Chapter 56: Fellow Pros

My master let out a hearty laugh.

“It's not just me. Jongno Gold Tooth and Maljukgeori Horse Head have decided to join in, too. It's a union of back-alley folks.”

Oh!

“Maljukgeori Horse Head was the most insistent. He said he’s had it with the authorities. Something about putting a bank in the racetrack or whatever.”

Maljukgeori Horse Head always said the true end of gambling was the racetrack and eyed it hungrily.

But in the past, Maljukgeori Horse Head never managed to get into the racetrack.

Like settling for chicken when you can’t have pheasant, he aimed for the casino instead and ended up getting shot to death in Macau.

“As for Jongno Gold Tooth, I hear his dreams are, first, Foreign Exchange Bank, and second, a securities company.”

Jongno Gold Tooth, who once specialized in gold distribution and illegal currency exchange, got caught up in a gang turf war and was killed.

He was found cold in a garbage bin in Garibong-dong’s back alleys, stripped of his vault, his gold shop, and even his territory.

“What about Lady Bang from Ggachisan?”

“She’s not interested in banks. She says she wants to set up a real estate development company instead.”

Lady Bang of Ggachisan ran a get-rich-quick club with other matrons, operating a floating real estate office, until one day she was taken away by the National Security Agency and returned as a corpse.

Of course, the enormous land Lady Bang owned soon became residential plots, quietly flowed into political slush funds, and was used in the presidential election.

‘Sounds good.’

These giants of a bygone era, who each died miserably after failing to join forces in the past.

Now, after receiving the invitation I sent, they decided to work together and step into the light.

“Great. Then let me add my strength as well.”

“…Huh?”

Please, Master, don’t make that dumbfounded face.

“Have you forgotten what kind of ledger I have in my hands?”

“Ah!”

Only then did Master seem to recall the Wu Kwang Construction bribe ledger.

It was a list—a death note—filled with the names and bribe amounts of high-ranking political and business figures.

“The current bank presidents are all tied to powerful people. There’s no way they’d just sit back and watch a new competitor show up.”

But if I have this, the story changes!

“Kid, didn’t your grandfather take that ledger? What will you do if you act all generous without having anything to back it up?”

“Why worry about that? A blade is scariest when it stays in its sheath.”

I leaned in close and whispered to Master.

“Taesung received a letter from an anonymous benefactor, remember? Don’t you recall?”

“What? Hahahaha!”

Finally, Master burst into loud, boisterous laughter.

He’d finally understood what I meant.

Why? What? Why!

Anonymous benefactor of Taesung—it’s me, isn’t it?

“I can gladly send a few anonymous threatening letters. We pros have to look out for each other.”

“Haha! Right, in this business, pros share good opportunities.”

“Discreetly.”

“Without a trace!”

We both grinned at each other.

“So when Taesung takes out a loan, you’ll give us the friend’s discount, right? Low interest, fast approval.”

“For free?”

“Should I stop sending the threatening letters?”

“Nngh.”

“Actually, Taesung has no choice. Because of the financial-industrial separation, you know? You’re aware of that, right?”

It’s the principle prohibiting financial capital, like banks, and industrial capital, like corporations, from owning or dominating each other’s businesses.

It was introduced to prevent bad loans, conflicts of interest between customers, and to curb unfair competition resulting from information monopoly.

“But investment companies are different. Unlike Taesung, they can invest in banks all they want.”

I grinned.

“I’m thinking of setting up an investment company myself to get a foot in the door. What do you think?”

“Welcome, investor! We always welcome anyone who brings money. Always, always.”

“Even now, you want it for free?”

“Haha, you really are impossible, kid!”

Master cheerfully gulped down his ssanghwa tea.

That old miser, drinking such an expensive ssanghwa tea with two eggs floating in it, without savoring it all day, but instead gulping it down in one go.

Clack!

He set his teacup on the table and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Now that I think about it, something’s off. As far as I know, Taesung doesn’t have an investment company yet.”

“It’s not Taesung, it’s my company that’ll invest.”

“What?”

“This is actually a secret. I’m only telling you because I trust you’ll keep it.”

I winked with one eye.

“It’d be a waste to hand over a company I carefully built all by myself to Taesung. I have to look after my own share.”

“Huh…”

“For now, I’ll invest in the bank, but soon I plan to acquire a company. When that time comes, you’ll help me out in a big way, right?”

Master’s mouth hung open.

But he quickly snapped back to his senses.

“I’m going to use up all my money just to start this bank. Where would I get more?”

“I sold you the subway station info cheap, and gave you the land maps, too. Soon, when the land price soars, your pockets will be bursting, right?”

“What?”

Master shook his head.

“Geez, do all chaebol families start early education this young?”

“How would I know? You saw at last night’s year-end party—I only just joined the Taesung family.”

With nothing more to say, Master faked another awkward cough.

After glancing at me, all he could manage was this question:

“Why an investment company, of all things?”

“It’s simple.”

What seven-year-old could sit as president and run a company?

But investment companies are a bit different.

“You pick out promising companies and give them seed money. Then, you scoop up tons of their stock, and when it’s expensive, you sell and make a killing.”

Stocks really are a moneymaker.

Now, at a time when manufacturing and heavy industry are just starting to bloom, there were plenty of opportunities to make even more with stock investment.

Even in the sluggish 21st century, stock trading is still one of the most popular ways to grow wealth.

But Master shook his head.

“It’s easier said than done. You can’t do that just by having a sharp eye. Finding promising companies is one thing, but getting your money back from them after they grow is another.”

Like I didn’t know that.

You can’t touch dirty money without risking your life on collection.

“Those borrowing seed money act like they’d give you their liver at first. But once they get a taste of the money, their eyes turn. They crawl to you on their knees for a loan, but when it’s time to pay it back, they spit in your face. That’s how this business works.”

People are different when they go in and out of the restroom.

It wasn’t as if I’d only seen this a few times.

But Master’s eyes turned cold.

“Kid, if anyone gets big by eating your money and then stabs you in the back, come tell me. I never let those who run with my money off easy.”

How reassuring!

Normally, I’d handle that myself, but for now, I’m just a seven-year-old brat.

I’ve got Iron Chul and Yu Jong-tae from the Taesung Group security team sworn to loyalty, but it never hurts to have a Joker to call in for dirty work!

“Thank you.”

Mutual goodwill, the budding of partnership!

I pulled out a piece of paper from my coin purse, took out my Montblanc fountain pen from my coat, and wrote my home phone number.

At the end, I made sure to add my name, ‘Cha Jung-hyuk,’ before handing it over.

“If you’re ever interested in investing, call me here.”

“Hm? Did I mishear? Something sounds off.”

“It’s exactly as you heard.”

“What? Just now you said you’d invest in our bank?”

“Banks invest in investment companies too, don’t they?”

I grinned.

“I always welcome shrewd, wealthy, and reliable investment institutions.”

I could guarantee it.

Before long, Master would contact me at this number.

“Well, I’ll be off now. It was a pleasure meeting you today.”

I got down from my chair and bowed politely, hands together at my belly.

I paid for the two cups of ssanghwa tea and left the hotel coffee shop.

---

Gu Mayor looked at the map President Kim of Wu Kwang Construction had drawn.

“Is this all you managed in an hour? You couldn’t even put a few dots on the map.”

A clicking of the tongue followed.

“You should’ve just drawn ex-mayor Yang’s subway route. Even a kid taking random shots could do better than this.”

“Mayor Gu, this is a national project of keen interest to His Excellency. Even with Wu Kwang’s executives working together, it’s barely enough to make a decision.”

President Kim of Wu Kwang Construction protested with a face full of grievance.

Mayor Gu raised his hand to cut him off.

“That’s enough. Wu Kwang’s intent is clear enough.”

Mayor Gu casually folded the map drawn by President Kim.

“In that case, I’ll give Wu Kwang a special extension—the deadline is now one week. Unless you’d rather not.”

“Thank you! One week! I’ll make sure to bring a proper map of Subway Line 2! Thank you!”

Only then did President Kim’s face brighten.

“Just bonus points, no penalties, right?”

“Do I look like the type to say empty words? Just meet the deadline.”

“Of course. I’ll see you again in a week.”

President Kim hurried out with Secretary Choi.

“Secretary Choi, call an executive meeting at Wu Kwang Construction immediately!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Get all materials related to Subway Line 2 ready! Tell them to draft a map of Line 2 with more than 40 stations! The deadline is one week!”

“At the moment, just drafting the bid and construction plans leaves us short-handed—I doubt there’s anyone left to work on the subway map as well.”

“Divert all available manpower to the map! Our deadline is one week, theirs is three weeks!”

A clear difference in priorities.

“A subway map to win over Mayor Gu’s heart! That’s what’ll decide victory or defeat. No penalty, just bonus points? The mere act of swaying someone’s heart is a bonus for one side and a penalty for the other!”

That’s why President Kim was in a hurry.

“Book a hotel and have everyone work in residence for the whole week!”

“Yes, sir.”

As Wu Kwang Construction’s elite staff groaned and rolled in despair, Secretary Choi asked,

“So, what about the Taesung Chemical operation…?”

“That’s our last resort! For now, focus on this. If we can just win over Mayor Gu, we won’t need to take such risks!”

Mayor Gu gazed out the window of his office.

President Kim and Secretary Choi were hurrying out of City Hall.

“Tsk tsk, if they couldn’t draw a vision in an hour, what’s going to change in a week?”

On Mayor Gu’s desk, three maps of Subway Line 2 lay side by side.

“I didn’t expect such a gap in ability between the two construction companies.”

The right map was Taesung’s, the center was the one Mayor Gu had drawn, and the left was President Kim of Wu Kwang Construction’s.

“If this is the best the president can do, what does that say about Wu Kwang Construction’s future?”

Rrring!

The internal phone rang.

“A call from the Blue House. Shall I connect you?”

“Hurry!”

Mayor Gu straightened up in his seat.

“It’s been a while, Your Excellency. This is Gu Jae-cheol speaking.”

-Subway Line 2. What’s the situation?

He went straight to the point.

“I actually have something to report regarding that.”

As he spoke, Mayor Gu glanced down at the three maps spread out on his desk.

“I’ve decided on the contractor for Subway Line 2.”

-There should still be some time left.

“That’s true, but I don’t think I’ll be changing my mind.”

-What made you decide so quickly?

“I found a construction company with vision, technical prowess, and plenty of investment capital—perfect for the subway project.”

A subway map drawn in red marker.

The map with a star where Sindorim Station would be—that’s the one that caught Mayor Gu’s eye.

“When I asked for a vision, they drew the Seoul Subway Lines 2, 3, and 4 on the spot. Took less than thirty minutes.”

-Hmm.

“It was perfect from a technical, geological, geopolitical, and financial perspective. It filled in gaps I hadn’t even considered and suggested the future direction for Korean urban development.”

There was a brief silence on the line.

-The contractor. Who is it?

“Taesung Construction.”

Mayor Gu hurried to elaborate.

“It’s not the former president, Cha Yun-sung, who was known for incompetence. The new president is exceptionally capable, shrewd, and has won several big projects in the Middle East, bringing in oil money and enhancing the country’s reputation.”

-Mm.

“If you see for yourself, Your Excellency, you’ll understand why I say this. On that note, when you gather the chaebol leaders for the New Year’s luncheon, how about inviting him as well?”

-Good. I’d like to meet him.

“Thank you, sir. I’ll bring the subway map. See you at the New Year’s luncheon.”

-No need to wait till New Year’s. Now that we’ve talked about it, how about a drink tonight?

It was just a casual invitation for drinks, but Mayor Gu couldn’t answer easily.

His face grew more tense.

“Yes, I’ll bring the subway map and head to the Blue House.”

-I’ll be nearby. Let’s use Hyunmu Hotel.

And the voice on the line added,

-Bring that friend along, too.