CH86 | MCT

The Victor of Negotiation (2)

After his one-on-one meeting with President Park Jeong-hwan, Han Cheong-ho walked out and spoke to Tae-soo.

"You’re going to end up with nothing but garbage, Kang Tae-soo."

"You’re going to regret this moment. I won’t go down easily."

"So you can embrace that and die with it."

At that moment, Han Cheong-ho must have already intended to leave such words behind.

Tae-soo had expected Han Cheong-ho to react this way.

So Tae-soo replied:

"What you hold, the things you don’t want to lose, I will take them from you."

"You can call them trash if you want. It doesn’t matter to me."

In fact, Tae-soo didn’t care if everything from Cheongil Refinery was taken, sold off, and turned into an empty shell.

What mattered to Tae-soo was that he would still get what he needed in the end.

However, Jang Jun-yong couldn’t understand this.

"You purposely provoked Han Cheong-ho? You wanted him to play such dirty tricks? What the hell is this nonsense?"

"The bankruptcy of Cheongil Refinery has already been decided from above. Han Cheong-ho couldn’t have refused."

"Right. The President himself gave the order."

"Han Cheong-ho was forced to give up Cheongil Refinery, something he didn’t want to lose. So, of course, he’s going to try to get back at us in every possible way."

A greedy, vindictive, and vile man like him would never give up Cheongil Refinery without a fight.

"What would you have done if you were in Han Cheong-ho’s position?"

"Hmm. I wouldn’t have gone this far. I’d have just given it up. Struggling against something inevitable isn’t my style."

Jang Jun-yong added:

"If the President had told me to give up Geumsan Refinery, I’d have asked for something else in return."

"What would you have asked for?"

"Something like a tax cut, the right to operate other businesses, the lifting of the green belt restrictions, or permission for reclamation projects?"

It was clear that Jang Jun-yong and Han Cheong-ho were different types of people.

"If the President asks for something, I’d give it up without a fight, and instead, I’d make money from other profitable ventures."

"That’s the difference between Han Cheong-ho and you, Chairman."

This was also the reason Tae-soo teamed up with Jang Jun-yong from Geumsan.

"Han Cheong-ho will lose a lot more than just Cheongil Refinery."

Even worse, he had resorted to cheap tricks in the process.

If he had just handed over a functioning Cheongil Refinery, he wouldn’t have lost what he didn’t have to.

Han Cheong-ho had brought this upon himself.

"First, he lost both his reputation and trust."

Cheongil had grown significantly thanks to the image the brand carried.

Cheongil Apartments had become the symbol of "the finest apartments in Gangnam," which had given Cheongil Construction a strong boost.

Cheongil Land had firmly established itself as the representative amusement park of children's dreams and hopes, contributing significantly to the brand's image as a high-end name.

Cheongil Steelworks, in conjunction with Cheongil's heavy industry, electronics, and chemicals, created massive industrial synergy.

Thanks to this, Cheongil Group became recognized as the leading conglomerate in South Korea's heavy and chemical industries.

"Cheongil, after losing Cheongil Refinery, no longer has a powerful high-end brand to promote."

Instead of its reputation for being a premium brand, Cheongil will earn a reputation of a different kind:

• Deliberately causing the company’s bankruptcy, harming the socio-economy.
  

• Lacking business ethics.
  

• Engaging in actions akin to garbage.
  

• If you acquire Cheongil, you'll end up facing such disgraceful actions.
  

These facts will be deeply ingrained in the minds of other corporations.

When Cheongil is in trouble, no one will want to acquire it.

"Building trust is like rolling a snowball. It takes a long time to accumulate, but eventually, you see its value. Trust adds weight and significance to a company’s future actions."

Tae-soo smiled.

"On the other hand, destroying trust is incredibly easy."

With just one cheap, disgraceful trick, the trust Cheongil had built for over 30 years came crashing down.

In reality, the trust that had been accumulated now seemed insignificant.

Han Cheong-ho had built his corporation by clinging to the regime, not through trust-based management.

'Once you become a conglomerate, reputation and trust play a vital role. Han Cheong-ho just hasn't realized that yet.'

This is why he resorted to such shallow, dirty tricks.

In the end, Han Cheong-ho would face significant losses once again.

"In times like this, with the oil crisis causing difficulties for everyone, the weight of trust and reputation will be even more critical. To survive, companies will naturally choose to trust reliable sources."

Thus, all Cheongil can gather is an empty shell.

"Second, Cheongil Group's stock prices will plummet."

Cheongil Refinery was at the heart of the heavy industry sector.

Everything started with oil.

Now Cheongil had lost its oil supply source.

This meant they had to buy oil from other companies.

Unlike before, when they could acquire oil cheaply, now they would have to pay a premium.

"Cheongil’s heavy industry sector will slowly begin to crumble. As time goes on, the losses will become more evident."

This was inevitable from the moment they lost Cheongil Refinery.

"How long can Cheongil, which no longer has strength in heavy industry, hold on in the world of conglomerates? Will people even treat Cheongil as a true conglomerate anymore?"

This means that Cheongil's influence will weaken in multiple areas.

"Third, the land and key facilities owned by Cheongil Refinery couldn't be sold. In other words, the real estate remains intact."

The port, dock, refinery storage facilities, and refining units can't be moved or sold.

Even if Cheongil Refinery becomes an empty shell, it mostly consists of movable goods like vehicles, office supplies, or employees.

These are things Tae-soo can easily fill.

"Cheongil spent a tremendous amount of money to build Cheongil Refinery in a prime location. A place where oil tankers can easily come and go, close to factories, flat, and convenient for logistics."

This is why Tae-soo smiles.

"I'll be acquiring all of that at a low price. If I were to build everything from scratch, the funds from acquiring Cheongil Refinery wouldn’t even come close. Not to mention the time it would take."

However, Jang Jun-yong sighed.

"What you say is all true. But what about the losses Han Cheong-ho dumped onto you? And the acquisition funds for Cheongil Refinery must be substantial. If you take it all on, there will be more harm than good."

Han Cheong-ho had drained the well dry and filled it with filth.

No, it would be more accurate to say he poisoned the well.

To kill Tae-soo.

"If you’re not yet at the level of a conglomerate, you could sink alongside Cheongil Refinery."

This was why Jang Jun-yong was worried.

‘I see. Jang Jun-yong doesn’t know about the substantial slush fund I’ve built up.’

Tae-soo had funneled the funds he’d made by selling 100 million barrels of oil into an American investment firm.

No one knew that Tae-soo was invulnerable to such challenges.

‘Besides, I have no intention of bearing Cheongil’s losses.’

Tae-soo grinned.

"Just wait and see. Han Cheong-ho won’t play his hand as expected. Things won’t go his way."

Tae-soo was confident.

"Han Cheong-ho will end up signing my contract, not the one Cheongil had prepared in advance."

Jang Jun-yong glanced at the envelope in Han-su's hand.

But he didn’t think that the notorious Han Cheong-ho would sign that contract.

"I don’t know, I don't think Han Cheong-ho will go down so easily."

Jang Jun-yong knew Han Cheong-ho well.

He’d clashed with him over many years, and he was confident.

But Tae-soo didn’t try to persuade Jang Jun-yong further.

Instead, he said something else.

"How about a bet?"

For those who don’t trust, it works much better to show than to try convincing them.

Even during the Rahman deal, Tae-soo had tasted the sweetness of oil quite a bit.

* * *

Han Cheong-ho arrived at the Geumsan Hotel.

In front of the main entrance, a crowd of reporters had gathered.

Flashes from cameras went off from all directions.

"What are your plans to address Cheongil Refinery's first bankruptcy?"

"Is it true that Cheongil Refinery is being acquired by another company?"

"There are rumors that Cheongil Group sold off all its shares in Cheongil Refinery and intentionally drove it into bankruptcy by piling up losses. What’s your stance on this?"

Han Cheong-ho stayed silent, his lips tightly sealed.

Secretary Park and the driver hurriedly made a path through the crowd.

Han Cheong-ho finally entered the hotel lobby, his expensive suit crumpled from the brief scuffle.

He brushed off his suit with irritation.

"Who called these people here?"

"I did."

Jang Jun-yong from Geumsan was waiting for him in the lobby, a smile on his face.

"Chairman Jang, what brings you here at this hour?"

"It just so happens there’s a big event at our Geumsan Hotel today. Since Cheongil Refinery is changing hands, I thought I should see it off. A grand farewell, even if it's a breakup."

So he had invited the press to give Han Cheong-ho a spectacular public disgrace.

Han Cheong-ho’s face twisted in frustration.

"You’re quite free these days, aren’t you?"

"No, I’m extremely busy. We don’t have any problems with oil supply, after all. We’ve been working nonstop, bringing in crude oil and running the factories. If I had two bodies, it still wouldn’t be enough."

He had come here, even amid his busy schedule.

"I hear Cheongil Refinery’s workers have lost their jobs and don’t have anywhere to go. Should we take them in at Geumsan Refinery?"

This only added fuel to the fire already burning in Han Cheong-ho’s chest from losing Cheongil Refinery.

"Stop talking nonsense. So what’s your point? You must have something you wanted to say, or you wouldn’t have come all the way here."

Jang Jun-yong tilted his head slightly.

"You’ve done some trashy things."

"Mind your own business."

"Does the President know about this?"

Jang Jun-yong’s sharp remark made Han Cheong-ho smile.

“I told the President I’d hand over Cheongil Refinery, but I never said I’d do it ‘graciously.’”

This implied he had made up his mind long ago.

Jang Jun-yong clicked his tongue in disbelief.

“Tsk tsk, a chaebol chairman acting so childishly towards a young pup. Watching this makes me embarrassed.”

“Then let that big Geumsan take its precious Geumsan Refinery and give it to him!”

Han Cheong-ho deliberately bumped Jang Jun-yong’s shoulder as he passed.

“Damn bastard!”

Jang Jun-yong, flustered, was held back by Kim, the secretary from Geumsan.

“Chairman, calm down. You’re the one who should be patient. What’s the point of fighting with a kid like that? It’s beneath you.”

Secretary Park from Cheongil, fuming with anger, turned around.

But his eyes met Jang Jun-yong’s from Geumsan.

Secretary Park, unable to hold it in, bit his lip and followed Han Cheong-ho.

Kim, from Geumsan, continued to calm Jang Jun-yong down from behind.

“Chairman, you have to understand. How painful must it be to watch Cheongil Refinery being taken right from under your nose? And now, they’re rubbing salt in the wound.”

Jang Jun-yong couldn’t take it anymore.

Secretary Park shot a look over his shoulder.

“They’ll be crying blood over there, but we can’t let them start bawling before they sign the contract. If you make a pitiful fool of him, everyone will point fingers. Just leave it for now.”

Secretary Kim’s attempts to calm him down only made things worse in Jang Jun-yong’s eyes.


* * *

The conference room set up for the merger and acquisition was where Tae-soo had arrived early and was waiting.

“Your sense of time is a bit lacking.”

Han Cheong-ho had intentionally arrived late.

Negotiations were a battle of momentum.

The longer you made someone wait, the more anxious and restless they became.

Especially with something as important as this, arriving late was a way to assert your presence.

‘This is a tactic Putin and Trump often used. Even when the outcome is already set, Han Cheong-ho is still trying to play games.’

Tae-soo knew exactly what Han Cheong-ho was up to.

This wasn’t his first rodeo.

‘The kid is pretending not to be rattled, but he's playing the part pretty well.’

For some reason, Tae-soo, who had arrived early, seemed much more relaxed and at ease.

It was as if he was the host, welcoming a guest.

“Please, have a seat.”

Tae-soo didn’t even get up from the sofa, merely gesturing toward the seat across from him.