The inauguration hall fell silent in an instant, like a dead mouse.
It seed no one had expected that I would throw out a congratulatory speech about dismantling Chunha Group. Even Lim Hwasu and Chu Dongbin’s faces had turned pale.
I continued speaking without caring.
With Lim Hwasu setting the stage like this, there was no reason not to take advantage of it.
“I built Chunha Group, and I was the one who helped Chunha Group step into the light. But it’s also true that after Dongsu hyung died, I stopped paying much attention to the group. After all, it was a company I created for him. If the group no longer follows his will, then I have no reason to keep protecting Chunha Group.”
A hunting dog that had outlived its usefulness should naturally be boiled and eaten. If you grow attached to a hunting dog ant to be used and discarded, the ending will never be good.
Park Dongsu had also been soone I initially intended to use and discard.
But as we ran together toward revenge, my thoughts gradually changed.
In the end, because of my revenge, Park Dongsu left this world. And I entrusted the Chunha Group he left behind to Lee Sanggeun so that his will could continue.
Even back then, many people shed blood.
After Yoo Seongjin beca chairman following Lee Sanggeun, Chunha Group still had to walk a road stained with blood.
If Lee Sanggeun, who chose stability, had no choice but to stain his hands with blood, then Yoo Seongjin never feared spilling blood for the sake of the group’s growth.
“Many of you must be wondering who I am to say that I’ll blow Chunha Group into thin air. But I’m soone who can do exactly that. If you’re curious, I could show you right now. Why do you think Chunha Group’s headquarters building can exist here in Seochodong? And why do you think the prosecutors and police who chased you for decades suddenly stopped? With just one word from , the blades of the prosecution and the police will turn toward Chunha Group. Do you not believe ?”
The faces of the employees below the stage were all different.
So looked like they accepted it because they knew who I ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ was.
Others didn’t know and couldn’t hide their displeasure.
“Dongsu hyung always told when we drank together that he wanted to live without being chased by the police or worrying about the prosecution’s eyes. Chunha Group was created for that very reason. If you want to go back to the old days, feel free to do so. But you will be the ones responsible for everything that happens because of it.”
I paused briefly and looked at Lim Hwasu. After seeing the panic on his face, I turned my head again and looked down at the audience.
“Do you know why I’m saying this on such a good day? It’s a warning so that you never beco a bloated pig like Yang Uguk again. This ti, we only cleaned out Yang Uguk and the executives who supported him. Next ti, I’ll wipe out the entire group itself. Understood?”
No one answered.
With Lim Hwasu standing beside unable to do anything, no one dared to step forward and challenge .
I decided to stop the whipping here.
It was about ti to offer a carrot as well.
“But if you fulfill your duties, great rewards will follow. So work together with Chairman Lim Hwasu, who has newly taken office, and rebuild the Chunha Group that Dongsu hyung dread of. If you do that, I will do my best to ensure that you never have to run from the power of the law again.”
There was no point dragging it out any longer. I decided to end it there.
“Chairman Lim Hwasu.”
“Yes, President.”
“I believe I’ve said everything I needed to say.”
As I stepped back, Lim Hwasu respectfully took the microphone.
I retreated slightly and sat down beside Chu Dongbin.
Chu Dongbin still looked stunned, his expression stiff.
“Were you very surprised?”
Chu Dongbin nodded and gave an awkward smile.
“A little. But you wrapped it up well. They’re such crude and simple-minded guys that I was worried.”
While Lim Hwasu delivered his closing remarks, I spent the ti talking quietly with Chu Dongbin.
Once the ceremony ended, the gathered employees began leaving, glancing toward as they went.
After everyone left, the board mbers and Lim Hwasu approached .
Lim Hwasu introduced the directors to one by one, including both the existing ones and those newly appointed.
I greeted them, eting their eyes and nodding.
After the introductions ended, Lim Hwasu, Chu Dongbin, and Hyun Juseong — Lim Hwasu’s chief secretary — went up with to the chairman’s office.
“President, please sit here.”
Lim Hwasu offered the seat of honor.
I accepted it readily and asked,
“How does it feel to beco chairman?”
“To be honest, it doesn’t feel bad. I never thought an opportunity like this would co to . In fact, the reason I gathered influence in the first place was to push Vice Chairman Chu into the chairman’s position.”
I had already heard that in reports, but hearing Lim Hwasu say it himself felt different.
It ant he truly intended to submit to .
“The vice chairman said he intends to stay by Chairman Yoo Seongjin’s side. Did you know that?”
At my words, Lim Hwasu looked at Chu Dongbin with surprise.
Chu Dongbin calmly accepted his gaze.
“I had no idea. I only heard that after helping stabilize the chairman’s position, he planned to retire.”
“If I retire, where would I even go, Chairman? I’ll stay by Chairman Yoo’s side and wait, even if it ans serving his prison sentence with him.”
Chu Dongbin spoke politely to Lim Hwasu.
“Vice Chairman, please speak comfortably.”
“How could I? The chairman is now the captain who must lead Chunha Group.”
“Still... at least in private, please lower your speech. It’s uncomfortable.”
Lim Hwasu pleaded earnestly, but Chu Dongbin simply shook his head firmly.
“You must beco soone worthy of being chairman now. If I don’t respect you first, the people still remaining in the group will treat you like a junior and ignore you.”
Lim Hwasu had skipped an entire generation to rise to the chairman’s position.
Yang Uguk and the old elders had been completely removed this ti, but many director-level executives older than Lim Hwasu still remained.
“The mont you let them speak casually to you just because they’re your seniors, your authority as chairman disappears. Whether in private or public, the boss is the boss. That’s our rule.”
I agreed with Chu Dongbin.
“That’s right, Chairman Lim Hwasu. As the vice chairman said, authority begins with speech.”
In Korea, where age hierarchy was taken so seriously, it was even more uncomfortable.
But if you wanted hardened gangsters who valued seniority to listen to you, you had to start by forcing them to speak respectfully.
Looking at the restless Lim Hwasu, I spoke again.
“This is the last chance I’m giving you. As I said in front of everyone, the reason things ended at this level is because I decided to trust Chairman Lim Hwasu one more ti. So don’t disappoint . If the group shakes again, I’ll personally cut off the head next ti. Using every bit of power I have.”
My cold warning made Lim Hwasu swallow hard.
“It will be very different from before. Director Ma here has decided to personally manage Chunha Group.”
Director Ma stepped forward.
He had only taken a few steps, but Lim Hwasu visibly flinched.
“Chairman Lim Hwasu. Do not show weakness in front of people.”
Lim Hwasu had already witnessed Director Ma’s brutality firsthand.
The n Director Ma had brought were also highly skilled. Even with more people than before, they would not be easy to stop.
“Of... of course. That will never happen again. Didn’t the directors all see it this ti? What happened to Director Yang Uguk and the elders who supported him.”
“Good. Then I’ll believe you.”
Director Ma stepped back again.
Watching Lim Hwasu unconsciously trying to loosen his stiff body, I smiled gently.
“Don’t be so tense. I ca today just to greet you. But if we et again like this next ti, it won’t be for a good reason.”
“Yes, President. I will rember that deeply.”
The answer ca imdiately.
Satisfied, I nodded and pointed to the man sitting beside him.
“Is that man your right-hand?”
“Yes. As I ntioned earlier, he’s the younger man who will assist as chief secretary.”
The mont the sentence ended, Hyun Juseong jumped to his feet and bowed deeply.
“Allow to introduce myself again! My na is Hyun Juseong! I’ve heard a lot about you, President! I look forward to working with you!”
Had he swallowed a train boiler or sothing? His booming voice echoed through the chairman’s office.
After I nodded in greeting, Hyun Juseong finally sat down again.
“He’s a judo guy. He may be a bit rough... but his loyalty is second to none.”
Judo?
At that word, Park Hyunseong ca to mind.
Looking at Hyun Juseong, who sat there cautiously watching my reaction, I asked,
“Do you happen to know soone nad Park Hyunseong?”
“Hyunseong? How does the President know Hyunseong...?”
“So you do know him. He’s my friend.”
Hyun Juseong’s face instantly turned pale as he rolled his eyes.
Then he jumped up again and bowed.
“I-I’m sorry! I didn’t realize he was your friend, President!”
“Haha, don’t be so tense. I just got curious because you ntioned judo. He’s a close friend of mine. I really didn’t expect you to know him. It’s fine. You were just ntioning a junior’s na.”
“No, sir. I’ll be careful.”
Seems like the type who’s rigid and used to strict hierarchy.
I could roughly tell what kind of person Hyun Juseong was.
“Alright. Sit down again. You’re so tall it’s making my neck hurt.”
When I waved my hand to signal it was fine, Hyun Juseong’s face brightened a little.
Only then could we return to the main topic.
“We don’t know exactly when, but Chairman Yoo Seongjin will be released.”
Chu Dongbin and Lim Hwasu’s eyes widened at the sa ti.
Chu Dongbin, who had heard a bit about this earlier, imdiately asked anxiously,
“President, could you explain in detail?”
“Chairman Yoo Seongjin was arrested because Jiang Zemin — the forr president of China — forced the arrest in order to strike at Hu Jintao, the current president.”
I explained Yoo Seongjin’s current situation to them in considerable detail.
As he listened, Chu Dongbin’s expression changed mont by mont.
At tis he burned with anger.
At other tis he looked relieved.
“...Hu Jintao returned safely and began his counterattack. Through negotiations with , he agreed to help release Chairman Yoo Seongjin. I can’t guarantee when exactly, but he will be released by next year at the latest.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Chu Dongbin jumped to his feet and bowed deeply.
“Thank you. Thank you, President. I will serve you as my benefactor for the rest of my life.”
His slightly trembling voice revealed how deeply moved he was.
“It’s nothing. Yoo Seongjin was arrested partly because of , but he is still my man. Of course I must protect him.”
But unlike Chu Dongbin, Lim Hwasu looked troubled.
“Then what happens when Chairman Yoo returns?”
Chu Dongbin and I both turned to look at him.
“Of course, if Chairman Yoo returns, I should step down. I didn’t ask because I have other intentions.”
Receiving both our gazes at once, Lim Hwasu seed to misunderstand and hurriedly waved his hands in explanation.
That reaction made burst into laughter.
“Hahaha!”
He didn’t seem stupid.
Just naïve and extrely loyal.
After laughing for a while, I finally spoke again.
“What misunderstanding are you having? If that were the case, we would have simply run the group under Vice Chairman Chu Dongbin. Chairman Yoo Seongjin has already agreed to leave the group. Even if he’s released, it’s uncertain whether he’ll ever be able to enter China again.”
Lim Hwasu stared blankly at .
“Even if he’s released, he won’t be declared innocent. Chunha Group still needs to continue doing business in China with the Black Dragon Society. With that kind of risk, Chairman Yoo Seongjin cannot continue running the group.”
“Ah...”
Chu Dongbin scolded Lim Hwasu with a serious expression.
“Chairman. Chunha Group already belongs to you now. Even if Chairman Yoo returns, that will not change.”
“I-I understand, Vice Chairman.”
“Don’t show that kind of reaction in front of others again. It doesn’t suit you.”
“Yes, Vice Chairman. I’ll rember it deeply.”
Honestly, if I left things like this, they would probably keep apologizing to each other forever.
I clapped my hands lightly to draw their attention.
“I’ll take care of Chairman Yoo Seongjin. So stop worrying about anything else and focus on running Chunha Group properly.”
“Yes, President.”
Both n answered at the sa ti.
I stood up.
“Alright then. Let’s continue talking over a al.”
I led everyone out toward a restaurant near the headquarters building.
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