I already knew the family situation of KS Group.
The eldest son of Chairman Choi Woosik and his wife was not actually his child, and Choi Woosik had already realized that fact.
Choi Woosik himself also had an illegitimate child. And his wife, Yoon Hyunju, knew that as well.
In short, it was a completely dysfunctional family.
“Are you aware that Chairman Choi Woosik knows your secret, Director?”
“You an collecting shares under nominee nas? That’s because you—”
I shook my head and cut Yoon Hyunju off.
“I an the fact that the eldest son who is supposed to inherit the company is another man’s child.”
“....”
“Chairman Choi Woosik already knows.”
“Is that true?”
Her eyes trembled violently as she asked back.
I carefully observed her reaction before continuing.
“That’s what I found out during my investigation. He already secretly completed a paternity test. I assud you knew.”
The mont she ntioned managent control, I had assud she already knew that Choi Woosik had conducted a paternity test on his eldest son.
But her reaction was completely different.
“You didn’t know?”
Still unable to compose her shocked expression, she slowly nodded.
“I thought that was the reason you were trying to take control of the company.”
“How could he possibly...”
Watching Yoon Hyunju mutter in a daze, I shrugged.
“I don’t know either. I simply found out while investigating KS Group. Oh, but you do know Chairman Choi Woosik has an illegitimate child, right?”
“I know that. I also know he plans to pass the group to that child.”
“You knew that, but you thought Chairman Choi Woosik wouldn’t realize that the heir wasn’t his own blood?”
Both of them had children from affairs.
And both wanted to pass the group to /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ their own biological bloodline.
“That must be why you started collecting shares under nominee nas. From the mont you realized Chairman Choi Woosik intended to hand managent control to his illegitimate child.”
“...That’s right. It was insurance.”
For Yoon Hyunju, it had been a perfect opportunity.
Because of Chairman Choi Woosik’s accounting fraud and embezzlent scandal, the shares of every KS Group affiliate had plumted at once.
She seized that opportunity and secretly purchased shares not only in the holding company but across all affiliates through nominee accounts.
But the appearance of the Sovereign Fund had pushed the issue of a managent control dispute into the spotlight.
The stock price quickly rebounded, and Yoon Hyunju hadn’t managed to secure enough shares to launch a real fight.
That was why she had co to see .
Since I had told Choi Woosik that his wife was secretly collecting shares, she must have realized she could no longer afford to delay.
“He mobilized the secretary’s office to monitor my every move. Because you told him I was accumulating shares.”
“I didn’t do it intentionally. But as you know, Chairman Choi Woosik’s smiling face is rather irritating. I just wanted to hit him once, but it seems I unintentionally caused you trouble.”
Yoon Hyunju didn’t deny it. She simply nodded slowly.
“The one who got caught is the one at fault. I have no intention of blaming you. But I have no intention of being pushed out like this. If he already knows the truth about my child, I can’t retreat anymore. Please help .”
I didn’t answer imdiately. Instead, I tapped the table while thinking.
While I organized my thoughts, she lifted her teacup again.
Is there anything I gain by helping her?
The reason I hadn’t been interested in KS Group’s managent control was simple.
Except for KS Telecom, none of its businesses showed real growth potential.
Ten years from now, KS Group was supposed to acquire Daehyun Electronics.
But that company had already been acquired by Joongwoo Group and was now running a semiconductor business.
KS Group’s future had been semiconductors.
But that opportunity was gone.
Because I had no intention of selling Joongwoo Electronics.
The voice that pulled out of my thoughts was Yoon Hyunju’s desperate plea.
“Please help . I’ll do anything.”
“Anything, you say.”
I stopped tapping the table and stared at her quietly.
“Do you realize how frightening those words are?”
“KS Group was built with my father’s power. But that ungrateful man I married never once visited my father after he retired. He’s a thankless bastard. He probably doesn’t feel any gratitude toward you either. When you protected KS Group as a white knight during the Sovereign dispute? He probably thought it was only natural and cursed you behind your back.”
I already knew that.
Chairman Choi Woosik was extrely narrow-minded.
“I cannot forgive him.”
What a sight—one dirty dog scolding another dirty dog.
They seed perfectly matched.
Still, if I had to choose a side, it would be better to help the one who at least respected her father.
“Alright. I’ll help you.”
Yoon Hyunju’s face brightened instantly.
“Thank you.”
“But I have one condition.”
“A condition?”
“Sell all your real estate in Gangnam.”
“What? What do you an—?”
She trailed off while her eyes darted around.
“Why are you acting like an amateur? You know exactly who my grandfather was. I’m talking about the buildings constructed on the Gangnam land your father bought under nominee nas. Hand them all over.”
“...I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Really?
Even after I spelled it out this clearly, she still pretended not to know.
Seeing the obvious act, I deliberately laughed out loud.
“Where do you think the money ca from for you to purchase enough shares to challenge managent control? It’s all money your father accumulated under nominee nas. I already know the person managing those properties.”
Chairman Jo—known as a land magnate worth trillions in Gangnam—was her vault keeper.
“I already know Chairman Jo was the errand man for your family. My grandfather helped set up all of those arrangents. Are you still going to pretend you don’t know?”
“What on earth...”
Yoon Hyunju’s mouth fell open in shock.
She clearly had no idea how much I knew.
A trace of fear even appeared in her eyes.
“If you hand that over, I’ll help you. Of course I’ll pay market price. I have no intention of cutting even a single won.”
Chairman Jo owned more than ten buildings in Gangnam’s core comrcial district.
He also owned land throughout Gangnam.
Among all landowners in Gangnam, he paid the highest land taxes.
Yet the man hidden behind the curtain never bothered with tax avoidance and paid his taxes faithfully.
Even when his buildings had vacancies, he never lowered rent to fill them.
That was why most people didn’t know who he really was.
Real estate brokers in Gangnam knew him, but very few had ever actually seen his face.
“If it’s difficult to answer right now, I’ll give you one week.”
After my firm words, Yoon Hyunju no longer denied anything.
She simply nodded weakly.
“...I’ll think about it.”
“KS Group isn’t worth less than those Gangnam properties. In fact, comparing them would be an insult to KS Group. I’m not asking you to hand them over for free—I’m offering to purchase them at market value. I look forward to your answer.”
I checked my watch and stood up.
“Please contact within a week. I have another appointnt.”
Yoon Hyunju nodded with a serious expression.
The mont I stepped out of the hanok, I imdiately gave instructions to Director Ma.
“Director Ma. Investigate the entire shareholding structure of KS Group. Everyone holding more than one percent—including all affiliates.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“And attach surveillance to Chairman Choi Woosik... and to Yoon Hyunju as well.”
I continued while looking back at the hanok.
“Track who she ets and what she does.”
“Understood.”
“And finally investigate Chairman Jo’s surroundings as well. Even if it’s under nominee nas, the legal owner is still that old man. Have him report daily.”
Without doing anything, a rice cake covered in soybean powder had rolled right into my hands.
Yoon Hyunju would have no choice but to hand over the Gangnam land and buildings.
Unless she intended to give up KS Group entirely.
After getting into the car, I imdiately contacted Eva.
I told her to co to Myeongdong and quietly fell into thought.
Eva arrived first and was waiting in my office.
“Boss!”
The mont she saw enter, she jumped up from her seat.
“When did you arrive? Aren’t you busy?”
“Even if the world collapses, if you call , Boss, I have to co running. What kind of question is that?”
She put her hands on her waist with a mock-serious expression.
I chuckled.
Her sense of humor had definitely improved.
I lightly patted her shoulder and sat down.
“Sit first. You should at least have a drink instead of just waiting.”
“No, I just got here too, Boss.”
“What do you want? Coffee? Or I have so really good Pu-er tea.”
“Your Pu-er tea is delicious, Boss.”
I pressed the intercom and asked for three cups of Pu-er tea before asking Eva,
“Nothing to report?”
“Nothing major. I’m gradually selling shares like you told . Mixing buys and sells so no one notices.”
Reliable as always.
I nodded with satisfaction.
“You’re Eva. I trust you not to make mistakes.”
“But why did you call ? Is sothing urgent?”
“You’re still in contact with the Sovereign Fund, right?”
“The Sovereign Fund? Of course. We’re still talking because of the KS Group issue. We’re discussing the timing for selling our shares.”
As promised, the Sovereign Fund planned to liquidate its holdings and withdraw from Korea.
“Really? Are the Chandler brothers in Korea?”
“No. They went back to Monaco.”
“Hm...”
“Boss, what’s going on? Why are you suddenly looking for the Chandler brothers?”
A knock interrupted the conversation.
Once the staff mber left after setting down the tea, I spoke again.
“I want us to acquire the shares owned by the Sovereign Fund.”
“Huh? Why? We didn’t need them—that’s why we diated a settlent. Ugh, thinking about that day still annoys . That weird reporter—”
Eva frowned, rembering the journalist who had questioned the source of her funds at the shareholder eting.
I laughed quietly and slid a cup of tea toward her.
“The situation has changed. Back then, I planned to leave Chairman Choi Woosik alone. But now Yoon Hyunju has jumped into the ga.”
“Yoon Hyunju? Choi Woosik’s wife? Why would she suddenly—”
I briefly explained my conversation with her.
“Is that really true, Boss? That’s straight out of Hollywood. The eldest son isn’t Choi Woosik’s child, and Choi Woosik has an illegitimate kid with another woman?”
Eva summarized the story with disgust.
“So Director Yoon Hyunju asked for managent control. She said it would be possible if the Sovereign Fund and you helped.”
Eva still frowned but nodded.
“It’s definitely possible. Half of Chairman Choi Woosik’s friendly shares are connected to her.”
“But if the Chandler brothers hear about this, I don’t think they’ll withdraw.”
“True. They’re exactly that kind of people. So you want us to buy the Sovereign Fund’s shares?”
I nodded.
Eva thought for a mont.
“Well... if Sovereign dumps their shares on the market, the stock will definitely crash...”
The amount of shares Sovereign held was quite large.
Not only KS Holdings but also many affiliate stocks.
“Offer them twenty percent above today’s closing price.”
“Twenty percent?”
“Even then it’s cheap. The real estate Yoon Hyunju owns under nominee nas is impossible to properly value. Roughly it’s estimated at one trillion won, but I think it’s worth at least five trillion.”
Eva whistled softly.
“Wow. KS Group itself wouldn’t even matter then. Why is she so obsessed with managent control?”
“Who knows. Maybe because the company grew thanks to all the favors her father, Minister Yoon, provided. She probably thinks it’s hers.”
“Minister Yoon? That powerful forr military politician?”
“Exactly. That’s why the group grew so quickly during the military regi. It’s also how they acquired KS Telecom.”
After her father died, Yoon Hyunju had been managing those nominee assets.
She was his only daughter, after all.
Choi Woosik had absolutely no idea about that real estate.
Of course, I wouldn’t have known either if not for the ledger my grandfather left behind in this life.
In my previous life, countless suspicions had been raised, but the true owner of those properties had never been revealed.
“So, can you do it?”
“Hmm. Should I invite them here? Do you want to et them personally, Boss?”
I shook my head.
“That would make them suspicious. Make up a reason. You can say it’s because of the iPhone.”
“Okay. Then I’ll fly to Monaco myself. Those guys are too lazy—if we ask them to co here, we’ll wait forever.”
“I’d appreciate that. Since we’re done talking, let’s get dinner together. You’re getting too thin, Eva.”
I had no other appointnts today.
For once, I decided to spend a relaxed evening with the people I valued.
For so reason, Eva bead at the simple suggestion of dinner.
“Director Ma should co too. What do you want to eat, Eva?”
“Sothing expensive. You’ll buy drinks too, right, Boss?”
Thinking about a dinner nu that would satisfy Eva, I walked out of the office.
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