» The Youngest Son of Sunyang
Reborn Rich - Chapter 260
[260] A Short Time Together 1
Vice Chairman Jin Donggi began to look at my faint smile with clear disapproval.
"I underestimated my eldest uncle's ambition. I now realize it's a more reliable place than the media or the prosecution."
"It must be regrettable that you have no more cards to play. Stop the pointless talk and tell me what you want?"
"The two of you joined hands to drive me out, but the grip of your clasped hands is weak, and isn't there a knife in your other hand? I want to render that knife useless, the one that can stab me at any moment. Because the tip of that knife could still be pointed at me, anytime, in any way."
"Your rambling is too long. Get to the point."
"For a while... no, for quite a long time, how about we work together to block my eldest uncle's knife?"
"Join hands with you?"
"Yes."
Vice Chairman Jin Donggi's expression changed. He clearly thought it was an absurd proposal.
"Why would I hold your hand? Wouldn't that just mean I'm raising you?"
"Your stake is 26%, my stake is 10%. Combined, that's 36%. It's the same as my eldest uncle's stake. It means the group will view us both equally."
His expression changed again; this time, he thought it was a welcome proposal.
"That's not bad. Since you won't transfer your shares, are you suggesting you'll delegate your voting rights? If you do that, I'll protect you. You'll never be kicked out of the group."
"Just a few days ago, you were trying to drive me out. If I believed that promise now, I'd be a fool. That's a premature misunderstanding."
"Then?"
"Joint voting rights of 36%."
"What?"
My uncle's face turned crimson.
"Joint voting rights? Are you being serious? Even if it were the same percentage, it would be unthinkable, but with a stake barely half of that? Is that even a reasonable thing to say?"
"I know it sounds like an absurd demand under normal circumstances, but isn't the situation different now? And isn't the stake our family holds purely for the purpose of defending management rights anyway? I haven't interfered with your management, nor do I intend to. My sole purpose is to prevent the two of you from joining hands again and attempting to drive me out."
"Silence!"
"Calm down and think rationally. This isn't about losing your 26%, but gaining the power of my 10% stake. Of course, I also gain 26% of the power to defend management rights. Just because I benefit more doesn't mean you're losing out. Let's call it a win-win."
Vice Chairman Jin Donggi now had to overcome the petty nature of man.
Just because someone else gains more than me doesn't mean what I gain disappears. But those who have only learned how to crush those who have more or are ahead, rather than learning to run hand-in-hand, consider it a loss to pull along someone who is trailing behind.
It would be an absolute impossibility for Vice Chairman Jin Younggi, but Vice Chairman Jin Donggi, who prioritizes rational judgment even a little, might be able to overcome his petty nature.
And he would surely factor in that this is not the time to be making grand declarations.
"Consider Miracle Investment's stake as well. Even if their shares have been diluted, they still hold over 20%. And that 20% can always side with me. Then, the total shares would easily exceed a majority. Even if my eldest uncle used every means at his disposal, he would never be able to take control of the group."
Vice Chairman Jin Donggi's eyes changed.
Because he realized that he was the weakest one right now. The external stakes might be considered bystanders, but Miracle Investment is different.
"As long as CEO Oh Sehyun, my father, and I are here, Miracle Investment represents a definite friendly stake for us. Keep in mind that my 10% stake holds that meaning too."
It might be faster to threaten him with the slush fund instead of explaining at length, but an agreement extorted through threats won't last long.
Now, my uncle's stake must also be transformed into a lasting friendly stake.
After a long thought, Vice Chairman Jin Donggi opened his mouth.
"As you say, our three stakes would constitute a majority. How about you use Miracle Investment's shares to elevate me to chairman? Then I'll make you the sole vice chairman. You wouldn't have to tremble in insecurity anymore, would you?"
It was sweet talk, but since our thoughts differed, it was a meaningless whisper.
"CEO Oh Sehyun knows what you would do first if you became chairman. You would dilute Miracle Investment's shares through a major restructuring of affiliates. And, of course, that would include my shares. Both CEO Oh and I are perceptive enough to realize that."
He clearly said it just now, already knowing everything. He didn't press or force it anymore.
"You could tie my hands and feet with joint voting rights. If you give up your voting rights, I'd have to give mine up too."
"I could be tied up in the same way. In such a situation, I would transfer my shares to my parents. Then the joint voting rights would be nullified. You should do the same, uncle. You're going to pass them on to your son anyway, aren't you?"
Considering the worst-case scenario is proof that he's more than halfway convinced. It's time to throw the final bait.
"I will withdraw the 100 billion won from the slush fund in Labuan. Then there will be no more need to threaten you with the slush fund. I'd be implicated too, after all."
"You'd cover yourself in my dust too?"
"Wouldn't that make the word 'joint' more fitting?"
"If I refuse your proposal, will you hand over the slush fund data to my elder brother?" Ra.nOB(ЕS
"I'm not that kind of thug. I've already told you. If you just thwart the board meeting, I won't hand over the data. But you'll always be uneasy knowing that I hold a powerful weapon with a three-year statute of limitations."
Vice Chairman Jin Donggi pressed the intercom.
"Have the entire legal team come in."
My uncle, with a noticeably softer expression, spoke.
"I'll review it and contact you today. Ah, the review will be a positive one. You may leave."
I realized this was a summons to instruct the legal team to draft a joint voting rights agreement with the threatening elements removed.
"Then I'll await your call. Please forgive my impertinent remarks. I'm just trying to survive."
"I no longer think of you as my nephew. To me, you are not a nephew but merely a holder of Sunyang's management rights. So there's no need to try and act so politely."
As I bowed my head and was about to quietly leave, he made an unexpected remark.
"If you had joined hands with my elder brother, you could have driven me out. In return, you would have received a few affiliates. Why did you refuse?"
"My goal is to protect what my grandfather gave me. I have no ambition to receive a few more affiliates. And I've never particularly liked my eldest uncle anyway."
"You plan to swallow it whole, so crumbs won't satisfy you. That's enough."
My uncle waved his hand dismissively and turned his back.
* * *
Jin Donggi took a deep breath and opened the door to Vice Chairman Jin Younggi's office.
"Is the Vice Chairman in?"
The female secretary at the desk startled and stood up.
"Ah, yes, Vice Chairman. He's preparing for the board meeting..."
"No one else is here, right?"
Jin Donggi entered without waiting for the secretary to finish her sentence.
"Oh? What brings you here? We're about to see each other at the board meeting, aren't we?"
Jin Younggi began to feel unsettled. His younger brother's expression was unusual.
"Because the agenda for the board meeting will change, neither you nor I need to go."
"What are you talking about, suddenly?"
"The issue of personnel changes for the directors remains, but Dojun will make the final decision. It's exactly as Father wished."
"Hey!"
"If you hadn't only thought about backstabbing me, we would have replaced the executives as we agreed. But I just can't bring myself to work with someone who's always trying to cut me out."
Jin Younggi surmised what had happened.
"Dojun said that? That I backstabbed you?"
"Don't play innocent. Oh, I'm not resentful or angry. If it were me, I wouldn't have wanted to miss such a golden opportunity. It's only natural. I was foolish to expose my weakness."
Jin Younggi threw the board meeting documents he held in his hand.
"You idiot! And you threw away the chance to oust Dojun too? Are you out of your mind? How will you face Mother?"
"It's nothing new, considering we're not filial sons who dote on Mother anyway... In any case, don't touch the financial group."
Jin Younggi shouted at his younger brother.
"You foolish idiot! It's not too late! Change your mind now. I can give you Sunyang Life Insurance."
"Stop it. Dojun's stake and my stake. Plus Miracle Investment's stake, combined, exceed half of the group's controlling shares. If push comes to shove, me becoming chairman and ousting you isn't an empty dream. Don't provoke Dojun anymore."
Jin Younggi, who had been shouting fiercely just moments ago, turned pale.
The thought of being pushed out of the group had never crossed his mind, not even for a second.
There are many external stakes in the group. Public corporations, banks, foreign capital, and so on.
But they don't interfere with internal group matters at all. They just invest their money, thinking it's a safe place, or they aim for capital gains from stock trading. Or they hold it as collateral.
Miracle Investment's shares had slipped away due to Father's rash judgment, and they had been considered friendly shares to the group.
To think that Miracle Investment would become the actual power of his younger brother and nephew.
Jin Donggi chuckled faintly at his elder brother's expression and left.
As Jin Younggi remained alone, staring blankly for a long time, Chief of Staff Hyeok Baek knocked on the door.
"Vice Chairman. The board meeting time is approaching. Please let me know if there's anything special I need to prepare."
He spoke very carefully due to the Vice Chairman's unusual expression, but what came back was a slap.
Smack!
He tried to rub his stinging cheek but couldn't break his rigid posture.
Because Vice Chairman Jin Younggi's hand kept flying at him.
"You incompetent bastard! What good are you, anyway?!"
* * *
"Are they all gathered?"
"Yes. Everyone will be surprised when you enter, Director Jin."
Vice President Jang Dohyung's face was bright, as if he was savoring the feeling of victory.
"I apologize for saying this, as I could do nothing but watch, but you've truly gone through a lot of hardship."
I spoke to him, who had bowed his head.
"I will not hear 'I'm sorry' a second time. You understand what I mean, don't you?"
He must understand that if such a thing happens again, he will have to leave Sunyang.
"That won't happen, Director Jin."
"Let's go. The old folks must be waiting eagerly."
We walked towards the large conference room.
As I opened the door to the large conference room and entered, the old folks' expressions changed dramatically.
How could they not know the situation had changed, after years of being keenly aware of others' moods?
I strode confidently to the head seat that had been left empty and settled myself into it.
The face of the person sitting right beside me was already utterly pale.
"President Uchan Yang. It's been a long time."
When I gave President Yang a slight smile, he closed his eyes.
I spoke to Vice President Jang Dohyung, who was sitting next to me.
"Vice President Jang Dohyung. Reprimand all security staff who allowed unauthorized outsiders onto the executive floor. Since when did Sunyang Group turn into a rural marketplace where anyone and everyone can wander in?"
"My apologies, Director Jin. I will take immediate action."
I spoke to President Yang again.
"What are you doing? Wouldn't it be embarrassing to be dragged out by security? You still seem to have enough strength to walk on your own, don't you?"
President Uchan Yang dragged his trembling legs and left the conference room. And I could feel everyone else who remained trembling as well.