Chapter 112
Chapter 112
112.
It Wasn't Fishing, It Was a Fish Trap (2)
Clatter— Clatter—
Shinwoo waited for Kwak Chi-young's answer, rolling the 8-Sided Dice he had been holding from the start.
Soon, Kwak Chi-young opened his mouth after a moment of contemplation.
"Isn't there a talent within MH Future Security who developed R2ED? That alone should be enough to seize the initiative."
As expected. He even knew that Jang Man-soo had researched with MH Tech.
Shinwoo briefly stopped rolling the dice in his hand.
"Your intelligence network seems to be more extensive than I thought."
"Ah, I know it's a matter that could be considered rude. But it was too significant to simply overlook, so I had to bring it up. I sincerely apologize if it made you uncomfortable."
Until now, Shinwoo had never had a failed business. Even after MH Future Security was established, its growth continued steadily.
Moreover, the announcement of new technology from MH Tech showed the potential for the defense industry business.
Shinwoo wondered how Kwak Chi-young saw him now.
"It's alright. Information circulates, after all. I kept it under wraps a bit because of the nature of the defense affiliate, but it was bound to come out eventually."
"Thank you for understanding. So… what do you think? I don't know if there are other technologies, but even with just R2ED, the profits would be considerable if it were exported to friendly nations."
"How much are you estimating?"
At that question, the smile never left Kwak Chi-young's face.
"In the case of military weapons, the Sea Palace Missile sold for $4 billion, which is ₩5.2 trillion in Korean currency. R2ED enhances the radar performance, which is like a basic option for such military weapons, so if stable compatibility and reliable performance are confirmed, it will be priced even higher."
This wasn't an explanation from someone who had only conducted general investment businesses. It was clear that he had exerted considerable influence in the military weapons business as well.
“…Impressive.”
"I thought you were in the military, so you would know these things well."
Was he deliberately probing? Shinwoo chuckled at the question that seemed to be testing him.
"I was just a non-commissioned officer in charge of military supply duties. I might know about supply goods, but it's difficult to know about military weapons."
Kwak Chi-young knew that Shinwoo's military supply history was fake. However, he was slightly annoyed that he still hadn't been able to uncover his real history.
"I thought you were versatile in many ways… I guess that wasn't the case."
"A person has to have some shortcomings."
Kwak Chi-young gave a subtle smile at Shinwoo's nonchalant reply.
"In any case, our TSF is ready to lend MH Tech a hand at any time."
"A collaboration for a corresponding price, I presume."
"Isn't it a win-win for both of us?"
Clatter— Clatter—
Shinwoo rolled the 8-Sided Dice, thought for a moment, and then continued with his answer.
"It's premature to say right now, so let's see how things go. And wouldn't it be too sensitive to discuss this in detail in a place like this?"
"Hahaha! I was too hasty. I understand. I'll wish for the success of R2ED first."
When the conversation ended, Shinwoo got up and went outside. As he joined the bodyguards standing in front of the door, he spotted a man standing inside.
‘…Ahn Deok-chil?’
Unlike the last time he saw him, he was neatly dressed in a black suit like Oh Han-sung, who was standing next to him.
The problem was that Ahn Deok-chil's last known activity was contact with the National Intelligence Service. After that, he disappeared from the hospital, and his whereabouts were unknown.
Shinwoo glanced at Ahn Deok-chil once and then got on the elevator and went down. When he got to the car, he immediately called Jang Man-soo and spoke in Swahili.
"Ahn Deok-chil has appeared."
With that brief explanation, Jang Man-soo's booming voice erupted.
[What?! Guillotine Ahn Deok-chil? He suddenly disappeared… Where did you see him?]
"TSF's Korean branch. I was coming out after finishing a conversation with Kwak Chi-young, and he was standing in front of the office with Oh Han-sung. The atmosphere was quite different too."
When he encountered him at Baeseong Corporation, he was like a beast, but just now, he was like a hunter quietly seeking prey.
[That guy was in cahoots with that damn Ban Sang-won from the National Intelligence Service. But why is he there?]
"I don't know. Could it be that he… joined the National Intelligence Service? And they sent him on an errand?"
That was the only thing he could guess right now.
[Ban Sang-won using a Guillotine who failed his mission? That guy would have abandoned him a hundred times over! That's what I thought, so I assumed Guillotine had been taken care of.]
Shinwoo had judged similarly.
"Judging from the situation, it seemed like he had just arrived. Can you check the vehicles that entered the TSF Korean branch and find out where he came from?"
[TSF's internal CCTV is an offline system, so it's impossible to hack into… Then I have to scan all the external road CCTV cameras.]
"Find him. It seems ominous that he suddenly appeared."
Jang Man-soo sighed at the request that seemed to herald the start of hard labor.
[Ugh. I can't help it. Alright, I'll do it. If I look at everything, I'll catch something.]
After ending the call, Shinwoo looked out the window.
Then, Meian, who was sitting in the passenger seat, read Shinwoo's serious mood and carefully said,
"Shinwoo. Is something wrong?"
"Yeah, something like that."
He was even getting tired of telling her to call him CEO.
Meanwhile, the car headed towards the MH Group headquarters.
.
.
.
At the same time.
Wen Wei was attending a meeting as the head of the KITE headquarters.
In attendance were Managing Director Yoo Hyung-jin, his executives, General Instructor Jeong Gang-ho, and the heads of each department.
They were all discussing the projects that KITE was pursuing.
Then, Executive Director Lee Kyung-hwan, one of the executives, looked at Wei and said,
"Does the new head of headquarters have any other opinions?"
He had only been listening to the content from the beginning and hadn't said anything.
At that, Wei briefly stopped looking at the tablet containing the data.
"Is the report finished?"
"For now, yes."
Wei reviewed the reported content again on the tablet. It was full of memos written with a digital pen.
"First of all, the night security system at the Taejeong Logistics Center has many holes. A2, D4, and E8 have ambiguous CCTV angles, so they should be expanded or included in the patrol course."
It didn't end there.
From then on, Wei pointed out the problematic areas one by one in detail.
At the same time, the people who had reported the content had dark expressions as the problems were accurately pointed out.
"Lastly, when comparing the blueprints of BH Technology, there are blind spots in the lobby, the parking lot on the 2nd basement floor, B2 on the 5th floor above ground, and the D1 corridor on the 14th floor. The location needs to be adjusted."
Again, the problems were pinpointed without any error.
The atmosphere was quiet for a moment, and then Lee Kyung-hwan, who had initially looked down on Wei, retorted again.
"Aren't these issues that don't cause major problems even in the current state?"
The current meeting was to re-examine the security systems of the companies that had been in charge of existing contracts ahead of the new year.
As he said, there had been no problems yet, so it wasn't wrong.
But Wei looked at Lee Kyung-hwan with a cold expression.
"Problems don't announce themselves before they come."
"But the location adjustments you just mentioned cost money. And that's something that our KITE has to bear entirely."
"If you couldn't do it properly in the first place, you have to take responsibility."
"It's not just a few pennies. And what about the issue of credibility?"
As Lee Kyung-hwan's voice rose, Wei was momentarily at a loss.
Then, a knock sounded at the meeting room door, and Shinwoo, who had gone out on business, came in.
"It looks like you're having a lively discussion."
"C, CEO!"
Everyone was surprised and stood up from their seats.
"I'm fine, please sit down."
With that answer, Shinwoo also sat down in the middle seat. And he received a tablet from Jang Jin-ho, who had come in with him.
The contents of the meeting that had just taken place were all on the tablet.
While silence continued due to Shinwoo's appearance, he checked the contents one by one.
"There are a lot of holes in the security systems that we've been in charge of for a long time."
It was the first time he was checking the security work of companies that had been contracted before Shinwoo came to KITE, so it was the first time he was checking with this renewal.
At that, Lee Kyung-hwan, who had been angry until just now, carefully stepped forward.
"It's not a matter that will cause problems. Even if there is a problem, it can be covered by the patrols of the security guards."
Shinwoo looked at Wei at that explanation.
"I saw you organizing something outside earlier. Can you show it to me?"
"Huh? Ah, yes. C…EO. Here it is."
For a moment, Wei almost called him Captain but barely changed the title.
Soon, his tablet was handed over to Shinwoo, and he could see the parts that had been pointed out as problems.
"You've pinpointed it accurately. But what's the problem? I heard Executive Director Lee Kyung-hwan's voice earlier, and it seems like it's about the amount."
Lee Kyung-hwan was someone who hadn't liked Shinwoo since he came to KITE as CEO.
But Managing Director Yoo Hyung-jin was staying still, and Myung Joong-hwan, the former CEO and chairman of MH Group, had even given him KITE's shares and put him in the CEO position, so he had no choice but to shut his mouth.
Of course, Shinwoo knew very well that he didn't like him.
"As I said earlier, our KITE has to bear all the adjustment costs. You know that's not an easy task, CEO, don't you?"
As an executive, preventing unnecessary expenses was also one of his important tasks. He didn't back down easily, perhaps because he had a reasonable reason.
But there was no way Shinwoo wouldn't know that.
"You're saying that if we suddenly adjust the location of a significant number of CCTV cameras due to safety issues, there could be a problem with credibility, since we've been doing it this way until now."
Lee Kyung-hwan answered, slightly puzzled by the strangely agreeing atmosphere.
"T, that's right!"
"But isn't passing by knowing that there's a problem something that could cause bigger problems later on?"
“…Yes?”
"I don't know if the analogy is appropriate, but is it any different from knowing that there's shoddy construction and regretting it after it collapses?"
"That's……."
Shinwoo looked at Lee Kyung-hwan with sharpened eyes.
"Have I ever said anything about the cost of issues directly related to KITE's credibility?"
“…No.”
"Or should we take this opportunity to replace the outdated CCTV cameras and change the vendor as well? What do you think about that?"
At that moment, Lee Kyung-hwan's expression subtly crumpled.
In fact, he had been taking a considerable amount of kickbacks from the vendor when KITE installed CCTV cameras under corporate and facility security contracts.
‘Could he be saying that knowing that?’
At Lee Kyung-hwan's silenced attitude, Shinwoo sighed and continued.
"I'll say it again, security and safety are the top priorities in KITE's security and protection processes. I don't care how much it costs in that process, so I hope unnecessary opinions don't come out."
Everyone's mouths fell open at the firm assertion.
Shinwoo scanned the people once and turned his gaze to Wei.
"It seems like the noise has been cleared up for now, so let's move on to the next order. Head of Headquarters Wen Wei. Please tell us what you've prepared now?"
As if he had been waiting, Wei stood up and displayed a PPT on the meeting room screen.
As the presentation continued, the eyes of the people in the room widened more and more.