Quite Detailed
Tae Ju-ha's office at Tae Shin Asset Management.
The representative herself was in the middle of a meeting with Choo In-ho, head of the equity management division.
"This... was planned by Kang In-hyuk, team leader of Team 3?"
In her hands was the corporate business proposal Kang In-hyuk had submitted to Choo In-ho not long ago.
It was no rough draft. The plan's direction was detailed in ways that would be nearly impossible to grasp without substantial hands-on experience, and the risk assessment was meticulous, with sharp, well-defined countermeasures.
These were not the kinds of insights a complete newcomer to the field could produce. That was why it felt so hard to believe Kang In-hyuk had written it.
"That's correct. Haven't you heard anything about it, ma'am?"
"Not a word."
Though they lived under the same roof every day, the number of times they had actually faced each other could be counted on one hand.
On top of that, In-hyuk came home later than she did for some reason, making even those rare encounters difficult.
"In any case, after reviewing it myself, the plan has solid merits. If Tae Shin Asset Management wants to grow, we need to expand our territory."
"The real problem is the clients. Corporations operate on an entirely different scale and level than individuals."
"It demands highly specialized skills—everything from basic SWOT analysis to operating profit projections and risk management. The capital required is substantial as well."
Tae Ju-ha nodded, clearly in full agreement.
"Yet you still find the proposal appealing, Director?"
"Honestly, I do. However... gaining approval from headquarters, the upper affiliates, and the internal executives will be difficult."
Many people inside Tae Shin Asset Management viewed Tae Ju-ha's rise to representative with open displeasure.
Besides, the company wasn't filled solely with supporters of Tae Geon-seung and Tae Seok-hyun. A great number followed Tae Seok-ho, one of the leading successors, leaving Tae Ju-ha isolated as she tried to hold onto her position.
"What would you like to do about it, Director?"
"I believe it's worth moving forward if possible. I couldn't mention it earlier, but according to Team Leader Kang, corporate clients are already prepared."
"Clients already? From where?"
"I haven't been told that yet. He said he'd organize the details and report back once the proposal is approved. It seems awkward to discuss specifics before the business expansion is officially decided."
At the explanation, the corner of Tae Ju-ha's mouth twitched.
"It could just end up as empty boasting. Or worse, turn into baseless gossip that spreads like cheap tabloid fodder."
"Exactly. This industry is sensitive about such things. If it looks like we're poaching clients from other investment firms, it could get very noisy."
"So you're recommending we implement this plan?"
The most critical decision still remained.
Of course, their conversation had already pointed them in a clear direction. If Tae Shin Asset Management expanded its reach based on Kang In-hyuk's proposal, her internal position would undoubtedly grow far more secure.
Yet ignoring the turbulent undercurrents within the company was no easy task, which made the dilemma that much heavier.
"I'm in favor. But..."
She remained concerned about backlash from the other executives.
"There's no way to resolve this among ourselves right now. That leaves only one option."
"You don't mean..."
Choo In-ho seemed to guess what she was thinking and let his words trail off.
Quitting time had arrived.
In-hyuk waited in the parking lot for about fifteen minutes before driving out onto the road.
A short while later, the same cars he had noticed when arriving for work appeared from somewhere and fell in behind him.
Perfect timing. So there really is someone watching from inside.
He had deliberately delayed his departure, yet they had matched his timing exactly.
The real problem was that he had sensed no suspicious gazes even while leaving the office. He had taken the stairs instead of the elevator and encountered no one along the way.
Then that means...
He kept turning it over in his mind as he drove.
Thirty minutes later, he arrived not at home but at Tae Geon-seung's residence in Seongbuk-dong.
He parked along the street and stepped out. The cars that had been tailing him were gone. The narrow alley must have forced them to abandon the pursuit about two minutes earlier and turn off.
"Waiting for an opening, are they?"
In-hyuk closed the car door and dialed Go Mi-ah.
"What is it this time?" Her voice was far more energetic than it had been that morning.
"Can you access the CCTV inside the Tae Shin Asset Management building?"
"Why that place?"
"It looks like the ones tailing me have partners on the inside."
A low groan drifted through the receiver.
"That might be tough right now. As you know, your company is a Tae Shin Group affiliate, so it uses the headquarters' proprietary security processor. The CCTV in particular runs on a completely separate offline network, making external access impossible."
In-hyuk tilted his head as he listened.
"I only just asked, yet your answer is surprisingly detailed. Don't tell me you've already tried breaking in?"
There was no way she could know that much unless she had already looked into it.
Her voice crept lower.
"Ah, well..."
"You weren't trying to access it with bad intentions, were you?"
"Ahem! I was just checking to see how you work! What? Why? Got a problem with that?"
Realizing a lie would be hard to sell, she had switched to offense and snapped back at him.
Of course, it hadn't been purely for monitoring. Go Mi-ah still didn't trust In-hyuk completely. She had attempted the access to see if he was hiding anything suspicious.
"So even you can't get in easily?"
"If you install a program on the headquarters server, it might be possible. But is that even doable?"
The structure and security systems of Tae Shin Group headquarters were as familiar to In-hyuk as the back of his hand. With proper planning and the right equipment, hacking the system directly wouldn't be difficult.
"I'll think about it."
"Let me know as soon as you decide. If you can just open that server for me, I'd be more than grateful."
After ending the call, In-hyuk walked toward the mansion's front gate. He pressed the doorbell, and one of the TSS security guards stepped out as the door opened.
Without a word, In-hyuk crossed the garden and entrance hall into the living room. His eyes immediately met those of Tae Seok-hyun, who was seated on the sofa.
"What are you doing here?"
"...The chairman summoned me."
"My father?"
His shocked expression suggested he truly hadn't known.
At that moment the study door opened and Song Tae-ho, Tae Geon-seung's secretary, leaned out.
"The chairman is waiting. Please come in."
The tone completely ignored Tae Seok-hyun's presence.
In-hyuk entered the study with a calm expression and took a seat.
Meanwhile, Tae Geon-seung, who had been examining something at his desk, moved over to the sofa as well.
"I hear your team has been delivering excellent results lately, son-in-law."
"...I'm glad they're coming out favorably."
Tae Geon-seung let out a soft chuckle at the reply.
"Not exactly a humble response."
"I see no need to diminish what I've accomplished. More to the point, why did you call me here?"
Asking for the main topic so directly made the corners of Tae Geon-seung's mouth curve even more.
"Impatient, are we? Or is casual conversation with your father-in-law that uncomfortable?"
In-hyuk knew the reason for the summons but deliberately kept his face neutral, wondering what the old man was fishing for.
"Both, I'd say."
"Haha! What about that incident at Chairman Kang's house? Everything all right?"
Though the news hadn't made a huge splash, stories had still circulated among those who had been present.
Tae Geon-seung could hardly have avoided hearing about it.
"I'm perfectly fine."
The curt answer made Tae Geon-seung's expression flicker for a brief moment.
"I noticed it during our last meal as well, but you've changed quite a lot. Did something shift in your mindset?"
"Nothing in particular. Will you keep asking about that?"
When In-hyuk pressed for the main point again, Tae Geon-seung snorted. He gestured, and Song Tae-ho brought over the documents the chairman had been reviewing and handed them across.
"I read this. The proposal for Tae Shin Asset Management to expand into corporate entrusted investment and M&A."
In-hyuk confirmed it was the same document he had given Choo In-ho. He had expected this, of course.
Choo In-ho must have reported it to Tae Ju-ha. With the executive factions unable to reach a decision, they had turned to Chairman Tae Geon-seung.
"I didn't realize it would reach you, Chairman."
"The current Ju-ha would struggle to handle it alone, so it came to me. Didn't you submit it with that very outcome in mind?"
It seemed Tae Geon-seung had seen through much of In-hyuk's scheme.
"What influence could I possibly have to manage that?"
"Would someone without influence produce a proposal like this? Even a quick read reveals numerous details that would be impossible to include without real practical experience. How exactly do you know all this?"
"I studied whenever I had spare time."
"Studied? You call this studying?"
Tae Geon-seung had felt the same as Tae Ju-ha and Choo In-ho after reading it. Hearing In-hyuk's absurd excuse left him utterly dumbfounded.
"It was rather difficult."
"I had no idea my grandson-in-law had such thick skin."
"It's not a bad thing."
A short silence fell.
Tae Geon-seung flipped through the proposal once more before continuing.
"I hear a corporate client has shown interest in this plan. Who is it?"
"Didn't you hear when the proposal was delivered to you?"
"You're saying you can't tell even me?"
"The client insisted on confidentiality until the project is confirmed."
In-hyuk's serious tone made Tae Geon-seung tap the document against his knee.
"If I provide assurance, would you tell me then?"
"I'm not sure what you intend, but why show such interest in a mere corporate client?"
"I'm curious who recognized your true ability first."
"No matter how favorably you phrase it, I cannot disclose that right now."
When In-hyuk refused firmly, Tae Geon-seung gave a nod.
"Then, once client acquisition proceeds, can you at least tell me the scale?"
In-hyuk thought for a moment before answering.
"What the client wants leans more toward M&A than simple investment. Estimating based on the corporate value they desire... it should be at least 100 billion won."
"Have you set incentive conditions as well?"
In investment and M&A brokerage, profit was everything.
No matter how massive the deal, small returns rendered it meaningless.
"We're negotiating a 2 percent ratio. Depending on the situation, it could be taken in equity instead."
Acquiring a 100-billion-won company would yield roughly 2 billion won in profit.
The process wouldn't be easy, but considering typical corporate market caps, the figure was more likely to rise than fall.
"That's quite specific for someone who has only completed a proposal and client meeting. You speak as though you expect this plan to pass."
"Anyone can choose to think positively, can't they? Of course it would be good if it succeeds, but the final decision rests with those above us."
The half-joking tone drew another chuckle from Tae Geon-seung.
"If you're the one carrying this out, a higher position would make things much smoother. How about coming into headquarters and establishing a separate division? You would naturally sit as its director."
It was an extraordinarily bold offer.
Moreover, it wasn't a position within an affiliate like Tae Shin Asset Management, but a division head role at the main holding company, Taeshin Mulsan—comparable to Tae Yeo-jun's status as head of overseas business at Tae Shin Electronics.
In-hyuk pondered for a moment before speaking.