A Genius Speaks with Money

Chapter 34

The beginning of autumn.

The wind became cool and the leaves on the campus began to change color one by one.

I, Lim Hyunjun, set out on the way to school in my school uniform as usual and spent time happily with my friends during every break, continuing my school life faithfully.

To anyone watching, I was a model high school student.

Even if I quietly opened my tablet in a corner seat during lunchtime, they only thought I was looking at simple news, and no one knew.

[HJ Partners'

assets under management exceed 10 trillion won]

I, Lim Hyunjun, looked at the contents of the article and turned the screen calmly.

My heart did not pound, nor did the corners of my mouth go up.

To me, this was already just one part of the process.

I turned off the screen and put the tablet back into my bag.I wondered what kind of thoughts the past Jeong Taeshik would have had in front of the number 10 trillion.

Maybe he would have been moved to the point of having tears in his eyes.

But it was different now.

To me, 10 trillion won was merely a figure close to the starting line.

As the name of success gradually became a reality, the shadow was bound to grow longer as well.

I, Lim Hyunjun, stood up from my seat and turned my gaze out the window.

On one side of the playground, students in gym clothes were passing a basketball back and forth.

While looking at that peaceful scenery, my mind was aiming for the next move.

'

Soon, those who target me will appear.'

The fact that HJ Partners exceeded 10 trillion won in assets under management meant more than a simple record.

It meant that from now on, we could become someone'

s target in earnest.

Direct checks or indirect approaches could also occur.

Someone might even approach and shake Representative Choi Seo-jun or Chief Engineer Oh Young-tae with acquisition proposals.

I was thinking of all those possible cases.

I sat down and held the tablet in my hand again.

No one would know.

That a mere high school student was preparing the next move that would cause ripples in the political and business landscape of this country.

***

Inside the Strategic Planning Office of Daehan Group headquarters in Seoul.

Inside the conference room where blackout curtains were drawn, Chairman Nam Kun-ho was looking down at documents with an expressionless face.

What was placed on the desk was a press release related to HJ Partners.

And there was also a draft of the management history analyzed primarily by the internal information team.

Nam Kun-ho blurted out a short word while looking at the data.

“10 trillion won…”

There was only one emotion contained within that, which was unpleasantness.

Shin Jung-woo of the Strategic Planning Office, who was sitting next to Chairman Nam Kun-ho, cautiously continued speaking.

“Chairman. HJ Partners is registered as a foreign capital-attracting investment firm. The representative is Choi Seo-jun, and on the technical side, there is a person named Oh Young-tae.”

Nam Kun-ho'

s expression stiffened.

“Technology?”

“Yes, he is a former engineer. He worked at Hanmyeong Motors.”

Nam Kun-ho quietly closed his eyes and then slowly opened his mouth.

“…An engineer in an investment firm. It is a spectacle.”

He lightly tapped the table with his finger.

“Is it certain that Choi Seo-jun is the actual owner?”

Shin Jung-woo shook his head slightly.

“On the shares, yes. However, looking at the flow of funds or the internal decision-making structure, it is difficult to see that he made judgments alone. There are circumstances suggesting the involvement of someone who is not visible from the outside.”

Nam Kun-ho let out a quiet laugh with an expressionless face.

“True, if there were such a guy, there is no way rumors would not have reached me.”

He stopped his finger and opened the documents again.

“The source of funds?”

“Partially, it appears to have come in from overseas corporations. Because it is composed of a complex structure in the middle, it is practically difficult to grasp. Grasping the substantive funder seems like it will take more time.”

Nam Kun-ho lifted his head.

“Is there no relation to Lim Do-kyung at all?”

Shin Jung-woo continued speaking without a single grain of hesitation.

“With the data secured so far, a direct connection with Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung is not seen. The share structure, fund flow, and personal connections are all moving separately.”

Nam Kun-ho narrowed his eyes and looked at Shin Jung-woo.

“That means it is so on the surface.”

Shin Jung-woo nodded his head cautiously.

“Yes, as you thought, Chairman, I think it is also a good method to inform President Lim Do-hyun.”

Nam Kun-ho stood up without a word and walked around.

It was like a habit that came out habitually whenever he thought.

The employees in the conference room were already very familiar with this behavior of Chairman Nam.

In times like this, the best thing was to leave him alone without disturbing him.

Nam Kun-ho'

s steps, which had been wandering for a long time, stopped.

“Lim Do-hyun is a guy who watches quietly and then points a knife at the neck at a decisive moment.”

It was a voice flowing out like a monologue.

However, there were plenty of calculated intentions within it.

“His pride is strong, and he has a lot of greed. He is a guy who would just surpass his older brother.”

Shin Jung-woo waited quietly.

Soon, the corners of Chairman Nam Kun-ho'

s mouth went up wickedly.

“Put some stimulation into Lim Do-hyun'

s side.”

“If it is stimulation, in what way shall I do it?”

Nam Kun-ho sat down and interlaced his fingers.

“Subtly inform Lim Do-hyun'

s side that Lim Do-kyung is the actual owner of HJ Partners. Even if you only say that much, that fellow will draw his sword first.”

Shin Jung-woo nodded his head while holding his breath.

“Yes. I understand. Then will you strike HJ Partners through President Lim Do-hyun?”

Nam Kun-ho acted like a person who had found a fun spectacle.

“Is there a need for me to get blood on my hands personally. Originally, watching a fight is the most fun.”

He took out a cigarette from his jacket.

He, who lit it naturally, smoked the cigarette slowly.

A moment later, the conference room was filled with thick smoke.

***

A high-end indoor golf facility in Gangnam, Seoul.

In the VIP lounge, curtains were halfway covered in each stall.

Managing Director Park Moo-jin of Taeseong Electronics had just finished personal golf training and was wiping his hands with a towel.

At that time, the lounge door opened and someone entered.

“Hello, Managing Director Park.”

It was a face Park Moo-jin was seeing for the first time.

Vigilance spread all over his face.

“Who are you to act like you know me. The security here is a total mess.”

Shin Jung-woo smiled quietly and took out a business card to hand over.

“I am Shin Jung-woo. I am the Head of the Strategic Planning Office of Daehan Group.”

Park Moo-jin received the business card and looked down at it for a moment, then scanned Shin Jung-woo from top to bottom.

“…Strategic Planning Office? Why from Daehan to me!”

“I came to have a bit of a private conversation today.”

Park Moo-jin crumpled the business card roughly and threw it onto the floor with a swish.

After that, he crossed his arms and looked at the man like a cat with its nerves on edge.

“You want to have a private conversation? Why are you doing that to me. Are you going to blackmail me or what!”

Shin Jung-woo maintained his smile and approached him step by step.

“Then let us assume it is blackmail and listen.”

“…What?! What is this crazy bastard saying.”

Unlike Shin Jung-woo who was approaching little by little, Park Moo-jin stepped back in embarrassment.

Shin Jung-woo took out a photo from the envelope he was holding and showed it to Park Moo-jin.

“I happened to find out about you, Managing Director. This kind of photo might be a bit uncomfortable for your family to see.”

Park Moo-jin peered into the photo as if snatching it, and his face distorted in an instant.

“What are you! What is this for!”

Shin Jung-woo turned the envelope he brought completely over.

The photos that were inside it poured out in a heap and fell to the floor.

Park Moo-jin picked up the photos that fell to the floor with a face of horror beyond surprise.

Shin Jung-woo looked at Park Moo-jin, who was floundering on the floor, with indifferent eyes and opened his mouth.

“I am well aware that you have a deep friendship with President Lim Do-hyun.”

the hand that was reaching out to hide the photos stopped in an instant.

Shin Jung-woo continued speaking without concern.

“Would Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung also know this fact? The fact that while you are receiving the Vice Chairman'

s trust, on the other side, you are leaking information to President Lim Do-hyun.”

Park Moo-jin walked on his knees and grabbed the hem of Shin Jung-woo'

s pants.

“Don'

t be like this…. Tell me what you want. Do you need money? Yes. About 100 million won would be good.”

Shin Jung-woo'

s eyes were chilled coldly.

He continued speaking calmly.

“You just need to convey to President Lim Do-hyun that the actual owner of HJ Partners is Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung.”

Shin Jung-woo looked down at the man who was prostrate like a dog and grabbed him, adding one more thing.

“If you do this, I will consider the 100 million won as received.”

Leaving those words behind, Shin Jung-woo disappeared quietly.

Park Moo-jin stayed blankly like a person who had lost his soul while sitting in his spot.

***

A quiet evening time in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul.

On the second floor of a high-end Korean traditional restaurant, there was a quiet room.

Two men sat facing each other at a floor-seating table.

On one side, President Lim Do-hyun of Taeseong Construction took his place, and on the opposite side sat Managing Director Park Moo-jin of Taeseong Electronics, his high school classmate.

Park Moo-jin opened his mouth first while pouring alcohol into President Lim Do-hyun'

s glass.

“Hey, you are the same. How is your form for drinking alcohol like that?”

Lim Do-hyun emptied the alcohol glass in one gulp expressionlessly and said while holding a ceramic bottle.

“Just hold out the glass properly. Do not let the alcohol spill.”

Park Moo-jin chuckled softly and held out the glass again.

“Aren'

t things a bit quiet lately? About the Vice Chairman.”

Lim Do-hyun'

s hand faltered for a moment.

However, he soon filled the glass as if nothing happened.

Park Moo-jin peeked at Lim Do-hyun'

s reaction and then continued speaking lightly.

“You also know the older brother'

s style. When it is quiet, it is actually more suspicious.”

“…So?”

“You have also heard of it recently. About HJ Partners. It is doing quite well.”

Lim Do-hyun nodded his head calmly.

“Well, I know about it.”

Park Moo-jin deliberately held the glass and turned it a few times, then dropped a word out.

“Actually, this is a story going around…. There is a saying that the actual owner of that company is the Vice Chairman.”

The moment he heard those words, Lim Do-hyun'

s gaze wavered.

He held the glass placed in front of him and drank without hesitation.

Strength entered the fingertips that put down the glass.

“Who says such a thing?”

“It is hard to say specifically who…. It is an atmosphere that is slowly spreading among the kids who are well-informed about the happenings there these days. On top of that, Choi Seo-jun was the Vice Chairman'

s direct secretary.”

Park Moo-jin added words as if driving the final nail while deliberately pretending to be indifferent.

“It is not certain, but as you know, there is no smoke without fire. I am telling you first just in case. If I said something unnecessary, I am sorry.”

Park Moo-jin emptied his glass while peeking at Lim Do-hyun'

s reaction.

Then he poured alcohol into President Lim Do-hyun'

s glass again.

The two held their glasses without a word and clinked them lightly.

The sound of ceramic glasses clinking was heard exceptionally clearly.

Lim Do-hyun put down the alcohol glass and slowly opened his mouth.

“…Nothing to be sorry about. You spoke well.”

Park Moo-jin forced a smile.

He felt as if cold sweat was flowing down his spine.

Lim Do-hyun'

s mind was complicated.

The moves HJ Partners had shown so far were absolutely not at a level that a mere employee could achieve.

Unless it was someone like Lim Do-kyung who already grasped wealth, it was absolutely impossible.

Lim Do-hyun'

s gaze slowly froze.

The fragments of emotion hidden in his chest began to quietly crack with those words as a turning point.

The anger he had suppressed for several years.

No, precisely, it was the humiliation and vigilance he had to endure and wait through.

All those emotions permeated like sparks on a pile of dried firewood.

Nothing was revealed through the eyes, but fire began to start very quietly somewhere inside him.

Now, the reason to endure and the need to look back had disappeared.