Chapter 141 : Are You Serious?
Are You Serious?
The following afternoon.
Someone arrived at the executive floor of Taeshin Trading and kicked open the door to Tae Seok-ho's office.
"Tae Seok-ho―!"
It was Tae Seok-hyun, who had just returned from Incheon International Airport.
Tae Seok-ho, sitting calmly at his desk, didn't react at all at the sight of him.
In fact, it was almost dismissive as he turned his gaze to the monitor.
However, Tae Seok-hyun did not stop there and strode right up to him.
"What do you think you're doing right now? An emergency shareholders' meeting because father collapsed? Are you really going to go through with this?"
It was only then that Tae Seok-ho let out a short sigh and met his gaze.
"Are you asking because you really don't know what's going on?"
"Who's asking because they don't know? I'm saying how could you do this!"
"Do what? Call a shareholders' meeting because father collapsed? Or act for Taeshin's sake when the company is swaying just because father's fallen ill?"
Bang―
Tae Seok-ho slapped the desk as he stood, and Tae Seok-hyun flinched back momentarily.
"F-father could get up any time! Do you really think it's right to covet his position just because of this?"
"Was I the only one eyeing it?"
"Then you weren't?"
"Weren't you quietly accumulating shares behind father's back through what you did at Taeshin Electronics and pretending to be clean?"
Tae Seok-hyun's face twisted.
After all, that was another thing he'd done while building a slush fund.
When something that hadn't even come out at the last meeting was dragged into the open, he couldn't help but be shocked.
"And you pretend you're clean?"
"Do you even know anything about what you're talking about?"
In truth, Tae Seok-hyun had found nothing to pin Tae Seok-ho's corruption on.
Of course, his suspicions were stronger than anyone's, but he hadn't found any real evidence.
Tae Seok-ho had been thorough as executive vice president at the head office.
"You..."
"Don't do this here. Go home and think about your future. Ah, with the shareholding you worked so hard for, you won't be starving."
Tae Seok-hyun's face flushed a deep red.
"When father wakes up, do you think he'll just let you be?"
"What if he doesn't?"
"Grrr..."
"Father has kept the chairman's position at Taeshin for too long. Don't you think it's time he took a break?"
"And you call that talking?"
A long sigh escaped Tae Seok-ho's mouth.
"If you have nothing more to say, please leave. Unlike some people, I'm not exactly free right now."
"You bastard?!"
In the end, Tae Seok-hyun flew at Tae Seok-ho as if to grab him by the collar.
But Tae Seok-ho's security guards entered at that moment and grabbed Tae Seok-hyun by both arms.
"Do you know who you're touching? Let go of me!"
Tae Seok-ho, who had been watching the scene coldly, snorted.
"There's nothing you can do in this situation. Just wait quietly. Unless, of course, you want me to take away your children's places as well."
"Are you threatening me?!"
"It's not a threat. It's advice. At your age, you should at least have some dignity."
At that, the security guards withdrew at Tae Seok-ho's signal.
Of course, with their grip, Tae Seok-hyun had no choice but to be dragged out.
The door, which had been opened the whole time, was quietly closed again by Reina Blackwood, who had been watching the scene.
"It was noisier than I expected."
"That's because father spoiled his first son too much."
"By the way, we got word from the hospital. Tae Ju-ha's gone to the UK."
Tae Seok-ho tilted his head at the unexpected news.
"The UK? Suddenly?"
"Lumen Holdings is in the UK, right? She probably went because of the Taeshin Trading shares they hold."
Lumen Holdings owned about 4.83 million shares of Taeshin Trading, making up 2.96% of the total—one of the major shareholders.
Even though this was one of the scenarios they had worried about, Tae Seok-ho showed no reaction.
"She went to ask the chairman for his support, I see. But is that even possible?"
"We think so too. From the perspective of an overseas private equity fund, it would be better to support the next CEO than Chairman Tae Gun-seung, if profit is the priority."
"She must be anxious. Honestly, she's better than her father. At least the daughter is trying to do something; all her father does is come here and argue with me."
Reina smiled slightly at those words.
"Are you envious?"
"I almost wish she were my daughter. If that were the case, even Kang In-hyuk wouldn't be able to defy me like this."
What he regretted most wasn't Tae Ju-ha, but Kang In-hyuk.
After this was wrapped up and if he became chairman of Taeshin Group, the first person he'd kick out would be Kang In-hyuk.
At the same time, Kang In-hyuk's words flashed through his mind.
【There's also the option of selling Taeshin Asset Management's shares to Greenbyte Labs. Or selling them to AMK Partners and increasing Taeshin Asset Management's funds.】
Even thinking about it now, it felt arrogant.
Yet it was not something that could be dismissed.
He was worried about what would happen if Kang In-hyuk really cut all ties between Taeshin Asset Management and AMK Partners on his way out.
Reina could see what Tae Seok-ho was thinking.
"You know Kang In-hyuk can't stay here. Even if you let him, as the future chairman, he could do more harm than good."
His old self might have been different, but now Kang In-hyuk was both cynical and aggressive.
One result of that was Tae Seok-hyun, who had had such a solid footing as CEO of Taeshin Electronics, getting ousted in an instant.
If Tae Seok-ho had left even a trace behind, he might have ended up like Tae Seok-hyun.
Of course, with positions reversed, things may have turned out differently, but there was no need to keep someone poisonous by his side.
"I already know. You don't have to stress that."
Still, his pride did not allow him to readily agree.
* * *
A few days passed.
In-hyuk was still at the hospital in Flagstaff where Tae Gun-seung was hospitalized.
He sat on a bench outside the hospital, scanning the surroundings with a relaxed expression.
"They're really not coming back?"
He was referring to those who had tried to approach the hospital with murderous intent a while ago, only to retreat.
Judging by the circumstances, it was clear they were with Kooou.
He couldn't help but wonder just how confident Tae Seok-ho and Kooou were about this emergency shareholders' meeting, to have made such a decision.
"Did they gather even the chairman's friendly shares?"
There were a considerable number of individual shareholders besides the corporate ones.
If they had received proxy rights from just the major shareholders holding 1% or more, they would wield significant influence.
That was the scenario In-hyuk could surmise for Tae Seok-ho.
Just then, Song Tae-ho, Tae Gun-seung's secretary, called.
[The chairman is asking for you.]
After a brief call, he went up to the ward and saw the doctor and nurses exiting.
Passing by them, he entered and found Tae Gun-seung sitting up in bed.
"Did you have them agree to say you just woke up?"
"It was about time I get up anyway. Now I'll be able to see more clearly what Seok-ho does."
"Are you really thinking of handing over the company to a foreign enterprise?"
That was the worst possible scenario for Tae Seok-ho.
Of course, In-hyuk didn't think Tae Gun-seung would do that for petty reasons, but, given the current circumstances, there weren't many options.
"I can't say it's a zero possibility."
"For someone saying that, you seem rather calm. Did you perhaps hide shares elsewhere?"
"That's impossible now. No matter who I am, there are limits."
Even the shares he had hidden overseas were worth over two trillion won at current prices.
It was an amount amassed over a long period, so it wouldn't have been that much at the time, but still far from insignificant.
Just as Tae Gun-seung said, if he tried to hide any more, it would have left traces, and Tae Seok-ho would have noticed.
"That's true. So what will you do, really?"
Tae Gun-seung had now officially revealed he was awake. With that news spreading, public opinion in Korea would heat up.
But he hadn't given a proper answer, which frustrated In-hyuk.
After a moment's thought, Tae Gun-seung spoke seriously.
"Have you contacted AMK Partners?"
Like Ju-ha, who was visiting Lumen Holdings, In-hyuk had decided to talk with AMK Partners as well.
Of course, In-hyuk was substantively managing both companies.
However, there were other ideas, and since he could not reveal his identity, he kept answering vaguely.
"I've put in a request. But as you can imagine, it may not be easy for them to give a positive answer."
"Hm... Then can you arrange a meeting with branch manager Norman McGrath? It would be even better if you could get CEO Gordon Grimes."
At that moment, In-hyuk looked at him seriously.
"... Are you serious?"
"Would I make that kind of request as a joke?"
A meeting at a time like this between Chairman Tae Gun-seung and a foreign investment company could itself be an issue.
Tae Gun-seung definitely knew that. Even so, requesting it outright meant he'd made up his mind about something.
"It could stain everything you and Taeshin Group have built."
"What makes you think I'd do some transaction with AMK Partners?"
In-hyuk looked at him meaningfully before replying.
"I can guess, but it's not something I should say myself."
"Is that so? Anyway, can you do it?"
"I'll try contacting them."
"I'd appreciate it if they could come here, if possible. As you can see, I'm convalescing right now."
With that, In-hyuk left the hospital room.
He stood by the window at the end of the corridor, looking out.
People were moving about, but it felt silent and lonely.
That look on Tae Gun-seung's face just now was one of letting everything go.
"Is he exhausted...?"
As he muttered, his phone vibrated in his pocket. A message from Go Mi-ah via Ghost Link.
【Red Witch : Sent you all the nearby airport immigration records. I even used my vacation days for this. Now I'm going to sleep, so do NOT wake me up!】
Her words were full of annoyance.
In-hyuk checked the file she'd sent with the message.
Just then, another call came in.
【Raven】
It was Raven Delacroix from SGA in Hong Kong.
Making sure no one was around, In-hyuk moved to a secluded spot and answered.
"What brings you to call?"
[Did you anticipate this emergency shareholders' meeting at Taeshin Group?]
To her, In-hyuk was HERMIT, who provided investment advice to SGA.
And previously, on In-hyuk's advice, SGA had transferred their shares in Taeshin Group to AMK Partners, so she was naturally curious about the situation.
"I was anticipating it."
[It doesn't seem like a bad gamble. Of course, with our SolarView shares, we're making enough profit, but given the current state, could we not have laid hands on a pretty decent Taeshin Group affiliate?]
Raven Delacroix was essentially contacting him to chastise HERMIT (In-hyuk) for a possibly mistaken decision.
"Which side do you think the situation is favoring?"
[Obviously executive vice president Tae Seok-ho. Other major shareholders and the board would too, wouldn't they? Besides, since Chairman Tae Gun-seung still hasn't gained consciousness, it's obvious who wins.]
At her greedy question, In-hyuk quietly sighed so she wouldn't hear over the phone.
"How much do you estimate Chairman Tae Gun-seung's shareholding at?"
[Officially, about 8%. Including shares under others' names, maybe just under 15%.]
"It's over 20%. Also, Chairman Tae Gun-seung has regained consciousness."
He heard an intake of breath from Raven Delacroix.
[Are you serious?]
"Would I lie about something like that? If you're going to jump into the fray without solid information, it's better to secure the profits in front of you. I recommend focusing on the projects currently in progress, rather than chasing empty hopes."
No more light answers came from her end.
"I'll be passing on other investment info soon. Please make sure things proceed according to the plan in the attached file."
[...]
"Do you understand?"
[... I understand.]
The call ended.
In-hyuk shook his head as he set down the phone. It was the same with SGA and other companies.
People moving only for money...
Yet all of them were in the palm of In-hyuk's hand.