WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Arsène

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Conglomerate Heir Just Wants to Fail ◈

Chapter 15

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“What about a ‘public-private joint integrated development’ model?”

“Public-private joint development...?”

“The sites Daeseung acquired have effectively become one enormous new-city-scale development project. So the government and Daeseung, as the private company, draw up the plan together from the beginning. If we put forward integrated development as the justification, we have grounds to legitimize sole-source contracts for surrounding social infrastructure projects. The argument would be that Daeseung-owned private land and public infrastructure must be developed in conjunction. If we frame it well, couldn’t we even package it as an ‘innovative public-private partnership model’?”

‘As expected, this one is no ordinary player either.’

President Jeong marveled inwardly.

The vice minister’s proposal was far more sophisticated and secure than his own. President Jeong had merely considered a practical trick involving bidding qualifications, but the vice minister had changed the entire nature of the project.

The bureaucratic language that turned “special treatment” into “innovation” was always astonishing.

“Still, Daeseung cannot do everything alone. Daeseung should lead the consortium, but you must distribute enough work to other companies as well.”

“If that is all... well. I have something to tell the Vice Chairman too.”

Considering the scale, it was physically impossible for Daeseung to handle everything alone anyway.

But if Daeseung held the initiative and distributed work to other companies, that alone would give it incomparable political and economic influence.

After all, when you divide up the cake, some crumbs always stick to your fingers.

At this level, he had earned a handsome return for the one-trillion-won Co-Prosperity Fund.

No, it was an enormous windfall.

Yet President Jeong still felt bitter.

What he had gained by using the trillion won as leverage was one thing, but cash going out was painful in itself.

President Jeong had not forgotten Chairman Kang Sinsu’s teaching that endless greed was the greatest driving force behind a business group.

Besides, there was this unpleasant feeling.

The sense that he had ultimately been manipulated by someone would not go away.

“Let me ask you one thing, Vice Minister Do.”

“Yes, please.”

“Who stirred this up?”

“What do you mean...?”

“Don’t play dumb. The timing of the attack was too perfect.”

It was obvious where the order had come from.

But this was not their style.

President Jeong recalled what the vice minister had said.

‘Civic groups and the media also believe Daeseung’s aggressive moves need to be checked...’

“This feels familiar. Hanseong. Am I right?”

“...”

Vice Minister Do did not answer, but President Jeong felt as if he had already received one.

Since they were in no position to step forward directly, they had quietly moved the media and political circles to slip in a knife.

‘They should worry about Hwasu instead.’

What angered President Jeong even more was that Hanseong had nothing to gain from this. They had simply pulled a trick because they could not stand to see Daeseung prosper.

‘If you have time to worry about someone else filling their granary, think about filling your own first!’

It was as though Chairman Kang’s furious rebuke from his younger days rang in his ears.

‘Those thugs need to be taught a proper lesson.’

President Jeong had completely forgotten what Daeseung, including President Park, had done to Hanseong in the past.

.

“So, in the end, you got taken for one trillion won. Is that what you’re saying?”

President Jeong lowered his head while watching my reaction.

“I have no excuse, Vice Chairman. This was my failure.”

“No. It’s not. These things happen. If the government was determined to come after us, how could a mere company resist?”

At my words, President Jeong lowered his head even further.

Seeing someone in his sixties like that made one corner of my heart uncomfortable, but a far greater joy wrapped itself around my entire body.

‘One trillion! A whole trillion won!’

Finally!

A meaningful loss capable of ruining the company had finally occurred.

No matter how much money I poured into shopping and construction, the assets barely decreased. Yet in one blow, a full trillion won had vanished.

I wanted to leap up and dance on the spot, but I barely managed my expression and forced out a calm voice.

“I know you did everything you could, President Jeong. So please don’t blame yourself too much.”

“Vice Chairman...”

President Jeong called to me in a moved voice.

His eyes were already reddening.

Afraid he would say he would take responsibility and resign, I hurried to speak first.

I could not lose such a capable person.

I needed him to keep losing money like this in the future.

“Vice Chairman, I did not return empty-handed. In exchange, I secured several things.”

‘Ah, please...’

I groaned inwardly.

Wasn’t it enough that he’d been fleeced?

Why add an unnecessary extra?

As though he had been waiting, President Jeong began listing the terms secured from the government.

Public-private joint integrated development, exclusive rights to award contracts for surrounding social infrastructure projects, and fast-tracked permits and approvals.

My insides burned black as I listened to the report.

‘That... I don’t know how much it’s worth, but isn’t it a jackpot?’

“One trillion... That’s excessive.”

President Jeong tensed again at my words.

“Ah, yes! No matter what, one trillion won in cash is an enormous sum. I’ll do my best to reduce it in the working-level negotiations...”

“No. The change is far too generous. One trillion won won’t be enough. Starting with one trillion, let’s discuss creating an additional fund.”

.

President Jeong’s eyes widened.

One trillion was not enough, so we should add even more money?

Why?

A single thought flashed through his mind.

Until now, he had been trapped in the narrow vision of a merchant, focused only on immediate profits and losses.

The benefits Daeseung would gain from this deal far exceeded one trillion won.

Therefore, the one-trillion-won Co-Prosperity Fund was actually a great deal.

If this fact became known, competitors and the media would surely suspect collusion between Daeseung and the government and attack it under the frame of “cheap special treatment.”

The Vice Chairman was blocking every such possibility in advance.

“You mean we should voluntarily offer not just one trillion won, but more than that first, so no one can object to this deal.”

President Jeong nodded.

“Leave it to me, Vice Chairman! We’ll give them so generously that the government feels burdened instead! We’ll show them exactly what Daeseung’s stature is!”

.

However, Vice Chairman Kang Daeun’s “intention” was only half successful.

The government repeatedly shook its head at Daeseung’s offer of an additional fund to make the deal even bigger.

“Th-that will not be necessary...”

The one-trillion-won Co-Prosperity Fund had effectively been something the government had set up and induced in the first place. But when Daeseung suddenly came forward offering two or three times as much, the government instead found itself on the defensive.

The symbolism and impact of one trillion won was immense, but from the public’s perspective, raising the amount to two or three trillion would not double or triple the shock.

Rather, if the government raised the amount that high, it would only increase the risk of public backlash that it was pushing a financially solid company, one that had stepped forward to overcome the national economic crisis, into handing over money.

Adding your spoon at the right time and taking credit was an entirely different matter from openly overturning the table and snatching away the whole bowl of rice.

“Please convey to the Vice Chairman that we gratefully accept the sentiment alone.”

The minister, who had stood back with folded arms until then, personally stepped forward and respectfully bowed to President Jeong.

A politician to the core, they understood perfectly that the essence of this deal lay not in the amount of money, but in its justification.

Daeseung paying one trillion won was social responsibility. The moment it paid two trillion, it could become government extortion.

“On behalf of the government, I offer my deepest gratitude for the generous decision and patriotism shown by Daeseung Group and Vice Chairman Kang Daeun. However, the government cannot rely solely on a private company’s goodwill. One trillion won. We will accept no more than that. I believe that is how a government with principles shows respect to its partner. Anything more would also become too great a political burden for us.”

Using words such as “patriotism,” “private company goodwill,” “principles,” and “respect,” the minister made it clear that the government was not pressuring Daeseung in any way.

They even gave the impression that the government would become a shield to keep Daeseung from facing greater criticism.

From the government’s standpoint, the amount remained the same, but Daeseung’s proposal was welcome because Daeseung’s proactive stance greatly reduced the government’s political burden.

Moreover, it made a good example to hold up before other companies.

Daeseung said it would pay more than we asked.

You make more than Daeseung, so why can’t you pay?

Thus, the government secured both the practical benefit of market stability and the justification of being a government with principles, while Daeseung earned praise for a generous contribution and displayed its friendly relationship with the government.

It was a picture where everyone won.

Of course, the only thing miserably torn apart in that picture was Kang Daeun’s plan to throw away two or three trillion won.

.

“So the conclusion is that we only have to pay one trillion won. Is that what you’re saying?”

I asked again, staring blankly into empty space.

I could not believe it.

They asked for money, and I offered double or triple, yet they refused?

It was something my common sense simply could not understand.

The world I had lived through had taught me, in the harshest way possible, how abject people could become over even ten thousand won.

“That is correct, Vice Chairman. The government actually stopped us and firmly declined. It is your complete victory. With only one trillion won, we have secured both exclusive business rights worth tens of trillions of won and the justification to support them.”

Why had it turned out this way?

“What about the opposition? Wouldn’t they be uncomfortable seeing us get so close to the ruling party and government?”

In response, Chief of Staff Lee Jinju, who had joined President Jeong’s report today, explained.

“Both the ruling and opposition parties currently view Daeseung very favorably.”

“Why?”

What had we even done?

“Setting aside our active cooperation with the government’s request, Daeseung Mart’s aggressive pricing policy has greatly helped stabilize consumer prices for ordinary people. The ruling party believes this is positively affecting support for the administration. Furthermore, Daeseung is the problem-solver that minimized the fallout from the nuclear bomb set to explode in the construction industry.”

Ah...

“Then what about the opposition? They have no reason to like us, do they?”

“That is because Daeseung is an exemplary case of realizing one of the opposition’s key ideals, ‘improving public efficiency through free competition among businesses.’ The opposition is using us to pressure the ruling party, arguing that the government should reduce unnecessary regulations further so more companies like Daeseung can emerge.”

Everything I had done to ruin the company had become, for politicians on opposite sides, a justification and weapon suited to each of their tastes.

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