Chapter 124
Chapter 124
124.
A Tangled Harvest Festival (1)
Incheon International Airport Arrival Hall.
Among the people entering, some looked unbelievably disheveled.
It was An Dong-won and his family, who had just returned after being rescued from being held captive by the 666 Unit in Machala, Ecuador.
"Honey... is it really okay for us to come in like this?"
An Dong-won's wife asked, holding their three-year-old child tightly, her face full of worry.
"I'm sorry... honey... this is the only way for now."
In exchange for transferring the MH Electronics' battery technology patent, he had received 20 billion won in an overseas account that was difficult to trace.
Of course, he knew very well that it would be dangerous, as the transaction was so large. So, as instructed by the person who gave him the money, he tried to hide with his family immediately after entering Russia via Vladivostok.
He thought that only days of luxury were left.
But someone was waiting for them from the airport.
They had guns, so he had no choice but to follow them to Machala, Ecuador.
An Dong-won and his family were watched 24 hours a day by unidentified armed forces, and they spent their days in terror.
"But you shouldn't be coming to Korea."
She had seen in the news what the current situation was at MH Electronics. But it was questionable that MH Electronics, not LAOJIA, had applied for the battery technology patent as is.
Because An Dong-won had thoroughly hidden it and sold it off.
"This is the only way for now. And I contacted them in advance to protect us, so it'll be fine."
He thought that if he stayed abroad, he would be killed by those who had imprisoned him. As An Dong-won talked quietly with his wife, he came out of the arrival hall and looked around.
In the midst of it, a shabby-looking man suddenly rushed out of the crowd with a knife, heading towards An Dong-won.
Thwack—
At the same time, a hand shot out from beside An Dong-won and grabbed the man's hand.
"What, what is this!"
The surprised man tried to pull his hand away, but it was as if it were clamped in a vise and wouldn't budge.
"A Joseonjok? But you can't go around stabbing people here."
The person who had jumped out was Wen Wei, the head of KITE.
Meanwhile, An Dong-won saw the knife that had stopped near his chest and was so surprised that he and his wife fell back.
"Heok—!"
Wei looked at An Dong-won and his family and said.
"I am Wen Wei from KITE. We will protect you from now on."
The Joseonjok man was still struggling to pull his wrist away, then brought his face close to bite Wei's hand.
At that moment, Wei's other hand grabbed his head, twisted his arm, and slammed him down to the floor.
Thud— Bang!
A heavy sound echoed on the cold marble floor.
Airport police officers rushed over to check the situation.
"What's going on?"
"We are KITE, a security and escort company. This man tried to kill our client with a knife, so we subdued him."
By now, other KITE bodyguards had gathered around and helped An Dong-won and his family up.
The airport police could see the situation and the knife in the man's hand.
Wei continued.
"If a reference investigation is needed, I will attend and explain later. Right now, our client's safety is the top priority. But aren't you going to put handcuffs on him?"
The man who was pinned under Wei's hand and knee began to struggle again as he regained consciousness.
The airport police handcuffed the man's wrist, which was held by Wei, and picked up the knife.
Wei handed over the man, took out a business card from his pocket, and gave it to the police.
"The motive for the crime is that he was hired to kill our client. If you need any additional information, please contact this number. Excuse me."
Wei said that and looked at An Dong-won, who was surrounded by KITE bodyguards.
"We will be in charge of security from now on. It may be a little uncomfortable, but I hope you will follow us well."
An Dong-won, who was still dazed, asked cautiously.
"Is it... really okay now?"
"Since you've done something, you'll have to be prepared for the punishment for that."
An Dong-won had experienced almost dying, so he had thought about that much.
"I'm okay... but I hope you'll protect my family no matter what."
"Don't worry. Then let's go with us."
He was able to get out of the airport surrounded by KITE bodyguards. As if they had been waiting, cars lined up on one side and were brought forward.
"Senior Researcher An Dong-won, you must get in that car."
"...Yes?"
An Dong-won was surprised to hear that he had to be separated from his family.
"There is someone waiting for you."
The car parked in the middle was pointed to.
KITE's parent company was currently MH Future Security. Its CEO, Baek Shin-woo, was known to be ruthless in business as the grandson of Chairman Myung Joong-hwan.
An Dong-won calmed his wife and let her into the car, then got in, thinking that Baek Shin-woo would be waiting for him.
But his expectations were completely wrong, and his expression hardened.
"Ch, Chairman!"
An Dong-won, who was affiliated with a mere research institute, recognized Myung Joong-hwan, whom he had only seen in pictures, and hurriedly bowed his head.
"I heard you almost died at the airport?"
"......"
An Dong-won still couldn't answer, his head bowed.
Myung Joong-hwan stared at An Dong-won and continued.
"Can you explain how you were able to enter Korea?"
"...Yes?"
Until now, An Dong-won had thought that MH Group had sent people to rescue him from Ecuador. But he didn't understand why Myung Joong-hwan was asking for an explanation of the situation at the time.
"I only know that you contacted KITE from Vladivostok. So I think an explanation is needed. Everything from the beginning."
At Myung Joong-hwan's heavy question, An Dong-won hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.
In the meantime, the car started. In the car, An Dong-won explained the motive and process of stealing the battery technology patent, and what happened after the incident broke out.
Myung Joong-hwan's expression, who was listening seriously, became heavier and heavier.
"So those things happened... Of course, I can't understand your situation. I don't have to tell you, but this matter is not light."
"...I know very well."
An Dong-won had caused enormous damage to MH Group. If it were converted into stocks, the amount would be tens of trillions of won...
Thanks to the fact that the technology patent was applied for by MH Electronics, it was gradually recovering, but LAOJIA was still pushing ahead with the design theft.
As a result, the shareholders' resentment and the distrust pouring out on the public did not subside easily.
"You'll need to be prepared to some extent."
"...Yes."
Myung Joong-hwan stared intently at An Dong-won, who was very intimidated.
"But in the current state, your work will be secondary, and only MH Group's image will be damaged."
As a result, it would only mean that an employee deliberately stole the technology patent, and the company knew nothing about it in the process.
It was tantamount to admitting that MH Electronics, and MH Group as a whole, was sloppy, so it could never be a good sequence.
"Then... what should I do..."
While Myung Joong-hwan was thinking for a moment, the vehicle was divided into two teams. The car they were in turned off to Incheon and stopped on a quiet roadside on the outskirts of the factory complex.
At the same time, everyone in the driver's seat and the passenger seat got out, leaving only Myung Joong-hwan and An Dong-won in the car.
In the frightening atmosphere, An Dong-won was still trembling with his head bowed.
"I've written a scenario."
"...What is it about?"
An Dong-won hoped that the ending of the scenario would not be a pessimistic suicide.
Myung Joong-hwan took a deep breath and continued.
* * *
[MH Electronics' technology leak is a clever plan to catch industrial spies? Mr. A, who is known to have leaked MH Electronics' battery technology to other companies, fled overseas and returned home. There, Mr. A reported to the press that he had moved to catch a broker who was trying to sell MH Electronics' technology to LAOJIA...]
[Is the truth of MH Electronics researcher A, who reported as a double spy? MH Group announced that Chairman Myung Joong-hwan directly received the situation and proceeded with it...]
As new facts were revealed, several media outlets had no choice but to write articles as if a dam had burst.
Shinwoo checked the situation on his cell phone and entered the arrival hall of Hong Kong International Airport.
"Chairman Myung Joong-hwan must have persuaded An Dong-won well."
He was visiting DAX for the Baesung Distribution bidding. Next to him were Wei and Meian, and all four members of the special security team.
In the meantime, he found a stranger holding a placard beyond the arrival hall barricade.
[Welcome Shinwoo]
It was Shinwoo's Chinese name.
At the same time, Meian, who was walking side by side, ran out and hugged the person.
"??! (Dad!)"
The person holding the placard was Weisuan, the CEO of DAX and once a person who bought and sold information all over China.
"Aigoo—! If a big guy like you runs like this, Dad will die!"
Shinwoo and Wei were calm at the sight, but the four bodyguards standing around were bewildered.
Of course, they already knew who Weisuan was after hearing the explanation.
An unidentified person who became famous for establishing a private equity investment company called DAX. But Meian, whom they had come to think of as a niece while working as bodyguards together, was calling him Dad and hugging him.
Mark Freeman carefully tapped Shinwoo on the shoulder.
"...CEO. Was Meian CEO Weisuan's daughter?"
"That's right. Ah, not his biological daughter, but his adopted daughter. But he cherishes her more than his own daughter."
"Ah... Meian was born with a silver spoon in her mouth."
Shinwoo laughed.
"Do you even know that saying?"
"My daughter learned it while attending elementary school."
As per the contract conditions Mark Freeman presented to Shinwoo, he brought his entire family to Korea and started living together. Among them, his daughter was now 13 years old and started attending 6th grade of elementary school.
"Are you okay now that your family is back together?"
"Good..."
Mark Freeman, who was speaking with a truly happy expression, stopped abruptly. It was because he remembered Shinwoo's publicly revealed family history.
"I'm fine. I'm glad if Mark and the others are happy. If you need anything, please tell me anytime."
"......"
In the meantime, Weisuan and Meian's father-daughter reunion ended, and the two approached.
"Long time no see. Baek Shin-woo."
"Indeed. Are there no problems with work?"
Weisuan's brow furrowed slightly at Shinwoo's answer.
"Isn't this supposed to be a formal meeting? Shouldn't you use honorifics? I'm 20 years older than you. I'm the same age as your mother."
But Shinwoo didn't back down either.
"I can't easily raise the words I've been using from the beginning. Because of what you did to me."
Shinwoo's gaze turned to Meian. He was referring to the fact that he had suddenly tried to kill him with an axe in the park.
"Did you know our relationship would turn out like this back then?"
"It's always too late to regret."
"Tsk—! Let's just go."
They moved to the vehicle prepared by Weisuan and boarded.
As the car started, Weisuan, who was sitting next to Shinwoo, asked.
"Korea is a mess. How were you able to come here?"
"That's a fire you started. Well, there are some guys who are trying to pour oil on it."
Shinwoo said calmly.
Weisuan, who was worried about his appearance, opened his mouth again.
"From where were you watching this game?"
"What are you talking about?"
"The MH Electronics technology leak. I asked you to lend me some kids and you told me to put tails on the exact location. Our kids followed well, but honestly, it was a situation that anyone would have had a hard time dealing with."
"I think I paid the price for borrowing the kids properly. Is there any need to be curious?"
The price was information on the stock flow of several Chinese companies.
With that, DAX was investing like MH Future Security to make money from short-term profits. Of course, the ongoing Ray Sung Group incident also played a part in the process.
"That's expensive...!"
Screech—
At that moment, the brakes were applied due to a car that suddenly came in from the side. The surrounding cars were the same.
It was in the middle of the road. Shinwoo looked around wondering what was going on and saw the person getting out of the car parked in front.