Episode 174
“You… you don’t know who I am…” Bae Sang-yong stammered, his face red with anger.
Kim Min-sik scoffed. “Who are you? I’m Kim Min-sik of Joongang Investment Group, I can have a private meeting with the Minister. I’m practically the owner of a major corporation. How dare you threaten me?”
He looked at Hwang Gil-soo. “Have you decided yet?”
“W-well…”
“It’s a group formed for profit, isn’t it? Why are you hesitating? Are you worried about my decision? Wait.” He took out his phone and made a call. “CEO Baek, it’s Kim Min-sik.”
Hwang Gil-soo and the other men looked at him, startled.
-
Yes, what is it?
He put the call on speakerphone. “About the group you invited me to join… it seems promising. Can you provide 10 trillion won in additional funding? I guarantee I can double it.”
It was an unscripted call, so he risked revealing their private conversation, but he trusted Baek In-hwi to understand his unspoken message. He was using the unusual topics of the “promising group” and “10 trillion won in funding” as a signal.
And Baek In-hwi didn’t disappoint him. – 10 trillion won? Double the investment… it’s a good deal, but…
Kim Min-sik smiled inwardly. “Trust me, sir. I’ve already multiplied your investments several times over. When have I ever disappointed you?”
-
I have absolute faith in you, Mr. President. Alright, I’ll send you 10 trillion won. The other men, who had been startled by the call, were now speechless, as 10 trillion won was being invested with just a few words.
-
Is 10 trillion won enough? It’s not easy to double your investment these days. Let me know if you need more.
“No, the Korean IT market isn’t that big. 10 trillion won is enough…”
Hwang Gil-soo, alarmed by his refusal, tugged at his sleeve and whispered, “W-wait, why are you refusing? More investment is always good…”
“Ah, is that so? Then how much should I ask for?”
“The more, the better.”
Kim Min-sik, seeing that he had been completely swayed, smiled and said into the phone, “Sir, how much more can you invest?”
-
15 trillion won for now? I can raise another 5 trillion won within two weeks if needed.
“Then please provide as much as you can. I, Kim Min-sik, will shake the Korean market to its core!”
-
Hahaha, I like your confidence. Alright, proceed.
“Yes, sir!” He hung up the phone and looked at the dumbfounded men. “I have his approval. Now, choose.”
A total of 20 trillion won.
Combined with Joongang Investment’s existing funds, it was over 30 trillion won in cash.
Hwang Gil-soo and the others were more terrified than happy, having witnessed this insane transaction being finalized with just a few words. ‘I’ve heard about those cash-rich Chinese investors, but this is…’
Then Bae Sang-yong shouted, “Come on! Anyone can make empty promises! 10 trillion won, 30 trillion won, even 100 trillion won, what does it matter?!”
Kim Min-sik looked at him with disdain. “Are you comparing yourself to us? How dare you talk back to me?”
“Wh-what?”
“Let’s say the additional 20 trillion won is just a bluff. So what? What are you going to do about it?” He shrugged. “We still have our own funds. You invited me because of our existing funds, didn’t you? The 20 trillion won is just a bonus. Isn’t that right?”
Although he was addressing Bae Sang-yong, it was Hwang Gil-soo who nodded in agreement. “That’s true. We weren’t expecting the 20 trillion won. We were only interested in Joongang Investment’s existing funds. Mr. Bae…” He looked at Bae Sang-yong apologetically. “I’m sorry, but you have to leave.”
Bae Sang-yong was shocked. “Are you serious? We’ve been together for years, and you’re kicking me out because of this newcomer?! Do you all agree with this?”
He looked at the other men, who avoided his gaze, and said with a hollow voice, “This is just a group formed for profit, but still…”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t pass up this opportunity. This kind of boom doesn’t happen every day. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’m truly sorry.”
As the other men nodded in agreement, Bae Sang-yong stood up and shouted, “You bastards! I’ll be watching you! We’ll see how long this lasts!”
“So it’s decided,” Kim Min-sik said, watching him storm out of the room.
“Yes, we look forward to working with you.”
With a single phone call to Baek In-hwi, he had eliminated Bae Sang-yong, the dissenting voice, and secured his position within the group, deflecting concerns about his trustworthiness.
The real party began then.
As Hwang Gil-soo poured him a drink, Kim Min-sik thought,
‘I’ll deal with Bae Sang-yong later, obstructing his investments and making him lose money.’ That was Baek In-hwi’s motto: crush your enemies, even if it means incurring some losses. And Kim Min-sik was a devout follower.
‘And these speculators…’ He smirked, looking at them discuss how to exploit the individual investors. ‘Thank you for buying our shares.’
“Greetings, CEO Kim Min-sik.”
“Greetings, sir!”
100 bodyguards, sent by Baek In-hwi, bowed deeply before Kim Min-sik. Their imposing figures and fierce expressions were intimidating. The leader stepped forward. “I’m Yong-seok, the leader of this team. We’ll protect you as if you were CEO Baek himself.”
Kim Min-sik smiled. “Welcome to Korea. I’m Kim Min-sik, CEO of Joongang Investment Group.” He felt a sense of security, surrounded by these men. “Have you arranged accommodations?”
“Yes, half of us will be stationed near your residence, and the other half near the company. Twenty men will be assigned to your wife and daughter in rotating shifts, 20 will be on standby, and the remaining 60 will be your personal bodyguards, also in rotating shifts.”
30 men as his personal bodyguards, plus his existing security detail, was a small army.
“That’s reassuring. And…” He whispered to Yong-seok, “…which generation are you from?”
“First generation.”
The first generation of the Baek In-hwi squad, only ten men, all fiercely loyal. Since Baek In-hwi had said only one of them knew his true identity, it had to be Yong-seok.
He felt a sense of trust in this man, whom he had just met.
“Good. Gather the men who will be protecting my family. I have to introduce them.”
Kim Min-sik’s house was a 200-pyeong mansion. Unlike Park Sol, who was indifferent to material possessions, Kim Min-sik, who had endured years of hardship and resentment over his lack of wealth, had indulged in his pent-up consumerism after becoming the bank president.
He owned six luxury cars, three sports cars, a company car, and a chauffeur. He rarely drove them himself, but it didn’t matter. They were symbols of his success, a way to boost his ego.
“Honey, I’m home.” He entered the house, smiling.
His wife, who had been sitting on the sofa, stood up in surprise. “What are you doing home at this hour…? And who are those people behind you?”
He reassured her, seeing her alarmed expression at the sight of the large men entering the house behind him. “It’s nothing. I hired some bodyguards. Just in case anyone tries to target us because of our wealth.”
She relaxed at his words. “Really? Wow, I have bodyguards now? That’s so cool… Oh, what am I saying.”
She had also endured hardships during his years of struggle.
While he had been standing around the office like a scarecrow, she had been the one who had to ask for financial help from relatives and acquaintances.
He found her behavior endearing.
“That’s right, it’s cool. Spend money, don’t be afraid to show off. Your husband is Kim Min-sik.”
“You’re so cool, honey.”
“Where’s Young-ah? Shouldn’t she be home by now?” He always asked about his daughter first.
His wife rolled her eyes. “You and your daughter. She’s upstairs in her room with her friends.”
“Really?” He introduced the ten bodyguards who would be protecting his wife and then went upstairs with the remaining ten. He knocked on his daughter’s door. “Young-ah, it’s Dad. Can I come in?”
The door opened, and his daughter, her eyes wide with surprise, said,
“What are you doing home at this hour…?” She also seemed startled by the men behind him. He smiled and said, “These are your bodyguards. I brought them here to introduce them.”
“Bodyguards? Why?”
As he was talking to her, her friends stood up awkwardly and bowed their heads. “Hello…”
He smiled. “Oh, your friends are here?”
“Yes…”
He said to them, seeing their intimidated expressions, “It’s okay, they’re nice guys. You’re my daughter’s friends, so you’re like family. Be nice to Young-ah.”
“Yes, sir.” He smiled at them and then turned back to his daughter. “Young-ah, why are you at home? Why aren’t you out with your friends?”
“I just wanted to relax at home.”
“Go out and have fun with your friends. Buy some snacks, go to karaoke… do whatever you want. Buy some new clothes. You need some sunshine.”
He took out his wallet and handed her a wad of cash, which looked like at least a few hundred thousand won. She took the money hesitantly.
“Dad, this is too much.”
“Take it. Buy your friends some food, go to karaoke, have fun. Buy some clothes. You need to enjoy life.”
She said in a small voice, “If you keep giving me so much money, I’ll become a spoiled brat who doesn’t work. I’ve already lost my motivation to study after receiving so much allowance…”
He looked at her, touched. “Wow, you’re so mature! I’m so proud of you!”
His precious daughter, who had never complained during their difficult times, always putting his worries before her own…
He hugged her and patted her back. “You don’t have to work.”
“Really? But then I’ll be unemployed. People say you have to work.”
“Tell me if anyone says that to you, and I’ll punish them. You don’t have to worry about anything. Just have fun, do whatever you want. You don’t have to work. It’s better if you don’t. Then you can stay with Dad forever. Just thinking about it makes me happy. I’ll take care of you. You trust Dad, right?”
Her face brightened. “Thank you, Dad.”
“You’re my precious daughter.”
As he was about to leave, he overheard her talking to her friends.
“So you’ll have bodyguards now? Wow, you’re like a chaebol heiress.”
“Your dad is so cool, Young-ah.”
And finally, his daughter’s words,
“Heehee, he is, isn’t he?”
His heart swelled with emotion, and he muttered,
“May you only experience happiness and joy. I’ll shield you from the harshness of the world. I’ll become a monster for you, if I have to.”
“You’re very affectionate towards your family,” Yong-seok remarked as they were driving back to the company. “It’s quite different from what I’ve heard.”
Kim Min-sik chuckled. “My family and CEO Baek are the only reasons I live. They’re everything to me. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be alive today.”
Yong-seok smiled. “Your loyalty is weaker than mine, CEO Kim.”
“What?”
“I have no family. I live only for CEO Baek, the one who saved me.”
Kim Min-sik burst out laughing. “Hahaha, are we competing over loyalty?”
“Hahaha.” He chuckled. “Anyway, my family’s safety is secured now, and…” His expression hardened, his demeanor completely different from when he was with his family. “You understand the plan, right?”
“Yes, we’ll feed the speculators false information, lure them into buying, and then crash the market.”
“We were planning to sell half, wait, and then sell the other half, but since the speculators contacted us, we only sold a third. And then that troublemaker appeared, questioning our credibility, so I’ve modified the plan slightly. We’ll play along with them for a while, build some trust.”
“I’ve been studying the market, but I still don’t know much about stocks. I’ll just follow your orders.”
“Good.” Kim Min-sik looked out the window. “Let’s make history. A crash, a panic. Many people will be ruined. But we’ll make a fortune, and we’ll use that money to secure a comfortable life for ourselves.” He smiled cruelly. “It’s nourishment for my family and CEO Baek’s peaceful life. That’s all other people are to me.”