Chapter 115
Not Really
【NIS02: Third Deputy Director visits Japan. Additionally, the third deputy director plans to investigate Notex's Korean staff involved in the Gulf of Guinea incident.】
In-hyuk checked the message in the division director's office at Taeshin Asset Management.
At the same time, he opened another message he'd received a few hours earlier.
【W&W5344: Chairman Baek Ji-woong and his wife are on a business trip to Japan.】
The messages came from people he had connected/poached within the National Intelligence Service and the W&W Group.
It was no coincidence that both had moved to the same place at the same time—their movements were bound to seem suspicious.
With that, he entered a different channel of Ghost Link and sent a new message.
【Guest5436: Can you check the departure records at Incheon International Airport?】
This was sent to Go Mi-ah from the account he first used in Ghost Link.
【Red Witch: That's not hard. Who are you looking for? You don't know where they entered?】
【Guest5436: National Intelligence Service third deputy director Im Deok-chang, W&W Group's Baek Ji-woong and Kwon So-jeong. Destination is Japan for now. Please check which airport. If possible, also their route outside the airport.】
【Red Witch: Hold on.】
After a brief wait, a reply came back.
【Red Witch: All three arrived at Narita Airport in Japan. Entered two hours apart. According to the N-System records, they all went to a golf course called Itako Country Club.】
【Guest5436: Can't check the internal CCTV?】
【Red Witch: Figured you'd ask. I accessed the membership system, but it looks like security is managed offline—nothing came up. The names you mentioned weren't on the reservation list either.】
In-hyuk fell into thought for a moment.
The very fact that these three people visited the same place was strange.
"Are they having a meeting arranged by the organizations they belong to?"
Muttering, he wrote another message.
【Guest5436: Can you check the owners of all vehicles that entered the golf course on that day via entrance CCTV? If it's a rental car, also the renter.】
No immediate response came.
【Red Witch: All of them?】
【Guest5436: Yes, all of them please. I'll pay one million won per car.】
【Red Witch: Ok! I'll bleed your account dry.】
That concluded the conversation.
In-hyuk turned his attention back to the computer to review the documents awaiting his approval.
Ddiririri—ddiririri—
At that moment, the internal call rang and Baek Si-hwan's voice followed.
[Division director, you have a guest on the first floor.]
"A guest? I don't recall any meeting scheduled for today."
In the first place, In-hyuk had never called anyone to the office before.
[It's Chairman Kang Cheon-gyu from KQ Distribution.]
At the sound of that name, In-hyuk's brow furrowed.
"Haa... Understood. Please bring him up."
[Should I escort him somewhere else?]
Usually, when a VIP visited, they were led to a conference room or separate lounge.
Of course, there was no lounge at Taeshin Asset Management, so the conference room was the obvious choice.
"I have a lot to do. Please bring him here."
[I'll do that.]
Not getting a response, Kang Cheon-gyu had resorted to coming to the company himself.
It wasn't long before there was a stir in the MP Division's office. That alone was enough to know who had arrived.
Soon after a knock, the door opened and Kang Cheon-gyu entered along with his secretary, Noh Geun-cheol.
"What would you like to drink?"
"A hot coffee would be good."
In-hyuk glanced at Noh Geun-cheol.
"I'm fine."
"I'll have a cold canned drink, please."
Baek Si-hwan, having stepped out, returned with the drinks as ordered.
"You can return to your work now. I'll call if I need anything."
"... Understood."
Baek Si-hwan's voice was tinged with disappointment as he left again.
In-hyuk then sat opposite Kang Cheon-gyu and opened his canned drink.
Click―
"I didn't expect you to come in person, chairman."
"I had no choice. You made me worry about everything and then I couldn't even reach you after you returned to Korea."
Kang Cheon-gyu had been stunned the moment he saw reports of In-hyuk's attack in Vladivostok, Russia.
What's more, the person involved had gone missing for two weeks—his concern only grew day by day.
"If you weren't in some remote place, you must have seen it on the news."
"That's not what I mean. And you left the country while I was preparing the press conference. Did you know what I was planning to do in advance?"
It was all too coincidental that In-hyuk had left Korea at that timing.
"No, it was just a coincidence."
"Really? Then, by not responding to my calls... does that mean you refuse to become a KQ man?"
In-hyuk let out a deep sigh.
"I clearly refused last time as well."
"And you added conditions. You said you'd consider it when things were settled within the company."
That had been when they found the listening device at Kang Cheon-gyu's residence.
He had figured that even if he could sort out Kang Do-young, Kang Cheon-gyu wouldn't be able to deal with Jeon Hae-in, who owned some KQ Distribution shares.
"I've heard that my article has stirred things up within KQ Group. But I haven't heard any talk of matters being settled."
Kang Cheon-gyu smiled faintly.
"So you didn't lose interest."
"You're an investment business partner, after all."
In-hyuk waited for him to explain.
"Anyway, I'm planning to keep CEO Jeon Hae-in from getting involved in the management of KQ Distribution by separating the department store completely for her."
That was the surest method. But it came with the biggest problem as well.
"Will she give up her shares?"
"I wouldn't handle things carelessly. Still, I need your strength for that."
After a moment's thought, In-hyuk had no problem guessing the method.
"So you plan to blackmail her using the slush fund she diverted through department store and other affiliates."
Kang Cheon-gyu looked surprised.
"... You knew about the slush fund?"
"Just judging from KQ Department Store's management situation, I suspected there'd be problems. At the very least, tax evasion, embezzlement of renovation funds, false sales figures."
"Anyone would think you could read companies' fortunes."
It wasn't fortune-telling—in the original future, he already knew Jeon Hae-in would be investigated by prosecutors.
"So, if you're asking me to get involved, does that mean you want me to clean up the aftermath after you cause a stir?"
"That's accurate. No spiritual powers or anything, right?"
"... I'm not in the mood for jokes."
When In-hyuk turned more serious, Kang Cheon-gyu's smile faded, too.
"If you come to KQ, you'd have to do this anyway. It'll look great to shareholders and the board."
In the end, Chairman Kang Cheon-gyu planned to use his wife, the KQ Group matron Jeon Hae-in, as a sacrifice to bring in In-hyuk as his successor.
"I'm not eager. And I only said I'd consider it if things were settled, not that I'd join KQ no matter what."
That had been the exact condition.
And as befitting a chairman, Kang Cheon-gyu came up with a crafty trick.
"To be honest, it's frustrating. Is it because of your wife? If so, you two could join KQ together without divorcing. Naturally, I can prepare the position CEO Tae Ju-ha wants."
Wrinkles appeared on In-hyuk's brow. Clearly there was a major misunderstanding.
"As I said before, I have lots to do here. This isn't something for you to decide based on your own ambitions, Chairman Kang."
Was it because of the slightly tense atmosphere? For a moment, Kang Cheon-gyu was at a loss for words, sipping his coffee with a strange look.
"Maybe I spoke too strongly because I believe you can achieve what I couldn't."
"I'm not someone who realizes other people's dreams. And if you want something, do it yourself."
A brief silence passed before Kang Cheon-gyu asked back.
"Usually, wouldn't you wonder what I want from you?"
"Not really. And if you can't handle management, rather than leaving it to me, hire a professional manager."
He showed no sign of backing down.
Kang Cheon-gyu let out a long sigh through his nose.
"I'll be heading back for today."
"I have a lot of work, so I'd appreciate it if you left quickly."
"No matter what, I'm your father—aren't you being too harsh?"
"I just don't feel anything. And I'll only see you out to the office door."
In-hyuk stood and opened the door himself. It was more a signal to get out quickly than a gesture of politeness.
"You're really too much."
"It's you who's being too much, chairman."
Kang Cheon-gyu, looking disappointed, walked out with Noh Geun-cheol. The office staff busied themselves whispering as they watched the two leave.
Then Noh Dongjun cautiously approached In-hyuk.
"Why did Chairman Kang Cheon-gyu come all the way here? Wait—was he trying to take you with him?"
Apparently, Noh Dongjun had become comfortable speaking informally again.
"Well, something like that."
"Really? Then should I sprinkle some salt?" [T/N: A joke—like warding off bad luck.]
Surprised, In-hyuk stared at him, leaning against the door.
"......."
"What? If he wants to poach you, it's bad for our company! Or is it awkward because he's your dad?"
"You sure can run your mouth."
Noh Dongjun shrugged.
"It's my livelihood—I'll say what I have to. Besides, our division only runs well with Director Kang In-hyuk."
" 'Director' only at times like this? I heard you even got angry when people in the company gossiped that I might be dead?"
At that, Noh Dongjun scratched his head, looking sheepish.
"Huh? Of course I did!"
"But what's this I heard about you saying I'd survive no matter what thanks to my cockroach-like vitality?"
Noh Dongjun was startled, laughing awkwardly.
"Oh, you heard that?"
"You talked about it so much it even reached me."
Noh Dongjun quickly moved away from In-hyuk.
"Ah, I forgot, I have a meeting with Finance Team! I'll get back to work, director!"
His only solution was to escape. Noh Dongjun grabbed some nonexistent materials and disappeared out of the office.
Watching that, In-hyuk could only shake his head.
"Honestly..."
Bzzz— bzzz—
His phone vibrated in his pocket. It was a breaking alert from an economics article.
Checking it, In-hyuk smiled.
【Taeshin Semiconductor: Expected to participate in the semiconductor production process for Taiwan's SolarView and China's Mobricks joint smartphone project? Currently in contract negotiations, their diode stability and packaging technology have been recognized...】
【Taiwan SolarView confirms HK$1 billion investment from Hong Kong's SGA! Having secured investment, solarView is expected to successfully supply semiconductors for Mobricks' next-generation smartphones....】
.
.
The business that Chairman Tae Gun-seung had discussed with him was quietly progressing and had now surfaced publicly.
Of course, it wasn't due to independent coverage—Taeshin Group had distributed a press release.
"This will prop up the stock price for now."
In-hyuk glanced at Baek Si-hwan, seated at the secretary's desk behind him.
As always, he showed no unusual movements. He was merely moving to earn In-hyuk's trust.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
I wish this novel gets a K-Drama adaptation...
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】