As Lee Tae followed Director Ding into the conference hall, they lined up in front of the sofas on the right, creating a scene reminiscent of a negotiation in a TV drama. On the left sofa sat five or six people, led by a spirited man in his fifties. At a glance, Lee Tae could tell this man was likely the head of the Jaehyung Gang. Behind him stood a graceful young woman, their eyes meeting briefly before she quickly looked away, her face expressionless. Lee Tae paused to consider—no wonder she looked so well-maintained, with an old man at home.
"Director," greeted two older men on the right as they stood and bowed. After a brief exchange, Director Ding took his seat on the right, with Lee Tae and Ding Qing standing behind him.
"Wow, so that beauty from the bar last time is Chairman Seok's woman," Ding Qing whispered softly, his voice barely audible. "No wonder she's so stunning." He added, "She's even looking at me."
Lee Tae glanced at the young woman across from him, her gaze enticing, sparking something inside him. The frustration he'd felt earlier in the tea room hadn't fully dissipated, and this alluring woman had appeared at just the right moment. He glanced at the door and murmured, "Director, I'll go wash my hands."
Director Ding nodded slightly, and with that, Lee Tae seized the chance to step out, leaving Ding Qing behind. Outside, the two groups stood apart. Lee Tae instructed Zhang Qian to guard the door and signaled for Yellow Ox to follow him.
As he strolled, he admired the Korean traditional palace-style architecture, ancient and elegant. Rushing in earlier had left him no time to look around, but now he saw just how tastefully arranged this place was. While smoking outside, he noticed the young woman leaving through the main entrance, heading toward another area. He followed her at a leisurely pace, taking a different route, and entered an inner courtyard after passing through a long corridor. The area was deserted, and the scenery even more secluded and refined.
Entering a room, he was met by her soft figure rushing into his arms. "Oppa, you're so daring."
"Do you like it?" he asked, smiling.
"I love it," she murmured breathlessly.
In the spacious, silent room, their voices echoed clearly. Lee Tae guided her to the window, where three plum trees stood proudly among the white gravel outside, exuding a sense of noble solitude.
"No wonder you said yesterday your husband is so harsh," Lee Tae remarked, feeling his tension ease. "So, you're Chairman Seok's woman."
The young woman covered her mouth and laughed softly. "I'm not his wife."
Lee Tae understood instantly. No wonder she was so alluring—wives were chosen for virtue, but mistresses were selected for beauty and charm. The old man must truly treasure her, or he wouldn't have brought her along to the meeting.
Amidst their breaths, he asked, "What's Chairman Seok meeting with Director Ding about?"
"To discuss a partnership," she replied in a dazed, fragmented tone. "The chairman said all this fighting has led nowhere… so why not work together and make money."
As he'd suspected, events were progressing faster than he'd anticipated. The Jaehyung Gang and Bukda Gang seemed ready to join forces, with the Empire Gang likely to be the next target. If this was how the Geumgang Group was born, history was about to unfold before his eyes. After a pause, he continued, "Anything else?"
"It seems the chairman wants control over Yeosu's port first."
"Madam!" Voices called from the distance, indicating that the old man was quite attentive to her. Hearing the call, their passion flared up once more.
"Boss," came Yellow Ox's quiet reminder from outside, "someone's coming."
As his words fell, the door slid open halfway, and the flushed woman walked out gracefully. Moments later, a refreshed Lee Tae exited the room as well. Sunlight gleamed off the white stones outside, almost blinding. He sat on the threshold, finishing his cigarette before returning to the conference room with Yellow Ox at a leisurely pace.
Inside, a thick cloud of smoke hung as a group of old men argued loudly.
"Kid, were you constipated or something?" Ding Qing asked, disgusted. "Damn, you took forever."
"Cut it out." Lee Tae glanced at the young woman across from him, her face expressionless. "The meeting isn't ending anytime soon; I just went out for some fresh air."
Ding Qing squinted, giving him a knowing look. "You make a good point… let's grab a drink tonight."
The arguments in the conference room continued. After listening for a while, Lee Tae concluded that the two organizations intended to cooperate, though it was only preliminary. There was no formal merger yet; both sides seemed to be testing the waters.
"The organizations plan to work together on a few projects." The rise of every gang came at the cost of countless others. With limited territory, the more one organization took, the less there was for others. If these two national organizations truly joined forces, they'd undoubtedly swallow many smaller gangs.
"Is this a good thing or a bad thing?"
"What do you think?" Both of them gave noncommittal responses. The revelation was shocking enough to stir their thoughts. Lee Tae found himself impressed by these old men. Despite their age, they were relentless in their pursuit of power, bickering through an entire afternoon with the vigor of youth.
"Looks like it's wrapping up." Ding Qing yawned. "Standing around all afternoon is exhausting."
"Forget drinking; let's hit up a club tonight." In an instant, Ding Qing changed his mind. Drinking was dull—better to seek some excitement.
"Fine by me."
As it turned out, Lee Tae and Ding Qing had indeed underestimated the situation. After dinner, the group of old men continued their discussions late into the night. Watching these elderly men argue like children, Lee Tae gradually realized that the foundation of the Geumgang Group might actually be formed today. Both sides were clearly eager for this partnership, and the current debate was merely about board seat allocation.
Running a gang like a corporation, using force to protect their economic interests, and legitimizing finances through legal means—South Korean gangs were indeed keeping up with the times.