Chapter 90
Chapter 90
90.
Fucking 40th Anniversary
Im Hee-yeon, dressed in a gown, sat in the back seat of the car, checking the day's economic trends on her tablet. Due to the incident in China, the number of escort vehicles had been doubled, with two cars following in front and behind.
"At this rate, Baeseong Corporation will collapse soon."
She said to Song Tae-hoon, who was sitting in the passenger seat.
"The stock price, which had been temporarily stable, is plummeting again due to the second set of account books released yesterday. Especially since the funds mentioned in the account books are related to Baeseong Distribution and the supermarket business, the impact won't stop easily."
"Only the employees will suffer. I heard that TSF Korea is preparing to acquire Baeseong Corporation... In this state, I wonder if recovery is even possible..."
As she said, Baeseong Corporation was becoming a mess as it suffered a second major setback.
A company needs to have something left to revive and make a profit, but right now, Baeseong Corporation's image was ruined, and even its funds were depleted due to the succession battle, making it no different from a rag.
Vrr- Vrr-
In the midst of all this, she saw a call coming in from Shinwoo.
"Why is he calling..."
She hesitated for a moment before pressing the call button.
[Are you on your way to the party?]
"...Yes. But what's wrong?"
Shinwoo hesitated on the other end of the line before continuing.
[I heard through my information line in China that a request for an assassination of the Executive Director has been received.]
For a moment, Im Hee-yeon was so shocked that she almost dropped her phone.
"Who on earth..."
[It must be someone related to the abandoned factory. Security inside and outside the party venue will be strengthened, but if the assassin is skilled, infiltration won't be difficult. So, I hope the Executive Director will tell Director Song to be careful as well.]
Even amidst the confusion, Im Hee-yeon kept her wits about her.
"Is there anything else I need to do?"
[Please keep this call a secret. I will investigate and deal with the assassin.]
"How can you possib—!"
She couldn't finish her sentence because the incident at the abandoned factory came to mind. Moreover, she wondered where and how the information she had just heard was delivered.
But she also knew that Shinwoo wouldn't readily answer even if she asked.
"...No. Are you really okay?"
[Worry about the Executive Director, who is the target, before you worry about me. Oh, and please delay your arrival time by at least 15 minutes from the original schedule. It's best to take a detour.]
The call ended like that.
Im Hee-yeon let out a long sigh as she put down her phone.
"Is something... wrong?"
"How much time is left until we arrive?"
"About 10 minutes."
"Please take a detour so that we arrive about 20 minutes late."
For a moment, Song Tae-hoon was about to ask a question but stopped.
"Understood."
With that answer, he gave instructions to the bodyguard who was driving.
.
.
.
Not long after, Shinwoo arrived at the hotel where the MH Group's 40th-anniversary party was being held, along with Jang Man-soo.
A middle-aged man in a suit with a KITE badge, who had been waiting at the entrance, approached.
"You've arrived, CEO."
The man was Ahn Seung-ho, the head of facility security at KITE. KITE was in charge of security for the hotel where the party was being held. In addition to deploying additional personnel, he had been entrusted with overall responsibility.
"Were there any problems?"
"No, sir. Are you going straight to the party venue?"
"No. I have something to check, so let's go to the security room."
Shinwoo was able to arrive at the security room with Ahn Seung-ho, along with Jang Man-soo.
Everyone was about to get up as soon as they saw Shinwoo. In response, Shinwoo gestured for them to sit down and put Jang Man-soo forward.
"You can check, right?"
"You'd make me do it even if I couldn't anyway."
While Jang Man-soo sat down, Shinwoo asked Ahn Seung-ho.
"I have something to do for a security check, so please leave for a moment."
"Excuse me? That's..."
"It's important."
Even if he couldn't understand Shinwoo's words, he had no choice but to listen.
As soon as the people left, Jang Man-soo shook off his hands, which he had been cracking as if stretching, and took out a USB from inside his belt buckle.
"...You even bring that to a party."
"It's similar to you guys arming yourselves."
Jang Man-soo plugged in the USB and activated LEUCO on the security room's main computer.
"What method are you going to use?"
"Facial Recognition. I recently added a facial recognition algorithm. If I enter the list of attendees, employees, and security personnel here!"
Tada-da-da-da- Tak!
He typed away at the keyboard and pressed Enter for the last time.
The security CCTV screen began to rotate rapidly, and it began to check the list of names on the computer screen one by one.
"It's the program you used to use."
"I've improved it a bit. If someone not on the list appears, it can be linked directly to the National Police Agency's identification system for verification."
Shinwoo couldn't help but be impressed by Jang Man-soo's skill, who understood everything with just a hint.
"You're really amazing... If this gets caught, it's a life sentence."
"We have to make sure it doesn't get caught."
Vrr- Vrr-
This time, a call came in from Gu Sang-ho, Chairman Myung Joong-hwan's secretary.
[I heard you arrived at the party venue. Where are you?]
"I'm checking the security room because there's something to confirm."
[Will it take long? The Chairman is looking for you.]
"I'll be up soon."
Shinwoo put his phone in his pocket.
"I think I should go... Are you going to be okay alone?"
"Honestly, this place is more comfortable than a crowded place. I don't like the clothes either."
The second reason was closer to the truth.
"I'll have the security guards stationed in front of the entrance. They'll let you know immediately if anyone suspicious shows up."
"Ok―! Oh, take this."
Jang Man-soo threw an earphone case from his pocket.
"You carry everything around."
"Preparedness is essential. Good luck."
Shinwoo left the security room with Jang Man-soo's answer and entered the party venue.
Amidst the music echoing through the party venue, numerous people were gathered in small groups. Among them, one group stood out. It was the place where Myung Joong-hwan and his family were gathered.
Shinwoo was about to walk towards them when he stopped after seeing those who suddenly popped up in front of him.
"It's been a while, CEO Baek Shin-woo."
It was Lee Myung-gon, a director of MH Headquarters, who spoke. Next to him was Director Park Tae-wook, a member of President Myung Sung-chul's faction.
"...Indeed. We work in the same building, but we don't see each other often. Not that I particularly want to, though."
Because of the extremely provocative answer, veins popped out on Lee Myung-gon's wide forehead.
"You still speak recklessly as always."
"It's better than recklessly spending company funds."
This time, it was also a provocation.
Lee Myung-gon frowned and said as if holding back his anger.
"I don't know what you're talking about. And isn't MH Future Security recklessly spending company money? Making unilateral decisions without executives could lead to big trouble."
That damn executive, executive, executive. Shinwoo's eyes narrowed at the story that came out like a parrot.
"You must be feeling sick because of the recent news, so I'm overwhelmed that you're even worrying about our company."
"What do you mean... Ah."
At that moment, Lee Myung-gon recalled the shares of Baeseong Distribution, which he had temporarily forgotten. He had bought them to use when MH Future Security jumped into the acquisition battle, but they had been plummeting since yesterday, and they were on the verge of becoming worthless.
Then, Director Park Tae-wook, who had been quietly watching, intervened. Of course, he was also one of the main people who had bought shares in Baeseong Distribution along with Lee Myung-gon.
"I think the heat is too much for people in the same company. Don't you think so, CEO Baek Shin-woo?"
"Not really. More than that, it seems like you have the time to attend parties. Honestly, I thought you wouldn't be able to come because you'd be too busy with the holes in your funds."
This time, the target was Park Tae-wook.
They had bought shares in Baeseong Distribution with company money, not their own private funds. Now that there was a problem with those shares, they were burning inside.
However, they couldn't show it in front of Shinwoo, so they gritted their teeth and endured it.
"You've been saying things as if you're guessing since a while ago, but are you doing it knowingly? Or are you probing without knowing?"
"Put those curiosities aside and clean up the mess quickly. If you don't fill it in on time, President Myung Sung-chul will turn a blind eye."
"......"
Since he accurately pointed out even the mastermind, Park Tae-wook and Lee Myung-gon couldn't say anything.
Shinwoo smiled slightly at the sight.
"I'll excuse myself now. The Chairman called for me."
The reason they had blocked Shinwoo's path in the first place was to test him about the acquisition of Baeseong Distribution's affiliates.
However, because they were hit hard with the stock story, they couldn't bring it up at all.
Shinwoo walked away from the spot and muttered in a quiet voice.
"Did anything come up?"
Jang Man-soo's answer flowed through the earphones.
[Not yet. And the aunt just arrived. She'll be entering the party venue in two minutes.]
"Pay more attention to that side."
[Roger―!]
Between the answers, he was able to arrive in front of Myung Joong-hwan.
Myung Joong-hwan frowned when he saw Shinwoo.
"I've been looking for you since a while ago, and you're just coming now."
"It's just that useless people were holding me back."
Myung Joong-hwan snorted at Shinwoo's nonchalant answer.
"You'll never say you're sorry, even if you die."
"I've never done anything that warrants it."
Shinwoo said that and scanned Myung Joong-hwan and his family. Everyone was busy glancing at Shinwoo with faces full of displeasure.
'Why are they so wary?'
At that time, Shinwoo's gaze also shifted as he heard a commotion towards the entrance of the party venue.
At the same time, Jang Man-soo said in a urgent voice into Shinwoo's ear.
[Green Mermaid appearance at the entrance. Green Mermaid appearance. Green Mermaid with plastered makeup.]
Shinwoo could immediately understand the meaning of those words.
He thought some celebrity had arrived, but it was Lillian. But her outfit was an off-shoulder green mermaid dress with a diamond-shaped neckline that revealed her cleavage.
Perhaps because she had enhanced her beauty with makeup, people's attention was focused on her.
'What is she... Did she come to the film festival to receive an award?'
Sometimes, she didn't know the limits like Jang Man-soo.
Then, Lillian saw Shinwoo, who had walked out as if to greet her, and greeted him.
"You were here, CEO Baek Shin-woo."
"Yes... You're later than I thought."
He used honorifics because there were other people around.
With that answer, Shinwoo shook hands with Lillian and handed her the earphones. Lillian put on the earphones as if brushing up her side hair.
[...Seriously. Where did she get such an ugly dress and come here...]
Shinwoo muttered very quietly after seeing Lillian secretly putting on the earphones.
"...Hey. Stop it."
Perhaps Jang Man-soo noticed something at that moment, and he stopped urgently. At the same time, Lillian cast a sharp gaze at the CCTV installed on one side of the party venue.
"The party venue is quite noisy."
"Well... There are a lot of people."
In the meantime, Myung Joong-hwan stared intently from a slightly distant position as if wanting an introduction, and then made eye contact.
"This is Lillian Foster, the head of our MH Future Security."
"Hello, Chairman Myung Joong-hwan. Nice to meet you."
When fluent Korean flowed from her, who had a completely Western appearance, Myung Joong-hwan smiled slightly.
"Nice to meet you. I heard you're working hard for MH Future Security? Is our Shinwoo giving you a hard time?"
"I'm enjoying working thanks to having a good boss."
"That's a relief. But that friend isn't visible."
Shinwoo tilted his head at the question.
"Who are you talking about?"
"That... the employee who is called the fashion king of our MH Group."
It was a question that made it easy to know who he was talking about right away.