Chapter 4: The Alliance Breaks
Watching the news and reading the papers, I was reminded of the power of money.
The Hanseong Daily, which I thought would expose the in-laws’ dirty laundry, didn’t publish a single line about it. However, other media outlets subtly ran negative stories.
The news didn’t mention Sunyang Group by name but maintained a tone demanding a thorough investigation by the prosecution.
Instead, online articles cautiously dropped Sunyang’s name, paying their dues for the money they received.
Just as I folded the newspaper, satisfied with the coverage, my phone chimed with a notification.
What’s this?
Why is Vice Chairman Jin Young-ki suddenly reaching out?
Is he trying to threaten me?
Well, I guess I’ll find out what he wants when we meet.
Jin Young-ki isn’t one to beat around the bush, so it shouldn’t take long.
I headed to the place Baek mentioned—a café a bit away from the company.
As I entered, Baek Jun-hyuk stood up and bowed.
“Mr. Baek, reaching out to me directly. What’s this about?”
“Why don’t we have a cup of tea and catch our breath?”
They say dogs take after their owners. I wondered how much he resembled my uncle, who couldn’t hide his true feelings when agitated.
I leaned back in my chair, adopting a deliberately arrogant posture, like a third-generation chaebol.
“Hey, Mr. Postman. Just deliver the letter, don’t pretend to be the sender.”
“That’s a bit harsh.”
His face flushed with anger at my jab at his pride.
“Well, I never…”
As I stood up abruptly, he followed suit, flustered.
“Do you think you have the upper hand just because I came running at your text? I came because I thought you had something discreet to discuss, given the location. I’m not here to waste time having tea with you.”
Baek bit his lip and finally spoke.
“Please, calm down and have a seat. I’ll relay the Vice Chairman’s message right away.”
Feigning reluctance, I sat back down. He wouldn’t dare try to test me again.
“Do you happen to have any materials related to Vice Chairman Jin Dong-ki’s slush funds?”
He’s still trying to dig for more information. Admirable, but I had no intention of playing along.
“Just deliver the message. The questions are mine to ask.”
Baek let out a faint sigh and spoke slowly.
“The Vice Chairman is interested in any materials related to Jin Dong-ki.”
“Does he know exactly what he’s looking for?”
“He knows it’s evidence of slush funds.”
“And what does he plan to do with that evidence?”
“That, I don’t know.”
As if. But he wouldn’t admit it even if he did.
“Surely, he doesn’t expect me to just hand it over? It’s a powerful bomb that could take out a thorn in his side.”
His eyes gleamed at the mention of material that could take down Jin Dong-ki.
Of course. He’d rather eliminate a rival than deal with me. If Jin Dong-ki is out of the picture, the Sunyang Group chairman’s seat would naturally fall into his hands.
“He wants to know what you want in return.”
Exactly. The target of this proposal is Jin Dong-ki.
“The one making the offer should show their wallet first.”
“In business, the buyer usually names the price.”
“Is this your first day in business? When buying something not for sale, you start by showing the money.”
Baek was silent.
He couldn’t spend a single penny on his own.
“You’ll have to go back and check with your boss, right?”
Having understood Jin Young-ki’s intentions, I had no more business with Baek.
I pushed back my chair and stood up.
“Just a heads-up, don’t judge the value of what I have based on how it can corner Jin Dong-ki. Consider what you can gain after cornering him to set the price.”
Baek’s face hardened as he gritted his teeth.
“Listen, Mr. Jin Do-jun. Even if I’m the one in need, I must say this. Show some basic respect. No one in the group, except the two Vice Chairmen, speaks to me so informally. Even Senior Manager Jin Young-jun, the Vice Chairman’s eldest son, is polite.”
Finally, Baek exploded, glaring at me from his seat.
I felt sorry for my uncle, keeping someone like this as his brain. He didn’t even know the basics of maintaining a smiling face until he got what he needed.
“Oh, is that so? Then let me put it politely. Tell your boss that if he wants the materials I have, firing Secretary Baek Jun-hyuk is a must.”
Baek turned pale in an instant. He never expected such words to come from my mouth.
“Our family can easily discard a mere employee if it means getting what we need. That’s why employees bow to us. They must leave their pride at home to survive.”
Leaving Baek speechless, I walked out of the café. If things go well, I might be able to take down my second uncle without getting my hands dirty.
Of course, I’ll have to calculate which stance is more beneficial.
“That’s a typical Jin Young-ki move. If he can kick Jin Dong-ki out of the group for just a year, he can accomplish a lot.”
Chairman Lee Hak-jae nodded as if it were obvious.
“But is it possible? A year means a prison sentence, and even in the worst case, he’d likely get a suspended sentence by the third trial.”
“It depends on the power of the materials you have. If they’re damning enough, Jin Dong-ki might struggle for a year or two.”
Watching me ponder, Chairman Lee subtly suggested.
“If you can hand over the materials and receive a few subsidiaries, including Sunyang Heavy Industries, there’s no need to hesitate.”
“True. But he’s not the type to make such an offer first.”
“Why not negotiate with Jin Dong-ki instead?”
“That might be better. Helping someone out of a tight spot and making a deal is usually more profitable…”
Chairman Lee smiled as our eyes met.
“You’re quick. You catch on immediately.”
“Vice Chairman Jin Young-ki is quite helpful in situations like this. Haha.”
I wondered what expression Jin Dong-ki would make if I told him I was handing over the slush fund evidence to Jin Young-ki.
“By the way, let me ask you something.”
“Yes.”
“How did you manage to keep Jin Dong-ki from making a move? By now, he should be denying everything, digging into the prosecutor’s personal life, and painting him as an ambitious villain…”
“I bought a week’s worth of time from the prosecution and the media.”
“Bought time?”
“Yes. I asked them to stay quiet for just a week. It cost nearly ten billion won.”
“What?”
“I think it was a bargain to silence Jin Dong-ki’s loudspeakers for ten billion.”
Chairman Lee’s jaw dropped.
“Wow, I’m speechless. Even Chairman Jin wasn’t that ruthless.”
“I have more cash than my grandfather, don’t I?”
Watching Chairman Lee’s incredulous expression was quite entertaining.
“Wow, my nephew, who doesn’t hesitate to threaten his uncle, has come all this way. Do you have some new leverage?”
He tries to appear relaxed, though I know his heart must be heavy.
“Are you still planning to kick me out of the board?”
“Even more so!”
His unexpected answer caught me off guard. He’s not an easy opponent.
“I thought it over calmly. Why can a kid like you pull off something like this? There’s only one conclusion. It’s the public perception of you as the special grandson of Sunyang Group’s founder and the head of Sunyang Financial Affiliates. That’s your power.”
In moments like this, his judgment surpasses that of my first uncle. But having a sharp mind isn’t enough, as this situation clearly shows.
“So, you still intend to kick me out.”
“The moment the world knows you have no power in Sunyang Group, everyone will turn their backs on you. Then I’ll return the humiliation I’ve suffered.”
“I’ve never created or held any slush funds.”
“The slush funds in Labuan, which are supposedly mine, will quickly become yours. The words of the powerful are the truth. The media and prosecution will tear you apart once you’re outside Sunyang’s protection.”
He looked down at me with the expression of a victor. Even if I were ousted, things wouldn’t necessarily go as he said, but I couldn’t help feeling a chill.
However, as long as my two uncles continued to eye each other, I’d always have a chance to escape the crisis.
“Oh dear, the thought of being kicked out of the group and labeled as a third-generation chaebol who siphons money overseas is terrifying. The world currently praises me as a handsome, smart, and wealthy darling of the business world… and now I’ll become trash.”
“You’ll realize that praise was just another form of jealousy. When jealousy shows its true face, you’ll see how ugly it can be.”
I looked into my uncle’s eyes for a moment before scratching my head.
“I can’t die alone, so I’ll have to drag you down with me.”
“That won’t happen. You’re not strong enough to hold onto me.”
“Then I’ll have to borrow some strength.”
“What?”
He looked slightly taken aback.
“Someone’s come forward, offering a hefty price for the slush fund materials I have. The old saying is true: treasures belong in the hands of those who can protect them.”
As a smile spread across my face, my uncle’s bewilderment grew.
“I suppose I should sell it for a good price and pocket the money. But let me return your earlier words to you. When the strong speak, their words are truth. So, standing alone outside the protection of Sunyang, won’t many people try to tear you apart, Uncle?”
He wasn’t oblivious; he immediately understood who I meant by ‘the strong.’
“Have you met your brother?”
“Chief Baek came to see me first. He asked what I wanted and checked how damaging the information could be.”
The word ‘first’ hit its mark.
Vice Chairman Jin Dong-ki’s face began to flush with anger. The betrayal of being blindsided, followed by a surge of rage.
He must have been reminded of a fact he’d momentarily forgotten because of Grandmother.
The alliance formed over Sunyang Group could easily shatter over the smallest thing.
Suddenly, he pressed the intercom to order coffee and remained silent until he finished the cup. He was calming himself, deep in thought.
As the last aroma of coffee faded, he finally spoke.
“Now that you’re showing your true colors, I understand why your father thought so highly of you. You’re quite adept at sowing discord among rivals.”
“Even knowing it’s discord, you have no choice but to accept it.”
“You know it’s poison, but you still take the cup?”
“Let’s just say it’s more like something harmful to the body, rather than outright poison.”
“If I cancel the board meeting and leave the financial group as it is, will you hand over all the information to me?”
“Cancel the board meeting, and my position remains unchanged. That’s the price for not selling the information to my eldest uncle. If you want the information destroyed, you’ll need to make a second offer.”
“And what would that second offer be?”
I adjusted my posture.
“That’s something I’d like to discuss seriously, Uncle.”