Chapter 7: Shall We Look for a Left Arm Too?
“Chairman, simply give the order.”
Ah… seeing how dependable Manager Kim is, I feel truly reassured.
Mother and Seyong are family bound by blood, so they are naturally on my side, but since they still firmly trust I Seong-ho, I can’t openly lay out plans to seize control of the company with them.
I’ve finally gained an ally with whom I can share my true heart. Only now have I fitted the first and most important piece of the puzzle.
“As you know, there’s something the group chairman’s right-hand man must know. I’m talking about the slush fund.”
“The slush fund? Isn’t that managed by President I Seong-ho?”
At first, I thought so too, but—whether it was misfortune or fortune—it wasn’t.
If I Seong-ho had been managing it, he wouldn’t have been able to embezzle it with Mother and me keeping watch, but in exchange, it would have been difficult for me to use that money as I pleased.
I’d have to be mindful of Mother, who firmly trusts I Seong-ho, and also of I Seong-ho, who holds full authority over the group and is eagerly waiting for a chance to spend the money.
Mother loves me dearly, but she still sees me as a child. In the eyes of every mother in the world, a twenty-three-year-old son who hasn’t even married must look like nothing more than a child, right?
If I said I’d spend hundreds of billions of won in slush funds however I wanted, she would definitely give me an earful, asking if I intended to ruin the company.
How wasteful would it be to let three hundred million dollars sit idle? A great opportunity to sweep up everything is coming in 2008—I have to grow that money and use it as seed capital to expand the company until then!
But right now, even I Seong-ho has no way to find the slush fund, so if I just find it, I can use all of it as I please.
Without Mother or I Seong-ho knowing, it will become the best seed money for a future meant only for me.
It’s even in dollars, so no currency exchange is needed. Exchanging currency to invest in the US isn’t easy either, so it seems more fortunate than unfortunate that I Seong-ho doesn’t have the slush fund.
Of course, this is contingent on the most important prerequisite: finding the slush fund first.
Please let my guess be right that there’s a safe deposit box somewhere… If my guess is wrong, I’ll have no choice but to watch I Seong-ho 24/7 for years until he gets his hands on the slush fund like he did before the regression.
Surely it won’t come to such a worst-case scenario, right?
“Father managed it personally before he passed, so even President I Seong-ho doesn’t know about it. Actually, since Father couldn’t leave a will, I don’t know the exact details either, but I have a hunch.
Manager, please inquire at local agricultural cooperatives, local Saemaeul Geumgo credit unions, local livestock cooperatives, and local fisheries cooperatives—not the big commercial banks. I’m certain there’s a safe deposit box left by Father among the places with lax central association control.
Father probably visited it secretly at least once a year, without even President I Seong-ho knowing. Please focus on this. I am the legitimate heir. Once we find where it is, the safe deposit box will be mine. I’ll write you a power of attorney tomorrow.”
“Yes, leave it to me. I’ll handle it thoroughly by any means necessary.”
For Manager Kim to move while avoiding I Seong-ho’s eyes, he’ll eventually have to move alone. He’ll need a lot of money, won’t he?
I took a card out of my wallet and handed it to Manager Kim.
“You’ll need a lot of expenses for this kind of work. This is my personal funds, so feel free to use it. There’s one billion won inside. The PIN is 5945. I know you’re busy, but this is truly very important to me, so I’m counting on you.”
Upon receiving one billion won in operating funds, Manager Kim Yun-sik’s face showed a clearly tense expression, as if he was realizing that this was a real, proper first mission and that it wouldn’t be easy.
I believe in your abilities~ Fighting!
“Also, please liquidate all the real estate I inherited as quickly as possible, and take out loans to the full extent possible using my shares as collateral. Please pass it off externally as payment of inheritance tax. Of course, the inheritance tax will naturally be processed in installments. Set up a securities account first, and once the funding issues are resolved, put everything into the securities account except for the first year’s inheritance tax and a reserve fund of ten billion won.”
“Yes, I understand. I’ll handle that immediately as well.”
Even though he must know I mean to invest all that money—amounting to several hundred billion of won—into stocks, Manager Kim Yun-sik simply responded calmly that he understood without a single objection.
He was now showing through his actions that he trusted me completely and that he was merely my limb.
Now I had finally taken the first step. The road ahead would be long and treacherous, but infinite glory awaited at its end.
Since I’ve secured my right arm, it’s time to find my left arm. Before the regression, Manager Kim Yun-sik was the only person I trusted completely, but from the moment I realized I had regressed, there was something I had desperately wanted to find out.
“Manager, there should be someone at our company named Yu Il-ho. I’m not sure of his age, but probably around fifty? Please look into him.”
“A Yu Il-ho around fifty… If there’s no one else with the same name in the company, it’s probably the person I know.”
“You know him?”
“Yes, he’s a veteran who has been with the company for over thirty years. He currently works as a skilled team leader in the power equipment production team. Actually, he’s famous as a master craftsman in the epoxy insulation process, which is how I know him. As a member of the management strategy team, I have to constantly monitor the company’s strengths, weaknesses, and key personnel.”
Ah… so he was a skilled team leader.
“He’s also an excellent person in character. When I was an assistant manager, I stopped by the factory to learn the business, and that’s how we became acquainted. He gave me a stern lesson and plenty of advice when I was an inflexible and arrogant headquarters assistant manager. After that, we occasionally have drinks together.”
Wow… I really didn’t know this. So Manager Kim and Yu Il-ho were acquainted?
Actually, I’m almost certain that the reason I regressed is the Mannpasikjeok that Yu Il-ho gave me.
When I first received it, I thought, “A Mannpasikjeok? In this world?” I only accepted it out of respect for the person giving me the heirloom, but once I actually regressed, I couldn’t help but believe that flute was the Mannpasikjeok. I mean, it’s not like I didn’t regress—I regressed with my own body. How could I doubt it?
Before losing consciousness while drunk, I had clearly heard a beautiful yet sorrowful flute melody.
Since it happened only a few hours ago by the simple passage of time, there’s no way I could be mistaken about it.
I have to meet Yu Il-ho and confirm it.
What exactly is the true nature of that flute? And perhaps… whether it can be used again.
Of course, I absolutely don’t mean to covet the flute of Yu Il-ho, who is essentially my benefactor, but if it can be used again, I would want to have it at any cost, even if I have to compensate him handsomely.
But thinking about it, if Yu Il-ho knew it was really the Mannpasikjeok, he probably would have used it himself. Then he wouldn’t be living such an ordinary life as he is now, right? How many things could he do using knowledge of the future? Does he not know the flute’s power?
“I must meet Team Leader Yu Il-ho. As soon as possible, please.”
“Then I’ll contact him, so let’s have a drink together today. I’ll begin the tasks you ordered starting tomorrow.”
Manager Kim Yun-sik immediately took out his phone and called someone.
[Hyung-nim, it’s Yun-sik. It’s been a while.]
[#$#%#]
[Yes, the thing is, there’s someone who wants to meet you. Sorry, but would it be alright to have a glass of soju right now?]
[@#@$%]
[Ah, yes yes. Hyung-nim, thank you for taking my sudden call. Then I’ll see you there at 10 o’clock.]
After finishing the call, Manager Kim Yun-sik cautiously spoke.
“I took the liberty of suggesting soju. Is that alright? If you don’t like soju……”
“Haha, Manager, do you think I’m someone who only drinks whiskey in expensive rooms or wine in elegant restaurants? You don’t know how strict my father was when he was alive. Even though I’m a third-generation chaebol, my monthly allowance was only a hundred thousand won, and I’ve never flown business or first class on a plane even once. I’m someone who worked as a tutor to earn pocket money during university. Soju? I love it.”
Manager Kim, I’m telling you, I’m not your ordinary third-generation chaebol.
My father was a second-generation chaebol but extremely frugal. Not in a showy way, but truly so. He spared no expense only on education, but was a real penny-pincher about everything else. Things had to be pretty bad for a so-called third-generation chaebol like me to start trading stocks to make money.
“Ah, I see. There’s a grilled pork skin restaurant about thirty minutes from here that I frequent. Their samgyeopsal and pork rinds are truly superb. We agreed to meet at 10 o’clock, so I think we can take our time getting there.”
Today is going to be a very long day. To think that not even a full day has passed since I regressed……
Still, thinking that I’ll finally meet Team Leader Yu Il-ho makes me excited.
* * *
The grilled pork skin restaurant I entered under Manager Kim Yun-sik’s guidance was a so-called old eatery that looked aged at a glance. According to Manager Kim Yun-sik, it shared almost the same history as Korea Electric Wire……
Inside the smoke-filled shop, office workers with loosened ties gathered in groups of threes and fives, tipping back their glasses.
“Oh my~ Manager Kim, it’s been a while since you’ve come?”
An elderly proprietor greeted Manager Kim Yun-sik warmly. He must really be a regular.
“Owner, have you been well? I’ve been too busy to find the time.”
“I thought you’d found another place since you never come, hehe. But are you buying drinks for a new recruit? It’s Monday, so feed him moderately, moderately. If he gets blackout drunk, I’m not selling more liquor, okay?”
“Don’t worry. We’ll drink in moderation. Team Leader Yu will also be coming later.”
“Team Leader Yu always stops at exactly half a bottle, hehe.”
Guided by the owner, we moved to the most secluded corner table.
“Three servings of samgyeopsal and two servings of pork rinds first, and one bottle of soju. When Team Leader Yu arrives, please guide him over.”
“Sure, I’ll make it tasty.”
As we sat down and Manager Kim poured water and set the utensils, I casually asked,
“Is there anything unusual about Team Leader Yu?”
“Honestly, I don’t know why you’re looking for Team Leader Yu, Chairman. I don’t think it’s my place to be curious. However, Team Leader Yu is kind and capable but ordinary. He’s just an introvert and very family-oriented. From what I’ve heard, he enjoyed drinking very much and loved meeting people when he was young, so he was a bit neglectful of his family, but after his wife suffered a serious illness and narrowly recovered, he felt sorry toward her and decided to be devoted to his family. Personally, he only occasionally has drinks like this. He doesn’t drink much—just one bottle of soju for two people, and then he gets up to leave.”
Could there really have been nothing unusual about someone who possessed that marvelous flute that sends people to the past? It didn’t seem like he would be living an ordinary life……
Soon the meat arrived, and just as Manager Kim was placing it on the grill, Team Leader Yu Il-ho finally arrived.
He was younger than the face in my memory, but it was definitely him. That’s the man!
“Oh, Yun-sik, at this rate I’ll forget your face. Let’s see each other more often. Haha.”
“Hyung-nim, I’m sorry. I’m really not exaggerating—I’ve been so busy lately I haven’t had a moment to rest.”
“You’re being dramatic… Everyone goes through hardships when they’re young. But is this the person who wanted to see me? Hello? I’m Yu Il-ho.”
Team Leader Yu Il-ho extended his hand for a handshake with a curious look in his eyes.
“Nice to meet you, Team Leader. I’m Im Se-ho. The eldest son of the late Chairman Im Il-u.”
“What? Chairman Im’s eldest son? No, why would someone like you…?”
Having had no idea that the company’s new owner would suddenly appear and ask to meet him, Team Leader Yu Il-ho looked at Manager Kim Yun-sik with surprised eyes, and when Manager Kim silently nodded, he was so startled that he fumbled into his seat.
“There are many eyes here, so please compose yourself.”
I Seong-ho, who likes to be lofty and only drinks whiskey and wine, wouldn’t come to such a shabby old eatery, but it’s still better to be careful.
“Hyung-nim, this is my superior, but he’s still a university student, so he doesn’t have an official position at the company yet.”
“No, then how should I address him……”
“Team Leader, just call me Se-ho comfortably.”
“Th-that… Se-ho? As far as I remember, Se-ho and I have never met. May I know how you knew about me and wanted to meet? Could you be mistaking me for someone else? I’m just an ordinary office worker with no background or ability.”
“Team Leader, would you like to step outside for a cigarette?”
I don’t smoke, but I can’t talk about the regression in front of Manager Kim Yun-sik. What if he thinks I’m mentally ill for no reason? I worked hard to build up a good image.
“Let’s do that then. Hyung-nim, I’ll grill the meat. I’ll have it all cooked, so you can have a smoke and come back in to eat.”
When I quietly stood up and went outside, Team Leader Yu Il-ho hesitated and followed me out.
Entering a quiet alley next to the shop, I cautiously spoke.
“Team Leader? Do you happen to have a family heirloom at home? For example, an old flute……”
I had worried a lot about how to broach the subject, but in times like this, you just go straight ahead. Let’s shoot my shot!