Chapter 6

 Episode 6: The Gulf War (Part 2)

After starting my new life, I visited my grandfather's study every day. It was a way for me to make up for the filial piety I hadn't properly shown in my previous life. The reason I relentlessly earned money and studied was to protect the group and my family.

So, I searched for my grandfather's study. However, when I arrived, there was already a guest inside, engaging in conversation with my grandfather.

"Minjae, you're here? It's been such a long time. I wouldn't even recognize you if I saw you on the street."

The person warmly welcoming me was Chairman Jang Soo-young, the president of Taewoo Construction. He was one of the founding members of Taewoo Group and was known as my grandfather's right-hand man. He was not only highly regarded by my grandfather but also had immense loyalty towards him.

However, he was also the person who had pushed Taewoo Construction into bankruptcy proceedings when the foreign exchange crisis hit. He didn't consider me suitable to be the chairman and chose to leave on his terms, believing his abilities were far superior to mine.

As a result, Taewoo Construction was separated from Taewoo Group. Ten years later, Taewoo Construction had risen to 37th place on the corporate hierarchy list and had secured the top spot in terms of construction contracts.

When you looked at the results alone, Chairman Jang Soo-young's decision seemed to be the right one, as he had saved Taewoo Construction. However, from my perspective, it felt like he had taken the cream of the crop, Taewoo Construction, and left the rest.

Did Taewoo Construction survive solely because of Chairman Jang Soo-young's abilities? It was also thanks to the fact that Taewoo Construction, created by my grandfather, was inherently exceptional. After the foreign exchange crisis, half of Taewoo Construction's employees left for other jobs, and former Taewoo Construction employees occupied the positions of CEOs in renowned construction companies.

They called it the "Construction Officer School." It was a nickname for Taewoo Construction because so many exceptional employees came from there.

With such exceptional employees, Taewoo Construction would thrive no matter who was at the top.

I stared at Chairman Jang Soo-young with fiery eyes. My grandfather seemed to have misunderstood my intentions. He probably thought I couldn't remember Chairman Jang Soo-young.

"Hehe, Minjae, do you remember? This is Mr. Jang Soo-young."

"You are an adult now. I remember changing your diapers."

Well, for now, Chairman Jang Soo-young hadn't betrayed me. I forced my facial muscles to smile as much as possible.

"Of course! Hello," I replied, doing my best to be polite.

"You've really grown up. I heard you passed the high school qualification exam."

"I'm currently studying for my university entrance exam."

Why did my grandfather invite Chairman Jang Soo-young over?

 Passing the high school qualification exam might not be a big deal, but when I do it, it's special. I'm my grandfather's grandson, after all. To show off their remarkable grandson, they probably invited him and gave him a chance to boast.

"A new star is born in Taewoo Group. Minjae takes after his grandfather, and he's very smart."

"Work and study, you know how miserable it is to do just that all day long. But he's pushing me so hard to let him start working with me. He wants to work for Taewoo Group as soon as possible."

My grandfather's lips constantly turned upward. Even though he was making grumbling sounds, he would burst into laughter during the conversation.

"One day, I want to work for Taewoo Group as soon as possible."

"Hehe, you're very diligent."

"I also want to study at the best universities in the world, not just any university."

"You mean the universities in the United States?"

"Yes. I want to go to Harvard or Stanford. To do that, I believe I need to study in the United States rather than Korea."

"Hehe, you're only 17 now. It's too early to live alone in the United States."

Did I behave like a child? Even if I become an adult, my grandfather still thinks of me as a child.

"My grandfather says that living in the United States is necessary for global expansion. Besides, many of my friends have been studying in the United States since elementary school."

"Are you so eager to leave your grandpa?"

My grandfather only has a son who has

 passed away. So he was probably worried about losing me, his only grandson, as well. To alleviate such concerns, I laid out several conditions.

"Taewoo Securities employees will come with me."

"Oh, you mean the team you formed? I've heard they haven't returned to Taewoo Securities yet, but relocating those employees to the U.S. subsidiary is not a big deal. What are you going to do with those employees?"

"I'll be responsible for them. Grandfather, you manage thousands of employees; I can't be less capable than you and struggle with only three people, right?"

"Hehe, you're as stubborn as ever. Well, you are my grandson. You're not really doing anything bad by going to the U.S. Besides, saying you're going to study and not do anything bad is no reason to stop you."

"Thank you, Grandfather."

Before my grandfather could change his mind, I quickly embraced him. I knew that my grandfather wouldn't just let me go. He would probably send some of the secretarial employees as my protection. I can accept that.

* * *

Chairman Kim Taejoong's office.

The chief of staff had placed a list of about 20 names on the desk.

"They are all proficient in English and have backgrounds in special forces or national representatives."

"Having all 20 seems excessive. Let's send about five."

"I will take care of that."

"And don't make the protection too obvious. If my grandson finds out he's being watched, he might not like it, right?"

"Unless it's an urgent situation, I will advise them to observe discreetly."

Chairman Kim Taejoong's grandson, Minjae, had a reputation. This became even more pronounced after passing the college entrance exam.

"And what about the Taewoo Securities employees? Are they not expressing any grievances?"

"It seems like Lord Minjae is taking good care of them. When I asked if they had intentions of going to the U.S., they said they would leave immediately."

"Employees who were initially investing large sums at Taewoo Securities but then switched to investing with my grandson's money must have felt quite trapped. Nevertheless, they seem to be good-natured employees."

Chairman Kim Taejoong didn't overly monitor his grandson. That's why he was unaware that his grandson had made a substantial sum in just a few months. Especially because the connection with the American Paper Company had been severed, finding out this information would require a lot of resources and time, so he didn't see the need to give specific instructions.

And now, it was even more difficult to find out. Team leader Hwang Junghoon had set up a corporation himself, severing all ties with Taewoo Securities.

"And we've also finalized hiring the home tutor. We received a definite response from the most renowned admissions consultant in the U.S., and we have hired three private tutors."

"If he is admitted within three years, they will each receive a substantial bonus. Additionally, for each year the process is shortened, we will provide an extra bonus."

Chairman Kim was prepared to wait for three years. It seemed that Minjae was planning to attempt college admissions as early as next year, but no matter how intelligent he was, he knew that finishing a three-year program in one year was a formidable challenge.

"I will convey this to them. And as for the house, it's in one of the safest areas in New York."

"I'll go bankrupt educating my grandson. Hahaha."

"Lord Minjae is an exceptionally skilled person. I assure you, he is better than anyone I've seen."

The chief of staff was not one to mince words. He might not be the most eloquent speaker, but he didn't flatter or obsequiously agree with everything. Chairman Kim was well aware of this, and his laughter only grew louder.

* * *

"Thanks to you, Lord Minjae, we'll be living in the United States. Thank you."

"Because of me, you're going to have a pretty tough time in the future."

We arrived in the United States.

With four stockbrokers, I unpacked our belongings in the mansion.

 Team leader Hwang Junghoon, who had been staying at the hotel, had already arrived at the mansion. As we all finished unpacking and gathered in the living room, he started a brief briefing.

"Following your orders, we sold everything as soon as the oil price hit $30. As expected, we realized a profit of about $2 billion."

"Team leader, are you serious? $2 billion? Are you talking about $2 billion, not $2 million?"

Sung Deokhwanl, a staff member who had supported Hwang Junghoon in Korea, raised his voice. The employees who had supported Hwang Junghoon in Korea didn't know that he had bet so much money.

"That's right, $2 billion. It's an amount close to $1.4 trillion won."

"Ar, are you saying you made $1.4 trillion in profit? Taewoo Securities has never made such a profit in one go."

"Then think of it as a lie. I was going to give a bonus for this profit, but I guess I don't have to."

"No, no! I believe you!"

Money doesn't lie. Sung Deokhwan quickly dispelled any doubts about the bonus.

"Now, you can confidently expect your bonuses. Everyone, transfer to the investment company created by Team Leader Hwang Junghoon."

"All the necessary steps have already been taken. Within this week, all of you will become employees of SAVE Investment Company."

The name of the investment company established in the United States was SAVE. It didn't quite match the name of a company that was making substantial profits through aggressive investments. I chose that name to remind myself that the reason I was making this much money was to protect Taewoo Group and my grandfather.