At Best Blackmail, At Worst Death
The Riseburn drug incident continued to send powerful shockwaves through both the political and business worlds. With the children of high-ranking officials also entangled in the scandal, media outlets were working around the clock.
In the meantime, In-hyuk sat in the conference room with his team.
“Have you reached a decision?”
It was about the additional second-quarter stock operation plan he had proposed last time. They had discussed whether they would accept his high-risk suggestion.
Yet Deputy Director Jeong Jong-hyun and the rest of the team had merely exchanged awkward glances, postponing their answers.
“We’ll proceed as the team leader suggested.”
“A wise choice.”
In-hyuk checked off items on the existing supplementary plan with his pen as he continued.
“From now on, we will also conduct information-based trades through swing trading. I will personally relay the exact exit timing to the person in charge.”
“What upper limit of profit are you expecting?”
In-hyuk calculated silently for a moment before answering in a flat tone.
“At minimum… excluding the principal, eighty percent.”
A faint wave of disappointment crossed the team members’ faces.
“Ah…”
“Is there a problem?”
“…”
None of them could find words to respond.
Because even at a glance, the figure fell far short of the returns In-hyuk had delivered so far.
Of course, In-hyuk understood their reaction perfectly.
“After treating your team leader like a scarecrow all this time, you finally accept the proposal and immediately expect me to hand over stocks guaranteed to deliver massive profits?”
Struck at their core, the team members lowered their heads and cleared their throats awkwardly.
“We’ll observe how things develop and aim to improve the returns going forward. Also, make sure none of the shared information leaks outside. Unless, of course, you want to shoulder all the blame alone.”
In-hyuk’s sharpened gaze swept across the team. A few who accidentally met his eyes flinched and quickly looked away.
“That concludes the meeting.”
After In-hyuk left first, the team members remained seated for a long moment.
Then Manager Ahn Woo-chan spoke cautiously to Deputy Director Jeong Jong-hyun.
“About the team leader… I’ve felt it since last time, but hasn’t his entire atmosphere changed too drastically?”
The others nodded in shared understanding.
Jeong Jong-hyun felt the same.
“I don’t know if he ate something wrong or if he’s finally revealing the temperament he’s been hiding… Regardless, since we’ve decided to follow him, let’s all do our jobs properly.”
Everyone rose from their seats.
As the junior staff filed out, Ahn Woo-chan held Jeong Jong-hyun back for a moment.
“Deputy Director. Are things all right with the higher-ups?”
“Who? Team Leader Kim?”
In truth, before In-hyuk’s arrival at Tae Shin Asset Management, Jeong Jong-hyun had worked under Kim Seong-ho, leader of Stock Operations Team 1. When In-hyuk parachuted directly into the Team 3 leader position, Jeong—now his direct subordinate—had naturally harbored plenty of resentment.
Honestly, when Kim Seong-ho had passed him the troublesome A2 client who had caused endless headaches, Jeong had simply watched, thinking it would be good for In-hyuk to suffer a little.
Instead, In-hyuk had delivered a staggering 223 percent return to that very client.
“In the current situation, there’s nothing we can do.”
“I know that, but… it’s because of Team Leader Kim’s personality.”
On top of everything, Stock Operations Team 3 was already viewed unfavorably because of its parachute leader. Of course, after In-hyuk’s wife—Tae Ju-ha of the Tae Shin Group family—took the representative director position and the team began producing high returns, the overt criticism had lessened. The whispering, however, had not stopped.
“For now…”
Team Leader Kim Seong-ho
Jeong Jong-hyun’s phone vibrated. After checking the screen, he let out a long sigh. When he showed it to Ahn Woo-chan, the manager frowned as well.
“Looks like you’re in for a rough time.”
“You too. Hang in there.”
Once Ahn Woo-chan left the conference room, Jeong Jong-hyun remained alone and pressed the call button.
The hour grew even darker.
A middle-aged man with white hair, brown eyes, and light brown skin stepped into a narrow alley near Cheonggyecheon wearing an expensive gray suit.
The alley was lined with shops selling lighting equipment and mechanical parts.
“Hoo—”
The man was Norman McGrath, formerly employed at the Asian branch of the renowned American hedge fund FOURGMA. He had just arrived in Korea after departing Singapore because of the ongoing Solarview corporate issue in Taiwan.
He passed several flickering streetlights and checked his phone. The location matched the spot marked on his map app.
“This should be the place…”
The alley was unusually deserted for the city center, giving off an eerie atmosphere.
Startled by the message that seemed to imply he was being watched, Norman whipped his head around. Yet the walls on either side were cracked gray concrete, and only dark alleyways stretched ahead and behind him.
Only after he replied did footsteps echo from the alley behind him.
Step—
When Norman McGrath turned, a silhouette appeared on the dark path.
“Fortunately, you came here without getting lost.”
The figure was In-hyuk.
At the English question, Norman hardened his expression and answered in English as well.
“Thanks to you, I found it without issue. More importantly, are you truly the representative from AMK Partners who secured the Solarview shares?”
“Correct. I am Gordon Grimes.”
The name was the representative identity Go Mi-ah had registered under In-hyuk’s instructions when she established AMK Partners.
Of course, Norman had done his research before coming to Korea and understood the name. However, aside from the name and age, no photographs or personal details had surfaced.
“If we’re meeting for business, shouldn’t you at least reveal your face?”
Even to the challenging retort, In-hyuk remained motionless.
“You are the one attempting to direct Solarview’s bid to a competitor instead of your own firm, Fourgma. Why would I trust you enough to show my face?”
At that moment, Norman McGrath’s brow furrowed deeply. The statement was exactly right.
“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The very fact that you came here proves my point, doesn’t it?”
The message In-hyuk had sent from Go Mi-ah’s workshop had been simple: if Norman refused to meet quickly, the information and evidence would be sent directly to Fourgma headquarters.
“AMK Partners was only recently established. Exactly what kind of organization is it that you can act this boldly?”
A soft chuckle escaped In-hyuk’s lips.
“I called you because I need you. How would you like to work with me from now on?”
Norman tilted his head at the sudden offer.
“Are you… scouting me right now?”
“Correct. I will double your current salary. In addition, I will provide a three-percent incentive based on profits.”
The conditions were substantial; Norman’s eyes wavered slightly beneath the streetlight.
“I suppose my life and death are included in those terms?”
“That will depend on the decision you make. Oh—and I will also keep confidential your activities as a lobbyist in the Middle East under the alias GoldEye.”
Norman was even more shocked than before. There were no official records of his lobbyist work, yet this Gordon Grimes had brought it up.
“To know even that… Who exactly are you?”
“Merely a member of AMK Partners with rather excellent information capabilities.”
Thud—
With his answer, In-hyuk tossed a leather pouch roughly five centimeters thick in front of him. Norman picked it up and examined the contents under the streetlight, unable to conceal his astonishment.
It contained every detail of his lobbyist activities, the rebate projects he had arranged while at Fourgma, and precise information on how far negotiations with competitors regarding Solarview had progressed.
The hand holding the documents began to tremble.
“So if I refuse this offer, you intend to destroy my life. A threat.”
“At best, blackmail. At worst, death. You may think of it that way.”
Norman McGrath’s lips twitched.
“Neither option offers much comfort.”
“Instead, I will give you a level of achievement and wealth you have never tasted before.”
“Is AMK Partners truly that powerful an organization?”
“You already know the answer simply by looking at how thoroughly we gathered information and shares on Solarview—information even you were unaware of.”
Since AMK Partners knew every detail he had believed was hidden from everyone except the direct parties involved, Norman could not deny the reality.
“Must I decide right now? No, of course I must. There has only ever been one choice.”
After letting out a short sigh, Norman continued.
“So, what exactly do you want me to do?”
Thud—
Another leather pouch flew toward him. After checking its contents, his expression crumpled subtly.
“Establishing the Korean branch of AMK Partners and securing a thirty-percent basic investment fund through a loan from Fourgma with less than three percent equity… Do you honestly believe that is possible?”
Corporate loans through investment firms typically required equity as collateral.
“That part depends on your abilities.”
“I don’t know AMK Partners’ market capitalization for its unlisted shares or its current profit rate. Even so, with an equity condition of less than three percent, raising ten billion won will be difficult. If the numbers are lower than expected, even one billion may be barely achievable.”
He was not wrong.
In-hyuk watched him from the shadows for a moment before replying.
“Check the middle section of the documents. The current return rate and available operating funds are listed there.”
Norman immediately flipped through the pages.
“…A return rate of 328 percent excluding principal? Do you expect me to believe this is real?”
“Whether it is real or not, you can confirm it yourself once the branch is established and you receive account authority. For future contact, use the phone inside the pouch. I look forward to working with you.”
Having said what he needed to, In-hyuk retreated into the darkness.
“Wait—you’re ending the conversation just like that? H-hey, hold on!”
Norman, who had stood dazed for a second, shouted and ran to where the figure had been, checking the alley beyond.
But Gordon Grimes had vanished like smoke. No trace remained anywhere.
“What on earth…”
He had been blackmailed over his past actions and then offered an extravagant scouting deal on top of it. Even trying to make simple sense of the situation was impossible. Yet the weight of the documents in both hands proved that everything he had just heard was undeniably real.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, In-hyuk stood on the rooftop of a building not far from the alley. He could see Norman McGrath glancing around nervously below.
He took out his phone and dialed Go Mi-ah.
"Okay. But you definitely avoided the store CCTVs and dashcams, right? I can't touch those."
"I took a roundabout route to the meeting spot so I wouldn't get caught on any of them."
"His profile shows he's a seriously flashy guy… Why are you pulling someone like him into our operation? What if he stabs us in the back later?"
"I'll keep his authority restricted. And since we hold his leash, there's no need to worry about it right now."
"What's the reason, then?"
"We need someone who can appear publicly. You can't handle sales, and I can't manage AMK's affairs with my current identity."
"Tsk—!"
After ending the call, In-hyuk moved swiftly across the rooftop, heading for a safe zone where he would not be captured by any black boxes or building security cameras.