Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Royal Family 11-4
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There were a total of 335 people gathered in the main auditorium of the headquarters.
The remaining executives were connected via the video conferencing system, waiting in standby mode.
With the central aisle of the auditorium in between, An Chi-hyeon, the vice chairman, and Lee Seo-hoon, president of the electronics division, sat in the front row on the right.
On the left, Kang Jin-young, Kang Seon-young, and Kang Mi-young—the three sisters—sat in order.
The other executives had found their seats starting from the rows behind that first line.
Naturally, this left some empty seats.
Since all the seats belonging to the financial division executives were vacant, the gaps stood out like missing teeth here and there.
But everyone who had entered the hall already knew the reason, so no one asked about the empty spots.
There was a brief murmur from the customary greetings and small talk, but it soon faded, and the auditorium fell silent.
At that moment, the door on the left side of the stage opened, and a secretary office staff member entered. He stood in front of the stage, whispering something to the employee who had been testing the microphone.
The staff member on stage then spoke in a low voice.
"The chairman is entering. Please stand from your seats."
Everyone in the auditorium rose carefully, mindful not to make any clattering noises.
Not a single person was left seated. After a moment, the door on the left side of the stage opened again, and the chief of staff entered first.
Then came the thud... thud of a cane, as Kang Wook—the lord of Taesung, the golden castle—walked in slowly.
Thud, thud, thud...
Kang Wook's shoes were custom-made for his mobility issues, so they made no sound.
But every time the cane in his hand struck the stage floor, it reverberated like a drumbeat in people's chests.
As Kang Wook reached the center and approached the high-end Corian desk, the chief of staff pulled out the chair for him. The chairman sat down naturally and extended his hand forward.
"Everyone, sit."
Kang Wook's voice, amplified through the microphone and speakers, carried authority, but it was husky with phlegm—age couldn't be fooled.
As all the executives sat at his words, Kang Wook slowly swept his gaze from right to left, as if taking in everyone in the auditorium.
And wherever his eyes landed, the executives sitting there bowed their heads in response.
Kang Wook finally spoke after making eye contact with every executive.
"Good to see you all. You've all heard about the financial division, right?"
No one answered; they knew it wasn't a question.
"There will be a major executive reshuffle. As I always say, for some it will be an opportunity, for others a crisis. That's why you must always be prepared. Only those who are get to seize the chance."
Kang Wook picked up the glass of water on the table and lightly moistened his lips.
"Jang Su-yong."
"Yes, Chairman."
The man who responded was seated quite far from the stage.
"I hear you've been playing a lot of golf lately?"
"I... I'm sorry."
"No, it's good. Playing golf is fine. But who you play with matters. Why are you golfing with people who bow to you? Shouldn't you be playing with those you bow to? Do you want to be treated with respect?"
"No, sir. I'll correct it."
"Correct? What correction? You're done. Get out. Taesung is a place for people striving for success. You seem to think you've already made it, so no reason to stay."
"I'm... sorry! I'm sorry, Chairman!"
But Jang Su-yong's pleas didn't continue.
Secretary office staff rushed in and gagged him, dragging him out.
Kang Wook took another sip from his glass—just enough to wet his lips—then looked out at everyone again.
"I know there are all sorts of rumors about the financial division. It's true that dismissing all the executives was a bit excessive. To take responsibility for this, Vice Chairman An Chi-hyeon has submitted his resignation. So no more talk about the financial division. And don't let a single word leak out externally. You all understand, right?"
"Yes, Chairman."
It wasn't a loud chorus, but everyone's unified response made the auditorium ring.
Kang Wook nodded in satisfaction at the executives' reply and took another sip of water.
Now, only one thing remained.
It was time for the words everyone was waiting for.
"And,"
Was this it at last?
Everyone's ears perked up, but Kang Wook looked not straight ahead, but to the left.
"Bring him in."
Right then.
The same door Kang Wook had entered through swung wide open, and Ji-hyuk strode in confidently.
The people watched him, barely breathing.
Ji-hyuk took his place beside Kang Wook's desk, and the chairman spoke again.
"Former Vice Chairman Kang Heon said it, and you all know. Right. This is Woo-young's son."
Ah...
Tiny sighs gathered into a great echo.
Not every fact becomes truth.
Even if Kang Heon had said it, if Kang Wook denied it, it was false.
But now Kang Wook had declared it.
That he was indeed his bloodline.
Not just bloodline, but his son's son—the eldest grandson.
Chaebols don't change.
The change chaebols want is from their employees, not themselves.
In Korea, chaebols believe the family head must be the company's leader.
That's the right way, the natural way.
They created it, so they own it.
What logic could be more just?
But the world has changed.
Now they call the owner a risk.
That's why they needed legitimacy.
Confucian ideals, primogeniture succession.
If Ji-hyuk hadn't appeared, most insiders would have predicted that Kang Wook would eventually adopt Kang Jin-young's son, Gong Sa-woo, as his own.
They couldn't set a precedent where a non-Kang could lead the company...
If no Kang existed, they'd create one to uphold the iron rule that the company head bears the founder's surname.
But the real one appeared.
A legitimate one, at that.
In that instant, the three sisters' expressions varied wildly.
Resentment, curiosity, jealousy...
All those emotions mixed in their eyes directed at Ji-hyuk.
Kang Jin-young's gaze was the sharpest, piercing toward him.
"Starting today, the Group Strategy Office will be reorganized into the Future Strategy Office. The Special Headquarters will be absorbed into it. Lee Seo-hoon, current president of electronics, will head the Future Strategy Office and also take on the group vice president role. The current Strategy Office head, take a few days off and prepare to move to financial division vice president. And Kang Ji-hyuk here will serve as the head of the Future Strategy Office's General Coordination Team, with the rank of managing director."
He had clearly called him Kang Ji-hyuk.
The three sisters' gazes wavered.
But even Ji-hyuk, standing there, hadn't expected this announcement.
He had been at his desk in the Special Headquarters, reviewing work, unconcerned with the auditorium meeting.
Then urgent-faced secretary office staff had rushed in, practically kidnapping him to the hall.
All they told him was that when the chairman called, just step forward and stand by the desk.
Of course, he'd guessed something big was happening on the way, but he hadn't anticipated being named Kang Ji-hyuk.
'Something's changed in his mindset.'
Ji-hyuk glanced sideways at Kang Wook beside him.
But then.
"Oh Tae-hyung."
"Yes, Chairman."
Oh Tae-hyung, the managing director seated in the back, stood up.
"You're going back to electronics. As vice president, head to the US, broaden your horizons, and return. Then take over as president of electronics. You led the Special Headquarters well, so you'll do fine."
"Ah... Understood."
For a moment, Oh Tae-hyung nearly said no.
He had forgotten during his time with Ji-hyuk.
Never say "no" in front of Chairman Kang Wook.
In the end, he bowed with a bittersweet smile and sat, glancing at Ji-hyuk.
Right then.
Oh Tae-hyung met eyes with Ji-hyuk, who was giving him a gentle smile.
Ji-hyuk's eyes clearly said it.
Just a temporary parting.
So Oh Tae-hyung nodded back with a joyful smile.
"That's it. Cooperate fully. Now get back to work."
As Kang Wook moved to stand, all the executives rose from their chairs first.
They bowed deeply to the standing chairman.
But Ji-hyuk just watched as Kang Wook passed by him.
However...
"You, come up to the chairman's office."
Kang Wook's voice came low.
Ji-hyuk had heard it clearly but showed no reaction.
And with that, the executive meeting in the main auditorium concluded.
Even though Kang Wook had called for him, the 46th floor wasn't a place one could just visit anytime.
Returning to the Special Headquarters first, Ji-hyuk greeted Oh Tae-hyung.
But Oh Tae-hyung's first words to him were an apology.
"I'm sorry."
It was clearly a promotion, something to celebrate.
Out of Taesung's 1,800 executives, only one could sit in that seat.
And Oh Tae-hyung was guaranteed it in three years.
The president of Taesung Electronics—a position said to feed three generations just passing by.
That's why it took Oh Tae-hyung a long time to exit the auditorium.
He spent a dizzying time fending off waves of congratulations before finally boarding the elevator.
The moment he did, Oh Tae-hyung calmed his excitement and faced reality.
Of course, he knew full well.
Having spent a long time in the electronics secretary office, he could already picture the path ahead.
His US schedule would be packed tighter than tight, down to the second.
He'd learn things different from now, gain a new perspective.
Only after enduring that grueling time and passing muster could he return to Korea and claim the president seat.
It wasn't something to rejoice in endlessly, but there was no escaping it.
He could tell from how his heart boiled just thinking about it.
The only regret was being apart from Ji-hyuk, who had given him this chance, for so long.
That's why his first words upon seeing Ji-hyuk were like that.
"Congratulations on your promotion."
"Congratulations."
"Congratulations, Managing Director. No, Vice President."
Starting with Ji-hyuk's greeting, congratulations poured in from all sides.
Oh Tae-hyung accepted them with the same warm smile as before.
Once the greetings ended, he called Ji-hyuk to his office.
"Should I call you Kang Ji-hyuk, Managing Director, now instead of Seo Ji-hyuk?"
"Yes. If that's what they want up top, I have to go along. It's not a big deal."
"What you see as no big deal is something others would stake their lives on. Kang Jin-young, the executive director, is in the middle of divorce proceedings right now. Of course, no reason to continue anymore. Do you know why?"
"Yes. Rumors started surfacing publicly that her son Gong Sa-woo needed to be adopted as Kang Wook's son, and that's when she filed for divorce. It was to show her resolve. That she absolutely wouldn't let the Kang family assets flow to the Gong family."
"Exactly. The Kang name means that much. And now the chairman has publicly affirmed it. So it's best to go along."
"Yes."
"Rough times ahead for you."
"Like stepping into a battlefield without friend-or-foe identification."
"I envy your composure, Ji-hyuk. I try to learn it, but can't quite."
"You'll do great. When you return, you'll be my support."
"Yes. That's what I wanted to say. I'm leaving now, but I'll come back as a major asset."
As the two exchanged gazes full of mutual reliance,
Knock! Knock!
"Managing Director, it's Han Ji-young."
"Yes, Team Leader Han, come in."
Han Ji-young entered and spoke calmly.
"Managing Director Kang Ji-hyuk, you're to go up to the chairman's office. Secretary office staff are here to escort you now."
"Yes. I'm coming."
Han Ji-young had taken the perfect stance.
Even before the official personnel order came down, from the moment word came from above, she had bowed to Ji-hyuk.
And she announced to all Special Headquarters staff:
"Managing Director Kang Ji-hyuk has arrived."
At her words, every staff member stood and bowed.
"Congratulations on your promotion, Managing Director!"
Ji-hyuk rewarded her sharp instincts with a warm smile and his trust.
And now, she was treating him with full propriety.
Ji-hyuk stood, shook hands with Oh Tae-hyung.
By the time he returned from upstairs, Oh Tae-hyung would likely be gone.
Knowing this, Oh Tae-hyung gave a lingering handshake and followed him out.
With Oh Tae-hyung, Han Ji-young, and Cha Dong-hwi seeing him off, he finally headed to the 46th floor.
The very 46th floor he'd gazed up at from outside the building on his first day of work.