Two Rabbits
In-hyuk had not anticipated that Baek Ji-woong of WISE&WIRE Group would show up here.
At the sa ti, he recalled the publication party for KQ Group Chairman Kang Cheon-gyu's autobiography.
In the original future, the woman Kang Do-young married was Baek Hae-na, the second daughter of W&W Group.
Furthermore, w&W Group had acquired several affiliates when In-hyuk, then the branch manager of Bluewall's Korea office, bankrupted the Taeshin Group.
anwhile, Go Mi-ah muttered in a quiet voice.
"W&W is a massive dia conglorate, right? Why would the chairman of such a company et soone like Baek Si-hwan? Didn't you say he ca as your secretary, oppa? Don't tell ... he's so kind of spy?"
Until now, Go Mi-ah had only looked into the information In-hyuk requested, so she still did not know the exact relationships among the people In-hyuk was investigating or their ultimate aims.
"It's similar. But I think I told you not to call that?"
"What? Oppa? Then what should I call you?"
Reflecting, In-hyuk realized he had been calling Go Mi-ah by her na, while she had simply addressed him directly for business without using any specific title.
"That, I wouldn't know."
"It's kind of awkward to call you like those rcenary guys do. Or should I just call you president? After all, you're the actual owner of AMK Partners anyway."
It seed she recalled how Hong Yu-geon used to address In-hyuk that way.
"That'd actually be better."
"Understood! President!"
"Haaa. Co to think of it, you finished transferring the TCL lightweight code to TN SOFT, right?"
"I took care of it ages ago. They've already replied that there shouldn't be any issues completing the rest of the developnt."
"And you only contacted them through Plusystems, right?"
Plusystems was a separate company In-hyuk had established to manage both core items for future technological developnt he was aware of and Go Mi-ah's independently patented programming technologies.
That included the lightweight source code he'd decided to lend TN SOFT.
"Of course. But do you really think a company like TN SOFT can succeed with the TCL Code?"
"Why? You don't believe it?"
"I know it's an outstanding blockchain technology, but since its security and managent features are so advanced, I imagine a lot of people won't be happy about it. If it gets comrcialized in the financial sector, we could see issues with personal data protection too."
In-hyuk was well aware of such concerns.
Indeed, as she'd said, a considerable number of people had raised such issues.
However, contrary to such worries, in the original future the blockchain technology utilizing TCL Code beca comrcialized even for the CBDCs (Central Bank Digital Currencies) of several governnts.
'At first, China and the Eurozone were the most proactive. Ostensibly, it was for enhancing financial competitiveness or combating money laundering and fraud... but in reality, the true objectives were tight liquidity monitoring and the elimination of private paynt firms.'
Thinking thus, In-hyuk let out a long sigh.
"It's what the people with decision-making power want."
"So you're saying it'll just play out in the most predictable way."
"Why? Do you feel sympathy for those who'll be negatively affected?"
"Not to that extent... it just feels a bit unsettling. Don't you feel the sa, president?"
Go Mi-ah already wore an expression of discomfort. However, In-hyuk remained utterly unreactive.
"An individual alone can't completely stop the flow of a massive current. And if one sohow did, sooner or later it'd either burst or cause new problems."
"That's a rather cold answer. Are you saying all we can do is watch?"
"You can ride the flow, or depending on your thods, you can change the direction of the current."
"So what exactly are you planning to do, president?"
In response, In-hyuk offered a faint smile.
"It's difficult to explain right now, but if you watch, you'll figure it out."
His goal, both before and after returning to the past, was singular: to erase those bastards who had ruined his life from the world.
In the past, he thought he'd already succeeded in that mission to so extent.
But at the very end, he realized he'd been dancing in soone else's palm all along.
So this ti, no matter who or how many they were, he intended to find and tear them all apart.
* * *
[KQ Group launches a full-scale entry into the entertainnt industry! They announce the acquisition and integration of 12 small managent agencies to establish LifeStar Entertainnt. KQ Distribution executive vice president Kang Do-young will concurrently serve as CEO while maintaining his current post...]
[A rebellion of small managent agencies unified in showbiz? LifeStar Entertainnt, founded as a KQ Group affiliate, aims to foster and launch new K-pop stars... First CEO Kang Do-young announces that anyone with talent and effort will be given a chance to beco a star...]
[Chulsan Capital sale confird! Companies jumping into the acquisition war are Oga Finance, Silverbell Capital, and AMK Partners... The minimum sale price is estimated at around 800 billion won...]
[Taeshin Asset Managent brokers the Chulsan Capital acquisition bid! The acquisition will proceed through an open competitive bidding process... With dostic and foreign financial companies entering the bidding, it's uncertain what the outco will be...]
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As evening approached, Taeshin Group's executive vice president, Tae Seok-ho, checked the news on his tablet in the car and set it aside with a satisfied expression.
A short while later, the car stopped in front of a quiet traditional Korean restaurant on the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province.
Passing through the garden, he entered a secluded annex where WISE&WIRE Group Chairman Baek Ji-woong was already seated.
"You're here?"
"Hello, chairman. Ah, have you been waiting long?"
"No, I just arrived myself."
After shaking hands, they took their seats.
Soon, their pre-ordered dishes were served.
Tae Seok-ho poured a glass for Baek Ji-woong from a white, teapot-shaped bottle.
"Thanks to you, chairman, I was able to overco a great ordeal. I'm truly grateful."
A smile appeared at the corner of Baek Ji-woong's lips as he accepted the appreciation.
"I rely made a connection."
"To be honest, I suffered a lot due to those sudden articles. Without your introduction to Oga Finance, do you think I could have resolved this?"
Currently, Tae Seok-ho was preparing to acquire Chulsan Capital through the H&T Fund, which he managed abroad.
However, not long ago, AMK Partners suddenly jumped into the fray, which sparked controversy in the dia as a case of foreign corporate aggression.
The H&T Fund, too, was operated as a foreign entity.
Although Tae Seok-ho's actual ownership was unknown, if the fuss over Chulsan Capital's acquisition continued, his involvent might be revealed.
At that ti, Baek Ji-woong — the chairman of W&W Group — had stepped in to introduce Oga Finance, a dostic financial firm that could act as a proxy.
"It's not like everything is done yet."
With that reply, Baek Ji-woong also filled Tae Seok-ho's glass.
"The funds are in perfect order. No matter how great the other companies are, they won't be able to outbid the amount I've set."
Nonetheless, seeing Tae Seok-ho's confident response, Baek Ji-woong took a sip of his drink and said,
"It's fine not to worry about the other firms, but shouldn't you be cautious with AMK Partners? The word going around about them is rather unsettling."
At this, Tae Seok-ho drank his shot as well.
"I've done so digging myself. They invest in everything — stocks, bonds, real estate, companies, you na it."
"They're famous for their impressive performance. In the Raisen Energy case, too, they made a profit like Taeshin Asset Managent—only several tis larger."
At that mont, Tae Seok-ho furrowed his brow, thinking of Kang In-hyuk, whom he had believed to be securely on his side.
"Ahem—! I've heard the sa. Every area they touch is a success. But this ti, the scale of capital required is different."
Although the dia cited the minimum sale price for Chulsan Capital as 800 billion won, combining internal assets with other companies' stocks, real estate, and bonds pushed the total comfortably past one trillion.
Naturally, if a company did not hold that much cash, it would be difficult to bid.
"You an it'll be hard for AMK Partners to raise the funds?"
"A mont ago I received a report analyzing the financial standings of the bidders: According to it, Silverbell has about 700 billion won in liquid cash, so with additional loans, it could reach a trillion. As for AMK, we could only verify their Korean branch data, so their cash stands at about 600 billion, which — even with more loans — barely cos to just under a trillion. Even then, both will have a hard ti securing dostic loans."
Baek Ji-woong's gaze glittered at those words.
"So you've worked the banking sector."
"There's no sense playing your hand unless your victory is assured."
"I hope things turn out as you've planned. By the way, have things gone well with Moon Trading? I heard your relationship beca strained due to that second son incident."
He was referring to the Rizeburn incident, when Moon Jae-min was convicted and imprisoned for involvent in both drug use and distribution.
At the ti, Tae Seok-ho tried to leverage the situation by helping Moon Jae-min's mother, Baek Min-sook, matron of Moon Trading, in an attempt to acquire her shares in Taeshin Trading (2.44%), but failed.
Moreover, Baek Ji-woong was Baek Min-sook's younger brother, so he knew the incident well—after all, his own nephew had gone to jail.
The attempt to acquire Chulsan Capital was for similar reasons, as it held over a 2% stake in both Taeshin Trading and Taeshin Electronics.
"Fortunately, besides Mrs. Baek, I spoke with Chairman Moon Dong-beom and secured a deal: in exchange for the stakes in KQ Distribution and Moon Trading held by Chulsan Capital."
"That certainly fits their needs. But KQ Distribution also owns shares in Taeshin Trading, doesn't it? If you hand that over to Moon Trading, won't problems arise—even if you're fronting Oga Finance instead of H&T Fund, it'll co out eventually."
KQ Distribution held a 2.89% stake in Taeshin Trading, which, although less than the combined stakes of Chulsan Capital (2.47%) and Moon Trading (2.44%), could not be ignored if things ca down to a close fight.
"Since catching both rabbits at once is impossible, you have to aim for the bigger one first. Of course, trouble may co, but we'll handle it when it does."
"Well... that is sound logic."
"Anyway, it's thanks to you that I can finally breathe. Which brings to—what is it you want, chairman?"
"What do you an?"
Confused, Baek Ji-woong looked at him, but Tae Seok-ho cleared his throat and continued.
"You gave the initial tip about Chulsan Capital and helped with this current issue—surely you didn't do all of this for no reason."
Tae Seok-ho didn't put his full trust in him.
In this cutthroat world, the laws of the jungle prevail—if you show even the slightest weakness, you'll be devoured at any ti, anywhere, by anyone.
The man before him, Baek Ji-woong, started his career as a prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and by the age of thirty he had married W&W Group's only daughter and ascended to chairman.
Perhaps that made him even more guarded.
But Baek Ji-woong, upon hearing the question, remained calm and unmoved.
"Well... in this world, there's no such thing as a favor without expectation. Of course, there's sothing I want in return for my help."
"If you want Taeshin's shares in W&W Group subsidiaries, I can let you have them for less than the purchase price."
"That's not bad, but what I want is simply cash."
Tae Seok-ho tilted his head.
"Cash, chairman? Surely you don't rely on your wife for allowance... Do you need liquid funds?"
"You know the chairmanship is just a title for show."
"No matter how much your wife holds the real power at W&W, you have accomplished so much. Why do you say that?"
"No one knows how things will turn out later. So, just as a token of appreciation, I'd like you to provide it in the manner I requested."
The atmosphere grew markedly serious. Realizing he was not joking, Tae Seok-ho exhaled through his nose.
"I've heard troubling rumors lately. You don't an... you're thinking of divorce, do you?"
"Haha. Of course not."
Still, Baek Ji-woong's answer did not seem all that reassuring.
Seeing this, Tae Seok-ho nodded, unable to shake off an uneasy feeling.
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