[234] Unpredictable Whirlwind 4
I ran my fingers over the leather cover of the notebook. How many people would be mentioned in it, and where were they now?
More than twenty years had passed, so many of them were likely no longer in this world, and others had probably stepped back from the front lines, losing all their influence.
As I pondered how to reorganize and utilize these records, my grandfather spoke up.
“I hope you understand why I’m giving this to you. These are my darkest records, ones I’ve never shown to anyone. Many may own my company, take the money, or claim the land, but you’re the only one who gets to see my vulnerabilities. Even if you never become the owner of Sunyang… this is your mark as the sole successor of Jin Yang-cheol.”
It was an embarrassingly sentimental statement, but I knew I’d never hear anything more sincere.
“I’ll make sure Grandfather’s name becomes something eternal, never to be erased.”
I, too, found myself saying something equally embarrassing.
Why do words of sincerity always sound so childish? I tried to think of more sophisticated and mature words, but this was all that came out.
For a moment, my grandfather and I couldn’t meet each other’s eyes.
The slight blush on my cheeks wasn’t from the heater blasting in the room.
“Ahem, ahem… Anyway… Take good care of the people listed in that notebook. Your uncles will spend money for immediate gains, like during the last presidential election or the upcoming general election this spring.”
“Oh, I almost forgot. I also gave 2 billion won to my second uncle during the last election.”
“I know. That’s exactly how you should do it. Only add to the group efforts.”
“And the people on this list… separately?”
“Yes. Whether there’s a special occasion or not, always keep them in the loop. Think of it as paying insurance. And keep an eye out for promising individuals to add to the list. Always invest with a long-term view.”
“Isn’t long-term investment what I do best? I can let something sit for ten years without batting an eye.”
“There you go again… Your arrogance knows no bounds! Haha.”
Grandfather gave me a light tap on the back of my head.
“I don’t need to tell you about the accounts. The bank has the names and contacts of the people in charge, so they’ll handle everything. Just make sure you find someone trustworthy to withdraw the money. Once they have it, let Woo Byung-jun handle the delivery. He’s done it a few times, so he’ll manage.”
“You mean to be careful not to reveal myself when withdrawing or delivering the money?”
“Exactly. Who was it again? The guy who risked his life for us?”
“Assistant Manager Kim Yoon-seok, you mean?”
“Yes, him. Lee Hak-jae said he might not be the sharpest, but he’s got a loyal heart. He’s perfect for fetching the money. It’s not a job that requires brains, but loyalty and discretion are key.”
“He doesn’t seem too greedy for money, so he should be suitable.”
“What? Not greedy for money?”
“Yes. Remember when he saved our lives and refused a big reward?”
Grandfather frowned.
“Who in this world isn’t greedy for money? He must have a bigger ambition than money. Anyway, don’t trust him too much and always stay cautious.”
I was taken aback once more.
He even distrusted the man who saved his life. He was more skeptical of people than I was, even after experiencing betrayal. But it was this very skepticism that built Sunyang into what it is today, so I had to remember that.
“Shall we get going? I hope the owner outside hasn’t frozen to death.”
As we stepped outside, the owner, lips blue from the cold, was shivering.
Back home, I opened the ledger.
I started from the most recent entries and worked my way back to the 1980s.
The more I looked, the more I was astounded by Grandfather’s meticulousness.
I understood why those economics professors, who frequently appeared on TV with their pro-business rhetoric, behaved the way they did.
I realized why the country’s largest labor union remained silent about Sunyang Group, why Sunyang executives always seemed to get acquitted or receive suspended sentences in high courts, and why anything Sunyang wanted to keep hidden never made the news. I also understood why social leaders and intellectuals never mentioned Sunyang by name.
I carefully examined the amounts and frequency of the money given to these people and checked the accounts Grandfather had provided.
The surprising fact was that these were domestic accounts.
While foreign accounts were beyond the reach of our country’s authorities, these were domestic accounts with billions, even hundreds of billions, under false names. How had they remained undiscovered?
No matter how much I thought about it, there was only one conclusion.
The banks knew, and the relevant government agencies knew, but they simply pretended not to and excluded them from investigations.
That’s why Grandfather wanted me to continue using these accounts. They were, in essence, my personal secret vaults, the safest in the world.
By the time I finished reviewing the ledger and accounts, it was already light outside.
I picked up the phone and called Kim Yoon-seok.
Even though it was early morning, he rushed over.
I handed him three bankbooks.
“As soon as the banks open, visit these three places and withdraw 100 million won from each. The seals are inside, and I’ve noted the contacts and passwords.”
“Yes. Is there anything else you need?”
“Pay close attention to the expressions of the bank staff. Observe their behavior when you withdraw the money.”
“Yes. What should I do with the money once I have it?”
“Bring it to the house. I’ll catch some sleep.”
“Understood. Rest well.”
It was a suspicious task, and he had every reason to question it, but Kim Yoon-seok left without a single query.
I awoke to the sound of the doorbell, close to noon.
“Did you get some rest?”
“Yes, I had a great nap. Did you handle everything?”
Instead of answering, Assistant Manager Kim gestured to the three Boston bags he had brought.
“Were there any issues?”
“No. The contacts you mentioned were all branch managers. I just had tea in their offices, and they took care of everything.”
“Were they surprised?”
“Two of them said nothing, but one asked if the contact had changed.”
“What did you say?”
“I just stared at them without saying a word, just in case. They quickly apologized and bowed.”
He’s improved a lot.
It’s important to assert who’s in charge and to avoid unnecessary words.
“Well done.”
I unzipped one of the bags and glanced at the bundles of cash, watching Kim’s expression.
No one is immune to temptation. It’s only when faced with it that you truly know yourself.
I handed him one of the bags.
“Take it and use it.”
“What?”
His eyes finally wavered, not because of the money, but because he didn’t understand why I was suddenly giving him such a large sum.
“Use it where it’s needed. It’s cash, so no need to keep receipts.”
Understanding my meaning, Kim Yoon-seok looked troubled.
“Sir, this is too much.”
“Too much?”
”…Yes.”
Sensing the seriousness in my voice, his own voice grew quieter.
“Distribute it in hundred-thousand-won increments, and that’s a hundred people. Haven’t you laid the groundwork for at least a hundred people? Even if it’s not enough, it should be more than sufficient…”
Feigning a stern tone, I spoke as if scolding him, and he quickly responded.
“Oh, I was thinking in different units. I thought of distributing it in ten-thousand-won increments.”
Considering the salaries of the lower-level staff in the group’s planning, secretarial, strategy, and security teams, it’s understandable that Assistant Manager Kim thought in ten-thousand-won units.
“Then let’s raise the units from now on. Or better yet, I’ll leave the judgment to you. Distribute it as you see fit.”
“Understood. Honestly, a hundred thousand won is too much. So…”
I raised my hand to stop him.
“I said I’d leave it to you. No need to explain everything.”
“Oh, yes.”
Kim packed up the bag.
“By the way, there’s something I need to tell you. Since this morning, your cousins have been visiting Chairman Jin’s hospital room.”
“All of them?”
“No, they’re coming separately.”
“Check it out. I’m sure they’re coordinating their visits in advance.”
“Yes, I’ll confirm and let you know.”
After Kim left, I tossed the remaining two bags into a corner. I planned to hand them over to Executive Director Woo Byung-jun later. He could distribute them here and there, and two hundred million should be enough to cover it.
Just then, the phone rang.
“Hey, it’s me.”
― Do-jun, you knew Grandfather was hospitalized, right?
Sang-jun’s voice was shaky. He must have been surprised.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t get a chance to tell you.”
― No, it’s because I don’t keep in touch with Grandfather often. Dad said we can visit, so if you have time, let’s go together. Honestly, I’m still a bit intimidated by Grandfather. The thought of going alone makes me nervous.
In our family, Sang-jun was the grandson Grandfather disliked the most. Although things improved once he became an adult, facing Grandfather alone was still daunting.
“Sure. I was planning to visit today anyway. Let’s go together.”
I could hear a sigh of relief.
― Phew, that’s a relief. When are you planning to go?
“I need to check the time. What about you?”
― I’ll be in the recording studio all day, so anytime is fine.
“Then I’ll come to the studio. I can check out where you work. Is that okay?”
― Of course, it’s fine. But won’t it be a hassle for you?
“No, it’s just a quick stop on the way to the hospital. Don’t worry about it.”
― Alright, see you later then.
After ending the call, I went back to sleep for a bit.
I woke up to a call from Assistant Manager Kim. He informed me that my cousins would be visiting in the afternoon, but no one would be there in the evening.
“Yeah, when night falls, it’s time to have some fun. It’s not like a single stock is going to drop, and it’s not like those guys need any belated filial piety, right?”
On my way to the hospital, I decided to stop by Sang-jun’s studio.
Since investing in this company, I’ve only ever looked at reports and documents, never actually visited. The paperwork suggested they hadn’t hit it big yet. I thought they were just getting by, but seeing the building made me realize how wrong I was.
They were housed in a pretty impressive building, and there were dozens of fervent fans camped out front.
Did this company have a star-level idol?
I only ever looked at the numbers, so I had no clue about the entertainment side of things.
“Sir, should I go and bring him out?” my assistant team asked, noticing the crowd at the entrance.
“It’s fine. I came to see my brother at work anyway, so just wait in the parking lot.”
That was my mistake.
A few high school girls spotted me getting out of my luxury foreign car and rushed over.
“Oppa! Are you part of this company too? A trainee?”
“Hey! Didn’t you see the car? What trainee drives a car like that?”
“Isn’t that car more expensive than a van? Wait, hold on! Doesn’t this oppa look familiar? Like someone from TV…?”
Ignoring their chatter, I slipped into the building. Thankfully, I was in a suit. The security guards in the lobby were only blocking the fans, so I got in without any trouble.
I tried calling Sang-jun from the lobby, but frustratingly, it just kept ringing with no answer.
After several attempts, I was about to send a text when I spotted Sang-jun walking out, surrounded by a group of women.