Chapter 132
Chapter 132
132.
Who Said They'd Give Me Rice Cake? (2)
MH Future Security CEO's office.
Jang Man-soo, who was working inside, had a stiff expression while wearing his earphones.
"Shinwoo, that bastard… looks like he's about to go all in again."
Lillian and Wen Wei, who were across from him, were startled by those words.
"If you mean Chief, he went to the meeting earlier, right?"
"What's going on in the meeting?"
With those questions, the two walked over to Jang Man-soo's desk.
"I turned on the dice bug. Sounds like they're having a showdown in the conference room."
Jang Man-soo accessed LEUCO and brought up a video screen.
Lillian, seeing it, exclaimed in surprise, asking,
"...The conference room? You planted a camera there too?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
"Crazy—! What if you get caught?"
As a large corporation, MH Group conducted regular security checks. In particular, the conference room was where important business matters were discussed, so even though there were no CCTVs installed, it was checked with extra care.
"The lens is covered with a shield that operates with the power, and the camera and bug signals are OFF so it's fine."
"Then how do you turn it on?"
"It's simple. Just operate the wireless lighting switch."
Usually, cameras can be detected by the lens, and bugs by the electromagnetic waves emitted from the device.
However, wireless lighting devices generate electromagnetic waves themselves, so they were less likely to be caught.
Instead, it wasn't possible to record continuously, but only to check when needed.
"...You can do that with the lighting?"
"I'm doing it because it's possible."
Lillian watched the situation inside the conference room shown by the camera and felt something was off.
"This angle… isn't it the wall towards the conference room hallway?"
The video was showing the window side.
Jang Man-soo nodded nonchalantly.
"That's right. I drilled a hole in the painting there and installed it. Because it had to be connected to the ceiling lighting line."
"Hey, Jang Man-soo! Do you even know how much that painting costs to be doing something like that?"
"Huh? What? Is it expensive?"
"That's a 'Cheonghwa Yusudo' painting by artist Bae Jeong-geol! That's worth 2 billion!"
"...Ahem!"
Jang Man-soo listened quietly to those words and unconsciously sniffed.
At the same time, Lillian and Wei sighed as they looked at Jang Man-soo.
.
.
.
The list of recommended executives that Lee Byung-jin's secretary brought arrived in the conference room.
Lee Byung-jin added a word just before handing the list to Baek Shin-woo.
"CEO Baek, these are people we carefully selected. So I hope you will keep the words you said earlier."
"I hope they are really good people."
At the same time, Shinwoo snatched the list from his hand and checked it, flipping through it one by one. Then, Jang Man-soo's voice was heard in Shinwoo's ear.
[List scan complete—!]
Shinwoo brought his hand to his ear as if answering, tapping the area near his temple twice. Then, Jang Man-soo continued his explanation.
[I'll let you know as soon as I find anything through searching, so stall for at least 2 minutes.]
With that answer, Shinwoo carefully examined the contents of the four people on the list.
"It seems like each affiliate put in a lot of effort to select them."
"These are people who will lead MH Future Security well. Among them, there is an executive candidate who is a founding member of MH Retail, so it will be of great help to MH Distribution as well."
It seemed like they were only thinking of sticking straws in and exploiting everything.
"Whether it will be helpful or harmful is something we'll have to check."
Shinwoo returned to his seat and sat down. Meanwhile, people were watching Shinwoo's actions closely.
Soon after, Jang Man-soo's voice was heard through the earphones. An explanation of the people on the list found through searching flowed out.
At the same time, a slight smile appeared on Shinwoo's face.
"Hmm… I think I know what kind of people they are."
Lee Byung-jin judged Shinwoo's smile as a positive signal.
"As I said before, they are personnel with sufficient skills. If the number of executives is insufficient, we have more people to recommend, so you don't have to worry."
But Shinwoo couldn't agree with his opinion.
"It seems like you've chosen them very thoroughly. First, MH Electronics Managing Director Oh Seung-rok. I believe this person is related to Team Leader Go Seok-ju, the main culprit in the MH Electronics design leak that is still causing a stir. To be exact, Team Leader Go Seok-ju's wife's cousin's older sister's father is Managing Director Oh Seung-rok."
At that moment, murmuring voices echoed around.
"Ah… is that so? I must have been negligent in checking because they are not direct family members."
It was obvious from Lee Byung-jin's face that he was lying.
Shinwoo continued to speak, watching that reaction.
"Secondly, MH Construction New City Development Division Head Jang Hae-woon, weren't you investigated five years ago on suspicion of illegally purchasing land before the new city development?"
"That matter ended without charges."
"Then what about the fact that you purchased over 2,000 pyeong of land in the new city development area near Uiwang Station this time? I believe you received the registration transfer about a year ago. Moreover, you even circumvented construction material companies to connect with a company run by your family."
From that point on, Lee Byung-jin began to feel that something was seriously wrong. No, he realized it when the story about Oh Seung-rok came out, but he thought it would end there.
"That's……."
"Isn't this insider trading? A method of receiving information about the development area from an insider and investing in advance. Am I wrong?"
"……."
Shinwoo scanned the people in the silent atmosphere.
Everyone seemed to be holding their breath as if they had been stabbed in the lungs.
"MH Retail Director Oh Sang-jun assaulted his wife and divorced while living in the US branch. Even after that, he couldn't fix his habit and assaulted his subordinates locally. Lastly, MH Group Headquarters Management and Administration Headquarters Head Jin Jae-yoon is the most spectacular."
Everyone except Myung Joong-hwan held their breath and waited.
Seeing that, Shinwoo smiled even more deeply and stood up from his seat.
"Habitual theft of subordinates' performance. Isn't that one of the things that a supervisor should never do? Of course, I know all the evidence and related people for everything I've said so far, so I hope you don't think it's just nonsense."
People's faces turned pale.
Meanwhile, Shinwoo walked up to Lee Byung-jin with a soft explanation and slammed the documents on the desk.
Thud—
"In the end, the people you newly gathered are also like this, so what should we do? Ah, if you didn't know about these matters, it would be good to take action quickly. Right? Executive Director Lee. Byung. Jin."
"……."
Lee Byung-jin couldn't say anything. His tightly clenched fist trembled.
'How did he find out about those things?'
In fact, Lee Byung-jin also knew about it. Since they were people to be planted in MH Future Security, he had to have a leash to hold onto.
Of course, if they were selected as executives, he was planning to quietly wrap things up with his connections.
But everything was revealed.
"From now on, worry about the companies you work for, not my MH Future Security. And if the day comes when you touch someone else's rice bowl again, I'll make you worry about who the owner of your own rice bowl will change to."
Shinwoo made a stern warning and returned to his seat.
As the atmosphere became heavier than before, no one could open their mouths.
Soon, Myung Joong-hwan let out a hollow laugh and opened his mouth.
"There are more than one or two problems that Executive Director Im Hee-yeon couldn't catch even after conducting a comprehensive audit. Isn't that so?"
"I will check with the related departments and people and take action."
Myung Joong-hwan's lips stretched out as if he was satisfied enough.
"Good. But CEO Baek Shin-woo's information gathering skills always amaze me. If I had known this would happen, I should have entrusted the comprehensive audit to CEO Baek Shin-woo instead of Executive Director Im Hee-yeon?"
Shinwoo had Jang Man-soo. And LEUCO, created by Jang Man-soo, could open the doors of every place where keywords were spread and extract the necessary information.
Of course, the US data was acquired thanks to the use of the US Department of Defense military satellite after unlocking LEUCO's national restriction lock during the Chinese abandoned factory incident last time.
"I'm also curious. What would happen if I took on the role……."
Shinwoo scanned the people with cold eyes.
Some of those who made eye contact quickly turned their heads and even swallowed their saliva.
They instinctively felt that if Shinwoo was given the knife now, it would never end as Im Hee-yeon did.
"Are you really going to take it on?"
He was asking sincerely.
In response, Shinwoo loosened his gaze and looked at Myung Joong-hwan.
"I'm busy with what I'm doing now, so it's annoying. And if you're done, can I get up? I have things to prepare because I have to go to the Central District Prosecutor's Office tomorrow."
Just as Shinwoo was about to get up, the conference room door was knocked on, and Lee Doo-heon, one of Chairman Myung Joong-hwan's bodyguards who had been waiting outside, entered.
"...Excuse me."
Gu Sang-ho approached Lee Doo-heon, checked what was going on, and returned.
But he approached Shinwoo instead of Myung Joong-hwan.
"CEO Baek Shin-woo, a guest has arrived in the lobby."
"...A guest?"
No one was scheduled to visit from outside today. And in the first place, Shinwoo didn't make any appointments for anyone to visit the company.
Gu Sang-ho hesitated for a moment and said.
"TSF Investment China Branch Manager, Dorothy McDaniel."
Shinwoo had heard the story of Dorothy intervening when Kwak Chi-young and Ahn Sang-hye met, but he didn't expect her to come without warning like this.
His brow furrowed slightly.
At the same time, the executives, presidents, and CEOs were more agitated than when Shinwoo was listing the problems of the executive nominees. This was because TSF's Chinese branch had a larger business area than the Korean branch, so it had a great influence.
In particular, there were also MH Group affiliates related to the Chinese business. So it was natural for Dorothy's appearance to attract their attention.
"I'll go down right away. And I'll tell Executive Director Im Hee-yeon to tell Department Head Jang Man-soo to send the data I mentioned earlier."
"...Please do."
Im Hee-yeon was also surprised to hear about Dorothy's visit, like the others.
With that, Shinwoo left the conference room immediately.
"Let's wrap up here too. Ah, Executive Director Lee Byung-jin will need a report on this matter. Even if it's for the company, you have to pay the price for pushing people in without proper verification."
Recommending four people with problems was a serious issue.
Of course, Myung Joong-hwan didn't think that Lee Byung-jin had recommended them without really knowing their problems.
"...I understand."
"I'll be waiting without forgetting."
Myung Joong-hwan left with Im Hee-yeon after answering. The other executives, presidents, and CEOs followed behind them.
Only Myung In-chul, Myung Sung-chul, and Myung Soo-yeon were left in the conference room.
The three sat facing each other without saying a word. Then, Myung Sung-chul carefully opened his mouth first.
"Brother… what are you going to do now?"
"...About what?"
"Baek Shin-woo. Are you going to keep letting him be like that?"
Myung Soo-yeon, who had been silent in the slightly raised conversation, sighed.
"Big Brother, is there a way in the current situation? Even mobilizing executives and affiliate people was useless."
Until now, Myung Soo-yeon had only been watching. Of course, she didn't like Baek Shin-woo either, but she thought there was no room for her to intervene because Myung In-chul and Myung Sung-chul were taking the lead on a large scale.
But seeing the two continue to fail recently, she thought that there might be an opportunity for her as well.
Soon, Myung In-chul looked back and forth at Myung Sung-chul and Myung Soo-yeon with a crumpled face.
"Sung-chul, quickly resolve the MH Foods issue. Soo-yeon, take this opportunity to connect with TSF's Chinese branch through Baek Shin-woo and try to get a line on the hotel chain project in China."
Myung In-chul left the conference room after finishing those words. The two, who had been stunned for a moment, couldn't help but crumple their faces at the words they didn't know the intention of.
Myung In-chul's mind became complicated as he went outside.
This was because it was expected that Shinwoo had also joined hands with the Chinese branch, just as he had joined hands with Kwak Chi-young, the head of TSF's Korean branch.