» The Youngest Son of Sunyang
Reborn Rich - Chapter 234
[234] Unpredictable Whirlwind 4
I caressed the leather cover of the ledger. Just how many people would appear within its pages, and where would they be now?
More than twenty years had passed, so many of them would no longer be of this world, and many more would have retired from the front lines, losing all their influence.
As my mind raced, trying to figure out how to reorganize these records and how to utilize them, my grandfather spoke.
"I hope you understand my feelings in giving this to you. These are my dark records, which I've never shown to anyone. Many will become masters of my company, take my money, or seize my land, but you are the only one who will take all my secrets. Even if, by some chance, you don't become the master of Sunyang... this is the symbol that you are the sole successor to Jin Yangcheol."
They were incredibly cheesy words, but I knew I would never hear such heartfelt sincerity again.
"I will make Grandfather's name eternal, never to be erased."
I, too, uttered similarly cheesy words.
Why were words that expressed sincerity always so childish? I tried to think of more sophisticated and profound vocabulary, but these were the only words that came to mind at that moment.
Grandfather and I couldn't meet each other's eyes for a moment.
The slight flush on my cheeks wasn't due to the heater being turned up high.
"Ahem, ahem... Anyway... manage the people named in that ledger well. Your uncles will be the ones spending money for immediate gains. Things like the last presidential election, or the general election coming up this spring."
"Ah, I almost forgot. I also gave two billion won to my second uncle during the last presidential election."
"I know. That's exactly how you should do it. Only contribute like that when it's handled at the group level."
"Then the people on this list should be handled separately...?"
"Yes. Whether there's a special occasion or not, always keep sending them something. Think of it as paying insurance premiums. And you, too, should carefully observe people and add those you believe will become significant figures in the future to that list. Always invest with a long-term perspective."
"Isn't long-term investment what I do best? I wouldn't bat an eye even if I had to bury money for ten years."
"There you go again... Your bragging truly has no end! Haha."
Grandfather lightly slapped the back of my head.
"I don't have any special instructions for the accounts. The names and contact information of the people in charge at the respective banks are there, so they'll handle everything you need. There's one thing you need to be careful about: find a trustworthy person to withdraw the money from the bank. Once that person brings the money, entrust Woo Byungjun to deliver it. He's done it a few times, so he'll do it well."
"You mean I should be careful not to reveal myself when withdrawing and delivering the money, right?"
"Yes. Who was that guy? The one who risked his life to crash into the truck for us?"
"Are you referring to Assistant Manager Kim Yoonseok?"
"That's the one. Lee Hakjae told me. He said he doesn't have a sharp mind, but he has an honest and steadfast heart. He's perfect for picking up the money, I think. It's not a job that requires much thought, but it does require someone who is steadfast and can keep their mouth shut."
"And he doesn't seem to have much desire for money, so he'd be suitable."
"What? He doesn't desire money?"
"Yes. Didn't he refuse even when we offered him a large sum of money after he saved our lives?"
Grandfather frowned.
"Who in this world doesn't desire money? It simply means he desires something even greater than money. Anyway, don't trust him too much, and always remain vigilant."
I was surprised once again.
He didn't even trust the benefactor who saved his life. To distrust people even more than I, who had tasted death for trusting them.
But this very attitude was what built Sunyang into what it is today, so I had to bear it in mind.
"Shall we get up then? I wonder if the owner of this place has frozen to death outside."
When I escorted Grandfather outside, the owner stood there, trembling, his lips even tinged blue.
* * *
Returning home, I unfurled the ledger.
I started from the most recent entries, working backward from the 80s.
The more I looked, the more I marveled at Grandfather's meticulousness.
I now understood the actions of those economics professors who, given any chance, would appear on TV, practically foaming at the mouth, spouting pro-corporate statements.
I understood why the nation's largest labor union remained uniquely silent regarding Sunyang Group, and why Sunyang executives, whenever they appeared before the High Court, were invariably acquitted or received suspended sentences.
I also knew why what Sunyang Group wanted to hide never made it into the news, and why social elders or intellectual groups never even uttered the name 'Sunyang'.
I meticulously examined the amounts and frequencies of the money transferred to them and also verified the accounts Grandfather had given me.
The astonishing fact was the domestic accounts.
Even if foreign accounts were beyond our country's reach, these were chaemyeong accounts containing anywhere from hundreds of millions to tens of billions of won. How had they remained undetected until now?
No matter how much I thought about it, there was only one conclusion.
There was no other explanation than that the banks knew, and the relevant government agencies knew, but they simply pretended not to, excluding them from investigation.
That must have been why Grandfather told me to continue using these accounts. These accounts were, in effect, my personal secret vaults, the safest in the world.
By the time I finished checking the ledger and the accounts, it was already bright outside.
I picked up the phone and called Kim Yoonseok.
It was early morning, but he rushed over.
I handed him three bankbooks.
"As soon as the bank opens, go to these three places and withdraw 100 million won from each. The personal seal is included, and I've noted down the contact person and password."
"Yes. Is there anything else you'd like me to do?"
"Observe the expressions of the contact people carefully. And pay close attention to the bank tellers' actions when you withdraw the money."
"Yes. What should I do once I've withdrawn the money?"
"Bring it home. I'll be getting some sleep."
"Understood. Please rest."
It was a suspicious instruction, one that warranted questions, yet Kim Yoonseok bowed his head without a single query and left.
When I awoke to the sound of the doorbell, it was nearly noon.
"Did you get some rest?"
"Yes, I slept like a log. And you've taken care of everything?"
Instead of answering, Assistant Manager Kim Yoonseok pointed to the three Boston bags he had brought.
"Were there any particular issues?"
"No. All the contact people you mentioned were branch managers. I just waited in the branch manager's office, sipping tea, and they handled everything themselves."
"They weren't surprised?"
"Two places said nothing, and only one subtly asked if the person in charge had changed."
"So, what did you say?"
"Just in case, I didn't say anything and simply stared at them. They immediately apologized for their impropriety and bowed their heads."
He had improved considerably.
It's best to clearly show who holds the power and to avoid unnecessary words as much as possible.
"Well done."
I unzipped the bag and glanced at the stacks of money, observing Assistant Manager Kim's expression.
There are no exceptions to the desire that arises from seeing something. Only by being swayed by temptation does one truly know oneself.
I had only given him bankbooks containing tens of billions of won. He must have known. The fact that he could claim a large sum of money anytime he wished.
But his eyes remained calm and unwavering. I couldn't tell if he harbored no thoughts at all, or if, as Grandfather suggested, he desired something even greater than money.
I offered him one of the bags.
"Take it and use it."
"Pardon?"
Now, his eyes finally wavered. It wasn't because of the money. It was likely because he didn't understand why I was suddenly offering him such a large sum.
"You can use it where needed. It's money for which you don't need to keep receipts, so spread it around as cash."
Kim Yoonseok, understanding my meaning, showed a troubled expression.
"Team Leader. It's too much."
"Too much?"
"...Yes."
Noticing the unusual tone of my voice, his voice trailed off.
"If you spread one million won each, that's a hundred people. You mean you haven't laid the groundwork with even a hundred people yet? It'd be understandable if you said it wasn't enough, but this...!"
When I spoke in a deliberately firm, almost reproaching tone, he quickly replied.
"Ah, the units were different. I was thinking of distributing 100,000 won to each person."
Considering the salaries of junior employees in the Group's Planning Office, Secretary's Office, Strategy Office, and Security Team, it was understandable for Assistant Manager Kim to think in terms of 100,000 won.
"Then let's raise the units from now on. No... there's no need. I'll leave the judgment to Assistant Manager Kim. Distribute it as you see fit."
"Understood. Honestly, one million won is quite a lot. So..."
I raised my hand, stopping him mid-sentence.
"I said I'm leaving it to you. You don't need to explain everything."
"Ah, yes."
Assistant Manager Kim took the bag.
"Oh, I have something to tell you. Your cousins have been visiting Chairman Jin's hospital room since this morning."
"All at once?"
"No. They're coming separately, one by one."
"Check it out. They'll definitely be contacting him beforehand."
"Yes. I'll let you know after confirming."
After Assistant Manager Kim left, I tossed the two remaining bags into a corner. I planned to give them to Executive Director Woo Byungjun later. If he were to distribute it here and there, 200 million won seemed like a perfectly manageable sum.
Just then, the phone rang.
"Yeah, Hyung."
— Dojun. You knew Grandfather was hospitalized, didn't you?
Hyung Sangjun's voice trembled. He must have been surprised too.
"Ah, my apologies. I couldn't get in touch."
— No, it's fine. It's just that I don't contact Grandfather often. I asked Father, and he said visits are allowed, so if you have time, let's go together. Honestly, Grandfather is still a bit difficult for me. The thought of going alone makes my mind go blank.
Among our family, Hyung Sangjun was the grandson Grandfather disliked the most. He'd improved somewhat since becoming an adult, but standing before Grandfather alone wouldn't be an easy feat.
"Alright. I was planning to visit today anyway. Let's go together."
I distinctly heard a sigh of relief.
— Phew, what a relief. When are you going?
"I need to check the time. What about you, Hyung?"
— I'll be at the recording studio, so anytime is fine.
"Then I'll come to the recording studio. I'd like to see where you work. Is that alright?"
— For me, it's fine. But wouldn't it be a hassle for you?
"Not at all. It's just a quick stop on the way to the hospital. Don't worry about it."
— Alright. See you later then.
I ended the call and closed my eyes for a little more sleep.
* * *
I awoke to Assistant Manager Kim's call. He informed me that my cousins would swarm in during the afternoon, and by evening, no one would be there.
Yes, once night falls, they'd go out to play. Since they knew that not a single share would fall into their hands anyway, weren't they just useless fools who didn't even need to show belated filial piety?
On the way to the hospital, I stopped by Hyung Sangjun's studio.
Since investing in this company, I had only seen reports and documents, but this was my first visit. As the documents suggested, it hadn't achieved major success yet. I thought he was just getting by, but seeing the building, it was quite different from what I imagined.
It was located in a rather impressive building, and in front of it, I saw dozens of fervent fans camped out.
Did this company have a star-level idol?
I only ever looked at the numbers, and since I had no interest in celebrities, it was hard to grasp the reality of the situation.
"Team Leader. Shall I go and escort him?"
My escort team subtly asked. They seemed concerned about the people camped out at the entrance.
"It's fine. I came to see my brother at work anyway, so please wait in the parking lot."
This was a mistake.
A few high school girls, spotting me as I stepped out of the luxury foreign car, scurried over.
"Oppa! Are you with this agency too? A trainee?"
"Hey! Didn't you see the car? What trainee drives a car like that?"
"Isn't that car more expensive than a van? No, wait! More importantly, don't you think we've seen this oppa somewhere before? On TV, perhaps...?"
I pretended not to see the chattering girls and entered the building. It was incredibly fortunate that I was wearing a suit. The lobby guards only stopped the fans, so I entered without difficulty.
I called Hyung Sangjun from the lobby, but awkwardly, only the ringtone played; he didn't answer.
I redialed several times, but it was still the same. Just as I was about to send a text, I spotted Hyung Sangjun walking out, surrounded by a throng of women.