CH101 | MCT

Taeyang Group (4)

Jang Junyong of Geumsan said,
“Han Cheong-ho from Cheongil sent out invitations to the groundbreaking ceremony for Cheongil Hotel—to politicians and business leaders—on the exact same date and time as this event. Everyone probably went there.”

It was a deliberate move to sabotage Tae-soo’s event.

A petty and cheap trick.

“Jangsoo Bank must have received an invitation too. Why did they come here instead of Han Cheongho’s event?”

“And why did Chairman Jang of Geumsan come here instead of going there?”

“Well, I preferred to attend this event rather than that one.”

“Let’s say I feel the same way.”

Jang Junyong and Jang Mal-dong smiled slyly.

“I heard that President Kang Tae-soo got on His Excellency’s bad side, so bank loans were blocked tight. But now I see you have friends in the bank too.”

“I’m glad to confirm that Chairman Jang of Geumsan and Chairman Han of Cheongil are enemies in reality.”

Lee Changwon of the heavy machinery company and No Ilguk of the oil refinery came over to greet them.

“Long time no see, both of you.”

“Thank you for attending.”

Jang Junyong looked puzzled.

Lee Changwon and No Ilguk were known for their constant fights whenever they met.

But surprisingly, they seemed quite amicable today.

“Why are the two raging leaders of Cheongil so tame here at Taeyang?”

Both answered simultaneously,
“Because of overwork.”

“They’re too busy to have the energy to fight.”

Jang Junyong laughed heartily.

“Looks like Chairman Kang is really keeping you busy.”

At that moment, more than ten taxis started arriving in a line in the parking lot.

Everyone’s eyes were drawn to the scene.

From the front five taxis, foreign bodyguards in black suits poured out.

The same happened from the rear five taxis.

They quickly formed a security formation and opened the door of the taxi in the middle.

A very extravagantly dressed foreigner stepped out of the taxi.

Tae-soo recognized the familiar face and smiled slightly.

“Rahman, thank you for coming such a long way.”

“My friend is starting a family business and holding a launch ceremony—I couldn’t miss it.”

Rahman approached Tae-soo.

Then the bodyguards swiftly secured the surroundings.

Like the Red Sea parting, a path opened up, and everyone gasped.

“What is going on here?”

“What kind of foreign dignitary is that? His entire body is shining.”

“Is he some kind of royalty or even a king?”

Some of the guesses were halfway right.

In fact, Rahman was indeed a member of the Saudi royal family.

“Congratulations from the bottom of my heart.”

“Allow me to also offer my belated congratulations, Rahman. I heard you were promoted as the person in charge of developing the eastern cities of Saudi Arabia?”

“It’s all thanks to you.”

Rahman lightly tapped Tae-soo on the shoulder.

“I’m personally planning the Jubail Industrial Port construction. Looks like we can move the bidding date earlier than expected.”

At that moment, Jang Junyong from Geumsan sprang to his feet.

“It’s a real honor to meet the person in charge of the $1 billion Jubail Industrial Port project! I’m Jang Junyong of Geumsan!”

This was a project worth nearly half of South Korea’s government budget.

Jang Junyong was meeting face-to-face with the person handling this major project.

“Who’s this?”

“He’s someone with a strong interest in the Jubail Industrial Port construction. I think he might be joining me in a joint bid. You must have heard of Geumsan.”

“Ah, now I recognize him—it’s the guy who supplied water via oil tankers to Saudi Arabia.”

When Rahman recognized him, Jang Junyong quickly stuck close by.

“When do you expect the bidding for the Jubail Industrial Port to happen?”

Jang Junyong was keenly pressing for details.

Tae-soo then recognized another familiar face stepping out of a taxi.

“Song So-ri.”

“Long time no see. How have you been? My father told me to come and report to you personally.”

“I was just waiting for you. How did the job go?”

“I brought it. Whose name is it under?”

Perfect timing.

Tae-soo had even gone to find Elder Jang Maldong just in case the timing wouldn’t match—but here they were, perfectly on schedule.

Preparations were more than enough.

“Where’s the goods?”

“In the taxi trunk. Here.”

Tae-soo called over Han-soo.

“Help move the items Song So-ri brought into my car trunk.”

“Got it.”

Song So-ri glanced at Tae-soo.

“Someone important sent a telegram saying they’re willing to provide a private jet. They want you to come to Jubail.”

“I sent a telegram to Rahman just in case. Otherwise, Song So-ri would have had to smuggle these items in.”

Song So-ri nodded.

“So that’s how it turned out. You have very good friends. Thanks to a wealthy friend with high status, you get to fly private, face minimal inspection, get your goods through smoothly, and even get a taxi ride.”

“Thank you for coming such a long way.”

Tae-soo checked his watch and loudly announced,

“Let’s start the Taeyang Group launch ceremony!”

The Taeyang Group launch ceremony was in full swing.

Tae-soo was reading his commemorative speech when a black jeep suddenly drove into the middle of the venue.

It bore a large emblem of the Central Intelligence Agency.

“From the Central Intelligence Agency?”

“What could this be about?”

The staff all wore anxious expressions.

Whenever the CIA showed up, it often meant someone was about to be taken away.

Naturally, everyone’s hearts were filled with worry and unease.

Beep-

Tae-soo lowered the microphone and quietly observed the situation.

A CIA agent got out of the vehicle and steadily walked toward Tae-soo.

“The CIA has come.”

“What business brings you here?”

“I was sent on behalf of His Excellency, who said he had something to convey.”

Park Jeonghwan had not attended the Taeyang Group launch ceremony.

Yet it wasn’t the security detail but an agent from the CIA who had come with a message.

“There are three matters to address.”

Everyone leaned in to listen.

The hundreds of Taeyang employees gathered inside fell into a deathly silence.

“First, His Excellency congratulates Taeyang Group on its official launch today as a chaebol enterprise and hopes it will greatly contribute to the national economy going forward.”

Hearing this, the employees breathed a sigh of relief.

It was a fortunate message.

“Second, due to the nation’s economy struggling severely from the oil crisis, extraordinary measures will be taken against insolvent companies.”

Taeyang Group was far from being an insolvent company.

Just as the employees were about to relax again,

“In that regard, His Excellency commands that Taeyang Group immediately repay in full the debts of all acquired companies.”

Gasps were heard here and there.

How much debt did those companies have?

How could they be expected to repay it all at once?

This was a serious matter.

‘I knew it would come to this.’

What Tae-soo feared had finally happened.

“The third and final matter is...”

The CIA agent walked forward again, step by step.

He snatched the microphone from Tae-soo’s hand and completely shut it off.

Then, leaning close, he whispered in Tae-soo’s ear:

“You do know that if you want to make money in South Korea, you have to pay tribute up the chain, right?”

He was demanding political funds.

“They said to just feed Cheongil Refinery, but you even took the heavy equipment company. So you’ll have to pay a proper price for that. Isn’t that right?”

“How much do you want?”

“One billion won.”

That’s close to 30 billion won in 2020 terms.

It was an excessive amount to demand right after the group’s launch.

But the CIA agent didn’t see it that way at all.

“His Excellency said that how you respond will determine the amount and schedule for installment payments.”

It was ridiculous.

“Kneel down, bow your head, and beg His Excellency. Otherwise, the Taeyang Group that just launched today might be disbanded tomorrow.”

The agent smiled bitterly.

Tae-soo met his gaze and smiled back.

“Is His Excellency attending the Cheongil Hotel groundbreaking ceremony right now?”

“And if so, what will you do?”

“I’ll go meet him personally and deliver the tribute.”

The CIA agent’s eyes widened.

Usually, when political funds are first requested from companies, their responses fall into three categories:

• First, those who stiffly refuse, saying they can’t pay no matter what.

• Second, those who plead for a discount, clinging desperately.

• ·Third, those who try to bribe under the table and manipulate paperwork.

But this guy was different.

He readily said he would pay political funds himself.

And not just a small amount—10 billion won!

“Did I hear wrong? It’s not one billion but ten billion?”

“You heard right. Ten billion.”

“And you’re going to hand that over right now?”

“Isn’t that why you came all this way—to collect it?”

“…….”

He was completely at a loss for words.

Sure, they had come to collect the money, but who would have dreamed they could actually get it right then and there?

‘Who in their right mind could just show up out of nowhere and demand ten billion won on the spot—and actually have that kind of money ready to hand over?’

Even visiting the heads of chaebols had never gone like this.

Without exception, they always begged for time, promising to prepare the money bag soon.

“Let’s go.”

“Where?”

Surprisingly, the CIA agent asked back cluelessly.

“To where His Excellency is. He’s at the Cheongil Hotel groundbreaking ceremony, right?”

“…Probably.”

“Then let’s depart immediately. It’d be a hassle if we delay and His Excellency leaves.”

“……”

Tae-soo snatched the microphone from the CIA agent.

He switched it on in one swift move and smiled toward the employees.

“That concludes the Taeyang Group launch ceremony.”

What?

The ceremony ended just five minutes after it started?

People had come all the way from Gangwon, Seoul, and Incheon to attend this.

“Are you upset because the ceremony was too short? How about standing under the blazing August sun for hours to build comradeship? I’m confident I can deliver a long congratulatory speech too.”

Everyone was startled but loudly responded:

“Not at all!”

“Thank you for your hard work!”

Tae-soo smiled in satisfaction.

With this brief joke, the employees relaxed and started to smile.

“I’m going with this gentleman to the neighboring hotel’s groundbreaking ceremony. So don’t worry and enjoy the lunch we’ve prepared.”

The entire Taeyang staff murmured, looking at each other.

“My mother’s cooking is amazing. It’s going to be a delicious lunch, so you can look forward to it.”

“Wooooah!”

The miners, who knew Tae-soo’s mother’s cooking well, were the first to cheer loudly.

Soon, other Taeyang employees showed curiosity.

By then, all worries had disappeared far away.

‘Good. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.’

Tae-soo looked for Vice Presidents Lee Chang-won of heavy equipment and No Il-guk of oil refining.

“Vice Presidents Lee Chang-won, No Il-guk. You will come with me.”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

This time, Tae-soo glanced back at Jang Maldong.

“Bank President Jang, you’re coming with us too.”

“Huh? Me as well?”

“If you don’t want to pay, then don’t come.”

“Let’s go!”

As Tae-soo turned off the microphone, Rahman quietly approached.

[Did Han Cheong-ho pull a stunt?]

[As you can see.]

[Where are you headed now?]

[To Han Cheong-ho’s event. I plan to meet the president there and sit down with the bank presidents to settle this.]

It looked like it was going to be quite an interesting show.

[If it’s that kind of place, I’m coming too.]

That was the very reason he had come all this way without hesitation.

When Rahman decided to go, his bodyguards quickly followed suit.

“Ah, too bad. I’m the only one not going.”

Of all places, they were headed to Han Cheong-ho’s event.

Only Song So-ri looked disappointed.

Still, she was diligently carrying her tray, carefully gathering her food.

How long had it been since she’d eaten a proper Korean meal like this?

Vroom-vroom.

Cars and taxis lined up and left in a procession.

All set to make a real scene at the Cheongil Hotel groundbreaking ceremony.

What kind of scene? A mess, a real ruckus.