For The Musical Genius (Novel) - Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Discord
“What are you doing with Daehan Group?”
The reception room was filled with the lingering scent of old incense.
“It was my mistake. I will recover all the investment funds as soon as possible.”
“Leave it be.”
“Excuse me?”
Son Il-seon raised his head and looked at Chairman Wang. It was a mistake that deserved reprimand. He had let personal thoughts interfere and messed up the task. Chairman Wang’s eyes, despite his age, were sharper than ever, like a sword that had been honed over a long time.
“If you rashly try to recover the investment funds, you might face a backlash, especially since the political world is on edge. In times like these, you need to step back and move cautiously. Acting recklessly will only lead to a fall, so you must be careful.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
A brief silence fell between the two. It was Chairman Wang who broke the silence.
“Il-seon.”
“Yes, Father.”
“The stone Buddha once said, ‘A mistake made out of ignorance leaves little impression, but a mistake made out of carelessness leaves a lasting memory.’ In the future, Daehan Group will have its roots pulled out, and the Republic of Korea connected to those roots will shake. You must never forget today’s mistake.”
Son Il-seon’s Adam’s apple bobbed heavily. Whenever he spoke with his father, he felt like he had returned to his childhood. Whether then or now, his father seemed like an unapproachable mountain. While Korea was like a cruise ship caught in a storm, precarious and unstable, his father remained calm, without a hint of wavering, like a Go master who could see hundreds of moves ahead.
“Father, I have confirmed that the second son of Chairman Yoo is listed on Kim Dae-sik’s list.”
Kim Dae-sik’s list referred to the list of funds lobbied by Kim Dae-sik, the head of Daehan Group. It was a document that would inevitably come to light if Daehan Steel went bankrupt and Daehan Group collapsed, a list that would once again bring a storm of bloodshed to Korea. If that happened, Dongju, marked with a scarlet letter, would not be safe either. However.
“Il-seon, do you know how Chairman Yoo and I have managed to hold our positions until this age? We promised never to reach out to each other, no matter who falls. Do not let personal feelings ruin your management. Remember that the name of Jeil Group always follows your choices!”
It was a sharp and resolute piece of advice. But as Chairman Wang sipped his tea, the corners of his mouth seemed to carry a faint smile. His sharp gaze seemed to point to someone beyond his line of sight.
“How will you navigate through this crisis?”
*
Damn it!
The musical notes on the staff twisted violently, as if the staves were screaming. It was a continuous stream of complex emotions, starting with anger, much like Schubert’s “Erlkönig.” It must be a clear projection of my current feelings. Like reading a novel without pauses, the notes flowed seamlessly until a fermata was written on the last bar, finally marking the end.
“People who don’t believe in the stories of Beethoven, Mozart, and Schubert would nod in agreement if they saw you now. You fill the staff with notes as if pouring out a musical phrase. In that sense, can I take a look?”
It was Baek Jeong-hoon, who had been quietly sitting until now. How strange, it felt as if he had been a teacher who taught me the ropes during my studies abroad. His timing was impeccable. Before I could say anything, he had already approached me. But he was someone I could never dislike. He carefully took the score I handed him, as if cradling a newborn baby.
Baek Jeong-hoon’s gaze followed the notes on the staff without missing a beat. The moment his eyes reached the fermata on the last bar.
“Ha.”
An unstoppable exclamation of admiration escaped him.
“Now I understand why the record labels are so desperate to find you. If a score written in one go, based on swirling emotions, is this good, what about your other works? If they knew your studio was filled with scores, people from all over the world would be rushing to you with blank checks.”
Baek Jeong-hoon had been asking me many things lately. From the repertoire for his recital to comprehensive theories and abstract concepts about music. His serious attitude made it hard for me to respond lightly.
“Do you want to add ‘Iron Blood’ to your repertoire?” Baek Jeong-hoon nodded without hesitation. A repertoire is not something that can be changed as easily as flipping a pancake. It is a list that is completed after much deliberation. Moreover, this is his first recital since returning to Korea. Baek Jeong-hoon is a pianist who carries the expectations of many audiences. Playing an unfamiliar piece in such a setting is akin to gambling.
“Please, Hyun.”
“I’ll do it until it’s perfect?”
Baek Jeong-hoon smiled brightly, as if he had been waiting for this.
Dum-dum-dum-dum!
His fingers moved incessantly on the keys. Then it happened.
“Again.”
It was a fleeting moment, but the pitch was off. It was a subtle adjustment, like relaxing a finger, so slight that an ordinary person might not notice. But to me, it sounded as loud as the creaking of gears. Baek Jeong-hoon clicked his tongue at my ability to spot the mistake, but paradoxically, he looked happier than ever.
“Again.”
It was enough to hurt one’s pride, but Baek Jeong-hoon silently listened to me. From the first movement, played with Adagio sostenuto, putting strength into each note, to the second movement, building tension like a thick fog, and the third movement, rushing fiercely. Baek Jeong-hoon’s breathing became rough, and his arms were already trembling slightly. But I didn’t stop.
“Again.”
There wasn’t much time left until the recital. As Baek Jeong-hoon said, adding ‘Iron Blood’ to the repertoire officially required that much effort. I found the mistakes and helped interpret the score. Even a genius couldn’t fully interpret a score in a short time. As Baek Jeong-hoon said, getting help from the composer was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How much time had passed? His shirt was already soaked with sweat, as if he had been caught in a downpour.
“Hyung.”
I unconsciously grabbed Baek Jeong-hoon’s hand, which was moving to the first note of the score.
“It’s done.”
Though he was on the verge of exhaustion, Baek Jeong-hoon’s eyes were clearer than ever. Truly, the maestro of ‘Iron Blood.’ From the middle of the piece, he had immersed himself in his own world, playing as if possessed. It was as if time had stopped. His deep gaze and passion cleared my cluttered mind. The moment Baek Jeong-hoon’s ‘Iron Blood’ was completed,
“History repeats itself, Hyun. Where will you stand?”
I also knew where I needed to go.
* * *
Splash-splash!
As I scattered fish food in the pond, the golden carp eagerly poked their mouths out. Chairman Wang watched them with a peculiar gaze.
“Father, it’s cold. Shouldn’t you go inside?”
The rainy season had just ended, and the weather was unusually cool for summer. The occasional cold breeze made me worry that my father-in-law, dressed in a thick coat, might catch a cold. Chairman Wang didn’t take his eyes off the golden carp gathered together.
“Nanny, isn’t it strange? These carp. It hasn’t been long since I fed them, yet they’ve already forgotten and are eagerly opening their mouths again. It’s all the same. Human greed knows no end. Daehan Steel has collapsed, and soon there will be a hearing for Kim Dae-sik of Daehan Group, right? How many will be caught in that bait?”
“Father, Chairman Kim isn’t the type to easily open his mouth, is he?”
No wonder Kim Dae-sik’s nickname was ‘The Lock.’ Whether it was the prosecution or a hearing, no matter the pressure, he was famous for never opening his mouth. Then Chairman Wang brushed off the remaining fish food in the pond. By now, the carp should have been full, but they still eagerly poked their heads out.
“Kim Dae-sik is also just a human, and a very greedy one at that. In the end, he will spill everything to save himself. Someone has to die in this situation.”
Rumors about the list of names on Kim Dae-sik’s list were circulating among the chaebol families. But not among the public. No wonder there were even protests. The sound of petitions demanding the disclosure of the corruption list grew louder every day. Regardless of the reason, anyone whose name was on Kim Dae-sik’s list was as good as finished.
“Then isn’t Dongju in danger too?”
“Of course, it’s as if they’ve been marked with a scarlet letter.”
Director Im Hye-ra was puzzled. She knew that her father-in-law and Dongju’s Chairman Yoo were close friends, but his current attitude made them seem like strangers. Perhaps it was Chairman Wang’s meticulous personality that had brought Jeil Group to where it was today. Then, Chairman Wang gave a strange smile.
“You can’t be a nobleman.” “Excuse me?”
“Wait and see, everything depends on that child.”
At that moment, a familiar boy was walking from beyond the garden.
*
Early in the morning, I headed to the grand mansion in Pyeongchang-dong. It wasn’t a day for playing Go, so it was strange, but Mr. Kim, the driver, drove me to Pyeongchang-dong without a word. Compared to the chaos at the Ichon-dong mansion due to my uncle, the grand mansion in Pyeongchang-dong felt as serene as a quiet forest in the morning.
“Hyun, warm green tea is good in the morning.”
Chairman Wang greeted me as if he had been waiting. He even poured me a cup of green tea he had brewed himself. After some time, I broke the silence.
“Grandfather, I hope you can make Uncle Beom-kyung’s incident disappear.”
Chairman Wang had a smile on his face that he couldn’t hide. Having known me for a long time, he wasn’t surprised. In fact, he seemed to have anticipated this situation.
“Why should I do that? Your grandfather and I never interfere in each other’s family affairs or management.”
“There are two reasons.”
Two reasons? Chairman Wang nodded with interest.
“First, you are the only one who can resolve this issue. Even my grandfather can’t do it.”
From the beginning, my grandfather, unlike Chairman Wang, didn’t have wide connections in the political world. Moreover, Chairman Wang had long since deeply rooted himself in the political world under the guise of scholarships, not to mention the strategic planning office. In Korea, there was nothing that couldn’t be done through Chairman Wang’s hands.
“Second, it’s a deal that benefits you.”
“A deal?”
“Yes, a deal.”
Chairman Wang’s eyes showed clear interest, but there was also an undeniable sharpness hidden within. He was like a thousand-year-old serpent coiled tightly.
“Hyun, what you’re asking for isn’t as easy as you think. Your grandfather will have to make a significant profit from this deal. Is that possible?”
Of course, I’ll pay the full price and even add a hefty profit.
“Korea will collapse in the future.”
“Even though Daehan Steel has collapsed, isn’t it too early to make such a conclusion?”
“It’s not a hasty conclusion.”
My firm answer made Chairman Wang gesture for me to continue.
“Daehan Steel is just the beginning. The current conglomerates are all maintaining irrational structures. Not only do they engage in accounting fraud, but they also carry massive financial debts due to government-controlled finance. Eventually, the suspension of operations by investment banks will lead to numerous companies collapsing like dominoes. The speed of this collapse will outpace the news.”
Chairman Wang struggled to swallow his surprise. The shaking of the old serpent’s eyes was enough to tell. What I had said was likely already simulated in Jeil Group’s strategic planning office. But he probably never imagined such specific details would flow so smoothly from a young boy’s mouth.
“Hyun, are you sure of what you’re saying?”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“Then why are you telling me this?”
He didn’t ask how I knew all this. Chairman Wang, who had known me for the past two years, probably expected this.
“Because I don’t want to see Dongju fall.”
It was a simple answer, but Chairman Wang looked as if he had expected it. Being marked with a scarlet letter on Kim Dae-sik’s list might not seem like a big deal, but in this era, it’s a problem. In the future, political power will still be formidable. Moreover, this is the conservative 20th century. There’s an old saying: if a thief catches you, they only take the money you have, but if you get caught by the political world, they take not only your current assets but also your future earnings. Dongju, with its groundbreaking new material, Griffin, is a feast that no one can resist.
So far, it’s a tie.
I played my final card.
“In the future, I will never refuse any request from Chairman Son Jang-won, not even once.”
I didn’t call him grandfather. In a deal, it’s crucial to assess the other party’s position. Chairman Wang burst into hearty laughter. Although I had faced the old serpent for a long time, this was the first time I had seen him laugh so heartily. “In all my years, I’ve never been so envious of an old man. To think you’d propose such a profitable deal.”
A merchant never loses his cool, no matter the situation.
“Who could refuse?”
The moment my first deal with Chairman Wang was sealed.