This Taeseong Chemical fire accident was the decisive trigger that sent Taeseong down the path of deterioration.

 

‘What would happen if a fire broke out at Taeseong Chemical at this point in time?’

 

It would be a complete disaster.

 

Because unlike the past, there were talks of acquisition.

 

If we were to pick the people who would suffer the biggest blow from the fire, it would undoubtedly be President Shim of Taeseong Chemical and Grandfather above all.

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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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