By Zephyria 
* * *
As they entered the spacious central conference room of the main building, familiar faces were seen. Those who were waiting, sitting on their respective cushions on the wooden floor, stood up from their seats with the appearance of Kwon Rae-i and Woo Tae-hwon.
It was a formation that seemed to have been deliberately divided.
On the left side of the center were the main figures of the Jeun Faction, including President Hwang Jin-soo, Jeon Ho-chang, and Kim Woo-shik, and on the right side were the members of the Gyeongjeong Faction, including Park Chan, who had been secretly working as Kwon Rae-i’s henchmen. Unfortunately, Han-seon was unable to attend. His seat was vacant. And behind the screen were the five elders of the Gyeongjeong, no, now three.
Also noticeable was the small altar placed between the three elders. There, Chairman Kwon Jung-il’s portrait and memorial tablet were neatly placed.
“Bow.”
With the command, everyone who attended the inauguration ceremony bowed deeply.
Kwon Rae-i walked along the path in the center, passing those who were prostrating on the floor. There was his seat prepared in the middle. Kwon Rae-i sat in the seat of honor, and Woo Tae-hwon stood next to him. Only then did those who had been kneeling and bowing raise their heads and sit straight in their seats.
The atmosphere was cold.
Sure enough, the power struggles seemed to have already begun. The eyes of the Jeun members and the Gyeongjeong members were not good. Also, the elders sitting in the back row were just as fierce. All of them were called to this place with the leash of the ledger around their necks.
He had defeated all his brothers and was ascending to the Chairman position with his father’s will on his back, but there was no doubt that Kwon Rae-i could unite and dominate the chaotic organization. Even if he held great power in his hands, whether he could keep that power until the end was another story. That’s why everyone who attended the inauguration ceremony looked at Kwon Rae-i with their own thoughts.
Their master, the flying dragon of the new era.
“We will now begin the Chairman’s inauguration ceremony.”
Tae-hwon, who had scanned the quieted members of the organization, led the ceremony. His low and weighty voice overwhelmed the audience.
“First, we will have a moment of silence for the late former Chairman. Everyone, please rise from your seats and face the portrait in front.”
Those who had been seated stood up again. Kwon Rae-i also stood up at this time.
“Everyone, moment of silence.”
Everyone bowed their heads in unison. Chairman Kwon Jung-il was a prominent figure who led an era. Even if he was lacking as a father, he was excellent as a Chairman. Even the Jeun Faction and the Gyeongjeong Faction were not on good terms, but they took a short moment of mourning with respect for the giant of the underworld and finished.
“Now, we will present the letter of appointment to the new Chairman. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the KJ Sponsorship Foundation, please come to the platform for the new Chairman.”
Following Tae-hwon’s serious proceedings, one of the three old men standing in the back row slowly walked out. The one in the middle was the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the most influential of the elders. His name was Kang Geum-baek, and he had also attended the inauguration ceremony of Kwon Rae-i’s father, Chairman Kwon Jung-il.
Across generations, he was playing the role of delivering the letter of appointment to the son of that father.
He was sure that the eldest son, Kwon Tae-oh, would be the next Chairman, but Chairman Kang Geum-baek swallowed a bitter smile of defeat without anyone knowing. He never thought he would become a dog with a leash around his neck in his later years. From the position of thinking of putting a leash around the neck of the new Chairman and using him as he pleased, he couldn’t help but feel bitter.
But he, too, was a powerful man who had ruled an era. He was not foolish. At least he could distinguish between when to step back and when to step forward. He didn’t want to admit it, but their era was over now. Inevitably, he would have to finish his remaining years quietly, playing with the money he had accumulated. He thought that other fights and struggles, and the endless dogfights, should be handed over to the young and energetic.
“Chairman Kang Geum-baek will now present the letter of appointment to the new Chairman.”
The gold-rimmed letter of appointment was passed through his wrinkled hands. Kwon Rae-i’s large, powerful, and clean hands took it. A familiar watch was glimpsed on his outstretched wrist. And a thunderous applause poured out.
The sound of vigorous clapping continued for a while without stopping.
“After this, there will be an inaugural address by the new Chairman. Chairman Kwon, please remain on the platform, and Chairman Kang Geum-baek, please return to your seat.”
Chairman Kang returned to his seat, and Kwon Rae-i handed the letter of appointment to Tae-hwon. Tae-hwon covered it well and stored it under the table. Soon, Kwon Rae-i stepped forward and recited his inaugural address indifferently. It was an impromptu sentence that was not prepared in advance.
“Kwon Rae-i.”
From the introduction, it was extremely arrogant.
“The Gyeongjeong has changed. It will not be able to survive with its old history and faded methods. I am not afraid, and I will lead you into the storm. Follow me. Welcome.”
Is he, is he crazy?
Everyone seemed to have similar thoughts. Everyone had an expression as if they had been hit. Who would dare to act so presumptuously at the Chairman’s inauguration ceremony?
Even if it was a provocation, there was no such case. He was not only rude, but just a son of a bitch. The Gyeongjeong Faction was not just a bunch of neighborhood grocery store thugs.
However, even with such an inaugural address, they had no choice but to follow because it was Kwon Rae-i who said it. It was because he had shown his performance.
Tae-hwon cleared his throat and continued the proceedings.
“Yes, we have heard the Chairman’s inaugural address. The congratulatory speeches from the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the former Chairman will be omitted. Please take the glasses placed in front of you.”
In front of the members of the organization sitting on the cushions, there was a small glass with alcohol poured into it. Everyone knelt down and held the glass with both hands respectfully and raised it above their heads. Tae-hwon took out the prepared bottle of alcohol from under the table and handed it to Kwon Rae-i, and raised his glass in the same way. He knelt on the floor and raised the glass high above his head.
In front of everyone waiting with bated breath, Kwon Rae-i opened the bottle for the first time. The scent of clear Cheongju wine was subtly wafting.
“Executive Director Woo Tae-hwon.”
Kwon Rae-i called Tae-hwon’s name first and filled his glass with Cheongju. The order in which the alcohol was poured was important. It meant that they were trusted by the Chairman in that order, and it became a tacit ranking in the future. The lower ranks had to hold the glass above their heads and wait in the same position until the order of the higher ranks was over.
“I will gratefully accept it.”
Tae-hwon raised his head and drank the filled alcohol. The high-proof alcohol passed cleanly down his throat. The clean scent of Cheongju seemed to resemble Kwon Rae-i. Whoever prepared it had chosen the right type of alcohol.
Tae-hwon, who swallowed the alcohol in one gulp, firmly resolved his oath of loyalty.
“Loyal servant Woo Tae-hwon, I make three vows to the Chairman at this place today. Even though we have no blood ties, we will share a deeper bond than blood ties, we will make a resolution to share the organization and life and death together, and we vow to never disobey the Chairman’s will and to offer absolute loyalty.”
Kwon Rae-i handed the bottle of alcohol to Tae-hwon, and Tae-hwon took out his glass and exchanged it. This time, Tae-hwon poured the Cheongju. He was still kneeling, and Kwon Rae-i was standing in front of him.
“I receive the glass of Executive Director Woo Tae-hwon as a representative. With this oath, I will forge an unbreakable bond.”
And Kwon Rae-i drank the glass in one gulp. Tae-hwon bowed deeply in front of him. The honor of exchanging glasses with the Chairman was a privilege granted only to the first-ranked member of the organization. After that, they could only receive the glass, but not offer it.
Kwon Rae-i picked up the Cheongju and went down below the platform. Then, he filled each person’s glass one by one, repeating the oath and deep bow. The second person chosen was President Hwang Jin-soo, and the third was Park Chan. The fourth was Chairman Kang Geum-baek. Jeon Ho-chang and Kim Woo-shik were quite far down the list.
The glasses went around and around like that. The liquor ran out several times, so they had to bring new bottles. After repeating the same procedure for the endlessly lined-up members, Kwon Rae-i returned to his place. It was next to Woo Tae-hwon.
“With this, the Chairman Inauguration Ceremony is officially adjourned. A banquet has been prepared, so please move to the venue.”
Endless applause. Amid the roaring cheers, Kwon Rae-i and Woo Tae-hwon exited.
As soon as they stepped into the hallway, Kwon Rae-i took off his watch and roughly shoved it into his pants pocket. Tae-hwon pretended not to notice and averted his gaze.
It was worth over two billion won, so he wondered if he could treat it so carelessly, but the amount probably wasn’t important. He thought he should visit Chairman Kwon Jung-il’s grave separately to make up for it. He felt sorry to the Chairman in many ways. Of course, the Chairman was the first to break their long-standing promise, so he probably didn’t have the face to see Woo Tae-hwon either.
And, not that he was trying to compare, but the ring Kwon Rae-i had put on Woo Tae-hwon’s left ring finger earlier was definitely worth a considerable amount. It wouldn’t be surprising if it was even more expensive.
Tae-hwon slightly adjusted the position of the ring case he had carefully kept in his pocket. He made sure it was well-stored inside his suit so it wouldn’t fall out, checking it two or three times. Just thinking about it made his heart feel strangely hot. Should he say it was heating up, or should he say it was overflowing?