I tore my gaze away from the envelope.
Whatever’s inside, it’s meant for me, so I’ll find out soon enough.
I need to listen carefully now. What my grandfather is about to say might be his final words of wisdom, something I must remember and uphold.
“This was prepared in a hurry, so I hope it suits your taste.”
The chef placed a small wooden board with a few pieces of sushi in front of us.
“Come now, I know your skills well. I’m sure it’ll be delicious.”
As my grandfather picked up his chopsticks, the chef wiped his hands and said, “Please, take your time. Call me if you need anything.”
“The weather’s quite harsh outside. I appreciate you braving it for me.”
“Think nothing of it. I enjoy the winter chill as much as I do fresh fish.”
With a respectful bow to my grandfather, the chef left the room.
“Go on, try it. His skills are as sharp as his intuition.”
Seeing my grandfather pop a piece of sushi into his mouth, I followed suit with my chopsticks.
“How is it? Good?”
The cold fish on rice wasn’t exactly to my liking, especially in this chilly weather.
Noticing my expression, my grandfather quickly swallowed his bite and took a sip of warm green tea.
“Ah, it’s cold. Maybe we should’ve gone somewhere with hot soup.”
“Should I ask for some fish cake broth?”
“No, no. I just needed a place to talk, not to indulge our taste buds.”
He set his chopsticks down and took another sip of tea.
“Do-jun.”
“Yes?”
“Earlier today, your father asked me to completely separate the financial division.”
“What? My father did?”
The financial division holds a 10% stake in Sunyang Group. Separating it would eliminate that influence.
Seeing my startled expression, my grandfather chuckled.
“Don’t worry. I gave him a firm no.”
Relieved, I watched as he took my hand in his.
“I want you to succeed me. But reality is harsh. Family ties, generational gaps, age, time… Reality is a formidable opponent.”
“It’s just a temporary vacancy. Others may fill the spot for now, but eventually, it’ll be mine.”
“Such confidence, ha!”
He playfully tapped the back of my hand.
“For the past decade, watching you grow has been more rewarding than expanding Sunyang Group. Business, no matter how big, is just business. And in business, making money is the most important thing.”
I’ve made a lot of money, but can I really call it business? It feels more like buying lottery tickets when you already know the winning numbers. Despite my efforts to learn management and trade, I still fall short of his expectations.
Unaware of my inner turmoil, he looked at me with pride.
“In that sense, you’re already the head of the country’s largest conglomerate. You’ve amassed an unimaginable fortune in just ten years.”
I wanted to tell him how much, but I feared his weakened heart couldn’t handle it, so I just smiled modestly.
“Honestly, I’m not sure if you even need Sunyang Group. At this rate, in ten or twenty years, you’ll surpass it.”
“I have money, but not power. The symbol of having both is being the chairman of Sunyang Group, isn’t it?”
“Your ambition pleases me. A man should have the drive to shake the nation.”
His gaze shifted slightly, and he asked an unexpected question.
“Are you disappointed?”
“Pardon?”
“You expected me to hold onto my shares and eventually pass them to you, didn’t you?”
It was clear Mr. Lee had mentioned it, so there was no point in denying it.
“Honestly, yes.”
“And? Are you disappointed that I’m not leaving you with anything?”
“I was disappointed, but I don’t blame you. You’ve given me enough, and I’ve already secured more than a third with that as my foundation.”
“That’s good to hear.”
I meant it. When I acquired Sunyang Motors, I received more shares than I expected.
He picked up his chopsticks again, ate another piece of sushi, and spoke slowly.
“I called you here discreetly because I have a few things to ask of you.”
“Please, go ahead. I’m listening.”
“I don’t know how you’ll become the chairman of Sunyang. But you know that having a lot of money doesn’t mean you can buy the entire group, right?”
“Yes.”
“But I believe in you. You’ll take over Sunyang someday. I want to talk about what comes after.”
After becoming chairman…
My heart raced.
I had never thought about it. My goal was just to reach that position. What would I do once I became the master of my grandfather’s study?
Unaware of my thoughts, he seemed to take the path to the chairman’s seat lightly. He assumed I’d navigate it easily and wanted to prepare me for what lay beyond the finish line.
Suddenly, I felt guilty.
“The chairman’s office at Sunyang is a lonely place. Before you know it, all your friends disappear. Even those you considered friends start watching your every move.”
Did my grandfather ever have friends? A friend is someone who meets your gaze at the same level. I’ve never seen anyone look at him that way.
“The first thing you’ll have to endure is solitude. Don’t open your heart to your aides or pretend to be friends. That’s not a luxury a chairman can afford. You must bear the loneliness without a single friend…”
“Grandfather.”
”…?”
“I’ve never had friends. Every relationship has been a transaction. I do have people I respect and like, but that’s it. I don’t need anyone to share the burden on my shoulders.”
“A transaction?”
“Yes. Anyone can work under me. But I don’t expect loyalty. I give them what they want and take what I need from them.”
“Is that how the new generation operates? Ha.”
His laughter was inscrutable. He looked at me for a moment before speaking again.
“I thought I needed to teach you something, but it seems I don’t.”
“No, I’m still lacking in many ways.”
“Don’t be unnecessarily modest. You’re only lacking in one thing.”
“One thing?”
“Yes. Look, everyone with a mouth criticizes me, and everyone with fingers points at me. They call me the symbol of collusion between politics and business, a tycoon who bends the rules, a ruthless old man who squeezes subcontractors for wealth.”
He didn’t seem angry, just sharing a story he wanted me to hear.
“But do you think any of them aren’t afraid of me? Not a single one dares to say such things to my face. Even politicians. I’ve stood before the National Assembly three times. The same lawmakers who hurl insults at other group heads wag their tails like puppies in front of me.”
“Is that because of fear?”
“Yes. Transactions are fine, respect is fine. But beneath it all, there must be fear. Fear is the source of the power you desire.”
The politicians who act like puppies aren’t just motivated by fear. The hefty sums of money they receive can’t be ignored.
The carrot and stick are the true sources of my grandfather’s power.
He took my hand again.
“I’ve heard you speak politely and respectfully to those who work for you.”
“Yes. They’re all older than me, so I try to be careful.”
“Do it in moderation. If you keep petting a cute puppy, it’ll try to take over the table.”
“I understand. I’ll be firmer when necessary.”
“Good. I have no more advice. Just one request.”
“Anything, just say the word.”
“When you become the owner of Sunyang, don’t neglect your family. Find suitable positions for them. They’re all my children, after all.”
“Of course. They’re family, aren’t they?”
To put my grandfather at ease, I’d say anything. I could even tell a bigger lie if needed.
What was strange was his reaction. He seemed to say it out of obligation, not really concerned.
Having said all he wanted, he handed me the envelope from the bank.
“Now, you take care of this.”
“This is…?”
“Open it.”
Inside the envelope was a thick notebook.
A leather cover, pages darkened by years of handling. Could it be?
As I flipped the cover, I swallowed hard.
It was exactly what I thought.
Names, dates, places, and amounts meticulously recorded.
It was a ledger detailing Sunyang Group’s slush fund transactions.
“I started keeping that record when the new military regime took power. With a single word from the president, the entire group could collapse. I couldn’t live with that uncertainty. So I made sure to cover all bases and wrote everything down. I planned to expose it all if necessary.”
Sunyang’s money is known to be trouble-free. Even when the group chairman is summoned to hearings or stands trial, there’s never a mention of bribery.
“It seems you never had to expose it.”
“Right. But I kept recording everything, even as regimes changed. Those who took Sunyang’s money know that ledger exists. And they know it’ll never be made public.”
The ledger my grandfather pointed to was a silent threat just by existing.
“I never resorted to threats just because things didn’t go my way. Instead, I offered more money to get what I wanted.”
Threats aren’t always verbal. Simply holding a bomb is a threat in itself. With one hand gripping the bomb, the other offers money.
The choice between the two is as clear as day.
“Did you personally record every single one of these?”
“I don’t know about the small-time bureaucrats or rookie politicians who got a few bucks for snacks. Lee Hak-jae and the subsidiary presidents handled those without reporting to me.”
Given that frontline prosecutors, first-term lawmakers, and government officials are considered small fry, it was easy to guess the stature of those listed in this ledger.
“Take out the other envelope. That should be useful too.”
The second envelope was stuffed with bankbooks, cards, and a bunch of keys.
“Everything in my name will be spread across various foundations. The media will trumpet it as me giving back to society. Those who know it’s just a cheap trick will curse me.”
“So, this… is under a different name?”
Grandfather nodded.
“There are accounts both domestic and abroad. Some are through shell companies, others with fake passports. All domestic banks are under aliases.”
“Grandfather, I have plenty of money. I have enough to spend, so this money should go elsewhere…”
As I started to put the bankbooks back into the envelope, Grandfather shook his head.
“Do you want to use your hard-earned money as bribes for those scoundrels?”
“What?”
“Use this money when you need to grease some palms. It’s hard to trace, so it’ll be safe. And keep using those accounts. When you create untraceable funds, deposit them there. It’s secure.”
People who need to be managed discreetly, the money and accounts necessary for that management.
At this moment, I felt as if I had inherited half of Grandfather’s power.