Until Not Even Bones Remain
Oh Kang-goo's brow furrowed as he listened to the sudden news of the M&A.
Once again, it was a matter he hadn't heard about at all, so he couldn't help but be surprised.
An M&A deal worth a whopping 800 billion won.
Honestly, since this wasn't even an existing departnt, he hadn't thought Kang In-hyuk would bring in sothing of this scale.
"What company are we supposed to acquire?"
At his question, Tae Ju-ha paused for a mont, then answered cautiously.
"... Chulsan Capital."
"If it's there... wasn't that in the news recently..."
There had been so many loudly reported articles that Oh Kang-goo easily recalled it.
"That's right."
"But I thought the company had already received a not-guilty verdict and its managent had normalized... Are they the ones who suggested the sale first?"
"So it seems. For reference, this is still strictly confidential. Since there was news coverage for unsavory charges, they plan to keep it as quiet as possible."
"So, have they already picked a company to acquire Chulsan Capital? It's not being put up for auction?"
Chulsan Capital was a financial company that influenced not only southern regions but also the capital area.
The stakes and real estate of companies funded there could be valued imnsely, depending on the need.
Naturally, the more entities wanted Chulsan Capital, the higher its sale price—and the higher the commission Taeshin Asset Managent would collect.
Even at just the currently estimated company value of 800 billion won, the commission would be around 10 billion won.
"So it seems for now."
"Has everything with Chulsan Capital been clearly agreed upon? As far as I know, due diligence and valuation alone require considerable ti. Plus, Chulsan Capital will surely want to sell at a higher price."
Oh Kang-goo pointed out the flaws in Kang In-hyuk's handling of the matter, step by step, in order to call out any issues.
Of course, he said nothing untrue.
Tae Ju-ha was well aware of this. At the sa ti, she was surprised inside.
She reacted this way because In-hyuk had told her about Chulsan Capital's sale beforehand.
'I know Executive Vice President Oh doesn't like In-hyuk, but is he really going to nitpick this much?'
After collecting her thoughts, she answered him.
"Chulsan Capital wanted the sale to be handled as quietly as possible. Fortunately, we found a buyer that matched those conditions. Since there's no loss for us, there shouldn't be a problem."
Then, Oh Kang-goo asked the question he was most curious about.
"Who is acquiring Chulsan Capital?"
"AMK Partners. I'd heard they'd been expanding into a lot of areas lately, but I didn't expect them to buy Chulsan Capital."
Oh Kang-goo's face stiffened before he realized it.
He'd also heard a lot of things about AMK Partners lately and had taken an interest.
But he hadn't thought they had the financial muscle to acquire Chulsan Capital.
"I see... But Director Kang's way of handling things is still riddled with issues. If this continues, there's bound to be an incident sooner or later."
"I can't say I'm without worries either, but this is sothing the chairman is backing. So, Executive Vice President Oh, I hope you'll continue to observe for now."
"... Alright, I understand."
Finishing his answer with a sense of displeasure, Oh Kang-goo stood and left her office.
* * *
In-hyuk was sitting across from Jang Hyung-cheol at Hoam in Cheongdam neighborhood.
However, since alti had long passed, there was only coffee and tea before them.
"As you said, CEO Han Jae-won has been taken care of."
"You made the decision quicker than I expected."
"You can't be shackled by affection forever. That's why I imdiately called for an ergency board eting, and the results ca out this morning. My phone's about to catch fire from all the calls."
On the table, Jang Hyung-cheol's phone showed a string of missed calls from a contact labeled "Han Jae-won".
Han had been blindsided by his sudden dismissal through the ergency board eting.
"Well done."
"It's going to be hard to reclaim the funds that guy siphoned off, but I should just be glad I've finally cut him loose. Otherwise, I'd be putting myself at risk."
Han Jae-won had created more than 150 billion won in slush funds via a shell company in Myanmar.
But the money had already been transferred to other accounts—barely traceable, but almost impossible to recover.
"Does that an there's no problem on Chulsan Capital's side with the company's sale?"
"Anyway, the succession of executives and employees will go ahead as planned. And since the sale is just on the surface, the CEO position will fall right back into my hands, so there's no issue."
This had been a plan to mislead those targeting Chulsan Capital during the Rizeburn incident.
Of course, he had never expected things would go so smoothly.
"News about Chulsan Capital's situation must have made its way to those who operated through Han Jae-won. Well, even if not, word will spread soon enough."
"Sothing happened on their side, as well..."
Bzzz— Bzzz—
This ti, In-hyuk's phone buzzed with an alert from an online news outlet.
"It's out, as expected."
In-hyuk held out his phone.
Jang Hyung-cheol's eyes widened slightly as he read it.
[Chulsan Capital sale decided? Secret talks with foreign investnt company AMK Partners? The M&A is being handled by Taeshin Asset Managent, with Chulsan Capital currently valued at approximately 800 billion won...]
[AMK Partners, a foreign investnt company, to acquire Chulsan Capital? The unlisted Chulsan Capital had been under investigation for tax evasion, embezzlent, and bribery involving its actual owner... but the prosecution concluded with a not-guilty verdict...]
"Doesn't seem like a positive article. Did you anticipate this as well?"
Anyone could see it looked as if a foreign company was devouring a dostic financial company.
"Anyone interested in Chulsan Capital is bound to make a move in so way. And for 'them,' this takeover battle may actually be an opportunity."
"So you intentionally created this situation. That ans you have counterasures, right?"
"There's no need for concern. But there are matters I'd like you to handle, sir. Of course, you don't have to—I'll follow your wishes."
Jang Hyung-cheol stared at In-hyuk with deepening eyes.
He had kept tabs on In-hyuk ever since the Raisen Energy investnt.
A son-in-law of the Taeshin Group whose business competence was ambiguous.
He'd heard that when In-hyuk was at Taeshin Trading, he'd shown decent work ability, but had zero performance when it ca to investnt.
After the Raisen Energy investnt succeeded, he'd written it off as an inexperienced kid getting lucky.
But the more they spoke, the harder it was to read In-hyuk's intentions.
Moreover, his habit of always staying several steps ahead was enough to leave anyone speechless.
"So you're telling I have a choice? That sohow sounds even more intimidating."
"I don't intend to use any thod you'd be unwilling to, sir."
"So what exactly is your thod?"
"That is..."
In-hyuk continued in an even quieter voice.
After his explanation, Jang Hyung-cheol's face grew even more rigid; his eyes were wider than before.
"... Is that really possible?"
"I don't speak of things that can't be done..."
The mont he was about to finish, a man's voice, raised as loud as possible, ca from outside.
"Hyung! Hyung—! I was wrong!"
Recognizing the owner of that voice, Jang Hyung-cheol frowned.
"We have an uninvited guest."
"It must be CEO Han Jae-won. Did soone tip him off that you were here?"
"Of course not. He probably found out by searching the places he thought I'd be. Sorry to make our eting uncomfortable."
"I'm fine."
"I'll deal with this quickly and return."
Jang Hyung-cheol opened the door with leisurely steps.
A middle-aged man, his black hair tinged with white and looking well into his sixties, brushed off the security guard's arm and fell to his knees.
"H-hyung!"
The man shouting had been Chulsan Capital's CEO, Han Jae-won, until this very morning.
Jang Hyung-cheol, standing at the entrance, gazed down at him with a noticeably uncomfortable expression.
"I thought my response at this morning's board eting would be enough."
"Embezzlent? That's a misunderstanding, hyung!"
"A misunderstanding? What's misconstrued here? Is it a misunderstanding that you're the actual owner of the Myanmar shell company? Or that you tried to put your wrongdoing on and submitted evidence to the Busan District Prosecutors' Office as if I did those things?"
As he explained, Han Jae-won's face turned ashen.
At the board eting, he had been dismissed by majority vote based solely on circumstantial evidence of embezzlent.
The other facets—thoroughly covered up using others—had been ticulously arranged, but he was shocked that Jang Hyung-cheol knew about them in such detail.
"T-that's... you're mistaken! Why would I ever betray you, hyung? Nobody knows better than you do! It's ! I'm Han Jae-won, the one you raised all this ti!"
Jang Hyung-cheol had thought the sa until recently.
Because he'd considered Han his right-hand man for life, he'd entrusted Chulsan Capital to him.
But betrayal stung far more for the depth of trust that preceded it.
"Do you really think I'm acting out of total ignorance? Well, you must have thought I was a toothless tiger, so you did what you did."
Han Jae-won could say nothing more.
Jang Hyung-cheol shook his head, clicking his tongue.
"tsk—! I never thought I'd learn the wisdom about never taking in a 'dark-haired beast' at this age. And the evidence of what you did will have gone to the prosecutors, so you'd better steel yourself."
"Hyung...!"
"I hope we don't have to see each other again."
At Jang Hyung-cheol's eye signal, the security guard dragged Han Jae-won away with more force than before.
Though Han's pleas echoed down the restaurant corridor, Jang Hyung-cheol, without a hint of regret, returned and sat back down.
"Sorry for causing such a ruckus."
"No worries. If anything, it just makes think Han Jae-won really underestimated you, sir."
Jang Hyung-cheol, hearing In-hyuk's subtle comnt, wondered why he thought that.
"Did it really look that way?"
"I think Han Jae-won believes that, even now, appealing to sentint might get him released. He's probably still racking his brains."
Jang Hyung-cheol let out a heavy sigh.
"Hmmm... So you think I was too complacent."
"It's not always necessary to make a spectacle, but wishy-washy handling could lead to lingering problems."
"What would you have done?"
"I would have had the prosecutors waiting for him the mont he left the company. The Busan District Prosecutors' Office is looking for bait after the last incident, aren't they? Throw him to them at the right timing and he'll get chewed up until not even bones remain."
It was an icily cold voice.
Jang Hyung-cheol found himself unconsciously swallowing his saliva at this.
"You... you're more ruthless than I expected. But from what I learned of your background, that wasn't in there... Have you been hiding this all along?"
Originally, In-hyuk was nothing like this. Naturally, whatever face he wore now felt unfamiliar.
"There wasn't any need to show it before."
"But now, that's changed?"
"I suppose so."
After a short reply, In-hyuk sipped his coffee and continued.
"... In any case, Han Jae-won has probably been abandoned even by them, too. He's not left with much at all."
"Even after making off with more than 150 billion won? For all his foolish moves, I doubt those behind him would fall for that so easily."
"Up to now, he probably managed things under false nas so as not to get caught by you, sir. But if the real owner of those fake nas exists, then it's easy for the funds inside to be taken from him. Of course, several more steps are required."
"Oh-ho..."
It was a simple principle, but required extensive groundwork—a typical shell ga.
It also showed how shrewd those using Han Jae-won had been.
At the sa ti, this thod was sothing In-hyuk himself had used in his original life, after taking control of China's Cheong Geumbang organization and swallowing up surrounding groups along the way.
'The bastard who first suggested it was that damn kid.'
At that thought, In-hyuk pictured Baek Si-hwan's face, who would be sitting right now in the office next to his.
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