The large Mercedes sedan carrying Seok-won passed through the entrance security checkpoint and drove straight into the underground parking garage.
The spacious and brightly lit parking area was nearly empty, with only a few scattered vehicles.
As the car smoothly came to a stop, a woman in her late twenties, dressed in a tailored two-piece suit, stepped forward and bowed slightly.
She had a refined and elegant appearance—Kim Ye-rin, the personal secretary of Jo Deok-rye.
She promptly opened the car door for Seok-won. Stretching out his long legs as he stepped out, he was the first to speak.
"Where is my mother?"
"She's waiting on the seventh floor. The elevator is this way—please follow me."
Nodding slightly, Seok-won followed behind Kim Ye-rin as she led the way.
After passing through a glass door that required a security card to open, they entered a corridor lined with natural marble. They stepped into an elevator that had just arrived.
Kim Ye-rin tapped her security card against a panel before pressing the button for the seventh floor.
Seeing that even the elevator required a key card, Seok-won noted the building's heightened security measures.
When they reached the seventh floor and stepped out, they were met with a spacious, rectangular foyer and a heavy steel entrance door.
Although there were two units per floor, a dividing wall in the middle ensured complete privacy. Each unit even had its own designated elevator, meaning residents effectively had exclusive use of the hallway.
"Please, go ahead."
Kim Ye-rin gestured toward the open front door.
Stepping inside, Seok-won was first greeted by an expansive living room with a lofty coffered ceiling adorned with an expensive crystal chandelier.
Through the large windows at the far end, the cityscape stretched out in one direction, while in the distance, the snow-covered slopes of Umyeon Mountain came into view.
"You're here."
Jo Deok-rye, who had been chatting with a woman who appeared to be in her early thirties and carrying a Gucci handbag—one that Seok-won had gifted her not long ago—smiled warmly as she glanced his way.
"Why are we here?"
Approaching her, Seok-won asked with evident curiosity.
"What do you think of this place?"
"It looks like a well-designed luxury building. I noticed some landscaping work being done on the way in. Is it newly constructed?"
At that moment, the woman standing beside Jo Deok-rye smoothly interjected with a pleasant smile.
"Yes, sir. As you can see, construction is complete, and they're just finishing the final touches. Once the approval for occupancy is issued next month, residents can start moving in right away."
"Director Lee, could you go over the details again now that my son is here?"
"Of course, ma'am."
Director Lee gestured toward the panoramic view outside the living room windows.
"This location is truly exceptional. The Seocho Neighborhood Park in the back surrounds the property like a private garden, while Umyeon Mountain stretches out beautifully in the front. It's considered a prime feng shui site—so much so that the construction company paid a hefty sum just to acquire this land."
"If you're going to live somewhere, it might as well be in a good location."
"Oh, absolutely, ma'am. The land you live on is incredibly important."
As she moved from the window across the living room, Director Lee kept up her enthusiastic pitch.
"Because the unit faces south, it gets excellent natural light throughout the day. And as you may have noticed, there's only one entrance leading into the villa complex, which ensures a high level of privacy for the residents.
Additionally, the elevators require either a fingerprint scan or a security card to operate, making it difficult for outsiders to enter. Plus, once registered, the system automatically sends the elevator to your floor without the need to press any buttons, adding an extra layer of convenience."
"The security detail—it's handled by an independent firm, correct?"
"Yes. You've heard of A-One, the largest private security firm in the country, right? We have a contract with them, and in case of an emergency, they'll arrive within five minutes—guaranteed."
"Hmm… I see. If it's them, I can trust it."
"Now, regarding the interior specifications—this unit has a total area of 146 pyeong (approximately 483 square meters). It consists of six bedrooms, including the master suite, and three bathrooms. Each unit comes with four parking spaces, so you'll have plenty of room.
Every bedroom is spacious, but the master suite, in particular, is designed for ultimate comfort. It includes two separate sleeping areas, a powder room, a bathroom, and a walk-in closet. Whether a couple shares it or you use it alone, there's more than enough space to feel completely at ease."
The master suite, which Seok-won examined as he listened, was as spacious as an entire 33-pyeong (approximately 109 square meters) apartment.
Director Lee slid open a set of doors to reveal the walk-in closet, spreading her arms wide as she spoke.
"The closet, located between the two sleeping areas, can hold up to 500 outfits. Impressive, right?"
True to her words, the walk-in closet was larger than the living room of an average apartment. The entire space was finished with high-end hardwood, exuding luxury.
Built-in wardrobes and hanging racks lined the walls, while a large glass-topped island storage unit stood at the center, making the room feel more like an upscale boutique than a simple closet.
As they left the master suite and moved toward the kitchen, Director Lee's enthusiastic explanations continued.
"All built-in appliances are from top-tier German brands. And take a look at this dining table—it's spacious enough for a large family to dine together comfortably.
Over here is the utility and laundry room, and to the left, there's a separate maid's quarters for household staff."
That made sense—anyone living in a home of this caliber would naturally have live-in staff, making such an addition a necessary feature.
"There are a total of nine air conditioning units installed, with the option to add more if desired.
In the basement, residents have access to a 250-pyeong (approximately 827-square-meter) fitness center and sauna.
Each unit is also equipped with ten telephone lines and the latest fiber-optic internet connections—something younger residents particularly appreciate."
"Internet, huh? I've heard young people these days can't live without it. That includes you, I assume?"
"Well, I need it for work."
Despite the lengthy explanations, Seok-won and Jo Deok-rye remained engaged as they explored the residence.
"The exterior is finished with high-quality stone, giving it both durability and a refined appearance. And as you can see, every material used in the interior is top-of-the-line, all imported from premium brands."
After completing the tour and returning to the living room, Jo Deok-rye turned to Seok-won and asked,
"So, what do you think?"
"It seems like a solid choice."
The Seocho Kaiser Castle Phase 2 was already known as one of the most prestigious villa complexes, home to chaebol families and celebrities even before Seok-won's regression.
'Later, when they build Kaiser Castle Phase 5, even Kwak Dong-hoon, the chairman of Saseong Group, bought a unit as a secondary residence—it became quite the topic back then.'
With amenities like these, it made sense why someone of Kwak Dong-hoon's stature would keep one as a luxury retreat.
"But why are you looking at this place?"
"Why else? I'm planning to buy it."
Seok-won turned to his mother with a puzzled look.
Seeing his expression, Jo Deok-rye chuckled and patted his back.
"Your father says it's time for you to vacate the second floor."
"He wants me to move out?"
"That's right."
"I was hoping to live with my parents a little longer before getting married… This feels a bit sudden."
"Oh? Is that so?"
For a brief moment, Jo Deok-rye's eyes sparkled with anticipation, but she quickly suppressed her emotions.
"No, no. It's time for you to move out and live on your own."
Shaking off any lingering attachment, she looked at Seok-won and asked again.
"I really like this place. If you do too, we'll finalize the contract right away."
"Hold on a second. How much is the asking price?"
At this, Director Lee, who had been observing the conversation quietly, immediately responded.
"1.8 billion won."
A luxury villa in Gangnam for 1.8 billion won? At first, it sounded like a steal.
However, considering that a 34-pyeong (approximately 112 square meters) Eunma Apartment in Daechi-dong was going for 200 million won and a 35-pyeong (approximately 115 square meters) Hyundai Apartment in Apgujeong was priced at 230 million won at the time, this was a figure completely out of reach for the average person.
'Looking at this, the real estate price inflation over the next 20 to 30 years was absolutely insane.'
No wonder Koreans were so obsessed with property ownership.
Standing in the living room, Seok-won glanced around the space once more before nodding.
"I like it. It seems perfect for living alone."
"Then let's go with this one."
Jo Deok-rye gestured toward Director Lee.
"Let's proceed with the contract."
"Yes! A great decision. If you'll follow me to the office, we'll take care of the paperwork…."
Following Director Lee's lead, Jo Deok-rye started walking.
Seok-won took one last look at his soon-to-be new home before turning to follow the two.
* * *
Seongbuk-dong, Seoul
A man in a black coat, Woo Ho-geun, stepped through the entrance.
The housekeeper, standing nearby, bowed respectfully.
"Welcome home, young master."
Without acknowledging the greeting, Woo Ho-geun spoke in a blunt, emotionless tone.
"Where's my father?"
"He's waiting for you in the study."
Without another word, Woo Ho-geun shrugged off his coat and draped it over the living room sofa before heading straight for the study.
Standing in front of the solid wood door, he knocked.
From inside, a deep and authoritative voice answered.
"Come in."
Inside the elegantly decorated study, Chairman Woo Yong-gap sat alone on a sofa.
Turning his head slightly, he glanced at his son and gestured toward the empty seat across from him.
"Sit down."
"Yes, sir."
As Woo Ho-geun settled onto the empty sofa to the right, a brief silence filled the space between father and son.
Chairman Woo Yong-gap, who had been quietly observing his son, finally broke the silence.
"Is everything progressing smoothly?"
Woo Ho-geun lifted his gaze and responded.
"Yes. I've already spoken with Douglas Hurd, the Vice President of Peregrine Securities in Hong Kong. He has agreed to actively support our hostile takeover."
"A mere verbal promise can be broken at any time, depending on the circumstances."
Chairman Woo Yong-gap's tone remained strict and skeptical. However, Woo Ho-geun calmly reassured him.
"In exchange for their assistance with the M&A, we agreed to pay 10% interest on their investment for five years. After that, they can sell their stake with a 30% premium. And if the stock price drops, they have a call option that allows them to sell their shares to us at 50% above their purchase price. There's no reason for them to betray us."
Woo Yong-gap considered this for a moment before nodding slightly.
"It seems like you offered them quite a bit, but that's the price needed to get those Westerners to move."
"Coincidentally, the Ministry of Finance has announced plans to raise the foreign stock investment limit to 18%, which puts us in an even more advantageous position."
A smirk formed on Woo Yong-gap's lips as he leaned back into the sofa.
"It's almost as if the heavens themselves are helping us swallow up Daehung Group."
Then, his voice turned serious.
"When will we begin making our move?"
"We've already started quietly accumulating shares in Mido Department Store. Once the Peregrine funds come in and the new investment cap is lifted in April, we'll launch an aggressive buying campaign."
Woo Yong-gap had already heard the rough outline of the plan from his trusted secretary, Jeon Hae-cheol, so he remained silent, simply studying his son's expression.
"Are you confident you can pull this off?"
"Of course. Before long, not only Mido Department Store but the entire Daehung Group will be yours."
Radiating unwavering confidence, Woo Ho-geun exuded the belief that his plan was flawless.
Satisfied, Woo Yong-gap nodded. Then, he reached for a thick envelope sitting beside him and placed it on the table.
"Take this."
Woo Ho-geun picked up the envelope and opened it. A bundle of unregistered bearer bonds, each worth one hundred million won, slipped into view.
"This is…"
It was slush money—funds that had been entrusted to Woo Yong-gap by his in-law, former President Noh Gi-hoon.
"500 billion won. The rest will be gathered from the group's liquid assets by Secretary Jeon."
"Understood."
Woo Ho-geun carefully placed the bonds back into the envelope, suppressing the excitement rising within him.
"Now that we've started, make sure Chairman Park bows down completely and hand over Daehung Group."
"Yes. I'll see to it personally."
His response was firm, his eyes gleaming with ruthless ambition.