novelraw Chapter 103 : From Now On, I Am the Owner of the Daejin Association
Chapter 103 : From Now On, I Am the Owner of the Daejin Association
Chapter 103: From Now On, I Am the Owner of the Daejin Association
The back alleys of Myeong-dong were dead.
The blade of the currency reform had severed not only the glamorous main streets, but even the hidden veins of this shadowy place.
The air that had been seething with desire until just before I left Busan was now filled with fear and despair.
I moved familiarly against the flow of the alley, heading toward the Elder’s spot.
He was still there, but the atmosphere was completely different.
The Elder was reading a newspaper as usual, but the hands of his underlings never left their coats. Their vigilant gazes also never relaxed for even a moment.
When I revealed myself from the shadows, their eyes all turned toward me at once.
“Long time no see, Elder.”
“……What brings you here? I heard you were in Busan. When did you come up?”
“I came because I need some money.”
“Money, huh……. Hehe. Where would there be money in this business right now? As you can see, this place is a field of corpses now.”
The Elder said that while looking around the desolate black market.
The back alley that used to be filled with illegal money changers and people was silent, as if a rat had died.
“I need won. I want to exchange dollars for won.”
At my words, the Elder’s eyes widened for a moment. Even his underlings couldn’t hide their surprise.
In a time when everyone was clinging to dollars as if their lives depended on it, I was saying I would sell them, so that reaction was only natural.
“Are you out of your mind right now? Everyone’s desperate because they can’t get dollars, and you’re saying you’ll sell them?”
“I have something urgent to spend it on. I need about five million won.”
Five million won.
At that amount, the air in the alley seemed to freeze.
The trace of a smile that had been on the Elder’s lips vanished in an instant. Instead, a crafty merchant’s gleam flashed in his eyes.
“It must be like plucking a star from the sky to get won these days. Is that possible?”
“Hehe! Who do you take me for? Times like these are exactly when my vault never runs dry. The high-and-mighty types are desperate to exchange the won they siphoned off behind the scenes for dollars.”
The Elder’s words vividly showed the bitter reality.
The irony that account freezes, which should have applied equally to everyone, did not apply to those in power.
This was precisely why Dantagon, with Jeong Tae-soo’s help, was able to secure cash and take control of Myeong-dong.
His voice lowered.
“Even if the country goes under, thanks to those gentlemen who only look after their own interests, I’m overflowing with won right now. I’ll welcome your dollars anytime. The commission’s a bit steep given the timing, though.”
“I don’t mind. So how much will you give me?”
“Since we have some history, I’ll exchange it at 150 won per dollar. It’s practically free, free.”
I let out a hollow laugh inwardly.
What a thief. The current market rate was over 200 won per dollar.
I had taken the scarcity of won into account to some extent, but 150 won was the same rate as when I first exchanged money.
“How much do you sell dollars for?”
“Hehe. Is that really important right now?”
“I’m just curious.”
“220 won. I’m exchanging one dollar for 220 won right now.”
A margin of 70 won.
Considering that the monthly salary of an average office worker was around 3,000 won, it was an outrageous profiteering.
The Elder knew he was in an absolute position of power and was using that position to reap enormous profits.
“So, what’ll it be? You taking it?”
But I had no choice.
I had a massive amount of dollars, but what could put out the immediate fire of the Daejin Association right now was won.
“That’s a bit much. I pride myself on being a regular, you know.”
“Hehe. It’s because you’re a regular that I’m giving you 150 won. If it were someone else, it’d be 100.”
“Well, alright.”
From the small leather bag I had brought, I took out four bundles of hundred-dollar bills, each tied in stacks of one hundred.
A huge sum totaling 40,000 dollars.
“Please exchange it for six million won.”
The Elder laughed heartily, took the bundles, and handed them to an underling beside him.
“Is it fine if I give it all in 500-won bills?”
“Please give five million won in 500-won bills, and the rest in 100-won bills.”
The Elder nodded and looked at his underling.
While the underling went to fetch the money, the Elder spoke again. Then he suddenly said something unexpected.
“By the way, watch yourself.”
“What do you mean all of a sudden?”
“A few days ago, Noh Gi-tae from the KCIA came to see me.”
I had somewhat expected it, but to think Noh Gi-tae had really gone to see the Elder.
“He asked about you. Who that young guy was who exchanged a huge amount of won for dollars right before the currency reform.”
“…….”
“Of course, I played dumb and flatly told him I’d never seen or heard of such a guy. You’re my biggest customer, after all. But even without physical evidence, it seems he’s already made up his mind.”
As he said that, concern was evident in the Elder’s voice. The look in his eyes as he watched me also clearly showed worry.
“Lie low for a while. They’re not the kind of people you gain anything from by confronting head-on. Isn’t the times different from before as well?”
I hadn’t expected him to go that far, so I simply nodded in silence.
Soon, the underling who had gone to fetch the money returned, carrying two heavy money bags.
He opened the bags and showed bundles of crisp 500-won and 100-won bills.
“Please check.”
Instead of counting the bills on the spot, I put the small leather bag I had brought inside as well and firmly locked it.
“If there’s anyone I trust, it’s you, Elder. I believe you.”
I picked up the money bags and stood up.
“Thank you for today’s transaction. I’ll see you again soon.”
From now on translate from Korean to English while following all translation instructions and names in the knowledge with utmost accuracy. Preserve the line breaks as is from the raw.
“Be careful on your way. The streets at night have been pretty rough lately.”
Leaving his final farewell behind, I exited the dark black market, carrying the heavy money bags.
Inside Cheon Sang-do’s president’s office, I placed the heavy leather bags on top of the table.
“What’s this supposed to be?”
“Cash.”
Cheon Sang-do opened the bag with a puzzled expression, and in that instant, he sucked in a sharp breath. His eyes widened as he alternated his gaze between the bag and me before asking,
“What the hell? Is all of this won?”
“Yes. That bag contains five million won in 500-won bills. The bag I’m holding has one million won in 100-won bills.”
“H-How in the world did you get this? I struggled like hell just to scrape together two hundred thousand won, and President Baek steps out for a bit and comes back with six million won just like that? Are you carrying a goblin’s club or something?”
“Haha. I went to the Elder and exchanged currency.”
“And where did that old man get all that won from…….”
Cheon Sang-do trailed off, then suddenly erupted as if he had realized something.
“That’s it! I knew it! Those damn sons of bitches! This means they’ve all been siphoning off money behind the scenes and keeping it in circulation, doesn’t it?!”
“Well, just looking at Dantagon tells you enough, doesn’t it?”
Amounts exceeding one million won would be difficult without considerable power. But several tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of won, were more than manageable for most high-ranking officials.
“No, even so……!”
I calmed him down as he started to heat up again and brought up the main point.
“That’s not what’s important. I’m planning to visit the Daejin Association tomorrow. Please come with me.”
“Me too?”
“Yes. Of course you, President Cheon, and I’m also planning to bring Kang Cheol-min and Yoon Ji-seong along. If we’re going to turn the company upside down, we’ll need professionals. Having run a securities firm, aren’t you well-versed in analyzing corporate finances?”
“There’s a guy who specializes in exactly that. When I wrapped up the securities firm, I brought that bastard along with me.”
“Well done. Then let’s go to the Daejin Association together tomorrow morning.”
A cruel smile spread across Cheon Sang-do’s lips.
“Heh heh. Those old executives there must be scared out of their minds right now. We’re cleaning them all out, right?”
“Yes. We have to. People who only drain money like that aren’t needed in my company.”
“Ha! Sounds like there’s gonna be one hell of a bloodbath.”
I stood up from my seat.
“Please keep it safe and bring it with you tomorrow.”
I left Cheon Sang-do’s office carrying only the small leather bag filled with dollars. At that moment, Yoon Ji-seong, who had been waiting in the hallway, followed me out.
“Boss, we heard back from the other side.”
“What did they say?”
“They said you’re requested to attend the gathering in two days.”
A gathering meant the meeting of Yang Sobo’s close associates. For Yang Sobo to deliberately call for me to attend.
“A gathering, huh……. Sounds interesting. Was there anything else?”
“They said your younger brother who went to Taiwan arrived safely.”
“Sounds like they managed to get in touch. That’s a relief.”
At the news that Min-soo had arrived safely in Taiwan, I let out a breath of relief.
Even while hastily wrapping things up, there had been a lingering unease in the back of my mind, but only now did I feel that burden lighten a little.
“President Cheon will inform you separately, but we’re heading to the Daejin Association tomorrow. Be prepared.”
“Yes, Boss.”
After patting Yoon Ji-seong on the shoulder, I resumed walking.
The next morning, in front of the four-story Daejin Association headquarters building on Taepyeong-ro, two pitch-black, massive Chevrolet sedans glided to a stop.
“Hehe, it wasn’t easy borrowing this thing.”
It was a car Cheon Sang-do had procured with great difficulty to seize the initiative. A ceremonial vehicle reserved for presidents, high-ranking officials, or conglomerate chairmen—he had somehow managed to get his hands on one.
As the cars stopped in front of the building, Kang Cheol-min stepped out first and opened my door.
The moment I stepped out of the car, all noise ceased. The gazes of every employee converged on the twenty-year-old young man at once.
Their eyes were a mix of suspicion, vigilance, curiosity, and even contempt.
Bearing their stares with my entire body, I slowly approached Executive Director Kim, who was standing at the front.
Resignation and anger were intermingled on his face.
‘So this is Kim Chang-seong, the man known as Lee Jin-seong’s right-hand man.’
I looked down at him silently for a moment. As tension filled the air, I spoke again.
“Please lead the way.”
At my low but forceful voice, Executive Director Kim’s shoulders flinched. After hesitating briefly, he bowed his head unwillingly.
“……This way.”
As we entered the building under his guidance, the lined-up employees all bowed deeply at once.
I headed straight for the central staircase without sparing them a glance. Cheon Sang-do and my people followed behind. It was a procession like an occupying force.
With each step upward, the anxious whispers of the lower-floor employees faded away, and the heavy silence of the upper floors pressed down on me.
When we reached the fourth floor, the secretaries all stood up and bowed to us at ninety degrees. I passed them and, without hesitation, opened the heavy door to the innermost president’s office.
The space that had been everything to Chairman Lee Jin-seong. Heavy furniture and antique decorations, thoroughly imbued with his tastes, filled the room.
I sank deeply into the massive leather chair at the center of the office, as if this seat had always been mine.
“Everyone, please have a seat.”
At my words, Cheon Sang-do’s group took their places on the sofas.
Executive Director Kim and the other executives followed suit. An occupying force facing defeated soldiers, with me as the axis.
“President Cheon. Let’s start by checking the finances.”
“Right.”
The employees who had come with Cheon Sang-do began reviewing the documents the executives had prepared in advance.
Leaving them to it, I looked at Executive Director Kim and the other executives and spoke.
“You’ve all heard who I am.”
I took out a single document and tossed it onto the table. The management rights transfer contract, bearing fingerprints, that I had received from Chairman Lee Jin-seong.
“From now on, I am the owner of the Daejin Association.”
A strange silence flowed. Cheon Sang-do paused mid-review of the documents and watched the situation with an odd look in his eyes.
“I am well aware that all of you are founding contributors who built this company together with Chairman Lee Jin-seong. I sincerely thank you for that contribution.”
Indescribable emotions swirled across their faces.
I paused briefly, examining each of them. Then, in the next moment, my voice turned icy cold.
“But that’s as far as it goes.”
At my frigid declaration, the executives’ faces stiffened.