Chapter 75: If You Miss an Opportunity Like This, You Won’t Rise Higher

While Park Jin-hyuk met with three magazine companies, two broadcasting companies, and one government official during one week, Park Su-man held five meetings with Hanuri Savings Bank.

In the meantime, Park Jin-hyuk used 1 billion won to purchase shares of DS Telecom, making it appear as though the acquisition of DS Telecom stock had begun.

“President Byeon Gwang-seok is avoiding my calls.”

“It seems things are going well on that side.”

“It appears so. I’m continuing to reach out since you told me not to stop, but… he was quite overbearing yesterday.”

“That started once we began buying DS Telecom shares, didn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Park Jin-hyuk nodded with a smile. Then, looking at Hyun Yi-soo sitting across from him, he spoke.

“Please set up a smoke screen regarding DS Telecom.”

Hyun Yi-soo knew exactly what Park Jin-hyuk wanted. She shifted her gaze from Jin-hyuk to Kim Jun-woo. Standing with an expressionless face, Kim Jun-woo met her gaze.

Hyun Yi-soo had been horrified when she first heard from Kim Jun-woo what Park Jin-hyuk intended to do. She had even been angry at Kim Jun-woo, asking why he hadn’t stopped him. However, realizing that Kim Jun-woo couldn’t stop Park Jin-hyuk’s plans, she had instead provided support from the sidelines as Kim Jun-woo gathered information.

And today, after coming to meet Park Jin-hyuk and hearing the details of his plan, she could only marvel at it.

‘Park Su-man is no match for him.’

He was herding Park Su-man toward his desired destination as if driving cattle. He had made Park Su-man bite onto DS Telecom—something Su-man likely hadn’t even considered—and even arranged for a source of funding so the two parties could meet.

After meeting Park Jin-hyuk, Byeon Gwang-seok must have surely thought that joining hands with Park Su-man would be better than siding with Jin-hyuk. The two had met, and just as Jin-hyuk wanted, they were proceeding with the plan. Under these circumstances, if she started meeting with DS Telecom’s investment firms, they would surely be convinced.

[It’s worth a shot.]

Park Jin-hyuk knew well the powerful force that illusions held. Hyun Yi-soo agreed with that sentiment. The moment one feels a possibility exists is the moment they are sucked up to their shoulders into an antlion’s pit. They might think they can escape because their neck is out and they can still see, but their body is already trapped in an inescapable mire. Right now, Park Su-man’s group was being driven into that very mire.

“If I move this time as well, they will find it strange.”

“I know. If I move, and then DS Pharma adds its strength at the end, they won’t be able to help but believe it.”

“Indeed. If that happens, they will throw themselves with all their might toward a goal that seems within reach but remains elusive. That’s when we’ll throw them down—right into the prosecution’s front yard.”

As Park Jin-hyuk finished speaking, Kim Jun-woo spoke to him cautiously. He felt that enough time had passed.

“Executive Director, shall I tell him to come in now?”

“How many minutes has he been waiting?”

“It has already been one hour.”

“Really? Then that should be enough.”

Hyun Yi-soo shook her head while listening to the conversation between Park Jin-hyuk and Kim Jun-woo. She knew who was waiting to meet them. CEO Jung Chan-yong of DS Securities was waiting for Park Jin-hyuk’s call. He had arrived around the same time as her, and they had even chatted briefly outside. However, Park Jin-hyuk had only called in Hyun Yi-soo and left Jung Chan-yong waiting. After hearing the reason for such neglect, she couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.

[I intend to make him think many things while he waits.]

That was the answer Park Jin-hyuk had given when Hyun Yi-soo asked why he hadn’t called in Jung Chan-yong. Upon hearing those words, Hyun Yi-soo had let out an exclamation of admiration in spite of herself.

‘How does he know the perspective of someone who’s waiting?’

Park Jin-hyuk’s answer reflected a sentiment that could only be known by someone who had done their share of waiting. Specifically, it was an emotion felt only by those positioned lower than the person they intended to meet. She wondered how Park Jin-hyuk, who had been in a high position since birth, could know such a feeling.

Thinking that Jung Chan-yong had spent enough time wondering about the situation beyond the door and imagining various scenarios, Park Jin-hyuk had him called in. Jung Chan-yong entered with Kim Jun-woo, his face glistening with sweat, and greeted Park Jin-hyuk.

“How do you do? I am Jung Chan-yong, in charge of DS Securities.”

“Pleasure to meet you. We met once during the last New Year’s regular meeting, didn’t we?”

“I only saw you from a distance, yet you remember me.”

“I couldn’t have a conversation with everyone, but I remember all those who were present.”

Jung Chan-yong looked at Park Jin-hyuk with an impressed expression. To Jung Chan-yong, who was still standing awkwardly with his waist half-bent, Park Jin-hyuk gestured toward the seat next to Hyun Yi-soo and sat on the sofa first. Jung Chan-yong gave a brief nod to Hyun Yi-soo sitting beside him and took his seat.

Park Jin-hyuk and Hyun Yi-soo.

And the place they were currently in, DS Pharma.

The most successful people from the most successful companies in the DS Group, and even the next successor sitting at the heart of it all… Jung Chan-yong tried to calm his pounding heart, but his trembling was visibly apparent.

Still, Jung Chan-yong was a man who had climbed his way up to the position of a subsidiary CEO. It was obvious he possessed everything: greed for work, a desire for honor, and the ambition to reach even higher ground now that he had come this far. Park Jin-hyuk smiled as he looked at him.

“The reason I wanted to see you, CEO Jung, is nothing else. I’m asking because I’d like you to help me once.”

“Me help you, Executive Director? Please, just say the word. Whatever it is, I will help.”

Jung Chan-yong thought that his opportunity had finally come. Watching Park Jin-hyuk’s position within DS become increasingly firm, he had tried to get closer to him. However, having no point of contact with Park Jin-hyuk, Jung Chan-yong could only watch him from afar, never catching a chance to approach. But as the saying goes, blessings come to those who wait—Park Jin-hyuk had called him first to ask for a favor. Believing he wouldn’t be able to rise higher if he missed an opportunity like this, Jung Chan-yong vowed in his heart to fulfill the request without even hearing what it was.

Park Jin-hyuk smiled seeing Jung Chan-yong’s lips set with firm resolve.

“It’s nothing much. Please hold down the stock price of DS Telecom.”

“Pardon? What do you mean by that…?”

Jung Chan-yong, who had been intensely focused on what Park Jin-hyuk’s request might be, looked at Hyun Yi-soo in momentary confusion. However, Hyun Yi-soo was equally baffled.

“A public disclosure will go out this evening or tomorrow stating that I have purchased shares of DS Telecom. The amount isn’t much—around 1 billion won—but once the disclosure of my purchase goes out, it will attract people’s attention. Subsequently, a large wave of buying will follow through various accounts.”

“A large wave? How large are we talking about?”

“About 500 billion won? It might be more, or it might be less, but funds around that level will flow into DS Telecom.”

Jung Chan-yong kept his mouth shut and listened to Park Jin-hyuk’s story. He thought that understanding the situation was more important than asking questions right now. Park Jin-hyuk nodded at Jung Chan-yong’s reaction.

‘He’s showing a pretty high value; his attitude is good.’

The value Jung Chan-yong showed Park Jin-hyuk when he entered was over 10 billion won. Park Jin-hyuk was slowly getting a feel for what the values people showed him actually represented. He thought it was likely a combination where competence was the constant, his own affinity toward them was the coefficient, and their goodwill was the variable. He couldn’t define it exactly, but anyway, if someone had a high value, they were good to work with; if they had a low value, they were someone pointless to stay close to.

Based on that definition, Jung Chan-yong was showing a decent value. So, Park Jin-hyuk explained the situation with more specific details.

“If 500 billion won in funds enters calmly, it won’t actually be a big problem for a giant like DS Telecom.”

Jung Chan-yong realized from those simple words that Park Jin-hyuk possessed an extraordinary insight into stocks as well.

“But the problem is that there’s a high possibility these funds will enter within a short period. Many accounts will be used, but there is only one person at the end of it. And the funds being executed are all coming from one place.”

“Could it be… are you talking about the possibility of a battle for management rights?”

“Yes. That’s exactly it. Soon, a battle for shares over DS Telecom will break out.”

“What on earth… that’s impossible…”

Without realizing it, Jung Chan-yong couldn’t accept Park Jin-hyuk’s words and looked back and forth between Hyun Yi-soo and Kim Jun-woo, who was standing behind Jin-hyuk. Rather than checking if Park Jin-hyuk’s words were true, he was looking for an explanation for what this situation was. However, seeing their expressionless faces, he realized he hadn’t misheard and that Park Jin-hyuk wasn’t lying. Only then did the smile vanish from Jung Chan-yong’s face.

“Are you serious? A battle for shares is going to happen at DS Telecom?”

“That’s right.”

“Then the opponent starting the fight… could it be Vice Chairman Park Su-man?”

“Correct.”

“That makes no sense… there’s no… there’s no reason for that, is there? Vice Chairman Park Su-man is the CEO of DS Telecom. Why would he use the very place he runs as a battlefield for a share war? It doesn’t… make sense.”

Park Jin-hyuk thought Jung Chan-yong’s reaction was normal. It was only natural not to understand why someone would start a share competition in a company where they already held the CEO position. However, Park Jin-hyuk was the one who had created that abnormal situation.

“It’s difficult to explain all the details here. But regardless, that is the truth.”

“Then is what you want me to do to join the battle? If things go wrong, this is something that could lead to charges of breach of trust.”

“I know. That’s why I told you, isn’t it? To hold down the stock price.”

“I’m sorry. Just a moment, please.”

Jung Chan-yong stopped speaking and closed his eyes for a moment. The information entering his head was tangled like a ball of yarn and couldn’t be properly organized. From DS Telecom becoming a battlefield for a share war to the request to hold down the price, nothing made sense. Normally, he would be asked to add strength if a share war broke out, but being told to hold down the price left him confused as to what it meant.

To the disoriented Jung Chan-yong, Park Jin-hyuk added an even more confusing statement.

“It’s to help Vice Chairman Park Su-man purchase the shares easily. By ‘holding down the price,’ I mean you should prevent the stock price from rising even as trading volume dries up.”

“Executive Director, wait. Do you mean that whether through short selling or stock lending, I should take a short position on DS Telecom and provide volume for the demand coming from Vice Chairman Park Su-man’s side?”

“Correct.”

“Did I hear you wrong just now? Didn’t you say a battle for shares was going to break out?”

“That is also correct.”

“But you want me to let them secure enough shares?”

“Yes. You have accurately grasped what I am saying.”

With every question Jung Chan-yong asked, a smile bloomed on Park Jin-hyuk’s face. And when the final question was asked, Park Jin-hyuk broke into a broad grin.

Watching Park Jin-hyuk’s smile, Hyun Yi-soo couldn’t help but smile as well. Although she didn’t fully understand what Park Jin-hyuk was trying to do, one thing was certain from that smile.

‘Park Su-man has fallen into an endless abyss now.’

It was clear that now that things had progressed this far, he wouldn’t be able to escape. She could see clearly that the net and traps Park Jin-hyuk had laid would now entangle Park Su-man’s entire body.

Park Jin-hyuk had no intention of making Jung Chan-yong understand everything. This was because having just a few people to discuss his plans with in detail was enough. Therefore, Park Jin-hyuk felt that saying this much to Jung Chan-yong was a sufficient explanation.

“My goal is to make them acquire enough shares. If the stock price jumps or rumors of a share war spread, hyenas will surely swarm in. If those guys interfere, my uncle won’t be able to acquire the shares, and that is what I’m worried about. So, please help me, CEO Jung, to ensure that doesn’t happen.”

Jung Chan-yong still didn’t understand, but he knew exactly what was being requested of him.

“I have a concern. If things go wrong and the stock price spikes, the losses… would be an amount far too large for me to handle. Besides, it’s natural for the price to rise when a share war occurs…”

“I know. But don’t worry. That won’t happen, and instead, it will return as a massive profit. Trust me. I will pull you in, CEO Jung.”

Park Jin-hyuk had turned a matter of understanding into a matter of trust. From now on, Jung Chan-yong’s train of thought would surely depend on whether he trusted Park Jin-hyuk or not. Hyun Yi-soo was certain that since he had come this far, Jung Chan-yong would follow Park Jin-hyuk. It was a reckless and incomprehensible task, but if the choice was simply between trusting or not trusting Park Jin-hyuk, the answer was practically already decided.

‘He won’t miss a chance that might never come again. A man who has risen to the position of a subsidiary CEO would surely know what kind of opportunity this is.’

Watching Jung Chan-yong bow his head and leave after some light conversation, Hyun Yi-soo felt as if she already knew what answer he would return with.