Max-Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 78

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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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78. Negotiating with Wooguang (1)

 

President Sim let out a long sigh.

 

“Young Master, Taeseong Chemical is worth a whopping 30 billion won! The demand to hand it over in 3 days is already absurd, but what did you say? Finish it by today? By negotiating directly with Chairman Kim of Wooguang?”

 

Handing it over within 3 days, or handing it over by today.

 

To me, it seems like the same thing.

 

“We’ve already decided to transfer the Taeseong Chemical family to Taeseong Construction. The slush funds and stocks were just resolved as President Sim’s share. What’s the problem?”

 

“That’s exactly the problem! As if Chairman Kim of Wooguang would readily accept such unreasonable demands!”

 

“Making that happen is precisely our task!”

 

“Good grief!”

 

President Sim grabbed the back of his neck.

 

Regardless of that.

 

“You have to dangle appetizing bait. That’s how you catch fish. Don’t you think?”

 

“You’re saying you’ll catch Chairman Kim of Wooguang… Ha ha ha!”

 

“If working-level staff spend days butting heads and bickering, the acquisition negotiation will drag on endlessly.”

 

“That’s the natural course of things.”

 

That’s why I have no choice but to make an extreme move.

 

When President Sim and Wooguang’s Acquisition Negotiation Team were sitting at the table arguing, Factory No. 6 exploded and many people died and were injured.

 

Ah, there’s no way to explain this?

 

“Young Master, you’re still young so you might not understand well, but acquisition negotiations aren’t such simple matters. They take at least several months, at most several years.”

 

“That would be true in general cases. But this is ultimately something people do. It means a single word from a group chairman could end it simply.”

 

Just like how Taeseong Chemical was handed over to Wooguang overnight by our Grandfather’s decision.

 

I jumped down from the chair.

 

“Grab the car key and follow me. Let’s leave right now.”

 

“Right now… you mean?”

 

“Since we’re talking about it, let’s go.”

 

“Young Master, wait a moment! If we hand over Taeseong Chemical in such a rushed manner, Chairman Cha will also grab his neck and collapse.”

 

“No way. Grandfather has already made up his mind. The only one whose resolve isn’t firm is President Sim.”

 

“······!”

 

Our Grandfather’s nickname was the Flame Bulldozer.

 

“Did you forget what Grandfather told you? Don’t have any lingering attachments, don’t drag it out, hand it over cleanly and decisively!”

 

I shoved the paper with the special provisions written on it into President Sim’s pocket.

 

“You said you obtained full authority from Grandfather regarding the Taeseong Chemical acquisition negotiations. This is when you should use it. Don’t you think?”

 

President Sim let out a groan.

 

“Young Master, Chairman Kim of Wookwang is not such an easy person to deal with.”

 

“Because he’s not easy to deal with, it’s actually easier. He won’t want to miss a good opportunity.”

 

I carefully buttoned up my coat.

 

I also put on my scarf and wore my fur gloves.

 

“Let’s think about what kind of proposal would interest Chairman Kim of Wookwang on our way there.”

 

After putting on my earmuffs too, I was ready to go out!

 

“Are you really going to storm into Wookwang headquarters?”

 

“Oh, maybe he didn’t go to Wookwang headquarters because it’s the New Year holiday?”

 

I walked with big strides.

 

“Then we can just go to Chairman Kim of Wookwang Group’s house.”

 

“Young Master!”

 

Loud footsteps could be heard from the corridor outside the president’s office.

 

“President, this is terrible!”

 

Bang!

 

Someone wearing a Taeseong Chemical work uniform suddenly opened the door.

 

His face was so urgent that he even skipped the basic courtesy of knocking.

 

“Ch-Chairman Kim of Wookwang has arrived!”

 

Oh, speak of the devil and he appears.

 

I guess we don’t need to storm into his house?

 

Even a mutt barks loudly in its own territory.

 

President Sim, you’re lucky!

 

“Manager Lee, say something that makes sense!”

 

President Sim shouted angrily.

 

“Why would Chairman Kim of Wookwang come here from the New Year!”

 

“That’s called subsidiary inspection….”

 

It seems Taeseong holds executive meetings while eating rice cake soup with subsidiary executives on New Year’s.

 

I guess Wookwang goes around inspecting subsidiaries?

 

‘You’re saying you want to nail down that Taeseong Chemical now belongs to Wookwang?’

 

Whatever.

 

Thinking about it again, how lucky!

 

I avoided the rudeness of barging into his home unannounced on New Year’s Day to have a showdown.

 

“You remember that the acquisition negotiation is President Sim’s responsibility, right?”

 

“Su, surely…!”

 

“It seems heaven is pushing us to finish by today. Three hours should be plenty, right?”

 

“…Three hours?”

 

President Sim looked back at me with a pale complexion.

 

I winked at him with one eye.

 

“For reference, Team Leader Yoo, who was Secretary Kim’s direct subordinate, finished his showdown with President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction within 3 minutes?”

 

“…?”

 

I was saying the weight class difference between a mere subsidiary president and Wookwang Group Chairman wasn’t a big deal.

 

“We can’t keep Wookwang’s Chairman waiting outside for long. You should hurry and go.”

 

“What about you, Young Master?”

 

“I’m only eight years old. Am I qualified to participate in an acquisition negotiation for a 30 billion won company?”

 

If only I were eighteen!

 

“I’ll provide support fire by telephone. So just answer the phone properly.”

 

“Telephone?”

 

I smiled brightly and raised both fists.

 

“President Sim, then fighting!”

 

* * *

 

I entered the secretary office next to the president’s office.

 

Sitting in the Chief Secretary’s seat, I could see memo pads neatly attached to the wall.

 

From the President’s Office to business partners.

 

Internal and external telephone numbers were written on them.

 

‘Nice!’

 

Phone numbers on the wall, a telephone on the desk, and even Grandfather’s house phone number in my head!

 

I had memorized well the number written in Mother’s notebook.

 

‘If things really go south, I’ll just summon Grandfather. If it’s about making a deal with Chairman Kim of Wookwang, he’d come running right away, wouldn’t he?’

 

How reassuring this is!

 

Snap!

 

I snapped my fingers.

 

‘Hey, Guardian Spirit!’

 

[Yeah.]

 

The Grim Reaper appeared like smoke.

 

‘Happy New Year.’

 

[Not yet. We go by the lunar calendar.]

 

‘Then since it’s not New Year’s Day yet, I won’t feel bad about sending you out! Go!’

 

[…]

 

I pointed below the Secretary Office’s glass window.

 

‘Chairman Kim of Wookwang Group has arrived. Go follow him and see what he’s doing.’

 

[Will do.]

 

The Grim Reaper disappeared like smoke again.

 

A clear vision without the blue light flickering like when I saw the future earlier.

 

It was Vision Sharing with the Grim Reaper.

 

* * *

 

The Taeseong Chemical people who had been modestly eating makgeolli and side dishes at tables set up in the Factory Yard were bewildered.

 

Several of them stretched their necks out like meerkats, watching the factory side.

 

“Who are they? Today’s a holiday, so there shouldn’t be any reason for people in suits like that to visit in a line.”

 

“Didn’t Manager Lee say earlier that he was going to check it out? Why isn’t he coming back?”

 

“They must be important guests.”

 

Someone slapped their knee.

 

“Could it be that Chairman Cha and the subsidiary presidents have come?”

 

“That’s right! President Sim and the Young Master came too!”

 

The Taeseong Chemical people awkwardly stood up and straightened their clothes.

 

“We should thank them for letting us enjoy the makgeolli and side dishes.”

 

“And give our greetings in advance, asking them to take good care of us at Taeseong Construction from now on.”

 

But the person approaching from over there wasn’t Chairman Cha.

 

It was an elderly gentleman in a long coat carrying a walking cane.

 

Behind him followed security guards and distinguished-looking middle-aged men in formal suits.

 

The Taeseong Chemical people couldn’t hide their bewilderment.

 

Team Leader Kim looked around nervously before stepping forward.

 

“Excuse me… how may we help you?”

 

“This is the Wookwang Group Chairman. He’s come for a subsidiary inspection along with the Wookwang subsidiary presidents.”

 

“Su-subsidiary inspection?”

 

Team Leader Kim was at a loss and fidgeted restlessly.

 

Every word that came from the security guard’s mouth was incredibly weighty.

 

The Taeseong Chemical people jumped up in surprise.

 

“Why is Wookwang conducting an inspection here?”

 

“This is Taeseong Chemical, not a Wookwang subsidiary!”

 

The Wookwang Group security guard chuckled.

 

“You must be out of touch with the news? Chairman Cha of Taeseong Group has publicly declared he would hand over Taeseong Chemical to Wookwang.”

 

“But still! This is Taeseong Chemical for now!”

 

Tap!

 

Chairman Kim of Wookwang Group tapped his walking cane.

 

His cold, sharp eyes swept over the Taeseong Chemical people.

 

“Didn’t you hear anything?”

 

It was a cold and rigid voice.

 

The overwhelming pressure that dominated the entire gathering was an added bonus.

 

“This place will soon change its signboard and become Wookwang Chemical. So naturally I had to come inspect our affiliated companies.”

 

“But that means it’s still…!”

 

Thud!

 

Chairman Kim of Wookwang Group struck his walking cane once more.

 

One of the Work Supervisors who had been about to protest was overwhelmed by that force and shut his mouth.

 

“What a mess.”

 

The gathering fell silent.

 

The Taeseong Chemical people exchanged glances, unable to hide their troubled expressions.

 

They couldn’t do anything about the conglomerate chairman who had suddenly barged in, yet they couldn’t stand up to him either.

 

‘They had just heard from President Sim that Taeseong Chemical would be handed over to Wookwang, and had even finished signing documents to transfer to Taeseong Construction.’

 

The impact was different between vaguely thinking about it when they only heard it in words versus having Wookwang people actually rush over and declare that Taeseong Chemical was their affiliated company.

 

Chairman Kim of Wookwang Group frowned as he looked at the makgeolli drinking table made by pushing tables together in the factory yard.

 

“You’re having a drinking party during work hours?”

 

The Taeseong Chemical people looked at each other and swallowed nervously.

 

They quietly put down their cheap plastic cups and hid their wooden chopsticks behind their backs.

 

“You’re letting workers slack off like this while the factory line is running? What were the Work Supervisors doing? Where did the executives go?”

 

It was a cold rebuke.

 

“The factory is running really well, I see.”

 

Chairman Kim of Wookwang gave a subtle glance.

 

“Director Jang.”

 

“Yes, Chairman.”

 

The middle-aged man called Director Jang bowed his waist.

 

“Prepare for restructuring. We can’t entrust the factory to people like these.”

 

“That seems necessary. I had no idea Taeseong was conducting employee training so carelessly.”

 

Just then, President Sim entered the open ground together with Manager Lee.

 

“You won’t need to worry about restructuring!”

 

“President!”

 

“These people are family of our Taeseong! It’s already decided that Taeseong will take them in!”

 

“Taeseong will take them in?”

 

“Yes, they’ve already submitted their resignations to Taeseong Chemical, so please understand it that way.”

 

Chairman Kim of Wookwang let out a cold sneer.

 

“People who submitted resignations are occupying the factory? That’s a problem in itself, isn’t it?”

 

“Let’s say we threw them a farewell party since they submitted their resignations.”

 

“Tsk!”

 

Chairman Kim clicked his tongue.

 

“This is something Cha Tae-seong promised. It would be troublesome if you hand over a garbage company.”

 

“That won’t happen.”

 

“The factory is a mess, employee management is even more of a mess, inventory and raw materials are piled up everywhere, and the factory lines are neglected. How am I supposed to interpret this?”

 

“Actually, I was just about to come see you about that, Chairman Kim.”

 

“Me?”

 

“Yes, I plan to finalize the Taeseong Chemical acquisition negotiations by today.”

 

“What?”

 

Chairman Kim of Wookwang raised one eyebrow.

 

“By today?”

 

He couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

 

The Wookwang subsidiary presidents following behind Chairman Kim were equally unable to hide their confusion.

 

“Does that even make sense?”

 

“I heard Taeseong Chemical is worth roughly 30 billion won?”

 

“If you’ve already finished sorting out the employees… are you being serious?”

 

Since they too were presidents leading subsidiaries, they knew very well what mergers and acquisitions entailed.

 

It was expected to be an exhausting and complex struggle with intense psychological warfare and behind-the-scenes maneuvering between both companies.

 

That’s why they too had come with determination, using the pretext of ‘subsidiary inspection’ to declare war.

 

“President Sim, are you in your right mind right now?”

 

“How is that possible? You need to say something that makes sense!”

 

“Finish negotiations in one day? Even a passing dog would laugh!”

 

President Sim puffed out his chest.

 

“I have been granted full authority from Chairman Cha regarding the acquisition negotiations for Taeseong Chemical!”

 

President Sim did not avoid Chairman Kim of Wookwang’s eyes.

 

He looked directly at him with confidence and spoke clearly.

 

“We will hand over everything – the factory’s raw materials, the products stocked in the warehouse, and even the supplier contracts with business partners!”

 

The presidents of Woogwang affiliates snorted dismissively.

 

“Even a rough estimate shows billions worth. You’re saying you’ll hand over all the raw materials and products?”

 

“You’re even offering to transfer business partnerships and supplier contracts? You’d have to be crazy.”

 

“There’s no way Sim Won-cheol, who claims to be Taeseong’s loyal retainer, would make a proposal that’s unilaterally favorable to Wookwang!”

 

“Sim Won-cheol, what exactly are you trying to do? What’s your scheme!”

 

Chairman Kim of Wookwang looked at President Sim with interested eyes.

 

Regardless of their reactions.

 

President Sim spoke with confidence.

 

“Chairman Kim, since you’ve come all this way, will you just tour the factory and leave? Or would you prefer to have a cup of tea in the president’s office while listening to the acquisition terms in detail?”

 

It meant he intended to finish the acquisition negotiations within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

 

Chairman Kim was not someone who wouldn’t understand that meaning.

 

At President Sim’s bold provocation, Chairman Kim couldn’t help but raise the corners of his mouth.

 

“I’ll have a double shot espresso.”

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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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