No Room for Games
Kang In-hyuk stood at the entrance while the employee disappeared inside.
Hong Yu-geon, standing beside him, glanced over the wall and spoke in Spanish so passersby wouldn’t understand.
“Son unos tipos muy pacientes.”
Kang In-hyuk nodded casually.
“Lo harán hasta que encuentren el punto perfecto.”
He was referring to the Warbon mercenary unit that had been tailing them for some time.
Van Hester joined the conversation.
“They’re moving randomly to create confusion for now, but they must have a set deadline. They won’t keep this up forever.”
“True. If we slip into an escape route they’ve already secured, bullets will start flying right away.”
It wasn’t worry—it was a realistic assessment of what could happen.
Kang In-hyuk knew that fact better than anyone.
“I’m almost ready on my end.”
“Come to think of it, you mentioned something about fighting poison with poison last time. What exactly is the plan?”
They had been moving together since then, yet Kang In-hyuk hadn’t shown any notable activity.
“It’s not a hundred-percent-certain method, so let’s wait and see how it turns out. For now, we need to deal with what’s in front of us.”
Kang In-hyuk pointed at the Texcellence sign hanging beside the entrance.
The two men had never been told why they were here, so they simply shrugged.
Just then, a man emerged from the building and strode toward them with heavy steps.
“Kang In-hyuk!”
A familiar voice. It was Kang Do-young of KQ Group, someone Kang In-hyuk had clashed with several times before.
At his appearance, Hong Yu-geon and Van Hester stepped aside.
Kang In-hyuk regarded the man who had come right up to him with a calm expression.
“I didn’t expect to find Executive Director Kang here. What brings you?”
“I should be asking you that. Why are you here?”
“Company business. Ah, now that I think of it, there was a rumor you’d been demoted from KQ Distribution to its subsidiary, KQ Fabric… Don’t tell me that was true?”
Kang Do-young’s face twisted.
A middle-aged man who seemed to have followed him out greeted Kang In-hyuk.
“Are you Division Head Kang In-hyuk from Tae Shin Group?”
“That’s correct. You must be President Park Sung-hoon. I’d like to discuss the new-material fiber you’re developing here. Do you have a moment?”
The moment the purpose was stated, Kang Do-young’s voice cut in.
“That’s something we were already discussing!”
Kang In-hyuk tilted his head.
“Has Texcellence already signed a contract with KQ Fabric regarding the new material?”
Park Sung-hoon glanced around before answering.
“…No. No contract has been finalized yet.”
The conversation in the conference room had been about the acquisition, but that wasn’t something he could mention now, so Park Sung-hoon deliberately gave a vague reply.
“The reason I’m here is that Hong Kong SGA’s investment in Texcellence was acquired by AMK Partners in the form of bonds, and I’ve been entrusted with the due diligence.”
“You’re saying the investment we received was transferred to your side?”
“I heard they sent the relevant documents… Have you not checked them?”
Park Sung-hoon’s gaze shifted to another employee who had come out with him.
A female employee spoke cautiously.
“There was an email from SGA about a week ago. I forwarded it to you, sir.”
“Ah, was that it? Now that you mention it, I think I did see an English email… I’ve been so distracted lately…”
With Vice President Choi Jeong-mook missing, technology leaks, and KQ Fabric’s coercive acquisition proposal piling up, the situation had become far too complicated.
“Just in case, I brought the original documents regarding the bond acquisition, along with translations and copies of the contract. If you still have doubts, feel free to call SGA headquarters right now to confirm.”
“If you don’t mind… given how important this matter is, could you wait inside for a moment?”
“Of course.”
Kang In-hyuk was about to head inside with Hong Yu-geon and Van Hester when Kang Do-young, who had been quietly watching, reached for his arm—only to grasp empty air.
“…Huh?”
“I don’t like unnecessary contact. By the way, what brings KQ Fabric here?”
“That’s what I should be asking! Investment bond acquisition? What are you talking about?”
“You heard President Park explain it earlier. Still don’t understand?”
“Exactly! So SGA transferred Texcellence’s investment bonds to AMK Partners, and you were entrusted with them?”
“Nicely summarized. Should I stamp a ‘Well done’ on it for you?”
Kang Do-young’s brow furrowed deeply.
“Does that even make sense?! Why would they hand it over to you?”
Kang Do-young already knew Texcellence had received investment from the Hong Kong private equity firm SGA—roughly three billion won about six months ago, most of it used for new-material development.
Although non-listed shares had been pledged as collateral, that hadn’t been a major obstacle for KQ Fabric’s acquisition of Texcellence. Even if SGA raised issues, KQ Group itself could have handled it.
But the fact that the bonds had been transferred to AMK Partners effectively nullified their entire plan.
“I don’t see any reason to explain. And since it looks like your business here is finished, why don’t you head back? Stop loitering around and making people uncomfortable.”
“What? You little—!”
At that moment, An Min-ki grabbed Kang Do-young’s arm.
“Division Head, there are too many eyes here.”
“So I’m supposed to just let this bastard be?”
“Let’s go back and check the situation first. President Park won’t do anything reckless if he’s thinking straight.”
It was barely a whisper.
Kang Do-young let out a long sigh and shot Kang In-hyuk a sharp glare.
“I’ll say it clearly—if you pull any more stunts this time, I won’t let it slide.”
Kang In-hyuk put on an expression of genuine confusion.
“Stunts? Who?”
“I’m talking about those entertainment companies you handed over last time! Do you have any idea what I went through because of them?”
“Ah~ the idol group drug scandal, school violence, member bullying, power abuse, and all that? And why is that my fault? All I did was transfer the companies as part of the deal.”
“You were the one who chose those companies! Nothing like that happened at the companies you kept!”
On the contrary, the entertainers under those agencies had released hit works and albums, generating enormous profits to this day.
“I’m not a prophet. How was I supposed to know that would happen?”
“That’s…”
At a loss for words, Kang Do-young clenched his fists, his face contorting. Kang In-hyuk’s bodyguards had approached from both sides, radiating a menacing aura.
“That’s enough nonsense. Listen to your secretary and leave. Unless you want to make a fool of yourself by charging in recklessly.”
Kang Do-young turned his gaze to the KQ Fabric employees standing behind An Min-ki.
He had judged that if he could completely overpower President Park Sung-hoon of Texcellence today and push through the acquisition, he would have a chance to return to headquarters.
But everything had fallen apart the moment Kang In-hyuk appeared.
“Kuh…”
In the end, he headed toward the parking lot with his secretary, An Min-ki. The other employees followed with grave expressions.
They needed to return and accurately assess Texcellence’s situation first.
After watching their retreating figures, Kang In-hyuk was guided by an employee into the conference room. Not long after, Park Sung-hoon returned as well.
“I confirmed with Hong Kong SGA. The documents you showed match what they said.”
“I’m glad there’s no issue.”
“But why have you come here today without an appointment, Division Head Kang?”
Anxiety flickered in his eyes.
He feared AMK Partners might demand the return of their investment due to the missing vice president and the technology leak.
“There’s no need to worry so much.”
“…Pardon?”
“I’m aware there’s suspicion of an internal technology leak.”
“Ah, that’s…”
“Since we’re about to discuss something important, perhaps you could ask the others to step out?”
Several key executives and employees of Texcellence, including Park Sung-hoon, were present in the conference room. Everyone looked extremely tense, unsure what would become of the company overnight.
“You want to speak with just the two of us?”
When Kang In-hyuk nodded, Park Sung-hoon dismissed all the other employees.
Then Kang In-hyuk spoke slowly.
“Vice President Choi Jeong-mook… was found dead outside Silicon Valley.”
“What? Vice President Choi is dead? Is that true?!”
“At approximately 3:20 p.m. yesterday local time, his body was discovered at the base of a cliff near an observatory east of San Jose. It appears he was shot and fell.”
“Who would shoot Vice President Choi… No, more importantly, how do you know this, Division Head Kang?”
“I heard it from AMK Partners. I’m merely passing it along. Also, the new-material technical data Vice President Choi leaked doesn’t seem to have reached Refiber Works, so you can rest easy on that front.”
Park Sung-hoon’s eyes widened further.
“You… know everything?”
“That’s why I came to propose a deal.”
As he spoke, Kang In-hyuk took out a document and slid it across the table.
“What is this?”
“I’d like to proceed with a merger and acquisition.”
Park Sung-hoon’s expression darkened instantly.
He had already heard similar words from Kang Do-young earlier. The situation felt no different, leaving him only despair.
“You mean Tae Shin is acquiring us?”
Kang In-hyuk smiled faintly.
“No. I’m proposing that Texcellence acquire RSK. Of course, the necessary funds will be provided by AMK Partners as an investment.”
Park Sung-hoon tilted his head.
“Us acquiring RSK? Do you really think that’s possible, Division Head?”
RSK, which had long monopolized the military uniform defense industry, was a non-listed company valued at over one trillion won. Texcellence, having done business with them for years, knew RSK better than anyone. Naturally, the idea of Texcellence acquiring RSK seemed impossible—unless it was the other way around.
“AMK Partners will make it possible. What do you say? If you refuse, we’ll walk away right here.”
“You mean…?”
It was a question about whether they would demand the immediate return of the investment funds he had been dreading.
“We won’t touch the investment in Texcellence for now. But if things continue as they are, the outcome won’t be hard to predict.”
He meant being acquired by KQ Fabric.
“Could you give me some time to think?”
The topic was far too heavy to decide on the spot.
But Kang In-hyuk shook his head firmly.
“No. Given how critical this matter is, a decision must be made here and now.”
“But… it’s too much to decide so quickly.”
“Timing is everything. If we don’t decide here, the preparations I’ve made will miss their window. Naturally, this offer will lose all meaning as well.”
Park Sung-hoon, now under pressure, swallowed hard.
Honestly, he still thought it sounded absurd. Yet recalling the feats AMK Partners and Tae Shin Asset Management had pulled off in the news, he couldn’t dismiss it as entirely impossible either.
“Then…”
After swallowing once more, Park Sung-hoon slowly opened his mouth.