What the kid had said left the old man so floored that he just stared at him.

Lend money to a man who'd obviously turn around and use it to fight the brat?

"Attach some conditions."

"What conditions?"

"Don't take property as the primary collateral."

"Then what do I take?"

"You don't need payment guarantees from the affiliates, either."

"Spell it out, you wretch!"

Kang Pilseong's brow creased.

"You tell me to lend him money, then tell me not to take property, the surest collateral there is? You think I dig my money out of the ground, you wretch?"

"Of course you take collateral."

"Then what am I supposed to take?"

"DMC."

"……!!" "To be precise, the DMC shares held by Chairman Go Jaeyong and his family."

Kang Pilseong's expression changed completely.

"Take a pledge on those shares."

"……." Kang Pilseong stared at Ha Tae-ung, speechless. His mind, though, was racing.

DMC was a listed company. Go Jaeyong held a sizable stake in it personally. And right now its share price was in free fall.

The way that Ha Tae-ung kid was going, this wasn't going to end here.

Tuesday! Once the market opened, there was every chance the price would drop further.

In that case there was no reason to value the collateral at the current market price. The fall in the share price had to be taken into account.

If he marked the collateral down hard, to half the market price or less, he could take far more shares than the loan was worth.

And if he added a collateral maintenance ratio on top? If the price slid further, Go Jaeyong would have to put up more collateral.

And if he couldn't? From there on, it would go the way it always had, the way Kang Pilseong had worked his whole life.

Kang Pilseong's eyes had come alive; they were practically dancing.

"You……."

Ha Tae-ung smiled, looking completely at ease. But to Kang Pilseong it was like looking at himself as a young man, and it gave him an odd feeling.

"What's the matter?"

"You smash Dongmyeong's share…