Former Mastermind To Chaebol Son-in-Law

Chapter 74

Let's Change Direction

【RSK's hidden deficit of 200 billion won! Baeksan Accounting Firm has ruled for workout proceedings. Currently, president Lee Hyun-geon has been indicted by the prosecution for embezzlement, breach of trust, and bribery...】

【A rebellion from small textile company Texcellence? With AMK Partners at their back, Texcellence is carrying out a hostile takeover of RSK! The funds needed to secure shares are estimated at a minimum of 400 billion won...】

【Taeshin Group's massive shake-up causes stock price turbulence!? Recently, Taeshin Trading established the TF division, launching a large-scale re-audit of the head office, affiliates, and subsidiaries, uncovering company regulation violations and illegal acts by around 100 executives and employees. Disciplinary actions have been meted out according to objective severity...】

.

.

Taeshin Trading's executive vice president, Tae Seok-ho, was preparing for discharge with a distinctly displeased expression.

Reina, who had become his new secretary, approached with an unbroken smile.

"Executive vice president. The phone keeps ringing. What should I do?"

"Don't answer any of them."

Even while hospitalized, the calls continued.

The CEOs and executives caught in Taeshin Group's reshuffle were trying to cling to Tae Seok-ho for a lifeline.

"They must be useless people, I suppose."

At that moment, Tae Seok-ho paused while putting on his jacket.

"Are you planning to speak like that at the company?"

He felt a chill at her tone.

Of course, it wasn't something a secretary to Taeshin Group's executive vice president should say.

Meanwhile, Reina's smile deepened.

"Of course not."

"Even if you're in front of me, try to be careful."

"Understood."

As Tae Seok-ho finished putting on his jacket, he asked again.

"Have you grasped all your duties? Deputy Chief Lee had a lot on his plate, so it can't be easy."

"You don't need to worry about that."

"Can I really trust you?"

"Are you referring to work? Or to the person behind me?"

Tae Seok-ho let out a sigh, staring intently at her.

"Both, obviously. I'm already cornered here, so how can I trust something blindly when I don't know what you'll do?"

"But you have no other options, executive vice president. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't even be here to talk about checkmate."

Suddenly, Reina's eyes flashed coldly, aimed at his throat.

"Are you saying I'm a pawn on a chessboard?"

"Everyone is. It's just a matter of whether you realize it—and if you do, different moves become possible."

"So, does the one who decided to use me as a piece on the board have a way to resolve this situation?"

The initial draft of the personnel reshuffle had already been approved in the chairman's hands.

All that was left was for it to go before the head office's board of directors for a final decision.

Because of this, various people who had stirred up trouble at the company were trying to reach out to Tae Seok-ho on the verge of survival or ruin.

Of course, many of Seok-ho's own people were among them—most notably, Taeshin Spintech's president Lee Chang-hwan and his executives.

However, the TF division had secured evidence on most of their illegal actions.

Anyone who tried to lend a helping hand could easily get caught up themselves.

"The major items are being cleaned up right now. It may get a bit noisy, but that's the best we can do at the moment."

"... Cleaned up?"

bzzz— bzzz—

Just then, Tae Seok-ho's phone vibrated again.

Reina, holding the device, showed him the screen.

【Jang Soo-yeon】

She had worked as one of Tae Seok-ho's executive secretaries alongside Lee Jae-jun.

Recently, Reina had taken over entirely and arranged for her transfer to the HR department under the Gyeongwon Support Division.

Jang Soo-yeon had also been informing Tae Seok-ho of the situation inside while he was hospitalized.

As the call connected, her voice came out.

[Executive vice president. Did you hear the news?]

"What news?"

sensing her serious demeanor, Tae Seok-ho grew tense.

[An employee of Taeshin Energy... was found dead in the company parking lot this morning.]

"... Dead? How?"

[The police are investigating. According to contacts, it's a suicide. There also seems to be a will. But...]

"There's more?"

[News of the personnel plan has leaked to Taeshin Energy.]

"How did...!"

Startled, Tae Seok-ho glanced at Reina standing in front of him. Her expression had taken on a subtle ambiguity.

"... Keep monitoring that side and share anything you find. Also let me know if anywhere else gets wind of the personnel plan."

The call ended with his instructions.

Afterwards, Tae Seok-ho looked back at Reina.

"Don't tell me...the thing I just heard... Was it your side's doing?"

"What are you referring to?"

It was a blatantly evasive return question.

And the previous call had been loud enough that she couldn't possibly not have heard.

"Are you going to keep doing this?"

"I'm just trying not to let you take things too seriously."

"You call that an excuse?"

"Things like this will probably keep happening. If you react every time, we'll both be exhausted."

Tae Seok-ho glared at her with a grim face.

"So, this kind of handling is normal where you come from?"

"I just want you to get used to it quickly."

"You mean... more people will die?"

"You're not worried about human life itself. You're concerned you might get singed by our methods, right?"

An awkward silence followed. It was undeniable.

"Hm..."

"And in this situation, it was unavoidable. If the personnel plan goes through, your position is in danger, executive vice president. That's why we have to delay it, and this was the only way. The police, prosecutors, and media will all be in motion, so trust and wait."

A quiet sigh escaped Tae Seok-ho's lips.

"Haven't you considered the potential drop in Taeshin Group's stock price?"

"That's actually good for us. It creates a chance for you to secure the shares you need."

Tae Seok-ho immediately figured out what she meant.

"So, on the surface, you pressure Kang In-hyuk, who pushed through the reshuffle, and father who approved it—while in the background, you secure shares and win shareholder support?"

"You're quick with calculations."

At the same time, concern crept across Tae Seok-ho's face.

"If your side secures the needed shares, doesn't that mean you'll step in later?"

"We'll make sure you have a chance to purchase them before control is finalized, so don't worry."

"How can I believe that? Didn't you just do everything earlier without consulting me?"

"That was just a taste. And we don't want to be exposed on the surface. That's why we want to ally ourselves with people like you who have big goals and skills."

While in the hospital, Tae Seok-ho had tried to deduce whom Reina was working for.

Police who manipulated evidence with ease, reporters typing what they pleased, hospitals turning gunshots into traffic accident injuries—and now, the ability to take care of people without batting an eye...

At first, he'd thought of the National Intelligence Service, but he couldn't find a reason for them to act independently from the government.

And Reina's bearing and methods were definitely not theirs.

"How many more do you plan to 'take care of'?"

"Two more? If we take out too many, people will get suspicious. And even for us, it's not possible to control the police and the media 100%."

Reina tossed off talk of killing people as if it were nothing.

Tae Seok-ho could only sigh in response.

"If you know that, how can you go through with this?"

"As I said, things won't settle down otherwise. Anyway, just take appropriate action while we move."

Tae Seok-ho shook his head in dismay.

"Wouldn't it be better to take care of Kang In-hyuk instead?"

"Are you asking for our help since you couldn't do it yourself?"

It was another needling remark.

"You really have a way with words..."

"No ill intent. But we can't take care of Division Director Kang In-hyuk right away."

"Why not? If you can dispose of people so easily, why not him?"

"That's a different issue. We haven't figured out who's behind him yet."

At first, Reina, too, had thought as Tae Seok-ho did, given how much of an obstacle Kang In-hyuk was in this mission.

But as soon as she suggested it to the Organization, her proposal had been immediately rejected for exactly that reason.

"So, your side had the same suspicions."

"Since we're helping you, I looked into this and found that Kang In-hyuk's behavior has been odd since the beginning of the year."

"So basically, you acknowledge something's there but haven't figured out what. Maybe your capabilities aren't as great as I thought?"

"If we were perfect, we wouldn't need to reach out to you in the first place."

It was the same for Tae Seok-ho.

At the same time, he could sense just how significant Kang In-hyuk was to both himself and Reina's backers.

With that, the two left the hospital room.

.

.

.

Same time.

In-hyuk was sitting in the Taeshin Asset Management division director's office, speaking on the phone with Norman McGrath.

[The RSK project is progressing successfully. At this rate, Texcellence should be able to acquire RSK without any issues.]

This was a progress report on the project so far.

"There aren't any shareholding problems right now, but President Lee Hyun-geon might play dirty, so keep an eye out."

[Will do.]

At that moment, something came to In-hyuk's mind.

"Is there any problem handling things on the Accentia side?"

[I was just about to mention it—they seem to be having trouble developing the system. It looks like there are others contacting them, too. Perhaps we should arrange a meeting under the guise of due diligence.]

Norman McGrath placed total trust in In-hyuk's decisions as Gordon Grimes.

But because the circumstances looked suspicious, he broached the subject with caution.

"So, they're starting to have second thoughts."

[It's not that I doubt your judgment, CEO, but I thought it might be an issue.]

"No, it makes sense given the situation."

[Then should I proceed with the due diligence meeting?]

In-hyuk answered without hesitation.

"No. Just leave it."

A startled voice came over the line.

[Pardon?! But among the companies Accentia is in talks with, there are some that are hostile to our business. It could complicate the Greenbyte Labs collaboration you were preparing.]

"You said it was Redboar Technology that was contacting them, right?"

[Correct.]

That company was where Chulsan Capital's funds had been embezzled.

Moreover, it was one of the firms that had taken aim at TN SOFT, which In-hyuk had worked on.

"We are going to change direction."

[... Change in what way?]

"I'll send you the related data separately. If Accentia insists on terminating the contract and paying damages, have our partner law firm extract as much as possible from them. Until then, make sure you have all the necessary evidence for the settlement ready."

Norman McGrath instantly grasped In-hyuk's intent.

[Don't tell me you anticipated this from the very beginning?]

"Would you believe me if I said I didn't?"

[Haaa... Do you mean you even predicted Redboar Technology would approach Accentia?]

"Not that far."

He had honestly expected them to act through a different company.

But seeing Redboar Technology step forward directly, it meant the AMK Partners' adversaries were getting desperate.

[Understood. Send the data, and I'll act after reviewing it. Ah, I have one more question.]

"Go ahead."

[When did you make arrangements with Hong Kong's SGA and the UK's Lumen Holdings? We were able to smoothly take over all of Texcellence and RSK's shares and bonds from them, and things progressed so seamlessly that it made me a bit uneasy.]

Each firm could have conducted the transactions directly.

But without major noise, all their shares and bonds had been sold to AMK Partners at fair prices.

"I'm just well-prepared. We'll likely have many dealings with those firms going forward, so maintain good relations."

[You never fully disclose things. In any case, understood.]

The call ended there.

In-hyuk, meanwhile, set down his phone on the desk, letting out a wry chuckle.

In fact, In-hyuk was the real owner of both SGA in Hong Kong and Lumen Holdings in the UK.

Of course, just as with his Gordon Grimes identity within AMK Partners, he held them all under different names.