Chapter 309: Advising (4)

“Chairman Hwang?” Jo Gyu-Min responded, surprised.

Kang Jin-Ho contemplatively nodded. "Yes. Humans tend to stop acknowledging their mistakes as they get older. Especially when the person does not think they are in the wrong. In such a case, the person in question would be disinclined to show generosity toward others around them."

“Well, yes. That is true, but...”

“Chairman Hwang's sons were in the wrong. And the chairman punished them appropriately for that.”

“Yes. They were clearly guilty.”

"And so... Who walked away 'happy' from that event?"

"...!" Jo Gyu-Min clamped his mouth shut. He... never thought about that before. Who walked away happy? Happy, as in...?

'...No one, that's who.'

No one walked away from that ordeal and reached a 'happy' conclusion. Hwang Jeong-Hu's sons had fallen into the pit of hell, while Hwang Jeong-Hu now found himself living alone in that huge mansion of his as his price for returning to his rightful position.

With his ties to his children severed, he also no longer had connections to his grandchildren. And he didn't have other relatives to call either. Hwang Jeong-Hu's father was originally from North Korea, and he escaped the Communist regime with Hwang Jeong-Hu's older brother during the Korean War. As for Hwang Jeong-Hu's older brother, he didn't leave behind any offspring...

'...Huh. Chairman Hwang is completely alone, isn't he?'

Jo Gyu-Min suddenly realized why Hwang Jeong-Hu was so obsessed with Kang Jin-Ho.

Kang Jin-Ho quietly took a gulp of water, then asked, “In your opinion, does he seem happy?”

“But... But...” Jo Gyu-Min shook his head, still unwilling to accept it. “Someone with that much wealth and power can't be in a bad place just because his relationship with his family is a bit strained right now. Let's not forget, Chairman Hwang can shake this country up if he wants to with just one word.”

Kang Jin-Ho sighed. “Wealth and power mean little in front of death.”

“Yes, that's true.”

That was the general opinion of the public, though. If given the choice of living a luxurious life all alone or living together with a happy family but in a dirt-poor environment, how many people would willingly choose the latter?

What if Hwang Jeong-Hu's wealth could be yours as long as you willingly threw away your family? Jo Gyu-Min had no doubt that a shocking number of people would accept that kind of deal.

'Wait. Maybe I'm too materialistic?'

As soon as his thoughts arrived at this point, Jo Gyu-Min remembered his mother. To think he had considered severing his ties with her when she was back in their old hometown, praying her son would be successful in his life...

“I'm not trying to say something old-fashioned about human relationships or the duties of children,” said Kang Jin-Ho. “Honestly speaking, it hasn't been that long for me to start accepting that human relationships are important, you see.”

“

Mm...

” Jo Gyu-Min slowly nodded.

Back in Zhongyuan, it was not rare to see a father murder his children or vice versa. Even throughout history, stories of tyrants killing their own offspring or an ambitious prince murdering his father to usurp the throne happened fairly often.

In the modern era, with its advanced information-sharing network, where the media was obsessed with uncovering the 'facts' about an event and grabbing the next headline, the reports of parricides and filicides could be found quite easily. So, imagine how bad it had to be in the past when crimes went unnoticed much more easily back then.

"It's just that, how should I say this..." Kang Jin-Ho helplessly chuckled. "Chairman Hwang is not an honest person, is he?"

“...Yes, that seems to be the case.”

“And even if he misses them and notices all the voids left behind by their absence, Chairman Hwang is the type that can't turn back the clock with his own hands. In that case, shouldn't someone give him a little push?”

Jo Gyu-Min frowned deeply. There were no two ways about it, he was definitely against this whole idea. It felt like Kang Jin-Ho was scratching an itch that wasn't even there, only to cause flakes to fall.

If this matter weren’t resolved in an amicable way, Kang Jin-Ho's relationship with Hwang Jeong-Hu would ultimately suffer and become awkward, so to speak. And there was one more thing to consider. If things went well, and Hwang Jeong-Hu made peace with his kids, it'd lead to the 'introduction' of people to Jaegyeong's ranks who would undoubtedly try to keep a wary eye on Kang Jin-Ho's activity.

"Mister Jin-Ho, no matter what, this will be a loss for you."

“It's fine,” Kang Jin-Ho grinned, looking unconcerned.

'I've received a lot, after all.'

His relationship with Hwang Jeong-Hu was based on a contract. Kang Jin-Ho helped him leave the hospital bed, so Hwang Jeong-Hu paid him money. Even if Hwang Jeong-Hu didn't go further than that, their relationship would still chug along just fine. Kang Jin-Ho was getting paid a lot more than he expected, after all.

However, Hwang Jeong-Hu didn't stop there. He didn't view Kang Jin-Ho as a simple benefactor. No, he saw Kang Jin-Ho as a companion, maybe a family member, who'd share the rest of his life.

All the support Kang Jin-Ho received from Hwang Jeong-Hu since then was too numerous to even mention individually. Even though Kang Jin-Ho hadn't done much for Hwang Jeong-Hu overall.

If one received something, one must repay their debt. However, there wasn't much Kang Jin-Ho could do for Hwang Jeong-Hu. Well, Hwang Jeong-Hu already had everything, didn't he? If he was lacking in one area, then it could be only one thing... His family.

Jo Gyu-Min cautiously raised his voice. “It feels like I'm asking the same question again, but...”

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head. “Yes?”

“Why are you doing this? Really?”

Indeed, it was the same question. However, Jo Gyu-Min was getting different answers each time he asked it.

Finally, though...

Kang Jin-Ho revealed the reason he had buried deep inside his chest. “Everyone will eventually die.”

“Yes, that is inevitable.”

“And when it's the moment of their death, humans will start looking around them.”

“...”

“Nothing feels worse and bitter than realizing that there's no one beside you as you die.” Kang Jin-Ho slowly closed his eyes.

Even now, he couldn't forget how the Azure Demon was looking at him with those eyes filled with complicated emotions. If only Kang Jin-Ho paid more attention to his surroundings and other people, that fate could've been avoided altogether.

If only Kang Jin-Ho listened more to other people...

There could be only one price to pay when driven into one's ruination: conflict with the rest of the world. When the world ostracized him, Kang Jin-Ho thought everyone viewed him as an enemy. Although their circumstances were different, Hwang Jeong-Hu should feel something fairly similar to Kang Jin-Ho's sentiments from back then.

He had regained the company he built up his entire life and felt happy about returning to his position, but now that a few years have passed by, he had to have realized it already. He only had his company left and nothing else.

Did Kang Jin-Ho feel happy or accomplished during his death just because he managed to revive the demon cult and bring unprecedented fame to it? Of course not.

All he had back then were regrets and lamentation…

Kang Jin-Ho didn't want Hwang Jeong-Hu to feel the same. He was definitely not taking pity on Hwang Jeong-Hu's children here. If he was being honest, Kang Jin-Ho didn't even have one iota of interest in their lives.

What Kang Jin-Ho understood in this situation was that there was a hole in Hwang Jeong-Hu's life, and only blood relations could fill it up. That was an inalienable truth, in Kang Jin-Ho's opinion.

“...Very well. I'll try to set up a meeting,” said Jo Gyu-Min, his expression clearly hinting at his dissatisfaction.

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled at that. It seemed Jo Gyu-Min would never be able to accept this thought process.

“However, please promise me one thing, Mister Jin-Ho.”

“Yes?”

"Promise me that you'll back off if Chairman Hwang responds negatively to the idea. That is my only condition."

Kang Jin-Ho shrugged his shoulders. "I don't even have to make a promise, then. I'm only presenting him with an opportunity, that's all. In the end, the decision is up to him. If he still chooses to abandon and ignore his kids till hell freezes over, I shall respect his decision."

“Well, if you say so...” Jo Gyu-Min pouted a little, then discarded the remaining unwillingness.

'Still, this feels like someone else will hog the credit while we do all the hard work...'

Hadn’t Jaegyeong returned to its former glory through Jo Gyu-Min and Kang Jin-Ho's 'hard work'? But now, as soon as the corporation had been revived, the discarded-and-forgotten successors were being called back into the fold?

'I... I won't let that happen!'

Jo Gyu-Min tightly clenched his fists under the table. If Kang Jin-Ho didn't want the company, fine. So be it.

Jo Gyu-Min didn't choose to follow Kang Jin-Ho due to the latter's financial muscle, anyway. But a third party taking out things already in Kang Jin-Ho's pockets? Now that was a separate issue altogether, wasn't it?

Even if Jaegyeong didn't end up in Kang Jin-Ho's hands, he should still have the first refusal and the right to decide who gets it instead of him. After he officially gives up on Jaegyeong, it would no longer be Jo Gyu-Min's problem who gets to swallow up the corporation and divide it.

'It seems I need to make some calls...'

The first person Jo Gyu-Min thought of was Director Baek Yeong-Gi. Not only was Director Baek the second-in-command, but he also had a bone to pick with both Hwang Min-Jae and Hwang Min-Su. Perhaps discussing this matter with him could show Jo Gyu-Min the way.

Kang Jin-Ho didn't seem to notice Jo Gyu-Min's gears churning along and continued to munch his steak. "This is pretty good, actually."

“That looks too dry, though?”

“Well, it depends on one's preference, I guess,” Kang Jin-Ho shrugged.

Jo Gyu-Min stared at the medium-rare steak on his own plate and sighed at length.

'Well, not everyone can have the same tastes in things...'

Just like the differences in how they liked their steaks, Jo Gyu-Min would probably never have the same view as Kang Jin-Ho when it came to some problems. The best way to maintain their relationship was to accept their differences and find the common ground.

Jo Gyu-Min looked at Kang Jin-Ho next. “Still, I should thank you for this.”

“

Mm?

What do you mean?”

“You decided to discuss this matter with me first. I'm happy about that.”

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled. “I don't really have anyone else to discuss things like this, you know?”

“I won't disappoint you, Mister Jin-Ho.” Jo Gyu-Min nodded in determination, then brought the sliced piece of still-bloody steak to his mouth.

***

In the restaurant's parking lot...

“Should I take you home, Mister Jin-Ho?”

Kang Jin-Ho shook his head. “No. I have somewhere I need to stop by first.”

Jo Gyu-Min pointed to his car. "In that case, please get in. Let me give you a ride."

“No, it's fine. My ride is already here, you see?”

"

Huh?

" Jo Gyu-Min blinked his eyes in confusion, then turned his head. That was when he noticed a 'unique' silhouette of a person near the corner of the parking lot, which happened to be quite familiar, too.

'Huh. I can already recognize who that is just from his shadow...'

Just the silhouette of the shoulders literally twice as wide as a regular person's and the closely-cropped hairstyle was enough for Jo Gyu-Min to know who it was.

“Good evening, you two,” said Bang Jin-Hun. Even his slightly hoodlum-like way of greeting suited him to a T.

Jo Gyu-Min chuckled slightly. '

He chose the wrong profession, didn't he?'

Bang Jin-Hun exuded the unmistakable aura of someone working for the wrong crowd. Just his face and the air about him would be enough to put a stop to people bickering away, didn't they? He probably wouldn't even need to raise a hand, too!

'Then again, those two worlds aren't all that different, aren't they?'

The two worlds being one of the martial artists and the other one of the criminal organizations. Actually, being a gangster would be... 'better', in a sense. Those folks at least knew how scary the law could be, after all!

Who could have known that a country as safe and secure as South Korea had people like Bang Jin-Hun hiding within its shadows?

Bang Jin-Hun rubbed his face. “

Mm?

Do I have something on my face?”

“

Oh, uh.?

No. Not at all. It's been a while, Mister Bang,” said Jo Gyu-Min.

"Likewise, Chief Jo. And it's not been that long, though." Bang Jin-Hun affably chuckled.

Despite the looks that could intimidate with no effort, Bang Jin-Hun spoke in a considerably gentle tone. And the bright smile on his face made him much easier to... tolerate, too.

Perhaps it was Bang Jin-Hun's secret to living in this world. Regardless of what, though...

'Well, he's good at talking to people, at least.'

Bang Jin-Hun apparently had a lot of followers, and that didn't seem to be an exaggeration. People wouldn't want to be associated with someone with such an intimidating face if his personality was also terrible.

Bang Jin-Hun glanced at Kang Jin-Ho. "It seems I must take over the driver duty from here."

“

Mm,

I see. It can't be helped, then. I'll hand him over to you.”

“Thank you, I've confirmed the receipt of the goods.”

These two were treating Kang Jin-Ho as a delivery parcel.

Bang Jin-Hun chuckled and scratched the back of his head. “Shouldn't just us two get together for a drink later on?”

Jo Gyu-Min nodded in agreement at that suggestion. He had a need to learn more about this person named Bang Jin-Hun in his own way. And Bang Jin-Hun also had no choice but to be interested in learning more about Jo Gyu-Min.

'Someone to keep an eye on, isn't he?'

The one with the... intenser light in his eyes was undoubtedly Bang Jin-Hun. In terms of societal positions or the importance of the work they did, Bang Jin-Hun had no particular reason to worry about Jo Gyu-Min. However, he had no choice but to do just that.

'They are close enough to have a meal together, is that it?'

Which indicated Jo Gyu-Min was the closest of all close aides in Kang Jin-Ho's life. In Kang Jin-Ho's view, Bang Jin-Hun and Jo Gyu-Min wouldn't be too different, so to speak. Bang Jin-Hun was overwhelmingly stronger than Jo Gyu-Min, but his martial art skill would be no better than a kid's play to Kang Jin-Ho anyway.

So, what separated the two men was the degree of closeness. Bang Jin-Hun instinctively realized that the pecking order would be decided on who was closer to Kang Jin-Ho and had a greater influence on him overall.

“By the way, Mister Jin-Ho!” Bang Jin-Hun suddenly shot a scary glare in Kang Jin-Ho's direction.

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head. “Yes?”

“Treat me to a meal sometime, too!”

“...Sorry?” Kang Jin-Ho stared at him blankly.

Meanwhile, Jo Gyu-Min turned his head away while trying to stop himself from laughing.