The Kangseong Hospital, where the funeral was being held, was absolutely packed with people.
Most of them were reporters, but scattered among them were plenty who hoped to catch a glimpse of someone from the chaebol family.
A few of them spotted us and thrust microphones in our faces.
“Ms. Han Yeri! Do you have any words about your grandfather, who will go down in Korean history?”
“What’s your relationship with Mr. Kang Jisung, who came with you today!”
“Are you two seeing each other separately?”
The reporters hurled provocative questions, hoping something would stick, but we gave them nothing to work with.
We just ignored them consistently as we approached the funeral hall.
Security guards were stationed at the entrance to the funeral hall, but with Han Yeri by my side, it was a free pass.
Unlike the noisy outside, the inside was quiet.
In this vast funeral hall, only one room was in use.
The others were completely empty.
I figured they were controlling access to the extreme because who knows what conversations might take place inside.
“It’s like another world.”
“This is actually normal.”
“And it also means the deceased wasn’t an ordinary person.”
Our conversation didn’t continue any further.
Because someone had come out ahead to greet us.
“Yeri?”
“Uncle.”
If he’s Han Yeri’s uncle, that would be Han Kyung-hoon, the representative leading Kangseong Motors and Kangseong Electronics.
With his hair streaked with white, he approached us slowly.
His eyes fixed straight on me.
“You’re late.”
“I needed time to collect my thoughts.”
“Yes, Father was fond of you, so that’s understandable.”
Even while conversing with Han Yeri, Han Kyung-hoon kept his gaze fixed on me.
Anyone could see he had something to say to me.
“The room is inside.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“This friend’s name is Kang Jisung, right?”
“That’s correct.”
He’d already figured out everything, including who she was coming with.
You can’t underestimate the information network of the Kangseong Group.
“I have some things to discuss with this friend. Go on into the room first.”
“What kind of discussion?”
“There’s something. Business talk.”
“If it’s that, then I should hear it too….”
“Han Yeri.”
At Han Kyung-hoon’s chilly voice, Han Yeri tried not to back down, but I stopped her.
There was no point in getting into a power struggle before the real fight.
“President Han Yeri, you go on inside. I’ll join you right after the conversation ends.”
“….All right.”
Han Yeri glanced between me and Han Kyung-hoon before walking toward the inner room and disappearing.
Only after the clicking of her heels had completely faded did Han Kyung-hoon speak.
“I wanted to see you separately.”
“May I know the reason?”
“I had something I wanted to ask.”
Han Kyung-hoon took off his glasses and started wiping them with a cloth.
Watching his feigned leisurely attitude, I asked.
“It doesn’t seem like you’re curious about my relationship with President Han Yeri. Is it business?”
“Something like that.”
He spoke while gazing at the lens he was wiping.
“Father quietly mentioned that he’d appointed one more successor to the Kangseong Group.”
Successor to the Kangseong Group.
The ones publicly known right now are the eldest son, Han Kyung-hoon, and the fourth son, Han Kyung-yong—just the two.
“And he said it was you.”
And now, including me, that makes three.
“What I want to ask is this. What kind of deal did you make to be called a successor?”
Successor.
I had no intention of becoming the successor to the Kangseong Group.
Yet, the fact that Han Kyung-hoon in front of me was saying this probably meant.
‘That the declaration of war I made, Chairman Han Kang-seong used it however he pleased.’
It wasn’t much different, so I decided to make good use of it.
“I’m not sure if you know, but I took over Kangseong Foods.”
“I know well. The mansion was in an uproar for a while because of it.”
“At that time, I made a small bet with Chairman Han Kang-seong.”
“A bet?”
“Yes, if I sat in the president’s seat at Kangseong Foods, I’d get the qualifications as successor to the Kangseong Group.”
He paused his hand wiping the glasses, sank into thought for a moment, then resumed.
“So, you’re saying you received it as compensation for swallowing Kangseong Foods?”
“You could see it that way.”
“Ha, that’s ridiculous. We had a part of our company torn away, and on top of that, you demanded the successor position? And Father accepted that deal?”
“Yes.”
“I understand youthful bravado, but you shouldn’t say just anything with that loose mouth of yours.”
But it’s not just anything.
“Father never makes a deal where he loses. There must have been another transaction.”
Han Kyung-hoon looked at me coldly and said.
“What did you offer in exchange?”
This is frustrating.
I told the truth, but he shows no sign of believing it.
It seemed he wouldn’t back off until he heard the answer he wanted.
‘The answer he wants, the answer he wants.’
I mulled over the conversation I’d had with Chairman Han Kang-seong before opening my mouth.
“I didn’t lie.”
“You.”
“I’ve had a one-on-one with Chairman Han Kang-seong.”
Before he could threaten again, I took the initiative.
“Chairman Han Kang-seong said it was heartbreaking to see the Kangseong Group crumbling.”
“Crumbling? The Kangseong Group?”
“You don’t think so?”
“Of course not!”
Han Kyung-hoon, now wearing his glasses, said.
“Kangseong Motors is still number one domestically, and do you know how much revenue comes from the electronic products at Kangseong Electronics?”
“I know. I know well. But there’s a correction to make.”
I thoroughly research any market I’m entering.
And since the affiliates of the Kangseong Group are markets I’m entering, I researched them just as thoroughly.
“Kangseong Motors gave up the number one spot to Hyundai Motors. It was due to the sales drop from last year’s K-series recall incident.”
“It’s the same for Kangseong Electronics. Compared to SG Electronics’ products, they’re evaluated as lacking something, right? The last quarter’s sales prove that.”
They were companies that continued to grow in their own way.
But to claim number one, there were too many shortcomings.
“The Kangseong Group being number one is old news. Now, it’s barely holding on based on market share.”
All the financial statements of the Kangseong Group say so.
That their past heyday is over.
“You don’t even need to look at Motors or Electronics; just look at the Foods division I took this time. Because they wasted money on unnecessary things, they couldn’t even maintain the main pipeline, and the deficits just kept piling up.”
If I didn’t know the internal situation, that would be one thing, but since I do know it well.
Han Kyung-hoon kept his mouth shut tight and couldn’t refute.
“Chairman Han Kang-seong was saddened by this reality. So, he made a proposal to me.”
Chairman Han Kang-seong.
Since you used the declaration of war I gave you to suit your taste.
I’ll also rework the past conversation to suit mine.
If you don’t like it, kick open the coffin and say no.
“If I swallow the Kangseong Group, I’ll elevate its name once more. Without flaws, into a group everyone looks up to.”
“Huh.”
“Chairman Han Kang-seong agreed to it.”
“That doesn’t make….”
“It doesn’t matter if you think it doesn’t make sense. I proved it by swallowing Kangseong Foods, and I was called the successor to the Kangseong Group.”
For Han Kyung-hoon to deny it.
The circumstantial evidence was far too clear.
Han Kyung-hoon ground his teeth once and asked.
“What exactly did Father say?”
It was proof he was starting to fully trust my words.
I smiled faintly at him and said.
“Rather than watching it shatter like this, he’d hand it over to someone else and see a sound group.”
I can’t entrust it to you lot, so better to entrust it to an outsider.
Because that’s the path for the Kangseong Group.
It’s a statement that scratches the pride of all the Han family members, including Han Kyung-hoon.
This should make them unite as one, just as Han Kang-seong wanted.
If interpreted positively, that is.
‘You shouldn’t underestimate human greed.’
I was confident.
Even with this provocation, they wouldn’t unite.
Their positions and situations are all different, and their desires are different too—how could they join hands?
“Has your curiosity been satisfied now?”
Just as they’ve done until now.
They’ll fall into ruin.
Step by step.
I wrapped up the conversation with Han Kyung-hoon and headed to the room.
He said he’d stay behind to think more, so I left him to it.
His mind must have been in turmoil already, and now it’s even more so.
‘Me inserting myself isn’t just like adding one more person.’
An outsider, not family.
He’d have no choice but to worry a lot about how to deal with such an existence.
Of course, worrying a lot doesn’t mean an answer will come.
‘Swallowing Electronics and Motors is something for a bit later anyway. Han Kyung-hoon probably sees our business that way too.’
An enemy in the distant future could be an ally in the near term.
Well, isn’t he calculating something like that?
It’s just my speculation.
As I was trying to read his thoughts while heading to the room.
Smack!
There was a sound that rang out loudly in the otherwise not-too-noisy funeral hall.
“Don’t glare at me like that!”
It was the sound of flesh slapping flesh, followed by a shrill scream of rage.
Wondering what was going on, I hurried into the room and saw Han Yeri clutching her cheek.
“President Han Yeri.”
“You could’ve come a bit faster.”
“What happened.”
“It’s nothing big.”
Han Yeri said as she brushed back her fallen hair.
“Just a little argument with my aunt.”
“Ah.”
I turned my head to look at the one being held back by the other family members.
Han Kyung-sook, whom I was seeing after a long time, had changed quite a bit compared to before.
How should I put it.
It was doubtful if she was the same person.
Han Kyung-sook, upon seeing me, foamed at the mouth and pointed accusingly.
“You! Give back Kangseong Foods. Give it back!”
“She was dismissed from the president’s position and dragged back to the main house. Then, she just drank all the time.”
“Hm, so that’s why she looks like that.”
Trying to forget her own downfall with alcohol.
Pathetic.
Anyway, she hit one of our employees.
I took a wet towel and applied it to Han Yeri’s cheek.
“Keep it cool.”
“President Kang?”
“President Han Kyung-sook? Ah, you’re not the president anymore, are you?”
“Youuu.”
I sent Han Yeri back and stepped forward one pace.
The ones holding Han Kyung-sook were her two sons.
Seeing the fire blazing in their eyes, it was like they were looking at their mortal enemy.
Look at me that way all you want, I don’t care.
As long as, on this stage that’s been set, you move as I want.
“You said to return Kangseong Foods?”
Han Kyung-sook’s eyes flashed at the mention of returning Kangseong Foods.
She must have seen it as a chance right in front of her to undo her failure.
She shook off her sons and crawled toward me.
“Yes, hand over the shares and the president’s seat at Kangseong Foods.”
“Hand over, as if you entrusted it to me.”
“That’s not a company someone like you can manage. So….”
That’s a bit hurtful to my pride.
“Kangseong Foods posted a deficit of 187.5 billion in the last quarter alone. Shall I tell you about last year’s sales and operating profit too?”
“That was all investment.”
“Indiscriminately starting businesses with no profitability isn’t called investment. It’s called wasting money.”
“You…!”
“I took over as acting president, and this quarter we turned a profit. Just by cleaning up the recklessly started businesses and rebuilding the image.”
It was merely pruning.
And yet, it was reborn into a company that earns such pretty money.
“Same company, but one person made a mess of it, and another runs it properly. Who do you think lacks the qualifications more?”
I scraped at Han Kyung-sook’s pride relentlessly.
But it’s not enough.
For slapping our employee’s cheek, just scraping her pride isn’t satisfying.
I need to uproot that pride and trample it into the ground to feel better.
“But if you really want it, I can return it.”
“R-really?”
“Yes.”
Looking at Han Kyung-sook filled with a glimmer of hope, I said.
“If you bring twice the sales revenue of Kangseong Foods.”