“Why are you all so shocked? Think about my father’s age. It wouldn’t be surprising if he passed away tomorrow. The succession process isn’t complete yet, and we have no contingency plans for such an event…”
The lawyers quickly adjusted their expressions. Misunderstandings could be dangerous, especially when dealing with the eldest son and vice-chairman.
“The chairman’s shares are divided as follows: 23% to his wife and approximately 15% equally among the children. If things remain as they are…”
“What about a will? Is there a valid will?”
“We’re not sure. None of the group’s legal team has received a separate will. However, it’s possible that one of the chairman’s personal lawyers might have it.”
“But, Vice-Chairman, I doubt there’s a separate will. The inheritance tax on the group’s shares would be astronomical. We’ve been working to avoid that. If there is a personal will, it would likely only cover the chairman’s personal assets, like land, houses, or collectibles.”
Without some form of tax evasion, they could be facing taxes in the billions, possibly even trillions. Most conglomerates transfer management rights through legal loopholes while still alive.
No one believes Chairman Jin would pay inheritance taxes out of a sense of duty.
“So, assuming there’s no separate will and the shares are divided equally, what happens to the management rights?”
“It gets complicated. The control of the chairman’s office will depend on how the shares are consolidated.”
“What if my mother sides with me?”
“We’d need precise calculations, but… Oh, and isn’t President Jin Sang-ki on your side? If your mother and President Jin Sang-ki support you, there shouldn’t be any issues.”
Hearing this optimistic analysis, Vice-Chairman Jin Young-ki’s face brightened.
“That sounds good, but it’s still best to complete the succession before my father passes.”
At that moment, one of the lawyers slapped his forehead and spoke up.
“Ah, there’s one variable. About 17% of the shares were transferred when Sunyang Motors was sold.”
“Damn, I forgot about that.”
His face, which had brightened, darkened again.
“It’s American capital, so it shouldn’t be a major issue, right?”
“I heard Miracle’s Oh Se-hyun is close with Jin Yoon-ki.”
The lawyer looked slightly worried.
“Yoon-ki is in the film industry; he’s not interested in family feuds. It’ll be fine.”
Vice-Chairman Jin Young-ki waved his hand dismissively, thinking of his youngest brother. But he couldn’t ignore the fact that his previously uninterested brother had become a significant variable.
“Alright, you can leave now.”
Once the lawyers bowed and left, the anger he had been holding back erupted.
“This is a damn mess!”
The youngest, whom he hadn’t given a second thought, suddenly held the reins. And just when there was only one sword, it seemed like a second was about to appear.
The mere thought made his hair stand on end.
President Jin Dong-ki lit a cigarette, something he only did occasionally when drinking.
He knew the smoke couldn’t be ventilated in his office with its glass walls, but right now, a cigarette was the only thing that could soothe his troubled mind.
As he exhaled a long plume of smoke, various faces drifted through it.
The one that lingered the longest was his father’s.
Damn old man!
Unpredictable actions, capricious whims. He had a knack for getting under people’s skin.
How long does he think he’ll live?
He’s bound to leave empty-handed, yet he’s still sowing the seeds of discord within the family.
“The youngest…”
He never imagined the two youngest would emerge as dark horses.
His youngest brother, Jin Yoon-ki, and his youngest nephew, Jin Do-joon.
He hoped they wouldn’t get involved in the fray.
This battle was more than enough for the eldest and second sons.
But…
He was more worried that his short-sighted brother might cause trouble.
The loud ringing of his phone woke him up.
Judging by how hard it was to open his eyes, it was still early morning. Who could it be?
“Hello?”
“Ah, Grandpa.”
Checking the time, it was just past 4 a.m.
“It’s still dawn, not morning.”
Despite having turned his back on him yesterday, his voice was cheerful, like a child excited for a field trip.
Knowing he had to be on his toes, he jumped out of bed, quickly showered, and headed out.
In a neighborhood where everyone had chauffeurs, there was no chance of finding a taxi. The thought of walking to the main road where taxis ran made him sigh.
“Manager!”
Suddenly, car headlights flashed behind him, and he heard someone calling his name.
“Phew. I’m not late. Thank goodness.”
Assistant Manager Kim Yoon-seok got out of the car, letting out a sigh of relief.
“What’s this? I told you to take the day off.”
“How could I? You said the chairman called you early in the morning.”
“But to come at this hour?”
Kim scratched his neck sheepishly and laughed.
“I asked Team Leader Shin, and he said that for the chairman, early morning means 4 a.m. So I figured there wouldn’t be any taxis and came to pick you up.”
Since returning from Israel, he had changed a lot. He was now showcasing his greatest strength: diligence.
He was doing his utmost to support him, regardless of his own considerations. It was both touching and appreciated.
“Thanks to you, I’m comfortable. Grandpa was urging me to hurry.”
“It’ll only take 20 minutes since it’s early.”
At first, he didn’t notice in the dark. It wasn’t the usual Sunyang car.
“What’s this car?”
“Oh, I switched cars yesterday. You have five cars at the chairman’s house. You always use the Sunyang car, so… Did I make a mistake?”
All the other cars were too extravagant.
It was fine while moving, but getting out of the backseat drew too much attention from onlookers.
“No, it’s fine. Let’s use what we have. We’ll take turns. Haha.”
Not wanting to dismiss Kim’s thoughtfulness, he laughed and settled into the backseat of the large BMW 7xx.
As Kim had said, they arrived at his grandfather’s house in less than 20 minutes.
“Thanks. You can head home now. I don’t think there’ll be any more work today.”
Leaving Kim Yoon-seok, who bowed his head, he rushed into the house. His grandfather was already at the entrance, waiting for him.
“The morning air is refreshing, isn’t it? Let’s go.”
He still didn’t mention their destination, but he didn’t ask. He’d find out soon enough.
Sitting side by side in the backseat with his grandfather, the car glided smoothly away.
As they sped down the open road, they quickly left Seoul behind.
When they merged onto the gradually forming Seohaean Expressway, it seemed they were heading towards Chungnam or Jeolla.
His grandfather remained silent, gazing out the window.
As the pale dawn began to break, he finally spoke.
“Do-joon.”
“Yes.”
“Aren’t you curious about where we’re going?”
“I’m dying of curiosity, but you seemed so serious that I didn’t dare ask.”
His grandfather smiled faintly and placed a hand on his knee.
“We’re heading to the place where the Sunyang Group began. It’s Gunsan.”
Gunsan, the birthplace of the Sunyang Group.
The memories came flooding back.
The history of the Sunyang Group, memorized like exam material. It was where the Joseon Rice Warehouse was located.
After liberation, the properties left behind by the Japanese were called enemy properties.
Among them, the Joseon Rice Warehouse was a prime asset. They acquired it, siphoned off the rice, and used the proceeds as seed money to build the Sunyang Group.
“Is the Joseon Rice Warehouse still there?”
His grandfather’s eyes widened.
“How do you know about the Joseon Rice Warehouse?”
“It’s been in magazines, and you’ve mentioned it in interviews. All Sunyang Group employees know about it. As your grandson, I should too.”
“Haha, you’re always scoring points with me. Out of my many grandchildren, you’re the only one who knows how I made my money, not just how to spend it.”
If he were a normal grandson, he wouldn’t have cared either. It’s rare for a grandson to be interested in his grandfather’s life.
“During the war, the Americans took the warehouse for their use. We got it back much later. It’s now a history museum. I thought it was meaningful, so I donated it to the country. Thanks to that, it’s preserved without costing me a penny.”
“If it’s a history museum, does it include your story?”
“Of course not. Would they record my thievery? Haha.”
“Oh, you siphoned off the rice back then…”
His grandfather nodded.
“That’s when I learned that small thefts get you labeled a bad guy and punished, but big thefts go unpunished. Do you know why?”
“Because it’s too big to tackle?”
“Partly, but mainly because the real big thieves hold the power. They turn a blind eye if you share some of the stolen money with them.”
The beginning of collusion between politics and business?
“So, the rice you siphoned off back then…”
“Yes, I shared it with the powerful. With that money, I built factories and companies. I made so much money I didn’t have time to count it.”
His grandfather’s face, slightly flushed as he reminisced about his younger days, looked utterly content.
“Back then, I poured all the money I earned into expanding the company. As more factories and buildings bore the Sunyang name, it became all about keeping what I had without losing it. It’s a dull business.”
“Did you break ties with Great-Uncle to protect Sunyang?”
I asked cautiously, watching my grandfather’s expression. This was the man who had even betrayed his own brother. What must he have felt?
“No. I did it to survive.”
He spoke calmly, without a hint of surprise or embarrassment.
Did he really feel no remorse for betraying his brother just to stay alive?
“When the military took control, they started targeting the wealthy to gain public support. Back then, your great-uncle was like a factory manager. He didn’t know how to run a company. Sunyang was already in the regime’s crosshairs. Either he or I had to take the fall.”
The car left the construction-laden highway and merged onto a country road. Grandfather cracked the window, letting in the crisp morning air.
“If I got taken away, it was obvious Sunyang would fall into someone else’s hands. So I steeled myself and turned him in.”
Was it a necessary sacrifice to protect what he could, or a betrayal to have it all? What was the truth?
I didn’t ask further. It was mere curiosity, and knowing the truth wouldn’t change anything.
“What about you?”
“Sorry?”
“Could you betray your family to protect what’s yours?”
I hesitated, unsure whether to speak my mind or give the answer he wanted to hear.
Though there wasn’t another car in sight, we were stopped at a red light, the engine idling softly in the silence.
“I…”
This time, I decided not to overthink it. I wanted to be honest and see how he would react.
But I couldn’t finish my sentence.
A deafening roar of an engine filled the air, and everything went white in an instant.
Crash—Bang!
I instinctively shielded my grandfather as shards of glass rained down, and consciousness slipped away.