"How dare you scream? Do you know who your opponent is this time?" The middle-aged man was unruffled by the young man's outburst. He calmly removed his glasses, wiped them gently, and spoke with a steady tone. Upon hearing this, a smug look flashed across the young man's face.
"I've already looked into it. The guy's name is Jiang Hai. He's Chinese, running a farm in the U.S. selling beef, raising fish, that sort of thing. No political or business background to speak of." The young man's face darkened as he spoke, clearly frustrated. Being beaten by a "country bumpkin" irritated him to no end.
"Not bad, you actually did some research." The middle-aged man nodded slightly in approval. "But do you know who the woman next to him is?"
"The woman?" The young man's thoughts immediately shifted to the blonde, blue-eyed woman who had caught his attention earlier. Though he had been seething with anger, something about her beauty stirred something else in him.
He had to admit, Pra Walton was striking, radiating a queen-like aura. He found himself yearning to embrace her, but now, listening to his father's words, it seemed she was far more significant than he had initially thought.
"Yes, if you want to deal with Jiang Hai, that woman is actually your biggest obstacle. Do you know who you've offended? Her name is Pra Walton." The middle-aged man's voice was calm, but the gravity of his words was evident.
"Walton? Is it that Walton?" The young man blinked, recognizing the name immediately. As a member of Samsung's elite family, he had committed the major families to memory—after all, knowing who you were up against was half the battle.
"Yes, it's that Walton." The middle-aged man's gaze hardened as he regarded his son.
The young man froze. The Walton family? The wealthiest family in the world, with their conglomerate, Wal-Mart, sitting at the top of the Fortune 500. Samsung was powerful, but the Walton family—headquartered in the United States—was another league entirely.
The comparison was clear: While Samsung ranked 13th on the global list, Wal-Mart, part of the Walton family, ranked number one. The other giants—China Petroleum, ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell—were far behind.
"How could you offend the Walton family?" The young man's mind raced. He had unintentionally stirred up trouble with one of the world's most influential families. The political implications, especially given the strained relationship between South Korea and the United States, were not lost on him.
"Luckily for you, Pra Walton isn't a key member of the Walton family. I heard her mother was an outside affair—the illegitimate daughter of the current head of the family. She was brought into the family at eight years old. Despite her talent, she doesn't hold much sway. The Walton family won't go to war with us over her. But..." The middle-aged man's tone shifted. "If you make another misstep, things could escalate."
Though not a direct heir, Pra Walton's connections were formidable. If Samsung continued down its current path, the Walton family might retaliate, but their response would likely be calculated. The family was famous for being low-key and protective of their own. If provoked too far, however, even their patience could run thin.
"I understand," the young man muttered, clearly reluctant but also aware of the gravity of the situation.
"I know you're unhappy, but Jiang Hai is not someone you should continue to provoke. What you've uncovered about him is only the surface. Here's more detailed information." The middle-aged man handed his son a piece of paper. "After reading this, I hope you'll abandon any further ideas. From now on, you'll remain in South Korea. Don't leave this place without my permission!"
As the middle-aged man turned to leave, the young man picked up the paper and began to read.
Had Jiang Hai been there, he would have been stunned. The paper contained everything—Jiang Hai's background, his history, even his high school grades, and detailed accounts from the current year. The young man had no idea just how thorough the investigation had been.
It was no secret that Jiang Hai supplied premium beef to major outlets like Qi's restaurants in China, Wal-Mart's Sam's Club, and Haishang Supermarket. This was also why Pra Walton was involved with him.
Though Jiang Hai may have seemed like a simple farmer, it was clear that he held more influence than expected. Beyond beef, Jiang Hai had ties to powerful entities, including the royal family of Dubai and connections in China. Though Samsung was a giant, dealing with Jiang Hai would come at a steep cost—tens of billions of dollars.
Samsung could afford this, but it would be a political nightmare. The Lee family controlled Samsung, but their reach didn't extend to everything. No one would dare provoke someone with the Walton family's backing, not to mention ties to the Middle East and China. If Samsung pursued this vendetta, it would risk a financial and political disaster.
The young man sighed, his mind swirling with frustration. He couldn't do anything now. He had to bide his time, suppress his anger, and wait for the right moment. But what would happen next? He couldn't be sure, but he'd find out soon enough.
Meanwhile, the nurse who had been standing by quietly slipped out of the room, well aware of the dangers of sharing such information. In South Korea, the Samsung Lee family ruled, and even a high-ranking president would follow their lead. A nurse like her? She wouldn't stand a chance if she crossed them.
As the young man lay on his bed, brooding, he couldn't help but curl his lips in annoyance. He couldn't deal with Jiang Hai right now, but in South Korea, he was still a prince. When frustrations built, the easiest thing for a man to do was find solace in the company of women.
Before long, a group of beautiful young women arrived at his ward.
The middle-aged man was aware of his son's behavior but didn't care, as long as it didn't escalate to something serious. In his eyes, this was a small consolation.
Meanwhile, Jiang Hai remained oblivious to the situation unfolding in South Korea. Since his confrontation with Li Zhihao, he hadn't given the matter much thought. Samsung might be a powerful name, but it too had its weaknesses—especially when it came to scandal.
Jiang Hai was confident that Li Zhihao wouldn't dare make any moves against him. If they tried, he was ready. He had built powerful connections over the past year, and with the Walton family, the Dubai royal family, and China on his side, even the might of Samsung wouldn't be enough to topple him. If anyone dared cross him, they would quickly realize just how strong he had become.
After a relaxing bath, Jiang Hai returned to his room, sank into his white jade bed, and pulled the covers around himself. He closed his eyes, letting sleep claim him.
Meanwhile, Dina Taylor, who had just shared a moment with Jiang Hai, walked back to her villa, her thoughts her own.