CH88 | MCT

The Victor of Negotiation (4)

Outside the conference room where Tae-soo and Han Cheong-ho had entered.

Hearing the loud crashes and banging from inside, Jang Jun-yong of Geumsan clicked his tongue.

“They’re wrecking someone else’s hotel. Damn brat.”

Secretary Kim, standing beside him, chuckled.

“Well, thanks to clearing it all out in advance, there isn’t much left to break anyway.”

Inside, all that remained was a single table, four sofas, and one trash can.

For such a vast conference room, the furnishings were pitifully few.

And even those were slated for disposal.

Jang Jun-yong nodded with a laugh.

“That Kang Tae-soo… he really is something else.”

“Seriously. That just means he predicted Han Cheong-ho would lose his mind like that.”

“If I were Kang Tae-soo, and Han Cheong-ho had pulled that garbage, I’d have crushed him already. Guillotine choke, power splash, atomic drop, somersault kick, shoulder sluster, moonsault…”

As Jang mimicked pro-wrestling moves, Secretary Kim turned his head away.

A clear sign to stop with the nonsense.

Jang awkwardly cleared his throat. “Ahem.”

“Anyway, the one who should be going berserk in there is Kang Tae-soo, not Han Cheong-ho.”

“That’s true.”

As if Secretary Kim didn’t already know the mess Han Cheong-ho had caused.

That’s why he had raised his voice with Jang Jun-yong in the hotel lobby earlier.

But now, the one going completely berserk in the meeting room wasn’t Tae-soo —it was Han Cheong-ho.

“Losing Cheongil Refinery was always part of the plan. There really shouldn’t be all this noise.”

“I wonder what Tae-soo said to set him off like that…”

"That’s what I’m curious about. For someone like Han Cheong-ho, who always tries to save face, to go off the rails like that—there must be a good reason."

Secretary Kim was just as curious.

But it wasn’t like he could just barge into a corporate M&A negotiation.

Jang Jun-yong of Geumsan clicked his tongue lightly.

“Better to casually ask him about it over a celebratory drink later, don’t you think?”

“Great idea, Chairman.”

Jang Jun-yong and Secretary Kim exchanged amused looks.

If they used Han Cheong-ho’s downfall as their drinking topic, tonight's gathering would be one of the most entertaining ever.

Inside the conference room.

Tae-soo waved the photo slightly.

“Make a decision. Should I send this to the President, or not?”

It was a picture of Han Cheong-ho and Park Jeong-hwan’s wife walking out of a hotel arm-in-arm.

There were others too: a photo of them kissing in a car, one of them embracing each other.

“Give me that!”

Han Cheong-ho quickly snatched the photo from Tae-soo’s hand.

His hand trembled as he held it.

This can never reach Park Jeong-hwan. If he sees this, Cheongil is finished!

It had happened in the hotel lobby.

When Park Jeong-hwan refused to budge, Han had no choice but to reach for the First Lady.

As a result, Cheongil had received government support to establish Cheongil Heavy Machinery.

That bastard figured it out and intentionally demanded Cheongil Heavy Machinery!

He must’ve known this would happen—he came prepared with a one-page contract.

It was no coincidence Cheongil Heavy Machinery was included. It was a calculated move.

If Jeong-hwan finds out I laid hands on his wife, he won’t just kill me—he’ll kill that bastard too. Everyone dies. A man like him doesn’t leave anyone alive who knows his secrets!

Han Cheong-ho glared at Tae-soo as if he could kill him with his eyes.

“If this ends up in Park Jeong-hwan’s hands, you’re dead too, bastard. You’re going to die just to take me down with you? Don’t be ridiculous. You don’t have the guts.”

“Who knows? That’s not really my concern.”

Tae-soo gave a sly grin.

“I don’t think I’ll have to stake my life on this.”

“Don’t play dumb. Do you really think Park Jeong-hwan will believe you're innocent?”

“He’ll believe me. Besides, I’m not even involved, am I? If someone has to die, it’ll be the person in the photo. Don’t you think?”

At Tae-soo’s calm reply, Han Cheong-ho scoffed.

“Be honest. Where did you get it?”

“Where do you think? From someone who’s already dead.”

He had a suspect in mind.
Someone who knew his movements well.

“The chauffeur—damn bastard!”

The driver was already dead.

He had been eliminated when a special agent was dragged off to the Central Intelligence Agency, as part of a clean-up operation.

And yet, even from the grave, the dead man had come back to haunt him.

Suppressing his panic, Han Cheong-ho asked in a carefully measured tone.

“Is that the only photo?”

“It is.”

“Good.”

Rip. Rip. Rippp. Shrrrk. Tear.

Han Cheong-ho tore the photo apart with all his strength.

He shredded it until it was completely unrecognizable.

“Damn it… I nearly died back there.”

He heaved a deep sigh of relief.

Cold sweat trickled down his spine like an icy stream.

Han Cheong-ho looked at Tae-soo and let out a low, tense laugh.

Having just passed the worst of the crisis, a strange sense of relief crept in.

“Heh… What a shame. The only evidence is gone now. So, how do you plan to report this to Park Jeong-hwan?”

“Thanks to you, I can pretend I know nothing. Which means my life is safe and sound.”

Then, something else appeared from inside Tae-soo’s jacket.

“I only intended to deliver the film. It’s a keepsake of Han Cheong-ho’s late chauffeur. Just doing the respectful thing by passing it along. I mean, I wouldn’t know what’s on it unless I looked, right?”

A cold sweat burst down Han Cheong-ho’s back like a fountain.

“You crazy bastard!”

“Now that the President will see the photos for himself, who do you think he’ll want to kill first? Can you say for certain I’ll be on that list?”

Han Cheong-ho lunged forward, trying to snatch the film canister.

But unlike before, Tae-soo didn’t let it go easily this time.

“The contract—or the film. Choose.”

“Aaaaargh!”

Han Cheong-ho's eyes rolled back in fury as he lunged to snatch the film, but Tae-soo was faster.

“Secretary Park! Grab that from him!”

“Huh? Y-yes!”

Secretary Park, who had been trembling in the corner, finally took a hesitant step forward.

But Han-soo stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

“Against the wall.”

“Pardon?”

Han-soo slammed his fist into the wall right beside Secretary Park’s temple.

BANG! The loud thud echoed through the room, and Secretary Park froze in fear.

His whole body began to tremble like a leaf.

“I said get against the wall.”

“Y-yes...”

Secretary Park turned around and pressed his forehead flat against the wall.

“You know what’ll happen if you move, right?”

“Y-yes...”

He kept shaking, unable to even turn around.

The sight of it made Han Cheong-ho’s blood boil.

Unlike the sharp and dependable Secretary Song, Secretary Park had always been too weak-willed.

That’s why Han had never entrusted him with much.

But leaving him idle had backfired at this crucial moment.

“Kang Tae-soo! If that gets to the President, you’ll be dragged into this too! I swear, I’ll find a way to take you down with me!”

“Being tied to a scandal? That’s not so bad. Not when compared to the complete destruction of Cheongil Group.”

Tae-soo smiled as he casually waved the film canister in his hand.

“To buy Cheongil Oil and Cheongil Heavy Industries for ten won each—twenty won in total—that risk is worth it, don’t you think?”

Han Cheong-ho glared at him with venomous eyes.

“Even if you walk out of here with that film, there’s a long way to go before it reaches the President! You think I can’t stop it? You’ll vanish without a trace!”

But Tae-soo remained unfazed.

“Chairman Jang of Geumsan and his secretary are probably standing right outside that door, waiting for us to wrap up this contract.”

“What?”

They had met earlier in the hotel lobby as they entered.

“Shall I pass the film outside the door? Do you think Chairman Jang of Geumsan will bow down to Cheongil’s Han Cheong-ho’s threats? Do you think he’ll be unable to deliver the film to the President?”

Tae-soo’s words didn’t sound like a lie.

“You have too much to lose. Am I right? Han Cheong-ho, make your choice now!”

Tae-soo’s words fell like a thunderclap.

“Hand the film over to Park Jeong-hwan and watch Cheongil Group crumble! Or hand over Cheongil Oil and Cheongil Heavy Industries to me! You have 10 seconds to decide! 10! 9! 8! 7…”

As he counted down, Tae-soo walked calmly toward the conference room door.

Without hesitation, he reached for the doorknob and opened it.

“2! 1!”

Through the crack in the door, Han Cheong-ho could see that Chairman Jang of Geumsan and Secretary Kim were indeed standing outside.

For a moment, their eyes locked.

“0!”

“Enough!”

Han Cheong-ho finally raised both hands.

“I’ll… I’ll sign the contract...”

“Good decision.”

Tae-soo turned back and closed the door.

From behind it, Han Cheong-ho could see the frantic expression of Chairman Jang, trying to reach for something, only for Secretary Kim to hurriedly stop him.

The door clicked shut.

Thud.

With the tension finally released, Han Cheong-ho collapsed onto the floor.

His hands trembling, he pulled a pen from his pocket.

The crumpled contract was fumbled open.

Lying on the floor, he signed it.

‘Signing like this feels just like a sinner offering a confession.’

Tae-soo watched from a distance, looking down at Han Cheong-ho’s bowed head and hunched shoulders with satisfaction.

“It’s over.”

“There are still two more copies of the contract. One for me, and one for the President. You’ll need to sign them.”

“Where are they? Give them to me. I’ll finish signing.”

“What you threw, you pick up and do it.”

It was the contract placed on the table.

After Han Cheong-ho kicked the table, the contract flew far away.

Han Cheong-ho picked it up from the floor and signed it.

With a drained expression, Han Cheong-ho looked at Tae-soo.

“Are you satisfied now?”

Not yet.

All he had done was take Cheongil Oil and Cheongil Heavy Industries.

But watching Han Cheong-ho’s resigned face was truly satisfying.

“I’ve signed the contract. Now, give me the film.”

Tae-soo threw the film canister to Han Cheong-ho.

Han Cheong-ho pulled the film out and examined it under the fluorescent lights.

“It’s the original, for sure.”

“I don’t play games with things like this.”

When light hits the film, it can ruin the exposure, so Han Cheong-ho wasn’t satisfied. He grabbed a lighter and held it to the end of the film, setting it on fire.

Whoosh.

The flammable material quickly ignited.

Han Cheong-ho watched blankly as the film burned, then picked up the torn pieces of the photos and threw them into the fire.

In an instant, everything was reduced to ash.

His face, too, looked as if only ashes remained.

“Cheongil Oil, Cheongil Heavy Industries. I’ll make good use of them. Here’s the promised acquisition price.”

Tae-soo took out two 10-won coins from his pocket and tossed them like a charitable donation.

Clink. Clatter.

The 20-won coins rolled toward Han Cheong-ho.

They rolled perfectly and stopped right in front of him.

“Ha, haha, hahahaha.”

Han Cheong-ho laughed bitterly.

But deep inside, the laughter was full of boiling hatred.

“Kang Tae-soo, you’ve won this time.”

Han Cheong-ho raised his eyes and glared at Tae-soo.

Unlike before, his eyes were now filled with deadly intent.

“But I’m not finished yet. The winner is the one who laughs last.”

“Then I’ll be the one laughing last.”

Tae-soo turned his back.

Han-soo followed behind him.

Han Cheong-ho watched Tae-soo’s back and spoke.

“Aren’t you afraid of the consequences?”

“Consequences? What consequences?”

“Now you have a lot to protect, don’t you?”

“The company? My family’s safety?”

Tae-soo turned around.

He walked toward Han Cheong-ho.

Thud, thud.

Tae-soo stood in front of the collapsed Han Cheong-ho.

He looked down at him, his gaze as cold and venomous as Han Cheong-ho’s.

“Words like these are what fathers and sons say. I think I know who raised you.”

Tae-soo’s eyes were burning with the same deadly intent, if not more, than Han Cheong-ho’s.

“Go ahead. Anything you can do, I can do as well.”

His voice was chilling.

“Just remember this. The moment something happens to me or my family, I have something left for the newspapers, broadcasters, and even the President.”

Han Cheong-ho’s face changed.

The three things he had spent six hours agonizing over in the study that day were all in existence.

‘Damn it!’

One was leaked by Secretary Song.

One was leaked by the driver.

The last one…

“Cheongil Group will be shattered into pieces, with or without me. That’s all I need.”

The last one was the most fatal.