Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Royal Family 8-1
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Taesung was once again plunged into a whirlwind of chaos.
This storm was even bigger.
The holding company boards weren't the only ones buzzing with this issue—even the affiliate company forums were in an uproar.
"Hey, so is that rumor true? That there's a Royal Family member in the Special Division?"
"At this point, I think we have to believe it. All the executives across the affiliates are freaking out, trying to pull some strings somehow."
"It'd be weirder if they weren't. If the rumors are true, it's the chairman's son. This completely upends the succession lineup."
On the other hand, there were whispers like this:
"What I heard is that Vice Chairman An Chi-hyeon picked him as the knife to sort out the succession mess. With things so noisy no matter who gets it among the three, he's cleaning house early."
"Yeah, I've heard that too, but hasn't it tilted too far toward Kang Jin-young already?"
"Right, her son, the executive director. There were even rumors he's being adopted as the chairman's son?"
"What? Adopting a grandson as a son? What kind of crazy family tree is that?"
"Apparently it's possible now. There was a Supreme Court precedent just recently saying grandchildren can be legally adopted. Rumor has it the company pulled some strings to make that happen."
"Well, with Taesung, anything's possible. So doesn't that mean it's fully tilted toward Kang Jin-young?"
"Exactly. So what's the knife for? To cut down the power of her sisters, Seon-young and Mi-young."
"That's why they handed over the audit powers? Now it all fits together."
The rumors narrowed down to two main theories.
But no matter which one was true, the conclusion was almost always the same.
"Either way, the Special Division's the real power right now. Even if the odds are low, if it's Royal Family, that's a golden ticket. And if it's the knife, he's basically a founding hero for Kang Jin-young..."
"Right. Whatever it is, latch onto the Special Division and you're set for life. I'm gonna try pulling some strings too. That Managing Director Oh Tae-hyung came from the Electronic Secretariat. Might be able to reach through him if I play it right."
"Hey! Me too, yeah? Me too. If you need anything, I'll back you up. Yeah?"
"Got it. Just wait for now."
While all of Taesung's affiliates were abuzz like this, the eye of the storm—the Special Division office—was eerily quiet.
Knock, knock.
Han Ji-young was the one lightly tapping the partition next to Seo Ji-hyeok's desk.
She shook a takeout coffee cup at Ji-hyeok, who turned to look at her.
"Thanks. I was running low on caffeine anyway."
"The managing director wants you."
"Got it."
Ji-hyeok rose from his chair and followed Han Ji-young.
At that, eyes from beyond the partition turned toward the two.
The office itself was spacious to begin with.
With the influx of new funds, accounting, and support staff, they'd partitioned off space next to Ji-hyeok's original team's area for separate seating.
So now, entering through the secure door revealed three departments divided by partitions.
Of course, the core of it all—the Special Division's elite unit, consisting entirely of Han Ji-young and Ji-hyeok—had the vast office all to themselves.
Bathed in the full gaze of the twelve staff from the other two departments, Han Ji-young arrived at Oh Tae-hyung's door, now in his independent office, and gave a light knock.
She opened the door only after hearing a response and stepped inside.
"You wanted to see me?"
"You wanted to see me, sir?"
"Come in. Is that for me?"
"Yes."
Once inside, Han Ji-young pulled a coffee from her carrier and placed it at the head of the square conference table.
Oh Tae-hyung approached with a smile and took a seat.
"You've seen the announcement, I assume?"
"Yes."
"Yes, we have."
Oh Tae-hyung nodded at their responses and took a small sip of the coffee.
"Honestly, I didn't expect them to accept it so readily."
"Me neither. It's almost scary how smooth it went."
Oh Tae-hyung and Han Ji-young's eyes turned to Ji-hyeok.
He just gave a slight smile in response.
Seeing that smile, Oh Tae-hyung and Han Ji-young couldn't help but recall that day.
The origin of it all traced back to the day the Special Division had been elevated to departmental status.
"By the way, Ji-hyeok. How do you see this situation?"
On the day Oh Tae-hyung and Han Ji-young had been promoted, their faces showed more worry than joy.
Even Han Ji-young, despite earning the title of youngest section chief ever.
She'd come to truly feel the precarious position she'd climbed into.
Being able to rise so quickly meant she could fall just as fast.
Moreover, she knew all too well that this promotion wasn't from her own merits alone, so she couldn't fully rejoice.
And Oh Tae-hyung felt the same.
Twenty-two years at Taesung.
Who wouldn't dream of becoming an executive?
No, he'd imagined and anticipated it countless times.
But right after the personnel announcement, as he settled his retirement pay and signed his employment contract, the first emotion to shake him was fear.
Working in the Electronic Secretariat, he'd seen hundreds of executives.
Of them, fewer than twenty had completed their managing director term and advanced to executive director, vice president, or president.
Some hadn't even lasted a month as executives.
That was the reality of being an executive.
A dayfly existence, out the door tomorrow if the company willed it.
So though he didn't show it outwardly, the question had slipped out naturally.
He wanted to ask Ji-hyeok.
"By the way, Ji-hyeok. How do you see this situation?"
Ji-hyeok smiled faintly and began speaking calmly.
"Do you know the saying, 'Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's'?"
"Yes. Isn't it from the Bible?"
"That's what I thought too."
Oh Tae-hyung and Han Ji-young's eyes sparkled as they answered.
"Correct. It was the response Jesus gave to those trying to trap him. They asked whose taxes to pay—arguing that believers in God shouldn't pay human rulers. He pointed to the coin's image and said since it bears Caesar's face, Caesar's things belong to Caesar, escaping their snare."
Both nodded as if they knew it well.
After a brief eye contact, Ji-hyeok spoke again.
"Tell the vice chairman that. Make our department's next task reclaiming that."
"Hmm, Ji-hyeok, I still don't get it. Tell him 'Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's'?"
"Me too. Explain a bit more."
"It means Taesung's things to Taesung. More bluntly, the Kang family's things to the Kang family. Taking back what's held by those who aren't the owners. If my guess is right, the vice chairman will understand."
Han Ji-young caught on first.
"You mean... Finance Division Head Vice Chairman Kang Heon?"
The Finance Division she referred to centered on Taesung Life Insurance, encompassing securities, cards, and asset management—four affiliates grouped under that name.
"Yes. Chairman Kang Wook's brother, the infamous incompetent, Vice Chairman Kang Heon of Taesung Life, and his entire clan."
Was it too direct?
Ji-hyeok smiled slightly seeing Oh Tae-hyung and Han Ji-young's mouths drop open.
"W-wait a minute, Ji-hyeok. That's..."
"Chairman Kang Wook's reverse scale. I know."
"Exactly. No word fits better than 'reverse scale.' One of Taesung's biggest crises was management instability from circular investments. It blew up ten years ago. Vice Chairman An Chi-hyeon resolved it back then. The shift to a holding company structure involved massive share restructuring, but even he didn't touch that side."
"Right. No need to touch it. From what I know, Vice Chairman Kang Heon gifted all his shares to the chairman back then. So he holds zero shares in the holding company now. Why poke that bear unnecessarily?"
As expected, their reactions were intense.
But Ji-hyeok's expression didn't waver.
"My judgment is that Vice Chairman An Chi-hyeon miscalculated back then. He's regretting it now. So report it just as I said. We'll reclaim Caesar's due."
After hearing Ji-hyeok's conclusion, Oh Tae-hyung pondered briefly, nodded, and went to the vice chairman.
That was what had happened that day.
And now, the conclusion had finally arrived.
Oh Tae-hyung took a sip of coffee and looked at Ji-hyeok with his usual straightforward expression.
"I owe you an apology. Truth be told, I was half-doubting. I admit my thinking was too narrow."
"Me too. But what did we miss?"
Ji-hyeok smiled at their frank words.
"Caesar's heart, perhaps."
"Hmm..."
They were quick on the uptake.
The moment Ji-hyeok tossed out the hint, Oh Tae-hyung let out a thoughtful hum, and Han Ji-young made an 'aha' face.
"I see. From the chairman's perspective, that makes sense."
"Yes. It's Caesar's, after all. In a way, the Finance Division does feel untouchable."
"True. It has that vibe."
They exchanged responses.
Like math whizzes confirming the answer first, then working backward to the equation.
Watching them for a moment, Ji-hyeok slowly spoke.
"This situation arose ten years ago when Vice Chairman Kang Heon voluntarily surrendered his shares. He thinks he bought his position with that act. The chairman probably thought it was fine at first. But over time, his mind changed, and now it's gone too far for him to fix it himself. Above all, at 86, Vice Chairman Kang Heon's age makes any decision hesitate. The chairman was likely waiting for him to pass."
Both nodded in unison.
Confirming Ji-hyeok had finished, Oh Tae-hyung spoke slowly.
"Waiting for someone to die is a hard thing."
"Yes, especially if it's your own brother."
"Yet the chairman hasn't acted decisively even now because of blood ties, right?"
"Yes, that's my take too. Ji-hyeok. Am I right?"
Ji-hyeok nodded at Han Ji-young's question.
"We're past the tipping point now. Might have to cut off a leg, not just a toe. Ten years is a long time. Removing a few heads up top won't cut it anymore."
Resolve gleamed in their eyes.
Like generals before a great war.
But Ji-hyeok's next words surprised them again.
"Sorry, but I'll handle this one alone. In exchange, I have a favor to ask of you both."
"What is it?"
"While I'm dealing with that side, turn this Special Division into a dragon's lair."
"A dragon's lair?"
"Yes. Fill it with Managing Director Oh Tae-hyung's people, Section Chief Han Ji-young's people. Numbers matter—the more, the better—but not as much as quality."
"Loyalty."
Han Ji-young's answer shot out the instant Ji-hyeok finished.
Ji-hyeok smiled at her.
"Yes. But loyalty to you two, not me."
Considering anything more extraneous, Ji-hyeok stopped there.
Looking at their faces, they clearly understood.
But knowing it was no easy task, their expressions had hardened more than before.
They'd thought about pledging loyalty, but never receiving it.
Hence the bewilderment on their faces.
Leaving them to it, Ji-hyeok exited Oh Tae-hyung's room first.
They'd now dive into deep discussions, and that process was entirely theirs—he was giving them space.
What it meant to receive loyalty, what actions they'd need to take...
They were about to walk a path they'd never trod.
But Ji-hyeok had no time for leisure either.
He returned to his seat, grabbed his jacket, and left the office.