CH142 | Heir

Assemblyman Yoon Hyun-gil begged for forgiveness until his voice went hoarse.

His head was drenched in blood, and his body swayed — likely from excessive blood loss.

"Would you like me to tell you... how to survive?"

"If you tell me the way... I'll do anything!"

"You'll live... if you promise to become bait for the rest of your life."

"I'll be a worm if you tell me to be one."

He answered reflexively — without even knowing what bait truly meant.

Yoon Hyun-gil couldn't imagine how grueling the life of bait would be.

"Keep pretending to oppose Taewoo Group — just like now. Naturally, others who share your stance will flock to your side. Report every single one of them to us."

"I'll do it. I'll report everyone who comes to me... and I'll dig into their weaknesses as well."

"And give up on your presidential ambitions."

"I've already given up. How could bait ever dream of the presidency?"

Saliva dripped from his lips as he answered.

If I had revealed his weaknesses from the start, he never would have submitted like this.

But I had isolated him first — slowly cutting off every last connection.

Only when he was mentally broken did I expose his secrets.

Now, he was completely shattered — a loyal little dog, wagging his tail at every word I spoke.

"The connections you've built up over the years... they'll never come back. You might end up eating alone in Yeouido for the rest of your life."

"I'll be grateful... just to have food to eat alone."

"I'll throw you some pocket money to maintain your dignity — but don't get greedy. No one likes a hunting dog that eats from another master's hand."

"I'll live the rest of my life... on whatever Taewoo Group gives me."

Yoon Hyun-gil would be a fish trap.

He wasn't a well-known politician to the public — but in Yeouido, his influence was considerable.

Anyone with ambitions to attack Taewoo Group would naturally seek him out.

Without knowing... they were walking straight into a trap.

"Remember — we're watching you 24 hours a day."

"I wouldn't even dream of betraying you... Even if the thought crosses my mind, I'll take my own life."

He flinched as his eyes caught the photos scattered across the floor.

Secret snapshots of moments he thought no one would ever know.

The photos hadn't even been obtained by Taewoo Group — but Yoon Hyun-gil had no way of knowing that.

All he could do was believe Taewoo Group was watching his every move.

"We'll send a staffer to act as your aide."

"Thank you... I'll live the rest of my life repaying this grace."

"Grace?"

I let out a cold laugh.

"Bait doesn't repay grace. We're just using you because you're still useful."

"...I'll try my best to stay useful... for the rest of my life."

Seeing him in such a miserable state only made my anger flare up even more.

Because of trash like him, my grandfather had to stand in front of the prosecution's cameras.

To prevent this from ever happening again — Yoon Hyun-gil would spend the rest of his life rotting in Yeouido, serving as Taewoo Group's trap.

***

That evening.

After finishing the meeting with Assemblyman Yoon, I returned home.

Squelch— When I arrived home, I noticed that blood had stained my shoes.

It was the blood that had flowed from Assemblyman Yoon's head. I stuffed the shoes into the trash can and entered the living room.

"You came home late again."

"You're still awake?"

"I can't sleep. The more I think about how I've lived my life in vain, the harder it is to lie down."

Ever since the prosecution's investigation, my grandfather had been trapped in a state of lethargy.

He had risen to become the head of the nation's top conglomerate, yet the helplessness of not being able to avoid the prosecution's scrutiny had left him greatly weakened.

"I've taken measures to ensure something like this never happens again."

"No matter how hard you try, if you fall out of the regime's favor, there's nothing you can do. In this country, any businessperson is bound to suffer such humiliation."

"I will make sure you never have to step foot in the prosecution's office again."

"That's impossible. Think about it — if the president asks for money, who would dare refuse? Then, when the next administration takes power, they'll use that as leverage to throw any business tycoon they dislike into prison."

Just five years.

For that short period, the president wielded near-absolute power.

Business owners had no choice but to curry favor with the president to run their companies smoothly.

But once those five years passed and a new president took office, anyone who had been close to the previous president could become a target for retaliation.

No matter how well-connected you were.

One small misstep could land you on the express train to prison.

"Wouldn't it be enough to maintain good relationships with both ruling and opposition politicians?"

"There are multiple factions within the ruling party, and the same goes for the opposition. You can't spread money to every politician — how could that ever be possible?"

"If Taewoo Group grows strong enough not to be swayed by political power, wouldn't that solve the problem? I have the confidence to make Taewoo Group that kind of company."

"Yes... I, too, believe that if it's you, you can turn Taewoo Group into such a group."

What was this unexpected reaction from my grandfather?

I glanced at his face, half-expecting he might be joking — but his expression was more sincere than I'd ever seen.

"Thank you for believing in me."

"If I'm going to believe, I'd rather believe completely. From now on, I'll entrust everything about Taewoo Group to you and focus solely on the new business in Vietnam."

"Are you saying you'll take a break in Vietnam for a while?"

"I'm saying I'll hand over the chairman's seat to you... and leave for Vietnam forever."

"It's too soon! How could I manage Taewoo Group without you?"

Grandfather said nothing.

He simply leaned weakly against the sofa.

"Then please take a short trip to Vietnam. In the meantime, I'll do whatever it takes to lead Taewoo Group. But don't ever talk about retiring again."

"The inheritance process is already complete. You should just take the chairman's seat. I'll follow Chairman Jang's example and become an honorary chairman — just an old man tucked away in the back room."

"Don't talk like that. How could Taewoo Group run without you? You must come back, no matter what."

"I'll go to Vietnam first... and think about it."

I still needed my grandfather's presence.

He was a god-like figure within Taewoo Group, and I needed more time to step into his shoes.

But I couldn't selfishly cling to him forever.

Forcing him to stay after he'd been so broken by the prosecution's investigation would only make things worse.

The best thing to do now was to let him regain his peace of mind in Vietnam — and wait for him to return.

***

The next day, in the chairman's office.

Chairman Kim Tae-joong and the chief secretary were enjoying their morning coffee.

Bathed in the soft morning sunlight, Chairman Kim sipping his coffee looked noticeably different from the day before.

"I've decided to stay in Vietnam for a while."

"So you've made up your mind after all?"

"If I want to work that rascal Min-jae harder, this is the only way. The boy's got talent, but he keeps trying to shove his work onto his old grandfather. I have to force him into action, one way or another."

"Then I must accompany you to Vietnam. How could I possibly let you go alone?"

"Oh, come now. You're still young — already thinking of slacking off, are you?"

The two men exchanged smiles as they joked.

The chief secretary had already heard the plan from Chairman Kim.

To make Taewoo Group grow even larger, Vice Chairman Kim Min-jae had to be pushed harder.

And the best way to do that was through retirement blackmail.

If Chairman Kim left for Vietnam, Kim Min-jae would have no choice but to take full charge of the company.

The chief secretary had been the one to suggest this extreme measure in the first place.

"I plan to spend the whole year leisurely sightseeing in Vietnam."

"I'm not sure you'll have much time for that. From the battery factory to the automobile and electronics plants — there are quite a few new factories being built in Vietnam."

"That's what the executives are for. I'll just stroll around and take a look — like a tourist, won't I?"

Chairman Kim Tae-joong had been consumed by work addiction.

But recently, something inside him had shifted.

Taewoo Group had risen to the top of the business world, and with Chairman Jang Young-joo — his lifelong rival — passing away, the burden on his heart had begun to ease.

On top of that, his grandson had proven himself to be more than capable.

If it were up to him, he would have handed over all his responsibilities right away. But he knew his grandson would resist — that much was obvious.

Even when promoting him to vice chairman, he'd been on pins and needles the entire time.

In the end, staging this whole retirement show was the only way to gradually shift the weight onto his grandson's shoulders.

"I'll tell the affiliate company presidents that you're touring factories around the world."

"Min-jae will handle everything. These days, whenever I attend executive meetings, everyone just watches the vice chairman for his reaction. There's no need for you to step in."

"That's true... In that case, I'll stay behind for three or four months to clean things up — then I'll join you in Vietnam."

"Is that how it's going to be? Well, do as you please. Ha ha ha."

Chairman Kim and his secretary both wore bright smiles, already giddy at the thought of resting.

They huddled together, searching for Vietnam's best vacation spots and looking up restaurants with great reviews.

***

The headache started first thing in the morning.

No matter how much strong coffee I drank, the pain wouldn't subside. I even had to take headache medicine the planning manager had brought.

"Didn't everything go well yesterday?"

"The matter with Assemblyman Yoon was handled fine. But now... there's another problem."

"What kind of problem?"

"Chairman wants to retire. The prosecution's investigation must have shaken him badly. But if he suddenly pulls something like this... how do you think that leaves me?"

"Did he really say he was retiring?"

"We agreed for now that he'll take a short break in Vietnam. He says he'll return after pulling himself together."

"Whew..."

The planning manager let out a sigh of relief.

Honestly, I wanted to drag him out for a midday drink, but there were far too many irons in the fire. I didn't have time for that luxury.

"The iPhone launches next month. It'll be released simultaneously in the U.S. and Korea — we need to be fully prepared."

"All Taewoo Electronics Mart branches are ready. The moment it's released, every store nationwide will begin selling iPhones."

"What about mobile phone dealerships?"

"We've already set plans in motion to supply iPhones to every dealership across the country at the same time."

"But I've heard some concerns from Taewoo Telecom."

Taewoo Telecom's president hadn't even been able to meet my eyes lately.

He must have vented his frustrations to the planning manager instead, thinking he'd be an easier target.

"What was he complaining about?"

"He’s worried that the iPhone's Wi-Fi feature will cause a drop in Taewoo Telecom's revenue."

"I'll visit Taewoo Telecom myself and explain everything."

***

Just one month left.

The iPhone I'd spent years preparing for was finally launching.

There were countless details to manage, and a mountain of tasks I had to handle personally.

At a time like this... Grandpa was heading off to Vietnam.

Seriously, if it weren't for Grandpa... Ugh.