weddingnovel Chapter 75
Chapter 75
It's Getting Intense
【Mid-sized textile company Texcellence announces new material Polyrax patent and RSK acquisition! This latest patent, a new material that enables soft armor with a maximum Level III bulletproof rating, is expected to greatly impact the upcoming military uniform bid, and it has been announced that Texcellence will also push forward with the acquisition of RSK to expand production capacity...】
【Employee suicide due to unfair company discipline? One of the employees listed for disciplinary action at T Company following the recent personnel restructuring has committed suicide with charcoal fumes in the company parking lot... With no clear evidence yet regarding the disciplinary decision, it is difficult to consider the TF division's punitive action justified... The company has yet to respond on how it will handle Division Director K, who oversees the TF division...】
【T Company affiliate employee jumps from roof! Expected to be a case similar to the employee who recently died from charcoal fumes... Bereaved families allege the deaths are related to T Company's restructuring...】
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The situation was in turmoil due to the collapse of RSK, once a major defense textile company.
Now, several employees from affiliates under Taeshin Group had started committing suicide, and the media was churning out article after article, each story leading to another.
In-hyuk checked the situation on his phone as soon as he woke up.
"This... it looks like things are about to go off track, just as expected."
He had known about the suicides even before the media reported them.
Even so, at first, the matter wasn't treated as significant, but as more employees died, it suddenly exploded into a much bigger issue.
Despite the gravity of the situation, In-hyuk calmly showered, got ready for work, and finished his morning preparations.
Knock knock—
Just then, there was a knock and Tae Ju-ha's voice called out.
"May I come in?"
"Go ahead."
The door opened, and Tae Ju-ha entered, dressed in a neat black and white two-piece suit.
"By any chance... have you seen the news?"
"Just now. Is that why you came?"
In-hyuk had been so busy working with Taeshin Asset Management and Taeshin Trading that he had hardly seen her at all.
Even though they lived in the same house, this was the first time they'd seen each other in days—the sudden visit felt awkward.
"I just got called in by the chairman. He wants to discuss the situation at headquarters today."
The media's impact was bigger than expected, making it impossible for the head office to sit still.
"So, should I go straight to headquarters?"
"You can go with me."
"Understood, let's head out right away."
In-hyuk finished tying his necktie and grabbed his briefcase.
They went together down to the underground parking lot.
"I'll take my own car."
"You still don't like riding in cars driven by someone else?"
"Having had two car accidents, I'd prefer it that way. The security guards will be coming with us anyway."
"Alright, suit yourself."
After ending the conversation and getting into the driver's seat, Hong Yu-geon, eyeing a car that had just pulled out, asked cautiously, "What's going on, coming down with Mrs. Tae for once? Something happen?"
"Hoo—! Haven't you read the news? It's all chaos because of the employee suicides. That's why we're being called into headquarters this morning."
"Ah—!"
This time, Van Hester spoke up.
"Doesn't look good. Are you okay? Looks like you're about to come under some serious pressure."
Unlike Yu-geon, he had read the news.
"It's a situation I was worried about, but it's not bad."
"Got something prepared this time too?"
So far, In-hyuk had always managed to come up with a solution for any issue.
"Not really. Since I didn't intend for this to happen, it's a bit vexing."
"If the summons is from headquarters... don't tell me... Are they going to pin this on you? Is it a firing?"
At Yu-geon's concern, In-hyuk chuckled.
"Even if I get fired, your livelihoods won't be affected."
"We know that, but it's just that we worry your plans might get derailed."
"Well, I'll see once I get inside. Given the situation, it's obvious who orchestrated all this."
"Tae Seok-ho?"
"Most likely."
Van Hester agreed with Hong Yu-geon, and In-hyuk let out a sigh. Just then, his phone rang—it was Go Mi-ah calling through Ghost Link.
"What's up, calling this early?"
[Did you see the news? Things are crazy right now.]
Her voice was already full of worry.
"I've just been summoned to headquarters over this, together with CEO Tae Ju-ha."
[So you're finally getting fired? Are you going to be working at AMK Partners with that senile old man now?]
She always referred to Norman McGrath that way.
"Why do you assume I'm getting fired?"
[It's serious! Anyone can see this was set up to push you out as president.]
Go Mi-ah clearly understood the gravity of the situation.
"I'll handle what's my responsibility; you just take care of your job. How's the tracking of Redboar Technology's funds going?"
[Tsk—! I'm still working on it. Like I said, there are so many transactions from there that it'll take a while.]
"Be careful not to get traced. I'll contact you once things are resolved."
After the call, Hong Yu-geon caught In-hyuk's eye in the rearview mirror and asked, "What did she say?"
"Just nagging, like you."
And so, the car sped towards Taeshin Trading.
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Taeshin Trading Executive Vice President's office.
Tae Seok-ho sat at his desk, looking slightly anxious.
"The people you handled—there's no way anything will leak out, right?"
He was speaking to Reina Blackwood, who was sitting on one of the sofas.
"Do you think we would have handled things sloppily?"
"You have any idea how many times people I was certain of stabbed me in the back?"
Kang In-hyuk's every move was completely unpredictable.
At first, Tae Seok-ho thought he just wanted to avoid getting involved in the dispute.
But after the unexpected success of his stock investments, he flatly refused Seok-ho's offer in the Chulsan Capital acquisition bid, then formed a close relationship with AMK Partners.
Anything In-hyuk got involved with since then moved in his favor, no matter the outcome.
"So that's why you distributed the shares data of Taeshin Asset Management, which were handed over from Taeshin Life to the chairman, to the executives. Today's meeting is only being held because the media uproar grew after that."
No matter how much Tae Gun-seung ruled Taeshin Group like an emperor, it was difficult to keep ignoring other shareholders and executives.
In situations like this, moving shares of Taeshin Asset Management, a subsidiary of Taeshin Life, could serve as grounds for losing their trust.
"Forget about Kang In-hyuk—you'd better not underestimate my father. There's a reason he's managed to keep that seat until now."
"This time, our target isn't the chairman, but Kang In-hyuk. He got in so deep that, for once, we actually have a chance."
"I sure hope so."
Tae Seok-ho didn't fully trust her words. Reina glanced at her wristwatch.
"It's time to go to the conference room."
"Let's go."
The two left the office and headed to the floor where the conference room was located.
Soon after, several executives and presidents greeted him as he entered the conference room.
"Good to see you, Executive Vice President."
"Are you feeling better now?"
These were all people working to support Tae Seok-ho as the next chairman.
Then, a middle-aged man with graying hair approached from one side.
"I'm glad you look well."
It was Executive Director Jung Min-seop, who held the next most power within Taeshin Trading after Tae Seok-ho.
"Thanks to you. How have you been, Executive Director?"
"As you know, it's been chaotic."
Jung Min-seop was the son of one of the founding members of Taeshin Trading; he had started as a low-level employee and worked his way up to where he was today.
He was also the de facto leader of those who followed Chairman Tae Gun-seung.
Seok-ho had tried various times to recruit him, but was continually rebuffed—to the point that they had become outright adversaries.
"I'm sorry for all the chaos my family caused."
"I didn't know you cared so much about the family, Executive Vice President. But there were plenty of real problems with the recent personnel reforms. Wasn't it just about getting rid of those harming the group from within?"
Since the reforms were spearheaded by Tae Gun-seung, using Kang In-hyuk as his front man, Jung Min-seop also supported and observed their implementation.
Seok-ho knew all this, so he could feel the pointedness in Jung's comments.
"If you cull the rotten apples too indiscriminately, you end up with not enough left for everyone else. I just think things were taken a bit too far."
"That only results in more apples going bad."
The exchange between the two chilled the conference room.
At that moment, In-hyuk and Tae Ju-ha entered through the back door.
Feeling all eyes on him, Tae Seok-ho's brow furrowed.
In-hyuk could overhear the surrounding murmurings—all full of dissatisfaction about the current events.
Normally, such conversations would be hard to catch, but In-hyuk could understand perfectly, either by reading lips or picking them up with his sharpened hearing.
"Well, we've become the unwelcome guests."
"You're only just realizing that now?"
Tae Ju-ha's sharp retort made In-hyuk shrug.
"Let's just take our seats."
"Shouldn't you say your greetings first?"
"Judging by the mood, I doubt they want them."
He'd just met Tae Seok-ho's eyes—and it was a look that wanted to tear In-hyuk apart the first chance he got.
'This is intense...'
In-hyuk and Tae Ju-ha took their seats at the far end of the conference room.
Even then, glances from various executives and presidents kept stabbing at them.
Eventually, after a while, chairman Tae Gun-seung entered through the front doors—accompanied by his eldest son, Tae Seok-hyun, the president of Taeshin Electronics.
Everyone stood as if on cue.
"What, do you think you deserve a warm welcome? No need for that—just sit down and let's get straight to the point."
After his heavy voice, silence fell.
Tae Gun-seung glared around the packed conference room with an icy gaze; anyone who met his eyes quickly looked away or shifted their gaze.
Only In-hyuk looked back calmly, and when Tae Gun-seung's eyes met his, the chairman began.
"As you all know, something serious has thrown the group into turmoil. The TF division was responsible for the restructuring."
Everyone remained silent.
Even if they were dissatisfied, no one would dare interrupt Chairman Tae Gun-seung.
He kept glancing around as he continued.
"So I want to use this occasion to proceed with board approval of the personnel reform."
There was a surge of murmuring as the expectation that the TF division's misdeeds would get turned over by the media was utterly crushed.
President Lim Sang-min of Taeshin Life spoke up.
"Chairman, if I may, I don't think it's right to simply approve this restructuring."
"...... Why not?"
"There are many problems. The media uproar is one, but frankly, this so-called restructuring is no different from a mass layoff, is it?"
His willingness to take the initiative seemed to encourage others.
"That's right. There's significant unrest among the staff over this."
"Our employees' concerns are already affecting our operations."
A few executives voiced agreement from the sidelines. Tae Gun-seung exhaled heavily through his nose.
"Are you all aware of how much the group lost because of the executives and employees named in this personnel restructuring?"
"......"
That information hadn't been shared with the restructuring notice.
As people murmured in low voices, Tae Gun-seung pressed on.
"Just from simple embezzlement and breach of trust, the identified sum is about 120 billion won. Business failures by those subject to discipline cost us another 890 billion won. On top of that, about 360 billion won was transferred through untraceable overseas contracts from each affiliate's foreign business department!"
As his explanation ended, a large screen at the front of the conference room switched on. The figures he cited were displayed as graphs, showing in detail which affiliates suffered which funding losses. Faces darkened further among the executives and company presidents implicated.