Chapter 113: The Golden Document

"Taeseong Construction's executives?"

President Shim's eyes widened.

"Did you have those guys in mind?"

"You know why they were kicked out of their positions, right?"

My grandfather isn't an idiot.

There must have been a good reason for dismissing such high-level executives.

"They embezzled, committed breach of trust, and were negligent in their duties. To be honest, I never even considered picking them up. But given the situation, I have no choice."

I scratched my cheek with my fingertip.

"Rather than watching President Shim drop dead from overwork and excessive drinking, I might as well put those guys to work, even if they're not ideal."

"Young Master······."

Why is he looking at me with such grateful eyes over something like this?

"I didn't think Young Master cared about me to this extent······."

President Shim looked at me with a solemn expression.

"Actually, Taeseong Construction's executives aren't that incompetent."

"I know."

"Excuse me?"

"They say my dad would throw lavish parties with the construction fees he won from the Middle East, right? With all that money thrown around top and bottom, how do you think Taeseong Construction managed to stay afloat?"

Maybe the company's stock went to crap thanks to incompetent executives and president.

But Taeseong Construction was still counted as one of the top construction firms in the country.

"That's probably because Taeseong Construction's executives pretended to be incompetent and laid low. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense."

The phrase ‘Taeseong is the best when it comes to construction technology!’ hadn't lost its luster.

"It's better not to start something at all than to try convincing an utterly incompetent boss. They decided to run things half-heartedly instead."

"I didn't expect Young Master to know the inside story······."

It was also the reason why Grandpa, who was truly sincere about the company, was able to turn a blind eye despite knowing everything.

"There are quite a few people whom the Chairman personally selected, hoping they would help his lacking younger sibling. I can vouch for their abilities."

President Shim spoke quietly, almost sighing.

"But they're not the executives appointed by President Cha Yunseong. I refuse to take those useless, shameless bastards."

"I agree. I don't want to bother dragging in useless parasites either."

Why did my great-uncle always pick those types of people?

Seriously, great-uncle!

Everything you touched ended up a disaster!

"But the ones Grandpa appointed are rotten to the core, too."

I stated firmly.

"They ignored even the domestic construction contracts they barely managed to get and left the workforce and equipment idle."

Taeseong Construction was supposed to be my father's domain.

Even if they’d managed it well until he returned from the Middle East, it would barely have been enough.

But those bastards defiled my father's rice bowl.

"They turned a blind eye to the president of Woo Kwang Construction opening the company safe."

In fact, Grandpa had no idea about that until he saw the three pages of Woo Kwang Construction’s bribe ledger I’d cut out.

"I heard Grandpa only took back the bribes and embezzled money from them after firing them, is that right?"

"Yes, that's what I heard. The Chairman let them go after firing them and confiscating their assets."

"Grandpa has affection, loyalty, and memories with Taeseong Construction's executives."

He understood their hardships and struggles, and the trust they’d built over the years was why he let things slide to a certain extent.

"But I’m not like that."

What trust do I have with those bastards?

If anything, there's only bad blood!

"I have no intention of forgiving them easily. Once someone raids the storehouse, they'll always be back to peek in whenever they get the chance."

"Yes. That’s what bothers me too. Young Master, you don't have to take unnecessary risks. I can just work harder······."

"But there’s no reason to let high-level talent go unused. Do you think I'd be afraid of those guys?"

I’m the one who took in back-alley thugs and put them to good use!

Taeseong Construction’s executives are nothing.

I could pick their bones clean and still have some left over!

"Leave dealing with Taeseong Construction's executives to me."

Rotten bastards are my specialty!

I flashed a big smile.

"I might not be used to management yet, and I might be clumsy when it comes to treating employees kindly like the chaebol do, but when it comes to handling back-alley trash like dogs, I’m second to none."

"What are you planning to do?"

"Life is all about carrots and sticks! If oiling the wheels doesn’t work, sometimes you have to smack them around."

I winked with one eye.

"I won't go easy on them—I’ll work them like dogs."

"Heh······!"

"Just watch. If you treat them like dogs, even mongrels can become pretty useful."

Thugs from the back alleys, vicious loan sharks, cold-hearted ethnic Korean hitmen from China, sly conmen, hopeless junkies, and even double-crossing fixers.

Whenever they acted up, I’d break them down and work them relentlessly, even giving them a mental makeover!

President Shim clamped his mouth shut, trying not to let his jaw drop.

"If I bring in high-level executives like Taeseong Construction's, that'll be more than enough to manage the subsidiaries I’ve acquired, right?"

The Woo Kwang subsidiaries I’d firmly secured for myself were Woo Kwang Chemical, Woo Kwang Securities, and Woo Kwang Construction.

"As expected of our Young Master! That's it! That's the essence of management!"

Huh?

"Where in the world do you find only obedient and smart people? The key to management is putting every kind of person in the right place, working them like dogs, and squeezing them for all they’re worth!"

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.

President Shim applauded as if deeply moved.

"I really can't help but admire you, Young Master Junghyuk."

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.

"When I prepared today's first lesson, I came in with one goal: if I could help you achieve the most important lesson, I’d call it a success."

Hmm?

"Anyone who manages a company must have their own philosophy and convictions!"

President Shim’s voice grew louder.

"No matter how high your position, if you don’t know the nitty-gritty of the field, you’ll end up being toyed with by the executives."

Executives are people who have clawed their way to the top through fierce competition.

They’re so adept at office politics, stripping a greenhorn bare is child’s play for them.

"If you can’t maintain your center, you’ll end up tossed around like floating duckweed. Would it do to be a puppet CEO dancing on the executives’ palms?"

President Shim smiled with satisfaction.

"That’s why they insist you work your way up from the bottom, learning all the menial and practical tasks."

President Shim grabbed my shoulder and looked me in the eye.

"When you said you wanted to raise twenty young elite rookies as executives, I was surprised. It was a move that showed you grasped the core of management."

Is this really something to get so excited about?

"When you said you’d take in Taeseong Construction’s executives, I was shocked again. Taking back traitorous subordinates is a bold decision most people would never make."

"Well······."

"Yes, it’s because you’re confident you can handle them. That’s why I’m so excited right now."

President Shim let out a cheerful laugh.

"You’re not reluctantly picking up trash, you’re planning to work those bastards like dogs, with boldness and cold resolve! That’s exactly it!"

President Shim couldn’t hide his admiration.

"Truly, Young Master! You have the makings of a leader!"

This is just a trick I used all the time in the back alleys, though.

"If I can plant even just that one thing in your heart, I’ll call this a successful lesson. Keuh!"

President Shim touched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger, overcome with emotion.

"You’ve already established your own firm convictions, and your ability and execution to carry out that will are so perfect!"

President Shim kept exclaiming, "Keuh, keuh," and shuddered with excitement.

"Yes, this is it! This is the future of Taeseong! Our Young Master Junghyuk, the very cornerstone for great plans! Wahahaha!"

I don't think this is going well, President Shim!

I took out a silver lozenge from my coin purse and, while he was laughing, poured it into President Shim’s mouth.

Only then did he snap out of it and close his mouth in surprise.

I shook my head.

"Did you drink too much at lunch? Take it easy. Your liver will rot."

"That's not it······ ahem! Yes, I’ll restrain myself."

President Shim swallowed the lozenge in a flash, took a breath freshener from his suit pocket, and sprayed it in his mouth.

"In any case, I, Shim Woncheol, look forward to your next steps, Young Master."

---

I personally saw President Shim out to the front door.

I wouldn’t do that for any other tutor.

Of course, I had something I wanted to get from him.

"President Shim, aren’t you forgetting something?"

"Forgetting something?"

"The documents you brought out during class earlier. You took them back with you."

"Ah······!"

President Shim had deliberately brought the investment company’s internal paperwork, trying to intimidate me from the start.

He scratched the tip of his nose, a little embarrassed.

"Now that I look at them, they’re just trivial chores Young Master needn’t bother with."

"Give them here. I’m curious what investment President Shim’s been working so hard on lately."

I held out my hand.

President Shim looked down at my small palm and hesitated several times.

Then, shutting his eyes tightly, he opened his briefcase and took out a document envelope.

"It’s nothing much. Since you mentioned acquiring a refinery before, I was looking at Woo Kwang Oil Refining······ ahem!"

So that's why he’s been entertaining me with drinks every night, working his liver to death, just to hand me Woo Kwang Oil Refining?

"I’m pretty sure I said my goal was Korea Petroleum Corporation back then."

"Ahem, but I thought even if Korea Petroleum Corporation was out of reach, maybe we could get Woo Kwang Oil Refining."

"Hmm."

"Honestly, if you add Woo Kwang Oil Refining, wouldn’t you end up with the biggest refinery in Korea? Hmhm!"

No way.

If Taeseong had a refinery, would Yukong hand it over without a fight?

The government would be eager to offload the burden of oil onto corporations however they could.

But I can't just say that outright!

‘Huh?’

Wait, what’s this?

‘Woo Kwang Oil Refining was supposed to be worthless, but why is there a golden-glowing document in the middle here?’

It wasn’t just my imagination earlier.

I flipped through the documents as if possessed.

.

That was the golden-glowing document.

A thought flashed through my mind like lightning.

‘Wait. What happens if I acquire Yukong first, then take over Woo Kwang Oil Refining?’

I began reading through President Shim’s plan line by line.

---

Late at night, I went to find Yoo Jongtae.

Maybe the tutors had worked him hard, but Yoo Jongtae looked thoroughly exhausted.

"Young Master, what brings you here at this hour?"

"I’m thinking of taking in the executives fired from Taeseong Construction."

"Excuse me?"

Yoo Jongtae blinked.

"Hmm, I think the first meeting with those bastards should be at Cheonggyesan, right?"

"Cheonggyesan?"

"Our basement is decent enough, but I can’t be bothered to handle the soundproofing and clean-up."

"······."

Yoo Jongtae, who had been slumped over, immediately straightened up.

"Look into the backgrounds of the executives fired from Taeseong Construction. Grandpa already cleaned them out once, so it should be easier."

"You mean to investigate their slush funds, right?"

"That’s not enough. Dig up every bit of their dirty private lives, too."

I grinned.

"Prepare plenty of ropes, baseball bats, and shovels, and scope out some secluded spots on Cheonggyesan."

"Excuse me? What are you planning to do with those?"

"It’d be even better if you could dig a few graves ahead of time."

"Graves······?"

"The number should match the number of Taeseong Construction’s executives. We’ll bury them up to their necks, so depth isn’t an issue."

Yoo Jongtae’s jaw dropped.

Not that I cared.

I added a few more instructions.

"Oh, make sure to sharpen the hatchets."

"What are the hatchets for?"

"If they’re just signing paperwork and going around drinking, missing a few fingers won’t be a problem, right?"

"······Should I prepare anesthetics or sleeping pills, too?"

"No."

I wagged my index finger side to side.

"Just get gags. The best quality, if possible."

Yoo Jongtae nodded seriously.

"I’ll make sure to have cotton balls ready to stuff in their mouths as well."

"Remember this. The dirtier the background you uncover, the cleaner the aftermath will be."

"Of course. I’ll dig up their dirtiest secrets and shake them down thoroughly. Family, in-laws, distant relatives, the whole lot!"

Yoo Jongtae bowed and dashed off like the wind.