Chapter 4: Stunned
“Did you say my brother tried to kick me out?”
“I mentioned that the wording was different. Just as you didn’t explicitly say you were kicking your brother out.”
Oh Se-hyun couldn’t help but be amused at the sudden change in Jin Young-ki’s expression.
Wasn’t this all too familiar? Who didn’t know that both were eager to oust the other and claim the chairman’s seat as soon as possible?
“So, what did you say?”
“My answer to both of you is the same. I’m not interested, just make sure the dividends are generous.”
Jin Young-ki’s tense face began to relax slightly.
Though he was disappointed that his offer wasn’t accepted, he was relieved that at least his brother wouldn’t be standing against him.
“Make sure you keep your word about not getting involved in Sunyang Group’s affairs.”
“Of course. I prefer Sunyang Group just the way it is now.”
It was a response that was hard to ignore. What did he mean by “the way it is now”?
“What do you mean by ‘the way it is now’?”
“Exactly what it sounds like.”
“Are you implying I shouldn’t touch my brother?”
“Did you plan to?”
Oh Se-hyun smiled gently at Jin Young-ki. This man still hadn’t grasped the reality of the situation.
If he thought of Miracle’s power and his own choices as mere tools, he’d never understand.
“There can’t be two thrones in one kingdom.”
“This isn’t a monarchy. It’s a democracy balanced by checks and balances.”
“Sunyang isn’t a country! It’s a private asset built by an individual!”
“Not an individual, but the shareholders. Anyway, I’m not here to argue semantics.”
Oh Se-hyun’s smile had vanished.
“I want Sunyang Group to be a place where the two brothers compete in their own domains. Abandon the idea of ousting Vice Chairman Jin Dong-ki. As long as I hold influence as a shareholder, I won’t allow it.”
“Hey! Mr. Oh!”
“While I can’t choose the new captain of Sunyang with Miracle’s shares and collateral, I can at least remove one. Whoever sides with me can sit on that singular throne you mentioned.”
Oh Se-hyun watched Jin Young-ki’s face closely. Had he still not caught on?
“Are you saying you’re the weight that can tip the scales at any time?”
“I’m the weight that doesn’t want to tip the scales.”
Oh Se-hyun stood up. Was this warning enough?
“Oh, by the way, about the bonds. Let me know anytime. I’ll repay them as per the contract. I’ll even add a bit more interest. It must be quite bitter for you.”
As Oh Se-hyun left, Jin Young-ki grabbed something and threw it at the door.
It landed with a soft thud—a pen.
To think he had lost eight hundred billion so easily… His fist clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palm, trembling with anger.
Vice Chairman Jin Dong-ki sighed as he looked at Jin Young-ki sitting across from him with a serious expression.
“It’s all over. We were just dancing around, and Oh Se-hyun swept everything up. Oh, and Do-jun got a piece too, didn’t he?”
“You’re not in a position to mock me, are you?”
“Just get to the point. Let’s not rub salt in each other’s wounds.”
“You’re the one who started it. Anyway, shouldn’t we do something about that Oh Se-hyun?”
“Why? Planning to kick me out if he’s gone?”
“Exactly.”
Jin Dong-ki’s eyes turned fierce as he glared at Jin Young-ki.
“Wake up. Do you think Oh Se-hyun will just step aside?”
“Dong-ki.”
Jin Young-ki called his brother softly.
“Let’s get rid of anyone not of our blood from Sunyang and start over. Look at us now. We’re just watching Oh Se-hyun’s every move. What if he teams up with you to stab me in the back…?”
“Or what if he joins hands with you to crush me…?”
Both brothers were fully aware of the current situation.
Jin Dong-ki relaxed his frown and spoke.
“There’s no way. That guy just holds shares and does nothing. He’s watching us from outside Sunyang, maintaining the balance. What can we do?”
“Don’t just sit there. Find a way. I promise, when we get rid of Oh Se-hyun, I’ll make sure your shares go back to over 30%.”
Jin Dong-ki’s eyes sparkled at his brother’s words.
“Are you serious?”
“Of course. Otherwise, why would you side with me?”
Blood is indeed thicker than water.
Family feuds were one thing, but letting an outsider meddle was a matter of pride for the two brothers.
“While we’re at it, we should also deal with Do-jun’s shares.”
When Jin Dong-ki mentioned Jin Do-jun, Jin Young-ki tilted his head.
“Do-jun?”
“Yeah. Imagine if his 10% goes to Oh Se-hyun. He’d become the second-largest shareholder in an instant. And with Miracle’s financial power, it’s not impossible for him to become the largest shareholder.”
Jin Young-ki dismissed his brother’s concerns.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. The shares held by government agencies and banks are always on our side. Without those, he’ll never be the largest shareholder.”
Jin Young-ki confidently assured. He believed in the power of Sunyang Group.
“By the way, about Do-jun. What do you think are the chances of him siding with Oh Se-hyun?”
“It’s hard to ignore. Oh Se-hyun is friends with Yoon-ki. If Oh Se-hyun starts whispering in Yoon-ki’s ear and Yoon-ki persuades Do-jun…”
Jin Dong-ki’s words seemed plausible to Jin Young-ki, who slammed the armrest of his chair.
“Alright. Let’s deal with Do-jun first. Make sure he doesn’t get any ideas.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to bring Do-jun to our side?”
“How?”
“Offer him an additional 10% when we readjust the shares. That way, it’ll truly be just our bloodline left, making it more convincing.”
Jin Young-ki’s face brightened. Giving his nephew an extra 10% and then slowly reclaiming it seemed much easier than dealing with Oh Se-hyun.
“Is it that you’re too clever, or is my son just too foolish… Tsk tsk.”
“You can’t beat someone who’s lucky.”
Grandfather frowned, perhaps due to the summer sun beating down on the garden or the helplessness of his two sons.
“You got back the card company, secured shares, and even pocketed a hefty eight hundred billion. It’s hard to chalk that up to luck.”
“There was the card crisis, a stroke of luck.”
“I suspect you foresaw this card crisis. It was odd for someone as savvy in finance as you to give up a business that steadily raked in fees and interest.”
“I sensed unease, but I didn’t expect the card defaults to explode like this.”
“The big explosion was luck. But the rest was the result of greed. Your second uncle, who couldn’t see past his desire for cash, and your first uncle, who paid an extra eight hundred billion for shares, are all the same.”
Grandfather, shielding himself from the harsh sun with a wide-brimmed hat, slowly stood up.
“Let’s take a walk. The doctor said not to skip this exercise. Haha.”
I supported Grandfather and handed him his cane. He began to walk slowly.
“So, what will you do now? Are you planning to ask for a spin-off of the subsidiaries proportional to your shares?”
“No. I already have the financial sector you gave me, Grandfather. I think that’s fitting for my 30% stake.”
“Is that so? Nothing else?”
“No. While my second uncle’s influence might wane, there’s no one else who can lead the heavy industries like he can.”
“You sly fox, haha. You’ve put a strong leash on Dong-ki.”
Not just one. With the slush fund records worth a trillion won in my hands, I have both a leash and a whip.
“So, what will you do with the eight hundred billion windfall? Planning to invest?”
“No. I’ll hold onto it for now. I’ve hinted something to the Financial Supervisory Service…”
“About Daehyeon Card?”
“Yes. I’ve told them I’m ready to acquire it anytime, so they can pressure Daehyeon comfortably. If they don’t come up with a strong self-rescue plan in line with government policy, they’ll end up like Sunyang Card.”
“Haha, my goodness. I wasn’t even like this… You’re a real bandit.”
Grandfather chuckled but then paused his steps.
“Do-jun.”
“Yes.”
“If there were only two large diamonds in the world, what would you do?”
“Sorry?”
Why the sudden Zen-like question?
“Would you buy both? Or just one?”
The diamonds Grandfather mentioned are the card companies—Sunyang and Daehyeon.
“I’d buy both.”
I’ve already got one and said I’d acquire Daehyeon, so the answer should be to buy both.
“Have you thought about buying just one and enjoying the benefits of owning both?”
This isn’t a Zen question anymore.
It seems he’s about to teach me how to enjoy the benefits of acquiring Daehyeon Card without actually acquiring it.
Even after pondering, I couldn’t come up with a suitable answer.
As I remained silent, Grandfather gave me a disappointed look.
“I must have misjudged you. You’re too soft…”
“I guess I’m just too nice?”
He didn’t laugh at my joke, so he must be serious.
“Can’t you just tell me the answer?”
“Transfer the value of the two unique diamonds entirely to one. Do you understand now?”
“Transfer it to one…?”
“Alright. What if you kept one and tossed the other into the deep sea or smashed it to pieces?”
“The price of the remaining diamond would double.”
“The problem is, how do you destroy a diamond that isn’t yours? But now? The government is sharpening its knives, ready to do the job for you. So why waste money trying to acquire Daehyeon Card when this opportunity is right in front of you?”
“A company isn’t a diamond. It’s not like there are only two in existence.”
“Among credit card companies, if you exclude bank cards, aren’t there just Daehyeon and Sunyang? Don’t try to compete with the world. Narrow your focus a bit. You’ll see things more clearly.”
Narrowing your view to see just one thing clearly.
Wise words.
“If Daehyeon Card goes bankrupt, the shockwave will be significant. If the financial sector suffers losses, the liquidity in the market will immediately tighten…”
“Why do you care about that?”
“What?”
“This is what I mean when I say you’re too soft. Why are you meddling in things that aren’t your concern? If there’s a liquidity problem in the market, what does it matter to you? Are you short on cash? Is there anyone in this country holding more cash than you?”
This time, it wasn’t advice but a sharp reprimand.
“If the market dries up like a desert, shouldn’t you be dancing with joy? You hold an oasis that never runs dry, so the value of your money will only increase.”
“There will be more opportunities to use that money effectively.”
“You know it well, don’t you? Who knows? A worthwhile company might topple because of it. And who else but you would be there to scoop it up? See? When you narrow your focus, better opportunities come into view.”
My grandfather… He’ll never suffer from something like dementia. Even in his eighties, his sharpness could put someone as young as me to shame.
“Grandfather.”
“What?”
“I’m grateful to the heavens that I’m not competing against you.”
“Quiet. Where did you learn to flatter like that?”
He barked, but his face was smiling.
“It won’t be easy. Daehyeon Group has friends in high places. Some high-ranking officials will step in to prevent the worst-case scenario.”
“Then I’ll just have to persuade those officials.”
“You’re quick to learn these things, aren’t you? Clever boy. Haha.”