The Giant’s Departure, Part 3

Pretending to be calm won’t make you one of them.

You’ll just end up as a bystander, wasting your time… I almost feel sorry for you.

“Think of it as giving your nephew a generous allowance for the family ties we’ve formed.”

“Oh, so you’re willing to sell? Even to someone who’s not family?”

“Business doesn’t care about bloodlines. If I can sell at a high price, I won’t discriminate based on skin color.”

I watched Ju Gwang-sik’s expression closely, probing for any weaknesses.

“And you have enough funds to acquire our card company?”

“Nephew, a businessman doesn’t need to worry about the customer’s wallet.”

“As long as the payment is certain?”

“Exactly. As long as it’s not on credit, I don’t care where the money comes from.”

“I’m just concerned it might not come through.”

“Why do you think that, nephew?”

Ju Gwang-sik scrutinized my face, trying to extract more information.

How much should I reveal?

Should I tell him that the eldest, Chairman Ju Tae-sik, is ruthlessly expanding his empire using the car business as leverage? How shocked would he be to learn that his siblings will be left with just a few subsidiaries, barely enough to live on, after having their companies taken away one by one?

No, he wouldn’t believe it even if I told him now. Every brother in the Ju family is convinced they’ll succeed their father as the head of Daehyeon Group.

“Anyone with a keen sense knows, don’t they? The war is about to be fought with money instead of bullets.”

“A war, you say…”

“The media’s already buzzing about it, calling it a ‘prince’s rebellion.’”

“You think I don’t have the luxury to look elsewhere, huh? Heh.”

Ju Gwang-sik’s bitter smile revealed his true intentions. Perhaps he realized he couldn’t have all of Daehyeon and decided to focus on securing what he already has.

This is getting interesting.

Originally, Ju Gwang-sik squandered all the financial subsidiaries he inherited by recklessly buying Daehyeon Group stocks. Afterward, Daehyeon’s financial companies drifted and were mostly absorbed by other conglomerates, leaving only the newly established financial subsidiary of Daehyeon Motors.

What if Ju Gwang-sik stops being greedy and focuses solely on protecting his assets? How would the future change?

“If you have enough funds to acquire Sunyang Card, it seems like you’re stepping back from the war… Is that right?”

“Wow, you’ve seen right through me on our first meeting, nephew. Your perceptiveness is impressive. No wonder Chairman Jin favors you.”

Ju Gwang-sik smiled warmly at me and suddenly extended his hand.

“I shouldn’t be away for too long, it’s not proper for a mourner. But remember, I’ve made my offer. Don’t forget to include me as a potential buyer for Sunyang Card, okay?”

Caught off guard, I shook his hand a bit exaggeratedly.

In that moment, I felt a small but strange sense of unease.

This isn’t simple. There’s something more complex hidden beneath.

Unable to shake off this feeling, I furrowed my brow slightly, but Ju Gwang-sik didn’t notice. He was already turning away, scanning the surroundings.

Returning to where my grandfather was, it seemed the line of people waiting to speak with him hadn’t shortened. I pondered whether to step aside or chase away those around him.

But when my grandfather spotted me and waved enthusiastically, I had no choice.

The person speaking with my grandfather noticed me and quietly stood up.

“Thank you for your wise words. I’ll take my leave now…”

Those who had been waiting for a chance to speak with my grandfather would be disappointed, as they wouldn’t get another opportunity until I left again.

“So, what did he say?”

“He asked to be included as a potential buyer for Sunyang Card.”

“Ju Gwang-sik did? He really said that?”

“Yes.”

“And what did you say?”

“He left before I could answer.”

“Really? So what about you? Would you consider selling if Ju Gwang-sik offers the best terms?”

I shook my head slightly at my grandfather’s concerned tone.

“As I’ve already mentioned, I plan to expand Sunyang’s brand, not reduce it. Sunyang Card will go to one of my two uncles.”

“Haha, Ju Gwang-sik is barking up the wrong tree.”

I shook my head at my grandfather’s relieved laughter.

“No. I think he achieved his goal.”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“I don’t think he actually intends to acquire Sunyang Card. He might have used me to create that impression.”

“Used you?”

“It seems Ju Gwang-sik wants rumors to spread that he’s entering the race to acquire Sunyang Card. It’s a diversion tactic, if you will.”

“A diversion? Why? He wouldn’t gain anything by unsettling you, would he?”

“His goal isn’t to unsettle me, but to reassure his brothers, especially Chairman Ju Tae-sik.”

My grandfather clicked his tongue after blinking a few times.

“Well, their family sure is something. Tsk tsk.”

They’re pouring all their assets into acquiring external companies.

My grandfather quickly realized it was a signal that Ju Gwang-sik wouldn’t get involved in Daehyeon’s internal conflicts.

“How are you so perceptive? How did you figure that out?”

“There are eyes everywhere. But he deliberately sought me out and called me over. Even exaggerated the handshake… It’s no different from advertising. The chairman of Daehyeon’s financial division met with the successor of Sunyang’s financial subsidiary. He must have wanted this fact to reach certain ears.”

“Right. It’s not like there aren’t discreet ways to convey his intentions.”

“Acquiring Sunyang Card implies he has no intention of buying shares in other Daehyeon subsidiaries, doesn’t it?”

“Will that be enough to reassure Chairman Ju Tae-sik?”

“Even if it’s not a perfect diversion, it will buy him some time. He’ll likely drag out negotiations with me, making a lot of noise in the process. Meanwhile, he’ll quietly secure controlling shares in Daehyeon Group and build his strength.”

My grandfather, wearing a smile that seemed out of place at a funeral, spoke.

“Then let’s see your insight, my grandson.”

“What…?”

“Who do you think will become the real chairman of Daehyeon Group? Not the fragmented Daehyeon we see now.”

“You think it will come back together, Grandfather.”

“Rivers may split and meander, but they eventually merge in the sea. It’s just a matter of time.”

“Right now, Daehyeon Motors seems the most likely. It’s the largest and holds the most symbolic value for Daehyeon.”

“Construction and shipbuilding are also symbols of Daehyeon, aren’t they?”

“The symbolism of being the eldest son is a powerful weapon. Look over there.”

I gestured toward the funeral hall.

Chairman Ju Tae-sik was graciously welcoming the Speaker of the National Assembly, surrounded by his entourage.

“This is a family funeral. The person greeting the distinguished guests is the eldest son. The real reason for holding a family funeral instead of a business one is to firmly establish himself as the successor in front of the guests.”

In truth, for someone like Chairman Ju Yeong-il, a business funeral would be more fitting.

If it were a business funeral, the Federation of Korean Industries, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Korea International Trade Association, the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, and the Korea Employers Federation would form a funeral committee.

This committee would oversee the entire funeral, and the media would focus solely on the committee’s actions and announcements.

While the deceased’s stature would rise, the eldest son wouldn’t receive much attention.

Chairman Ju Tae-sik undoubtedly considered this and pushed for a family funeral.

My grandfather stared at me, as if in a daze.

“What kind of person are you?”

“Sorry?”

“You rascal. There’s also a pure desire to send off a deceased father with family. Not everything is driven by such meticulous calculations…”

“Grandfather, tomorrow is the funeral. Tonight is the last night to spend with his late father. Yet he called me over to use diversion tactics. I don’t believe they have even a shred of that pure intention left.”

My firm words left my grandfather momentarily speechless. Perhaps he saw the parallels between Chairman Ju Yeong-il’s funeral and his own.

When he spoke again, it was with an unexpected question.

“What do you plan to do?”

“Sorry? About what?”

“My funeral. Will you hold a family funeral? Or will you opt for a public one to undermine your uncle’s influence?”

“That’s for the family elders to decide. As the youngest in the family, all I can do is follow their decision.”

“So you’ll do whatever the elders say, even if it goes against your wishes?”

In truth, my words were realistic and even reasonable. Funerals are the responsibility of the children, not the grandchildren.

But as they say, people become more childlike with age. Even if he understood logically, he might have felt hurt and disappointed by my passive stance.

“I’ll follow the elders’ instructions with my actions, but my heart will follow my own wishes.”

“What? Are you playing word games with me? Fine, what’s in your heart?”

People around us were eavesdropping on our conversation. Fortunately, neither my grandfather nor I raised our voices, and there were no mourners seated close to us, as if by unspoken agreement.

“Your resting place is in the Sunyang Music Hall Park in Yongin, right? You personally chose it as a prime spot, so no one will change it.”

“What are you getting at?”

“I’ll visit every morning for three years without missing a day. I’d like to build a hut and observe a traditional mourning period, but I can’t neglect the subsidiaries you’ve entrusted to me. So I’ll make do with morning visits.”

He was clearly moved, but he tried hard not to show it.

“Anyway, that sweet voice of yours is something else. Do you practice in secret or something?”

Grandfather stuck out his lip like a grumpy old man, but his eyes were smiling brightly.

“Is that how you take my sincerity?”

“Quiet.”

He barked out the word, but his voice soon softened.

“Are you planning to slack off once I’m gone? You, who can’t waste a single second, talking about three years every morning… Just drop by sometimes and tell me how the world is doing.”

He always used to say that when you leave this world, you return to nothingness. Yet, seeing him wanting me to visit his resting place often, it seemed he feared loneliness.

“Let’s get going. My body isn’t what it used to be.”

“Heading back already?”

“I wanted to spend the night so Chairman Joo wouldn’t be lonely…”

“Yes, please rest at home. Even I find it hard to stay up all night.”

“You’re right. I’ll come back tomorrow to see the old man off.”

As Grandfather stood up, people rushed over.

He mostly ignored them, only greeting Chairman Joo Taesik and his siblings.

“See you tomorrow. I’ve grown too old to even see off a friend for the last time. Haha.”

“Not at all, Chairman. We’re grateful you came.”

Grandfather shook hands with each person, but when he reached Joo Gwangsik, the sixth son, he held his hand and stared into his eyes.

“Don’t touch what’s mine.”

“What? What do you mean by that…?”

Joo Gwangsik was taken aback by Grandfather’s sudden remark, or at least he seemed to be.