Chapter 147 ·What Did He Used to Do?
What Did He Used to Do?
【What is the future of Taeshin Trading? The motion to dismiss CEO Tae Gun-seung has passed, but the appointment of Executive Vice President Tae Seok-ho as the new CEO has been rejected. It is expected that, according to Taeshin Trading's regulations, an extraordinary shareholders' meeting will be convened as soon as possible, and until then, the Taeshin Group's board of directors will assume operational authority...】
【Removing the cornerstone from the top to prop up the bottom? With the dismissal of Chairman Tae Gun-seung from his position as CEO and the subsequent rejection of the new appointment, dark clouds loom over the corporate outlook. The board announced that after the extraordinary meeting, a new CEO would be selected, but...】
【Chairman Tae Gun-seung's shares delegated to a foreign company? The main reason for the rejection of a new CEO at this meeting was the foreign company that voted against it. However, there is an allegation that most of the shares used in this process actually belonged to Chairman Tae Gun-seung...】
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The doors to the arrival hall at Incheon International Airport opened, and Tae Gun-seung, riding in a wheelchair pushed by Kang In-hyuk, emerged surrounded by Taeshin Security guards.
Click— click— cha, click—
Flashes poured in like crazy, all at once.
A huge number of reporters had crowded in due to the arrival information of the two.
"Do you have anything to say regarding your dismissal as CEO?"
"They say it was for health reasons. Is there a serious problem?"
"There are rumors that a foreign company has intervened in the management dispute of Taeshin Group. Is it true?"
"There's talk that you've delegated your shares to AMK Partners—what do you think about that?"
"What were your original thoughts on the succession structure...?"
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Reporters' questions stormed down on them.
Yet Tae Gun-seung, wearing a cap, sunglasses, and even a mask, remained completely silent.
Soon the security guards pushed the reporters back, carving out a path.
But the reporters, eager to confirm the facts of this event, wouldn't give way easily.
In-hyuk, pushing the wheelchair slowly, looked at the reporters with a cold expression and raised his voice.
"The chairman's health is still poor. Are you really going to keep blocking the way like this? If something goes wrong because of this, are you going to take responsibility?"
The reporters hesitated for a moment, rendered speechless.
During that gap, In-hyuk brought the wheelchair to the waiting vehicle and boarded with Tae Gun-seung.
But the real Tae Gun-seung had already boarded the car.
And when the recently-boarded Tae Gun-seung removed the items from his head, Song Tae-ho's face was revealed.
"Phew—! I thought everything might come off because of those reporters."
Song Tae-ho let out a deep sigh.
"It was still risky, but you took on the role of stand-in with real resolve."
"Well, since the chairman's life was being threatened, I had to do what I could."
In reality, while the two drew the reporters' attention, the real Tae Gun-seung had already approached the car with another guard, keeping his face hidden as much as possible.
The reason, of course, was the possibility that those who had chased from Flagstaff might still be trying to kill him, even at the airport.
But upon hearing this, Tae Gun-seung clicked his tongue.
"You're likely to have more years ahead of you than I do—what if something really happened to you?"
He had actually objected to the scheme they just carried out.
Nevertheless, Song Tae-ho had insisted on having the guards look after Tae Gun-seung while he himself sat in the wheelchair as decoy.
"Still, it's better than something happening to you, sir."
"Huh..."
Meanwhile, the security guard in the driver's seat started the car.
As they left the airport behind, Tae Gun-seung looked at In-hyuk.
"So, what's your next move?"
"Mine? What do you mean?"
"You went through all that chaos to bring me here—surely you already have a plan for what comes next?"
He said it as if it was only natural.
But In-hyuk simply shrugged.
"I only brought you here safely because your life was in danger, sir."
"That's all?"
"Would I need any other reason?"
Tae Gun-seung had been impressed from the very start by In-hyuk's uncanny foresight and escape route planning, dating back to their escape from the hospital. It was something altogether different from the ability he had shown in skyrocketing Taeshin Asset Management.
"What did you used to do, anyway?"
In contrast, In-hyuk stared at him blankly, not understanding the question.
"I'm really not sure what you're getting at, sir."
"I mean, how did you figure out Tae Seok-ho would try to have me killed, devise the escape plan, and even reserve a plane in advance to shake them off? It was as if you could see right through everything those guys would do."
Even Song Tae-ho had tried to dissuade In-hyuk when he first heard the plan, claiming his security team was enough to deal with any threat.
But they went through with the plan due to Tae Gun-seung's decision.
And after seeing the scale and momentum of their pursuers, Song Tae-ho was certain that, without In-hyuk, Tae Gun-seung would have died at the hospital.
"I just made an educated guess."
"That's all?"
"When you have no countermeasures, sometimes intuition is just as important."
"Huh..."
Hearing the old man's sigh, In-hyuk continued.
"But you still aren't safe. Until the next extraordinary shareholders' meeting, Executive Vice President Tae Seok-ho will continue to target you because of the shares you hold."
"I have no idea who the people are helping that guy. Do you know?"
"Do you think I'd be sitting here if I did?"
Even if he knew, there was no evidence.
Unless you caught them in the act, Kooou would never leave behind any evidence.
"By the way, was it Seok-ho who tipped off the reporters, too?"
In fact, In-hyuk had planned to bring Chairman Tae Gun-seung in quietly and hide him somewhere no one could find.
But Kooou and Tae Seok-ho's camp had leaked Tae Gun-seung's arrival information to the media. They had foreseen such countermeasures and acted accordingly.
"Probably."
"They're thorough."
"For now, the best you can do is go home. If you meet anyone, be wary. Especially—only keep people you can really trust at your side."
"I trust mister Kang the most."
Despite his now-serious expression, Tae Gun-seung's tone had a half-joking edge.
"I have a lot of other work, sir."
"Something more important than protecting me?"
"There are plenty of people to keep you safe besides me. And since this is Korea, Executive Vice President Tae Seok-ho won't be able to use drastic measures like he tried in America."
By now, the management dispute at Taeshin Group was spreading rapidly through the press.
In such circumstances, if Tae Gun-seung came to an untimely end, the first person to be suspected would be Tae Seok-ho.
Of course, they could try to manipulate public opinion, but with so many failures and AMK Partners involved, it would be difficult to clear away all doubts.
"I'm a bit disappointed, you know."
"Well, you've transferred your shares to AMK Partners. Hopefully they'll resolve things quickly, so you can enjoy a relatively peaceful retirement."
"At this age, retirement—what does that even mean..."
As they conversed, the car entered Seoul and arrived at the residence in Seongbuk-dong.
The walls and entrance of the house were surrounded by Taeshin Security guards.
As they entered, Tae Seok-hyun and his wife, Tae Su-jin, Tae Yeo-jun, and Tae Ju-ha were waiting for them.
"Father!"
"Father!"
Especially Tae Seok-hyun and his wife rushed forward, cane in hand, to greet the returning Tae Gun-seung.
"Are you really alright?"
"Is anything troubling you physically?"
Annoyed by their fussing, Tae Gun-seung furrowed his brow deeply.
"You're what's making me uncomfortable. Director Song—"
At his call, Song Tae-ho brought a wheelchair so he could sit down.
"Is it difficult to walk, sir?"
"Shall I push you?"
Tae Gun-seung's expression did not relax.
If anything, the wrinkles on his brow deepened with every word from their lips.
"Enough. Kang, you push. And the rest of you, don't get flustered out here—come inside."
As requested, In-hyuk pushed the wheelchair.
Meanwhile, the child members who had been in the garden followed along behind them, circling as if playing a round dance.
"Sit down already! You're distracting!"
When he barked again, everyone looked at each other for a second before finally settling into the sofa.
Tae Gun-seung scrutinized them slowly, then spoke.
"When is CEO Choi supposed to arrive?"
He was asking Song Tae-ho.
"He should be here soon."
Almost on cue, the radio clutched in Song Tae-ho's hand went off.
[Attorney Choi Myung-jin from Yulmyung is here to see you.]
"Have him come in."
A short while later, the front door opened and Choi Myung-jin entered, greeting Tae Gun-seung first.
"You've been through a lot, sir."
"I certainly have."
Given his arrival, the other child members looked over, wondering what was going on. At the same time, Song Tae-ho took out his phone and began recording, focusing on Tae Gun-seung.
Tae Gun-seung sighed once more.
"I'm revoking the previous will as of this very moment. Instead, I'll proceed with a living transfer of assets. So, nobody is to say a word until I'm finished."
Everyone was shocked by this declaration.
But when their eyes met Tae Gun-seung's resolute gaze, any protest caught in their throats.
"First, to my first son, Tae Seok-hyun, and second son, Tae Seok-ho, I leave no assets of any kind."
"Ah..."
"Tsk!"
Just as Tae Seok-hyun seemed about to say something, Tae Gun-seung's glare flared intensely.
Again, the contents of his will continued to flow from his lips.
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Meanwhile, at the same time—
Tae Seok-ho was watching news about the return of Chairman Tae Gun-seung.
With a deep sigh, he turned toward Reina Blackwood.
"You said you'd handle it no matter what. Is this really all there is?"
His tone was openly sarcastic.
Reina was equally frustrated—she hadn't expected Kureha's team to fail in dealing with Tae Gun-seung and Kang In-hyuk.
Especially not when, while being tracked, those two escaped on a light aircraft back to Flagstaff—it was beyond anything she'd imagined.
"There's nothing more I can say about that."
"So, what now? My father is in Korea—is there still a way to take action?"
"Well, at least he didn't disappear, so we'll have to think things over. As I said before, there's still time before the extraordinary shareholders' meeting."
This time, unlike last, notice for the extraordinary shareholders' meeting was set two weeks out.
If they couldn't scatter Tae Gun-seung's Taeshin Trading shares in that time, the same scenario could easily repeat.
"You've failed every time so far. Do you really think it's possible?"
At the same time, Reina shot Tae Seok-ho a sidelong glance.
If they'd finished off Tae Gun-seung when Kureha first moved, things wouldn't have become so tangled.
But now, regret was pointless. She swallowed her words.
"We'll take care of it."
"Hah... You sure do talk."
Bzzz— bzzz—
At that moment, Reina's phone started vibrating.
As soon as she checked the display and took the call, her face stiffened.
Watching from across, Tae Seok-ho sensed the gravity of the situation.
"Did something else happen?"
After ending the call, Reina spoke slowly.
"Attorney Choi Myung-jin from Yulmyung reportedly visited the residence. All of your elder brother's family is assembled there."
Tae Seok-ho's face instantly crumpled like tissue paper. He knew exactly who Attorney Choi was.
"That damn old man! So now he's going to mess with the will first!"