Chapter 48

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“Did you enjoy your meal?”

“Hmm? Ah, yeah. Actually I didn’t even know what taste I was eating. The alcohol didn’t go down well either.”

At Chairman Kang’s words, the secretary-general looked troubled.

“I’m sorry the food wasn’t to your liking.”

“No. It’s not because of the food.”

Actually it was because of Jeong Jin-ho.

He heard such absurd things from that bastard, he couldn’t even feel the taste.

“So, Secretary Kim. If you were Jeong Jin-ho, how much would you sell the bonds to me for?”

Secretary Kim thought briefly then answered.

“First, I think he’d call 50%.”

“Why?”

“That way, even if lowering the price through negotiation, he can eat up to 30%.”

“Right. That’s probably normal thinking?”

“Yes. Honestly calling 50% is greedy too. But. How much did Jeong Jin-ho call?”

Chairman Kang answered with a hollow laugh.

“Double.”

“What?!”

Secretary Kim momentarily doubted his own ears.

Double?

Is he really crazy?

“I also thought he called high on purpose intending to bargain. But no. This bastard really wants double.”

“But. Double is an amount that doesn’t make sense, isn’t it?”

A whopping 3 trillion won.

It could truly be called a tremendous amount.

No matter how much it’s Kangsung Group, 3 trillion won is a burdensome amount.

“You didn’t say you’d give it, did you?”

“Am I crazy? 3 trillion won crosses the line. I was so dumbfounded I just ate roughly and left.”

“That Jeong Jin-ho friend is too greedy. 3 trillion won went too far.”

“Whether it’s youthful vigor, or he really thinks that’s the right price.”

“Might Chairman have been so kind lately that friend became arrogant?”

Does he really see me as a sucker?

The thought did cross his mind.

But somehow it feels unsettling.

If someone else called double, he would’ve poured alcohol on their face saying they’re talking bullshit.

But the problem was the opponent is Jeong Jin-ho.

“But why do I feel like I’m going to give the price that friend said?”

“Then I’ll desperately stop you from the side.”

“Yeah. If I really try to buy at double price, stop me even if you have to slap me.”

“Yes.”

Chairman Kang vividly remembers Jeong Jin-ho’s crazed eyes when he called double.

He’s felt it before, but in front of none other than Korea’s number 1 conglomerate chairman, he’s never shown a trembling appearance even once.

Plus the insane nerve to call double.

That bastard is definitely crazy.

***

“They’re shooting again.”

“Right. They shot again.”

North Korea launched missiles into the East Sea, conducting force demonstrations today too.

They say before when North Korea shot something, the market shook and became a complete mess.

But now even shooting a few missiles, the market stays calm.

As if nothing happened at all.

“North Korea is pitiful too. Diligently shooting missiles and doing nuclear tests, drawing all kinds of aggro, yet actually nobody cares.”

“Right. Our country is so noisy with other problems now, and too many incidents from other countries burst too.”

Despite North Korea shooting missiles whenever possible since the start of the year, they weren’t receiving the spotlight.

Greece default, France terrorism, Brexit, plus even the major earthquake.

The aggro was all being taken by other countries.

“They should save people starving to death with that money. Tsk.”

“Still, they say Taiwan and the Philippines are more in an uproar than our country.”

“Yeah. I guess talk spread that missiles might fall that way. Fortunately such things didn’t happen though.”

Meanwhile Korean people right below are just passing over missiles flying overhead thinking “oh well.”

“But Jin-ho.”

“Yes.”

“Is it really okay for us to just play like this?”

“Right. We came to work, but we’re just enjoying vacation without actually doing anything.”

The reason we came to Japan was to play the bondholder role.

That was exactly it.

Just putting pressure then pulling out.

That’s all Kangsung wanted from us.

According to plan, we should hand over the bonds we’re holding to Kangsung.

Then Kangsung will tear apart Kintetsu themselves, and we quietly return to Korea.

Even if we hold bonds, could we dismantle and deliciously cook Kintetsu like Kangsung?

It was something with limits just among ourselves.

So selling bonds at a high price then pulling out was the best scenario for us.

“But I didn’t expect you to call double either.”

“Was it too much?”

“No. You must’ve had your own thoughts. Honestly this isn’t the first time. You always called prices others think are absurd. The funny thing is, you always got that price.”

“Sorry, hyung-nim. I should’ve consulted first. Suddenly Chairman Kang asked me to state the price right there.”

“Haha. That gentleman also knew. That asking me, it ultimately has to go through you anyway. So he stabbed straight at you directly.”

Fortunately hyung-nim didn’t mind much.

“But the worry is, whether they’ll actually accept double. The situation’s turning a bit strangely.”

Kintetsu Group came up to the verge of having a knife reach their throat, being attacked not only by Kangsung Group but also JT Group that usually viewed them unfavorably.

But as if the law says don’t completely die, funds stepped up to rescue them.

“Actually those bastards are the same bastards too. They had stomach aches seeing Kangsung Group trying to eat Kintetsu alone. You know too. Kintetsu is like that because they have difficulty preparing 5 trillion won right now, but they hold quite a lot of real estate. That alone is very tasty.”

The funds aren’t trying to help Kintetsu with good hearts.

They just didn’t like Kangsung Group trying to eat something delicious alone.

They also like Kangsung Group are trying to tear apart and eat Kintetsu.

“Kangsung needs to think carefully too. If they mess up, the other side might repay all the bonds and they’ll become the dog that chased chickens for nothing.”

“Then we’re in danger too.”

“Right. After making all this fuss, we might actually fall without eating anything.”

For such reasons, this proposal came to us now.

“30%. The maximum amount the other side set.”

Funds that were watching quietly from afar then suddenly joined this game. They’re telling us to hand over bonds, offering 30% higher price.

One strange point is, the ones who set this price aren’t the funds but a law firm.

“Mossack Fonseca. You’ve heard of them?”

The world’s third-largest offshore financial services law firm.

The most famous place for offshore is Switzerland.

Offshore here simply means utilizing tax havens.

Switzerland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Panama, etc.

There are many places utilized as tax havens.

Places like Mossack Fonseca were exactly connecting such places.

Looking from the outside, talking about tax havens somehow seems like only committing illegal things, and can’t help but be seen negatively.

But tax havens aren’t illegal but legal tax saving methods.

Saving taxes up to the allowed range according to tax laws each country has.

Currently operating large-scale funds all legally establish corporations in such tax havens and conduct fund management through international investment.

Mossack Fonseca is running in the TOP 3 exactly in such fields.

“Hearing about it, tremendous money is flocking to this company these days. Probably they’re mediating coordination on that side. While simultaneously making business inquiries to us.”

“What kind of business?”

“We’re making a lot of money now. Overseas too. Seems they also smelled such things. They asked how about not placing the company domestically and instead establishing a corporation in a tax haven to manage.”

“It’s not illegal, right?”

“Mossack Fonseca is world’s third in offshore. Would they be crazy enough to commit illegalities?”

I skimmed through the business proposal Mossack Fonseca sent.

Since our company side already finished all translation work, there was no problem reading.

If there’s a problem. Tax matters are difficult no matter how much you study.

“Originally the most complex thing in the world is taxes. Also tax laws change in each country every time. Tax workers don’t receive lots of money for nothing.”

“What does hyung-nim think?”

“Well, other financial groups also place investment companies in tax havens one by one. Especially for asset management companies, it’s a method frequently used when needing to open overseas funds. If we judge overseas investment increases for us too, not bad.”

Both hyung-nim.

And employees who reviewed the proposal were viewing it as not a bad judgment.

“It’s not like tax evasion or anything, right?”

“Looking at the business proposal, it’s not. Well, there are occasionally bastards who evade taxes saying they’re utilizing tax havens, but if it were that, I wouldn’t have received it at all.”

I see.

The moment I nodded and tried to turn the proposal page.

“!?”

Seeing scarlet blood spreading from the thumb holding the paper edge, I was startled and let go.

“Why, what’s wrong?”

“Ah. I think my hand got cut.”

“Hm? Really? Wait. It looks fine though?”

I checked my thumb.

As hyung-nim said, it was fine.

But I clearly saw it.

The red blood spreading through my fingertips.

“..”

However, like my hand, the paper was also fine.

Not a drop of blood was visible.

“Fortunately doesn’t seem you got hurt.”

“Ah, yes. I thought it was cut, but I guess not.”

It was a strange experience.

Did I see an illusion?

I clearly saw something red spreading, and felt something chilling then.

Something intense enough to snap me awake.

“..”

Plus that chilling feeling still remained on my fingertips.

It wasn’t like a hallucination.

Though this is the first such experience, an inexplicable ominousness kept tickling my neck.

“Hyung-nim.”

“Yeah?”

“This company, it’s really safe, right?”

***

I thought we’d almost caught Kintetsu Group.

But as they say, sparrows can’t pass a mill.

Hyenas from all over the world heard Kintetsu would soon pass to Kangsung and flocked from here and there.

Among them were bastards who thought it’s tougher to enter than expected so pulled out, and bastards who saw this as opportunity and bet.

Among them was a place that proposed 30% premium to Gwangwoon Securities.

So Chairman Kang Seong-ho sent an ultimatum to Gwangwoon Securities.

40%.

That he can’t give more than that.

If they reject this proposal, he won’t absolutely buy bonds, and didn’t forget the warning to solve it themselves.

While closely watching Gwangwoon, no, Department Head Jeong Jin-ho’s final decision, and the movements of funds trying to share eating Kintetsu.

“Are we definitely not related to this? If even a bit of relation gets revealed, it’ll really get noisy.”

Chairman Kang Seong-ho seriously considered whether he should return to Korea even now.

None other than a major financial scandal burst overseas.

Named the Mossack Fonseca big scandal.

A scandal burst when an employee at Mossack Fonseca that provided services to save taxes through utilizing tax havens leaked internal documents.

While revealing files totaling 2.6 terabytes, it was revealed Mossack Fonseca received famous companies, politicians, celebrities, sportsmen, etc.

Wealthy people and helped them establish paper companies to evade taxes.

“Fortunately Kangsung side never collaborated with Mossack Fonseca. However.”

“However?”

“One of our former executives appeared in the leaked list this time.”

“Will that be a problem for us?”

“Probably not. No. I’ll make it so there isn’t.”

Chairman Kang breathed a sigh of relief.

One might ask why make a fuss when conglomerates evaded taxes once or twice.

If this were a tax evasion incident happening only in our country, honestly he wouldn’t have cared. Because just paying a small fine finishes it.

But this case’s scale is different.

The major terrorist attacks that happened until now.

Exactly because it was revealed the funds used there were also handled through paper companies at Mossack Fonseca and used for all kinds of crimes, it’s becoming a problem.

Because of this, each country is currently investigating all people and companies connected to Mossack Fonseca company.

“Especially America declared they’ll find all companies that evaded taxes through Mossack Fonseca and achieve justice. So check once more. Not any other country, but getting caught by America completely screws you.”

“Yes. Just in case, I’ll look more carefully.”

Currently the entire world was stirring from this incident.

From world sports stars and celebrities whose names everyone knows to former president families. They’re all coming out strung like dried fish.

Fortunately Kangsung utilized tax havens with another company, so barely managed to avoid this storm.

“But Chairman. This seems like tremendous good news for us.”

“Why?”

“Those funds that rampaged trying to share eating Kintetsu with us this time. They’re all currently withdrawing.”

Chairman Kang Seong-ho tilted his head.

“Why them?”

“What Mossack Fonseca mainly did was create paper companies to operate funds, and those who joined on the Kintetsu side this time all came from here. Even specific funds and real names leaked, so seems they’re in panic state now.”

But the good news wasn’t only that.

“Plus including Kintetsu, various Japanese companies also got revealed creating slush funds and evading taxes through Mossack Fonseca, so the Japanese government now really has no way to help. Rather they need to investigate.”

“Wait. Then that means.”

“All the remaining constraints disappear, and we can completely crush Kintetsu.”

Kang Seong-ho’s mouth corners rose like reaching his ears.

Suddenly a major financial scandal burst and he suffered anxiety wondering if Kangsung Group might be connected, but turns out this was an opportunity heaven gave.

The sword he couldn’t swing because of hyenas that suddenly joined, he could finally swing it.

“Then even if we try to tear them apart to our heart’s content with the bonds we have now, the Japanese government can’t help?”

“Banks too. Other funds also can’t join. Already stamped as a company that committed major illegalities. Also Japanese public opinion is tremendously criticizing Kintetsu now, so no one will say anything even if we crush them to our heart’s content.”

There’s a culture called “murahachibu.”

A culture passed down from old times, meaning cutting off eight things from the village.

In other words, if someone breaks rules or destroys community order, it’s a custom to thoroughly ostracize and isolate them.

That custom still prevails, and when a specific company commits major wrongs globally, Japanese citizens pour tremendous criticism.

Boycott movements rise greatly, so it was a culture that can’t be ignored.

That means even the slightest public opinion that would help Kintetsu has now disappeared.

“So we just need to cook and eat to our heart’s content?”

“But Chairman. There’s one problem.”

“What problem?”

“The remaining bonds Gwangwoon Securities holds. If they also rush to tear apart and eat Kintetsu like us, things might get quite complicated. Real estate or prime items we should take, they might snatch away first.”

Simply put, in a feast that should be eaten alone, Gwangwoon Securities could become an unwelcome guest.

If maturity arrives like this, Gwangwoon Securities can also hold knives and forks to slice and eat Kintetsu.

“Rather than such tiresome competition, we’re better off eating alone?”

“Yes. If it’s our Kangsung level, we can sufficiently extract even bone marrow.”

“But we have to give a whopping 3 trillion won?”

“That’s true though.”

Executives also seemed unable to judge well whether this was really worth giving 3 trillion won. Because we can only know by tearing apart and eating all of Kintetsu.

But when all constraints disappeared like now.

It was true that rather holding all bonds and swinging the sword is much more convenient.

‘I want to say absolutely can’t give.’

Kang Seong-ho briefly closed his eyes.

If Jeong Jin-ho predicted all this situation, he couldn’t help but be a fearful existence.

How do you beat a bastard almost no different from seeing the future?

Eventually he opened his mouth with a bitter smile.

“Alright. Let’s give it, 3 trillion won.”

Like executives said, seemed better to take the bonds Gwangwoon Securities has.

The precious 3 trillion won is regrettable, but he can just tear apart and eat more than that from Kintetsu.

‘Plus it’s good for making a show too.’

What he felt from today was that it seems good to maintain friendly relations with Jeong Jin-ho going forward too.

“I’ll talk with that side again about this, so meanwhile.”

Then Chairman Kang Seong-ho turned his head at the gaze felt from behind.

The secretary-general was standing there.

Wondering why he’s standing with such a restless expression.

Suddenly the promise made the other day came to mind.

“Secretary Kim. Want to hit me now?”

“What? Absolutely not, Chairman. How could I dare.”

Chairman Kang burst into laughter.

But it’s strange.

Clearly didn’t even get hit, yet his ears tingle.