How a Salaryman Became an Underworld Boss

Chairman Gomez and Chairman Bongard headed to the American embassy to obtain FBI Director Glenn Nevers’s approval for the operation to wipe out the American branch of the Chinese Triad.

Chairman Yoon Jongu and Chairman Park Yeongil were also about to leave for Hangang Group to participate in the negotiations over the creation of the joint venture.

However, because I stopped them, they never left.

Chairman Yoon Jongu lowered himself back onto the sofa and addressed me.

“Managing Director Cha, did you want to speak with us?”

“I don’t really have anything to say.”

“Then why did you stop us?”

“How about leaving the joint venture negotiations entirely to Vice Chairman Yoon?”

“Explain why you think that.”

Chairman Yoon Jongu’s voice was filled with unmistakable irritation.

Despite that, I wasn’t worried in the slightest, because I had reliable backing.

“Chairman Yoon, you won’t be able to run Hangang Group forever.”

Bang!

At that moment, Chairman Yoon Jongu felt as though someone had struck him over the head with a heavy club.

He had turned eighty-five this year.

Judging by his age alone, it wouldn’t have been surprising if he were to pass away even tonight.

So it was only natural to give more authority to Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun, whom he had already chosen as his successor.

Deep down, he had been thinking the same thing himself, yet he still insisted on personally controlling every single matter within Hangang Group, no matter how trivial.

“Managing Director Cha, thank you.”

“There’s no need to thank me.”

“So what shall we do to pass the time?”

“How about playing baduk until dinner?”

“That settles things for us, but what about you, Managing Director Cha? What are you planning to do?”

“I think I’d better join the joint venture negotiations.”

“That would be for the best. Go on.”

***

Opening the conference room door, I stepped inside and saw Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun and Chairman Hudson deeply engaged in conversation.

Not wanting to interrupt them, I quietly walked over and sat in an empty chair.

At that moment, Deputy Manager Woo Changhun, who was sitting beside me, looked at me curiously.

“Where have you been all this time?”

I couldn’t exactly tell him that I’d been delayed because I was meeting Advisor Graff and FBI Director Glenn Nevers.

“I stayed behind to accompany Chairman Yoon and Chairman Park.”

“Ah, so that’s why neither of them is taking part in the negotiations?”

“Exactly, Deputy Manager Woo. Would you mind telling me what you’ve discussed so far?”

“We agreed to establish the joint venture no later than November. Right now we’re discussing the amount of the initial capital.”

When establishing the joint venture, Hangang Electronics would contribute its semiconductor manufacturing plant as its capital contribution.

Meanwhile, Endivia, Bongard Investment Group, and Korea Investment would each contribute cash proportional to the ownership stakes they would receive.

“I see. Have you already decided on the amount of the initial capital?”

“That depends on the valuation of the semiconductor plant, but it looks like it’ll be around thirty billion dollars.”

Since Hangang Electronics would own 30.5%, that meant the plant itself was being valued at approximately nine billion dollars.

It seemed to me that the plant’s value had been significantly underestimated, but I had no right to interfere in that discussion.

“Don’t you think the initial capital is rather low?”

“We decided to deal with that later through a capital increase.”

Bzzz.

At that moment, my phone vibrated briefly in my pants pocket.

I took it out and looked at the screen. It was a message from Tracy, who was sitting across the table.

Tracy: Have you already met Director Nevers?

Cha Jiham: Yes. Chairman Gomez was there as well.

“What did you say?!”

Suddenly, Tracy shouted across the entire conference room.

Instantly, everyone’s eyes turned toward her.

She stood up, gave a slight bow in apology, and spoke.

“My apologies. I just received some shocking news and couldn’t contain myself.”

“Shocking news...? What kind of news?”

Tracy paused for a moment to think of the best way to answer before responding to Chairman Hudson.

“I’ve just been informed that Chairman Gomez of McKesson has arrived in Korea.”

“Do you know why he came?”

Tracy knew the real reason perfectly well, but she couldn’t reveal it here.

“It appears he came to meet my grandfather.”

“I see.”

With those words, Chairman Hudson turned to Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun.

“You know who Chairman Gomez is, don’t you?”

“Yes, of course.”

“He rarely ever leaves the United States.”

“Should we take that to mean something serious has happened at McKesson?”

“That’s my assumption. In light of that, I think I need to meet with him immediately.”

In other words, he was suggesting they conclude the first day’s negotiations at that point.

“Very well. Shall we resume tomorrow at ten in the morning?”

“Thank you very much for your consideration, Vice Chairman Yoon. Then we’ll be on our way.”

Chairman Hudson hurriedly left the conference room with his aides.

After seeing them off, Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun sat back down and instructed Hangang Electronics President Park Cheolsu.

“We need to report the results of today’s negotiations to the chairman. Discuss everything with Director Jeong Sunho and prepare a report.”

“It will be done.”

“You’ve all worked hard today. Return to your duties. Senior Specialist Cha, come with me.”

***

The Vice Chairman’s office.

Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun sat at the head of the table and asked in a calm voice,

“Senior Specialist Cha, you probably know why Chairman Gomez came to our country.”

“You’re absolutely right, Vice Chairman.”

“You met him?”

“I had the privilege of attending the luncheon the president hosted in his honor.”

“You mean he flew here to meet the president?”

Strictly speaking, Chairman Gomez had come to Korea to meet me. But saying that would sound like nothing more than bragging.

“This morning, FBI Director Glenn Nevers secretly arrived in Korea. Chairman Gomez accompanied him under the guise of being part of his entourage.”

“Hm, I see. Then you also know why Director Nevers came?”

Since Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun knew Chairman Park Yeongil’s true identity and understood what Korea Investment really was, there was no point hiding the truth.

“When Korea Investment employees eliminated the Korean branch of the Triad, they obtained the organization’s confidential operational records. Director Nevers came here to obtain the information concerning the American branch of the Triad.”

“I understand. What about Chairman Gomez?”

“It was confirmed that the Triad is the controlling shareholder of Golden Health, the pharmaceutical wholesale company. He came here to secretly acquire Golden Health.”

Brrrr.

At that moment, the phone lying on Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun’s desk began vibrating vigorously.

He looked at the screen and answered immediately.

I instantly guessed who was calling because the first word out of his mouth was, “Father.”

After speaking with Chairman Yoon Jongu for a moment, he suddenly turned to me.

“The chairman wants to speak with you.”

Taking the phone from Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun, I began talking to Chairman Yoon Jongu.

“Yes, Chairman.”

[Chairman Gomez has requested an urgent meeting. Get over here immediately.]

Director Nevers must have objected to Chairman Gomez’s proposal. Now Chairman Gomez wanted to meet me to resolve the problem.

“Understood. I’ll leave immediately.”

***

Chairman’s office at Korea Investment.

After receiving permission to enter, I stepped inside and froze in confusion.

Chairman Gomez was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong of the National Police Agency was sitting on the sofa.

While I hesitated, trying to assess the situation, Chairman Park Yeongil spoke.

“Chairman Gomez is on his way.”

“Ah, I see.”

With that, I sat down on an empty sofa and asked Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong,

“Commissioner, what brings you here?”

“Chairman Park summoned me.”

As though he had been waiting for that moment, Chairman Park Yeongil began speaking.

“I’ll explain why I called Commissioner Choi once Chairman Gomez arrives.”

“I understand, but is the situation really that serious?”

“There wasn’t any strength left in his voice.”

“What a shame...”

Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong let out a sympathetic sigh.

“You remember that we’re only handing Chairman Gomez the materials concerning the American branch of the Triad, don’t you?”

“Of course I do. But what should we do about the two billion dollars?”

“As far as I know, that money should be turned over to the state treasury.”

“To transfer such unlawful proceeds into the national treasury, we have to follow very specific legal procedures. And during those procedures, we’ll inevitably have to disclose where the money came from.”

Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong had expected to receive two billion dollars in exchange for providing Chairman Gomez with the materials on the American branch of the Triad.

If those facts were disclosed as they were, the news would reach the Triad leadership in the blink of an eye.

If that happened, all the confidential information they’d worked so hard to obtain would become completely worthless.

That was exactly what Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong was worried about.

Chairman Park Yeongil looked at the silently seated Cha Jiham.

“How can we put Commissioner Choi’s concerns to rest?”

“Our company also possesses information on the American branch of the Triad.”

“You mean our company should provide the information to Chairman Gomez instead of the police?”

“I believe that would be the cleanest and most elegant solution.”

“What do you think, Commissioner?”

“Do I really have any other choice?”

Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong replied reluctantly. He clearly hated the thought of letting two billion dollars slip through his fingers.

To ease his frustration, I continued immediately.

“Commissioner, I’m not finished yet.”

“Go on.”

“We’ll donate the two billion dollars received from Chairman Gomez for the information to the police.”

“That’s right! That’s exactly what we’ll do!”

Finding the idea brilliant, Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong slapped his knee enthusiastically.

“Commissioner, has your disappointment disappeared now?”

“Ha-ha! Of course!”

Knock. Knock. Knock.

At that moment, after a brief knock, the secretary entered and handed Chairman Park Yeongil a note.

He unfolded it, quickly read it, then looked at the secretary in confusion.

“That many people came?”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“My office is too small. Take them to the executive conference room.”

As soon as the secretary left, Chairman Yoon Jongu looked at Chairman Park Yeongil.

“I thought only Chairman Gomez and Chairman Bongard had come.”

“You’ll see soon enough.”

Chairman Park Yeongil replied indifferently as he rose from his seat.

***

Following Chairman Park Yeongil, I entered the executive conference room and was genuinely surprised by what I saw.

Besides Chairman Gomez and Chairman Bongard, the room was filled with the entire American delegation that had come to Korea this time: Advisor Graff, FBI Director Glenn Nevers, Ambassador Tony Goodwin, Chairman Hudson, as well as Tracy, Gloria, and Isabella.

The others make sense, but why are those three girls here? I wondered curiously as I took an empty seat.

Looking apologetic, Chairman Gomez opened the meeting.

“Chairman Park, Chairman Hudson already knows who I really am.”

“I understand. But what is your relationship with these three lovely young ladies?”

Chairman Gomez did not answer Chairman Park Yeongil’s question. He simply gave a slight nod.

Then Gloria, who was sitting at the far end on the right, stood up and introduced herself.

“Hello. I’m Chairman Gomez’s granddaughter...”

As all three young women introduced themselves one after another, Chairman Yoon Jongu nearly grabbed his head in despair.

And it was no wonder.

Gloria, Tracy, and Isabella were all unbelievably beautiful.

At this rate, they’re going to steal our Specialist Cha right out from under our noses!

While those troubling thoughts raced through his mind, Chairman Gomez continued,

“By the way, my granddaughter and these two ladies all know Director Cha very well.”

“Ha-ha-ha!”

As if he had read Chairman Yoon Jongu’s mind, Chairman Park Yeongil burst into laughter.

When his laughter finally subsided, Chairman Yoon Jongu grumbled with obvious displeasure,

“Chairman Park, what are you laughing so hard for?”

“You know perfectly well why I’m laughing.”

“In my entire life, I’ve never let anyone take what’s mine.”

Chairman Yoon Jongu clenched his right fist tightly, radiating absolute, unwavering confidence.