The Auction's Shadow
Go Mi-ah shifted her gaze from the monitor to the edge of the desk. There, the corner of the desk was gripped in In-hyuk's hand.
"What kind of strength is that… Are you even human? Or did you learn some kind of parlor trick?"
Honestly, In-hyuk was surprised himself. Since returning to the past, he had felt his body was different from before, but he hadn't expected to snap the corner of a desk made of thick wood.
"I got a little excited seeing something I never imagined."
"If you get excited twice, you'll be folding the desk into origami. No, wait… wood origami? But seriously, how did you split it? Is that even possible with human strength?"
Go Mi-ah snatched the piece of desk from In-hyuk's hand and examined it from every angle, her eyes full of suspicion that he had performed some kind of magic trick.
Yet the edges of the broken piece showed only the clean traces of plywood being torn apart by raw force.
"Some people tear phone books in half with their hands, you know."
"Ugh… When was the last time anyone used a phone book? You're really showing your age now."
"Can't really deny being an old man at this point."
"So what exactly made you angry? This coordinate?"
In-hyuk turned his eyes back to the screen. A red line twisted and tangled across one location in southern Gyeonggi Province. It was a safe house used during his time in the special forces unit UID, before he regressed.
They used TMT, and now even the location of the safe house… So they really do have close ties to UID after all…
Of course, he couldn't explain that much to Go Mi-ah right now.
"Summarize it and print it out. And it would be best to find a new place and move as soon as possible. While we're at it, we should overhaul the equipment too."
"We've barely lived here a year."
"Even with IP routing, there's still a risk of being traced. Let's make security more solid this time."
The unidentified organization was thorough enough to use encryption even in their messages. And Go Mi-ah's skills were proving far greater than expected. If they were counter-traced from just a few scattered clues, he might lose her. That possibility worried him.
"Security? How?"
"I'll have to think about that myself."
He had considered assigning bodyguards from a mercenary group like Charybdis. But no matter how skilled mercenaries were, their loyalty was usually decided by money. Moreover, having died once from betrayal before regressing made it even harder for In-hyuk to trust people.
"Really? Hmm~!"
Go Mi-ah drew out the end of her interjection strangely and made an odd expression. Seeing it, In-hyuk felt a sense of foreboding.
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【Who will be the new owner of Cheolsan Capital decided through public competitive bidding? The companies expected to participate are Omega Finance, Silverbell Capital, and AMK Partners, with the minimum bid estimated at around one trillion won….】
【Financial firm Cheolsan Capital turns out to be a hidden gem! Holding bonds, real estate, and stocks as assets, Cheolsan Capital has secured stakes and bonds in major domestic companies…. Since the company remains unlisted, the competitive bidding could shift the balance of power between firms depending on management style….】
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The M&A Team 1 employees of Tae Shin Asset Management had traveled down to Busan, where Cheolsan Capital was located, and were busily preparing for the public competitive bidding in the fourth-floor conference room of the Cheolsan Capital building.
Meanwhile, In-hyuk sat in the representative's office with Jang Hyeong-cheol, the true owner of Cheolsan Capital.
"Selling one company isn't such a big deal, so why all this noise…"
Jang Hyeong-cheol had been scrolling through articles about the Cheolsan Capital sale on his phone for a while now. The situation was already uncomfortable because of the recent investigations by the prosecution and the National Tax Service.
In-hyuk gave him a slight smile.
"This way, the innocent ones won't be able to pull any unnecessary stunts."
"…What? Don't tell me you've been the one leaking articles all this time?"
Whenever media interest seemed to die down, new trivial news about Cheolsan Capital kept appearing. It would have been difficult without someone deliberately orchestrating it.
"That's correct."
At In-hyuk's calm reply, Jang Hyeong-cheol looked incredulous.
"Even so, aren't you fanning the flames too much?"
"If we hadn't played the media, the acquiring companies would have tried to undervalue Cheolsan Capital in some way."
Jang Hyeong-cheol's eyes widened.
"Weren't you close enough to introduce AMK Partners to me? Considering that, there was no need to go this far. I've already benefited from you, so I would have overlooked a reasonable amount of loss and the profit that would go to you."
He was referring to the matter of avoiding the prosecution and tax service investigations.
But In-hyuk did not respond to his words.
"Money is only a means. It can't be called trust."
For a moment, Jang Hyeong-cheol let out a laugh mixed with admiration.
"Haha! I didn't expect to hear such words from someone your age. From our conversations so far, you feel more like a peer than a subordinate. Are you perhaps lying about your age?"
In-hyuk recalled what Go Mi-ah had said to him not long ago.
"People do say I look younger than I am."
"You even know how to joke?"
"…"
When silence fell for a moment, Jang Hyeong-cheol continued.
"Ahem! How high do you think the bidding will go this time?"
"Earlier you acted like you weren't particularly greedy, but now you're expecting something?"
"I'm just curious, that's all."
It was an answer where his true intentions were obvious.
"You already saw the expected bid amount in the articles. At least one trillion won. Of course, since the fire has already spread as much as it can, it will go higher than that."
"Who wouldn't have seen that? I heard there are some unpleasant rumors circulating in banking circles."
"You mean the rumors that some kind of pressure has been applied to the banks' lending departments?"
"So you heard about it too."
"It would be strange not to."
It was impossible for word of something burning through people's hands and mouths not to spread.
Of course, In-hyuk knew it wasn't just a rumor—Tae Seok-ho, the second son of the Tae Shin Group, had personally moved to pressure them.
"Even so, aren't you worried? I don't care since I've already decided to liquidate Cheolsan Capital anyway… but you have a lot to think about. Don't tell me AMK Partners hasn't faced any pressure at all?"
"Not particularly. And I was only in charge of mediating the bidding. I only heard that they would handle the rest themselves."
"Does that mean they're that confident about this bid? But if the pressure on the banks is real… AMK won't find it easy to secure funding either…"
Even if they win the bid, without the funds, the acquisition falls through.
If the parties targeting Cheolsan Capital had gone so far as to mobilize the prosecution and tax service before, they had surely been involved in this banking pressure as well.
"I wouldn't know about that. It seems about time, so I should head down."
"Good luck."
In-hyuk finished his greetings with him and stepped outside.
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Many people had gathered in the fourth-floor conference room where Cheolsan Capital's public competitive bidding would take place. In-hyuk entered with Hong Yu-geon and Van Hester. The gazes of the representatives from the three participating companies and the observers there to confirm the results turned toward him.
While the bidding was being prepared, they had contacted the company several times hoping to meet In-hyuk. But since he had met with none of them, various rumors had begun to circulate.
"So that's Kang In-hyuk, the head of the MP Division at Tae Shin Asset Management?"
"He wouldn't even meet us, but he showed up for something this big, huh."
"I heard Chairman Tae is backing him."
"Otherwise, how could he have landed a deal this size?"
Even now, the murmuring voices could be heard.
At that moment, a man approached In-hyuk and spoke in English.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Division Head. I'm Norman McGrath of AMK Partners."
In-hyuk looked at him calmly.
Norman McGrath had no idea that In-hyuk was registered as the representative of AMK Partners under the name Gordon Grimes. That was why In-hyuk had altered his tone and accent as much as possible during their calls.
"Yes. Hello. I'm Kang In-hyuk. Thank you for participating in this bidding."
"I was under the impression you weren't a study-abroad type, yet you speak Midwestern English quite fluently."
He was referring to standard American English used in the Midwestern United States.
Since the information he had gathered about In-hyuk showed no study-abroad experience, he was surprised to hear such natural English.
"I studied quite hard during my university years."
"More importantly, I tried to meet you once before regarding this matter… but you kept refusing, and I must say I was disappointed."
Like the others, Norman McGrath had wanted to meet In-hyuk regarding the Cheolsan Capital deal. Of course, the recent stories of Tae Shin Asset Management's successful investments had also made him curious about In-hyuk.
"I have to be careful not to put anyone in an awkward position."
While the casual conversation continued, Tae Seok-ho, Executive Director of Taeshin Mulsan, approached. At the same time, everyone's gazes focused on them once again.
"So the son-in-law is here too."
"I didn't expect you to come, Executive Director."
On the surface, Tae Seok-ho had nothing to do with this public competitive bidding. Yet he had come in person, which naturally made others curious.
"It's the most talked-about event these days. Since my nephew's husband is at the center of it, I figured I should at least come take a look."
"It's not that big of a deal."
"Take the compliment as it is. More importantly…"
Tae Seok-ho's gaze shifted to Norman McGrath standing beside In-hyuk.
"Ah, I'm Norman McGrath of AMK. Executive Director Tae Seok-ho of Taeshin Mulsan."
"Oh… I don't believe we've met. Yet you know me?"
"I mainly work in the United States, but I've heard quite a few stories about Executive Director Tae Seok-ho's management exploits from across the ocean."
The two conversed fluently in English.
When Tae Seok-ho heard the respectful words, he gave a slight smile.
"Where were you based?"
"I was at Fourgma. Recently, I was the head of the Singapore branch before moving to AMK."
"Leaving a position like that to join AMK… That must have been a difficult decision. Were you headhunted?"
The branch manager position at Fourgma, a renowned U.S. hedge fund, was a significant role. Giving that up to join a new investment firm was not something most people would consider.
Of course, Tae Seok-ho had already looked into Norman McGrath after AMK Partners' name became known before the Cheolsan Capital bidding. But he showed none of that now and responded smoothly.
"That's right. They offered a surprisingly large salary. The working environment is also quite good."
"AMK Partners must have considerable capital for a new firm."
"It's not bad. If Executive Director Tae is looking for investment opportunities, I'd be happy to recommend some. Ah, I suppose that was rude to someone who already has their own investment company."
The remark, tossed out like a joke, was also directed at In-hyuk.
"I'll consider it if the opportunity arises later."
At that moment, Jung Jong-hyun, the team leader of M&A Team 1 who had been watching the atmosphere, carefully approached In-hyuk and spoke.
"Division Head, the bidding document submission deadline has passed. We'll begin opening the bids now."
"Has it already come to that? Executive Director, Branch Manager, if you'll excuse me."
"Go ahead. Good work."
"I'll see you again."
Leaving the two men's greetings behind, In-hyuk walked toward the front of the conference room. The others also confirmed the time and took their seats in the chairs prepared in the room.
The employees from Omega Finance were also visible. They already looked triumphant, as if they had won.
Then the voice of Ahn Woo-chan, the deputy manager of M&A Team 1 who had stepped up to the podium, rang out through the microphone.
"We will now begin opening the bids."