Max-Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 96
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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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96. Killing Two Birds with One Stone
President Kim of Wookwang Construction’s intention was clear.
-A declaration of war over the group chairman position!
How else could he openly rebel while speaking of decisions?
He wouldn’t have made remarks about stepping down from the chairman position and prostrating before His Excellency to beg for mercy.
“······!”
The Woogwang affiliate presidents drew in their breath.
Their tense expressions were as dark as shit.
But President Kim of Wookwang Construction didn’t care and clasped his hands together.
“Hyung, now that the problem has become this serious, the Blue House won’t just sit back and watch Wookwang quietly. Sanctions will definitely come.”
In the past, they had optimistically expected the Blue House’s mediation when problems arose.
Too big to fail!
Wookwang was the 9th largest corporation in the Republic of Korea’s business circles, and if Wookwang fell, the national economy would shake.
“We may have gotten lucky and somehow gotten through last time, but it’ll be hard to get through this one quietly. Why? Because public opinion is bad.”
Having seized power through a military coup.
The government reacted very sensitively to public opinion and public sentiment.
Especially when it came to things that weren’t their fault, they didn’t hesitate to draw their sword and cut.
“With public opinion making such an uproar with their eyes rolled back, how can we cover this up? You can’t cover the sky with your palm. How do you plan to avoid His Excellency’s wrath?”
In mid-air, Chairman Kim and President Kim of Wookwang Construction’s eyes clashed.
It was a murderous glare that seemed like invisible sparks would fly.
“The Wookwang Chemical fire is showing signs of potentially spreading into labor and human rights movements. The situation the Blue House fears most has begun.”
President Kim of Wookwang Construction looked around at the subsidiary presidents.
“When public sentiment becomes turbulent and protests intensify, chaos begins. Then where will those arrows of resentment go?”
President Kim of Wookwang Construction raised his finger and pointed at the ceiling.
“The Blue House will try to redirect public criticism toward the cause of the problem. Right at us, Wookwang!”
He pointed the finger that had been pointing at the ceiling toward Chairman Kim.
It was an accusatory gesture.
“While the situation deteriorated to this extent, what exactly have you been doing, Hyung?”
It was a clear reproach.
“Wookwang’s image has hit rock bottom, Wookwang’s stocks have plummeted, Wookwang’s funding sources have been cut off, and even those who worked for Wookwang have turned their backs on us. Is that all? We’re about to hand over three prime subsidiary companies to Taeseong for free.”
The subsidiary presidents began leaning toward each other and whispering quietly.
“The Taeseong Chemical acquisition was also something you pushed through, Hyung. Blinded by the billions in profit right before your eyes, you’ve thrown away Wookwang’s future. Trapped by the snare of short-term promissory notes!”
“Now listen here, President Kim…!”
“With our funding completely blocked, how do you plan to cover 15 billion won in short-term promissory notes?”
President Kim of Wookwang Construction waved a three-page copy of the ‘Taeseong Chemical Acquisition Contract’ as he spoke.
“Do you see this clause here? If we abandon the promissory note payment and request Taeseong Chemical reacquisition negotiations, it follows private loan market rules! Wookwang Securities, which serves as collateral, will also be processed in lieu of reacquisition negotiation conditions!”
The subsidiary presidents let out quiet groans.
“Not only Wookwang Chemical, but even Wookwang Securities held as collateral will be handed over.”
Long and short sighs flowed out from here and there.
“Because you were reluctant to pay 15 billion won and tried to get Wookwang Chemical for free, not only Wookwang Construction but all Wookwang affiliates are facing mass bankruptcy. Even so, will you continue to avoid responsibility until the end, Hyung?”
President Kim of Wookwang Construction interlaced his fingers and crossed his legs.
“I cannot help but question your leadership, Hyung. Due to the wrong decision made by the head of a company, all 41 Wookwang affiliates have become endangered.”
Chairman Kim silently swept his gaze over the subsidiary presidents with his hands clasped behind his back.
Not only President Kim of Wookwang Construction, who was his younger brother, but all the subsidiary presidents were looking only at Chairman Kim.
Heavy, sunken gazes poured down all at once.
“Now that we’ve come this far, someone must take responsibility. If things continue like this, Wookwang will only sink. Hyung, please make a decision.”
President Kim of Wookwang Construction, his younger brother, was urging him to make a resolution with flashing eyes.
Chairman Kim opened his mouth.
“Is that Wookwang’s will?”
“Hyung, all of this is loyal advice offered for Wookwang’s sake with the heart of cutting flesh to save bone.”
“Fine. If that’s truly the case, then I have no choice but to directly confirm Wookwang’s will. Those who think I should resign, raise your hands.”
President Kim of Wookwang Construction confidently raised his hand.
Though his expression was utterly miserable, the confidence and joy seeping through his voice couldn’t be hidden.
“Wookwang doesn’t have time. Now is not the time to hesitate, but to make a decision!”
The subsidiary presidents coughed awkwardly with uncomfortable faces.
They glanced at each other, exchanging complex looks.
But not one of them easily raised their hand.
“Right, there’s no need to waste time on this trivial matter. I’ll count to three. One, two.”
At Chairman Kim’s urging, the subsidiary presidents squeezed their eyes shut and made their decision.
A few subsidiary presidents raised their trembling hands.
“Three. I understand Wookwang’s will.”
“H-how can this be!”
President Kim of Wookwang Construction couldn’t hide his shock and jumped to his feet.
“How could only seven bastards not raise their hands! This is ridiculous!”
“Woo-seok, it seems the subsidiary presidents don’t want me to step down. This is Wookwang’s will.”
“How did this happen! How could you bastards do this to me!”
His rosy future crumbled.
The opportunity to pull his hyung down from the chairman position vanished like bubbles.
Just moments ago, 28 subsidiary presidents had been waiting for him at the door.
So President Kim of Wookwang Construction couldn’t help but point fingers in extreme rage.
“If you took my money, you should earn your keep! After greedily devouring my money all this time, you turn your backs on me at this crucial moment? This is betrayal, betrayal! Let go of me! I said let go!”
He seemed so furious.
President Kim of Wookwang Construction’s voice was cracking from anger.
“Even after things have come to this, you chose hyung over me? What does hyung have that’s so much better than me?”
His voice grew louder as if fire was boiling inside him.
“I was better at studying, and I was the one who took care of the presidents’ group and executives! The only reason hyung got to that position was one thing – because he was the eldest son!”
His resentment naturally turned toward his hyung.
“Business funds? I raised them by selling Father’s rice fields! Growing the company? I worked harder than hyung! I ran around day and night for Wookwang without sleeping or eating!”
He looked extremely wronged and resentful.
“We both suffered together, so why are you the chairman and I’m just a measly construction company president! Why does your son start as an executive, while my son starts as an employee!”
His voice sounded like he was coughing up blood.
“When hyung just had to give orders from his high position, I had to handle all the dirty and sordid work! Then at least I should have secured wealth and honor for my child!”
He looked ready to grab his hyung by the collar and throw punches.
“When your son gets to do only dignified work while maintaining his pride, are you telling me my son should handle all the dirty work from the bottom like me?”
“Your capacity is only that much. Tsk tsk.”
“Hyung-nim!”
“You must be prepared for the price you’ll pay for pointing a sword at me, right?”
President Kim of Wookwang Construction swallowed his dry saliva.
Once a fight begins, victory and defeat are bound to be decided.
There’s only one chairman position, and the loser must pay the price.
“H-hyung-nim. What will you do to me?”
“You said someone needs to take responsibility?”
“Then I’ll step down from the construction company president position and make a public apology to the nation as Wookwang’s representative…!”
“Will that be enough? Public opinion is boiling and the Blue House is paying attention.”
“H-hyung-nim!”
Only then did President Kim of Wookwang Construction’s whole body start trembling.
“Woo-seok, this is for Wookwang. Don’t act pathetic.”
The faces of the traitors held by Wookwang Group security guards turned deathly pale.
“As you all know, the situation isn’t good. This isn’t the time to have the luxury of embracing bastards who stab me in the back.”
The simplest method of dealing with betrayers.
The subsidiary presidents who guessed this hardened their expressions.
“Come in!”
When Chairman Kim shouted, KCIA agents who had been waiting outside the door came rushing in.
The one entering first was a bear-like man.
“I’m Agent Park Cheol-gu from the KCIA Public Security Bureau. I’m investigating the Wookwang Chemical arson case. I ask for your cooperation.”
“Those are the ones. Take them away.”
Chairman Kim pointed to the subsidiary presidents who had agreed to the chairman’s resignation.
Borrowing a knife to kill.
Chairman Kim of Wookwang had also made up his mind to handle things with someone else’s sword rather than stain his own hands with blood.
Wookwang, already cornered, needed sacrificial offerings anyway.
It was killing two birds with one stone.
“We appreciate Wookwang’s cooperation. Take them to the Seobinggo Water Torture Room!”
The subsidiary presidents who had participated in the rebellion were horrified.
“Ar-arson!”
“We don’t know anything about that!”
“That’s a malicious false accusation spread by the media who don’t know anything!”
“This is absolutely outrageous! We’re innocent!”
The KCIA agents snorted dismissively.
“Let’s discuss the details in the KCIA interrogation room.”
The KCIA was notorious for extracting confessions not only for actual crimes but even for non-existent ones.
“I momentarily lost my mind and got swept up in the agitation!”
“I swear it wasn’t sincere! Please believe me!”
They all cried out like screams and prostrated themselves in pleading.
Their future looked bleak, knowing what would happen if they were dragged to the KCIA Seobinggo Water Torture Room.
“I’ll write my resignation letter! Please just spare my life!”
“I’ll pay the price for my wrong words and actions today for Wookwang’s sake!”
“I’ll block public opinion by any means necessary!”
But Chairman Kim didn’t even glance at them.
“First we need to find out how far you all conspired in the Wookwang Chemical arson. Punishment comes after that.”
The only one still struggling desperately while being held was President Kim of Wookwang Construction.
“Let go of me! I don’t know anything about this! Do you have evidence? You don’t!”
“Why wouldn’t there be evidence? Do you think I called the KCIA based on mere suspicion?”
Chairman Kim pulled out three sheets of paper from his jacket.
“The anonymous tip that the media was making a fuss about came to me too.”
When Chairman Kim handed over three anonymous tips, the subsidiary presidents huddled together and read them aloud.
With each reading, their faces grew pale with terror.
Chairman Kim’s dozen or so loyal followers had already read them, so they maintained calm expressions without even glancing over.
“This is a statement saying the arsonist who set fire to Wookwang Chemical was acting under Wookwang’s orders. The evidence is overwhelming.”
The subsidiary presidents could only burst out in screams of shock.
They realized they were in serious trouble.
“Ch-Chairman, we were wrong!”
“Please spare us, Chairman!”
“I’ve been loyal for thirty years! Please show mercy for my past contributions…!”
Chairman Kim watched with cold eyes as the subsidiary presidents were dragged away by KCIA agents.
Uncle Cheol-gu made an “Oh!” sound as he welcomed the evidence.
“Even threatening letters!”
“A business card was enclosed too. Secretary Choi’s business card from Wookwang Construction.”
“How could some bottom-feeder loan shark get hold of a Wookwang secretary’s business card? This seems like decisive evidence!”
The other subsidiary presidents who were watching let out groans in unison.
They knew too.
Small and medium enterprises might be different, but large corporations meet with big shots to secure large sums at once.
So there would be no reason to meet with petty loan sharks, and no reason to exchange business cards.
They lived in different worlds, played in different waters, and saw different realities.
Naturally, the subsidiary presidents’ angry eyes turned toward President Kim of Wookwang Construction.
“President Kim, did you really commit arson on Wookwang Chemical…!”
“I don’t know anything about this!”
President Kim of Wookwang Construction screamed desperately.
“Ask the owner of the business card! Secretary Choi acted on his own…!”
“While you’re spouting nonsense here, what do you think Secretary Choi was doing?”
“…!”
“The basement of this house. You know what kind of place that is.”
So that Secretary Choi, scared shitless, would pull out his hidden trump card.
I deliberately didn’t send the business card to Secretary Choi.
Secretary Choi values his one and only life just the same.
“N-no way······!”
“Director Jang, bring that brat here.”
“Yes, Chairman!”
Director Jang, the head of Wookwang Group’s security, bowed at the waist.
Wookwang Group Security Guards dragged in Secretary Choi, who was covered in blood.
Secretary Choi, who had become half-dead, was dragged along while painting long red traces on the floor.
“I-I’m sorry······. Cough!”
Secretary Choi spoke while spitting out blood and saliva.
“I wanted to live··· so I did it······ Cough!”
Director Jang wiped his hands with a luxury handkerchief.
However, the deeply stained blood traces wouldn’t come off easily.
Having no choice, Director Jang had to hand over the item with his blood-stained hands.
It was a top-of-the-line American-made recorder.
Click.
President Kim of Wookwang Construction’s voice flowed out.
-That vicious loan shark who was attached to the Taeseong Chemical factory worker.
-You mean Bulgwang-dong Gasoline?
-Yeah, that guy. They say his arson skills are no ordinary matter?
-How else would his nickname be Bulgwang-dong Gasoline? I heard his skill at secretly setting fires without leaving any traces while going around to the homes and workplaces of people who didn’t pay back his money is like art.
Just then, reporters were probably camping outside the mansion trying to get a scoop, right?
Our Uncle Cheol-gu is going to become a star even before appearing at tomorrow’s press conference.
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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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