Chapter 154 ·How Dare You Come Here!

How Dare You Come Here!

In-hyuk was sitting and drinking coffee at the lobby cafe on the first floor of Taeshin Trading.

Today, having left Baek Si-hwan at the office, he was freely moving around.

On his phone screen, there was an image of Reina Blackwood entering the emergency stairs from the underground parking lot.

However, since there were no CCTV cameras in the emergency stairwell, it was difficult to check the situation.

Meanwhile, through the earphones plugged into his ears, he heard Mi-ah's voice.

[The Wiper program has been installed on the Taeshin Trading server. What should I do about this?]

Previously, starting with Taeshin Asset Management, the entire group's computer network had its security system upgraded. Of course, at the center of that operation was Mi-ah, who had been hired at the time.

"What about the IP address?"

[It was installed using Executive Vice President Tae Seok-ho's account. The IP is also from the office. It's set up to execute in 30 minutes.]

Whatever happened, the situation was set up so Tae Seok-ho would take the blame for everything.

Just then, the owners of the siren sound that had been audible for a while arrived at the front of the Taeshin Trading building and entered.

It was an ambulance.

"We're here because we heard there's an emergency patient due to poisoning."

The Taeshin Security staff at the entrance looked puzzled as if they had no idea.

The paramedic continued,

"We heard that EVP Tae Seok-ho is the patient. Do you know anything about this?"

"P-please wait a moment."

The staff, startled, approached the reception desk and called the executive vice president's office.

However, only the ringing tone continued for a long time, and no one answered.

Feeling the urgency, one staff member took the paramedic and headed to the elevator.

Shareholders and staff who were leaving the auditorium also witnessed this scene. At the same time, the murmuring grew louder.

Watching this unfold from the cafe, In-hyuk spoke to Mi-ah, who was waiting for an answer.

"Reactivate the elevator, and just delete the timer setting for the Wiper program installed on the server."

[Leave the program?]

"We need to leave traces. Anyway, with the current security system, some traces will remain regardless. Except for things you handle."

Currently, the Taeshin Group's computer network was built on the TCL Code, perfected with TN SOFT and Mi-ah's technology.

Because of that, some traces would inevitably remain, so Reina Blackwood had tried to use the Wiper program to delete them.

Of course, Mi-ah, who held the master key to the TCL Code, was an exception.

[I erased only the timer. So what about the rest?]

"I'll tell you when the time comes. Oh, and I'll stop by the workshop this evening."

Mi-ah spoke up in surprise.

[This evening?! That's no good!]

"Why?"

[We agreed to have a farewell party and dinner after work.]

"Didn't you take a day off today?"

Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to talk like this during work hours.

[Of course I'm on leave. After work, I'm meeting my team at a beef restaurant near Jonggak Station.]

"Oh... you're really working hard on socializing."

[Do you think it's easy for experienced hires to get along with others, not being from the regular recruitment intake? I have to do all sorts of things to make it work!]

"Y-yeah..."

As In-hyuk murmured quietly, he changed the CCTV screen on his phone to the door leading to the emergency stairs at the east back entrance of the building.

Not long after, the door opened, and Reina Blackwood and her security guards came out, looking nervous as they scanned their surroundings.

Meanwhile, the Taeshin Trading lobby's security staff started moving urgently.

The news of Tae Seok-ho's death had been communicated through the paramedic.

Bzzz— bzzz—

At that moment, Tae Ju-ha's name appeared at the top of In-hyuk's phone screen, and a call came in.

"Save all the CCTV footage of any important scenes separately."

[Ok—! I'll be hard to reach after 6 p.m!]

"Oh, and..."

After issuing the rest of his instructions, In-hyuk confirmed the call was disconnected and then connected the call with Tae Ju-ha.

"Yes, I've answered."

[Where are you right now?]

Her voice was very urgent.

"I'm at the 1st-floor lobby cafe. Is something wrong?"

[I think something has happened to my uncle!]

"Excuse me? Come to think of it, I saw an ambulance and people heading upstairs earlier."

Even the people who had just left the auditorium seemed to have heard the news, and their voices grew louder.

[Really?]

"I'll check the situation and get back to you."

After the call, In-hyuk sent a message to Norman McGrath and took the elevator up.

【Gordon : Tae Seok-ho deceased. Stand by in accommodations. Next temporary shareholders' meeting will proceed as scheduled.】

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At the same time

Tae Seok-hyun, who had stayed in the auditorium after the shareholders' meeting, hurried up to the executive office floor upon hearing the sudden news.

Security staff were standing guard around Executive Vice President Tae Seok-ho's office.

After passing them and entering, he saw a heavy atmosphere—and Tae Seok-ho's figure collapsed beneath the paramedic's feet.

"... What in the world happened?"

The paramedic was checking Tae Seok-ho's condition.

Meanwhile, among the security staff, the person in charge came over and explained the situation from the lobby up to now.

"When the ambulance arrived upstairs, he was already deceased. We have called the police as per protocol, and more details will be known after the investigation proceeds."

Upon hearing this, a chill formed on Tae Seok-hyun's face.

"Is...is Seok-ho really dead?"

"I'm sorry, but you can't stay here."

The security chief signaled to the guards who had been standing nearby.

Understanding the gesture, they carefully led the dazed Tae Seok-hyun away.

In-hyuk also arrived at the executive office floor. In front of the elevator stood Tae Ju-ha.

She was looking at Tae Seok-hyun, who was being led out without even being able to enter inside.

"Are you alright?"

"Huh? Oh, you're here."

"The situation looks serious."

"......"

Tae Ju-ha couldn't respond.

And In-hyuk maintained a calm expression.

Soon, the police arrived, set up a police line, and inside, the detectives in charge and the forensics team busied themselves with serious discussions.

After some time, Tae Seok-ho's body was carried out in a body bag.

'Did he not expect that joining hands with those guys would end like this?'

That was In-hyuk's first impression as he watched.

In the previous life, Tae Seok-ho had killed himself for real after losing Taeshin Group, which had come under In-hyuk's control through Bluewall.

In the past, it was by his own hand, and now in this lifetime, by the hand of Reina Blackwood, to whom he had entrusted the future... That was why Tae Seok-ho's fate felt all the more pathetic.

* * *

【△△ Group executive, board appointment rejected at temporary shareholders' meeting, then takes extreme action!】

【Executive A of T Group ends life by own hand amid management dispute and despair at defeat to foreign capital...】

【Fierce takeover attempt by foreign private equity firm A, tragic end for T company executive!】

【Executive A of T company found dead in company office in Seoul, "suspected suicide". T company announces the funeral will be a small family gathering...】

【Foreign firm A private equity fund pressuring domestic T Group for acquisition? Corresponding tragic consequence for the company executive!】

【T Group's computer network temporary shutdown on △△ date and time! Company claims it was for network inspection...】

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The news of Tae Seok-ho's death, the second son of former Chairman Tae Gun-seung of the Taeshin Group and a candidate for next management leader, once again stirred up public opinion.

Moreover, the negativity spread toward AMK Partners, who had been in a management dispute with Tae Seok-ho.

While those reports were coming out, In-hyuk rode in a car driven by Baek Si-hwan to a funeral hall on the outskirts of Seoul.

The entrance was crowded with reporters who seemed to have been waiting there for some time. This was the funeral of Taeshin Trading's Executive Vice President Tae Seok-ho.

However, due to the presence of Taeshin Security staff, the reporters could not enter.

"If you don't have any business inside, you can go in first."

"... Thank you. I'll come again on the day of the burial."

When In-hyuk got out, Baek Si-hwan drove away again.

Watching the car fade into the distance, In-hyuk let out a sigh through his nose and loosened his tie slightly. As he was about to head inside, a call came in via Ghost Link.

It was Norman McGrath.

[Is this a good time to talk?]

To his question, In-hyuk confirmed there was nothing suspicious nearby.

"Go ahead."

Now that they knew each other's identities, there was no need to disguise their voices.

[You must be having a hard time with this sudden situation.]

"Isn't AMK Partners struggling more than I am?"

Public opinion was holding AMK Partners responsible for Tae Seok-ho's suicide. Because of this, reporters were crowded even at the hotel lodging used by Norman McGrath and staff.

[It's not as expected, but nothing ever goes perfectly clean. By the way, there's something I wanted to ask, but couldn't bring up last time.]

"What is it about?"

[It's about Orbis Investment and Lumen Holdings. They seem to be remaining and supporting us at the temporary shareholders' meeting... Did you do something, CEO?]

Both companies were global private equity funds and fierce rivals of AMK Partners.

There had been several clashes in the course of investment projects until recently, so seeing their actions without any special coordination was indeed strange.

"I had some connections, so I did some business."

[Surely, do those people also know your identity, CEO?]

"No, they don't. Only the people I mentioned last time and branch manager and Marc Laurent know. So please be careful when communicating."

The reason he revealed his identity to those two last time was because the focus of Kooou would inevitably intensify after the resolution of the Taeshin Group's management dispute.

If In-hyuk couldn't reveal the existence of Gordon Grimes during that process, there could be cases where contact was an issue, so as Kang In-hyuk, he also prepared ways to contact them.

[I conduct bug sweep detection every time before we talk, so there's no need to worry about that. Then, see you at the next temporary shareholders' meeting.]

The call ended just like that.

In-hyuk put his phone in his pocket and entered the funeral hall annex.

Since it was to be held quietly as a family gathering, they were using the entire building. There were no mourners, so the atmosphere was calm except for the sound of Choi Tae-eun, Tae Seok-ho's wife, crying.

"You're here?"

Tae Ju-ha, who was at the funeral, spotted In-hyuk and approached him.

"I was finishing up some work, so I'm a little late. Are all the others inside?"

"That's right, but... Just a moment."

Tae Ju-ha led In-hyuk into a side room of the funeral hall and spoke.

"Isn't this incident really strange? As soon as it happened, uncle's secretary and security team all disappeared."

Their sudden disappearance seemed strange to anyone.

But even though the police and prosecutor's office handled the matter, there were no other statements.

Moreover, those around them also seemed to just watch in silence, finding it difficult to speak up due to the atmosphere.

Of course, In-hyuk knew the reason.

'The guys still have people in the police and prosecutors, so they must have blocked it.'

But it was hard to explain this to Tae Ju-ha.

"They'll conduct a proper investigation if something comes up."

"Shouldn't we pressure the police more?"

"At the moment, there's no evidence. Unfortunately, the server went down at that very time, so it's also difficult to track where those people went."

Because the security system was paralyzed, no footage was left.

Tae Ju-ha wore an exasperated expression.

"Really, what is happening..."

"For now, let's not talk here—let's go in."

In-hyuk entered Tae Seok-ho's funeral room together with her. Then, from her place as chief mourner, Choi Tae-eun, who had been weeping, shouted,

"How dare you come here?!"