CH102 | VOC

“Hum hum hum~”

Kim Min-sik hummed as he prepared to leave, while his secretaries watched him nervously.

The employees’ sudden apology and Kim Min-sik’s subsequent outburst had created a somber atmosphere in the bank, but he seemed to have forgotten about it, humming cheerfully and muttering,

“Another productive day.”

He smiled at his secretaries.

“You can all leave now. By the way, you haven’t been thinking about that, have you?”

The chief secretary said hesitantly,

“What do you mean…?”

“You know what I mean. Asking me to go back to how I used to be. Saying those were the good old days.”

The chief secretary, who knew what had happened in the office, said in alarm,

“Absolutely not! We’re just following your charismatic leadership, Mr. President!”

“Charismatic?”

“Yes, charismatic.”

“Am I charismatic?”

He patted the chief secretary’s shoulder, who was bracing himself for another tirade.

“You have a good eye, chief. Charismatic, you say. You like the current me better, right?”

The chief secretary nodded vigorously.

“Of course, sir!”

“Excellent. Just maintain that attitude. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

He left the office, his smile disappearing, and muttered under his breath,

“I’ll never go back to how I used to be. Never. No matter what.”

As he drove home in his company car, a smile crept onto his face.

His transformation wasn’t just about him.

His family…

His wife, who had been worried about him losing his job, was now the wife of a bank president, managing trillions of won in assets. His daughter, who had been considering giving up on college due to financial concerns, was now pursuing her dreams.

He might be a despised “mad dog” to the outside world, but to his family, he was the best husband and father.

“I wonder if my daughter is home.”

He arrived home, wearing the kind smile his employees longed for, and then his face hardened.

“Who’s that?”

A black luxury sedan was parked in front of his house, and three men in black suits were standing nearby.

He had seen this many times since becoming president and immediately recognized the situation.

“Tsk, I just want to relax after work.”

It was a VIP and his entourage, here to see President Kim Min-sik, not the ordinary man Kim Min-sik.

He composed himself, a sly smile appearing on his face.

“Let’s hear what they have to say.”

He got out of his car and approached the three men.

“Hello, this is my house. What can I do for you?”

The three men bowed and opened the door of the sedan. A man in his 30s emerged, smiling.

‘Who is he?’

He had memorized the faces of countless high-ranking officials since becoming president, but he had never seen this man before.

“Step aside.”

The man dismissed his entourage, approached Kim Min-sik, extended his hand, and said,

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, President Kim Min-sik.”

Kim Min-sik hesitated and then said,

“And you are…?”

“Park Jong-bum, director of Chunha Trading.”

Kim Min-sik said with a nonchalant expression,

“Ah, Chunha Trading? I thought you were someone important.”

He had been dealing with chaebols and high-ranking government officials, so it was difficult for him to remember every mid-sized company CEO.

But he recognized the name Chunha Trading immediately.

It was the company that had been acquiring the bankrupt companies he had targeted, using the slogan of “labor-management harmony” and “saving the workers.”

“You seem to know about Chunha Trading.”

Kim Min-sik picked his nose with a disinterested expression.

“I’ve heard of them.”

Park Jong-bum maintained his smile despite his rudeness.

“It’s an honor that you remember a small company like ours, Mr. President.”

Chunha Trading, although rapidly expanding through acquisitions, was still just a mid-sized company.

Kim Min-sik had handled dozens of similar-sized companies. He wasn’t going to be polite to a mere director who showed up at his house unannounced.

He flicked his finger, removing a booger.

“What’s the meaning of this? Barging in without an appointment. Is that how your CEO does business?”

“I apologize for the intrusion. It’s just that there are too many eyes and ears at the bank…”

“Are you here to thank me?”

Park Jong-bum smiled at his sarcastic remark about the acquisitions.

“We did it for the greater good…”

Kim Min-sik scoffed.

“The greater good? Hehehe, you’re a funny man.”

Many healthy companies had been targeted, but other potential buyers had backed down because of Chunha Trading’s “labor-management harmony” and “worker salvation” campaign.

They were companies that could have been worth much more if they had survived the crisis.

“If you’re wasting my precious after-work hours with that nonsense, I suggest you leave. What do you want? You’re not here to say you’re acquiring Daemun Group too, are you?”

Park Jong-bum smiled.

“Why not?”

“What?”

“Is there a reason we can’t acquire Daemun Group?”

Kim Min-sik stared at him blankly and then started laughing.

“Ha. Haha. Hahaha. Hahahahaha!”

He wiped away his tears and said,

“Hahaha, that was a good laugh. Chunha Trading acquiring Daemun Group? An ant eating a dinosaur? You’re already struggling to digest what you’ve eaten, and now you want to eat something ten times your size? You’ll explode!”

“That’s why I’m here.”

Kim Min-sik stopped laughing.

“What?”

“We need help acquiring Daemun Group.”

Kim Min-sik looked at him closely.

“I consider myself pretty crazy, but you guys are on a different level. Why should we help you? You’re asking us for help acquiring a company that’s on the verge of liquidation. If you want to die, die alone. Don’t drag us down with you.”

He turned to enter his house, clicking his tongue.

“Wasting my time… I’d like to see the face of the CEO who hired an idiot like you as a director.”

As he was opening the door, Park Jong-bum said softly,

“Why are you making that decision?”

“What?”

“Shouldn’t Baek In-hwi be the one to decide?”

Kim Min-sik froze at the mention of Baek In-hwi. He turned his head slowly.

“Baek In-hwi?”

“Yes, Baek In-hwi.”

“If you’re just using his name, you’ll regret it.”

“Joongang Investment Corporation. Chinese capital. Baek In-hwi. Isn’t that right?”

Most people with even a slight interest in economics knew that Chinese capital was active in Korea.

But only a select few, including government officials and chaebol executives, knew about Joongang Investment Corporation and Baek In-hwi.

It wasn’t information a director of a mid-sized company like Chunha Trading should have.

“This isn’t a coincidence…”

Park Jong-bum smiled slyly.

“Hehehe, China is our biggest client. Gathering information is essential in business. I’ve arranged a quiet place. How about we have a productive conversation?”

“Why should I?”

“Baek In-hwi’s identity, his thoughts, his plans… aren’t you curious?”

Kim Min-sik, led by Park Jong-bum to a private room, studied him closely.

Park Jong-bum, with his droopy eyes and small build, looked sleazy and untrustworthy.

‘He’s not someone I want to spend a lot of time with.’

* * *

He had followed him because he mentioned Baek In-hwi, but that was it. He wasn’t interested in Chunha Trading.

He had informed Joongang Investment of his location, so Baek In-hwi’s men would arrive soon. He felt safe and decided to end the conversation quickly.

“So what about CEO Baek In-hwi?”

“Getting straight to the point, I see. Hehehe, you’re impatient. Then let’s have a proper conversation.”

Park Jong-bum smiled.

“Mr. President, how much do you trust Baek In-hwi?”

“How much I trust him? What does that have to do with anything?”

“This is sensitive information. I need to know if you’re trustworthy before I tell you.”

Kim Min-sik chuckled.

“You’re a funny man. How can you judge my trustworthiness when you’ve just met me? I’ve been talking to CEO Baek on the phone. Do you think I would trust you, a stranger, more than him?”

“Ah, so you trust Baek In-hwi, whom you’ve only spoken to on the phone? But…”

Park Jong-bum smirked.

“…you’ve seen my face now.”

“You brought me here just to say that?”

“Well, there’s no point in asking if you trust me or not. Let’s get straight to the point. We want to acquire Daemun Group, but we’re short on funds. We’re seeking investment from Joongang Investment Corporation or Hanho Savings Bank.”

Kim Min-sik glared at him.

“I already rejected that offer. I’m here because I’m curious how you know CEO Baek, not for investment consultations. If you want to discuss investments, make an appointment for tomorrow. I’ll assign a manager to you.”

Park Jong-bum ignored him and continued,

“It’s true that Daemun Group went bankrupt because of their losses and debt, but their logistics and transportation businesses are valuable assets. Even if they’re liquidated, those parts will be sold off. And if those operations are suspended, it will directly impact the working class. We want to acquire those parts.”

Kim Min-sik, losing his patience, slammed his hand on the table.

“Hey, are you listening to me? I’m not interested in that!”

“Now, here’s the main point. Help us. We’ll compensate you generously.”

“What?”

“We need your help acquiring Daemun Group…”

“Wait! Wait! Wait!”

Kim Min-sik interrupted him, his face incredulous.

“You brought me here to say that?”

“Yes.”

Kim Min-sik looked at him, dumbfounded.

He had endured this conversation, hoping to glean some information about Baek In-hwi, and this was what he got?

He had always been calm and collected when dealing with chaebols, but he was genuinely angry now.

“I came here with heightened senses, thinking you had some important information… Do you even know who I am?”

He bared his teeth and growled.

“Someone similar approached me recently. You know who it was? The eldest son of Daemun Group, the one you’re so interested in. You know what happened to him, right? And now you, a nobody, are saying the same thing. Do you want to die?”

Park Jong-bum raised his hands, trying to calm him down.

“Please calm down, Mr. President. You’ll change your mind once you hear this. Did you know that Baek In-hwi is planning to abandon Hanho Savings Bank?”