» The Youngest Son of Sunyang
The Youngest Son of a Conglomerate - Chapter 262
Briefly Together 3
"You went to Gunsan?"
"Yes. I went to pay my respects to Grandfather."
"Just to pay your respects?"
"There was also something I needed to report. Well... it's not good news."
Chairman Lee Hakjae, who had been sitting in his chairman's chair, reviewing approval documents, abruptly rose and sat opposite me.
"Tell me."
"Pardon?"
"Tell me what that bad news is. Didn't you come here to confirm it?"
"Do I always need a reason to visit? I came to say hello and check in, among other things."
"You're not the type to idly wander around, merely exchanging greetings, unless the major shareholder has come to monitor the salaried chairman. Speak."
He was a remarkably straightforward person, making interactions surprisingly comfortable.
"You know I successfully thwarted the Sunyang Financial Group's board meeting, don't you?"
"Should I praise you for a job well done? If you want to hear it, I'll say it."
"Come on, why won't you let me get a word in?"
When I made a mock complaint, Chairman Lee Hakjae smiled faintly.
"Well done. Satisfied? Now tell me. What is it?"
Whenever I had difficult words to say, I'd end up talking more unnecessarily. I didn't know what he would think, but I opened my mouth with effort.
"It's about my grandmother."
"The Lady?"
"Yes. She keeps nagging my uncles to kick me out of Sunyang Group."
"The two vice-chairmen aren't obedient sons who listen well to their mother. Would they really do something like that just because she nags them?"
Although he spoke as if it were nothing, Chairman Lee Hakjae's expression was grim. He clearly knew something about my grandmother too.
"From what I've discovered, my grandmother possesses a weapon capable of swaying my uncles. Whether she has wielded it yet, or merely kept it hidden, I don't know."
"A weapon?"
"Yes."
"What is this weapon?"
"Money."
Lee Hakjae didn't seem particularly surprised. Did he already know?
"Money, you say... As the lady of the Sunyang Group household, it's natural she would have a lot of money. But not enough to use as a weapon. Her two sons, who hold significant affiliates in their hands, wouldn't be swayed by their mother's personal wealth alone."
"It might be more than you can imagine. No, it definitely is."
Now he seemed a little surprised. So, he didn't know anything after all.
"If you say it's 'more than one can imagine,' how much money are we talking about?"
"If I knew the exact amount, I would have told you."
"So it's just an uncertain guess?"
"That's why I'm trying to confirm it. How long has my grandmother been in charge of the Sunyang Arts Foundation?"
"Let's see... It was forcibly started with cultural policies and such when the new military regime came into power, so it's been over twenty years. Why do you ask?"
"And the money that flowed into the foundation for over twenty years?"
Chairman Lee Hakjae snorted and waved his hand.
"Oh, I thought it was something else. Surely you're not asking because you don't know? Of course, a tremendous amount of money went into the foundation. Donations were poured in for tax evasion purposes. But art foundations can't engage in profit-making activities. Well, they might have played some tricks through loopholes, but it would be negligible, wouldn't it? Money doesn't grow if you don't circulate it."
"No, that's not it. In fact, she engaged in enormous financial speculation. She collected not only domestic artworks and antiques but also world-renowned masterpieces. Why else would my grandmother be treated as a VIP at Sotheby's in London and Christie's in New York?"
"Artworks themselves have no value. They only become a weapon when you sell them and convert them into money."
"Exactly."
"What do you mean..."
As if he had finally grasped something, Chairman Lee Hakjae's mouth hung open, and he remained speechless for a while.
"Are you sure?"
His first words, after a long silence, were a re-confirmation.
"There's no evidence, but there are testimonies. Though, of course, they can't be used in court."
"Elaborate!"
Chairman Lee Hakjae's stern face made it seem as if I was speaking to my grandfather's chief of staff once more.
"The paintings displayed at Sunyang Gallery and the antiques in the Sunyang Art Museum are rotated three or four times a year. Of course, items of immense value are never revealed to the general public."
"Most of the artworks are in the foundation's storage vault."
"I even checked the inventory of the Sunyang Arts Foundation. These are artworks collected for over 20 years. Many pieces have seen their value multiply by tens, hundreds, or even thousands of times."
"If you checked the inventory, doesn't that mean she hasn't monetized them yet?"
"I only checked the inventory. I didn't see the physical items."
"They're gone? All sold off?"
"Probably."
"What?"
It was quite rare to see Chairman Lee Hakjae so utterly taken aback.
"Most of the artworks currently in the storage vault are highly likely to be fakes. Since major works aren't revealed anyway, they might not even be there. Among the inventory, Francis Meyer's 'Freud Portrait Triptych' would be among the most expensive, having been purchased for a whopping 90 billion won. Have you ever seen it?"
"I'm an art ignoramus."
"Me too. But the current value of this piece is 150 billion won."
"So, they're either completely gone or replaced with fakes? All the originals sold off?"
"It's almost certain. This came from the mouths of a smuggler involved in moving originals overseas and a forgery expert known as the 'Insadong Magician.' They directly made the forgeries, and later, articles appeared stating that the Sunyang Arts Foundation had purchased the authentic pieces."
Chairman Lee Hakjae's face was already utterly pale.
"In severe cases, they would buy genuine pieces overseas and bring in fakes instead. The originals would then be disposed of locally right away."
"Could this also be why the Lady stayed in Switzerland for so long?"
"Yes. She must have handled various matters there."
"Did Woo Byungjun investigate this?"
"Yes."
"If it's him, then it must be true."
Chairman Lee Hakjae leaned back against the sofa, let out a long sigh, and closed his mouth once more.
"I'm in the process of finding out what she did with the money acquired in this way. However, if it's hidden in chaemyeong accounts or buried in Myeongdong, it will be difficult to uncover."
He straightened up and stated decisively.
"Chaemyeong shares."
"Shares?"
"Yes. The Lady must have accumulated shares. Even if she spent lavishly, all her expenses would be covered by the affiliates, so she wouldn't be someone who actually *needed* money."
"In that case, we certainly can't just stand by and watch."
"What do you intend to do?"
"I've already spoken to Grandfather about it. I told him I would ensure my grandmother spends her twilight years in Switzerland. Of course, before that, I'll have to strip her of her wealth. She might become a future source of trouble otherwise."
Lee Hakjae shot me a chilling gaze.
"The Lady is your paternal grandmother. And no matter what anyone says, she is the Chairman's devoted wife. Do not commit an act against natural family bonds. You will incur divine retribution."
It's only right that villains eventually receive divine retribution and die. But I already received my divine retribution in advance.
I died with a bullet in my head. Anyone would see that as divine retribution.
Since I'm a villain who's already received divine retribution, there's no reason to fear it.
"I said I'd ensure she lives out her final years comfortably in a beautiful villa in Switzerland. At this point, I'm a more filial grandson than her own children."
* * *
When the private jet arrived at Kotakinabalu Airport, the presidents of the financial affiliates were visibly excited.
I gave everyone three days off to refresh the company atmosphere. I put them all on the private jet so they could enjoy golf to their heart's content and fully relax at the resort.
"Is it really okay for just us to play golf?"
Vice President Jang Dohyung said, seemingly embarrassed, yet his mouth was stretched wide in a huge grin.
"I'd rather not get involved where the old folks are playing. Haha."
I herded them into the resort and then met with Oh Sehyun.
"Co-voting rights with Vice-Chairman Jin Donggi?"
"Yes. Things will be quiet for a while."
"The money?"
"Uncle, please find it and launder it cleanly. Without leaving any trace."
"And I get to use it?"
"If you wish."
"I'm not joking. The resort is operating at a deficit. It's better than taking out loans to cover it, isn't it?"
"Do as you please. And things should improve once a direct flight route is established."
"Exert some influence to open up direct flights quickly. You've bribed plenty of people, haven't you? Use those connections this time."
Seeing Oh Sehyun's serious expression, I found it somewhat amusing.
The inescapable nature of business was revealing itself. Wasn't he someone who had no reason to worry about deficits? He simply needed to relax and manage things adequately, yet he couldn't tolerate the red numbers in the ledger.
"Understood. I'll do my best. In any case, let's quickly sort out the Labuan money first."
"But why did you drag all those people along? Shouldn't you come discreetly when handling slush funds?"
"It's a form of insurance."
"Insurance?"
"Yes. If, and I mean *if*, I ever find myself in a difficult situation because of the Labuan slush fund, I need an escape route."
"You... you cunning devil!"
Oh Sehyun shook his head in disbelief.
"You brought them here to make one of them the owner of the slush fund?"
"Not 'make' them; they will volunteer themselves as the owners of the slush fund. It's an alibi for that time."
"You've truly become a chaebol chairman now."
I whined towards Oh Sehyun, who was shaking his head.
"What can I do? There are more than a few people desperate to devour me, aren't there? I also need someone to act as a bulletproof vest."
He seemed a little angry, but also sympathetic. No, 'looked at me with pity' would be a more accurate description.
"Anyway, let's find the money quickly and then go to America together."
"America? Why? Do you have business at Miracle in New York?"
"Yes."
His pitiful gaze vanished instantly, replaced by the sharp, calculating eyes of an investor.
"Do you have a hunch? Or some good information? Where are you investing this time?"
"I thought I'd cultivate a refined hobby befitting a magnate, like art collecting. This time, I'm planning to acquire even a small gallery in New York."
"What? Art?"
Oh Sehyun couldn't hold back his burst of laughter.
It was only after laughing for a long time, even shedding tears, that he could finally speak.
"Collecting artworks for financial gain isn't something just anyone can do. You need genuine discernment. I've seen many parvenus lose money buying worthless paintings after being conned by galleries."
"I'll only be buying famous artworks. I've already even made a list. If I offer a premium, they'll happily sell them."
"Stop talking nonsense. People who own famous paintings rarely sell them. Those guys are overflowing with money. They bought art because they had money to spare, so if you offer a premium, you'll just be met with scorn."
"The owner of the items on my collection list is different. She is desperate for cash. She's someone who prefers Sunyang Group shares over paintings."
At the mention of Sunyang shares, the amusement completely vanished from his face.
"What? Who exactly are you talking about?"
"My grandmother."
I offered a bitter smile.
* * *
"Good heavens, why is that family always such a mess? It's like they've all gone mad for shares."
"Indeed. We deserve all the insults we get. I'm one of them, after all."
"Oh, for crying out loud. You're quite something, kid."
After hearing the entire story about my grandmother, Oh Sehyun merely sighed deeply, utterly dumbfounded.
"So? Does Yoonki know this fact?"
"No. I haven't told him. I can't let my father accumulate any more ill will towards my grandmother."
"This matter, even a slight slip-up could be fatal. You're exposing the flaws of the eldest elder in the family... If your grandmother's name gets out, it will not only disgrace the family but also tarnish Sunyang's reputation."
"The name Sunyang is already as dirty as it can get, to the point where everyone points fingers at it. I'm not afraid of a little more dust settling on a signboard already plunged into mud."
"Alright. Then let's handle the Labuan slush fund and head straight to America. It's been a while since I've seen those folks over there."
Oh Sehyun made several calls and, for the first time in a long while, looked at a computer monitor.
The money from Labuan, while changing banks and locations, would retain its identity as a slush fund, circulate through various parts of the world, and eventually land in my pocket.