We'll Handle It Ourselves
After work, In-hyuk was driving himself and Tae Ju-ha sowhere. Even though they were married, there was an awkward air between them.
In-hyuk silently organized the plans he had completed so far.
It had already been well over six months since he started living as another Kang In-hyuk at the sa ti as coming to the past.
In that ti, he had prevented the deaths of Tae Ju-ha and himself, recruited Go Mi-ah and Charybdis, and blackmailed key individuals through Ghost Link.
In addition, he had recently secured shares of TN SOFT through Norman McGrath and even found traces of the existence that had driven him to death...
He had made considerable progress.
"Um..."
While he was lost in thought, Tae Ju-ha cautiously spoke up.
"What's wrong?"
"You looked so serious while driving. Are there any issues at work?"
He had been so focused that he hadn't even noticed her watching from beside him.
On the other hand, Tae Ju-ha seed to sense the uncomfortable atmosphere and appeared concerned.
"Ah, it's nothing. I was just lost in thought."
"It's nothing in particular?"
Whether in the past or now, work always overflowed. He didn't feel there was much worth explaining further.
"Not really."
In-hyuk turned the wheel and stopped in front of the All Seasons Hotel near Gwanghwamun Station.
He handed the car over for valet parking and entered with Tae Ju-ha.
When they arrived at the restaurant on the top floor, Taeshin Group security guards were standing in the corridor.
In-hyuk instinctively stopped walking.
'... Baek Si-hwan?'
He hadn't seen him since the autobiography launch party for Chairman Kang Chan-kyu of KQ Group.
'Did he get called in because Chairman Tae Gun-seung is out like last ti?'
Originally, Baek Si-hwan wouldn't join the chairman's direct security team for several more years.
Just then, Song Tae-ho, Tae Gun-seung's secretary and security guard, showed them to the door.
"They're waiting for you inside."
In-hyuk hurriedly suppressed the rising killing intent as he entered with Tae Ju-ha.
At the sa ti, Tae Gun-seung welcod them.
This eting was an appointnt In-hyuk had scheduled while on his way to the Andong orphanage.
"You're here."
"Sorry, we were a little late because we ca after work. But why did you want to et outside when we could've eaten at ho?"
As Tae Ju-ha sat down with In-hyuk, she asked the question. Tae Gun-seung looked at the two with a curious expression.
"At ho, you can't eat properly because you're wary of your father. Not like you co often, either."
"Ah..."
It was hard to deny, so Tae Ju-ha couldn't answer. Then Tae Gun-seung's gaze shifted to In-hyuk.
"How have you been lately, Kang? Any aftereffects from the car accident?"
He was referring to the injuries In-hyuk had sustained in Andong.
"I'm fine."
"That's good. And work? I've heard your performance in the equity managent team is spreading by word of mouth, so things are going well?"
"At this rate, it should be enough to contribute substantially to Taeshin Asset Managent's second half revenue."
In-hyuk's clients had seen significant profits so far.
Naturally, with the new PEF division relocated to headquarters, they had to co along.
"I only called you for a al today, so let's skip the business talk for now."
The unexpected answer left In-hyuk a little puzzled. Soon after, they called the waiter, ordered, and the food was served.
"... Let's eat first. We can talk after."
The three sliced the at and ate.
anwhile, In-hyuk grew suspicious of Tae Gun-seung's attitude, which was so different from what he had expected.
'What's his intention? He's not soone who'd display kindness just because you're his child or grandson.'
Chairman Tae Gun-seung always asured everything on a scale, even with blood relatives.
If he determined sothing had no value, he would sever it without hesitation.
After a while, the al ended and the plates were replaced with coffee and tea.
Tae Gun-seung carefully sipped the steaming tea and spoke.
"How long do you plan to stay at ho? For the future, isn't it about ti you move?"
The sudden question made In-hyuk and Tae Ju-ha tilt their heads in confusion.
Tae Ju-ha glanced at In-hyuk and asked back.
"Why are you bringing up moving all of a sudden?"
There was nothing inconvenient; they even had separate rooms if needed and the place wasn't cramped.
"Wouldn't the current house be small if you plan to have and raise a child?"
"Cough—!"
Caught off guard, In-hyuk, who had been sipping his coffee beside Tae Ju-ha, was startled.
This ti, Tae Gun-seung cocked his head and looked at him.
"Why? Are you not thinking of having kids yet? It wouldn't matter for you, but next year Ju-ha will be thirty-two."
Tae Ju-ha looked extrely awkward for a mont.
Seeing this, In-hyuk cleared his throat before he could spit out his drink.
"Hm! Chairman. We'll handle that matter ourselves."
"Is it because you're busy with work?"
"That's part of it... but we don't have any plans yet."
At In-hyuk's reply, Tae Gun-seung looked at the two with a heavier gaze.
"To be honest, I know your marriage was your mother's sche. I know it's complicated."
Anyone who wasn't a fool would know.
In-hyuk coughed and continued to listen.
"But I think you two actually get along quite well. If you live together like this, maybe you'll grow feelings for each other over ti."
He sounded as if he was giving advice. At that mont, Tae Ju-ha, who had been quiet, opened her mouth.
"Chairman. That's..."
But she couldn't explain properly and only trailed off. In-hyuk cut in and replied briefly.
"We'll handle it ourselves."
Perhaps because of his firm reply, Tae Gun-seung stared intently at In-hyuk.
After a brief silence, a sigh slipped from his lips.
"I hope you an that in a good way."
"......"
In-hyuk didn't bother to answer.
"If you've finished eating, let's head out."
Just as he said, they barely talked business apart from the greetings at the start.
The three went downstairs.
Tae Gun-seung boarded a car waiting out front without saying anything more.
anwhile, In-hyuk just watched as Baek Si-hwan, in a different car, drove off into the distance.
"Aren't you going?"
As In-hyuk's car, which he'd left with valet, arrived, Tae Ju-ha asked.
"Yeah, let's go."
The two of them headed ho together.
* * *
【Taeshin Asset Managent M&A·PEF Division Newly Established, surpasses 300 Billion Won Investnt in Two Weeks!】
【Taeshin Group's subsidiary Taeshin Asset Managent attracts 300 billion won investnt into its private equity fund! The future direction of its PEF investnts is drawing widespread interest...】
...
...
A few days later, in the office of Oh Kang-goo, executive director of Taeshin Asset Managent.
"Are you really okay leaving things like this?"
Yang Chan-woo, a fellow executive, asked as he looked at the article on his tablet.
Oh Kang-goo, having read it too, swallowed hard.
"They've already surpassed 300 billion... Was Kang In-hyuk that capable?"
"It seed strange to , so I did so digging."
"Did you find anything?"
At the question, voiced with suspicion, Yang Chan-woo sighed and explained.
"One of the A2 clients handled by Kang In-hyuk in the equity managent team turned out to have a much larger asset scale than their official rating suggested."
The tablet display shifted to custor information. Oh Kang-goo's eyes widened as he checked it.
"Jang Hyung-cheol? An S1, not an A2... Is that certain?"
"The amount invested by this one client alone exceeds 50 billion won. If that's individual, not corporate money, the actual assets must be at least 200 billion won."
S1 rating ans a client has to invest at least 5 billion won.
Even in the largest equity managent team, only a few clients are of that scale.
And until now, there wasn't even a single one above 10 billion won. And now, such a client had fallen into Kang In-hyuk's hands.
"Was this client originally managed by Kang In-hyuk?"
"That's..."
When Yang Chan-woo trailed off, Oh Kang-goo's gaze sharpened.
"Is there an issue?"
"Originally, this was a black client managed by Team 1. Team Leader threw them to Team 3, who took it over."
"Team 1, aning Team Leader Chu In-ho? Didn't they know the client's asset size?"
Team 1, like the rest of the equity managent headquarters, was on Chairman Tae Gun-seung's side, but Oh Kang-goo's line had absorbed them as they brought in the biggest sales.
In this arrangent, an extrely lucrative client had been snatched away by the representative's line—her husband, Kang In-hyuk.
It was understandable that this would be upsetting for them.
"The client kept complaining, but after seeing results with Team 3, they switched over."
For now, it was all conjecture. Oh Kang-goo frowned and tapped the tablet screen.
To make matters worse, under Chairman Tae Gun-seung's orders, CEO Tae Ju-ha's share had increased from 3% to 5.34%, boosting her influence.
They knew all too well that Tae Ju-ha didn't look on them favorably.
If her power kept growing, it was inevitable that all-out war would break out.
And with that, one side would definitely be finished.
"We need a definite strategy."
"Realistically, the only way is if there's a problem with the funds in the PEF, or Kang In-hyuk fails in his investnts."
The worry deepened. Then Oh Kang-goo suddenly rembered sothing.
"Is it difficult to find out where the investnts are being made? Co to think of it, director Bong Joo-hyung said he'd try to bring over so staff from their side."
Bong Joo-hyung was also one of Oh Kang-goo's people, like Yang Chan-woo.
"He's been picking up information since the division was set up and keeps updated. But apparently, Kang In-hyuk is being discreet—even internally, no one knows the exact PEF investnt destinations."
"So he intends to handle it all by himself?"
"Unlike in M&A, you don't need a big team, so that seems likely."
"... This is troubleso. Is there anyone close to Kang In-hyuk we can recruit?"
That ant they had no imdiate options.
"From what I can tell, he basically works alone... I'll have Director Bong keep contacting the staff. If we uncover anything, we'll have a move to make."
"Do whatever it takes—find sothing out..."
Bzzzz—
At that mont, Oh Kang-goo's phone vibrated with a ssage. When he read the contents, his expression hardened.
Noticing the strange tension, Yang Chan-woo cautiously asked,
"... Is sothing wrong?"
"Director Yang, have you heard of AMK Partners?"
Yang Chan-woo thought for a mont before replying.
"I have heard of them. I know they set up a branch in Korea recently and are investing in various areas. But why do you ask?"
"Executive Vice President Jeon Joon-seok wants a full report on them. I've heard about them, but only up to what you just said."
Jeon Joon-seok, who had been the forr CEO of Taeshin Asset Managent and was now an executive at Taeshin Life, was still influential over them.
"They're a foreign investnt firm, so getting detailed information will take so ti."
"You've got two days. If the report's done by then, pass it on to and I'll deliver it."
"... I'll get it done."
After answering, Yang Chan-woo bowed and left the office.
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