The Return of the Ruined Chaebol's Third-Generation Heir - Chapter 120

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Regression of a Fallen Chaebol Heir — Chapter 120
“A total of five companies have participated in this turnkey competitive bidding.”
Seonjin Automobile Headquarters presentation hall.
The official standing at the podium began explaining the review process, and I sat beside Lim Do-hyeon, listening to his words.
“We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of operational capability, logistics infrastructure, and proposed pricing using a qualitative evaluation method.”
As the presenter read through each evaluation item, I glanced to my side and saw Lim Do-hyeon unconsciously fidgeting with the documents.
The other team members next to him had tense expressions as well.
After more than three months of being caught up in this, writing proposals and finishing presentations, sitting here waiting for the results — of course they’d be anxious.
‘These people are different from me.’
I knew this competitive bidding itself was rigged to exclude us and lay out favorable terms for Kang Jin-ho, but they didn’t know that.
Of course, Lim Do-hyeon had picked up on something since I’d told him separately, but it was only suspicion.
“Finally, the selected preferred negotiation partner will proceed with final contracts after two weeks of due diligence, and I wish to inform you that contract execution may not occur during this process.”
I scanned the presentation hall once.
Representatives from five companies were seated throughout, and I could see Kang Jin-ho sitting with a subordinate on one side.
He had the same relaxed expression as when we’d met in the waiting area.
“Evaluation scores for each company will be provided in writing at a later date.”
The presenter said, handing over documents.
“Then, I will announce the audit results.”
The hall fell silent.
I could feel Lim Do-hyeon and the team members focusing intently in the quiet, and the presenter lifted the document.
“We select Seonjin Global as the preferred negotiation partner for the first priority.”
“Yes!”
“Ah…….”
In an instant, sighs and cheers erupted through the presentation hall.
Of course, Kang Jin-ho and his employee were cheering, rising from their seats in celebration, while our team members beside me sat in silence, their heads bowed.
‘It went exactly as expected.’
From the moment they shifted to qualitative evaluation, the scales had tipped toward Seonjin Global.
Decades of track record handling cargo for the Seonjin Automobile Group couldn’t become a weapon on a tilted playing field.
“…….”
I felt Lim Do-hyeon’s expression stiffen beside me. He may have anticipated it, but hearing it directly was a different weight.
The hall stirred.
Other company representatives looked puzzled, as if surprised that a startup founded only a couple of months ago had been selected.
In the midst of this, there was movement on one side of the hall.
Kang Jin-ho was approaching me, and I stood from my seat.
“Thank you for the hard work.”
He smiled and extended his hand, just as in the waiting area.
But now it was after victory, and his voice carried the ease of a winner.
“Congratulations.”
“Thanks. You understand I couldn’t say anything beforehand, right?”
“Of course. We’re competitors.”
“I’m glad you see it that way. It couldn’t be helped. Business is business, after all. We both did our best.”
I nodded. Kang Jin-ho shook hands with the team members beside me with a satisfied expression.
Then he patted my shoulder once and returned to his side.
Before leaving the hall, he bowed respectfully to the other company representatives as well, visibly savoring that this was his day.
‘In my previous life, you took everything. Not this time — enjoy it while you can.’
From now on, you won’t taste even the smallest joy.
“……Kang?”
While I was thinking such things, Lim Do-hyeon’s voice reached me.
“Yes, Manager.”
“What were you thinking about so hard that you didn’t hear me calling?”
“Oh, I apologize.”
“Should we head back?”
At Lim Do-hyeon’s words, I left the presentation hall with the team members, and as we walked down the corridor, Lim Do-hyeon spoke first.
“The company will take a significant hit. We’re losing a third of our revenue.”
Revenue related to the Seonjin Automobile Group accounted for 37% of our total.
Losing it at once meant we had to brace for deficits starting next quarter, and it could affect the Ochang fulfillment center construction schedule already underway.
There had likely never been a point in Seonjin Logistics’ history when revenue of this magnitude disappeared at once.
“I’m not sure what to report to the CEO…….”
Lim Do-hyeon’s worries continued, and I listened without interrupting. These were natural concerns for a manager responsible for the company’s operations, and it would be strange not to feel this weight.
“What’s your take, Kang Seon-woo?”
Lim Do-hyeon and the team members’ gazes turned to me. I took a moment to collect my thoughts, then spoke.
“We need to move on follow-up measures. We should go back and supplement personnel lost from the sales team and cargo operations division.”
“Shouldn’t we be reducing personnel if revenue from the Seonjin Automobile Group disappears?”
A team member from the operations division asked, and I shrugged.
“I don’t think this is over as is. I’ll send you information on Seonjin Global once we’re back.”
Everyone had confused expressions, but I simply nodded and moved forward.

* * *
“I’ll report to the CEO first and notify him of what needs to be done.”
Back at the office, the atmosphere was subdued.
I’d informed the team of the results by phone on the way back, and team members who hadn’t gone to the venue were dejected as well.
After Lim Do-hyeon said that, he headed up to the CEO’s office, and I looked at the team members.
“We lost the bidding competition, but the company hasn’t disappeared, and our work hasn’t vanished. Kim.”
“Yes, Team Lead.”
“Contact the sales division and have them submit a staffing plan quickly.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Kim So-mi.”
When I called her name, the dejected Kim So-mi shook it off and looked at me.
“Get in touch with the social commerce company we signed the MOU with and schedule to move directly to final contract. Also, contact the Gunpo hub and have the manager come up to headquarters tomorrow — we need to convert one dock exclusively for fulfillment operations.”
“Yes, understood.”
After finishing my instructions, I left the office and headed to the break room. I closed the door and took out my phone, calling Danny.
-Director Kang, did the results come out? I thought my neck would break waiting.
“Seonjin Global was selected as the preferred negotiation partner.”
A brief silence fell.
-As expected.
Both of us had set the board with this outcome as premise, so there was no reason to be surprised.
-How’s the atmosphere there?
“Subdued. We’re losing a third of our revenue.”
-I bet.
Danny clicked his tongue and spoke.
-Anyway, the board is set and we just proceed as planned, right?
“Yes. I need you to buy us some time.”
-How much?
“About two weeks. Can you manage that?”
-I thought you’d ask for a month. Two weeks is easy. We can just use the funding excuse like we mentioned before. But two weeks is all you need?
At Danny’s question, I took a moment to organize my thoughts. It seemed sufficient.
“Yes. Two weeks should be enough to cut off all of Seonjin Global’s escape routes.”
-Escape routes?
“I don’t have time to explain now. I’ll tell you once it’s all over.”
-Got it. I just do my part, right? Don’t worry.
“Then I’ll trust you.”
After hanging up with Danny, I immediately flipped through my phone’s contacts and found a familiar name, then pressed call.
The ringing hadn’t even completed twice before a voice came through the receiver.
-Director.
“Director Jung, I have a favor to ask.”
The voice on the other end was Jung Tae-sung.
-Just give the order.
“Can you arrange media outreach?”
-What topic should I arrange for?
“I’d like it to be about how Seonjin Global was created for Kang Jin-ho’s succession.”
Even if DK pulled out of this deal, Kang Jin-ho had Kang Tae-yong as his backer.
To cut off the money supply for certain, I needed to make it difficult for that backer to act, and to do that, I needed to touch on something that would make public opinion uncomfortable.
Loophole succession among chaebol families was no new phenomenon, so public sentiment would not be favorable.
Of course, they had the bidding competition as a weapon, but such trivial things weren’t important before emotion.
At my words, there was a brief silence on the other end. Then Jung Tae-sung spoke carefully.
-If the target is the Seonjin Automobile Group, it might not be easy. As you know, the advertising placements executed by the Seonjin Automobile Group…….
Now and always, media outlets’ primary revenue had been from ad space sales.
How many copies they printed or how many online subscribers they had didn’t matter. The weapon called their pen was always the most feared deterrent to corporations, and so corporations placed ads even in small outlets.
Conversely, since corporations held media’s livelihood, outlets found it difficult to write articles freely.
If subsidiaries of the Seonjin Automobile Group each placed advertisements, it was a scale that media outlets found hard to defy.
“We’ll just buy more advertising from them at a larger scale.”
-I beg your pardon?
“Good timing, actually. I’ve been thinking DK needs to expand significantly. Let’s talk to Danny and advertise big. Money is no object — if they’ll run our story.”
-In that case…….
Jung Tae-sung paused briefly to collect himself, then replied.
-I think I can move several media outlets.
“Please proceed that way. It needs to come out fast. All at once.”
-Should I include information about Seonjin Global?
“Yes. You can provide all the material we’ve secured.”
-Understood. I’ll report after proceeding.
After finishing the call with Jung Tae-sung, I returned to the office with a hardened expression.

* * *
“How is it progressing?”
Meanwhile, Kang Jin-ho was in the Seonjin Automobile chairman’s office after the announcement. His father must have already been briefed that Seonjin Global had won the bidding, for he asked about the situation the moment he saw his face.
He hadn’t wanted congratulations or appreciation for hard work, but the complete absence of greeting was so characteristic of his father. Kang Jin-ho spoke with a stiff expression.
“The funding issue is being reviewed positively by an investment company called DK Capital.”
“That’s not confirmed yet.”
Kang Jin-ho straightened his posture.
“It’s not confirmed yet, but the DK representative is evaluating our business model very highly. The written due diligence is also proceeding smoothly.”
Kang Tae-yong watched Kang Jin-ho without speaking. That silence made Kang Jin-ho speak more.
“They’re the investment company that led Volta Motors’ listing. With a market cap exceeding 1.9 billion dollars on Nasdaq, they’re not lacking in scale or capability.”
His words were growing longer. Kang Jin-ho knew it too, but silence in conversation with his father was the most unbearable thing.
When he had to endure that gaze, it felt like his father was calling him pathetic.
“Now that the bidding results are out, the investment decision should accelerate. It’s only a matter of time…….”
“Had it been another company, you couldn’t have won a bid on shell alone.”
“…….”
“Precisely because you have the advantage of being the chairman’s son did I refrain from further assistance.”
Kang Jin-ho bit his lip.
“Our staff will begin due diligence on your company starting next week. You can resolve the funding issue before then, can’t you?”
“……Of course.”
Kang Tae-yong lowered his gaze to the documents without speaking. He asked no further questions.
“I see.”
A moment later, Kang Tae-yong spoke.
“Go.”
Kang Jin-ho closed his mouth. There was more he wanted to say, but he understood that the conversation had ended with that single word.
“……Yes.”
After bowing and leaving the chairman’s office, Kang Tae-yong looked at the secretary standing beside him.
“Is what he said accurate?”
“Yes. DK Capital has been attracting considerable attention on Yeouido recently.”
“I’ve heard of them too. The ones who bought the ship for Seonjin Trading, right?”
“That’s correct. I reported on it before.”
Kang Tae-yong smiled, a smile that hadn’t appeared just moments before, and nodded.
“His studies in America weren’t in vain then. If he establishes a connection with them this time, it’ll be useful for checking Seonjin Trading as well.”
“That’s my assessment as well. If there’s a connection through Volta, we could also link it to our electric vehicle technology issues.”
“Good. Keep an eye on him from the sidelines.”
At Kang Tae-yong’s words, the secretary bowed and left the room.
“I needn’t worry about that boy anymore. He’s become someone who properly looks after his own share.”
Kang Tae-yong nodded with a satisfied expression.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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