The Highest Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 319



Only Noblemtl

319. The Master of the Ring

I looked down at the ring as if possessed.

When my master declared me his successor and gave me this ring, I felt like I had won the world.

-Thank you, Master.

-No thank you. It’s yours now.

-Mine… … . This is my seal, right?

I smiled and spread my fingers wide.

-I guess I should use this when I sign and stamp from now on?

Twenty years old.

My heart was full as if I was being congratulated on becoming an adult.

I deal more with documents than with words, and only with seals or stamps on them.

It was the first signet ring I ever had in my life.

-Is it that good?

-Of course. It has more scratches than yours, it’s old, and you wonder why a man would wear a flower ring, and it looks like an old relic that would be thrown in the corner of a pawn shop warehouse.

-… … .

-My teacher gave it to me. I really like it.

-I’m glad you like it. It may not look like much at first glance, but it’s actually quite good.

-You must be foolish.

The teacher who likes free stuff is a stingy person who trembles even at small amounts of money.

It costs a lot of money to go to a jewelry store and get a new ring, so I have to take that into account.

-I can’t just swallow such a precious gift with my bare hands. That’s why I prepared it. Ta-da!

-oh!

I handed over what I had brought in a black plastic bag.

-This is makgeolli with pajeon, the teacher’s favorite dish.

-Oh, makgeolli with pajeon!

-There is soju with the head meat, so eat however you like.

-Ohhh!

The teacher was the kind of person who would jump out of bed even if he was sleeping if he heard something.

-Oh my, great! How did you know that I like pajeon, makgeolli, soju, and meat with head?

The teacher was very pleased.

That night, our priest was drinking in a corner of the pawn shop.

Giving and receiving all night long.

We were a little tipsy and kept laughing.

-If someone picks a fight, just show them that ring. Then, you won’t have to go around getting hit anymore.

-Teacher, you too. Am I the kind of person who would go around getting beaten up?

I too felt a little tipsy.

I laughed, pointing to the scars covering my forehead and face.

-Thanks to the Master’s advice, the pecking order has been established. Even the death row inmates tremble when they see me.

The executioners were notorious around here for their brutality.

He had a bad temper, was cruel, had a long aftertaste, and his methods were dirty.

Not only back alley gangsters, but even the most skilled troubleshooters were able to outwit the executioners.

-From now on, if anyone touches you, hit them like this, like this, ewwww!

-Who uses the successor ring as a knuckle to beat up people?

-There’s no need to hit him! Namsan Charlemagne, if that bastard loses his temper again, uppercut his chin like this, like this!

I clicked my tongue.

-You played Go with that idiot again! Did you get robbed again?

-Who bet on baduk? It’s a bet on janggi!

-You’re the king of gambling! I don’t know why you keep gambling on things you can’t win.

-What? That’s what it is!

The teacher was cheerful.

-Let’s go for revenge!

-The third version is too annoying… … .

-I really want to see that kid get so angry while playing Go that he flips the board over!

-Whatever, let’s go!

On the way, our priest, who was very drunk, went to the gambling house of Maljukgeori Maldaegari.

-You, that ring… … !

The little rascal glared at the ring on my finger.

But that only lasts for a moment.

-Let’s see if the stakes go up to that ring or not! Let’s have a go!

After the three-way battle was over, Maljukgeori Maldaegai burst into loud laughter.

-I’ll bet my ring! Just one more round!

That’s what all gamblers are like.

I used to pick at my ears with my little fingers as usual.

-You don’t have any work to do?

-Did you know what kind of ring that was?

-Why don’t I know?

I smiled as I turned the camellia ring around.

-The sign of the successor!

-Of course! Don’t even think about talking nonsense, you babbling idiot.

The teacher looked at the horse’s head with meaningful eyes.

-This is our Jeonghyeok’s.

-Myeongdong Songgolmae, you’re doing that now… … .

The words of the rambling horse were interrupted by an unexpected intruder.

-We’re in big trouble, boss! The body of Jongno Geumtooth has been found in a back alley!

-what?

-It seems like he got caught up in a turf war between gangsters and got into trouble…

-Which hospital? Where was it transferred to?

-This is Taesung Hospital.

-let’s go!

The day I received this ring, Jongno Gold Teeth died.

It was a miserable death.

A month and a half after that incident, I woke up in the intensive care unit.

He said he came to his senses after ten days.

He barely survived after 12 hours of surgery.

-Tsk tsk tsk, you loser.

The teacher looked down at me with cold eyes.

-Is this your doing? Did you instigate the war between the gangsters and instigate the murder of the gold tooth of Jongno?

-No, no… … .

Even with the oxygen mask on, I had difficulty breathing.

A severe pain surged through my body, as if my whole body had been torn apart.

But still I shouted desperately.

-I didn’t do that, Master.

His voice, hushed and hoarse from having rested a lot, came out weakly.

-You took advantage of your position as successor to manipulate the books and secretly distribute drugs to fill other people’s pockets?

-Drug distribution? Bookkeeping manipulation?

-I never thought he would collude with the underworld, sell confidential information, and even launder money for politicians.

-yes?

There was a lot to say and a lot of grievances.

There were also many parts that I didn’t understand.

But one thing was clear.

-It’s a false accusation. I didn’t do it.

-I don’t want to hear it. Are you still trying to deceive me in a situation where the evidence and even the testimony are clear?

The teacher’s voice was as cold as frost.

-You are not worthy to succeed me. You have tarnished my honor.

-It’s unfair. I… … !

-From now on, don’t even set foot on this floor.

-Master!

-Don’t even call me Master! From now on, you and I don’t know each other.

The teacher turned around without looking back.

As the Master tried to leave the intensive care unit with a cane, I desperately tried to get up.

My body screamed as it hadn’t recovered, but I didn’t care.

-Master, no! If you want me to prove my innocence, I will! I really didn’t do that!

Kkudang tang tang!

My body, which was powerless, fell noisily under the bed.

-Master, please… … !

Then, the teacher’s footsteps suddenly stopped.

That was all for a moment, and the Master walked out of the intensive care unit without even looking back.

-Send that thing down to a local sanatorium.

The teacher’s voice was firm.

-Don’t let that body crawl back up here again. Don’t forget to erase even a trace of it.

-Yes, Master! Leave that to me!

Behind such a teacher, the executioners laughed sinisterly.

It was the winner’s laugh.

-Master, I’ll search through that kid’s pockets and shake out every last bit of dust!

-I will punish all the guys involved in this matter and recover all the items he stole!

-Master, I can do better! Oh, first, that ring… … !

It was when the big brother tried to forcibly take off the camellia ring that was on my hand.

-stop!

The master shouted, banging his cane.

-Leave it alone!

-Master?

-Remember! From now on, anyone who comes with that ring other than Jeong-hyeok will be considered an enemy and killed, regardless of the reason!

-oh!

-Not only my family, but also my in-laws, cousins, and even acquaintances!

It was the first time.

The reason the Master declared retaliation so resolutely.

The executioners laughed wickedly, as if they were very satisfied.

-So, are you saying that anyone who helps Jeong-hyeok in the future should be crushed?

-Let’s isolate him so thoroughly that even if a guy who has nothing asks for help by selling his ring, he won’t be able to respond. Right?

-I will issue a warning in the name of the Master so that you will never set foot on this floor again.

-From now on, anyone who helps Cha Jeong-hyeok will be considered as a traitor to the Myeongdong Songgolmae. What do you think?

The teacher, who was about to leave the intensive care unit, stopped for a moment.

I had high hopes for that moment of hesitation.

We’ve lived together for so long, so no matter how many misunderstandings there were, you wouldn’t have kicked me out so rudely.

But that expectation was brutally crushed.

-Do so. I will allow it.

So I was left lying on the floor of the hospital room.

I was desperate.

He crawled on the floor and cried.

-Master, just once, please just once… … !

-Jeonghyeok, I have nothing more to say to you from now on. Didn’t I say that our relationship ends here?

The teacher opened the intensive care unit door wide.

-You’re saying I’ve been falsely accused? You’re saying it’s unfair? You can prove your innocence? Then try to survive as if you were there.

The teacher’s back was merciless.

-With skill, ability, and talent. You have to prove it with results.

-With skill, with ability, with talent… … .

That was the moment when those words were deeply engraved in my heart.

-You’re right and I’m wrong. Why don’t you argue like that?

widely!

The master has left.

Leaving me and the executioners behind.

-You act like you’re so smart, but you look so ugly. Hehe.

-You’d better not show off that ring from now on.

-I was thinking of adding a word when I was threatening you in the name of the Master.

-I’ll pay you a huge reward if you kill the person wearing this ring. How’s that, fun?

Even when the surgical site bursts open due to the beatings of the executioners.

When the medical staff at Taesung Hospital saw that sight, they were shocked and tried to stop the executions.

In the future, Taesung Hospital will threaten to not treat the death row inmates brought in and even chase them away.

My head was filled with only one thought.

-I will definitely clear myself of this unjust accusation! I will prove my innocence with my own hands!

I swore on the camellia ring.

-Someday, without fail! I will go and prove to you that you were wrong and I was right!

The one and only person in my life.

The person who willingly took on the role of my protector during my lonely and miserable childhood.

He was the one who miraculously gave me a lifeline of faith.

-I have never done anything to tarnish Master’s honor!

The teacher abandoned me without even listening to a single word of excuse.

-I will wear this ring until then.

After that, I didn’t trust anyone.

That was the lesson my teacher engraved into my bones at the last moment.

-I will prove my innocence and return it to my master.

This ring was a symbol that I was once my master’s only successor.

When I cut off the bad relationship with my teacher with my own hands, then it would be right to return it.

-It may be worth gold when you buy it, but it’s worth shit when you sell it. What can you do? All pawnshops are like that.

I won’t take the position of successor to the pawn shop even if it’s offered to me.

-Even if I have to risk everything. Definitely.

I gritted my teeth and sharpened my knife.

It was a pledge I made to myself.

And I have never broken a vow I made with my own mouth.

‘The ring that had been there turned around and came back to rest on my palm.’

Is this fate or inevitability?

Or is it the remnants of a bad relationship?

These people have no idea what this ring means to me.

“How does it feel when you actually receive it? Doesn’t it look tempting? Cough, cough! Cough!”

The loud coughing of the old man Jeong Dong-jin woke me from my thoughts.

The white handkerchief was dyed red.

“The owner of that ring will soon be the owner of this household. He will inherit all the wealth, subordinates, connections, and power that I have accumulated.”

Elder Jeong Dong-jin smiled brightly, wiping the blood from his lips as if nothing had happened.

He wiped his lips, but his teeth were still covered in blood.

“You wanted it? Of course you would. Even more so since you know the meaning of the ring. Gulp, gulp! You probably wouldn’t want to give it away to anyone else.”

The closest aides present held their breath and looked at us.

They were all to be witnesses to the succession of the Jeong family.

“Jeonghyeok, become my successor.”

Elder Jeong Dong-jin glanced at all the items I had placed on the negotiation table.

“Then all the conditions you put forth.”

They didn’t even come up with a proper negotiation proposal.

I didn’t even look at the cards I prepared.

“I will gladly accept it.”

The opponent responded by going all-in without asking any questions.

“I will refuse.”

I said it bluntly.

“what?”

Was my answer unexpected?

Everyone’s mouths were wide open.

Elder Jeong Dong-jin opened his eyes wide as if he had been greatly shocked.

“You’re saying that you didn’t come here to get this from the beginning?”

It was a face of disbelief.

Like someone who has been hit by an unexpected blow.

“When my older sister… , so my brother-in-law brought you in front of me, whom he had kept hidden so tightly, of course… .”

“It wasn’t me who wanted that ring, it was my grandmother.”

I think I made it clear earlier.

Are you taking what a child says lightly?

“My sister said this ring was yours.”

“I told you I didn’t like that pesky symbol that somehow tried to tie my father up and tie him to this corner of the house.”

I said calmly.

“I don’t care about anything that harms my father. In that sense, the will or the heirloom ring? That’s fine.”

“All this wealth, the connections within the Jeong family, the power, the information, all this… … Are you going to throw it away so easily?”

“When did I say I would throw it away?”

I never said anything like that?

It’s not that I don’t like the conditions that are suffocating my father, it’s that I don’t want to eat up the Jeong family’s wealth.

“I have to take care of my own share.”

“how?”

“With skill, with talent, with ability?”

“Hoo.”

Elder Jeong Dong-jin’s eyes sparkled.

Those were very interesting looking eyes.

It was the same for the four big names from the previous generation.

But only one, a skunk from the southeast, was pale and covered his face with his hands.

“oh my god……!”