Chapter 188: The Shaking Empire (1)

The atmosphere in the market changed noticeably within a day or two after Chairman Lim Man-seok’s position statement was released.

The headlines of the articles decorating the main screens of portals began to change.

[Social contribution of hundreds of billions of won. Lim Man-seok directly breaks through the suspicion of borrowed names]

[Promise to convert all assets to real names. Business world “Made a heavy decision.”]

Until just a few days ago, words like borrowed-name property or hidden slush funds covered the portals, but now phrases like social contribution and governance structure reorganization were taking that place.

The temperature of public opinion also changed little by little.

The expression of the PR team employee who was checking the comment section gradually relaxed.

[He’s done enough by this point.]

[It’s something to be criticized for, but still, I admit that returning it to society is something]

[I wonder if other chaebols would do even that much]

In front of the Taeseong Group PR office monitor, the sound of sighs of relief leaked out.

“Still… it seems we’ve avoided the worst.”

“The reporters are also slowly changing their tone. We did well to set the direction toward social contribution.”

The team members cautiously exchanged smiles.

The fatigue from clinging to media responses without even being able to sleep properly for several days seemed to be melting away little by little.

On the outside, it seemed to be entering a state of settlement to some extent.

However, the air inside the Chairman’s office on the top floor of the headquarters was completely different.

In contrast to the panoramic view of Seoul seen through the window, the interior was heavily sunken.

Chairman Lim Man-seok was sitting on the sofa, but his gaze was stopped somewhere in midair.

Far from relief, his eyes were submerged deeper.

***

Taeseong Electronics headquarters Chairman’s office.

In the late afternoon, as the winter sunlight tilted, the city lights began to turn on one by one.

Various reports and monitoring materials were placed messily on the table.

Sitting here were Acting Chairperson Lim Hye-seon, Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung, President Yoon Jae-hyuk, Chief Secretary Kang Cheol-woo, and Chairman Lim Man-seok.

Yoon Jae-hyuk opened his mouth cautiously while flipping through documents.

“For now, the public opinion… is in an atmosphere of calming down little by little after the Chairman made the announcement. The media has also turned a lot toward the side of social contribution.”

Hye-seon let out a voice filled with worry.

“Even so, the stock price is still fluctuating.”

“Yes, that is….”

Yoon Jae-hyuk immediately flipped to the next page.

“Even if we just look at the stock price for yesterday, it’s like this. Individual investors mainly net sold, and institutions are similar. The problem is who swallowed it up in the meantime.”

He lightly tapped the tablet placed on the table.

A supply and demand table by a brokerage firm appeared on the screen.

Yoon Jae-hyuk spoke while pointing somewhere.

“If you look at the foreign side…. Here, Chen Wei Holdings. Buying volume began to increase from the day Taeseong Electronics showed the maximum decline.”

Do-kyung furrowed his brow.

“It's as if they were waiting?”

“That is correct.”

Yoon Jae-hyuk nodded and flipped the screen.

“On the domestic side, there is an asset management company affiliated with Daehan Group. After watching throughout the session, they were collecting Taeseong Electronics and Taeseong Construction volumes little by little. The proportion isn’t very large, but the timing is exquisite.”

A moment of silence flowed.

Hye-seon muttered lowly.

“They appear without fail whenever Taeseong is shaken.”

At those words, Lim Man-seok, who had been listening silently until now, raised his head.

“Even if we leave Chen Wei aside… Daehan has been quite interested in our affairs lately.”

His gaze flashed sharply.

“That brat Do-hyun….”

The gazes of those gathered in the Chairman’s office all focused on Chairman Lim Man-seok at once.

“Would that bastard Do-hyun have the capacity to set up the board this far by himself? Every time Taeseong falters, Daehan is watching with fierce eyes just to stab us in the back… It’s obvious.”

He wore a bitter smile.

“The place that guy can lean on… must be that bastard Nam Kun-ho.”

Lim Hye-seon’s expression stiffened.

“Do you really think Do-hyun is on Chairman Nam’s side?”

Lim Man-seok said firmly.

“No matter how smart Do-hyun is, he can’t move this meticulously.”

He turned his head and looked at Kang Cheol-woo.

“I suppose I should check directly. Cheol-woo!”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Contact Nam Kun-ho of Daehan Group and tell him I want to meet. Let’s make the place a Taeseong Hotel. I will wait for the contact then.”

The call ended faster than expected.

Soon, not long after, Kang Cheol-woo’s phone rang briefly. A reply had come.

“Chairman, he says to meet this evening.”

“Is that so? Then say we will do so.”

“Yes, I understand.”

As Kang Cheol-woo delivered the short reply, a silence descended in the Chairman’s office for a while.

Lim Man-seok slowly tapped the sofa armrest with his finger.

Then he opened his mouth.

“He isn’t a guy who would agree to meet easily….”

Lim Hye-seon, Lim Do-kyung, and Yoon Jae-hyuk looked at Lim Man-seok simultaneously.

“Nam Kun-ho is a guy who only comes out when it’s beneficial to him. He isn’t a gentle person, so would he be a fellow who would agree to meet immediately?”

His gaze sank coldly.

“Does such a guy come obediently to Taeseong Hotel while agreeing to meet right away as soon as we contact him?”

At those words, Lim Hye-seon’s expression stiffened.

“If that’s the case, we should assume Do-hyun is over there.”

“I suppose so.”

Yoon Jae-hyuk asked cautiously.

“Chairman, could it be that the Daehan side might bring up some kind of condition?”

“That, we will only know once we meet.”

Lim Man-seok’s fingertips stopped.

“What scheme that man has, whether Do-hyun is really by his side. We will find out once we meet.”

He rose from his seat.

“Everyone, you’ve worked hard. I should be going now.”

“Yes, Father. Please go carefully.”

Lim Hye-seon stood up and bowed her waist with an expression full of worry.

Beside her, Lim Do-kyung and Yoon Jae-hyuk also bowed their waists together.

The shoulders of Lim Man-seok, who turned around and walked while leaning on his cane, looked exceptionally heavy today.

Lim Man-seok slowly moved his steps, passed the lobby, and came out to the entrance where the winter wind had permeated, the waiting black sedan immediately opened the door.

The driver bowed his waist deeply.

“Chairman, I will take you.”

Lim Man-seok held his cane with one hand and caught Kang Cheol-woo’s arm with the other while cautiously lowering his body.

The moment he entered the car, a warm heat was felt.

A heavy silence filled the narrow space.

Kang Cheol-woo got into the passenger seat.

“Chairman, shall I take you directly to the Taeseong Hotel?”

At Kang Cheol-woo’s question, he didn’t answer for a moment.

The sunset passing through the window shone widely with a lingering light.

Lim Man-seok caught his breath briefly like a person lost in thought and then said lowly.

“Is there not plenty of time yet? Instead of Taeseong Hotel, let’s go to Do-kyung’s house. I should see Hyunjun’s face.”

“Yes, Chairman. I will take you to Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung’s residence.”

As Kang Cheol-woo gave a look toward the driver, he held the steering wheel and said.

“I understand.”

The car smoothly exited the driveway.

Whether the heavy air from the Chairman’s office had been transmitted here just as it was, a silence lingered inside the car.

Lim Man-seok looked at the city that had gradually darkened and muttered as if talking to himself.

“When was it that I last saw that fellow’s face?”

Although he heard that, Kang Cheol-woo didn’t answer.

Only his expression became more serious.

He cautiously took out his phone and then moved his fingers quickly.

[Representative Lim, this is Kang Cheol-woo. The Chairman is currently on his way to the Vice Chairman’s residence.]

Only after sending the message did he put his phone back in his pocket.

At the same time, Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung’s residence in Seoul.

The second floor was still used as a temporary office space for HJ Partners employees.

Even though the time to get off work was near, everyone was busy concentrating on work.

I, Hyunjun, was the same.

I was also incredibly busy lately as I was digging into something.

At that time, the phone I had placed face down on the desk vibrated briefly.

I was staring at the laptop but picked up the phone.

After seeing the content that appeared on the screen, my gaze turned slightly sharp.

This was because I checked the message that came from Chief Secretary Kang Cheol-woo.

‘For what reason is Grandfather coming suddenly?’

It wouldn’t be that he was coming here simply because he wanted to see his grandson’s face.

Lim Man-seok was not a person who would stop by to see his grandson for no reason during a busy schedule.

I inhaled and exhaled a short breath.

“Something is up.”

I said to Director Choi Seo-jun.

“The Chairman is coming, so I should be going. Please handle the finishing, Director Choi.”

“I understand.”

I sent a reply with my phone and immediately moved my steps to the room.

I thought it would be better to change my clothes.

After changing into a neat suit, I quickly straightened my attire in front of the mirror.

After even tying a gray-toned necktie with a calm color, I looked at the mirror.

A face that had now become familiar before I knew it.

Only a year ago, it felt so unfamiliar that I felt a sense of heterogeneity every time I looked at the mirror.

But now, it felt as if it were my original face.

Around the time I had such thoughts, I faintly heard the sound of the doorbell.

When I went to the window, the front gate was opening and Chairman Lim Man-seok was entering inside with Chief Secretary Kang Cheol-woo.

Kang Ji-yeon came out wearing an apron and greeted her father-in-law.

“Father, please come in. The weather is cold.”

“Yes.”

Lim Man-seok answered briefly and slowly entered the foyer.

His gaze headed toward the shoe rack.

“…Is all this belonging to the kids at Hyunjun’s place?”

“Yes.”

He gave a small smile and took off his shoes.

Then, Kang Ji-yeon said while supporting her father-in-law.

“Hyunjun’s company employees are working on the second floor.”

“I see.”

Lim Man-seok moved his steps cautiously to the drawing room.

As he sat comfortably on the sofa, I quickly came down and greeted him.

“Grandfather, you’re here?”

“Yes, sit down.”

“Yes.”

Once I sat in my seat, Kang Ji-yeon quickly brought out tea.

Tea that exactly considered Lim Man-seok’s taste was served.

After he lifted the teacup from which steam was rising and took a sip, he opened his mouth.

“So, Hyunjun. Have you been doing well lately?”

“Yes, I’ve been doing well.”

Then Kang Ji-yeon spoke.

“Father, how is your health?”

“Well, where would it be good at this age. Still, seeing as I can still walk around even while leaning on a cane, it seems the heavens have no intention of taking me away just yet.”

He spat it out nonchalantly and moved his gaze to me. ℯ

“Is it not suffocating for you to be stuck at home?”

“Actually, it is suffocating.”

“Is that so? Hahahaha.”

The corners of Lim Man-seok’s mouth rose just a tiny bit.

It was a short joke, but his heart felt a little more at ease.

“Hyunjun, would you like to go get some fresh air with me this evening?”

It was a sudden question, but there was no reason for me to refuse.

“Yes, I’d love to. I was wanting to get some fresh air anyway.”

At those words, Kang Ji-yeon’s expression darkened.

It wasn’t that Chairman Lim Man-seok didn’t know that.

“My heart is impatient. Is it because I’ve aged? Well, I just want to teach you one more thing. I don't know your heart, but I’ll take Hyunjun with me for a bit.”

How could she disobey her father-in-law’s words?

Kang Ji-yeon answered obediently.

“Yes, Father. Please go carefully.”

As Lim Man-seok rose from his seat, I also stood up.

Then, Kang Ji-yeon caught her son’s hand.

“Wait a moment, the weather is cold so you’ll catch a cold if you go out like this. Father, please wait a moment.”

At those words, Lim Man-seok waited for a bit.

Kang Ji-yeon went up to the second floor and quickly brought out a thick coat and a muffler from my room.

Only after she personally put them on her son and tied the muffler tightly did she show a relieved expression.

“Go safely. Father, please go carefully.”

“Yes. I will.”

I got into the car that Lim Man-seok came in.

Kang Ji-yeon watched until the car disappeared far away.