Chapter 1036: Civil War (2)

In front of HK Chemical's underground parking garage, I had been stopped by the security guards, my car idling as I waited for a response from President Hong Jin-Gyu.

'There's no way he'd pass up the chance to hear my proposal.'

I came here for one reason—to join forces with Hong Jin-Gyu, the second son of the HK Inc. family.

Before the regression, Hong Jin-Gyu had revealed his ambitions the moment HK Entertainment and Director Hong Ah-Yoon began to falter. Taking advantage of his younger sister's predicament, he had tried to swallow not only HK Entertainment but also HK Department Store, where she held a significant stake. Although HK Department Store was one of the company's smaller subsidiaries, it generated more readily available cash than any other affiliate.

If Hong Jin-Gyu wanted to overtake his older brother Hong Myung-Soo, the president of HK Construction and the leading candidate to inherit the group, securing the HK Department Store was absolutely essential.

Back then, however, Hong Jin-Gyu's plan had failed. His ambition had simply exceeded his ability. However, that was precisely why I had come to see him. If I helped him, Hong Jin-Gyu could seize the HK Department Store in this lifetime. And once he did, he would drag the entire HK Inc. into chaos.

"Yes... Yes, understood."

After speaking into the intercom, the two young security guards nodded, raised the barrier, and approached my car. "We'll escort you from here."

I asked, "Where should I go?"

"Please proceed to Basement Level Four. The executive parking garage."

I started the engine and drove down into the underground parking structure. The barrier dropped behind my car, sealing off the entrance so no one else could follow.

***

From the underground parking garage, I was escorted by two security guards. We rode the VIP elevator straight to the twentieth floor without encountering a single other person.

Click.

The moment the office door opened, the rich aroma of butter-grilled squid filled the air.

Hong Jin-Gyu sat with his feet propped up on the table, leisurely chewing on a strip of squid. "Hey, Chief Jung. You made it."

"Good evening, sir."

"Whether it'll stay a good evening depends on what this proposal of yours is. Hang on a second."

Hong Jin-Gyu gestured toward the guards who had escorted me. "You two will be taking Chief Jung back out later, so wait outside. You'll each get a ten-million-won bonus today. Keep your mouths shut. And you know what happens if you don't."

The guards immediately stiffened. "Of course, sir."

"Good. Now get out."

"Yes, sir."

The two guards hurried out of the president's office.

"Come on. Don't just stand there. Have a seat," said Hong Jin-Gyu.

Rather than hostility, Hong Jin-Gyu's face was filled with curiosity over what I had come to propose. That was despite the fact that, because of me, the third and fourth siblings of the HK family had already been arrested, and even now, his youngest sister's company was being thoroughly searched in the building across the street.

Thump.

As soon as I sat down, Hong Jin-Gyu leaned forward impatiently. "All right. Let's hear this proposal."

His tone carried an unmistakable warning. If he didn't like what he heard, I wasn't leaving. I didn't so much as blink. Instead, I fed the very desire burning inside him.

"What I did for Daechon..." I met his eyes. "Why can't I do it a second time?"

Hong Jin-Gyu's face flushed instantly. "You mean..." His voice tightened. "...You're saying you'll make me the owner of HK?"

I held his gaze. "Yes. In return, I want you to stop Chairman Hong from protecting HK Entertainment."

Just then, Hong Jin-Gyu's shoulders began shaking before he burst into booming laughter. "Ahahaha! I knew it! I just knew it!"

Hong Jin-Gyu looked as though he had already become chairman of the HK Inc. He couldn't contain his excitement. It wasn't surprising. These days, the business world had started calling me the King Talent Agent. Not a kingmaker, someone who creates kings, but the king talent agent.

The nickname first appeared after I helped Jin Sung-Joon and Jin Ah-Ram of the Jinseong Inc. become acting president of Jinseong Foods and Jinseong Hotels & Resorts. Back then, the stories had been little more than gossip and rumors.

However, once Kim Ae-Ryeon became chairman and Daechon Inc. openly transferred shares of Daechon Media to me, everyone accepted it as fact. Just as Jung Yoon-Ho could turn entertainers into top stars, people now believed he could groom business executives into the next chairmen of major conglomerates.

However, what I was offering Hong Jin-Gyu now was nothing more than false hope. My real intention was to use him to destroy HK Entertainment and ultimately drag the entire HK Inc. to its ruin.

'From this moment on, Hong Jin-Gyu... you'll become my chess piece.'

I quietly organized my thoughts while waiting for Hong Jin-Gyu's laughter to die down. At last, the laughter stopped. Hong Jin-Gyu stared directly at me.

"How?"

'Perfect.'

His greed had completely eclipsed his judgment. From this point on, however, the conversation needed to remain strictly between the two of us. Chief Secretary Gong Gi-Seok, who stood nearby with a faint smile, was one of the brightest graduates from the country's top business school. As long as he remained in the room, manipulating Hong Jin-Gyu exactly as I intended would be impossible.

I said, "I'd prefer to discuss the rest in private."

"Just the two of us?"

"Yes."

Hong Jin-Gyu shook his head without hesitation. "Secretary Gong is practically my other half. I'd rather he stay."

I immediately struck at his pride. "Who's supposed to become the king of HK? You... or Chief Secretary Gong?"

Hong Jin-Gyu's expression darkened. "Are you mocking me? How dare you—"

"The choice is yours. But if you'd rather not, I'll simply leave and pay a visit to your older brother, President Hong Myung-Soo of HK Construction."

Hong Jin-Gyu flared up. "You think my brother would welcome you? He's going to become chairman without lifting a finger. Why would he need you?"

"I don't know. That's only what you think."

"What?"

"President Hong Myung-Soo wants the chairman's seat as soon as possible too, doesn't he? If I told him there was a way to remove your father immediately and make him chairman, I think he'd be more than willing to take my hand."

Hong Jin-Gyu shot to his feet and jabbed a finger at me. "You bastard... How dare you... speak of my father like that?"

He looked ready to summon the guards, throw open the twentieth-floor window, and toss me out himself. Nevertheless, I didn't even blink. I simply held his gaze. For several tense moments, neither of us moved.

Then Hong Jin-Gyu finally spoke, his voice trembling. "Gi-Seok, wait outside for a minute."

Gong Gi-Seok immediately protested. "Sir!"

"I said wait outside!"

"Sir! How can you trust Chief Jung like this?"

"Maybe not in everything. But I do trust one thing. He's the sworn enemy of the HK Entertainment run by Ah-Yoon. And now the King Talent Agent has come to me of his own accord. You expect me to let an opportunity like this slip away?"

Hearing the nickname spoken aloud made me inwardly cringe. Honestly, I would rather people called me Star Jung the Fortune Teller than King Talent Agent.

"So just wait outside!"

"Understood..."

Still wearing a suspicious look, Gong Gi-Seok picked up the half-finished plate of squid and left the office.

'Now then... time to reel in the big fish.'

***

As soon as Gong Gi-Seok was gone, I explained the first step of my plan.

"You're saying I need to become the largest shareholder of HK Distribution first?" asked Hong Jin-Gyu.

I nodded. "Yes. You need HK Distribution under your control before you can take HK Department Store. Once you have it, you'll also be able to cut off HK Entertainment's funding."

HK Distribution controlled the HK Department Store through a complicated web of ownership. It was also the company bankrolling HK Entertainment. Because the shareholding structure was so convoluted, only a handful of key figures within the HK Inc. knew about it.

The moment I mentioned it, Hong Jin-Gyu looked at me with genuine surprise. "So you know more than I expected, Chief Jung. You're right. I need HK Distribution before I can get my hands on HK Department Store and all that cash."

"Exactly."

"I know that. The problem is this. I own about 7% of HK Distribution. Ah-Yoon has 3%, and my mother owns 18%. The rest is tied up between my mother's white knights and foreign investors. It's a high-dividend stock, so nobody wants to sell. How am I supposed to become the largest shareholder?"

No matter how much money you had, you couldn't buy shares that no one was willing to sell. That was exactly why he was frustrated.

However, I smiled and advised him. "Tomorrow, spread a rumor that HK Distribution, just like HK Entertainment, has executives involved with drugs and that prosecutors are about to raid the company. The white knights will panic and dump their shares."

For a brief moment, hope flickered across Hong Jin-Gyu's face before he shook his head. "The white knights might sell... but my mother will just buy everything. She can't afford to lose control of HK Distribution. It's her slush fund company."

I answered as though I had been waiting for him to say exactly that. "What if something about Lady Noh Hyun-Hee is exposed at the same time?"

Hong Jin-Gyu's eyes widened. "Don't tell me you're suggesting we expose HK Distribution as my mother's slush fund company."

I nodded calmly. "Yes. If that becomes the story everyone focuses on, Lady Noh won't be able to make a move for a day or two. While she's tied up, buy as many shares as you possibly can."

A sinister smile spread across Hong Jin-Gyu's face as he stared at me. "So you're telling me that if I want the throne... I have to strike at my own mother first."

"Exactly."

"Chief Jung... you realize you've crossed a line, right?"

Though Hong Jin-Gyu was smiling, murderous intent seeped into his voice.

I remained perfectly calm. "Wasn't that what you intended from the beginning?"

"What?"

"You decided you wanted to become the king of the HK Inc. Were you really planning to stop short of this?"

Hong Jin-Gyu stared at me in silence for a long moment. Then, all at once, he burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! You really are something else. You're telling me to betray both my father and my mother. You really intend to turn me into the family's greatest traitor. Hahaha!" He laughed for quite a while before suddenly stopping. "Fine. If that's the only way to become chairman of HK... then I'll do it. Absolutely."

He nodded, as though making a solemn promise.

"All right. Tomorrow I'll acquire as much HK Distribution stock as I can. I'll push my stake up to 25%."

25% would be enough to establish himself as HK Distribution's largest shareholder.

I nodded. "That'll do."

"Good. Then you'd better leave now. My first priority tonight is convincing my father not to step in and help Ah-Yoon."

Hong Jin-Gyu had just promised to stop the HK Inc. chairman from protecting HK Entertainment.

"Understood. Then I'll go make preparations for tomorrow."

"For tomorrow?"

"Yes. Tomorrow, articles will break revealing that members of Black Soul tried to secretly drug their junior group, I.O.A. Once that story gets out, this entire scandal will explode."

Hong Jin-Gyu's grin slowly widened. "So you really did have every reason to be furious with my little sister. Fine. I'll hand HK Entertainment over to you as a sacrifice. In return, you hand HK Department Store to me."

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Then how about we shake on it?"

Hong Jin-Gyu held out his hand. Already wearing the smile of a man who believed HK Distribution was as good as his, he waited confidently.

I shook his hand. At the same time, I had to fight to keep myself from laughing. Because hidden inside the plan I'd laid out was one enormous trap that Hong Jin-Gyu hadn't even begun to notice.

***

Bang.

The moment Jung Yoon-Ho disappeared, Gong Gi-Seok hurried back into the president's office.

"Sir, what kind of proposal did he make?" asked Gong Gi-Seok.

The corners of Hong Jin-Gyu's lips curled upward. "Get everything ready. By tomorrow, I want every bit of my slush fund moved into HK Distribution."

"...Excuse me?"

"Tomorrow, the whole world is going to get noisy."

After Hong Jin-Gyu explained Jung Yoon-Ho's plan, Gong Gi-Seok urgently objected. "It's certainly a convincing plan, but we're nowhere near prepared to pull something like this off in a single day."

Legally acquiring that many shares required extensive preparation. There was no clean way to explain the source of the money. Hong Jin-Gyu, however, didn't hesitate for a second before ordering something illegal.

"Come on! We'll just use the slush funds I've got stashed away in the British Virgin Islands."

"If we do that, the other foreign investors could notice what's happening and jump in."

"We're finishing everything in one day! Who's going to find out?"

Gong Gi-Seok almost pleaded. "Sir, please don't be greedy. Let's focus on crushing HK Entertainment this time. Trying to swallow something as massive as HK Distribution could end in disaster."

"Hey. Listen here, Secretary Gong. Seizing an opportunity when it comes is a skill. You want to avoid every difficult or dirty method? With that attitude, I'll never become chairman of the HK Inc."

"But at least reconsider one more—"

"Enough! If you don't fucking like it, then stay out of it!" Hong Jin-Gyu then snatched up the intercom. "Send Secretary Team Lead Oh Sun-Hee from Team One up here immediately. Starting today, she's my chief secretary."

-Y-Yes... Understood.

After hanging up, he turned back to Gong Gi-Seok. "Go down to General Affairs right now. And you know what happens if today's conversation ever leaves this room."

Just like that, stripped of his position as chief secretary, Gong Gi-Seok let out a long sigh and lowered his head. "I'll never forget everything you've done for me. And I won't say a word."

With another respectful bow, Gong Gi-Seok slowly shuffled out of the office.

Click.

The moment the door closed behind him, Hong Jin-Gyu clenched his teeth.

"Damn it. This is when I really wish Ghost was here."

More than ever, he regretted not having Ghost—the stock manipulation genius secretly cultivated by the HK Inc. No one knew where she had disappeared to. With Ghost unavailable, he had no choice but to rely on Oh Sun-Hee, the secretary who had trained under her, to secure HK Distribution's shares the following day.

"Ah. First things first. I need to call Father."

He had promised Jung Yoon-Ho that he would stop Chairman Hong Moon-Gyu from intervening to save HK Entertainment, and he intended to keep that promise.

As soon as he placed the call, Hong Moon-Gyu answered.

-You little bastard! Why are you calling me instead of rushing over to help your sister?!

"Father, this isn't the time for that."

-What do you mean it isn't? Family helps family when times are hard!

Listening to his father's agitated voice, Hong Jin-Gyu answered calmly.

"Father... Mr. Chairman. I'm afraid saving HK Entertainment isn't possible anymore."

-What the hell are you talking about?

"I think Ah-Yoon was using drugs."

-...That crazy girl! Is that true?"

"I'm not completely certain, but there's a high chance it's true. I'll investigate further and report back. Until we know for sure, I think it'd be best if you and the rest of the family kept your distance. Otherwise, this could spread to the entire HK Inc."

To keep Hong Moon-Gyu from helping Hong Ah-Yoon, Hong Jin-Gyu lied without the slightest hesitation.

-I see... All right. Look into it and get back to me. I'll tell your older brother and your mother not to do anything until then.

"Yes, Mr. Chairman."

As he ended the call, a sinister smile slowly spread across Hong Jin-Gyu's face.

***

After leaving HK Chemical safely, I drove straight to the old house in Myeong-dong. Waiting there was the secret weapon I had been saving for this very day. That secret weapon was Ghost—the woman the HK Inc. had once kept under constant surveillance.

After rescuing Victoria from the HK Inc., she had been quietly accumulating shares of HK Distribution according to my instructions.

Fighting through the heavy Sunday evening traffic, I finally arrived at Myeong-dong. Chairman Choi Eun-Tae, Bank President Choi Yung-Ho, Kang Eun-Gi, Victoria, and Lee Doo-Oh all sat together waiting.

After greeting everyone, I turned directly to Victoria. "Tomorrow, HK Distribution is going to experience a major shake-up. That's when I want you to buy as many shares as possible. Noh Hyun-Hee won't be able to move, and President Hong Jin-Gyu will be buying shares with his slush funds after following my advice."

Victoria smiled brightly. "As long as shares become available, I can buy them faster than anyone. By the way, I've already accumulated around 10%. How much should I aim for?"

I grinned and answered, "The more, the better."

"So you want me to become HK Distribution's largest shareholder. Understood."

"Right. Just don't reveal yourself for a while. I want Hong Jin-Gyu to keep believing, for as long as possible, that he's the largest shareholder."

It was essential that Hong Jin-Gyu remain convinced he had successfully taken control of HK Distribution. Only then would he continue destabilizing the entire HK Inc. long after HK Entertainment had already fallen.

"I'll spread the purchases across several foreign investment firms, so don't worry. We can consolidate everything later when the time comes."

"Good. I'm counting on you."

At that moment, Choi Eun-Tae, who had been listening quietly, spoke up. "Yoon-Ho. Isn't HK Distribution not only the financial backer of HK Entertainment, but also the company that controls the HK Department Store?"

"That's right."

"From everything I've seen, you aren't planning to stop with HK Entertainment. Just how far are you intending to take this?"

I took a slow breath before answering, "As long as Chairman Hong Moon-Gyu remains in charge of the HK Inc., he'll never stop coming after me."

Choi Eun-Tae's eyes narrowed. "Don't tell me...You're aiming for the HK Inc. itself?"

"Not immediately, but I've already prepared to deal it a devastating blow. And President Hong Jin-Gyu is going to do most of the work for me."

Choi Eun-Tae fell silent for a moment before slowly nodding. "I see. Then I suppose I should start making my own preparations."

I had no idea what he intended to do, but I wasn't about to refuse any help. Taking on the HK Inc. required every ally I could get.

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman."

"You don't need to thank me for something like this. This is simply what should be done."

Choi Eun-Tae's unwavering support filled me with quiet gratitude.

Only one day remained until the collapse of HK Entertainment—the company that had tormented me for so long.

'Director Hong Ah-Yoon... just wait. This time, I'll make sure you're finished for good.'