Chapter 194: v8c19 - Make Your Choice
Volume 8 Chapter 19 – Make Your Choice
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The Luoyang Sword Family, Sword Family Construction.
The President’s Office.
If one was an elder of the Luoyang Sword Family, it was a position worthy of sitting in the seat of honor even when sharing a table with the patriarch of a decent small-to-medium family.
“…….”
However, despite as many as three such elders gathering, far from acting arrogantly, the sight of them sitting politely and respectfully was indeed a rare spectacle.
“Hmm.”
It could not be helped, as the owner of the office they had entered was not concealing his uncomfortable demeanor.
“The Second Young Master’s side is making such a demand of me?”
The top executive of the Luoyang Sword Family Construction enterprise—the President of Sword Family Construction—frowned.
“Absurd.”
A large hand covered with scars of labor crumpled the proposal from the Second Young Master’s side.
“President…!”
“A demand? How could you express it that way?”
It was a rude act, so absurd that anyone could see it.
However, on the contrary, the elders of the Second Young Master’s side were visibly flustered, trying hard to curry favor with the President.
“That is not a demand, but merely a proposal from our side. Moreover, is it not an extremely favorable proposal?”
In the Luoyang Sword Family, there were those who could not become elders because they were already in positions that were too powerful, and the President of Sword Family Construction was precisely one of them.
“The price offered by your side is indeed very large.”
Even in the eyes of the head of the most renowned construction enterprise in Luoyang, and beyond Luoyang, past Henan Province and throughout the entire State of Zhongyuan, the price of the proposal offered by the Second Young Master’s side was clearly excellent.
“I-Is that not so?”
At his words, the elders of the Second Young Master’s side brightened up.
“On the other hand, our side only wishes for a small favor from the President—”
“A small favor?”
The President of Sword Family Construction cut him off.
“Is asking our Sword Family Construction to reject all requests from the Eldest Young Master’s side for the time being a small favor?”
At his words, the elders of the Second Young Master’s side waved their hands.
“Has a request actually been made yet?”
The President of Sword Family Construction retorted bluntly.
“But to rebuild the Valley of Sin before the opening of the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering, the Eldest Young Master’s side will eventually have no choice but to make a request to our Sword Family Construction.”
The elders of the Second Young Master’s side looked at each other and smiled.
“That is true, but…”
“Haha. There is no way they would have such funds.”
In the unlikely event.
Even if Yeon So-hyeon’s side overcame the financial pressure they were currently receiving, hiring Sword Family Construction, famous for its expensive commission fees, would be impossible.
“Even so, in the first place.”
The President of Sword Family Construction raised his scarred hand and pointed to himself.
“Me…”
And then he pointed to the floor.
“And the very act of trying to drag this Sword Family Construction into the political conflict over succession, which is nothing but a dirty mud fight, does not please me.”
He threw the crumpled proposal onto the floor in front of the elders.
“This conversation ends here.”
It was an order of eviction.
“Dear, dear…”
The elders rose from their seats one by one.
Although their proposals were rejected and they were practically kicked out, surprisingly, there was no sign of embarrassment on their faces.
“Our side has already submitted and completed registration for all the business rights specified as payment to Sword Family Construction, separate from the price of the proposal.”
“When we brought big deals on our own, they were thrilled.”
“By now, those below must be drafting approval documents to be submitted to the President.”
At those words, the President’s caterpillar-thick eyebrows twitched.
“…….”
Looking at the speechless President, the elders of the Second Young Master’s side sneered.
“It is something to be congratulated on. To obtain all those major business rights while just sitting still.”
“Instead, due to those large-scale requests, all resources of Sword Family Construction near Luoyang will have to be mobilized.”
“Now that it has come to this, whether the Eldest Young Master makes a request or not, Sword Family Construction will have no spare capacity to touch the Valley of Sin business.”
The smiles hanging on their lips deepened.
“Having spoken of political neutrality, surely you will not reject our request at the President’s level?”
“…….”
It was a tactic close to extreme that only the Second Young Master’s side, holding massive funds, political resources, and numerous practical interests, could pull off.
Holding the doorknob of the office, they said.
“Our side made the proposal to the President solely because we respect you, who built a success story from the very bottom.”
“Though it is also partly to hear the President’s firm commitment, to prevent any unlikely events.”
They bowed their heads slightly.
“Next time, we will visit you with a better proposal, enough to get your firm commitment.”
“Once again, congratulations on winning the contracts for the large-scale projects without any competition.”
Without even closing the door, they left it wide open and turned to depart.
“Well then.”
Receiving the stinging gaze of the President behind their backs, they walked with leisurely steps despite sweating cold sweat.
“…….”
The secretary waiting outside hurriedly ran over to cautiously close the office door.
The President of Sword Family Construction said.
“Until I withdraw the order, let no one approach.”
“Yes, President.”
Once all signs of presence vanished, the President opened his mouth.
“…With this, everything turned out exactly as you said.”
He spoke, shifting his gaze to the inner room directly connected to his office.
“Eldest Young Master.”
As the highest-quality door of the inner room opened without a sound, Yeon So-hyeon poked his face out.
“My, as expected of the President of the famous Sword Family Construction, the inner room attached to the office is also tremendous.”
The boy feigned ignorance while expressing admiration, and the President of Sword Family Construction did not hide his displeasure at the sly attitude of the Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon.
“Do not be mistaken.”
He raised his massive frame from his seat.
The prosthetic leg, replacing the leg he had lost at a construction site in the past, let out a creaking sound.
“Eldest Young Master. Allowing you to hear this conversation was solely to clearly demonstrate Sword Family Construction’s intention to maintain neutrality in the political conflict over succession.”
Revealing the spirit that had caused the elders of the Second Young Master’s side to sweat, he spoke as if growling.
“It was not to shake hands with you, who has neglected your responsibility for such a long time.”
Having known Yeon So-hyeon’s ability well from the past, he warned.
“If even the slightest intention is revealed that you are plotting a scheme to push this Sword Family Construction into the mud—”
“I know. If so, you would rather choose to overturn the entire board.”
Yeon So-hyeon cut him off and sat opposite him with a calm demeanor.
“So please sit down, President. Looking up at you makes my neck hurt.”
To the President, who ground his teeth at Yeon So-hyeon’s bantering, there was absolutely no intention of meekly sitting down according to his words.
“You, the successors, must know how this Sword Family is being supported right now.”
Though he did not possess a single point of internal energy, his spirit seemed to press down on the wide office.
“Even at this very moment, factions following their respective successors and bastards who know nothing but their own interests are ruining this Sword Family!”
A ringing shout filled with anger resonated throughout the office.
“People like us are the last pillars supporting the Sword Family, which is trying to collapse from within!”
It has been over ten years since we lost the leader.
That the twisted and rotten Luoyang Sword Family was maintained was undoubtedly because people like him were still holding on.
“This Sword Family, this Sword Family Construction, is my hometown and our hometown!”
Glaring at Yeon So-hyeon, who poured tea for himself and enjoyed the aroma, he raised his hand and pointed out the window.
“We, the business entities of this Sword Family, built the Main Family, and we created this Luoyang!”
“That is true. This Eldest Young Master fully acknowledges your hard work.”
Yeon So-hyeon’s gaze turned toward him.
“But what about the materials that built that Luoyang? What about its foundation?”
Although Yeon So-hyeon’s gaze was calm, his massive frame flinched before he knew it.
“The current Luoyang, this Luoyang Sword Family, was built on the blood and sweat squeezed from the poor.”
“…….”
Looking down at Yeon So-hyeon, he slumped into his seat.
“…As the number of the poor increased, the business entities of the Main Family reaped astronomical profits. I will not deny that.”
Yeon So-hyeon nodded.
“Neither do I deny that your blood and sweat are mixed within it.”
He set down his teacup and continued.
“Therefore, did I not refrain from making any requests or demands of you, or of Sword Family Construction?”
Yeon So-hyeon had not requested, demanded, or asked for any favor related to the Valley of Sin or Walnut Village.
“…Isn’t that just because you lack funds?”
“That is also true.”
At the slightly softened demeanor of the President, Yeon So-hyeon burst into laughter.
“I am pulling funds together from here and there, but I have not secured enough surplus funds to make a request to Sword Family Construction.”
It was the truth.
Even including the funds the Tang Family invested circuitously, it was only enough to push forward the original plan.
Since it was an insufficient amount to place a reconstruction request for the entire area with Sword Family Construction.
“…Is it fine if the project is not completed before the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering?”
At his question, Yeon So-hyeon shrugged his shoulders.
“The project will end before then, and the Valley of Sin will finish its refurbishment.”
“Without requesting Sword Family Construction?”
“I will not request it.”
Just how?
Instead of asking about a method he would not hear even if he asked anyway, he moved on to the next question.
“…Since you had no intention of making a request in the first place, was that why you told me to accept the proposal from the Second Young Master’s side?”
“Indeed. Did I not tell you that from the beginning? Play hard to get once, and then accept the next proposal.”
“You certainly did. But by doing that, Sword Family Construction’s neutrality would waver—”
“It will not waver.”
Yeon So-hyeon smiled and cut him off.
“If I were to place a request with Sword Family Construction, it might be different, but I will not place one in the first place. If so, only the parties involved will know about that transaction.”
“…As long as our side does not satisfy my personal greed with the payment we receive from the Second Young Master, we will not have our weakness grabbed.”
“Since you are absolutely not a person to satisfy personal greed, there will be no way to have your weakness grabbed.”
In the gaze Yeon So-hyeon directed at him, trust was clearly contained.
“So ‘before it is too late,’ accept the next proposal from the Second Young Master’s side.”
Yeon So-hyeon turned his eyes toward the window.
“…If that happens, your position will become even more solid with the business rights you obtained.”
The President of Sword Family Construction stroked his chin.
“Also, as Sword Family Construction’s performance grows, our members will indeed be able to resist external temptations more easily…”
The President nodded with a hesitant look and suddenly raised his face.
“But Eldest Young Master. What do you mean by ‘before it is too late’…?”
Yeon So-hyeon did not answer that question.
“You are doing well.”
Yeon So-hyeon stood up from his seat.
“From now on, you only need to keep doing as you have been doing.”
“…….”
The President groaned inwardly as he looked at the Eldest Young Master, who had risen from his seat.
‘What on earth is this Eldest Young Master plotting…?’
The phrase ‘before it is too late’ was one thing, but looking back, in all previous conversations, the Eldest Young Master seemed to have no worry or concern about the war before his eyes.
‘Taking care of me, the President, in this situation? Like someone completely unrelated to the war?’
Was the Eldest Young Master trying to win favor from him?
It would not be such a childish thought, hoping that he, having received favor, would move for the Eldest Young Master on his own.
‘Could it be…’
If so.
‘Does the Eldest Young Master mean he is confident of his victory…?!’
“Ah. Now that I think about it, President.”
Yeon So-hyeon spoke as if he had forgotten about it.
“Are you and Sword Family Construction responding to the disturbance at the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering stadium site?”
At his question, the President, whose mind was complicated, shook his head.
“Although our Sword Family Construction is in charge of the site development, the response is the responsibility of the client, the Third Young Master’s side. It is also the decision of the Supreme Executive Council. Our personnel have completely withdrawn.”
“I see. It would be better to keep your distance like that continuously.”
Although he sent a disgruntled gaze to the Eldest Young Master, who was now caring about things unrelated to him, Yeon So-hyeon did not care and gulped down the remaining tea.
“I enjoyed the tea.”
And without any lingering attachment, he turned and headed to the window.
It seemed he intended to move out the window, avoiding gazes just like when he entered.
That appearance, showing not a single point of regret, formed too great a contrast with the Second Young Master’s side, who had been clingy until the very end.
“…Eldest Young Master.”
As Yeon So-hyeon, who was about to open the window, looked back, he shut his mouth for a moment.
“…….”
It seemed he was also temporarily confused about why he had called the Eldest Young Master.
“…I will order the guarding personnel to take a break for a moment, so your way back will be a bit more comfortable.”
“That is welcome news.”
Yeon So-hyeon opened the window.
The sun had already set, and the wind blowing from the night of Luoyang shook his hair.
“The Eldest Young Master’s next move must be related to the Main Family’s judicial organs?”
The President had already grasped that the judicial organs within the Luoyang Sword Family, such as the Law Enforcement Court and the Inspection Department, had been noisy since morning.
“You have completed your choice.”
Yeon So-hyeon sent his gaze to him one last time.
“I merely gave them a choice as well.”
He lightly leaped and vanished out the window.
“…….”
Gazing at the place he left for a moment, the President repeated the words Yeon So-hyeon left behind.
“…A choice, is it.”
The wind blowing in through the window was exceptionally chilly.