Chapter 79
Why Don't You Take Charge of It
【Taeshin Asset Management, Taeshin Life changes status from a subsidiary to an affiliate of Taeshin Group! With the change in equity structure and significant recent profit creation, an expansion of strategy from the M&A/PEF division is anticipated......】
【Battle for RSK shares! Texcellence is believed to be using Taeshin Asset Management as a broker to acquire massive stakes. Meanwhile, RSK's losses from continuous embezzlement, breach of trust, and reckless management are dragging its stock price down day after day......】
【In the U. S., Accentia demanded AMK Partners terminate the investment contract. AMK Partners filed not for damages but for a cancellation reversal lawsuit...... Legal representation is handled by Morgan & Finch, one of the top five law firms in New York, attracting public attention......】
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There was never a quiet day in the world, always buzzing with news.
Of course, all those situations had been caused by In-hyuk.
In-hyuk checked such updates on his tablet while heading somewhere, as usual.
That morning, his destination was Taeshin Trading.
He got out in the underground parking lot and ascended, attracting the gazes of passing employees.
"With this personnel reshuffle, isn't he going all the way up to a head office executive?"
"But is it really a reshuffle? Isn't it just restructuring?"
"I heard some of the presidents are included too. Of course, people like us just follow orders, but it doesn't feel good just watching the higher-ups do as they please. That's why they cleared out all the problematic execs."
Various opinions buzzed among the people.
Meanwhile, the elevator they'd been waiting for arrived, and In-hyuk took it up to the floor where the TF division was located.
The employees who had arrived earlier were busy greeting In-hyuk as soon as he appeared.
Then, from one side, Noh Dongjun approached and spoke up.
"Hello! Division director!"
Amused by the playful greeting, In-hyuk just shook his head.
"Pick one stance to stick with."
"The other employees are watching, you know."
"Let's go to the office and talk."
It seemed like he had something to say to Noh Dongjun.
So, In-hyuk led Noh Dongjun, along with Hong Yu-geon, Van Hester, and Baek Si-hwan—who were following behind—into the office.
"Now that the reshuffle is finished, is the TF division going to be wound up soon?"
As soon as the door closed, Noh Dongjun asked again, now using informal language.
In-hyuk didn't ponder long.
Even now, with the personnel reshuffle over, the TF division staff were merely wrapping up remaining documents, their work essentially done.
"Soon, the work here will be completed."
"So, has it been decided where the staff will go?"
"Why? Did the others ask you to check for them?"
At that, Noh Dongjun gave a guilty start.
"Well... Everyone's worried about what'll happen to them."
"It's because with the reshuffle audit, if they go back to their original departments, their positions will be unclear, right?"
In-hyuk had experienced a similar thing himself back during the TSS days.
After working undercover under Tae Seok-hyun and then switching over to Tae Seok-ho's side... he thinned the ranks of factions using long-prepared background info.
After that, people in the company treated In-hyuk as if they'd seen the grim reaper.
He remembered perfectly the chilly atmosphere from then.
"How did you know about all that?"
"When I moved from Trading to Asset Management, it felt exactly like this."
"Ah..."
Back then, In-hyuk had married Tae Ju-ha and, thanks to two promotions from deputy to department manager, became a parachuted department manager of the stock management Team 3.
Though it wasn't exactly like now, it felt pretty similar.
"Anyway, that's why I came to the head office. As Taeshin Asset Management is being reorganized, they'll be staffing up some departments, so if any TF division staff want to transfer, it'll be possible. If not, they can stay at the head office or move to another affiliate, even if they were part of Taeshin Asset Management."
"Me too?"
"Why? Want to stay at the head office?"
Noh Dongjun waved both hands vigorously.
"No way! With my status, what head office? Having worked here, I know now... this place doesn't suit me."
"Doesn't suit you? For someone saying that, you chased down audit materials pretty ruthlessly. If I'd known you'd do this well, I'd have assigned you to the Audit Team from the start."
At that, Noh Dongjun stared at In-hyuk in surprise.
"I like what I'm used to! Even joking, don't say things like that."
"I'm not joking."
He was being perfectly sincere.
After a pause, In-hyuk spoke first.
"The TF division will be wound up at the end of this month. Starting today, HR from the Management Support Division will be surveying head office stay and transfers, so decide by then."
"What... You didn't secretly delete my job, did you?"
"How should I know?"
"Come on, seriously! You didn't, right?"
When In-hyuk shrugged, Noh Dongjun's eyes went wide.
"Come on, really?!"
"I'm kidding. Once you return to Taeshin Asset Management, you'll lead PEF Team 2."
"Huh? That's my old team."
"......"
The nuance hadn't quite landed.
Then, with another jolt, Noh Dongjun asked,
"You mean, take charge...?"
"That's right. You'll be promoted to deputy general manager and become team leader of PEF Team 2."
"Oooh, mmph!"
Noh Dongjun, about to cheer aloud, hurriedly clapped his hand over his mouth—just realizing where he was.
"Okay, calm down. And for other TF division employees, steps will be taken based on performance. Of course, the official notice will be..."
Right in the middle, the internal phone rang.
Beeeep—beeeeep—
The caller ID displayed the chairman Tae Gun-seung's secretary's office.
"Yes, In-hyuk speaking."
[The chairman asks to see you now.]
"All right."
Responding, In-hyuk looked around at those present.
"The chairman's sure been coming in a lot lately."
"Good luck."
"Oh, and as I was saying, don't mention any of this to the others until the notice comes out."
"Got it~!"
Noh Dongjun skipped off lightly like a dancer.
Shaking his head, In-hyuk left as well, taking only Baek Si-hwan up to the chairman's office.
Soon, upon arrival, they found Tae Gun-seung seated, his face looking lighter than before.
"I've reviewed the TF division's final cut report."
"...... Did you call me in just to tell me that?"
Reports were standard procedure. Even though In-hyuk had sent many, not once had he been summoned like this.
That made In-hyuk a bit sharp, suspecting the matter wasn't all that important.
"Ho ho, hardly. I wanted to hear what Kang is planning next. Things seem to be getting noisy around that Greenbyte Labs investment you've been pursuing."
In America, Accentia was about to terminate its investment contract with AMK Partners, and now a lawsuit was in the works.
It was all over the media, so there was no way Tae Gun-seung didn't know.
"There's some noise with a company called Redboar Technology getting involved. With what I'm hearing through the grapevine, I don't think it'll be resolved quietly."
"So... does that mean you'll be delayed in the Accentia partnership? Do you have a backup plan?"
"I have something in mind. But, sir, aren't there more pressing matters that concern you than ours?"
With the small talk going nowhere, In-hyuk deliberately probed at the core.
"You mean my sons?"
"It may sound like I'm butting in, but don't you think it's time to act?"
The personnel reshuffle hadn't brought Taeshin Group direct benefit. Rather, it had been a purging of rotten parts.
At the same time, this process inevitably planted anxiety among Taeshin's partner firms and shareholders.
Of course, shares in Taeshin Trading and other affiliates were on a steady downward trend.
"I'll be stepping down soon anyway. My part was to clean house for the next person to fill the seat."
"Are you doing this on purpose?"
"What do you mean, exactly?"
It didn't sound like genuine confusion—more like he was simply echoing something he already knew.
Noticing this, In-hyuk answered, sighing quietly and cautiously.
"You used my hand to wreck the group, and now you're just watching to see how everyone reacts?"
"When did you catch on?"
"To the moment you assigned the TF division. If you know what I've done up to now, you'd be fully aware what Taeshin Group would look like as a result. Still, not only were you content to just watch, but you even empowered me to push through with it."
The TF division itself hadn't existed in the original timeline.
Once In-hyuk began to make waves at Taeshin Asset Management, Tae Gun-seung took an interest and orchestrated events for a hidden goal—creating everything as it now stood.
"To someone listening, it might sound like I used Kang for free. But you knew that wasn't the case, right?"
"I was curious how far your permission extended. But you went further than I anticipated. Looking at things now, it seems you're leaning toward CEO Tae Seok-hyun rather than Executive Vice President Tae Seok-ho."
The restructuring had greatly shrunk both men's internal clout—but if anything, Tae Seok-ho suffered slightly more.
Besides, Tae Seok-hyun was the CEO of Taeshin Electronics, the group's flagship subsidiary.
Even if Tae Seok-ho boasted better management skills, in terms of core business, shareholders and the board would prefer his succession.
"Why don't you take charge?"
"... Pardon?"
"I mean Taeshin Group. Wouldn't you run it better than my sons?"
In-hyuk stared at Tae Gun-seung.
The words were thrown out lightly, but their implications were profound—he had to confirm whether Tae Gun-seung was serious.
But seeing his eyes, In-hyuk sensed he was not joking.
"I'd be glad to be given that chance. But I can't guarantee it would work out."
At this, Tae Gun-seung burst out laughing.
"Hahaha―!"
"What's so funny, sir?"
"I thought Kang would at least hesitate or wave it off, but you're so quick to say yes, it's amusing."
"If the chairman is handing me the company, why would I refuse?"
At In-hyuk's shameless reply, Tae Gun-seung chuckled again.
"Not feeling any pressure?"
"Not really. It wouldn't matter to me if you didn't, either."
"Such refreshing honesty."
This time, In-hyuk allowed a slight smile to cross his face. Leaning forward, he spoke to Tae Gun-seung.
"In any case, as you probably realize, you should be careful, sir. With things as they are, someone's toes are bound to get burned."
It was a transparent reference to Tae Seok-hyun and Tae Seok-ho.
Tae Gun-seung seemed to understand, the corners of his mouth drooping ever so slightly.
"For some reason... Kang, you look at the world from outside."
"Outside?"
"Cool judgment, objective perspectives, rational thinking... more than that, you even treat things involving yourself as if they're someone else's problem."
Perhaps it was because In-hyuk had lived through a lifetime more complicated and turbulent than anyone.
Looking at him, Tae Gun-seung seemed to be seeing something beyond the man before him.
"It doesn't sound much like a compliment."
"I simply mean, it's not a bad thing. Anyway, thanks for wrapping things up so well. You did a lot of heavy lifting. I tried to reward you, but if there's anything more you need, just say so. I'll help as much as I can."
In reply, In-hyuk nodded slightly.
"I'll give it some thought. Then, is there anything else you wanted to say?"
"Seems I've bothered someone busy without reason. Next time, let's have a meal together with Ju-ha."
"... I'll check my schedule."
Replying, In-hyuk stepped outside and drew out the phone from his pocket.
He launched the Ghost Link app, where a string of unchecked notifications was waiting.
【PPO54 : .......】
【Norman : .......】
【Luke Harrison : .......】
【Red Witch : .......】
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