Chapter 37: Investment Conditions
Despite the chaotic ending, the Yeouido business presentation was successful in convincing attendees that transforming Yeouido into a Manhattan-like district was feasible. Several construction companies had already approached Kangsan Construction with collaboration proposals and were negotiating terms.
Investors were also making moves. While there was concern about Kang Dohyuk being shot, many believed that as long as the project proceeded according to the established plan, there wouldn’t be any significant issues even if something happened to him. Though nothing was official yet as they were still gauging the situation, a few companies were quietly making inquiries to Dragon Holdings. Star Finance was one of them.
“Ha!”
Kim Seonuk let out a bitter laugh in disbelief after receiving the investment conditions for the Yeouido project. It was just after seeing the minimum investment amount. He checked several times, thinking he might have misread, but it was clear. 10 trillion won. He wanted to call Dragon Holdings immediately to confirm if this figure was correct.
Even 10 billion or 100 billion wouldn’t be a small amount, but this was 10 trillion—not even 1 trillion. That was the minimum investment amount Dragon Holdings was requiring from companies participating in the Yeouido project. No matter how large the project was, 10 trillion seemed excessive. Since multiple companies would be making joint investments rather than a single company investing alone, he thought there should be ways to reduce the amount and lower the distribution ratio.
If he reported this to his father as is, it was obvious that he would dismiss it as impossible. After reading the documents over and over, he felt he had no choice but to call Dragon Holdings directly.
“This is Kim Seonuk, Head of Capital Markets at Star Finance. I’d like to speak with the person in charge of the Yeouido project.”
Though he knew the person in charge was Kang Dohyuk, he didn’t ask for him specifically. He couldn’t be certain if Dohyuk was working normally after the shooting incident at the presentation, or if someone else had taken over.
After being asked to wait a moment, the call was connected to the Managing Director’s office. Someone who seemed to be the chief secretary answered and verified Kim Seonuk’s identity and purpose. Only then could he speak with Kang Dohyuk.
[This is Managing Director Kang Dohyuk of Dragon Holdings.]
At the familiar deep voice, Kim Seonuk moistened his dry lips with his tongue. Though he couldn’t see him through the phone line, he could almost visualize Dohyuk’s cold face.
Are you okay? Has anyone tried to attack you again?
He barely swallowed the words lingering at the tip of his tongue. If they were just college friends, he could casually express concern given what had happened, but his relationship with Kang Dohyuk was not close. If he asked such things now, it would only raise suspicion.
He had been checking the news several times a day to see if anything had happened to Kang Dohyuk. If he could take it back even now, he would. He hadn’t been in his right mind when he commissioned the hitman. He had just wanted to get rid of Kang Dohyuk somehow, not wanting to lose Baek Hyeri to him.
But when the shooting actually happened before his eyes, the reality of killing someone hit him, and he became terrified. He regretted what he had done too late, but there was no way to stop it.
[…If you have nothing to say, I’ll hang up.]
When Kim Seonuk didn’t respond, lost in his thoughts, Dohyuk was about to end the call.
“Ah, this is Kim Seonuk from Star Finance.”
He hurriedly introduced himself again.
[I know.]
The blunt, almost insensitive response made him sigh. His response was stupid, even by his own admission. Since the call had already gone through the secretary’s office, Dohyuk would have known who he was before taking the call.
“I’m calling to discuss the investment for the Yeouido project.”
When they met privately, they didn’t use formal language since they were college classmates, but this was a business call.
“I received materials from Dragon Holdings, but the minimum investment amount is at an unacceptable level.”
[What do you think is the total estimated investment for the Yeouido project?]
Instead of answering Kim Seonuk’s question, Dohyuk responded with another question. Though he was sure he had heard it at the presentation, he couldn’t recall it immediately.
[100 trillion.]
As Kim Seonuk was flipping through the materials he had received that day, Dohyuk answered for him.
[Even if we divide it by 10 trillion each, that’s just 10 investors. If there are more than that, it’s natural that there would be issues with profit distribution.]
So Dragon Holdings didn’t want too many investors—that was the message.
“Still, 10 trillion is a burdensome amount for other investment companies to participate. What if no one steps forward at this rate?”
Even Star Finance, considered a top domestic financial group, would find it difficult to commit 10 trillion won readily.
[It doesn’t matter. Even if no one participates.]
The answer came without a moment’s hesitation, leaving Kim Seonuk speechless. What is this guy saying? Then why did they hold the presentation?
[Dragon Holdings has sufficient financial capacity to handle it. Taking on investors was in accordance with the wishes of the government and Kangsan Construction, not something we wanted.]
In simple terms, if he couldn’t commit to investing 10 trillion, he should just back out without complaining. His pride was hurt and his hands trembled with anger, but getting upset now would only disadvantage Star Finance. He couldn’t tell whether Dohyuk’s claim that Dragon Holdings could handle it alone was a bluff or the truth. Kim Seonuk had heard that Dragon Holdings’ capital strength was enormous, but still, 100 trillion… Was that an amount that could be so easily committed to?
What if it failed? Even 10 trillion could bring down an entire group if the investment failed. Was Kang Dohyuk not even considering the possibility of the Yeouido project failing?
“You’re out of your mind.”
His true thoughts slipped out before he could stop himself. While a certain level of boldness was necessary for a businessman, with 100 trillion at stake, it would be wiser to bring in as many participants as possible to reduce risk.
[If you’re not confident, just quietly back out.]
Perhaps because Kim Seonuk had spoken informally first, Dohyuk also dropped the business mode.
[10 trillion is indeed a burdensome amount if you’re just trying to win Baek Hyeri’s favor.]
At this pointed remark, Kim Seonuk gripped the receiver tightly.
[If you have nothing more to say, I’m hanging up. Decide whether to participate or not on your own. Don’t call here to whine.]
“You…!”
Before he could retort, the call abruptly ended. Kim Seonuk barely managed to swallow the curse that had risen to the tip of his tongue, put down the receiver, and heaved a deep sigh. If someone other than Kang Dohyuk were leading Dragon Holdings, would this disheartening approach change? Should Kang Dohyuk really disappear?
Haah, he really didn’t know anymore. Anyway, that matter had left his hands now.
***
Consciousness returned, but his body felt heavy. Even lifting his eyelids was a struggle. It felt like sinking endlessly to the bottom like water-soaked cotton. His throat and mouth felt like they were burning up. When he tried to move his lips, he could tell how dry his mouth was.
He felt someone placing a hand on his forehead. At that slightly cool sensation, Yeon barely managed to open his eyes. Even that didn’t happen all at once; only after straining did light seep in between his eyelids.
“Are you awake?”
It was a familiar voice. Not Kang Dohyuk’s, but one he had heard for much longer. His vision finally cleared. Instead of a white rectangular ceiling, he saw the pointed center and rafters of a hanok’s ceiling.
I’ve returned to Muryeong.
He closed his eyes again, feeling an emotion that could have been relief or dejection.
“Are you in pain? Should I call someone?”
Hearing the anxious voice worrying about him, he managed to shake his head. Though he thought he had shaken his head, the movement was so minimal that he wasn’t sure if the other person noticed.
“Why did you do that…”
There was a tearful tone in the voice. Yeon had no choice but to open his eyes again and look to the side. Sana, with tears filling her eyes, was looking down at him.
“I’m okay.”
He barely managed to respond.
“How can you be!”
Sana burst out, then lowered her gaze to Yeon’s shoulder. The tears that had welled up in her large eyes began to fall.
“It really doesn’t hurt.”
“Doesn’t hurt? Look at the state you’re in! Do you even know how many days it took for you to regain consciousness? And it’s already been four days since you did. I was so worried you might never wake up…”
Her voice choked, and she closed her mouth, turning her head away sharply.
“Sorry…”
At the barely audible apology, Sana wiped away her tears with the back of her hand.
“Why did you do that? You’ve never gone this far before.”
Given that their job involved facing bad connections, danger was always close. They would warn clients of danger and try to minimize harm, but occasionally there were those who didn’t follow Yeon’s advice. Even if clients put themselves in danger despite warnings, it was ultimately their choice. In worst-case scenarios, Muryeong’s shamans were closer to being spectators.
“I wonder.”
But with Kang Dohyuk, he couldn’t be that way. His body moved before his thoughts. This person can’t be allowed to die. In that moment, nothing else came to mind.
“That person… is he safe?”
At Yeon’s question, Sana tilted her head.
“Why do you care?”
Once a job was finished and they returned to Muryeong, that was the end of it. No one was curious about what happened to the client afterward. From the beginning, the people of Muryeong had no interest in worldly people. They had been taught, almost brainwashed, that becoming too attached would only hurt themselves.
“After going this far, I’d feel wronged if he got hurt…”
When he made up this excuse, Sana frowned, saying he had some nerve.
“He seems fine. There must not be any problems.”
There was no internet or TV here. So even if something had happened, they couldn’t watch the news. Sana’s answer was merely a guess that nothing had happened since there hadn’t been any complaints to Muryeong. For an accurate answer, he would have to ask Muyeong, the leader.
“It seems you’ve regained consciousness.”
At the voice from the doorway, Sana quickly rose from her seat and bowed her head.
“Leave us for a moment.”
After sending Sana away, Muyeong sat beside Yeon. When Yeon tried to sit up, Muyeong shook his head, saying it was fine. Then, without a word, he just looked down at Yeon for a while. That silence was uncomfortable.
“How is Kang Dohyuk-ssi?”
At Yeon’s question, Muyeong’s eyebrows slightly creased.
