The Cursed Blacksmith Who Regressed - Chapter 46
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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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Episode 46
Having received permission from his father, Jang Hae-hyeon immediately left the company.
Then he contacted Taeseong through Han Yu-won and quickly arranged a meeting.
Taeseong Group Chairman’s Office.
There sat a man with a different aura from Jang Dae-ho.
It was Chairman Han Seung-won, the owner of Taeseong Group.
He was an old man who appeared smaller in stature and more gentle compared to Jang Dae-ho.
He spoke warmly.
“Hehe, nice to meet you. When Daesan’s youngest young master suddenly said he wanted to see me, I was very curious about what this could be about.”
“Thank you for meeting with me. I’m Jang Hae-hyeon, President of Daesan Guild.”
“I hear Daesan is quite hot these days? There’s a fellow named Choi Hyun who was the first to conquer the Growth Tower, and he’s connected with your guild?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“You’re quite capable too. How exactly did you win him over? I heard that he went straight to conquer the Growth Tower almost immediately after taking the Hunter exam. Were you acquainted from before?”
“It wasn’t like that, we really came to be connected by chance. That’s actually why I requested this meeting with you, Chairman. It’s about that friend.”
“What about that friend?”
“Hunter Choi is currently working as an advisor for our guild. And I value Choi Advisor’s abilities highly, so I plan to maintain a deeper relationship beyond just the advisor position and draw our future together.”
“And?”
“Then I’ll cut to the chase and get to the point. The reason I wanted to meet with you, Chairman, is because of your third son.”
“The third? Yeong-min? What about Yeong-min?”
“There was an incident between Choi Advisor and Mr. Yeong-min.”
Jang Hae-hyeon handed a contract to Han Seung-won.
Han Seung-won examined it carefully.
Then his gentle face suddenly hardened.
“A hundred billion won bet… Why is this?”
“I came to collect the payment. From you, Chairman.”
“Hehe… Isn’t this a debt my son incurred? But why should I pay the money instead?”
“It might take some time, but we could collect from your son. However, in that process, Mr. Yeong-min will surely cause significant damage to Taeseong Group.”
“What’s your basis?”
“Don’t you know, Chairman, where Mr. Yeong-min’s financial power has been coming from all this time?”
To say he didn’t know would make him a fool.
The head of a group knows everything that happens within the group.
He just pretends not to know.
Especially in the Taeseong family, this atmosphere was even more pronounced.
Survival of the fittest and respect for the strong.
So he had been pretending not to know.
The third son had been bringing in untraceable money and was solidifying his position well in the succession competition that way.
It fit well with the family tradition and he thought it was natural.
But the son he thought was doing well had finally caused an accident.
Han Seung-won’s eyes narrowed.
“Interesting. So you want me to clean up the mess my child made as a father’s duty?”
“The expression may vary, but anyway, wouldn’t it be most certain for the owner to step forward to prevent damage to Taeseong Group?”
“That’s true. But this isn’t just my son’s unilateral affair, is it? After all, that Choi Hyun fellow you cherish also made a hundred billion won bet. Both that friend and Daesan would take a hit, wouldn’t they?”
As they say, birds of a feather flock together.
No matter how transparent and clean Daesan Group and Daesan Guild might appear, if they associate with someone controversial, it wouldn’t be easy to avoid that stigma.
Jang Hae-hyeon nodded.
“There would be a hit. But I don’t expect it to be that big. Rather, Taeseong’s backlash would be greater, and ultimately the fire would be concentrated on Taeseong. Because we also know that Mr. Yeong-min tried to bribe people to manipulate the Hunter exam and hired hitmen to harm Mr. Choi Hyun.”
“What?”
“Would you like to see?”
Jang Hae-hyeon placed his phone down.
In the video, a Black Sword hitman’s confession about receiving orders from Han Yeong-min to assassinate Choi Hyun was playing.
“Mr. Yeong-min is about to use a hoe where a spade was needed. No, now even a spade won’t be enough. Once this breaks out, naturally Mr. Yeong-min will go to prison for conspiracy to commit murder. Even using former officials won’t be able to stop this. He’ll also have to explain about operating Totoland.”
“I have four sons.”
“I know. I also know well what Taeseong’s child-rearing philosophy is like. But I’m not talking about Mr. Yeong-min’s welfare.”
“Then?”
“Starting with Mr. Yeong-min, Taeseong’s image will gradually be splattered with mud. Because Mr. Choi Hyun is at the center of this incident.”
“What’s so special about that friend? Of course, the Growth Tower that even China’s Martial God couldn’t conquer, but there hasn’t been any follow-up activity since then, has there?”
“There isn’t now. But Mr. Choi Hyun doesn’t act alone – he works together with our Daesan. Moreover, in the interview he could have done right after conquering the tower, he only mentioned our Daesan and then quietly withdrew, postponing his official interview schedule. And all of this wasn’t our instruction.”
“What… Daesan didn’t orchestrate this?”
He naturally thought Daesan had orchestrated it.
Usually, large corporations have separate image management teams for owner families to reduce owner risk.
Not that Choi Hyun was part of an owner family, but he thought Daesan had orchestrated all this considering marketing aspects.
“No. Mr. Choi Hyun planned it all by himself. And Mr. Choi Hyun is currently planning and executing plans beyond what I imagined on his own. In that sense, I dare to assert this: Mr. Choi Hyun will soon rise to become the most powerful Hunter in the country.”
“…”
Han Seung-won closed his mouth.
The most powerful Hunter in the country.
Han Seung-won knew very well what that meant.
In this era, a powerful Hunter, especially one who reached the pinnacle, had influence even stronger than the US President.
No, beyond presidents, they wielded more powerful influence than any existence in history.
Because they were the ones fighting on the front lines for humanity’s safety.
Of course, in that sense, soldiers were also on the same level.
But while soldiers had to keep their existence as hidden as possible for various reasons and only achieved their true value as a group rather than individuals.
Hunters, unlike ordinary soldiers, had entertainer-like aspects while also possessing superhuman qualities that ordinary people didn’t have, so people couldn’t help but be enthusiastic and fascinated.
Even Korea’s current top Hunter wasn’t top-tier in terms of global standing.
Level 90s and above were considered top-tier.
But a Hunter with potential superior to such top-tier Players had appeared domestically.
The one and only Player who had conquered the Growth Tower that even the US and China couldn’t conquer.
“Damage to Mr. Choi Hyun and our Daesan? It’s possible. But with the activities Mr. Choi Hyun will show going forward, something like a hundred billion won bet can easily end as a happening. But Taeseong operated the largest gambling site in the country, manipulated the Hunter exam which is as sacred as the college entrance exam, and tried to assassinate Mr. Choi Hyun, the hottest topic on Earth. So what do you think will happen to Taeseong’s image?”
“That’s…”
“As a father turning away from and abandoning your son doesn’t matter to me. Do as you wish, Chairman. But from a group perspective, you’ll find it absolutely difficult to pretend not to know. This is reality. But fortunately, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to prevent all such misfortune has appeared before you, Chairman.”
Continuing his words, Jang Hae-hyeon pushed the contract toward Han Seung-won.
“Five hundred billion.”
“What?”
“The original contract was one hundred billion. But now the situation has changed. Since we’re using a spade where a hoe should have sufficed, naturally the price must go up too. The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity given to you, Chairman. That price is five hundred billion. Think it over well and contact us.”
“…”
“By the way, I can’t give you a second chance. Mr. Choi Hyun’s official interview is scheduled for a few days from now. I don’t know if we’ll open our dirty laundry during that interview, but we plan to move up the opening timeline as quickly as possible to minimize risk.”
Jang Hae-hyeon stood up from his seat.
Then he politely bowed and left the room.
After Jang Hae-hyeon left, Han Seung-won slowly closed his eyes.
After a long deliberation, he opened his eyes and called for the Secretary Manager.
“Kim Secretary Manager.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“Bring Han Yeong-min here immediately.”
Chairman Han Seung-won’s eyes were colder than ever.
* * *
The next day, at the Executive Office in Daesan Factory.
Jang Hae-hyeon visited there.
“The President is here?”
Since entering Lee Yeong-han’s executive office, Choi Hyun had been completely absorbed in product redesign work.
The volume was so large that it wasn’t something that could be finished in just a few hours.
Jang Hae-hyeon sat down in front of the concentrating Choi Hyun with a bright smile.
“The contact came a bit late, didn’t it? I heard the news. They say you received Executive Director Lee’s recognition and agreed to take the position of Technical Director in the Production Department.”
“Not Director, but Advisor. Technical Advisor.”
“Haha, whatever it is, what matters is that you’ve gained real authority. So, about that.”
Jang Hae-hyeon held out his phone to Choi Hyun.
After checking the contents, Choi Hyun’s lips curved upward.
“Five hundred billion?”
“Yes, Chairman Taeseong has decided to provide it directly. The approval just came through and we can choose how to receive it. For example, we could receive the five hundred billion in other forms including investment, or we could receive five hundred billion in clean, laundered money from the Chairman’s personal funds. What would you like to do?”
“That’s up to you, President. I only talked about the hundred billion originally, so the remaining four hundred billion is yours. In that sense, I’ll invest my entire share as we discussed before.”
“That sounds good. Then since this money came thanks to you, Advisor, I’ll reinvest all of the remaining four hundred billion as well.”
“So we can spend money freely now?”
“Of course. Just let me know if you want anything.”
“Then shall we start scheduling interviews?”
Choi Hyun’s smile.
At that smile, Jang Hae-hyeon also showed a deep smile.
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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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