Chapter 138: White Knight (2)

I nodded my head slightly and looked at Arav.

While continuing the conversation politely on the surface, my gaze was already piercing through the other person's inner thoughts.

'It is not that he is not interested, but rather he is intentionally distancing himself. This person had no intention of touching Tara Steel from the beginning.'

I lifted the teacup.

While the warm steam was rising, a calculation deeper than the scent of tea brushed through my eyes.

There was a reason why Chen Wei Holdings could approach quickly even though the Rajan family existed.

It was thanks to those at the center within India stepping back like this.

Choi Seo-jun sat next to me and quietly surveyed the atmosphere.

Now, just by looking at my actions, he could guess what I was thinking. 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

I wore a smile and brought up words.

“I believe Tara Steel still has potential. It is not simply a declining company, but a company holding the core technology and network of the steel industry. If there is only proper support, it will sufficiently recover.”

Arav nodded his head as if listening to an interesting story.

However, that reaction was not sincere, but merely a formal gesture.

“Since Representative Lim says so, it is interesting anew.”

Arav naturally continued the conversation.

“But realistically, it will not be easy. Tara Steel has also lost the trust of the creditor group, and the labor union problem is complex. Furthermore, it is a politically sensitive time. To be honest, wouldn't the side that touches it right now be at a loss?”

As expected, he showed a negative reaction just as I anticipated.

I accurately caught this subtle change.

That person had no interest in Tara Steel at all.

It was not because he knew the risks, but it was already a company excluded from his mind.

It made sense.

It is a cold aspect that an entrepreneur should have.

However, I spoke like this on purpose.

“That might be so. However, the world has always shown that the side that took such a loss became the owner.”

Arav wore an awkward smile and did not say anything.

Rather, it was my last word that broke the silence.

“I do not think Tara Steel is a company that has finished yet. Rather, it could become a starting point.”

At that one word, the atmosphere of the quiet space changed.

It scraped Arav's nerves as if scratching thin glass with a fingertip.

Choi Seo-jun felt as if he were suffocating while quietly watching the two.

Arav put down the teacup while trying to keep a smile, but this time his expression hardened.

His gaze looked at me.

The appearance of him laughing lowly was chilly.

“A starting point… that is impressive. But in my opinion, Tara Steel has already crossed the river of no return. If you invest there…. Well, let's see. That might be an unwise choice.”

On the surface, it was a polite tone, but inside, clear superiority and cynicism were mixed.

The conviction that he does not make such a foolish decision.

At that moment, Arjun, who was sitting at the end, stared at his older brother with a hardened expression.

He, who had not said anything for a while, could not stand it and suddenly stood up from his seat.

“You’re saying such things instead of being able to help! Is that something to say as a family right now?”

Arav’s expression cooled down chillingly.

“Be quiet.”

“What do you mean be quiet. You speak properly, Brother. Tara Steel is like the history our family built. Yet you speak of it in that way!”

The air in the VIP room froze in an instant.

Even Ishani, who was only watching quietly, was surprised and looked at the two alternately.

Arav said with a cold expression.

“What do you know to babble, Arjun. If you don’t know anything, just stay still. This kind of problem is not solved with emotions.”

However, Arjun did not back down.

“It is not emotions, this is a matter of conscience. Brother, you are not doing this for the family right now, but only protecting your own comfort!”

Choi Seo-jun let out a small sigh and glanced at me.

He thought to himself.

‘Representative, you aimed for this on purpose, didn't you?’

I noticed his gaze and looked at Choi Seo-jun, shrugging my shoulders like a ghost and feigning ignorance.

In fact, I had realized it from the moment I opened the door to the VIP room and entered.

The subtle tension flowing within the space that was not wide.

The first thing that caught my eye was the smile of the eldest brother, Arav.

Unlike the expression that looked gentle, it was an attitude as if already distancing himself.

However, Arjun was different.

At first, he was sitting blankly, but as soon as Arav brought the name Tara Steel to his lips, his eyes flashed for an instant.

Of course, it was not easy to notice because it was a short moment, but I am a person familiar with such things.

I could catch a glimpse of the suppressed anger and frustration I had felt from him before.

I did not miss that change.

‘There is something between the two.’

I immediately organized the situation in my head.

The older brother is a cold and realistic figure.

The younger brother is a person with ideals and beliefs. And there was a deep-seated emotional rift between them.

That is why I brought up that topic on purpose.

And now it was flowing just as I expected.

Arjun stood up from his seat in anger, and Arav rebuked his younger brother with a chilly gaze.

Emotions and reality, ideals and coldness were clashing head-on.

Choi Seo-jun noticed this and glanced at me, but I only wore a smile.

And I slowly lifted the teacup and leisurely smelled the scent.

The crack inside the Rajan family.

If I use this, I might enter one step faster than Chen Wei.

My gaze brushed past Arav and Arjun again.

While wearing a very relaxed smile.

The argument between the two did not last long.

The door opened and a low, heavy voice was heard.

“What is this commotion!”

It was Ravindra Rajan.

Just with his appearance, the air in the VIP room changed in an instant.

As Ravindra slowly entered, Arjun lowered his head and Arav suddenly stood up from his seat.

Ravindra's gaze scanned the two sons in turn.

In that gaze, disappointment deeper than words was full.

“What kind of behavior is this in front of a guest?”

With one short word, the room became quiet.

He tried to catch his breath and calmed his mind.

Then he bowed his head toward me.

In that appearance, a sincere apology was dwelling.

“Representative Lim, my children have shown a pathetic sight. I am embarrassed as a parent.”

I spoke while maintaining a neat attitude.

“It is fine. Even family members can have different thoughts. Rather, I was impressed because I could feel the sincerity.”

At my calm answer, Ravindra's expression softened a little.

Ravindra looked at the two sons again and said.

“Still, such a thing must never happen again. Let us talk at home later.”

Arav quietly exhaled and seemed to manage his emotions.

However, Arjun was not like that.

“Is Father’s thought the same as Brother’s?”

Arjun's voice trembled.

The emotions he had suppressed raised their heads again.

Ravindra shouted toward his son.

“What did I say? Did I not say to talk at home.”

Arjun did not give in and continued to be stubborn.

“Father knows too. The reason why Representative Lim Hyunjun came all the way here. You should also know what Tara Steel means.”

At that moment, Ravindra's expression hardened.

He suddenly stood up from his seat and pointed a finger at his son.

“Stop it, Arjun! Is putting emotions first in front of a guest right now the responsibility you are talking about!”

To the extent that the voice echoed, the air in the room froze tautly again.

Arjun could no longer step forward and eventually only bit his lips and lowered his head.

Ishani quietly let out a sigh and looked back and forth between the two.

“Let's stop for today, Father. The atmosphere is not good at all.”

Arav also nodded his head and added words.

“That’s right. Representative Lim must also be tired, so it would be better to arrange the spot again tomorrow.”

Ravindra breathed heavily for a while, then nodded his head.

“I am sorry. Let us talk again tomorrow.”

Ishani spoke toward my group while wearing a gentle smile.

“I am truly sorry for today, Representative. I will make sure we can talk in a calmer atmosphere tomorrow.”

I answered while wearing a short smile.

“It is fine. I understand. I shall see you tomorrow.”

In that way, my group stood up from the seats first.

Until the moment the door closed, a subtle tension remained between Ravindra and Arjun.

While moving our steps, Choi Seo-jun let out a small yawn.

“Haa. Today is really a long day.”

Only then did I burst into laughter and say.

“Indeed. Today, let's just conveniently order room service and eat. It would be more tiring to go outside.”

Choi Seo-jun welcomed it and said,

“I agree. To be honest, I like the bed more than steak right now.”

Hong Jang-gun also answered.

“I agree too!”

When I looked at Park Seong-hun, he also answered.

“I also like that.”

The place where I stayed was the highest-class room within the hotel.

The suite, which overlooked the city panorama at a glance, had a structure where the wide reception room, conference room, and bedroom were separated.

We sat around the sofa and salivated while looking at the food ordered through room service.

On the table, steaks that had just been grilled and various foods were placed neatly.

Choi Seo-jun opened his mouth while chewing the meat.

“Representative, you provoked them on purpose earlier, didn't you?”

I drank a beverage and then slightly raised the corners of my mouth while looking at Choi Seo-jun.

“I wonder.”

Park Seong-hun might not know, but Choi Seo-jun and Hong Jang-gun knew well what that meant.

Choi Seo-jun shook his head as if it were absurd.

“I knew it would be like that.”

Hong Jang-gun also said while laughing.

“I understand Arav's reaction. Because that person is a typical realist. But Arjun was too emotional. Normally, in that kind of spot, no matter how angry one is, they wouldn't do it to that extent.”

At those words, I also put down what I was eating and fell into thought for a moment.

“I am also a bit concerned about that part.”

I continued speaking while drinking the beverage contained in the glass.

“For Arjun to simply have an idealistic personality, the grain of his emotions was too deep. Rather than anger, it was… he seemed like a person who had been hurt.”

Hong Jang-gun nodded his head.

“Tara Steel might not be simply a part of the family business, but it could have a personal meaning to him.”

I slowly nodded my head and said.

“Speaking of which. It would be good to find out what happened before the meeting tomorrow. What kind of contact point is there between Arjun and Tara Steel. If by any chance he is related to someone inside the company or was directly involved in the past… that could act as a variable in the negotiations through him.”

Choi Seo-jun turned on the tablet while putting food into his mouth.

“I understand. I will organize it and report by tomorrow morning.”

I nodded my head and answered.

“No matter how urgent it is, please finish your meal and then do it, Director Choi.”

“I am eating.”

Choi Seo-jun was heating up while roughly stuffing food into his mouth.

Since the Synapse Tech case last time, he was burning with passion in everything.

I also wiped the corners of my mouth, stood up from my seat, and walked toward the window.

Outside, the night of India was slowly deepening.