The Highest Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 374



Only Noblemtl

374. Is it a gift or a bribe?

The Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister whispered to the Japanese Prime Minister, who was closing his tired eyes.

“Prime Minister, we have arrived at Jeong Dong-jin’s residence.”

“hmm.”

Only then did the Japanese Prime Minister open his eyes.

The pure white front seat cover had the words ‘Seoul Tourism’ printed in blue.

“Tsk.”

The Japanese Prime Minister clicked his tongue with a displeased expression.

‘What the heck. What’s with all the tour buses?’

There is no better means of transportation for a group of a hundred or so prominent figures in Japanese politics and business to move together at once, but that was not the intention.

How is it that we can’t even spot the shadow of a taxi passing by in front of the airport, where it’s common to see taxis swarming around and waiting?

Instead, I was lucky enough to catch a tour bus that was waiting to stop.

“Passengers, the bus has arrived at its destination. Please remain seated until the bus stops.”

The tour bus guide with a cheerful voice hung on the bus door and smiled brightly.

“Okay~ Okay~”

Until the tour bus carrying the group parked quietly.

Celebrities in Japanese politics and business looked out the window in silence.

Everyone had a very nervous look on their face.

‘Will I finally be able to meet Jeong Dong-jin’s successor?’

His tightly clenched hands were damp with cold sweat.

‘I haven’t been able to find a single hair on Jeong Dong-jin’s successor’s head for a while.’

The Japanese Prime Minister also furrowed his brows.

‘The Japanese Public Security Investigation Agency went back and forth to Korea and searched thoroughly, but they found nothing.’

This was no ordinary thing.

‘How is that possible?’

To succeed Jeong Dong-jin, it is essential to show up and gain the approval of your subordinates.

However, Jeong Dong-jin’s successor completely disappeared.

It was just the five closest people moving in unison.

Surprisingly, that was enough.

Jeong Dong-jin’s forces quickly restored order and quietly completed the succession without a single minor dispute.

‘This means that Jeong Dong-jin has obtained absolute loyalty even from his former subordinates whom he had kicked out.’

This is impossible without having a long and deep relationship.

It is known that Jeong Dong-jin’s only successor died ten years ago.

So when, how, and who did Jeong Dong-jin choose as his successor, and how did he take control of the Jeong family so quickly?

‘That’s interesting.’

The gatekeepers guarding the front of Jeongdongjin’s residence are nowhere to be seen.

The Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister and the Director of the Public Security Investigation Agency opened their mouths.

“If things continue like this, it will be difficult to contact Jeong Dong-jin’s successor forces.”

“How about going to the Blue House instead?”

“Order the President of Korea. ‘Bring Jeong Dong-jin’s successor to me.’ Just one word will suffice.”

“Koreans’ work is left to Koreans. Why not take this opportunity to see the capabilities of the Central Intelligence Agency?”

The Japanese Prime Minister raised his hand.

“I’m not going to the Blue House. Am I here on official business?”

“Preventing national bankruptcy… … Excuse me.”

Because the Japanese Prime Minister’s eyebrows twitched.

His closest aides immediately kept their mouths shut.

“Then, shall we take a look at the skills of Jeong Dong-jin’s successor?”

With those words, the Japanese Prime Minister looked around the wall of Jeongdongjin’s residence.

It was a huge fortress built using Joseon Dynasty stonemasonry techniques, breaking and trimming granite with chisels and hammers and fitting them neatly together.

“You don’t even know when guests come to your house. That’s truly incompetent.”

The Japanese Prime Minister pushed open the door without hesitation.

“My evaluation will change depending on when, who, where, and how I send it… …!”

In the middle of the mansion grounds where all traces of the fire have been completely wiped away.

An old man wearing a modified hanbok was standing with a bundle on his back.

“Who are you?”

“Let’s go to Myeongdong Songgolmae.”

As the Japanese Prime Minister narrowed his eyes, the head of Japan’s Public Security Investigation Agency whispered softly.

“He is one of Jeong Dong-jin’s closest associates.”

The Myeongdong Songgolmae lifted its top hat and smiled brightly.

“Did you get on the tour bus I sent you safely?”

The Japanese Prime Minister’s eyes trembled.

‘How do you know my schedule that even the Blue House doesn’t know?’

It was a very secretive schedule for the visit to Korea.

He conveyed his intention to visit to Jeong Dong-jin’s successor, but did not give him any information about when, where, or how he would visit.

“I will not convey the rudeness of trying to gauge my master’s abilities earlier. This is my gift.”

“Not a bribe?”

“What favor do I have for you, Prime Minister?”

The Myeongdong Songgolmae smiled brightly.

“How can you write without even knowing when a guest comes to your area? That is truly incompetence.”

He repeated exactly what the Japanese Prime Minister said.

The Japanese Prime Minister smiled bitterly.

‘I see. It looks like you’ve revealed my cards unexpectedly.’

Naturally, to move the tour bus, you had to announce the destination.

The destination he chose was the Jeongdongjin mansion.

‘With that one move, Jeong Dong-jin’s successor gained three things.’

First, I was able to send my closest aides to welcome the guests in a timely manner.

Second, we found out that this side did not know the location of the main force.

Third, one-sided visit notifications can be returned in the same way.

‘You’re quite resourceful, aren’t you?’

Myeongdong Songgolmae glanced sideways at the famous Japanese politicians and businessmen who were rushing into the house.

The corners of Myeongdong Songgolmae’s mouth slightly twisted.

“My master said, ‘I am busy with housework today, so you can go home.’”

It was a clear refusal to interview.

Myeongdong Songgolmae smiled brightly as he adjusted his fedora.

“I’m sorry.”

“If I show sincerity, would you still feel sorry?”

In response to the apparent refusal to meet, the Japanese Prime Minister simply waved.

The Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister unfolded a folding chair.

The Japanese Prime Minister sat proudly in his chair and crossed his arms.

“Inheritance tax and gift tax reduction, recognition of Japanese company shares.”

The corners of the Japanese Prime Minister’s mouth, looking up at the Songolmae in Myeongdong, were also relaxed.

I was about to hand him a neatly folded piece of paper from my suit pocket, but I bit it back.

“Wouldn’t it be a shame to throw this away?”

“I wish I had said that to our master’s face. That would be a real shame.”

Myeongdong Songgolmae licked its lips with regret.

“If that had been the case, Japan would not have been able to avoid national bankruptcy right away. Tsk.”

National bankruptcy.

That was one of the words the Japanese Prime Minister hated the most.

“I must report that I had no intention of speaking to the Master… … .”

“I’m sorry. It seems my sincerity was not enough.”

The effect of taking out the word was immediate.

The overbearing attitude completely changed.

The Japanese Prime Minister smiled gently.

“If you become the Prime Minister of Japan, you could help out a lot more than you think. Don’t you think so too?”

“How can I help you with something like this?”

“That’s my business.”

It meant that I would not play my cards any longer.

“It’s as easy to ruin a few companies as it is to bankrupt a country.”

But he didn’t forget to drop the bait.

“I think this is enough reason for your master to meet me. Don’t you think so?”

The Japanese Prime Minister bowed politely and respectfully.

“Your master is busy with housework today, so tell him that I will come back tomorrow.”

“Please tell me!”

Following the Japanese Prime Minister, the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister and other high-ranking officials from each ministry bowed and chanted loudly.

The same was true for not only the Liberal Democratic Party leader and party executives, but also all members of the Japan Business Federation.

“Three days. I hope that we can reach an amicable agreement through dialogue during that time.”

The Japanese Prime Minister spoke with his back straight.

“If we’re going to make an agreement, wouldn’t it be better to make a deal where we get what we need and leave cleanly, rather than a dirty, mud-slinging fight?”

The Japanese Prime Minister put the neatly folded documents he had just taken out of his bosom into the hands of Songgolmae of Myeongdong.

“Is this a gift or a bribe?”

“bribe.”

* * *

“Your Majesty, this is Taesung Hotel.”

This is how an eventful year comes to an end.

The last day of the year was spent at Taesung Hotel.

We decided to hold this year’s New Year’s Eve party at our Taesung Hotel.

‘There were so many things going on at the end of the year last year.’

My mother and I were announced as members of Taesung Group, and Woo-kwang and Taesung’s engagement was broken off.

We sent invitations to all the big names in the industry and raised funds for Taesung Construction.

We met the old market and had a chat about the subway map, and our family of three watched the fireworks together.

When I think back to that time, I feel renewed.

“We’ve arrived. The vice president was already there.”

The car we were riding in stopped gently in front of the main entrance of Taesung Hotel.

My father, who was checking the event preparations, walked over to me.

He opened the back door of the car himself and extended his hand to escort his mother.

Mother did not refuse Father’s favor.

“Thank you, senpai. Are we a little late?”

“at all.”

Father and mother stood side by side.

They were a picturesque couple.

I also stood there wearing my master’s suit.

My father, who even held my hand, smiled confidently.

“Shall we go in?”

“yes.”

“Are you hungry?”

“Don’t worry about me, I’ll figure it out and eat it well.”

Mother stood next to father and greeted the guests.

All the people coming and going are people you only see on television.

Grandfather also wore a flower on his suit and was busy welcoming guests alongside Grandmother.

“Oh my, our Jeong-hyeok! My precious baby is here?”

“grandfather!”

My grandfather suddenly started to spin me around in his arms out of habit, so I had to stop him urgently.

But it was no use.

“I’m carrying my baby, so tell me what to do!”

My grandfather smiled broadly and hugged me tightly as he spun me around.

“Good. Today, Jeong-hyeok prepared seats for the servants as you requested.”

At the year-end party held at the Hyunmu Hotel last year, there were people who were not even allowed to enter the venue.

There were drivers, bodyguards, and personal secretaries.

They were kicked out into the lobby last year, shivering and starving.

So this time I begged them to make room for me.

It was very satisfying to see them having a good time, eating and chatting with each other over a large plate of prepared food.

“Oh my, young master!”

People noticed me and cheered.

“It’s been a while. How have you been?”

“I heard that Your Majesty has prepared a special place for us. Thank you very much.”

“Thanks to you, I was able to have a great time in a great place, watching a great show.”

“Would you like to try some of this, Your Majesty? This honey rice cake is truly a delicacy.”

“Would you like a glass of warm milk?”

I never turned down a favor offered to me by people.

Everyone was looking at the baby animals as they obediently accepted a piece of honey cake, a sip of milk, and a cookie.

The gift thrust in front of me looked familiar.

It was a high-end map for a gift.

‘uh?’

The man who had readily given me the map last year was smiling with the same face as before.

“Secretary Jang of Geumjo Group?”

“I thought you remembered me. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Master Jeonghyeok.”

Secretary Jang of the Geumjo Group winked one eye.

“I heard how you used the map you received at that time. It was an honor.”

Thanks to Secretary Jang of the Geumjo Group readily giving me a map at that time.

Our Taesung Construction was able to win the bid for subway line 2 construction.

“Would you like to eat the steak you couldn’t eat then, even now?”

“I’m sorry, but it looks like it’ll be difficult this time too. I’ll just be grateful for your kindness.”

“Then you should at least get paid for the map. Thank you.”

When I tried to stuff the generous gift into his suit pocket, he raised both hands to stop me.

“I just came to run an errand.”

Then who sent it?

“This was sent by Chairman Cho of the Geumjo Group.”

Why did Chairman Cho of the Geumjo Group do this to me?

I squinted my eyes.

Is this a gift or a bribe?