CH 25.3

Cha Yiseok left the office after receiving a call from Chairman Cha. He entered the Chairman’s office from one side. The board of directors, who had arrived in advance, were sitting at the round table and chatting. Chairman Cha often called the board of directors to eat together. Chairman Lim was also seen today. Cha Yiseok sat down next to Chairman Cha.

“You’re late.”

Chairman Cha said.

“You must have heard the rumors that Hong Kong-based funds are collecting Taeryong stocks these days.”

“Is that so? I don’t know anything about it.”

“Among foreign investors, although they are of foreign nationality, the people who manage them must be Koreans who are well-versed in domestic affairs. We are predicting how they will attack in various ways, but it is difficult to obtain accurate information as the identity of the Hong Kong-based funds is not clear. However, it is said that the Hong Kong fund’s stake in Taeryung has already exceeded 4%.”

“That much? They’re diligent…”

Cha Yiseok said in an astonished voice. Chairman Cha shook his wrinkled eyes.

“Do you know what that means? If it reaches 5%, it means that Hong Kong-based funds can not only convene a shareholders’ meeting, but also have the authority to change the management. The first target might be Myunghwan. You can guess what will happen next.”

“Even if they come out strong, there is Director Han and Chairman Lim, will they meekly sit back?”

The faces of Director Han and Chairman Lim had hardened, but soon relaxed.

“Haha… ! Executive Director Cha is right. Of course, we and the board of directors will all unite and protect Taeryung. Taeryung can’t easily fall because of those who don’t know the basics. So, Chairman, it’s been a long time since we’ve been together, but let’s put aside these troublesome things for a moment…”

Chairman Lim had a gentle smile that was not like a person who had been immersed in rape play just a while ago.

Male assistants came in and served salads and soups. Chairman Cha put his red napkin on his lap. Contrary to the simple and precise movements, all kinds of thoughts must have been mixed in his head.

There was no Cha Yiseok in the position of the next head of the company in the old man’s mind. If Cha Myunghwan was taken by the grim reaper, one of his relatives will be seated in that place. They will be a loyal dog who will follow him without any deviation from his vision of the future of Taeryung.

Chairman Cha asked nonchalantly, holding a crystal glass.

“Where were you last night? I heard Myunghwan was looking for you in the evening, but you didn’t answer. You know he’s sensitive until a thorough examination comes out, right?”

It was the gaze of an observer pretending not to know anything about the Paradiso attack. He was willing to take a bait like this. Cha Yiseok held the rim of the water cup.

“Why do you ask, knowing I was at home? By the way, I don’t think my brother is the only one disappointed?”

When Chairman Cha’s eyes turned to Yiseok, he continued.

“My brother naively believed that the Chairman would overlook Paradiso.”

Chairman Cha straightened his body and crossed his arms.

“You shouldn’t try to talk to a dog in human language. It’s a conversation worthy of their level.”

For a moment, Chairman Cha’s eyes lit up.

“But how did you know about it?”

“You can’t miss such a major accident in the news.”

“The police and the media were blocked in advance.”

“Must have leaked out the back door. Don’t be so sure about everything in the world.”

Chairman Cha looked at Cha Yiseok with dry eyes. Cha Yiseok fiddled with his own lips with his fingers.

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to tell my brother.”

***

Cha Yiseok drove the car after lunch with Chairman Cha. Congested roads were slow. Cha Yiseok put the phone to his ear and let out a sigh. He tried to call Yaba a while ago, but there was no answer. He picked up a cigarette and lit it.

I want to sing. I want to sing…

A wet voice that repeated that lingered in his ears. When he came to his senses, he was turning the steering wheel to where that guy was. Cars slowly following from behind were reflected in the rearview mirror. He licked the cigarette filter and opened the car door and went out. Horns sounded here and there, but he ignored them and walked towards the black sonatas lined up behind him. When the Sonata car door was opened and the man was pulled out, the man who came out had a puzzled expression on his face. Cha Yiseok twisted his arm back and smacked his head over the bonnet. When the man’s knuckles were broken, a bone-breaking sound reached his fingertips. The man struggled.

“Ugh… ! Ahh… ! Kei, wh- what? Y- you… !”

“Is a separate introduction needed between us?”

Cha Yiseok rummaged through the man’s pants and pulled out his cell phone. The first list was stamped with Chairman Cha’s number. It seemed that he was in a hurry seeing that there was a direct number. He pressed the call. After a while of beeping, an old man’s voice was heard.

— I told you not to call during the day.

“I didn’t know you were such a person full of negativity enough to be so interested in my every move.”

— …

The old man remained silent, perhaps in embarrassment. Cha Yiseok curved his lips. As he violently broke the man’s arm, the man bowed his head and screamed.

“If you don’t want to see this man cut up and delivered to the Chairman’s office, get rid of this. Oh, I forgot that dogs have to talk in their language. How should I bark so you can understand…”

Cha Yiseok bared his teeth and repeated lowly.

“Grrr.”

***

“About 40 people were injured, both customers and employees there. Fortunately, there were no fatalities. It is said that it will take some time for the repair work to be completed. All documents and valuable materials have been moved.”

“Just tell them to fix the elevator quickly. The singers can go on business trips for a while.”

Kang Giha looked at his ruined kingdom and inhaled some cigarette smoke. The first floor was pushed with a bulldozer and completely damaged, and the fire spread to the third floor and became ashes. The coalition faction was huge, so his subordinates were like a ripple in the ocean. Retaliation would result in greater retaliation. The police detectives went back after looking into the rough circumstances. Newspapers and broadcasting stations were also quiet. Chances are, Chairman Cha had taken care of it in advance.

He expected the push one day, but he didn’t expect it to be this big. If one day he only had the strength to fight back, he would pick the old man’s belly and chew his internal organs. Kang Giha picked up the sofa that had been burned and threw it away.

“Fuck. Shitty-… !”

As if pouring out boiling anger, he smashed as much as he could hold in his hand. After receiving urgent healing from Cocaine, he ran out and felt stiff. Reason flew away enough to make even that pain flicker. His men were frozen as if dead rats in the light of the rain. After smashing everything, Kang Giha nervously ruffled his hair.

“Did you talk to the owner about the accident?”

Imsoo replied.

“Yes. I’ve contacted the agent, so he will know today or tomorrow.”

“Now that this has happened, tell them to hand over the store right now. I can take the damage.”

“The cost of the repair work would be huge.”

“It’s fine. I can buy a few stores like this if I get the stake that Executive Director Cha promised.”

Paradiso was a golden land due to its location, and it was a luxurious palace where only VVIPs come and go. Above all, from the opening to the staff, the interior, from start to end, there was no place that had not been taken care of by his hands. After receiving the stake from Executive Director Cha, he was planning to meet with the owner and build a deal when things were roughly settled. If he didn’t hand over the store, he planned to take all the children out and leave. These were the guys he brought with his own hands, so it’s completely different from the store.

“How about Yaba?”

“He wasn’t seriously hurt, and he went to the hospital, and now he’s taking refuge at a neighbor’s house.”

Giha frowned.

“Who is that guy?”

“According to Dokki, he just moved in, and he told them to stay at his house until they find a new place to stay.”

“Who does he think he is? Get the kids out and take them to the inn.”

“Everyone says they are in shock and can’t even move. There’s a line of people by Cocaine. Besides, because of the rumors about this happening, no nearby inns are willing to accept it. There is an empty house just downstairs from the dormitory, but they said it would take three or four days. I think it’s okay to stay there until the apartment is vacant. If the landlord finds out that they’re kids who work in a place like this…”

“A place like this?”

When Kang Giha looked at him in a bad mood, Imsoo bowed his head.

“I’m sorry. If it is known that we work in ‘therapy’, it won’t be a big deal. I heard that the kids are comfortable because the owner seems to be there and not there.”

Kang Giha wiped his chin, which he couldn’t even shave. For the time being, he himself would be busy. He didn’t like it, but there were his underlings, so he could leave them be for a day or two.