Chapter 57

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“What? Why did so many people come?”

Today is a meaningful day.

Because it’s the day to announce Gwangwoon Group’s first chairman to the world.

That’s why so many people came to the inauguration ceremony.

“Today hyung-nim is becoming none other than a chairman, so of course many should come.”

Usually when it comes to a group chairman’s inauguration ceremony, not only affiliates but also executives from partner companies attend.

However, the number of participants was far more than expected.

Plus an unexpected person also attended today.

“Congratulations. You’re chairman now. Haha.”

“Chairman Kang. How did someone so busy come all the way here..”

“Of course I had to come. Didn’t we fight together in Japan and build comradeship? Plus it seems we’ll have many things to cooperate on going forward.”

While saying so, Chairman Kang Seong-ho glanced at Jeong Jin-ho standing next to Hwang Dae-woon.

“But I heard the rumors. This time Gwangwoon Securities designed with crude oil and devoured all the maritime business. Is this also our Department Head Jeong’s work?”

“Oh my. Don’t even mention it. Just when I was about to quit the securities firm and retire, this guy suddenly starts something and abruptly sits me in the chairman position, doesn’t he?”

“Retirement? What retirement when you’re still in your prime? You should earn more while you can. But it’s a bit regrettable. If Chairman wasn’t here, I’d snatch our Department Head Jeong away.”

His eyes flashed, seeming not to be joking.

Plus he keeps saying ‘our Department Head Jeong,’ which somehow doesn’t sit well.

“Seems you cherish our Jin-ho too much, I should guard him well. Oh right. And he’s not Department Head Jeong anymore.”

“Oh. Then..”

“Since I’m rising to chairman, someone has to take the securities firm president position, right? Though it hasn’t been officially announced yet, after the inauguration ceremony ends and things settle down, we plan to hold a board meeting. It’ll take some time though.”

Since Jin-ho seated Hwang Dae-woon as chairman, someone has to take the president position.

There is a vice president, but the vice president also actively agreed to Jeong Jin-ho sitting in the president position.

Because they judged there’s no suitable person other than Jeong Jin-ho.

“Department Head.. No. Our President Jeong tied up Chairman so he can’t escape, and Chairman also firmly caught President Jeong so he can’t go anywhere.”

“What can I catch him with? Actually this guy can leave anytime if he wants.”

“Even if you say that, seems you’ve caught him quite firmly?”

“Haha. That can’t be.”

Strength went fully into the hands they clasped together.

It was as if sparks flew between their eyes.

“In any case, I wish unlimited development for Gwangwoon Group. Actually I’m also looking forward to how far Gwangwoon will rise.”

“Yes. I hope Kangsung and we continue this friendly relationship going forward.”

After finishing such tense greetings.

Hwang Dae-woon now went up to the auditorium.

‘Now there’s really no turning back.’

Many people were looking only at him from below.

Among them, what stood out was exactly Jeong Jin-ho.

His eyes sparkling, he seemed to genuinely rejoice at Hwang Dae-woon’s chairman inauguration.

‘Jin-ho, thanks to that guy I even get to be chairman.’

Though he met many people until now, there was no one as trustworthy as Jin-ho.

Someone he can entrust his back to.

Someone he can entrust even his life to without doubt.

If there’s something he felt while living life, truly blessed people weren’t those with money or honor.

Having someone beside you that you can trust more than yourself.

That was life’s greatest blessing.

Therefore I, Hwang Dae-woon, am truly a blessed person.

“We Gwangwoon Group promise here that we’ll never become an owner-centered company but a shareholder-centered company. Also, we’ll spread this influence worldwide and strive until the end to become reborn as the best group.”

It wasn’t empty words.

Hwang Dae-woon himself doesn’t have confidence to make it so, but Jeong Jin-ho who’s hotly applauding and sending cheers from there.

If it’s that guy, it’s possible.

If it’s Jin-ho, he’ll surely make this company the world’s best group beyond Korea.

***

“Chairman. You were so cool today. Gwangwoon Group Chairman. Even the title seems to ooze power.”

“Why does it feel awkward when you call me Chairman? Just call me hyung-nim like always.”

“Just for today I’ll call you Chairman, Chairman. Earlier when you went up to the auditorium and spoke, my chest felt grand.”

“Thanks to you, retirement is a dream I can’t even have for a while.”

“Of course. You have to do it at least 10 more years.”

“Ugh. Back then I said I’d give you the president position and go rest, but you couldn’t stand seeing that so you made a group?”

“Yes. Until I quit work, Chairman can’t escape anywhere either.”

Actually groups, blueprints.

Such things weren’t part of my plan.

But whatever it is.

Since hyung-nim became chairman and stayed at the company, isn’t good just good?

“Ah. Going around receiving greetings all day made me tired.”

“Then go rest quickly.”

“No. There’s still someone to meet. I’m taking you and President Kim Du-yeong together.”

“Who are we meeting?”

“Someone from the government side.”

Hyung-nim is now not the president of Gwangwoon Securities but a chairman of a major group in one leap.

As that influence grew, he inevitably became entangled with government officials too.

Just looking at today, didn’t government people come to congratulate?

Even the Blue House sent a congratulatory letter.

“But the person we’re meeting now isn’t Korean side. It’s Chinese side.”

“What? They sent someone?”

“Yeah. I don’t know why either. I was going to meet alone but got a weird feeling, so I’m taking you and Kim Du-yeong.”

The Chinese official we three people are meeting is Commerce Ministry Deputy Director Li Weiming.

From what he heard, though not minister level, he’s a mid-level manager much higher than ordinary civil servants.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Deputy Director.”

The deputy director waiting in advance in the hotel-provided room had a first impression of.. What should I say.

He was a bit fierce.

“Congratulations on your inauguration.”

An interpreter was with him.

“I didn’t know someone from China would come for my inauguration ceremony.”

“Well, there were many other Chinese people too, right? While we looked away for a moment, didn’t you completely absorb all our country’s companies?”

There were thorns in his words.

“The timing was quite exquisite. You acquired companies in advance before our government issued the Hallyu ban, then received all the work after that. Do you perhaps have people planted on our side?”

“Just lucky. We were expanding infrastructure to handle overflowing volume when the Hallyu ban dropped. Though our Gwangwoon is making a lot of money thanks to that, we just hope the Hallyu ban will be canceled even now. For national interests.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter. Since our Chinese government is a great nation with broad tolerance, we’re overlooking it for now. But we won’t just watch the act of exploiting our people and squeezing them dry with foreign capital.”

“Your words are harsh. How can giving proper compensation for work be called exploitation?”

As if he finished what he had to say, Li Weiming stood up from his seat.

“The reason I came here today is to warn you directly. When things settle down to some degree, pull your hands out of China side. We don’t want capital from Korea, not any other country, coming in and gripping our companies. If you don’t follow our will, you’d better be prepared. We’ll force you to withdraw even by force.”

With those words, Li Weiming left the room.

“..Ha. Unbelievable.”

“Right. He didn’t come to congratulate but to threaten.”

“Even if it’s China, still. Can they threaten us like this? If not for us, they would’ve struggled unable to handle all the volume piled up at ports.”

“Probably right now the Chinese government also can’t do anything. If we pull out and withdraw, they can’t process at this price. But as that Weiming guy said at the end, once things settle down to some degree, then the story will be different.”

“Tsk. This is why China has too much risk. Though it’s a really good place to make money with high population and large land mass, the government is always the problem.”

Though we have the upper hand now, the Chinese government also knows.

That once this volume situation is resolved, then the Chinese government can wield the knife again.

“Jin-ho. What do you think?”

“…”

“Jin-ho. Jeong Jin-ho?”

“Ah, yes.”

“What. Were you thinking of something else?”

“Sorry. I was also a bit dumbfounded.”

Actually it was for another reason.

‘That person.. Why did his body sparkle?’

Even when I first met Li Weiming, such signs didn’t show.

But the more he spoke, his fierce face was dyed golden and gradually spread throughout his entire body, so I couldn’t take my eyes off.

The person who threatened us fully and left was filled with golden light..

It seems Li Weiming’s golden radiance still remains vividly in my eyes.

***

“Now America is punishing companies related to the 2008 Lehman Brothers incident one by one.”

“Seems results finally came out for that now.”

“Yes. Though they were doing it sequentially originally, seems they’ll really wield it properly this time.”

“American securities firms also received huge fines. Gold Reagan alone got $13 billion, JP Mason got $10 billion. Seems they’ll collect from other banks and companies in turn too. Those two companies are so huge they won’t even get scratched, but other places are in big trouble.”

I couldn’t hear what team members were discussing.

Li Weiming I met yesterday.

Why that person appeared golden, that’s still a mystery.

“Department Head. But did you look through all the reports? You took the China-side report..”

“Ah, yes. But there’s nothing special. Except the Hallyu ban.”

That was the problem.

If it’s related to Li Weiming, there should be some issue on China side.

I couldn’t figure it out.

“Probably China side will also take some measures trying not to give work to our Gwangwoon. But only our Gwangwoon Shipping is good news now, all maritime business is taking losses. They say maritime industry has never been this worst like now.”

“Right. Otherwise why would several countries put out port business to private sector, yet when operations don’t work, put out all shares?”

Right then.

Sparks flew from what Hye-rin was saying.

“Assistant Manager. You just said port business?”

“Yes. Originally port business was stable income, but now they say it’s only taking losses. Because trade ships aren’t moving actively.”

One more strong tremor struck my entire body there.

“Could you bring me materials on where port business rights are being put out now?”

“Yes! I’ll bring them right away!”

Soon materials came through the research team.

As Hye-rin said, port business originally boasted stable income.

Especially the Strait of Malacca called the gateway to Asia.

Port Klang North Port and Tanjung Pelepas Port.

Colombo South Port and Chittagong Port encompassing South Asia centered on the Indian Ocean.

Doraleh Container Terminal and Red Sea Gateway Terminal located at the Red Sea gateway.

Suez Canal, etc.

Right now ports in various parts of the world were putting out business rights.

Usually ports are owned by nations for security purposes regarding that land and infrastructure, but they hand over operating rights to companies.

But if operations aren’t satisfactory, that company transfers some operating rights shares, or completely withdraws from business and sells everything.

“Originally port business rights shares were really hard to obtain, but now they say everyone’s in chaos unable to sell. Those expensive shares keep going to the bottom.”

I spread out the related map and looked at those regions.

But golden lines started flowing through my hands there.

Those lines beautifully drew lines and reached each point connecting them.

As if creating some kind of route.

I momentarily lost my senses to this enchanting sight I’m seeing for the first time in my life.

“Department Head..?”

If Hye-rin hadn’t called, I would’ve stared blankly at the map for a long time.

“The port sides I’m checking now. Could you find out how much the operating rights are out for right now?”

“Ah, yes!”

“And pass the materials to Gwangwoon Shipping as soon as prices come out.”

“Yes!”

Port rights.

Plus this map.

I don’t know why such a picture is drawn here.

But one thing’s certain, the feeling this golden line conveys now is exactly the same as when I saw Li Weiming’s golden radiance.

So this thought suddenly occurred.

Perhaps that fierce gentleman was actually a swallow bringing a gourd seed?

***

Three years ago.

The Chinese government announced one major project.

The Belt and Road Initiative.

It was an ambitious plan to create the largest-scale geopolitical infrastructure by making Silk Roads on land and sea.

They started cooperation with about 150 countries while proclaiming the project, but actually it dragged on sluggishly for 3 years. There were cost problems to produce tangible results. Especially the biggest problem was ports.

To open the maritime Silk Road, they must have strategic bottleneck points.

Not just one or two, but points located on the optimal route the Chinese government planned were needed.

But costs were expensive to acquire those location points, and above all, companies holding those operating rights didn’t think of selling.

Why would they sell to China side places that lay golden eggs just by leaving them alone?

So they waited.

And finally the opportunity came.

As maritime trade gradually became more difficult, companies holding port operating rights started pulling out one after another, and prices of shares they put out also started hitting rock bottom.

“Now is exactly the good timing to enter.”

The Belt and Road Initiative that was quiet for 3 years.

The Chinese government planned to proclaim the Belt and Road Initiative to the world once more.

Taking advantage of the time when trade overall became difficult, they’re trying to make optimal routes on land and sea and buy up operating rights scattered there one by one.

And the Commerce Ministry took on that important role.

If they sweep up all operating rights shares already dropped to bargain prices, they can make the optimal route and create the Silk Road the Chinese government desires.

It was an important project that can’t be realized if not now.

That’s why they must succeed.

But actually it wasn’t even difficult.

Didn’t they wait leisurely until companies holding port operating rights dried to death?

Even when they came directly saying they’re selling operating rights, they refused.

Because if they wait anyway, prices will drop by themselves!

“What? Re-rejected?!”

“Yes. Among the places we proposed acquisition to, all key ports refused.”

Commerce Ministry Deputy Director Li Weiming couldn’t understand.

When did they beg desperately saying please buy the operating rights?

Now they say no?

“Why on earth? Last time they were practically begging?”

“Yes. Well.. They say an operating rights acquirer appeared and bought up all shares.”

“What? Who would buy dying port business?”

“They say it’s Gwangwoon.”

“..!”

Gwangwoon.

Those bastards again?

“The problem is all places that rejected our acquisition proposal had shares go to Gwangwoon side.”

“Wh-what!?”

How is this even possible?

Not just one place, but they can acquire only regions that become the core of the maritime Silk Road and refuse?

“Wait. That means Gwangwoon side acquired in advance knowing our route? How? Even I just learned the route selected this time not long ago?”

“We don’t know that far, but.. They say Gwangwoon has been diligently buying various port operating rights shares from a few weeks ago.”

Just like last time with the Hallyu ban.

Do these bastards really have information channels planted in authorities?

“Then we can just go through different routes, right?”

“Yes. But this route also came out after really careful consideration, and if even one thing goes wrong, plans get disrupted. So Director said to bring shares by any means necessary. Since authorities already announced it, if plans go wrong, we have to be prepared..”

Li Weiming swallowed dry saliva.

This is a major project the Chinese government is staking its pride on.

But things go wrong before even starting?

From the Commerce Ministry responsible for the maritime Silk Road?

That ending was as obvious as looking at fire.

“So now you want me to run to Gwangwoon bastards and bow my head?”

“We already sent people from our side, but.. They all refused.”

His vision spun.

Still, they can’t send the Director.

“I can’t go. Should I bow my head to those bastards?!”

Seems these bastards are retaliating from last time.

Arrogant bastards.

He’s angry to the top of his head.

“How on earth did these bastards get such information..”

Then this thought suddenly flashed by.

‘Wait. But how did they really know?’

Even on Chinese government side, probably only a few knew the final route.

Right now it was two days ago that the Commerce Ministry received orders to secure the final route.

But Gwangwoon knew it in advance.

From a few weeks ago!

‘That means..’

It means right now behind Gwangwoon is a high-ranking official Li Weiming can’t dare fathom.

In other words, someone among core Communist Party members is backing Gwangwoon.

“!?”

As his thoughts reached there, he sprang up from his seat.

“Book a ticket to Korea right now.”

“What? B-but you just said you won’t go..”

“If I don’t go, my neck flies, is this the time to argue about that! Hurry!”