A Genius Speaks with Money

Chapter 25

A private room on the top floor of a luxury hotel in Baghdad.

It was after I, Lim Hyunjun, Choi Seo-jun, and Samir had eaten our fill.

While they were enjoying their tea, I checked the time.

“Soon a guest will arrive. I should ask for fresh tea to be brought out.”

Choi Seo-jun looked at me in bewilderment.

“A guest? Who else is scheduled to come here?”

While I ordered the tea without a word and maintained an inscrutable smile, a knock was heard.

Knock, knock.

Everyone'

s gaze turned toward the door at the sound of knocking.

Soon the door opened, and a man with a familiar face, dressed in neat traditional attire, walked inside.“…Minister?!”

Minister Hakim al-Zaidi, who had clearly left after leaving his final words, had returned to this place.

Choi Seo-jun wore a startled expression.

I greeted Minister al-Zaidi warmly with a composed face.

The two of us acted as if nothing had happened this morning.

After that, processing the work was smooth.

It proceeded as if on greased wheels.

Choi Seo-jun still looked at Minister al-Zaidi, who had returned a moment ago, with disbelief.

Furthermore, it was even harder to believe that he was obediently signing the documents they had prepared with his own hand.

To think that a man who had clearly stormed out of his seat could return in just a few hours and have his attitude change so much.

Even though there had been nothing but unbelievable things while being with me until now, this was the same.

After finishing the signing, Minister al-Zaidi stood up from his seat as if he were busy, saying they should have practical consultations next time.

At that time, Samir left with him as well.

Only after they departed did Choi Seo-jun feel like his vision was clearing up.

Having come to his senses, he finally asked me.

“Representative, did you think Minister al-Zaidi would come back? Actually, until a moment ago, I thought you were joking.”

I laughed quietly as I looked at the dazed Choi Seo-jun.

“He is a man who does politics, isn'

t he? His very way of thinking is different from an entrepreneur.”

“That may be so, but didn'

t he refuse flatly, saying he only considers the national interest?”

“Yes, because he is that kind of person, he came back.”

I spoke nonchalantly, as if I had known all along.

“Sincerity eventually gets through. What we proposed was a partner to walk together into the future.”

Choi Seo-jun did not hide his joyful look.

“The more I get to know you, Representative, the more of a mystery you are.”

“Hahaha. Thank you for always seeing me in a good light. But this is only the beginning. This contract isn'

t everything just because we won the construction work. There will be many difficulties until completion.”

“Still, since they raised their hand for us, hasn'

t the beginning already passed the halfway mark?”

I said with a smile on my lips.

“Representative Choi, you must be in a very good mood because of this work. I am also happy in turn. You will soon have to meet with the Taeseong Construction working-level staff and have a discussion.”

“Yes, I understand. I will report to you immediately after the meeting.”

I said as I stood up from my seat.

“You have worked hard during this time. Thanks to Representative Choi, it is a good start.”

“As for me, I only did as you told me, Representative.”

The laughter of the two people did not cease.

Before leaving the room, I walked to the window.

The intense sunlight shone upon the city.

***

The Chairman'

s office at Taeseong Electronics headquarters.

Chairman Lim Man-seok moved back and forth with his hands behind his back like an anxious person.

A vibration sound rang out in the office where only silence lingered.

He hurriedly answered the phone.

“Yes, Hyunjun. Is everything alright?”

The voice heard through the cellphone was very calm.

“Yes, Grandfather. I just finished the contract.”

“…Is that true?”

“Yes, Minister al-Zaidi just signed it in person and left. Grandfather, I am sorry. I should have told you in advance. You were very surprised, right? It was because I was worried that the Daehan side might respond if information leaked out.”

At my words, Chairman Lim Man-seok was so surprised that he lost his words for a moment.

Hiding his surprised look, he slowly opened his mouth.

“Well done. Hyunjun, you did very well. Your judgment was right.”

Lim Man-seok had been staying in the Chairman'

s office until a late hour, waiting for his grandson'

s contact.

Perhaps because his heavily weighed-down heart had eased, his body felt lethargic.

He sat in his chair and made himself comfortable.

My voice continued over the cellphone.

“Grandfather, please let the Taeseong Construction working-level staff and Representative Choi Seo-jun meet. I think it would be good for both sides to proceed in a hurry.”

“Yes, we should do that. You worked very hard.”

“Grandfather, you must have suffered a lot of heartache. What did I even do? From now on, Taeseong Construction can take the lead. I will tell you the details after returning to Korea.”

After finishing the call with his grandson, Lim Man-seok put the cellphone down on the desk and leaned his head against the chair.

He was extremely tired.

He did not even want to imagine what would have happened if Taeseong Construction had failed to re-win the Iraq project this time.

That was how desperate it was.

He turned his head and looked at the night view of the city spread out before his eyes.

The moonlight brightening the thick darkness entered his vision.

It overlapped with someone'

s image as if it were a reflection.

The child he once thought was immature had now flown all the way to Iraq and secured a contract just like that.

“…Yes, he should. If he is the grandson of this Lim Man-seok, of course he should.”

The deep wrinkles made by time were crinkled around his eyes.

He was more peaceful and happy than ever.

The image of his grandson, who used to wiggle around, now speaking shrewdly with a dignified appearance was vivid in his mind.

He muttered softly.

“Well done, my puppy. You have grown up so well.”

A boisterous laughter overflowed in the quiet Chairman'

s office.

It was a laughter brimming with the worth of a long wait and surging joy.

***

A small to medium-sized construction material supplier in Gyeonggi Province.

This was one of the places that had cooperated with Taeseong Construction for a long time.

After the news of the Iraq refinery project suspension was delivered, this place was also experiencing difficulties.

Taeseong had given them some breathing room lately, but they could not just keep hoping for that forever.

The reality was that if there was no work right now, the factory had no choice but to stop.

Both the representative and the employees had dark expressions.

At that moment, the cellphone rang.

It was an international call.

“…Manager Jeong Seong-pil?”

The contact that came at a late hour was enough to make the representative flustered.

He hurriedly answered the phone as if quite surprised.

“Manager, what is going on at this hour?”

-Representative, it'

s because there is good news.

At the unexpected talk, the representative who received the call felt his heart pounding.

“…Good news?”

-Taeseong Construction has succeeded in the contract again. Since they formally contracted with the Iraqi government, you don'

t have to worry anymore.

Representative Lee'

s eyes widened.

At a loss for words, he could not even open his mouth for a moment while having lost his speech.

“Is that really true right now? Is it correct that we are doing it again?”

-Yes, we are doing it again. So, the material supply schedule will continue just as before.

“Oh, Manager!”

Representative Lee stood up abruptly from his seat and shed tears, unable to hold back his sobbing.

Because of that, only the employees, who did not know the circumstances, froze and held their breath.

“Our employees have been drained of all their energy these past few days…. Thank you so much. I will never forget this grace.”

-I am happy too. This time, let'

s prepare more thoroughly and go together.

“Yes, yes. I will run the factory right away. I will secure the necessary materials and contact you again. Thank you so much once again.”

As soon as Representative Lee hung up the phone, he immediately summoned the employees.

The gathered employees were only watching the representative'

s expression without knowing why.

Representative Lee blurted out in an excited voice, unable to hide his joy.

“A contact just came from Taeseong. They said they contracted again, so let'

s get ready.”

The employees looked at him as if surprised.

“Taeseong contracted again? Is it a different case?”

“It'

s the one that fell through before. They say they re-contracted.”

Upon hearing Representative Lee'

s words, cheers and applause erupted from the employees.

Vitality returned to their exhausted faces, and some people jumped up and down from their seats, unable to hide their excitement because they were so happy.

It was the same for Representative Lee.

“Let'

s do a really good job this time.”

The employees all answered loudly.

“Yes!”

Inside the workshop, the sound of machinery soon began to resonate again.

The equipment that had been turned off started running one by one.

The movements of the people were also energetic.

They were like people who had seen hope again.

***

The following day in the morning, the Daehan Group residence.

Familiar artworks were lined up on the walls inside the elegant reception room.

In the middle of it, news was flowing from a large TV screen.

Chairman Nam Kun-ho was leisurely watching the screen when he encountered unexpected news.

[According to Taeseong Construction, they have reportedly succeeded in ultimately re-winning the Iraq refinery project. It is said that Hakim al-Zaidi, the Iraqi Minister of Oil, showed that Taeseong Construction demonstrated an active and sincere attitude….]

Upon encountering the news delivered through the broadcast, Chairman Nam Kun-ho'

s fingertips trembled.

He stared at the screen without a word for a long time, then eventually picked up the remote and turned off the screen.

“…What does this mean!”

Someone entered the reception room.

It was Chairman Nam Kun-ho'

s Chief Secretary.

“What on earth did Jae-heon do for things to reach this point!”

The Chief Secretary also seemed to have just grasped the situation, as his face was full of embarrassment.

However, he could not avoid Chairman Nam Kun-ho'

s anger.

The Chief Secretary opened his mouth hesitantly.

“He clearly said that until yesterday, judging by the atmosphere, it had fallen through with Taeseong as well.”

“But today they contracted with Taeseong? Does that even make sense right now?”

“…….”

The Chief Secretary also could not say anything and only bowed his head.

It was because he knew that if he said even one word wrong, all the anger would be poured onto him.

Chairman Nam Kun-ho stood up from his seat after exhaling a heavy breath.

“Seeing that the words about contracting with Taeseong came out of the Minister'

s mouth in just a single day, there must clearly be something. Find out who overturned the board.”

The Chief Secretary nodded with a stiff face and answered.

“Yes, I understand.”

The time when it became the middle of the night.

While everyone was sending praise toward Taeseong Construction, only Chairman Nam Kun-ho of Daehan Group was looking at a report.

It was because the Chief Secretary was submitting a report with the details he had looked into secretly.

“According to what has been confirmed, the formal contract was signed with HJ Partners first, not Taeseong Construction. Afterward, it appears they were connected in a way that formed a business agreement with Taeseong Construction.”

“…HJ Partners?”

It was a name he was hearing for the first time.

Chairman Nam Kun-ho turned his head and glared at the Chief Secretary.

The Chief Secretary continued the explanation calmly.

“It is a new company. It hasn'

t even been a year since the company was established. The representative is Choi Seo-jun, and he is a figure who originally worked in Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung'

s office at Taeseong Electronics.”

“He'

s Lim Do-kyung'

s person?”

“That possibility is high.”

A groan flowed from Chairman Nam Kun-ho'

s mouth.

“Ha…. This is ridiculous.”

The fact that he had been hit with a blow by Lim Do-kyung, who was considered insignificant even within Taeseong, rather than Lim Do-hyun, seemed to have severely scraped his pride.

However, his expression soon changed subtly.

The corners of his mouth slowly rose.

“No, maybe it'

s a good thing.”

“…….”

Nam Kun-ho'

s expression, which had been full of frowns, brightened.

Perhaps because his emotions changed so multifariously from moment to moment, the Chief Secretary was just flustered about what to do.

“Think about it. Doesn'

t everyone know that Lim Do-hyun will inherit Taeseong? But the eldest son, Lim Do-kyung, solved this matter?”

Nam Kun-ho continued speaking while tapping the desk with his finger.

“Do you know what this means? It means the embers of internal conflict have grown. There'

s no way that fellow Lim Do-hyun will stay still.”

A cold smile gradually spread across his lips.

“Anyway, a chaebol family is a place that collapses while fighting. It will be worth watching from now on. I wonder how they will be shaken next time.”

While nodding at those words, the Chief Secretary felt as if a chilly energy was flowing down his spine.

Chairman Nam Kun-ho was not a simple businessman.

He was a hunter more skilled than anyone at digging into the gaps of his rivals.