The Greatest Conglomerate Ever With the American Lottery

15. Is that all, monk?

After hanging up the phone with Mr. Kim, I pulled out my smartphone again, found the number, and pressed the call button.

I said gangster because I thought he might need someone to use his strength.

Durrr! Durrr!

– It’s been a while, Chul-sik.

“Ki-Dong, I’m in trouble, and I need you to come over urgently.”

– Is it a hardship?

“Yeah, if things get weird, I might.”

– Okay. I’ll come with you, so hang up and take the address.

“Huh? You were with him, or I would have called you separately?”

– He’s had bedbugs in my dojo for a while now. I’m going to make him pay.

“Hmph! Okay, come on.”

– Okay.

I have my own connections.

People who have held each other up through dangerous training bumps and endured pain together.

After about an hour of waiting, I walked out of the building in frustration and took a few puffs on my cigarette, just as a yellow Starex school car rumbled through the front gate.

Reserve Sergeant Kim Ki-dong and Reserve Sergeant Gong Shin-ho.

With these two, there was nothing to fear in the world.

“Hey, Cheol-Sik! You’ve gotten a lot stronger since I last saw you.”

“Ki-dong, it’s been a while!”

“You bastard, what kind of troublemaker are you?”

“Signal brother, what kind of troublemaker am I?”

“Then what are you doing, you said you were working hard, what kind of nursery are you?”

I explained to my brothers.

“Are there any other assholes like that?”

“Really?”

They stopped asking.

This was the kind of relationship we had.

I took him to the office to introduce him to the director, and the phone rang.

It’s him.

I picked up the phone and put it on speakerphone.

“Yes, I have a call.”

– It’s me, Alex.

“Yes, go ahead.”

– Sounds like you’re in more trouble than you thought.

“Is that so?”

– Yes, Ocean Construction is not your average construction company. You’ve heard the old story, the one about the gangsters going general contractor?

“Yeah, I’ve heard that.”

– One such company is Daeyang Construction. The chairman of Daeyang Construction, Park Sang-hwan, was once the head of the Siheung Daero gang, which used to color southern Seoul with blood.

“…”

I’m fascinated.

Everything is coming out.

By the way, what is Siheung Boulevard, Siheung Boulevard?

Then, is there a Western Interstate Road or a riverside Buk-ro Road?

– By the way, Park Sang-hwan was also good at business, so he took over Daeyang Construction, a construction company that was collapsing right after the IMF, and built it into a company that is now the 65th largest contractor and has a market capitalization of 380 billion won. In other words, he’s a pretty big player in southern Seoul, if you know what I mean.

“I definitely understand what you mean.”

– I also found out about the nursery school there, which is a project that Park is very concerned about. It’s currently a restricted development zone. You can’t build apartments there.

“But why?”

– This is the secret to Park’s growth: buying up vaguely restricted areas cheaply and using his influence to get them released.

“Is that possible?”

– What can’t you do with money?

This is ridiculous.

The country is more rotten than I thought.

“So what do you think I should do?”

-I don’t know much about Alex, so I’m just going to go off on a tangent. There are two paths. The first is if Alex’s power far exceeds Park’s. It can’t be equal or even dominant, it has to be way above, in which case he can just crush him with his strength. Of course, that would complicate things a bit, and I’d have to formally sign a contract with Alex and represent him. And that would take a long time.

Somehow, it sounded like I shouldn’t do number one.

“Well, what about number two?”

– I said, “I’ll set up a negotiation table, and we can come to some sort of agreement and get it done. Of course, the nursery has to be out of there, that’s the condition.

“What do you think?”

– If I were you, I’d go with option two. Park Sang-hwan is the guy, and he’s a very dangerous guy. I know a lot of people who’ve been caught and taken out. That’s why I said it shouldn’t be equal or superior strength.

“Huh!”

Is this South Korea?

– And, if you don’t mind, I’ll make it up to you, I’ll make it easier for you to find a new place for the nursery to go. Probably, the only reason they’re staying there is because they can’t find a new place to go, so don’t worry about that. Of course, it’s going to cost me money.

“Thank you, can you hold on to the phone for just a second?”

– Sure, whatever.

I put my phone back and turned to the director.

“Mr. Zhang, what would you do? To be honest, I’m embarrassed to admit, I’m a bit overwhelmed by such a big man.”

“But, the kids—.”

“Well, you heard the man, you don’t have to worry about that. We’ll negotiate and get you the maximum compensation, and if it’s not enough, I’ll back you up, whether it’s ten or twenty billion, and I promise the kids will be in a better place. He’ll take care of the settlement.”

I’m sorry, but this is the best I can do.

“Then let’s do it, because I think it’s for the best.”

“I understand.”

“Ms. Kim.”

– Yes, have you decided?

“I don’t have a choice, it’s number two.”

– “Okay, then I’ll call you back in an hour.

“Please.”

I hung up the phone and went outside for a cigarette.

Of course, I was followed out by two people who looked dumbfounded.

“Whoa~!”

“Hey, Cheol-sik, what do you mean, you’re 10 billion, 20 billion, where’s the money?”

“I have money.”

“Where’s your money, you’re the best bedbug in the history of Wudangtang, and you’re working for a good company now?”

“Oh, I’ve been out of the company for a while now, and my investments have gone well, so I’ve made some money, but just know that I’ll tell you all about it when I’m done. It’s related to my brothers’ careers.”

“This guy is a total dick, huh?”

Less than an hour later, the phone rang again.

– It’s me, Alex.

“Yeah, talk to me.”

– We agreed to negotiate.

“Did they do that to you?”

– This is what I recommend. You have to negotiate, especially if you’re being stabbed in the back!

Are they playing favorites?

This guy seems like a great guy.

Is he a greased player?

– Can you take notes?

“Yes, please.”

– It’s seven o’clock this evening. Behind Ildong Pharmaceutical in Yangjae-dong is the Daeyang Construction Building. Tell the info there that you’re here to see Chairman Park Sang-hwan and they’ll let you in. Your safety is guaranteed, so there’s nothing to worry about.

“The chairman wants to see me in person?”

– It’s not a small project when you’re in the top 60 of the contractor rankings and you’re talking about close to 100 billion, and I’m mediating, so of course the chairman is going to be there.

“Okay, but you’re not going to do anything while I’m not here, are you?”

– hahahahaha! I guess Jeffrey didn’t hear my explanation. Don’t worry about that either, that’s never going to happen.

“Thank you, I’ll call you after we negotiate.”

– I said.

When I hung up the phone, Mr. Zhang turned to me with a worried look.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“You heard me, didn’t you? As long as I can keep my job.”

“Do you trust the person who mediated? You didn’t seem to know the city well.”

“I don’t trust him.”

“What?”

“But I do trust the oil man who introduced me.”

At around 6:50, I arrived at the Ocean Construction Building in my car.

This car is a Granger that I bought to give to my mom when I go to America.

I can’t go in a yellow Star Trek with over half a million kilometers on it, right?

We were escorted to the chairman’s office on the top floor, where a stout man who looked to be approaching 60, a bodyguard who smelled like a soldier, and a suit who looked to be in his mid-40s were waiting for us.

“You say you’re big guys, but you’re young?”

I asked.

“Not this one, not that one.”

“Huh! Where did they come from? Didn’t you hear my story?”

“Of course I heard, you said they were thugs.”

“Oh, these guys! You’re trusting Mr. Kim to install this?”

What?

A guy named Kim Jin-ho was the department head?

You don’t mean the head of the company, do you?

“Since we don’t even know each other, why don’t we just talk about work and be done with it?”

“Grrr! If it wasn’t for that damn department head Kim—. Ha! Sit down.”

I felt like I was finally in a position to talk, so I sat down on the couch, but Ki-dong and Seon-hyung were still standing.

I stared at the bodyguard, who smelled like a military man.

However, the other person’s reaction was unexpected.

He must have known him, because his face was as blue as if he had seen a ghost.

“What, you’re not sitting down?”

“Mr. President, excuse us, we have an unexpected acquaintance.”

The maneuvering brother and the signaling brother locked lips to respect me by calling me representative.

But why are there so many unexpected things happening around me these days?

“You, you know me, don’t you?”

“Mo, I don’t know.”

“You don’t know me, aren’t you Kim Jong-hee?”

“…”

“When did you start your company?”

“A little less than two years ago.”

“So, you had nothing to do, so you were sucking the dick of thugs with the skills you learned from me?”

“Sin, I’m sorry.”

Chairman Park was outraged by this absurdity.

“No, these assholes! Hey! Secretary Kim! What’s wrong with you!”

“Can you be quiet for a second, I have a chore to settle with this asshole?”

Ki-dong snarled at Mr. Park, and Mr. Park, pressed by the momentum, closed his mouth.

“You, you have ten seconds. Ten seconds to disappear from my sight. And I’ll keep an eye on you. If I catch you playing on this floor one more time, you won’t be eating out of your own hand. Do you understand?”

“Yes—.”

“And do you understand that if you talk about me, I will punish you severely?”

“That won’t happen.”

“Then do it!”

“Do it!”

What the hell is Bokmyeong Bokchang?

After the bodyguard disappeared like the wind, the chairman’s office was silent for a while.

They must have been stunned too.

“What the hell are you guys, military officials?”

“Does it matter? If you want to call in new bodyguards, why don’t you do it?”

“Forget it!”

I wanted to clap him on the back for his excellent choice, even though he’d only be a folding screen anyway.

“Then let’s get right to it.”

“Sure.”

“If we were to get out, how much would you pay for the land and building for the nursery?”

“I’d say two billion. The area is zoned for development, so you’d be hard pressed to get more than 10 million won per square foot, but I’m only paying so much because I feel sorry for the kids. If you don’t believe me, check the prices of neighboring properties.”

“Why don’t you spend a little more? We’re just trying to help your project run smoothly. Where are you going with two billion and fifty people?”

“I’m a businessman, not a philanthropist.”

“Well, do you want me to hang in there? I’m sorry if this is a close call, but—.”

“It’s not similar, it’s exactly the same!”

“Aww, why are you yelling at me, are you trying to negotiate this?”

“You made my blood pressure go up!”

Chairman Park, whose blood pressure was actually rising, grabbed him by the back of the neck and shouted.

“Let’s stop.

It’s not like I don’t have money.

Those bastards will make a lot more money if they develop it without restrictions, but as Mr. Park said, 2 billion is not a bad price.

“Why don’t you make it three billion, and I’ll walk away clean.”

“Really?”

“Have you been lied to?”

“Give it to me, I’ll give you 3 billion, get out!”

“When should I leave?”

“Ah! Mr., get out now! Get out and talk to this guy!”

“No, I don’t mean that, I mean the nursery?”

“Get out and talk to that one too!”

“Then have a good business.”

I bowed and walked out, then asked again.

“Uncle.”

“Why, again?”

“You know what company that bodyguard went to earlier?”

There’s only one place where the maneuver is called a company where my brother is involved.

“…”

“You know that, right?”

“I do. That’s why I hired you and kept you close.”

“Well, that makes it easier for me to tell you, and I trust it won’t come to that, but if you ever feel like you’ve been wronged by what happened today, or if you ever feel like you’re watching our backs because you’re angry, or if you ever feel like retaliating, just remember what I said.”

“What?”

“These two are the best of the bunch, and if you think your house is more guarded than Kim Jong-un’s, you’re welcome to test it. Of course, you’re a sensible businessman, so I don’t expect that to happen, do you?”

“Ha—. I don’t want to see you again, so please get out of my way, and I’ll forget about you after today.”

“I see, there’s a reason you’re so successful in business!”

“Hey!”

“I’m leaving!”

On the way back, I ordered a generous order of pizza and chicken.

Even though they had eaten their dinner, they were still smiling and gobbling up the chicken and pizza—.

My heart sank.

I reassured Mr. Zhang that we would donate 10 billion won, and if it wasn’t enough to provide a comfortable place for the children to live, we would give more.

Late in the evening, the hardworking Ki-Dong buys drinks for his brother and brother-in-law, telling them that their longtime investment in the U.S. has hit the jackpot and they’ve made a fortune.

He told them to forget about the dojo, which was about to fail, and to help out at the nursery for now, and then come to the U.S. in a year or so, and they both said yes.

When I got home, I washed up and thought about today.

Why today?

Why did the purification monk stop by and give me these beads?

For such great good fortune?

What a responsibility?

And Jeffrey had given me the right contacts, but alas, I was about to be screwed.

I had a trillion dollars, but I still had to negotiate with an asshole businessman.

I don’t even have the power to push him away.

The conclusion was to build more power.

If I had a trillion, ten trillion, and more people, I wouldn’t be traveling to Yangjae-dong today to negotiate with scum.

And I’d be able to support more kids who are happy to eat pizza and chicken.

Let’s make 10 trillion, let’s make 100 trillion.

The rosary will guide me to some extent, so I won’t go broke.

And I’ll live happily ever after as a super-rich and give back.

Is that enough, monk?

The beads seemed to glow for some reason, and I drifted off to sleep in a pleasant way.