Chapter 33: Enemies Meet at the Party.

The old man’s lips curled up slightly.

Then, he let out a hearty laugh for everyone to hear.

“Hahahaha! What a spirited young man!”

“I’m grateful that you recognize it.”

“You’re quite shameless too. Kkhuk, kheop.”

“Chairman, that’s enough for now…..”

As the doctor urgently tried to say something, Kang Ryuseong raised his hand to stop him.

The wrinkled old man’s hand was like a dried-up tree branch, but no one could go against it.

“So, you’re a businessman too… is that it?”

“Yes.”

“Then a businessman should speak with money, not words.”

Kang Ryuseong grabbed my hand and squeezed it tightly with his remaining strength as he spoke.

“I’m on my last legs. At best, until next year.”

“Grandfather, you have to live long.”

“That’s enough. I’ve built as much as I needed to, and lately, I keep hearing the old lady calling me. It won’t be long.”

Next year, a major change would come to the Kangseong Group—that was powerful information.

Kang Ryuseong released my hand and said.

“Before that, show me something. Then I’ll leave you at least a single bean.”

“A single bean is far from enough.”

“Do you think you’re the only one trying to pick up even a crumb from our group? And one bean should be plenty for a guy like you?”

It meant that with just one bean, I’d devour the entire bean field.

And that wasn’t wrong.

“But wouldn’t you be the one taking the loss, Chairman?”

“Until I’m in my coffin, I’m just a merchant. And have you ever seen a merchant take a loss?”

Kang Ryuseong said that and then looked at Han Yeri beside him.

“Granddaughter.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

“Later, you’ll have to choose. Either put a sturdy leash on that guy, or pave the way for him to run.” 

“…Yes.”

Kang Ryuseong patted Han Yeri’s hand a couple of times and then left.

It was a very short meeting, but the conversation was intense.

It wasn’t just me; Han Yeri also let out a delayed breath.

“It seems Grandfather thinks too highly of President Kang.”

“For someone who thinks highly, he wasn’t easy to deal with.”

Han Yeri finished her champagne and said.

“But you’re not taking what Grandfather said seriously, right?”

“It’s the words of the chairman of the top conglomerate in the business world. How could it be nonsense?”

“Our grandfather has high standards.”

“I know.”

To meet Kang Ryuseong’s standards, Ribbon Corporation would have to be on par with at least one of the major affiliates of the Kangseong Group.

Growing a company to that level in just over half a year is a mission close to impossible.

If it were ordinary, that is.

“If filling those eyes means getting a bean from the Kangseong Group, I have to do it.”

“…Grandfather probably said that thinking you’d fail.”

“Well. In my opinion, it was the opposite.”

“The opposite?”

“He seemed convinced that I’d definitely meet his eyes.”

He was an old man who didn’t even know what company I had or what business I was in.

He wouldn’t even look into Ribbon Corporation after leaving this party.

But Kang Ryuseong was certain.

In just a few more months, Ribbon Corporation would stand equal to one of the Kangseong Group’s affiliates.

That must be the intuition of someone who has led the Kangseong Group until now.

“That’s why I found it even more amazing. It’s clear he’ll lose the bet, yet he’s calling it.”

I pondered the old man’s words.

‘A merchant doesn’t take a loss.’

That meant giving me one bean was an investment that could yield more profit.

I couldn’t grasp it at all.

‘Is there profit to be gained even by handing over an affiliate?’

Moreover, to someone who had declared he’d swallow the entire Kangseong Group.

This being profitable….

“Ah.”

“Why?”

“Ha, really.”

I looked at Kang Ryuseong’s wheelchair moving away.

Perhaps his condition had worsened a bit; it seemed his stay at the party ended with this.

A truly dying old man, yet so meticulous.

“Chairman Kang Ryuseong. He’s not an easy person.”

“Did you think I’d bring President Kang here for no reason?”

“Now that I think about it, what did he mean by not wanting to take a loss?”

“…Grandfather wasn’t happy about the affiliates coming to me. But if there’s a reliable person by my side, his thoughts might change a bit.”

In short, he created a lacking support base through me.

“But then, wouldn’t it be better to use someone even better? I’m just a small-to-medium enterprise president.”

“Whether from another group or a mid-tier company president. They wouldn’t easily meet Grandfather’s eyes. In my view, only President Kang was suitable. And as expected, it worked. Though it seems a bit excessive.”

If Han Yeri hadn’t brought me.

Who knows what blow her hotel and department store affiliates might have suffered.

“Today really was full of good things for President Kang. The best I got was not taking a loss.”

“So, you don’t like it?”

“If someone enjoys this situation, send them to a psychiatrist first.”

“Hahaha, that makes sense.”

I finished my champagne and checked the time.

Perhaps because Kang Ryuseong had left.

People from the Kangseong Group started leaving one by one, and accordingly, others filling the party hall departed too.

A place without a central figure is like angko-less bunggeoppang.

“Shall we head out too?”

“You’re not meeting anyone else?”

“If they don’t come to me, I don’t need to go. If President Kang needs someone, go meet them.”

“Hm.”

I had planned to familiarize faces and build moderate connections anyway.

“Then you go in first. I still….”

“Kang Jisung.”

My head turned sharply at the voice calling my full name.

There stood an unwelcome bastard in ill-fitting attire.

“It’s been a while.”

“Yeah, it has.”

I had relaxed thinking I wouldn’t see him.

I didn’t expect him to be quietly present without anyone noticing.

“Yoo Jinsang.”

***

Han Yeri said she’d go first and left, and we headed to a corner seat in the party hall.

The conversation wouldn’t be pleasant, and as representatives of each company, it wouldn’t look good to be seen.

So, pretending to have a moderate chat was best.

I swirled the wine glass in my hand and said.

“Since when do you attend places like this?”

“I still have no intention of socializing. This place doesn’t suit me.”

“Then why come? You’re busy with business trips.”

“I figured you’d be here.”

I see.

From the start, this bastard came to see me.

Convinced I’d definitely show up at an event like this.

That explains why I didn’t see him at the party.

He wasn’t hiding in a corner; he entered only after it quieted down.

“What, did you feel guilty after firing me?”

“I made a reasonable choice for the company, why feel guilty?”

“This bastard….”

“Lower your voice. Unless you want to ruin the company image.”

He still acted solely for the company.

I swallowed my anger and downed the wine in my hand.

“Did you come to rile me up again?”

“I have no intention of doing something with no benefit.”

“Then what. What benefit made you come.”

“I’m interested in Ribbon Corporation.”

Yoo Jinsang, that fucking bastard, said while looking at me with dry eyes.

“A new person said it would be good to acquire and merge Ribbon Corporation.”

“…What?”

“The franchise <Neighborhood Bakery> is establishing itself quickly, and adding our system to it could generate groundbreaking sales.”

Apply their software and community programs to manage <Neighborhood Bakery>.

…To be a bit honest.

If I were at <Spectrum>, I would have made the same proposal.

Using <Neighborhood Bakery> as a test case to develop it would allow a step into that field.

“So, you want to acquire the <Neighborhood Bakery> franchise of Ribbon Corporation, what’s your opinion?”

“You’re asking the obvious. Get lost.”

“Why?”

“Why? Why ask why here? You heron-like bastard.”

No matter what I said, Yoo Jinsang looked at me with dry eyes and spoke as if he truly didn’t understand.

“Applying the services <Spectrum> is preparing, <Neighborhood Bakery>’s sales will increase groundbreakingly. The program to manage the continuously growing stores is perfect.”

“I know <Spectrum>’s technology is good.”

“There’s a way to grow <Neighborhood Bakery> more reliably, and you’re rejecting it?”

“Yes.”

As if I’d do something good for you because I’m crazy.

“Ribbon Corporation can do it sufficiently. No intention of handing it to <Spectrum>.”

“Just in case, you’re not planning to develop programs with the American companies <ALTER> and <RUBINURI>, right?”

The two companies from Yoo Jinsang’s mouth were the ones I instructed Yuha to acquire.

It was just a few days ago, yet Yoo Jinsang knew it as if it were a natural report.

‘…Did this bastard deploy a satellite over my company?’

Yuha wouldn’t sell this info to <Spectrum>, so it means he was watching every move of Ribbon Corporation.

Yoo Jinsang sipped his water and said.

“Though recently founded, the two companies’ development capabilities aren’t bad. Still, they can’t compare to <Spectrum>. Investing money there is like throwing it on the ground, you know that, right?”

“That’s for me to worry about.”

“I’m saying think again. What’s helpful for the company.”

Choose the direction helpful for the company.

Make a rational judgment.

That’s what Yoo Jinsang was saying.

“It’s a sufficiently rational choice, so no need to nitpick.”

“You won’t regret that judgment?”

“Yes. Get lost.”

“Alright.”

Yoo Jinsang showed not a hint of regret and straightened from leaning on the wall.

“I’ll watch how much bigger Ribbon Corporation gets. Ah, and.”

Yoo Jinsang said coldly.

“Have <RUBINURI> develop only what Ribbon Corporation will use. Don’t come out to the market with <ALTER> and get crushed.”

“As <Spectrum> does best?”

“It’d hurt to see them torn apart due to lack of technology?”

Yoo Jinsang, who solidly screwed me over until the end, immediately left the party hall.

Others recognized Yoo Jinsang and approached.

But Yoo Jinsang, who had eaten his social skills with rice, showed them no interest.

I watched his back quietly and let out a long breath.

“My prediction that <Spectrum> is developing security and office programs was correct.”

He really is a chilling bastard.

If I hadn’t read Yoo Jinsang’s thoughts in advance and prepared to acquire the two companies.

We would have been stuck using <Spectrum>’s programs without a choice.

Then, forget swallowing <Spectrum>, we would have quietly become an affiliate under <Spectrum>.

‘Still, I blocked one thing.’

I blocked one of <Spectrum>’s plans and gained some small information too.

‘These bastards were indeed looking at all the client information.’

Saying they don’t access information of companies using <Spectrum>’s programs was all lies.

Otherwise, our company’s information couldn’t have leaked so easily.

And one more thing.

The prediction that <Spectrum> would soon get involved in the franchise industry or large-scale distribution business.

This fact, which was merely a prediction, became certain through this conversation.

And that certainty was proven two days later.