“Hahaha, so Iron Wall used to be famous in Busan, huh?”
“It wasn’t just famous, sir. He was practically flying around back then.”
“Don’t exaggerate, Kim Jong-pil. Flying around, my foot.”
“Hey—Hyung, don’t you remember? When those Namil Middle kids beat up our neighborhood kids, you and I went straight to their front gate with wooden bats and smashed—”
“Hey! Kim Jong-pil, the chairman is here!”
“Ah—right! We smashed—uh—!”
“Ah! No, I mean, Chairman!”
The atmosphere was surprisingly warm.
Kim Jong-pil, known for his temper, Yoo Cheol-ong—called the Grim Reaper of Ido—and Chairman Lee Sang-baek himself were all laughing like old friends.
Memories had taken them back to their youth.
“This is nice. I never thought I’d see you in my office like this at this hour.”
“Same here. I used to avoid visiting because of appearances, but this place has its own charm.”
“Of course! It’s way better than that old-fashioned grandpa Kim’s place.”
“Hahaha.”
Lee Sang-baek grabbed Kim Jong-pil’s hand tightly.
“It’s really good that you came. It feels like I could cry just seeing you here.”
“He always really liked you. He used to hope you two would meet like this someday.”
“I know. I know how much you and Hyung wanted me.”
Back when corporate guild expansion first opened, the number one target for Ido Group had been Mountain King, Kim Jong-pil.
They even had a verbal agreement through Yoo Cheol-ong, but in the end it all collapsed.
“I still sigh thinking about that time. Bureaucrats with gold badges, yet slower than snails. They handled things like low-class thugs. Sorry—you must’ve had a hard time because of me.”
“It’s fine. That’s all in the past.”
“Yes. And now we’re finally under the same roof.”
“Thank you. Really, thank you.”
Lee Sang-baek patted Kim Jong-pil’s hand, then turned his gaze.
Toward his beloved grandson who had made all this possible.
“…Munch munch. This snack is good.”
In the corner, Lee Shin was stuffing snacks into his mouth like nothing mattered.
The eldest grandson of Korea’s top conglomerate—yet with the manners of a street rat.
Lee Sang-baek sighed without realizing it.
“Who would’ve thought I’d be grateful to that brat someday. Life really is unpredictable. Right, Iron Wall?”
“…Well… haha.”
Truthfully, he had originally intended to give Lee Shin a chance, but not a real one.
He had seen him as a disposable piece.
There was no way he could entrust the future of Ido Group to a known troublemaker.
He thought, ‘Just send him to some rural branch, and he’ll mess around like always…’
And yet—
That same “troublemaker” had just accomplished one of the outcomes he had dreamed of for his entire life.
‘Hmph. Still… it’s too early to say anything.’
He couldn’t admit it, but he was slightly pleased.
Kim Jong-pil chuckled.
“Hyung, honestly… rumors in this industry are not very reliable.”
“About what?”
“Him. Lee Shin.”
Lee Sang-baek glanced over.
“You mean Shin?”
“Yes. That kid. As your grandson, sir… the rumors about him were basically that he was trash among trash.”
But—
“Seeing him in person… I have to say.”
Kim Jong-pil declared firmly.
“He’s excellent. Honestly, I’m impressed.”
“Is that so?”
The chairman’s eyes sharpened with interest.
“If Mountain King says that much…”
Meanwhile, Lee Shin was still casually eating snacks in the corner.
Kim Jong-pil continued.
“He’s bold. Not many people can speak so freely in front of me. His drive is strong for his age, and beneath that light attitude, there’s depth… he’s not like other young people.”
Then, he added casually:
“Honestly… he reminds me of you in your younger days, Hyung.”
“…Me?”
“Yes.”
“You’re just insulting me now.”
“I’m serious.”
The chairman laughed, but Kim Jong-pil didn’t budge.
“If you were a bit better looking, Hyung… you’d have been just like him.”
“Hey, stop bringing up my face out of nowhere!”
“Haha, anyway. Just watch him. He’ll be interesting.”
Because I chose him.
That confidence made Lee Sang-baek pause.
“…Interesting.”
After Yoo Cheol-ong left for a meal with Kim Jong-pil, only grandfather and grandson remained.
“Whew… that was long. So, is the nostalgia trip over?”
“…Hmm.”
“Then I guess it’s time for my turn.”
Lee Shin, who had been happily snacking, finally spoke.
“Now… how much are you going to pay?”
He held out his hand like it was already decided.
Lee Sang-baek frowned.
‘Is this my grandson…?’
No.
Absolutely not.
The grandson staring at him now looked like a money-hungry monster.
And yet—
The chairman himself wasn’t much different.
The atmosphere instantly cooled.
Two money-obsessed monsters faced each other without a single step back.
“What do you want?”
“Your offer first.”
“You’re the one who should make the offer.”
“Don’t care. You first.”
Korea’s top money demon vs. an SSS-grade reckless lunatic.
A clash of equals.
“You little bastard… you’re the CEO! Everything benefits you!”
“Pfft. Grandpa, you sound like a robber without a knife. We’re talking about Mountain King here—legend of legends! You think I can just accept anything?”
“I’ll cover the signing bonus.”
“Amateur move. That’s obvious. Now talk properly.”
“You brat…”
The chairman drew a line with absolute authority.
“Signing bonus only. I’ll take care of the rest later.”
The aura of a corporate titan filled the room.
But Lee Shin didn’t even flinch.
“I don’t accept verbal contracts.”
“….”
From the moment he heard “Mir Guild,” he had already understood the chairman’s intent.
“You were planning to use me as a discardable piece.”
Lee Sang-baek’s eyes narrowed.
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
But Lee Shin continued calmly.
“You gave me a chance, but not really. Let’s be honest—it was a throwaway opportunity.”
“Watch your mouth!”
“And I’m being polite here.”
The chairman’s expression hardened.
But Lee Shin wasn’t done.
“Let’s get back to business.”
Now the real negotiation began.
“I want salary + signing bonus. Top tier.”
“You brat—do you even know how much Mountain King earns?!”
“Doesn’t matter. You’re going to match the best in Korea anyway.”
“Who are you to decide that?!”
“I’m the CEO.”
The chairman’s brow twitched.
“…You’re a guild CEO. You should be cutting costs, not raising them!”
Lee Shin shrugged.
“Why cut costs when you’re Ido?”
That name alone carried weight.
“Korea’s number one corporation. Number one symbol. Number one conglomerate.”
Lee Shin leaned back casually.
“We don’t need to lower expectations. We build the image.”
“Image?”
“Yes.”
“Ido is always number one. That’s already in people’s minds.”
He tapped his temple.
“So let’s not break that. Not a startup struggling to survive—but a guaranteed success story.”
A “top dog” narrative.
People prefer overwhelming dominance backed by money.
“Money splash marketing. The kind only Ido can do.”
The chairman studied him silently.
This was supposed to be a test.
A test of whether Lee Shin had the right vision.
And now—
The chairman had his answer.
‘Better than expected.’
He had expected Lee Shin to mention Kirin Guild.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he focused on a higher level entirely.
“Are you seriously thinking beyond Korea?”
Lee Shin smiled.
“Why would I stop at Korea?”
“….”
The chairman’s expression darkened.
“You’re very bold.”
“I’m just correct.”
A beat of silence.
Then—
“I can’t rely on you.”
“Of course you can’t.”
“…What?”
“I don’t need your help to succeed.”
The chairman froze.
Lee Shin’s eyes were clear.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Just absolute certainty.
“I would’ve entered this industry anyway. And I would’ve reached the top anyway.”
He smiled.
“Because I’m the best in the world at this.”
World’s best.
Arrogant. Insane. Absolute.
And yet—
The chairman couldn’t dismiss it.
“…Fine.”
“Good. Then it’s settled.”
The chairman stood.
“I’ll give you everything you want.”
And then—
“Wait a second.”
“…What now?”
“That’s my line.”
Lee Shin pulled out a stack of documents.
“Now it’s time to talk about what I’m getting.”
