A Genius Speaks with Money

Chapter 70

It was a vibration sound sharp enough to break the silence of the meeting room.

He was about to hurriedly turn off the cell phone, but then he froze for a moment after checking the number.

The caller was the bank that had rejected his loan not long ago.

'Could it be?'

A sense of anticipation arose upon seeing the number.

However, the words he would hear in this situation were obvious.

Even so, a hunch that he would miss something very important if he did not answer this call made his finger move.

At that moment, Han Ji-beom spoke while smiling languidly.

"You may take it."

Since permission had also been given, Kim Byeong-kwon rose from his seat without hesitation and went out of the meeting room.The door closed and the inside of the meeting room was submerged in silence again.

Manager Han Dae-gyu was looking out the window with his arms crossed.

Han Ji-beom was still leaning back in his chair and only tapping his fingers on the desk.

The two people said nothing to each other, but they were each lost in completely different thoughts.

Outside, the image of Kim Byeong-kwon on the phone was dimly reflected through the glass door.

Only after a long time passed did Kim Byeong-kwon, who had gone out, open the meeting room door and enter.

However, his expression was completely different from when he went out.

Fine wrinkles were drawn around his eyes and a smile was lingering there.

The quick-witted Han Ji-beom intuitively sensed that the flow had changed somehow.

'Surely he is not going to say he won't do the contract.'

Instead of an answer, Kim Byeong-kwon picked up the proposal Han Ji-beom had handed over and flung it.

The document dropped with a thud in front of Han Ji-beom.

"General Director Han. This ridiculous proposal you gave. I refuse it."

"...Wha- What did you say?"

"It seems we have nothing more to talk about. Dae-gyu, let us go."

Kim Byeong-kwon gestured with his head to Manager Han Dae-gyu, who was sitting next to him.

Han Dae-gyu was bewildered and rose from his seat without a word, following Kim Byeong-kwon toward the meeting room door.

Han Ji-beom hurriedly rose from his seat.

Calculations ran quickly inside his head.

Perhaps they were playing their last card right now.

If he showed a little bit of generosity, they would accept the conditions.

Having judged so, he hurriedly spat out his words.

"Wait. CEO Kim. If the conditions are not to your liking, adjustments are possible to some extent."

As if it were absurd, Kim Byeong-kwon let out a smirk and spoke toward Han Ji-beom.

"Forget it. I will not sell the company to a guy like you."

As the words he had been holding back during that time came out of his mouth, he even felt a sense of gratification.

The meeting room door closed.

For the first time, Han Ji-beom felt a sense of embarrassment and unpleasantness.

His pupils froze coldly.

He did not expect Kim Byeong-kwon to assert his pride until the very end.

On top of that, what was with that relaxed expression.

Perhaps something unexpected had happened....

'What on earth kind of move did he use?'

He had no intention of backing down like this.

He intended to definitely find out who the mastermind was that ruined the contract.

However, things did not flow according to that intention.

A few days later, news reached his ears that Sammyeong Heavy Industries had increased factory operations again.

Normal shipment and delivery were carried out, and the funding difficulty, which had been a headache, was also resolved.

'It makes no sense. How did they get that money?'

It made no sense at all.

No financial sector could have helped them.

It was not government support either.

If so, then what?

Right after Kim Byeong-kwon rejected the negotiation at the Daehan Group headquarters.

The two people got into the car and cooled their heads for a moment.

Silence flowed inside the car.

While sitting in the passenger seat, Han Dae-gyu glanced at CEO Kim Byeong-kwon several times and examined his expression.

No matter how he looked at it, it was an expression of someone who knew something.

Strength was felt in his slightly raised corners of the mouth and the hands gripping the steering wheel.

"What on earth is going to happen?"

"Why?"

"Is it really okay for us to come out like this?"

Instead of an answer, Kim Byeong-kwon simply laughed and started the car.

His expression was still relaxed.

"You will find out soon."

"What?"

"You remember that bank that rejected the loan last time, right?"

Han Dae-gyu immediately furrowed his brows.

"Surely you are not planning to go there now?"

"That is right."

A sigh escaped Han Dae-gyu naturally.

No matter how much he thought about it, no answer came out.

There was no way the bank that had rejected them would say they would give a loan again.

If so, he only thought that Kim was planning to just barge in blindly and stage a sit-in.

While he was having various thoughts, Kim Byeong-kwon stepped on the accelerator and gained speed.

"They spoke very bluntly when rejecting the loan, but today they contacted me first and spoke."

"Could it be...."

"Let us just go for now."

The car they rode in arrived at the bank's main branch.

Kim Byeong-kwon and Han Dae-gyu got out of the car and strode into the entrance.

As they entered the lobby, someone was waiting for them.

"You are CEO Kim Byeong-kwon, correct?"

The man who asked kindly while bowing his head was, surprisingly, the branch manager who had notified Kim Byeong-kwon of the loan rejection a few days ago.

Han Dae-gyu also realized who it was and looked at him with panicked eyes.

The branch manager guided the two politely and explained the situation.

"I was appointed to the main branch yesterday. From now on, if you have any difficulties, please tell me directly."

Branch Manager Mo Won-hyeong handed a business card to CEO Kim Byeong-kwon.

Without even having time to check the business card he received in a daze, the branch manager spoke.

"There is someone waiting for your arrival in the office right now."

"What?!"

Han Dae-gyu asked the branch manager, but he only smiled quietly without any words.

The office they arrived at after being guided.

Inside, a person they never expected was waiting for them.

A somewhat young man and another man were sitting on a luxurious sofa inside the spacious office, and they rose from their seats upon seeing them.

I, Lim Hyunjun, was that young man.

"You have suffered much to come here. CEO Kim Byeong-kwon."

Beside me, Choi Seo-jun of HJ Partners also greeted them with a bow, his face familiar.

Not only Han Dae-gyu but even CEO Kim Byeong-kwon froze on the spot and only blinked his eyes while trying to grasp the situation.

Then, Kim Byeong-kwon shook hands after catching my hand that I held out in a daze.

The air inside the office hovered with a strange tension.

No one opened their mouth first.

I, Lim Hyunjun, encouraged them to sit down and then sat down myself.

Soon, an employee brought tea and placed them one by one in front of them.

I was the first to speak.

"I will give a formal greeting. I am Lim Hyunjun, the Representative of HJ Finance."

"...HJ Finance?"

When Han Dae-gyu asked with a puzzled expression, Choi Seo-jun, who was beside me, explained with a gentle smile.

"The bank you were aware of, CEO, recently underwent rebranding as we acquired its shares. It is now in a state of being incorporated as our affiliate financial company."

"......!"

Kim Byeong-kwon's expression changed drastically.

In other words, until not long ago when the loan was rejected, it was the bank they previously knew.

I, Lim Hyunjun, continued speaking quietly.

"The very first customer we sought right after finishing the bank acquisition was exactly Sammyeong Heavy Industries."

As Kim Byeong-kwon looked at me while blinking, I continued to speak.

"I know that you have protected the company with difficulty, CEO. And I know the numerous employees who worked together based on that technology as well. It is a truly lonely thing that there are not many people in the world who know that value."

I quietly held out a proposal to CEO Kim.

A vivid logo was stamped on that document.

[HJ Finance - Small and Medium-sized Shipbuilder Cooperation and Structural Improvement Financial Support Plan]

"I hope you will read it over without any pressure."

While CEO Kim Byeong-kwon was opening the proposal and reading it, my explanation continued.

"We also know that Daehan Group tried to monopolize that technology. We want to develop the shipbuilding industry of the Republic of Korea by taking the technology possessed by Sammyeong Heavy Industries as competitiveness."

Han Dae-gyu also muttered to himself while looking at the proposal.

"These are not support conditions that a bank would normally offer. If it is this much...."

"That is correct."

Choi Seo-jun cut in and explained.

"This is a type of strategic alliance that includes not only simple financial support but also structural improvement and future investment. To be precise, shall I say it expressed our will to go together with Sammyeong Heavy Industries."

Kim Byeong-kwon, who had been silent for a while, closed the proposal he was looking at, raised his head toward me, and asked.

"...Why our company? If it is as you say, there would also be foreign companies with better technical power than ours."

I, Lim Hyunjun, replied with a short laugh.

"Sammyeong Heavy Industries is not a company that only has technology. Technology is, in the end, something done by people. And you are a person who knows that, CEO. I want to protect such a company."

In an instant, Kim Byeong-kwon's gaze wavered.

He had tried to sell the company.

But now, he was facing an opportunity to protect the company.

The time he spent worrying while losing sleep during that time came to mind.

There were also days he cried while holding onto his father's belongings.

He nodded quietly and opened his mouth.

"...Thank you. Thank you truly."

The next day, Sammyeong Heavy Industries officially signed a funding support contract with HJ Finance.

Now their factory does not stop.

And they immediately withdrew their contract with Daehan Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.

Now the monopoly of Daehan Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering has disappeared.

Daehan Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering headquarters.

As if a storm had passed through once, the atmosphere was very cloudy like the weather.

Vice President Choi Dong-ryeol lowered his head while pressing his lips tightly.

President Nam Jae-heon put strength into the documents he was holding to the point that the paper was crumpled.

On the documents, it was written as follows.

[Notice of Supply Contract Withdrawal and Future Cooperation Suspension]

-We officially withdraw the existing ship part supply contract and will fully re-examine all future cooperation with your company.

It was an email that came from Sammyeong Heavy Industries.

Nam Jae-heon's voice echoed throughout the office.

"Does this make sense!"

He bellowed while striking the table with his fist.

The cup containing water tipped over and spilled messily, but no one wiped it.

"Sammyeong Heavy Industries dares to withdraw the contract? After living off of us until now. This is ridiculous and absurd!"

Choi Dong-ryeol, who could not continue speaking for a while, carefully brought it up.

"According to information, Sammyeong Heavy Industries has signed a strategic alliance with a new financial company called HJ Finance. It is said to be a type of partnership through joint technology development as well as financial support."

It was a name Nam Jae-heon was hearing for the first time.

His expression was crumpled greatly.

"HJ Finance?"

"It seems they acquired a bank recently. Currently, they are poking around in various places."

Not only Nam Jae-heon but Nam Kun-ho also found out about this fact and an uproar occurred.

He called General Director Han Ji-beom immediately and asked about the details, but there was only one thing he could say.

"I am sorry."

The matter he thought would never fail had gone wrong.

On top of that, since the contract was even canceled, it was as if damage was given to Daehan Group instead.

A few days later, Han Ji-beom received a report regarding HJ Finance.

Should he not find out who the culprit was that caused the work to go wrong in order to establish measures.

In the report, it was written as follows.

[Representative - Lim Hyunjun]

"If it is Lim Hyunjun, could it be referring to the Taeseong Group 3rd generation?"

From the mouth of the team leader who brought the report, an answer flowed out.

"That is correct. It is Lim Hyunjun."