CH32 | MCT

Cheongil Group (5)

Han Cheong-ho deliberately looked around the office.

"Isn't this place too shabby and cramped? It seems like a waste for a young man like you to rot away in Gangwon Province, just selling molybdenum."

He tapped the table twice, loud and firm.

"Come work under me. I’ll give you a president's seat in one of Cheongil Group’s subsidiaries."

Tae-soo scoffed.

‘He’s really trying hard to shake me. A sweet offer, then a harsh threat, and now another sweet offer?’

Han Cheong-ho, as if he had never threatened Tae-soo just moments ago, put on the gentlest smile.

"A position incomparable to running some tiny mining operation. Think about it. How often does a man your age get the chance to be the president of a subsidiary?"

"A textile factory president, a coal mine president… those are subsidiaries too, aren’t they?"

"You really think I'd offer you something as trivial as a textile factory or a coal mine?"

"Yes, I do. Considering how easily your mind changes, just like flipping a hand over."

“……”

Han Cheong-ho fell silent for a brief moment—because Tae-soo had guessed exactly right.

Seeing that, Tae-soo clicked his tongue internally.

‘He was serious. Shameless bastard.’

Han Cheong-ho quickly masked his stiff expression and let out a confident laugh.

"I can offer you positions at Cheongil Trading, Cheongil Commerce, Cheongil Industries, Cheongil Timber, or even Cheongil Academy. Which one will it be? Take your pick."

"I refuse."

"You’re looking at me like I kept all the best subsidiaries for myself and tossed you the second-rate ones."

"Because that’s exactly what you did, isn’t it?"

"Come on now, think about your age. What are you, twenty-four? Maybe twenty-five now that the new year has started? Do you know how rare it is to get an opportunity like this at your age?"

Maybe for others.

‘But I have no intention of working under you, Han Cheong-ho.’

Tae-soo let out a derisive laugh.

Han Cheong-ho clicked his tongue in disapproval.

"You have no idea how difficult it is to reach that position. Some people dedicate their entire lives and never even get close."

That’s fine.

Because my ambitions go far beyond that.

"If you place yourself under the wing of a powerful conglomerate, your future will be limitless. You’ll have the perfect stage to realize your ambitions."

That’s fine.

It’s not like I haven’t experienced what it’s like under that wing before.

"Just picture it—being introduced as the president of a Cheongil Group subsidiary. Imagine the way people will look at you, the way they’ll scramble to get on your good side."

"Well? Have I changed your mind yet?"

"Hahaha!"

Tae-soo burst into laughter.

"You must think I’m an idiot. I know that would never happen—not in this lifetime, not in the next. And another thing, I have no desire to become the head of Cheongil Group."

Why would he?

If he had ever wanted that seat, he would have taken it in his previous life—after crushing Han Il-kwon and seizing control for himself.

‘Cheongil Group… I’ll tear it apart, piece by piece, and devour it with my own hands.’

Tae-soo smirked.

Then, he casually lifted a finger and pointed to the ceiling.

"I’ll make my way to the top on my own."

He left the rest unsaid.

—All the way above you, Han Cheong-ho.

Han Cheong-ho’s face stiffened.

"You’re treating this opportunity too lightly. Do you have any idea how much I’m offering you right now?"

"You’re already busy tossing scraps to the loyal dogs who dedicate their lives to Cheongil. No need to spare a bone for me. I’ll take care of myself just fine."

"...I thought you were a smart young man."

Han Cheong-ho took a slow sip of his corn tea, his eyes never leaving Tae-soo.

It was the gaze of a predator locked onto its prey.

"You don’t seem to realize just how great Cheongil Group truly is," he said.

Tae-soo scoffed inwardly.

‘Don’t know? Please. I’m the one who made Cheongil bigger than even you could imagine.’

Han Cheong-ho continued,

"Cheongil isn’t like your average conglomerate. Do you have any idea who’s backing us? Do you know who I’ve shaken hands with? With that kind of power, there’s nothing we can’t do."

Cheongil Group was a conglomerate built not through business acumen but through bribery and lobbying.

From collaborating with the Japanese to cozying up to the dictatorship—

Cheongil Group was the textbook definition of collusion between politics and business.

Han Cheong-ho resumed his veiled threats.

"You keep this up, and you’ll rot away in Gangwon-do for the rest of your life. Shall I make another guarantee?"

"Hahaha!"

This time, Tae-soo burst into laughter.

"I’d rather rot in Gangwon-do for a lifetime than live as another man’s guard dog."

In his past life, he had been Cheongil’s dog.

He had served with absolute loyalty—only to be discarded the moment he was no longer needed.

That wasn’t going to happen again.

Crackle.

Invisible sparks flew between Tae-soo and Han Cheong-ho.

"A dog, you say? That’s harsh. I came all the way out to Gangwon-do with good intentions. And yet, you call the people of Cheongil Group dogs? How incredibly rude."

Tae-soo pointed at the clock.

"Time’s up. You should be on your way."

"Kang Tae-soo."

Han Cheong-ho’s gaze turned ice-cold.

"This is your last chance. Join Cheongil Group, and I’ll forget all of your rudeness up until now."

He set down his teacup.

"Think carefully. I tend to be far more generous with my time than you are."

Han Cheong-ho spread his fingers wide.

"Five days. That’s how long I’ll give you."

Then, he rose from his seat.

"Don’t make a decision you’ll regret."

"Safe travels. I won’t be seeing you out."

With a dramatic flourish of his coat, Han Cheong-ho swept out of Tae-soo’s office.

Thud.

He glared at the closed door, grinding his teeth.

"That arrogant bastard."

Then, turning to his driver waiting outside, he ordered—

"Take me to the Blue House. I need to meet with His Excellency."

Moments later, the car roared to life and sped off.

"Han Cheong-ho... I’ve met him again. After twenty-five years…"

Tae-soo had long awaited this moment. At the same time, he had feared it just as much.

He closed his eyes.

His heart was still racing, pounding against his ribs.

The tension and excitement refused to fade.

"I must destroy Cheongil Group. But standing in my way is you… Could I really face you? That fear has always lingered inside me."

Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself.

His heart, which had been pounding uncontrollably, slowly began to calm.

"Han Cheong-ho… You truly are a formidable man. It was just a battle of wits, a mere probing between us… and yet, I was this tense."

Tae-soo flexed his fingers, clenching and unclenching his fists.

His fingertips tingled with adrenaline.

"You were certainly as sharp as ever just now. But strangely… you felt different from the Han Cheong-ho in my memories."

He had always seemed like a towering figure.

A man who was insurmountable, terrifying, and overwhelming.

"This is strange. The you I remember was far greater, far more powerful. No matter how hard I struggled, I could never surpass you."

After Han Cheong-ho’s death, Tae-soo had been the one pulling the strings behind Han Il-kwon, leading Cheongil Group for twenty-five years.

The hardships he had endured were beyond words.

And in those moments of difficulty, he had always asked himself—

"What would Han Cheong-ho do to overcome this crisis?"

"How would Han Cheong-ho persuade this person? Or threaten them?"

"How would Han Cheong-ho seize this opportunity?"

"If it were Han Cheong-ho…"

Time and again, whenever he faced an obstacle, he had conjured up the image of Han Cheong-ho, chasing after the shadow of the man he once knew.

He had wanted to be like him.

He had wanted to handle matters with the same ruthless finesse.

"I was always lacking compared to you. That’s why I wanted to be like you, to stand beside you… to surpass you."

Tae-soo let out a bitter laugh.

"But why is it… that now…"

* * *

Pohang Steel was incredibly busy these days, with no time to catch a breath.

Orders for chromoly steel and stainless steel had piled up.

Even now, the factory was running in three shifts.

A broad smile spread across Park Tae-jong's face as he inspected the factory.

"Who would have thought we'd be raising funds for a steel mill by selling chromoly and stainless steel?"

He suddenly recalled the bold young man who had confidently declared in the scorching summer heat of the Pohang Steel president's office that the price of molybdenum would soon double or even triple.

"Double or triple? More like fifteen times!"

Park Tae-jong burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! We've been receiving a sufficient supply at such a good price that I have no idea what the current global molybdenum price even is."

Had companies desperate to buy molybdenum heard this, they would have frothed at the mouth.

"Come to think of it, it was Kang Tae-soo who advised us to fund the steel mill by selling chromoly and stainless steel."

Predicting the future based on current trends wasn't something just anyone could do.

He was truly a brilliant man.

"I hear that friend of mine has become a sudden millionaire? Thanks to him, we've ended up sitting on a pile of money as well. Hahaha!"

That was why Park Tae-jong couldn't help but smile whenever he thought of Tae-soo.

"Even though we haven't even built a proper blast furnace yet, this month is already in the black, all thanks to molybdenum."

The financial pressure from the shipyard had been completely alleviated.

This was all because Tae-soo was supplying molybdenum at a reasonable price and in sufficient quantities.

"I’ve gone into debt to him again. How will I ever repay this favor?"

As Park Tae-jong pondered how to return the favor, a breathless employee came running toward him.

"His Excellency is asking for you, sir!"

"His Excellency?"

"I heard that His Excellency was greatly pleased to learn that the steel mill construction is progressing rapidly!"

It was all thanks to the Japanese-born fools who had come to their senses and were now tirelessly working on the construction of the steel mill.

For three long years, the project had been grueling and stagnant, but now, it felt as if buildings were springing up overnight.

Every time he saw the steel mill taking shape so quickly, he couldn't help but feel overjoyed.

These days, Park Tae-jong felt so full of excitement that he barely needed to eat.

"If only we had built at this pace from the beginning… I can only feel apologetic toward His Excellency."

Come to think of it, there was another commendable deed.

'That young man was the one who put a leash on those Japanese fools, too.'

Everything he did was simply remarkable.

Whenever he took action, things went smoothly. Whenever he made a suggestion, it turned into a massive success.

There was no way not to admire him.

The employee, unaware that Park Tae-jong was lost in thoughts of Tae-soo, assumed he was simply delighted by President Park Jung-hwan’s praise. Encouraged, he raised his voice even more.

"His Excellency was so pleased to hear that we’re funding the steel mill construction through chromoly and stainless steel sales that he jumped up from his seat and laughed heartily!"

"I'm glad to hear that he’s pleased."

"And because of that, His Excellency has made a major decision."

"A decision? What kind of decision?"

"He has decided to personally visit and inspect the steel mill."

"His Excellency is coming for an inspection?"

That was unexpected.

For someone known to be reluctant to travel, he had set aside important matters and decided to come all the way down to Pohang?

And when the steel mill wasn’t even fully built yet?

'It’s too soon for him to come here. Does he have another reason?'

As Park Tae-jong looked puzzled, the employee quickly continued.

"Did His Excellency mention when he plans to visit for the inspection?"

"He said it will be in ten days."

"I see."

"His Excellency also mentioned that he wants to meet someone while inspecting the site."

"Meet someone? Who?"

"The president of Taeyang Construction, Kang Tae-soo—the one building the school."