Chapter 186: Drawing the Sword (7)

A moment of silence passed.

Finally, Choi Seo-jun answered.

“…It will become a shield that takes the hit instead of Taeseong.”

“That is exactly it.”

My voice sank low.

“If we step in and defend now, the market will interpret it like this. Since we took Taeseong’s side, we should take responsibility together.”

I shrugged my shoulders slightly.

“We are not fire trucks. Jumping into a burning house first to put out the fire and getting cursed at is not what we should be doing right now.”

Assistant Manager Kim Ju-yeon, whose curiosity got the better of her, spoke up unintentionally.

“Then when should we move?”

I turned my gaze.

Assistant Manager Kim, startled by that, straightened her back without realizing it.

“When two things become visible.”

I held up two fingers.

“One is when the direction of where the fire will spread becomes visible. The other is when the numbers of how cheaply that burning house is being offered become visible.”

I said while looking at the screen again.

“Currently, neither is visible. There are only rumors and public opinion, and nothing specific has come out. Moving first at a time like this makes one a sucker, not a hero.”

Choi Seo-jun’s lips were parched.

“But Representative, if we leave it like this, the market capitalization will continue to drop every day because of Taeseong. The entire market could shake together. Even the positions we hold….”

I cut him off.

“That is all the more reason why we must use this time to buy information right now. It is not the time to buy stocks.”

Several people blinked their eyes at those words.

I called out a name.

“Director Choi, starting today, let’s increase the speed of information gathering rather than focusing on stop-loss or defense for our positions.”

My voice became much clearer.

“First, organize all articles related to Taeseong in chronological order. Distinguish them by which reporter wrote for which media outlet and how.”

After taking a sip of coffee, I opened my mouth again.

“Next, you must check the remarks from the political circles. See who spoke up first. Do not distinguish between the ruling and opposition parties, but track them based on the individual. Look into what their past relationship with Taeseong was like and whether they have a close relationship with Daehan Group.”

The employee who was taking notes beside me nodded.

I slowly continued speaking.

“We must also examine the reactions from the pension funds and mutual aid associations. Gather all the rumors leaking from the management lines even before official comments. See if there is actual movement to reduce Taeseong’s stake or if they are just driving public opinion.”

I added one last thing.

“And there is one most important thing.”

Everyone unconsciously held their breath.

“Let’s see who is throwing the most shares of key subsidiaries, including Taeseong Electronics, throughout the day. Pull out all the data on which securities firm window it is, which foreign firm it is, or if it is an institution.”

Choi Seo-jun’s eyes widened slightly.

“By any chance, are you trying to see who is moving?”

Instead of answering, I merely smiled silently.

Then, I looked at the sunlight seeping through the window for a moment.

‘Borrowed-name assets, the list, political circles, public opinion….’

A fire of this scale does not start with a single matchstick.

A name brushed through my mind.

Nam Kun-ho. And the uncle who fled.

Choi Seo-jun called out to me.

“Representative, then even if we leave our positions as they are, shouldn’t we at least hedge?”

“We should.”

After answering briefly, I gripped the atmosphere by leaning my body slightly forward.

“First, let’s reduce our index exposure. Defend about half of the portfolio with KOSPI 200 futures. Instead, do not touch the Taeseong stocks we directly hold and keep them as they are.”

Risk Management Team Leader Lee Hyeon-seok asked immediately.

In his voice, an instinctive impatience to make even a small profit in the current situation was evident.

“If it is half… with today’s volatility, it will provide defense, but we will make almost no profit.”

I said in a voice filled with conviction while maintaining a firm expression.

“Today, let’s focus on bleeding less rather than trying to earn. Well, we will pay it back several times over later anyway.”

At my words, the air in the room completely changed.

They transformed into a group that coolly observed the flames even while facing a massive fire, calculating where it would spread and when it would be extinguished.

The sound of fingers tapping on keyboards became faster.

I quietly stood up from my seat.

I walked out of the room and toward the living room window.

Even though it was winter, the weather was good, and sunlight was pouring in.

After pressing the phone a few times, I heard the dial tone.

-This is Jeong Jin-woo.

“Director, it would be good to give Reporter Ma Seon-ho just a little taste.”

Jeong Jin-woo did not ask what I meant.

-Understood.

The call ended with just those words.

I looked at the phone and a smirk escaped me.

“Should I have a cup of coffee?”

I went down to the first floor leisurely.

***

As the afternoon arrived, articles began to spread with eye-catching titles.

[“A Crisis Too Well-Constructed.” Taeseong’s Borrowed-Name Allegations Smells of a Prepared Attack.]

It was an article written by Ma Seon-ho, a reporter for a famous economic magazine.

Assistant Manager Kim Ju-yeon of HJ Partners displayed the article on a large screen.

[Regardless of the truth of the allegations, the progression of this situation feels excessively well-constructed. The fact that the list, political remarks, market reactions, and even broadcast panels were waiting in succession overnight is suspicious for a coincidence.]

The sentences in the article began to sharpen their edges.

[Since the implementation of the real-name financial system, it is structurally not easy for large corporations to operate borrowed-name accounts. Even so, the fact that allegations burst at this timing means we must weigh who benefits from this situation as much as the actual corruption.]

It was a truly Ma Seon-ho-like expression.

Assistant Manager Kim Ju-yeon muttered as if in admiration.

“He is not shielding Taeseong, but the tip of the blade is pointing outward.”

Then, someone checking the comments section said.

“The reaction is changing.”

Changes also began to appear in the real-time search terms.

Keywords like allegations of political intervention began to emerge.

And as if waiting, articles of a similar tone poured out one after another.

[Is Taeseong the Only Problem?]

[Taeseong Bashing, We Must See Who Is Laughing!]

It was a situation where other media outlets were riding the line thanks to someone setting the direction.

As expected, the stock market was the first to react.

Team Leader Lee Hyeon-seok’s voice grew louder.

“Taeseong Electronics came up from -9.8% to -6.2%. Taeseong Construction has also recovered to -7.9%.”

Voices of relief flowed from all over.

Lee Hyeon-seok said while looking at the monitor.

“The decline itself is still there, but it feels like it has hit the bottom for now. It will be fine as long as it does not slide further from here.”

Then, someone spoke as if joking.

“Did Reporter Ma Seon-ho play the role of a fire truck?”

A few people chuckled at those words.

I, who was quietly watching the situation, stared at the chart without saying a word.

‘Now, the outline of where the fire is spreading is taking shape.’

I muttered to myself while glancing at the clock.

Before I knew it, the closing price was approaching.

“Let’s end it here for today.”

I continued speaking calmly.

“Once the market closes, please organize the supply and demand by investment subject based on Taeseong-related stocks first. Individuals, institutions, foreigners, and even the pension funds. Along with the changes in weight.”

The entire staff, including Team Leader Lee Hyeon-seok, answered.

“Yes, Representative.”

I finally stood up from the chair.

“Everyone, you worked hard.”

Leaving those words behind, I stepped out of the room, and the sound of keyboards tapping inside grew louder again.

I went down to the first floor and stepped outside altogether.

The cold air rushed toward me.

Still, it felt less cold thanks to the sunlight that had poured down during the day.

While I was moving my body here and there to stretch in the garden, the sound of footsteps followed from behind.

“Representative.”

It was Choi Seo-jun.

He had his tie loosened slightly.

I, who was loosening my body, sat on a chair placed on one side of the garden.

Choi Seo-jun also sat next to me and looked up.

“This incident was also Daehan’s doing, wasn’t it?”

It was a question that came out of the blue, but it was also a thought that had been circling in my head all day.

I turned my head after letting out a long breath.

“Why do you think so?”

“If Taeseong is shaken, the place that benefits the most is inevitably Daehan.”

Choi Seo-jun laughed bitterly.

“Wasn’t Daehan Group the place that interfered with everything Taeseong did before?”

A silence passed for a moment.

The winter wind brushed between the two.

I nodded and opened my mouth.

“The possibility of that is high.”

My voice was calm, but a chill was lodged in my expression.

“Well, how many places would there be that would laugh inwardly while watching another house’s pillars rot away. One of them is Daehan. It will become even more certain by tomorrow.”

Choi Seo-jun asked cautiously.

“If that is truly the case, what are you going to do?”

I looked at Choi Seo-jun once and then looked up at the sky.

Leaning my body against the chair, I opened my mouth.

“I told you I would not be a shield that takes the hit instead of Taeseong.”

I turned my head slightly and wore a smile.

However, that smile was not warm at all.

“Instead, if I find out who started the fire… I will not leave them alone.”

***

That evening.

The news channels in the Republic of Korea were plastered with the announcement of Taeseong Group’s emergency position.

The camera scanned the briefing room.

Amidst the reporters packed tightly, the podium with the Taeseong Group logo appeared on the screen.

“The Chairman will be entering shortly.”

Even before the moderator’s words finished, flashes poured toward the podium.

Chairman Lim Man-seok made his appearance.

He was leaning on a cane while being supported by Chief Secretary Kang Cheol-woo.

He looked much thinner and his shoulders were hunched compared to before he collapsed.

He stood in front of the microphone.

After dropping his gaze on the manuscript he had prepared for a moment, he immediately lifted his head.

“I am Lim Man-seok, the chairman of Taeseong Group.”

A clear voice resonated through the microphone.

“First, I deeply apologize to the citizens for causing great concern to society recently in relation to the management of my and my family’s property.”

The camera flashes flickered once again.

“The accounts that became a problem today are not company funds but the private property of the owner family, and were operated without sufficiently considering the laws and systems during the management process.”

He stopped for a moment as if chewing over his words.

“I will not make excuses. Starting today, all related assets will be fully converted to real names.”

The reporters’ hands moved in unison.

“Furthermore, I will faithfully pay the full amount of taxes and surcharges arising in that process, and I will faithfully cooperate with the investigation of the relevant authorities regarding the parts that are problematic.”

The room stirred.

However, a determination was lodged in Lim Man-seok’s expression.

“In addition, through this incident, I poignantly felt once again that even private property must return the love received from society.”

He slowly turned the manuscript held in his hand.

“I will step forward for social contribution on a scale of hundreds of billions of won by organizing a significant portion of the property under the names of myself and my family.”

The reporters’ eyes gleamed simultaneously.

“I will significantly expand the scale of the scholarship foundations and welfare foundations currently in operation and focus on using it for educational support for low-income youth and welfare projects for the medically vulnerable.”

He took a sip of water as if he were choked up for a moment.

“This situation is something that originated from my own, personal oversight. However, it is also a fact that the responsibility for it cast a shadow over the entire name of Taeseong.”

His gaze stretched straight toward the camera.

“In the future, Taeseong Group will be reorganized in a direction that establishes a transparent governance structure centered on the board of directors.”

He added one last word.

“I promise the citizens. Taking this as an opportunity, Taeseong Group will make transparency and fairness the top priorities in all management activities so that we do not receive the same suspicions again.”

He bowed his head one last time.

“Again, I sincerely apologize.”

Flashes went off in succession.

Reporters’ questions poured out, but the microphone was turned off immediately.