Max-Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 77

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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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77. The Lucky Protagonist

 

President Sim smiled brightly.

 

“That’s right, since the Young Master said you don’t need to worry about the hospital bills, you can put your mind at ease and focus entirely on your daughter’s treatment.”

 

“Ah…!”

 

Team Leader Kim looked at me with eyes shaking as if an earthquake had struck.

 

“C-can I really accept something like this? There are many other people who worked hard too, but I… I mean, I…”

 

Kim Gap-yong’s voice was trembling.

 

“The Young Master… I mean, I… such luck… ah…”

 

He couldn’t even string his words together properly.

 

Kim Gap-yong wiped the corners of his eyes with his fingers.

 

“It’s just… I feel sorry, and ashamed, and grateful, and also…”

 

His complex feelings came through clearly – being happy about the hospital bill support while feeling awkward, fearing it might be taken back.

 

“I can’t believe it. How could something like this happen to me… I’m not that exceptional of a person, and I don’t deserve such luck…”

 

His voice began to mix with sobs.

 

I smiled warmly.

 

“When has luck ever come while checking qualifications?”

 

Actually, that’s something to ask King Yama about.

 

As for me, I lived miserably under the false accusation of selling out my country in my previous life, you know?

 

‘If you had died saving people and gone to the Underworld, King Yama would have surely taken good care of you. But it’s still better to live and enjoy happiness with your family.’

 

If it’s a small bit of luck that can help your happiness, I think I can somehow provide it.

 

Money is meant to be used at times like this, right?

 

“There’s a saying that luck isn’t a coincidence that comes to those who just wait, but an inevitability that comes to those who live earnestly. Team Leader Kim has lived more earnestly for Taeseong than anyone else, hasn’t he?”

 

President Sim nodded.

 

The people watching us from a distance were nodding just the same.

 

Many of them had [10 days] or orange arrows flickering above their heads.

 

“So please continue working hard for Taeseong in the future. I’m truly grateful. I mean it.”

 

He worked hard for Taeseong and bravely sacrificed his life for his colleagues.

 

It doesn’t matter that it hasn’t happened yet at this point in time.

 

I already know it, the Grim Reaper knows it, and heaven knows it.

 

“Come with me to Taeseong Hospital tomorrow. I’ve already informed the Hospital Director.”

 

“Th-the hospital?”

 

President Sim patted the shoulder of Team Leader Kim, who was half out of it.

 

“Just go to say thank you. The Young Master isn’t asking for much.”

 

“Yes? Yes! Thank you! Young Master, thank you so much!”

 

“I hope you’ll work as hard at Taeseong Construction as you did at Taeseong Chemical. This Young Master here is the son of the Taeseong Construction President.”

 

“I’ll work hard at Taeseong Construction too, really work myself to death! Even harder than now! I’ll do my absolute best! Thank you so much, Young Master!”

 

Team Leader Kim stood at attention and shouted loudly.

 

Though his voice might have been choked with emotion, there wasn’t a trace of shame mixed in his pledge.

 

The people who had gathered around, those with the glittering text [10 days] above their heads, came running over with particularly loud cheers of joy.

 

“That’s wonderful, Team Leader!”

 

“Now all that’s left is for your daughter to get better!”

 

“See! I told you that those above know everything about how hard Team Leader Kim works!”

 

“Now it’s the end of hardship and the beginning of happiness! This is great, really great!”

 

They smiled brightly as they ruffled Kim Gap-yong’s hair, threw their arms around his neck, clapped, and patted his back enthusiastically.

 

Kim Gap-yong grinned widely as he accepted his colleagues’ gestures.

 

‘These are good people. They genuinely celebrate their colleague’s good fortune.’

 

In the Back Alley World, when someone discovered a colleague’s good fortune, they’d sharpen their sword first.

 

It was a place where unexpected windfalls were treated as equivalent to having to worry about one’s personal safety.

 

That’s why it was such a bleak, harsh, sad, and grim bottom-of-the-barrel gutter life.

 

‘I can’t just stand here doing nothing either, can I?’

 

This won’t do.

 

I have no choice but to open my coin purse!

 

I pulled out five 100,000 won cashier’s checks.

 

“President Sim, these people are working hard for Taeseong from the very first day of the new year. Use this to get them plenty of makgeolli and side dishes.”

 

500,000 won might not be enough for a beef dinner, but it was enough money for everyone to eat and drink makgeolli and side dishes until their stomachs burst.

 

In this era, jajangmyeon was 300 won!

 

“Taeseong Chemical family, since today is the first day of the new year, let’s have a modest company dinner!”

 

President Sim shouted at the top of his voice.

 

The Taeseong Chemical employees immediately reacted to the mention of a company dinner.

 

People who were about to return to work stuck their heads out and looked this way.

 

“For the factory family who worked hard, this person right here, Young Master Jeong-hyeok, the youngest grandson of Chairman Cha, will generously treat everyone!”

 

“Wow!”

 

“He’s the young son of the Taeseong Construction President! Everyone eat plenty of makgeolli and side dishes and work hard!”

 

“Makgeolli!”

 

Needless to say, the entire factory erupted in cheers that seemed to shake the building.

 

“Samgyeopsal!”

 

“Pajeon!”

 

“Janchi-guksu!”

 

“Can’t we have soju?”

 

This won’t do, will it?

 

I opened my coin purse again.

 

I had no choice but to shake out everything, bills and coins alike.

 

“What’s the point of being stingy with food? Samgyeopsal, pajeon, janchi-guksu, plus jokbal and whole chicken! Soju, beer, and cider too!”

 

I cupped both hands and held out the bills and coins I had poured from my coin purse.

 

“If this money isn’t enough either…”

 

“How could it not be enough? Young Master, please put that back.”

 

President Sim refused the money I was offering.

 

Instead, he took out his own wallet from his suit’s inner pocket.

 

“Even if it were insufficient, please leave that part to me. When the Taeseong Chemical family is eating and drinking, if the president doesn’t open his wallet, who will? Hahaha.”

 

It was a beautiful smile.

 

President Sim, the Taeseong Chemical employees, Team Leader Kim, and his colleagues too.

 

It was a smile like sunshine, fitting the words hope and happiness.

 

I was also smiling brightly, reflected in President Sim’s eyes.

 

* * *

 

In the factory’s open ground, tables were lined up in rows and a makgeolli party was in full swing.

 

The laughter of Taeseong Chemical employees never ceased.

 

The lively atmosphere was quite fitting for the New Year holidays and pleasant to watch.

 

The work team leaders went around diligently giving reminders.

 

“This isn’t an evening company dinner! Don’t forget you’re still on duty! Go easy on the makgeolli! Just wet your lips!”

 

“Manager Lee, you should sit down and have a drink too. The side dishes are getting cold.”

 

“Hey! Stop trying to sneakily get me to drink! Eat more side dishes! Side dishes are the best!”

 

“Says Manager Lee, who hasn’t had a single piece of meat because he’s been carrying side dishes around. Just sit down already.”

 

“Hey! The factory line is running right now, this isn’t the time to leisurely eat and play! Just pour me one drink. Ahem! The samgyeopsal is nicely cooked.”

 

“The pajeon turned out amazingly well. The janchi-guksu broth is really fantastic.”

 

“I know! Even the smell is killer!”

 

I watched this scene from the Taeseong Chemical president’s office.

 

Sitting up on the office chair by the window for a good view.

 

‘Still, I’m relieved that there are far fewer orange arrows than when I first came to the factory.’

 

It seems offering job transfers to Taeseong Construction was a good decision.

 

Earlier, despite it being New Year holidays, I was shocked to see orange arrows floating above over a hundred people’s heads.

 

‘I want to eliminate the Death Countdown floating above Kim Gap-yong and his colleagues’ heads too.’

 

Just then, Kim Gap-yong, who was drinking makgeolli and laughing with his colleagues in the open ground, looked up in my direction and our eyes met.

 

“Young Master, thank you so much! I will never forget this kindness!”

 

Kim Gap-yong waved both hands widely and smiled brightly.

 

“Have a blessed New Year and stay healthy always! I’ll always pray for Young Master to be filled with good fortune!”

 

The [10 days] text still glittering above Kim Gap-yong’s head pierced straight into my heart.

 

The people sitting beside him eating together, who also had [10 days] glittering above their heads, looked up at me and shouted loudly.

 

“Young Master, we’ll eat well!”

 

“Have a blessed New Year!”

 

“Deciding to help Team Leader Kim was an excellent decision!”

 

“Come on, let’s raise a toast for Young Master. For our young Young Master!”

 

When they started the chant, the other people drinking makgeolli all raised their cheap plastic cups high in unison.

 

“For the cause!”

 

“For Taeseong!”

 

“For the cause!”

 

For some reason, my face feels hot and flushed.

 

What I had given them was merely pocket money.

 

I had only provided makgeolli and side dishes under the pretext of celebrating the New Year.

 

I wrote down on paper the names of the righteous people I had engraved in my heart.

 

【Taeseong Construction Promotion Recommendation List】

 

Only after writing down the title did I smile with satisfaction.

 

I leaned against the armrest of my chair, rested my chin on my hand, and fell deep into thought.

 

‘Can I prevent their deaths as well?’

 

To do that, I would need to understand the cause of this accident first.

 

‘I didn’t see how the Taeseong Chemical fire accident happened.’

 

I can’t hastily judge whether it was an accidental safety incident, someone’s impulsive crime, or a meticulously pre-planned crime.

 

‘What should I do?’

 

Let me consider the most important things first.

 

Let’s think simply.

 

Then the decision becomes easy.

 

‘I should hand over Taeseong Chemical to Wookwang quickly. For four reasons.’

 

First, if it’s a safety accident on Taeseong’s side, it would be naturally resolved as the workers withdraw.

 

Second, even if it was an accidental incident, there would be no fire since there are no people in the factory and even the equipment operation stops.

 

Third, even if it was a malicious crime targeting Taeseong, since Taeseong has withdrawn, the reason to proceed would disappear.

 

Fourth, if a fire still breaks out despite all that, then it’s a natural disaster beyond my control.

 

‘Good. Decision made!’

 

I turned to look at President Sim.

 

President Sim was groaning while stacking documents like a mountain on his office desk.

 

Since I said we’re handing Taeseong over to Wookwang, there were this many documents he brought out from the steel cabinet.

 

“President Sim, about the Taeseong Chemical acquisition plan we discussed earlier. We need to move that up a bit.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Now that I think about it, even 3 days is too long.”

 

President Sim was shocked.

 

I was worried his jaw might actually drop off.

 

President Sim’s hand holding the fountain pen trembled violently.

 

“Is, is there more to cut down here?”

 

It had to be shortened.

 

At the time of the fire accident, President Sim was engaged in a dispute with the Wookwang acquisition team at the negotiation table.

 

I had clearly told him to finish within 3 days, but the negotiations with Wookwang didn’t end that easily.

 

The Wookwang side kept nitpicking at every little thing, so he looked tired from all the bickering.

 

“Even if we stay up all night for the next three days starting today, it’ll be difficult to reduce Taeseong’s losses.”

 

“What’s wrong with taking some losses? They say penny wise, pound foolish.”

 

It’s better than losing people.

 

It’s better than the factory exploding too.

 

“Taeseong Chemical is a company the Chairman prepared for Father. So we should maximize…”

 

“You’ve already handed over all the important documents to Father.”

 

I started counting on my fingers one by one.

 

“You handed over the nominee stocks that President Sim was managing, the affiliated company stocks that Taeseong Chemical held, and the slush fund ledgers too.”

 

“There’s still some left.”

 

“Ah, you promised to cleanly launder the remaining stocks and slush fund ledgers and return them within a week, right?”

 

“I’m processing that now, but to launder it cleanly enough to avoid any future problems…”

 

“For money laundering, there’s a perfect place available.”

 

I pointed at myself with my thumb.

 

“My investment company.”

 

“Ah…!”

 

President Sim slapped his forehead with his palm.

 

“That method was available!”

 

“Let’s live life the easy way.”

 

“Then there’s no need to spend a whole week struggling with difficult laundering.”

 

President Sim smiled with a much more relieved expression.

 

Then he took a handful of documents from the desk and put them into the document bag.

 

“Then this is Young Master’s share…”

 

“Did you forget?”

 

I knew this would happen, so I took out the employment contract from my coin purse and waved it back and forth in front of President Shim’s eyes.

 

“You agreed to take the position of figurehead president of the investment company.”

 

“…”

 

In the end, that job was also President Shim’s responsibility.

 

“Even considering that, things have become much simpler, haven’t they?”

 

“That’s true, but. Ahem! There’s still an overwhelming amount of work to do. If we want Taeseong to minimize its losses even a little…”

 

“Let’s storm into Wookwang headquarters right now and have a showdown with the Wookwang Group Chairman.”

 

That was my conclusion and the best solution.

 

“What?”

 

President Shim jumped up like someone who had heard something unbelievable.

 

“No, why did the conclusion suddenly jump to that? Wait a minute, Young Master!”

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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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