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Translator: uly
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Regular Employee
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"Regular employee?!!"
Lee Myung-guk was shocked once again by his son's words.
'I have no idea how many times I've been surprised in just one hour.'
But this time, too, he couldn't help being startled.
He had assumed Lee Dae-hyuk would at least ask for a managing director position at Daehan Construction.
Just like the other children had—only by reaching that level could he wield power as a royal family member.
'A regular employee…. He's got ambition.'
Lee Myung-guk could guess what his son was thinking.
Starting as a regular employee from the ground up wouldn't bring the rapid growth he might expect, but it would allow him to truly understand how the company operated.
And if he rose to an executive position that way, he'd grasp the company's inner workings perfectly.
"Of course, you plan to hide your identity too?"
"If I start work as the chairman's son, the regular employees will feel uncomfortable. That would hinder information gathering and make it hard to spot problems."
Lee Dae-hyuk was right.
Who would show their true feelings to the chairman's son without reservation?
From the start, others would keep their distance from him.
Lee Myung-guk nodded.
"Right. You're correct. It's just the right time for special hires, so getting into the company won't be difficult."
"The timing is perfect. That's a relief."
"To join as a regular employee, you'll need to align with the company schedule… It'll take about two weeks. Finish your preparations to start by then."
"Understood."
As Chairman Lee Myung-guk made the decision just as he wanted, a smile spread across Lee Dae-hyuk's face.
He'd face some side-eye as a parachute hire at first, but once he was in, he could catch the spy and rack up merits.
'Daehan Construction is the starting point. I might even land a blow on Seojin Group.'
On the other hand, unlike Lee Dae-hyuk, who was grinning triumphantly, Lee Myung-guk couldn't hide his puzzled look.
He'd exchanged positive words in the joy of his son's change, but he still couldn't fully trust the Lee Dae-hyuk who had suffered from depression and attempted suicide not long ago.
However.
'This kid… he's thinking the exact same thing as me.'
The problem at Daehan Construction that Lee Dae-hyuk had just pierced through.
It matched perfectly with his own recent suspicion: 'Isn't there a spy inside Daehan Construction?'
And he'd even proposed jumping in personally to solve it.
He hadn't said it outright in front of Lee Dae-hyuk, but as they say, repeating "coincidences" becomes "inevitability."
With bids failing this badly, he was convinced information was leaking from inside.
If it hadn't been Lee Dae-hyuk, he might have assigned someone to investigate himself by now.
'Whether he fails or succeeds… I'll give him a shot.'
Even if his son gained nothing, it didn't matter.
If Lee Dae-hyuk grew stronger in the process, that would be enough.
Lee Myung-guk looked at his son not as a businessman, but as a father.
"...."
The son smiling with steadfast eyes resembled the woman he had truly loved.
Just like her, who dreamed of Korea's future and talked endlessly about all sorts of projects.
Unlike his current wife, whom he had to marry strategically to the daughter of a Supreme Court justice for the group's fate, every moment with her had been filled with happiness and joy.
It was the same now.
Seeing Lee Dae-hyuk dreaming of the future filled Lee Myung-guk with both happiness and joy.
'He looks exactly like his mother.'
Lee Dae-hyuk's mother, Nam Hee-yeon, had once been Korea's legendary actress.
Sculpture-like beauty. Debuting at twenty-five, she starred in just five films but became the star of award ceremonies at major film festivals not only in Korea but worldwide.
And she retired exactly after those five films, before even turning thirty.
An actress whose every story was destined to become legend.
The reason that legendary actress retired was "love" for Lee Myung-guk and "Lee Dae-hyuk."
But tragedy strikes without regard for status.
Though Lee Myung-guk loved her truly as well, she left only her son Lee Dae-hyuk behind and departed this world in a sudden traffic accident.
A smile formed and quickly faded at Lee Myung-guk's lips as he saw the face of the woman he so longed for and loved in his son.
It was too early to rejoice over something like this.
"…One last question."
"Yes."
"Do you want anything?"
"I told you. I want to do the work I…"
"No. I mean, what do you really want?"
Being a regular employee couldn't be his ultimate goal.
At Lee Myung-guk's question, Lee Dae-hyuk fell silent.
'I can't tell him what I really want.'
What he truly wanted was to bring down Seojin Group.
It would be sweeter revenge for those Yoo Jae-man bastards.
But saying that in front of Lee Myung-guk now would get him treated like a madman.
So Lee Dae-hyuk chose a different answer—one that would please Lee Myung-guk.
"I want to grow Daehan Group into the world's top group."
"…Not just Korea's best… but the world's best?"
"Yes."
'It's the only way I can crush Seojin Group.'
Swallowing those last words inwardly, Lee Dae-hyuk smiled.
Lee Myung-guk examined his son's face with sharp eyes.
'…Hah, hahaha… this kid.'
In truth, Lee Myung-guk saw Lee Dae-hyuk's ambition as utterly grandiose nonsense.
Right now, Daehan Group was in fierce competition with Seojin Group. In market cap and every other metric, it was Korea's No. 2 conglomerate.
Turning that Daehan Group into the world's top global corporation?
Impossible.
If anyone else had spouted such nonsense in front of him, he might have unleashed his wrath.
'Still, better than the old days when he was ranting about dying.'
People with goals and dreams never choose death, the ultimate loss.
Lee Myung-guk hoped his son would keep chasing goals and dreams.
"Fine. I'll have Secretary Manager Kim Dae-min inform you of your first day. It'll take about a week, so get your body in shape meanwhile."
A smile spread across Lee Dae-hyuk's lips at Chairman Lee Myung-guk's firm approval.
"Thank you."
Lee Dae-hyuk bowed his head.
In this moment, he was truly grateful to Lee Myung-guk for granting his wish.
It was a ridiculously small step, but with Lee Myung-guk's permission, he had moved one step closer to revenge.
Moreover.
Lee Myung-guk also rose from the sofa with a somewhat relieved expression.
"I'll be off now."
As he walked to the entrance, Lee Myung-guk glanced at his son once more.
The son, brimming with zest for life, looked more precious than ever.
Lee Dae-hyuk nodded with a smile at his father's affectionate gaze.
"…Yes. Take care."
Hearing his son, who had stood to see him off, Lee Myung-guk's lips curved into a smile.
He paused—
Turning his head slightly at the entrance, Lee Myung-guk said in a soft voice.
"Your late mother would be pleased."
"...."
For a moment, Lee Dae-hyuk couldn't say a word.
He had the memories and the body, but he wasn't the real Lee Dae-hyuk.
Yet, was it because he could read Lee Myung-guk's genuine longing for Lee Dae-hyuk's mother—and his own wife?
"...."
He couldn't hold back the lump in his chest for a while.
***
Inside Lee Myung-guk's car heading home.
The smile wouldn't leave his face as he gazed out the car window.
'Your late mother would be happy, huh. I'm such a fool.'
That remark he'd let slip just before leaving the house.
Lee Myung-guk reproached himself as he recalled it again.
He had been cold and ruthless not just to his son Lee Dae-hyuk, but to everyone.
No, he had tried to be.
That was the life of Daehan Group's leader.
Headquarters, affiliates, subcontractors, employees, and their families—over a million people whose livelihoods he was responsible for.
To enjoy the "right" of wealth, he had to fulfill the "duty" of safeguarding their livelihoods.
Crushed by that weight, Lee Myung-guk had lost much.
Even the one woman he truly loved.
And he had nearly failed to protect his youngest son too.
But the Lee Dae-hyuk he met today was definitely different.
Like a completely different person.
During their conversation, he'd even felt overwhelmed.
Even so, it hadn't been long since he recovered from his suicide attempt, yet he thought of his mother being pleased.
It was certainly a slip, but the words came from the heart.
'I hope you're watching our son's changing self from there, even if it's just from afar.'
Stroking his chin, Lee Myung-guk recalled Lee Dae-hyuk from moments ago.
In truth, his son seemed to have changed for the better.
Ambitious without base desires, his eyes burned with the will and vitality to live.
But Lee Myung-guk knew how hard it was for people to change.
Humans revert to old habits at the slightest obstacle or excuse, even after swelling with motivation.
Still.
Even if disappointment came later, Lee Myung-guk wanted to hold onto the reliable image of his son he'd seen today.
'The world's top group, huh….'
He dismissed it as nonsense, but hearing it from his youngest son made his chest swell inexplicably.
His own father, Lee Byung-hee, the founder of Daehan Construction, hadn't dreamed of the world's greatest company.
The moment his son uttered those words, for a fleeting instant, it had reignited the passion still lingering in his heart.
He felt endless joy—and a touch of regret.
'It would've been better if you were here….'
Having to watch his son change and advance in a world without her, alone.
The sad thought wiped the smile from his lips.
Secretary Manager Kim Dae-min, checking via the rearview mirror, looked puzzled.
"Is something the matter?"
"…Work. Yeah, there was work."
"...."
Kim Dae-min shut his mouth and waited for Lee Myung-guk's next words.
"Even at my age, raising kids is tough. Especially doing it alone."
Kim Dae-min wore a sympathetic expression.
As his secretary for nearly 30 years, he knew Lee Myung-guk and his wife, Park Ji-sook, didn't get along well.
It was a strategic marriage from the start, so the lack of affection had played a big role.
Plus, the children took after their mother, full of desires, so Lee Myung-guk couldn't find comfort at home.
Outside, he was the giant steering Daehan Group, but to Kim Dae-min, he was just a lonely old man.
That lonely old man called to Kim Dae-min.
"Manager Kim."
"Yes."
"Take me to Nakwon Cemetery Park?"
He felt he couldn't endure today without seeing her face first.
After a brief pause, Kim Dae-min replied.
"…Understood. Driver Kim, turn around."
"Yes."
After the short instruction to the driver, Kim Dae-min let out a sigh tinged with pity.
As if hearing the sigh of concern, Lee Myung-guk's face, gazing out the window, looked even lonelier.
***
After Lee Myung-guk left.
Returning to his room, Lee Dae-hyuk methodically planned his next steps.
He had a step-by-step plan.
Reform Daehan Construction, where he could score big merits and solidify his position.
But reform alone wasn't enough.
'I need to keep preparing.'
To fight properly ahead, he needed enormous funds.
'I have to prevent Daehan Group from falling apart too. And build strength to take on Seojin Group.'
What is a chaebol's power?
Money.
An unimaginable amount of money.
'Let's set simple goals. First, money. Second, train this damn body.'
Lee Dae-hyuk had known since waking that his body was a wreck.
Compared to the aged Kim Geon-woo before his death, it was pathetically weak.
No muscle, narrow shoulders, skinny arms and legs.
'I need to build my body first.'
Illegitimate or not, he was a chaebol's son.
He wouldn't need to throw punches.
But any endeavor required stamina.
Lee Dae-hyuk decided to work out.
'First, build a proper body. Second, assets.'
Digging through Lee Dae-hyuk's memories, he got a rough sense of his financial situation.