Chapter 99
Whenever There Was a Spare Moment
At Baek Ji-woong's question, Baek Si-hwan added a doubt.
"But hasn't Lumen Holdings and Orbis Investment's presence grown recently?"
"They may have reacted because the other side initiated a turf war."
He was referring to the recent Taeshin Group stock price crash event caused by Hyottoko.
At that time, Lumen Holdings and Orbis Investment somehow learned of the situation and made their move first.
That showed just how much influence AMK Partners currently wielded in Asia—it would not be an exaggeration to call it their territory.
The sudden aggressive buying by those two companies in such a setting was enough to provoke them.
"So you think they might be using Kang In-hyuk to probe the situation?"
"That's what I think for now... but something about it doesn't sit right with me. Have we confirmed why Tae Ju-ha went with them?"
Normally, if it was an AMK Partners matter, Kang In-hyuk would have only taken a security guard along.
Even Baek Si-hwan hadn't been able to accompany him yet, so it was only natural to find Tae Ju-ha's sudden presence odd.
"Kang In-hyuk suggested it first. Since it was AMK Partners business, Tae Ju-ha wanted to tag along."
"Hmmm... So, how about USAGI's side these days? Things seem quieter than I expected."
He was speaking of Reina Blackwood, who was currently working as Tae Seok-ho's secretary.
Baek Si-hwan had been checking up on her and Kang In-hyuk, so there was a lot on his mind.
"As you said, there's nothing particularly unusual going on."
Baek Ji-woong's worries deepened.
It was because of what Im Deok-chang of Hyottoko had proposed when they met a while ago.
He'd asked Baek Ji-woong to let go of involvement in Kang In-hyuk's affairs in exchange for transferring Taeshin Trading and Taeshin Electronics shares at a low price.
Accepting that proposal would halve Baek Ji-woong's plan to handle both Taeshin and KQ at the same time.
"As I suspected... They were planning this from the beginning."
"Are you saying Hyottoko deliberately targeted Kang In-hyuk to get involved in this?"
"To be precise, it's probably KQ Group. And their connection to AMK Partners is a bonus."
AMK Partners' fame, having expanded at a tremendous pace in Asia and America, could not be ignored anywhere.
Yet no one had been able to find out about its registered CEO, Gordon Grimes.
In the end, the only way to get in touch was through Norman McGrath, the Korean branch manager.
The organization had tried to make contact through various companies, but their only reply was that all decisions followed the CEO's choices.
But Kang In-hyuk had managed to land AMK Partners business without going through Norman McGrath.
Naturally, it was clear there was something going on.
"What do you intend to do?"
With Baek Si-hwan's question, the others also quietly awaited an answer.
Baek Ji-woong, thinking deeply, came to a decision.
"We'll change our hand. As soon as we buy those shares, we pull out of everything involving Kang In-hyuk."
On hearing this, Baek Si-hwan looked startled.
"... Completely?"
"Yes. For now, Taeshin is more important than Kang In-hyuk or KQ. So, as soon as you finish what you mentioned earlier, find a reasonable excuse and step back."
"But..."
Baek Si-hwan regretted all the trust he had slowly built up at Kang In-hyuk's side until now.
"If you hang around any longer, you might end up in more trouble. Don't dwell on it, just make a clean break."
"... Understood."
"And keep an even closer watch on everything else."
The others nodded.
* * *
In-hyuk and Tae Ju-ha had arrived in Geneva, Switzerland, and were traveling by car.
There were two cars in total; in the car behind them were Heo Yu-rim, Hong Yu-geon, and Van Hester, who were accompanying them on this trip.
"I didn't think you'd drive yourself all the way out here."
"I just wanted to. The number of people is a bit awkward, too."
Before they knew it, their car had entered downtown Geneva.
"Are you sure you know where you're going?"
They'd been driving without even using the navigation system.
"I know it well."
He couldn't not know—he had visited this place himself in a previous life.
After driving another 25 minutes, they arrived in an area called Carouge, south of Geneva.
The two parked in front of a building and got out.
"When are you going to tell me why we came all the way here?"
After glancing around, In-hyuk led the way. Watching the others follow behind, he spoke slowly.
"There are some things the chairman asked me to retrieve."
"Retrieve?"
"To be precise, these are the foundational assets for the succession of Taeshin Group. In simple terms... you could call them the weapons that let someone seize the throne."
Even if not for that, Tae Ju-ha could easily understand.
"Don't tell me... you mean he hid company shares overseas?"
"It's for the succession, so I'm sure he prepared all sorts of things. The three of you, wait on the first floor. If we all go in, it might not look good."
Heo Yu-rim, who had been quietly following, looked at him with concern.
"Just the two of you are going?"
"As I said, this is something important."
"Oh..."
Heo Yu-rim's gaze turned to Tae Ju-ha.
"It's fine, so please wait."
With that, Tae Ju-ha and In-hyuk got on the elevator.
"Have you ever been here before?"
To the moment he drove up to when he pressed the elevator button just now, it all seemed strangely familiar.
"No, this is my first time."
"You seem pretty comfortable for a first-timer."
"I'm glad I don't look nervous."
During their brief exchange, the elevator reached the eighth floor.
In-hyuk walked down the hall and pressed the doorbell for the office marked '812'.
"Is this the right place?"
"It is."
A moment later, a middle-aged Caucasian man peeked out.
"Qui est-ce?" (Who is it?)
It was French. At the question, Tae Ju-ha looked at In-hyuk in surprise.
"We probably should've brought an interpreter, huh?"
"No need. Je viens du siège social. (I'm from head office.)"
As fluent French flowed from In-hyuk's lips, Tae Ju-ha was astonished again.
"You can speak French, too?"
"A little."
"... Doesn't sound like just a little."
The man stood for a moment with a rigid face, then spoke again.
"Did you bring the documents?"
"Right here."
He handed over documents he had prepared in advance.
After checking them, the man opened the door wide and let them in.
"Please wait a moment."
Inside, except for the size, the office was not much different from any other company's.
"Are we really here to collect what the chairman left?"
"Let's wait and see."
The middle-aged man came back and asked In-hyuk,
"Who is the beneficiary?"
"This person."
Tae Ju-ha was puzzled as In-hyuk gestured to her.
"Me? What do you mean?"
"If you hand over your passport, the process will move forward."
"Don't tell me... It goes under my name?"
"It can't be me—I'm not part of Taeshin."
"But... Oh!"
As she hesitated, In-hyuk took her passport and handed it over.
"You'll have to do this at other places too."
"How many places are there?"
"Four, including this one."
"That many?"
"That just shows how thoroughly the chairman prepared things."
Realizing it would take a while, the two of them sat on chairs in the office.
At that moment, In-hyuk's phone started vibrating in his pocket.
It was a call from Van Hester, who was waiting downstairs.
[We're being tailed.]
"How many?"
At In-hyuk's Spanish, Tae Ju-ha once again looked surprised.
[Looks like two for now.]
"So it was quiet when we left, but of course someone had to follow."
[What should we do?]
"Leave them. As long as we don't make a move, they'll stay put too."
With that, he hung up.
"How many languages do you even speak?"
"Quite a few."
"When did you learn all that?"
"Just... whenever I had time."
"... Isn't that a bit of an insincere answer?"
Tae Ju-ha looked rather disappointed.
"I didn't know you cared about that."
"..."
* * *
At the National Intelligence Service's third deputy director's office in Korea, Im Deok-chang sat looking worried.
After a long silence, his phone vibrated in his hand.
"What's the situation?"
[Personnel include Kang In-hyuk, Tae Ju-ha, Heo Yu-rim, Hong Yu-geon, and Van Hester. Thirty minutes ago, they arrived at Geneva International Airport. Now they've entered a building in Carouge. However, Kang In-hyuk's security guard is waiting on the first floor, so it won't be easy to follow them directly.]
Upon learning Kang In-hyuk had left the country, Im Deok-chang had used his authority to track his destination.
Thanks to that, he could assign people to tail them even without real-time surveillance.
"You don't know exactly which part they're visiting?"
[I sent someone to check the building's CCTV footage.]
"Make sure to never get caught tailing them."
After a moment, another person's voice came over the line.
[Kang In-hyuk entered unit 812, a place called Monex GmbH.]
The person reporting had just checked the CCTV.
"I'll look into that place."
[We'll keep following them.]
Finishing the call, Im Deok-chang's worries deepened.
Chairman Kang Cheon-gyu of KQ Group had revealed Kang In-hyuk's position as successor, making it clear to everyone.
In the process, with shares as the condition, everything regarding Kang In-hyuk had been handed over to Baek Ji-woong as agreed.
Up to that point, everything was going as Im Deok-chang had hoped.
But now, Kang In-hyuk's sudden trip abroad at this timing was suspicious.
So, though it might be a bit risky, he had put people on their tail.
Meanwhile, he searched the National Intelligence Service's overseas database for information on 'Monex GmbH'.
"Hmm... On the surface, nothing seems out of place."
There were no big red flags in the company registration, certified copies, or financial transaction records.
"Would I have to dig deeper? Why did they even visit here in the first place? For what reason? Is it related to Taeshin Group?"
Unless there was suspicion of a crime, the NIS database only contained surface-level information.
Soon, Im Deok-chang called in a subordinate who had been waiting outside.
"Tell the overseas team to investigate a company in Geneva, Switzerland, called Monex GmbH."
It was the Korean name for Monex LLC.
At this, the staffer replied, looking slightly troubled.
"Unofficially?"
"That's right. And be extra sure it doesn't reach the first deputy director's ears."
When the subordinate left, Im Deok-chang called Reina Blackwood, who was working at Taeshin.
[What's the reason for your call?]
"Is there any way you could obtain data on internal fund transfers? I need to check whether there was any financial flow to a company in Geneva, Switzerland, called Monex GmbH."
[Is this related to Kang In-hyuk?]
"Yes. He's visiting the company in Geneva as we speak."
Silence fell on the other end for a moment.
[I'll try to find out, but it may be difficult.]
"If you ask Tae Seok-ho, surely it shouldn't be too hard?"
Taeshin Trading's executive vice president position held significant authority within the company.
[I heard that after Taeshin Asset Management, the entire internal security system was changed. I might be able to check, but it's almost impossible to do so without leaving a trace.]
That was another project Kang In-hyuk had overseen internally.
"To that extent?"
[There might be some materials available offline; I'll see what I can find.]
"I'll leave it to you."
Having heard her answer, Im Deok-chang's unease only deepened.