《The Former Mercenary is a Chaebol Heir》


 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1. Into an Unpleasant Moment


    ¡¾October 24, 2035, 03:14¡¿


    ¡¾Coordinates: 71.61100, 52.44808¡¿


    Yuzhny Island, Arkhangelskaya Oblast, Northern Russia.


    Baek Shin-woo, the leader of the special unit Triad Eye, classified as S-class in the mercenary market, was running with blood pouring out of his side, supported by his teammate Rick.


    The last mission for Triad Eye was to prevent the launch of a nuclear missile.


    However, the enemy was formidable. All members were heavily injured, but they managed to annihilate the enemy and halt the missile launch.


    But then, the base¡¯s self-destruct button had been pressed. The countdown had begun, and everyone was running for their lives.


    ¡°We can¡¯t block the door from the outside, so we need to get to the helicopter as quickly as possible!¡±


    ¡°I know! That¡¯s why I¡¯m running!¡±


    They reached the base entrance, secured by a thick metal door.


    However, it was only open wide enough for one person to pass through at a time.


    While his comrades passed through, Shin-woo checked the self-destruct countdown on his watch.


    There was less than a minute left.


    ¡®At this rate, we¡¯re all going to die¡­.¡¯


    Though the helicopter was ready to go, even if they all boarded it, escaping the blast radius in time was impossible.


    Unless the base¡¯s thick metal door was closed¡­


    Thunk¡ª


    Without hesitation, Shin-woo pushed Rick forward. Rick stumbled, barely squeezing through the edge of the door.


    Shin-woo then activated the door switch without a second thought.


    ¡°¡­What?¡± S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Rick, startled, turned around immediately.


    Rumble¡ª


    As the metal door started to close, Rick saw Shin-woo¡¯s smiling face.


    It was just a split second.


    ¡°Captain¡ª!¡±


    The door shut completely.


    Shin-woo had stayed behind to close the door for his comrades.


    Thud¡ª Thud¡ª


    He heard banging on the door from the outside.


    Voices from his comrades echoed loudly through the earpiece.


    [Captain! Open the door!]


    [Open it, now!]


    [Open the damn door before we kill you!]


    Feeling his strength leaving him, Shin-woo leaned back against the door and slumped to the ground.


    He then took a deep breath and pressed the button on his radio.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry, you bastards. This was the only way¡­ So just get the hell out of here¡ª! Ugh!¡±


    The self-destruct countdown set on his wristwatch continued to decrease.


    ¡¾00:00:32¡¿ ¡¾00:00:28¡¿ ¡¾00:00:15¡¿ . . The blast door was closed, so it should be able to withstand the explosion¡¯s force to some extent.


    ¡°How can we leave the captain behind¨D!¡±


    Rick, the deputy leader, shouted loudly. However, Shin-woo knew his life was nearing its end. Blood was still flowing from his abdomen, and his strength was quickly draining. His twelve years of living as a mercenary told him so. Even if he made it onto the helicopter, he would die from excessive blood loss¡­ This was the end¡­


    [Bang¡ª! Bang¡ª!]


    The sound of the helicopter blended with the final cries heard over the radio. His comrades, who had pulled themselves together, were starting to escape.


    ¡°Ha¡­ At least you guys survive¡­¡±


    The Triad Eye mercenary unit had planned to retire after this mission. Each member intended to enjoy the rest of their lives in places of their choosing. Shin-woo had also made up his mind to return to his homeland, South Korea, where he was born and raised.


    But he never imagined he would be retiring through death. As his breathing gradually ceased, his life flashed before his eyes. He recalled his encounter with his birth mother, who had abandoned him as soon as he was born, just before leaving South Korea twelve years ago.


    ¡®Damn¡­ Why am I thinking of that woman here?¡¯


    ¡¾00:00:03¡¿ ¡¾00:00:02¡¿ ¡¾00:00:01¡¿ ¡¾00:00:00¡¿ Beep¡ª Beep¡ª


    ¡®¡­Shit.¡¯


    The moment the timer on the clock beeped, an explosion resounded, and a wave of fire filled the corridor, engulfing Shin-woo.


    *


    The red hue in his vision was instantly swallowed by pitch-black darkness.


    ¡®Is this what death feels like¡­?¡¯


    A life not easily chosen by anyone. While the end was regrettable, he believed he had lived a life without too many regrets.


    ¡®What happens now? Do I go to the afterlife?¡¯


    He couldn¡¯t feel his body. In the darkness where nothing could be seen, he could only think. Then, a light appeared in the distance. It grew closer and larger, filling his vision with pure white.


    ¡®Ugh¨D! What is this?¡¯


    Suddenly, Shin-woo squinted his eyes. Then, music, which he hadn¡¯t been able to hear before, reached his ears. As he slowly regained his senses, he could feel the saliva passing through his throat and esophagus and the sensation of his heart pumping blood throughout his body.


    At that moment, a familiar woman¡¯s voice called out to him from ahead.


    ¡°Shin-woo. What are you thinking about? Are you okay?¡±


    As his vision returned, Shin-woo could tell who the owner of that voice was. She had short wavy hair reaching her shoulders, a sharp gaze on a thin face, and a look filled with various meanings.


    He recognized her immediately.


    ¡°You are¡­¡±


    ¡°Phew¨D, even if our relationship is what it is, isn¡¯t this a bit too much?¡±


    It was Im Hee-yeon, his biological mother, who had abandoned him right after he was born.


    Listening to her words, Shin-woo looked around. It was a sophisticated and luxurious cafe. The music that continued to play was classical music streaming from the cafe¡¯s speakers. It was the cafe in the outskirts of Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, where they had met for the first and last time twelve years ago.


    ¡®What is this? Why is this situation replaying in front of me?¡¯


    Sensing that something was wrong, Shin-woo¡¯s mind raced. Meanwhile, familiar words flowed from Im Hee-yeon¡¯s lips.


    ¡°What do you mean you¡¯re suddenly going abroad? Are you leaving Korea because you resent me so much?¡±


    He couldn¡¯t help but resent her. That thought hadn¡¯t changed even after all these years. Without answering her, Shin-woo picked up the phone on the table.


    ¡¾Friday, February 14, 2023¡¿ ¡¾14:23¡¿


    ¡®It is indeed twelve years ago¡­ But how did I return to this time? Is this a dream?¡¯


    Everything was vividly remembered, so it couldn¡¯t have been a dream. He recalled the intense heat of the hellish explosion that had engulfed him in the end¡­


    While lost in various thoughts, Im Hee-yeon stared intently at Shin-woo.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything? Sure, I had to let you go out of my own greed. But there was a reason¡­¡±


    Her words were exactly the same as back then. With his thoughts in order, Shin-woo looked at his reflection in the full-length glass window of the cafe and spoke.


    ¡°You left your child for 23 years. I still can¡¯t understand what reason could justify that.¡±


    The response this time was different from before. It carried more meaning. Facing the face of his biological mother that had come to mind at the moment of death, Shin-woo found it difficult to control himself.


    ¡°If only I hadn¡¯t separated you from me back then¡­¡±


    But the response, cut off mid-flow, was unchanged from that time.


    Im Hee-yeon seemed to have more to say, but she struggled to continue.


    In the future, Shin-woo had not waited any longer. He had immediately left and never met her again. But this time was different.


    Perhaps it was because he had returned after living a life up to death. He became a bit curious about the reasons and other matters he had never heard from his biological mother.


    ¡°I will wait, so please tell me. What was the reason for abandoning me at the orphanage right after I was born? And who is my father?¡±


    At first, it was hard to believe that Im Hee-yeon was truly his biological mother. However, she had come prepared with the orphanage placement documents, birth certificate, genetic tests, and more.


    These documents were now laid out on the table.


    Naturally, these materials only fueled Shin-woo¡¯s anger further. It was more evident that he had been abandoned not due to circumstances but by her own choice.


    ¡°That is¡­¡±


    ¡°Why can¡¯t you explain anything? Did someone threaten you with death if you spoke?¡±


    Thud¡ª


    Agitated, Shin-woo slammed his hand on the table.


    At that moment, he felt people moving simultaneously at the 10 o¡¯clock, 8 o¡¯clock, and 6 o¡¯clock positions from his current location.


    ¡®¡­Surveillance? No¡­ judging by their movements, they are closer to bodyguards. I had thought it was strange before¡­¡¯


    In his previous life, Shin-woo had never been introduced to what his biological mother did. He never learned what she was involved in up to the moment before his death.


    Of course, his anger at that time had prevented him from seeing clearly.


    After leaving Korea, Shin-woo¡¯s life had been filled with missions and comrades.


    ¡°Just tell me one thing. What do you do?¡±


    ¡°¡­You¡¯re curious about that even though you¡¯re about to leave for abroad?¡±


    Such sharp questions. Shin-woo was genuinely curious if such a tone could come from a mother.


    With a sigh, Shin-woo looked at Im Hee-yeon.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to force an answer. If what you have to say ends here, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±


    As before, the answers spun in circles.


    As Shin-woo was about to leave, Im Hee-yeon urgently called out.


    ¡°If you want to know the reason, you should decide to live with me!¡±


    The same conditions as before¡­


    Shin-woo¡¯s expression, momentarily frozen, contorted with anger.


    ¡°Why should I live with you when I am no longer a minor?¡±


    ¡°Because there is a reason!¡±


    Shin-woo looked around at the bodyguards surrounding her.


    ¡°Is it something that involves risking your life?¡±


    ¡°That is¡­¡±


    The incomplete answer turned into silence. It could only be seen as a positive indication.


    In such a situation, Shin-woo, who had been meeting eyes with her, sighed while wiping his mouth with his left hand, seeing something that caught his attention.


    ¡®¡­Why is this tattoo here¡­?¡¯


    As Baek Shin-woo lowered his left hand, he noticed a tattoo protruding from his wrist, outside his watch strap. It was a white eyeball with a thin black hexagonal star embedded in the center. This tattoo was one he and his team members had gotten when Triad Eye, the mercenary unit he last worked with, was formed, about six years ago. Naturally, it shouldn¡¯t have been on his current body.


    In the midst of confusion, Im Hee-yeon spoke again.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you just do as I say right now¡­?¡±


    It was impossible. Shin-woo no longer wanted to hear any more.


    ¡°It seems there is no more worth in hearing. I would prefer not to see you again.¡±


    Ultimately, Shin-woo stood up and prepared to leave.


    ¡°Shin-woo!¡±


    Even at Im Hee-yeon¡¯s cry, Shin-woo exited the caf¨¦ and headed towards the car he had parked in the lot. Then, he felt a hostile gaze from the direction of the forest behind the caf¨¦.


    ¡®Who is it?¡¯


    Without looking back, he got into the car, drove it to the road side, and then got out again. He circled back to the caf¨¦ while minimizing his presence and entered the forest near where he had felt the gaze.


    ¡®Is it that guy? But did I really feel that gaze from such a distance?¡¯


    He could see the back of a man dressed in military green. However, the distance from the man¡¯s location to the caf¨¦ parking lot was easily over 40 meters. It was a distance where sensing a gaze was nearly impossible, even for someone highly sensitive to presence on the battlefield.


    ¡®My body at this time must not be as good as in its prime¡­¡¯


    Even as his thoughts deepened, his gaze remained fixed on the man¡¯s back. Initially, he had thought the man might be from the same organization as the bodyguards inside the caf¨¦. However, the intense aura of hostility made that unlikely.


    ¡®What kind of person is my birth mother, to be receiving such threats?¡¯


    Watching the man from a distance, Shin-woo searched for ¡°Im Hee-yeon¡± on his phone.


    ¡¾Actress Im Hee-yeon¡¿


    ¡¾¡÷¡÷ Church Im Hee-yeon¡¯s Recommendation Letter¡¿


    ¡¾¡÷¡÷¡÷ Nursing Home Director Im Hee-yeon¡¿


    Although several items came up, none were related to the Im Hee-yeon he had just met.


    ¡®What is that guy planning¡­?¡¯


    The man emitted a scent similar to Shin-woo¡¯s own, and the hostile feeling he was giving off suggested he had more in mind than mere surveillance.


    With this in mind, Shin-woo made his decision and quickly ran towards the man.

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2: Not Alone


    Inside the caf¨¦, Im Hee-yeon sat quietly. At that moment, a man from the adjacent table stood up and approached her.


    ¡°Director, are you alright?¡±


    It was her secretary and close bodyguard, Song Tae-hoon.


    Im Hee-yeon took a sip of her now-cold tea and sighed. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ What¡¯s the next schedule?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s an audit at MH Electronics.¡±


    ¡°Is everything prepared?¡±


    ¡°President Myung In-chul probably has some idea, but we have clear evidence, so there shouldn¡¯t be any problems. Of course, he¡¯s likely hidden as much embezzlement evidence as he could, but it won¡¯t end quietly. Even if we only confirm the double-entry bookkeeping evidence, we can cross-check and wrap it up.¡±


    Im Hee-yeon nodded naturally.


    ¡°That¡¯s probably the case. I¡¯m glad. Then, let¡¯s leave.¡±


    She stood up with the bodyguards around her and went outside the caf¨¦. As they walked toward the outdoor parking lot through the door opened by Secretary Song Tae-hoon, they heard the rustling sound of dried leaves being stepped on from the direction of the forest. They saw Shin-woo, who had parted ways earlier, emerging from the forest.


    ¡°¡­¡­?¡±


    Shin-woo was dragging a suspiciously dressed man behind him.


    The surrounding bodyguards were startled and tightly surrounded Im Hee-yeon.


    Seeing this, Shin-woo approached her with a frown.


    ¡°This man seems to have been targeting you from the forest. You¡¯re not going to claim ignorance, are you?¡±


    ¡°Me¡­¡­?¡±


    ¡°He was carrying a high-power shortwave radio. From what I overheard, it seems he was waiting to push you and those around you into a truck from the road in front of the caf¨¦.¡±


    At that moment, Im Hee-yeon and her team¡¯s faces went pale.


    ¡°Is that person¡­ dead?¡±


    ¡°No, he¡¯s unconscious. But now, let¡¯s hear it. Who are you that you were almost targeted like this?¡±


    Shin-woo was also baffled when he secured the radio contents. Moreover, the behavior and equipment of the man he had knocked out were definitely not those of an amateur. Just by the equipment, system, and organized movement, it was clear that it was a professional assassination organization.


    ¡°First, let¡¯s sort out the situation. Secretary Song.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll handle it immediately. But what about the schedule you mentioned earlier?¡±


    ¡°Given the situation, it¡¯s likely that they¡¯ve caught on. It¡¯s better to postpone it for now. We need to find out where the information leaked from.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Song Tae-hoon replied and gestured to the bodyguards around them. Some of them and others waiting in different vehicles left the parking lot in cars.


    ¡°Shall we go back inside?¡±


    ¡°No. It doesn¡¯t seem like a conversation for an open area. Let¡¯s discuss it in your car. Oh, what should we do with this man?¡±


    ¡°Secretary Song.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll take care of him.¡±


    The remaining bodyguards tied the man¡¯s arms and legs with cable ties and moved him.


    Meanwhile, Shin-woo and Im Hee-yeon got into the back seat of a luxury car.


    ¡°Speak. Who are you that almost faced such a grave threat?¡±


    ¡°¡­You know about MH Group, right?¡±


    MH Group is one of the largest conglomerates in South Korea, with numerous affiliates under its control in sectors such as electronics, communications, construction, retail, department stores, hotels, and food. The phone Shin-woo is using right now is also from MH Electronics. Naturally, he couldn¡¯t have been unaware.


    ¡°Why is that?¡±


    ¡°I am the head of strategic planning at MH Group. And I am also the daughter of Chairman Myung Joong-hwan.¡±


    For a moment, Shin-woo¡¯s expression hardened as he questioned the statement.


    ¡°Daughter? But the surnames¡­¡±


    Im Hee-yeon and Myung Joong-hwan have completely different surnames. Shin-woo immediately picked up his phone and searched.


    Chairman Myung Joong-hwan has two sons and one daughter. The daughter is not Im Hee-yeon but Myung Soo-yeon.


    ¡°Stepdaughter. A child born outside. Originally, I lived separately, but when I was seventeen, after your grandmother passed away, I came under Myung Joong-hwan to make a living. Of course, you are also related to the chairman.¡±


    This meant that Chairman Myung Joong-hwan is Shin-woo¡¯s maternal grandfather.


    Shin-woo was so stunned that his furrowed brow did not relax.


    ¡°Then was it because my life could be in danger that you didn¡¯t tell me the reason for wanting us to live together? Of course, given the current situation, you would have made appropriate preparations for it.¡±


    They had even hired professionals to push people off with a truck. Naturally, Im Hee-yeon must have provided the reason for this.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t tell you that.¡±


    ¡°So what changes if everything is resolved and we live together?¡±


    ¡°That is¡­!¡±


    The guilt of abandoning Shin-woo as an infant. The longing for over twenty years, though she could not see him. Various reasons swirled, but in the end, it was just Im Hee-yeon¡¯s personal greed.


    ¡°If you had left me abandoned until now, it would have been fine to continue living like that.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to do it that way!¡±


    In MH Group, there was a succession war even before the chairman¡¯s children became adults. Although Im Hee-yeon was a stepdaughter, she was fully qualified. If Im Hee-yeon¡¯s child appeared in such a situation, who knew what would happen?


    ¡°But now it seems your opponent has noticed that flimsy plan, and everything has fallen apart.¡±


    ¡°Not everything.¡±


    Im Hee-yeon had gathered enough evidence to accuse Myung In-chul, the head of MH Group¡¯s headquarters, of corruption. With today¡¯s scheduled inspection of MH Electronics, if they secured the surface accounts and other materials that Myung In-chul used to cover up embezzled funds, it would be completed.


    ¡°Is that so?¡±


    ¡°By the way, what happened earlier? Did you knock out that man yourself?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ yes.¡±


    He subdued the man before he had a chance to react. Although the man was also quite skilled, the gap created by Shin-woo¡¯s previous experience and combat skills from before his return to the past was immense.


    However, Im Hee-yeon didn¡¯t know this process and thought it was just a simple fight.


    ¡°Did you learn that in the military? But you¡­¡±


    ¡°I was a non-commissioned officer in the military industry. You must have already investigated that, right?¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±


    On the surface, Shin-woo was discharged as a sergeant in the Army Special Warfare Command¡¯s Logistics Division. But in reality, he served as a member of the Underground Attack Department (UAD), a secret special operations team run by the Army Special Warfare Command, before his discharge. Such matters are handled specially by the Ministry of National Defense and are difficult to know unless you are one of the few people involved.


    ¡°So what will you do now? It may not be my concern, but since the opponent has noticed, isn¡¯t your position also at risk?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to worry. I¡¯m sorry. I only caused you discomfort due to my own greed. But I¡¯m relieved that you¡¯ll living abroad.¡±


    In the future, Shin-woo had joined a mercenary unit under an American military company after his military discharge. However, due to the nature of the unit, the identities of its members must not be traced, so he would leave unofficially and live under a different identity.


    ¡°Is it to avoid being targeted by MH Group?¡±


    ¡°They still don¡¯t know who you are. I¡¯ll make sure they never find out.¡±


    ¡°So you have quite a bit of trust in the people around you.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no reason not to trust them.¡±


    ¡°Even though today¡¯s schedule was leaked?¡±


    Looking at the situation from earlier, it seemed highly likely that Im Hee-yeon would have died after being hit by a truck in the future. Since Shin-woo went overseas by illegal means for mercenary activities, it would have been impossible for those who targeted Im Hee-yeon to track him.


    ¡°I need to confirm that. For now, you should focus solely on your departure.¡±


    Shin-woo¡¯s expression hardened at her words. ¡°I¡¯ll handle my own matters. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be going.¡±


    ¡°Shin-woo!¡±


    ¡°Oh! I¡¯m a bit curious, but is my surname from my biological father?¡±


    He had been left at an orphanage under the name Baek Shin-woo. Since his surname differed from Im Hee-yeon¡¯s, he had always thought it was his biological father¡¯s surname.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Who was my biological father? Is that a secret too?¡±


    ¡°Your father died in a car accident shortly after you were born. Since we couldn¡¯t register the marriage, I had to let it be quietly.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡±


    ¡°¡­Baek Jeong-hoon.¡±


    With that name, Shin-woo got out of the car. Song Tae-hoon and the bodyguards waiting outside boarded the car and departed. Left alone, Shin-woo quietly watched them leave and raised his left hand.


    The tattoo of the Triad Eye¡¯s symbol, a pattern resembling an eye, was etched there. Now, it was a tattoo that should not exist and continued to cause him doubts.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it¡¯s 2023, and my biological mother is from a chaebol family¡­ Why is this tattoo here even though it should have been done later?¡±


    He had learned so many things he hadn¡¯t known before that living the same life as before was no longer possible. He thought about trying to find the Triad Eye members but realized he would only meet them six years from now.


    ¡°Finding Man-soo first would probably solve the rest.¡±


    Jang Man-soo, who was responsible for gathering information within the Triad Eye. He also managed information about team members, finances, and received requests. However, Shin-woo didn¡¯t know where Man-soo was at this time.


    As Shin-woo was lost in thought, his phone rang, and a message arrived.


    ¡¾Caller ID Restricted¡¿


    ¡¾The ordeal is not over¡¿


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    The message meant, ¡°The ordeal is not over.¡± Shin-woo took off his wristwatch to reveal the tattoo below. The message just received was written exactly as it was tattooed.


    The name of the mercenary unit, Triad Eye, meant ¡°Eye of the Tested.¡± And the content of the message was a pledge with his comrades to remain vigilant.


    Unable to make a call, Shin-woo felt frustrated. However, another message arrived under the same condition.


    ¡¾103-4, Gochok-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul, Rooftop of the Building¡¿


    Seeing the message, Shin-woo smiled slightly and didn¡¯t hesitate to get into the car. He headed to the location mentioned in the message and arrived at the address, a hardware store building in Gochok-dong, after about 1 hour and 30 minutes.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ This address seems to be correct.¡±


    After driving up to the rooftop of the building and getting out, he looked around. The phone rang again with a new message.


    ¡¾Let¡¯s start the game now.¡¿


    Seeing this, Shin-woo could tell who had sent the message.


    ¡°Whatever this is¡­¡±


    Muttering to himself, Shin-woo typed something on his phone and, standing on the parking lot, shouted loudly.


    ¡°Are you listening nearby? Should I send a radio story about how I confessed my feelings to my first love in high school and got rejected, cried for a week, sent a lucky letter, and then had to transfer schools because I couldn¡¯t face them again? Jang Man-soo! If you don¡¯t show up, I¡¯m sending it!¡±


    Clunk¨D!


    At that moment, the back door of a van parked in one corner of the parking lot opened, and a man rushed out. Wearing a blue tracksuit with a lean physique, messy curly hair covering his eyes, and wearing horn-rimmed glasses, it was Jang Man-soo.


    ¡°Ah¨D! Wait! Wait! Time! Tiiime¨D! Get your hands off the phone immediately!¡±


    Seeing this, Shin-woo smiled and held up his phone. ¡°Is that enough?¡±


    As Jang Man-soo approached, he snatched the phone from Shin-woo¡¯s hand. ¡°Wow¨D You really were going to send it as a radio story.¡±


    What Shin-woo had typed was indeed a story for a radio app¡¯s submission board.


    ¡°Just kidding. By the way, you looked like this back then? Hahaha!¡±


    The tracksuit, glasses, and hairstyle were too noticeable.


    Jang Man-soo rolled his eyes and looked at Shin-woo with disdain. ¡°You look like a complete military person.¡±


    They started laughing madly together. Then Shin-woo remembered something important.


    ¡°Oh, I had a question first.¡±


    ¡°Is there any need to say that? It¡¯s just like a fantasy novel, you and I both came back from 2035 to 2023. Otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t have met like this.¡±


    ¡°Then, do you still have this?¡±


    Shin-woo showed the Triad Eye tattoo on his left wrist. Jang Man-soo also raised his wrist to show that he had it too.


    ¡°I saw this and wondered if it might still be here¡­ So, you have it too.¡±

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3: Cheonggyecheon Man-Soo¡¯s Store


    Shin-Woo, along with Jang Man-Soo, left Gochok-dong and entered a store deep inside a narrow alley in *Seun Sang-ga, Cheonggyecheon.


    * Seun Sang-ga (????) is a well-known shopping complex and electronics market in Seoul, South Korea. It is located in the Dongdaemun district and has been a significant hub for electronics, computer parts, and various gadgets for decades. The complex is also known for its vibrant and bustling atmosphere, attracting both locals and tourists.*


    Man-Soo¡¯s Store


    As Shin-Woo looked around the dusty store filled with light bulbs and fluorescent lights, he frowned.


    ¡°Do you not clean here? Is this really a place of business?¡±


    ¡°Of course, customers do come here.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re not selling anything?¡±


    ¡°Nope. Just follow me.¡±


    With an irritated response, Jang Man-Soo locked the store door and moved inside.


    Shin-Woo followed him through a narrow passage hidden behind a bookshelf and arrived in a room full of computers.


    ¡°So this is the real workspace.¡±


    ¡°This is my livelihood at the moment. I woke up and found myself here.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°So what about you? At this time, you should have returned from the military, right? I was worried if you were still in the unit.¡±


    The members of Triad Eye were like family, so they often shared stories of their past whenever they had the chance.


    ¡°I was in a bit of a complicated situation. I also discovered this.¡±


    Shin-Woo threw a shoulder patch covered in threads from his pocket.


    It was taken from the man he had knocked out in the forest, and it bore a pattern of overlapping three-digit numbers.


    666


    Jang Man-Soo recognized the patch immediately.


    ¡°666th Unit? Where did you find this?¡±


    ¡°Someone was hired to assassinate my biological mother, who is believed to be the target. That¡¯s my guess for now.¡±


    ¡°Oh, hired¡­ Wait, biological mother? Your mother? You had a mother?¡±


    It was something he had never mentioned even to his teammates.


    ¡°Would I have been born from an egg? Well, she did exist. Today was the first and last time I saw her. It was a return to that exact moment.¡±


    ¡°Wow¡­ This sounds like a movie or fantasy novel really.¡±


    ¡°Our situation is already like a novel. By the way, I died in a nuclear base explosion and returned. What about you? Weren¡¯t you supposed to escape safely?¡±


    That was the most pressing question.


    Jang Man-Soo shrugged his shoulders and replied.


    ¡°Why would you think that? I died too and came back.¡±


    ¡°What? You were waiting to escape from the helicopter!¡±


    ¡°It failed. Thanks to you, I managed to buy some time with the air defense door closing, but they had planted a self-destruct bomb outdoors. I got caught in it.¡±


    The considerable effort to close the door alone turned out to be useless.


    ¡°Sigh¡­ I hoped you would escape safely¡­¡±


    ¡°Sorry about that.¡±


    ¡°Then if you died and came back, does that mean the others as well?¡±


    Other team members included Rick Watson, Lillian Foster, Hector Hammond, and Wen Wei.


    ¡°There¡¯s no way to be certain. If you¡¯re thinking of looking for them, it won¡¯t be easy for me either. I don¡¯t know where they are at this exact time.¡±


    ¡°How did you find my phone number?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re Koreans. And you had told me about your military discharge period. Also, I managed your accounts. I could find your phone number with your data.¡±


    As the owner of high-performance computer equipment occupying the current room, Jang Man-Soo was responsible for Triad Eye¡¯s web information collection, hacking, and data analysis.


    ¡°At least it¡¯s a relief. But I still can¡¯t believe it. To come back to 12 years ago after dying like that¡­¡­¡±


    Muttering, Shin-woo¡¯s gaze shifted to the analog clock on the wall, something you would typically see in a bathhouse.


    ¡¾February 14, 2023¡¿


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it either. It wasn¡¯t exactly a good time. Did they send us back to fix things¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°What about you? Ah, could it be?!¡±


    At that question, Jang Man-soo nodded his head.


    ¡°It was the time when I was almost caught by the National Intelligence Service. I worked like a slave there for about five years, then went to Morocco as a backup agent, and eventually, I was abandoned after a failed operation.¡±


    ¡°How much time do we have left?¡±


    ¡°About a month? In that time, I need to erase all traces to avoid being tracked. They won¡¯t look for me once the necessary period passes.¡±


    Shin-woo approached Jang Man-soo and patted him on the shoulder.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot.¡±


    ¡°But what about you? What did you do in the future after this?¡±


    ¡°I sneaked into France, got a new identity, and joined FEROX.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so this was around the time you enlisted in FEROX. Are you going to do that again?¡±


    It hadn¡¯t been long since Shin-woo made up his mind.


    ¡°No. There¡¯s no need to walk the same path again.¡±


    ¡°Then what will you do?¡±


    ¡°Look at what you¡¯re holding.¡±


    He pointed to the shoulder patch symbolizing the ¡®666th Unit¡¯ that Jang Man-soo was holding.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to pursue them?¡±


    ¡°You know who they are.¡±


    ¡°How could I not?¡±


    The 666th Unit, known as human hunters in the mercenary market, was notorious. Their reputation meant that international mafia, terrorist organizations, and rebel groups were their regular clients.


    The problem was why the 666th Unit, which mainly operated in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, was in Korea.


    Moreover, the 666th Unit never abandoned a target once they set their sights on it. They were known for being ruthless and dirty.


    Shin-woo never expected that the 666th Unit, through his biological mother, would come after him. At the same time, Jang Man-soo and other team members he might meet later could be in danger.


    To truly enjoy life after the return, the best solution was to quickly find his comrades and eliminate the 666th Unit.


    ¡°You know well what¡¯s going to happen to us in the future. Of course, we also need to find the others. Is there really no way? We had a communication network we used.¡±


    Not all team members were involved in the same mission. Sometimes they moved individually or in small groups.


    During those times, they used a dedicated communication network that Jang Man-soo had built on the web for the team¡¯s safety.


    ¡°I built that while working with the team.¡±


    ¡°Will it take long to recreate it?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s some equipment needed that won¡¯t be available until at least five years later, so I need to check.¡±


    ¡°I believe it won¡¯t take long.¡±


    Jang Man-soo frowned at Shin-woo¡¯s smile.


    ¡°You always think things just pop up easily, whether now or in the past. Huh? Is it now or in the future?¡±


    He seemed unsure whether to consider it the past or the present, given their return to the past.


    ¡°Whatever it is. But even if they¡¯ve come back to the past, they might not be with us. Just find a way to check in on them.¡±


    ¡°That was my intention from the start. But what about you? If you¡¯re not joining FEROX again, what will you do?¡±


    At that question, Shin-woo thought for a moment before speaking.


    ¡°Could you investigate MH Group for me?¡±


    ¡°Why MH Group all of a sudden? You never showed interest in big corporations.¡±


    As Jang Man-soo said that, he sat at the desk and turned on the computer screen.


    ¡°My biological mother is the Strategic Planning Department head there. She¡¯s the hidden daughter of Myung Joong-hwan, the chairman of MH Group.¡±


    ¡°Really? Ah¡­¡±


    Jang Man-soo was initially surprised by the mention of being a chaebol¡¯s offspring, but then the term ¡®hidden daughter¡¯ stood out.


    Jang Man-soo was unsure how to react to this.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing special. Just find out what you can.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s quite dull¡­ But there¡¯s no ¡®Strategic Planning Department¡¯ in the MH Group¡¯s organizational chart, right? There is a Future Strategy Investment Planning Office under the Business Planning Department, but no such department.¡±


    On the screen was the organizational chart of MH Group that Jang Man-soo had found online in the meantime.


    Shin-woo, looking at the information, made several guesses.


    ¡°It seems like a very secretive department. There were also experienced-looking bodyguards nearby.¡±


    ¡°Is it a secret inspection headquarters or something? Even if it¡¯s secret, it would still use the internal intranet. It might be a bit difficult, but it¡¯s not impossible.¡±


    Tap-tap-tap¡ª Tap-tap-tap¡ª


    Jang Man-soo¡¯s fingers flew over the keyboard. The screen changed rapidly as several items appeared.


    ¡¾MH Group Finance Department Mail Server Contact ???¡¿


    Shin-woo was astonished when he saw it.


    ¡°How did he access the internal intranet from outside?¡±


    It was a network reserved for large corporations. Naturally, it would be heavily secured to prevent easy access from outside. Yet, Jang Man-soo had accessed it so nonchalantly.


    ¡°This is why the National Intelligence Service (NIS) took me in. Leucochloridium paradoxum.¡±


    Shin-woo furrowed his brows without realizing it.


    ¡°Leuco¡­ What? What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the name of a parasitic worm that infects snails and then birds that eat those snails. I named the virus I created after it.¡±


    ¡°Why use such a difficult name?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s also called LEUCO for short. It was an accidental creation of mine. I modified a multiplying virus¡­ but you wouldn¡¯t understand even if I explained it.¡±


    Jang Man-soo seemed to be slightly dismissive, and Shin-woo stared at him.


    ¡°Then you should explain it in simpler terms.¡±


    Sigh! ¡°Anyway, it spreads through network lines without causing any damage to the computer. And as long as it remains online, you can unlock everything with LEUCO¡¯s master key.¡±


    Shin-woo realized something important from that statement.


    ¡°So it¡¯s a master key? But are you saying this LEUCO virus is everywhere? And the NIS used it by capturing you?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Officially, it was to monitor the leakage of key industrial technologies, but in reality, it was to surveil companies and organizations for the current regime and the NIS.¡±


    In the serious atmosphere, Shin-woo sighed deeply.


    ¡°Those guys are terrible. But if it¡¯s such a dangerous program, it must have spread overseas as well, right? I¡¯m sure the U.S., Russia, and Europe wouldn¡¯t just stand by.¡±


    ¡°I set a lock to self-destruct if it went beyond the GPS coordinates of South Korea during initial development. Of course, the NIS requested to remove that lock, but I said there was no way because it seemed too risky.¡±


    It was a truly impressive skill.


    ¡°That¡¯s incredible. Anyway, are you trying to track down the Strategic Planning Department using the financial records?¡±


    ¡°Any department needs a budget to operate. Ah, found it.¡±


    Jang Man-soo found another screen through the recently discovered mail server.


    ¡¾From: Strategic Planning Department Head Im Hee-yeon¡¿


    Seeing the sender¡¯s name, Shin-woo nodded.


    ¡°Yes, this is Her.¡±


    ¡°Wait a moment. If we search using the employee number¡­¡±


    ¡¾Personnel Record Card ¡ª MH2005042231¡¿


    ¡ª Name: Im Hee-yeon / December 16, 1981 (42 years old)


    ¡ª Affiliation: Strategic Planning Department / Department Head


    ¡ª Graduated from Seongjin Elementary School, Busan


    ¡ª Graduated from Haeseong Middle School, Busan


    ¡ª Transferred from Busan Girls¡¯ High School to St. John¡¯s High School, New York, and graduated


    ¡ª Graduated from Harvard University, School of Business


    ¡ª Mother: Im Myung-joo passed away on August 3, 1997


    .


    .


    Only basic information was provided.


    Jang Man-soo compared the photo of Im Hee-yeon with Shin-woo¡¯s face.


    ¡°You look somewhat alike.¡±


    ¡°Be quiet. But there¡¯s nothing unusual here. Are there any recent projects related to the Strategic Planning Department? Something connected to MH Electronics. It might be classified, but let¡¯s see if it¡¯s on the intranet.¡±


    This was a reference to what he had heard from Im Hee-yeon during their meeting at the caf¨¦ and the incident that almost happened at that time.


    Jang Man-soo nodded and continued typing.


    ¡°LEUCO spreads through any location within the domestic coordinates, creating pathways. Ah! It¡¯s out!¡±


    ¡¾MH Electronics Balance Sheet¡¿


    ¡¾MH Electronics Income Statement¡¿


    ¡¾MH Electronics Cash Flow Statement¡¿


    ¡¾MH Electronics Combined Capital Change Statement¡¿


    ¡°Is Myung In-chul, the president of MH Electronics, the eldest son?¡±


    ¡°Correct. But the numbers here don¡¯t match what MH Electronics has in their records.¡±


    Jang Man-soo was already comparing the figures from the financial statements.


    ¡°Is this a double entry accounting?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Even a rough calculation shows that the embezzled amount exceeds 50 billion won.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not too big?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just from last year. Given the situation, it seems they¡¯ve been embezzling funds like this for several years.¡±


    ¡°That would mean at least several hundred billion won.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    It became clearer what Im Hee-yeon¡¯s plan might have been.


    Im Hee-yeon, the biological mother, would have planned to either shake or completely bring down Myung In-chul, the eldest son and successor of MH Group, and then live together with him.


    ¡°The likelihood that Myung In-chul, feeling the crisis, hired Unit 666 to cause today¡¯s incident is high¡­¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re planning to track them down?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the idea. Since they were the ones protecting the nuclear base.¡±


    Unit 666 was the military force that had fought at the nuclear base during Triad Eye¡¯s final mission. Although Shin-woo and his team had eliminated all of them, it was unclear if that was the full force of Unit 666.


    ¡°Oh, do you have a place where I can stay for a few days?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have a home?¡±


    ¡°I was discharged a few days ago. I was staying at a motel since I was planning to leave Korea anyway.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s something¡­¡±


    ¡°You will find a place, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a temporary bed in the corner over there. You can sleep there. The bathroom is that way, and the kitchen is over there. But you can¡¯t stay long.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    As he responded, Shin-woo noticed a shelf in the corner filled with books.


    ¡°By the way, are these fantasy novels?¡±


    ¡¾The Bard Who Regressed and Started as a Dealer¡¿ ¡¾The Retired SSS-Class Hunter¡¯s Regressed Life¡¿ ¡¾Returned with Legendary Physical Strength¡¿ S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There were numerous titles.


    Jang Man-soo, who had come over, showed a proud expression.


    ¡°These are my collection! The situations we¡¯re in are often found in these novels. Well, usually, it¡¯s only one of us or you and me going back to the past¡­ But here we are together.¡±


    ¡°I guess that¡¯s something to be thankful for.¡±


    Shin-woo said that and went out to retrieve the items stored in his car.

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4: The Ominous Presence


    In the president¡¯s office at MH Electronics headquarters in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, Myung In-chul stared anxiously at the phone on his desk, unable to hide his nervous expression.


    ¡°Why is there no contact at all?¡±


    Despite being designated as the successor by Myung Joong-hwan, the founder of MH Group and his father, Myung In-chul had not been given any shares in the company. He was merely a successor in name, and the situation could change at any moment based on Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s words.


    Moreover, Im Hee-yeon, who was born outside and joined the Myung family, had risen from the bottom to a position akin to the head of the strategic planning department, which was effectively the group¡¯s audit department.


    Meanwhile, Myung In-chul had secretly accumulated shares of MH Group¡¯s parent company by creating slush funds. However, Im Hee-yeon, the child of a mistress, had caught wind of this and started pursuing him.


    ¡°This is driving me crazy¡­ Secretary Kim! Has Director Park Sang-kyu not arrived yet?¡±


    He asked through the internal phone, and a response was heard.


    [Not yet. I¡¯ll try to contact him¡­ He¡¯s just arrived. Should I let him in right away?]


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Moments later, the door opened, and a tall, well-built middle-aged man with sharp eyes entered. It was Park Sang-kyu, Myung In-chul¡¯s head of security, whom he had been waiting for.


    ¡°Director Park! What happened?¡±


    ¡°I apologize for being late, sir.¡±


    ¡°Speak quickly. Was it handled?¡±


    Park Sang-kyu had a serious expression.


    ¡°The plan¡­ failed.¡±


    ¡°What?! What do you mean by failure! Why did it fail?!¡±


    As Myung In-chul¡¯s anxiety intensified, shouting loudly, Park Sang-kyu showed a slightly embarrassed expression.


    ¡°There was an unexpected guest.¡±


    ¡°Who is that?¡±


    ¡°We have not identified them yet, and it seems we¡¯ll have to wait for the next opportunity for Im Hee-yeon¡¯s matter.¡±


    Myung In-chul¡¯s expression tightened further upon hearing that such an explanation was given in such a critical situation.


    ¡°You were confident! You said it was a place I could trust! And now this?!¡±


    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Sigh¡­ So? Where is she now? Please tell me she didn¡¯t leave any traces that could be tracked!¡±


    If Im Hee-yeon had safely left that location, she should have arrived at MH Electronics headquarters by now for the financial statement audit. However, there had been no news about her from the first floor.


    ¡°One of the men was caught by her security team, but he knows nothing, so there¡¯s no issue. Also, Im Hee-yeon has returned to the group headquarters for now. It seems she¡¯s trying to reschedule the timing due to today¡¯s situation.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure there¡¯s no problem?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that.¡±


    ¡°Ha¡­¡±


    This MH Electronics audit was part of the annual routine tasks implemented by the strategic planning department of the group headquarters, as directed by Myung Joong-hwan.


    Myung In-chul was unaware of how far Im Hee-yeon had followed the trail. Even if the schedule was postponed, it would eventually be resumed, so there was no room for relaxation.


    Then Myung In-chul suddenly remembered something.


    ¡°Who was the person she was supposed to meet today? Wasn¡¯t that why the audit time was suddenly postponed?¡±


    Im Hee-yeon had lost her only family, her biological mother, and had received support from MH Group. As a result, she had lived solely as a hunting dog faithfully executing Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s orders, and thus, no weakness that could shake Im Hee-yeon existed.


    ¡°Considering that you might be curious, I looked into it.¡±


    With the response, Park Sang-kyu handed over the envelope he had been holding.


    ¡°¡­Baek Shin-woo? A soldier?¡±


    ¡°He was with the Army Special Warfare Command until recently, but he served as a logistics non-commissioned officer before being discharged.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know what his relationship with Im Hee-yeon is?¡±


    ¡°The cafe had the headquarters¡¯ security team, so I didn¡¯t hear their conversation. However, considering Im Hee-yeon postponed the meeting until after hours, it seems they have more than a casual relationship.¡±


    Myung In-chul checked Baek Shin-woo¡¯s personal information for his age.


    ¡°If he¡¯s twenty-three this year¡­ could he possibly be a stepbrother?¡±


    ¡°Baek Shin-woo is from an orphanage in Jindo, and calculating his birth year, Im Hee-yeon was studying at Harvard in Massachusetts at that time.¡±


    It was the United States and Korea. Given the different time zones, Myung In-chul was left pondering.


    ¡°It¡¯s difficult to know the situation when she was in America¡­ but did she ever come to Korea during that period?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll check with the immigration office.¡±


    Park Sang-kyu stepped aside for a moment and made a call. After a short while, the call ended.


    ¡°According to the records, Baek Shin-woo entered Korea before being placed in the orphanage. What should we do?¡±


    ¡°We can ask him directly about their relationship. Confirm and check it out. Bring him in as soon as possible.¡±


    At that moment, Park Sang-kyu was about to agree but hesitated, then carefully continued.


    ¡°Since Baek Shin-woo was in the military until recently, he doesn¡¯t have a registered address at the moment. I¡¯ll track him using the phone number connected through the police line.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all becoming quite bothersome.¡±


    *


    MH Group headquarters, Strategic Planning Department office.


    Since it was not publicly acknowledged, it was managed on the 4th basement floor, inaccessible to just anyone.


    Returning to the office, Im Hee-yeon slumped into a chair.


    ¡°Phew¡­! There¡¯s been so much complicated work today.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s still much to be done. By the way, has that man arrived at the warehouse?¡±


    ¡°He should be arriving soon.¡±


    The warehouse was their code word for a secret storage room. It was located on the outskirts of Seoul and used for confidential tasks handled by the Strategic Planning Department.


    ¡°It¡¯s a bit disappointing that we missed all the other guys.¡±


    ¡°Though it was only two, they were individuals with unusual skills.¡±


    Im Hee-yeon¡¯s personal security team consisted of experts, each with a minimum of a 6th Dan ranking and experience as police or military personnel. They had been the first to detect the enemy and even conducted a surprise raid.


    *The term ¡°6th Dan¡± typically refers to a rank in various martial arts, such as karate, judo, or taekwondo.*


    But the enemy managed to injure five of their bodyguards and escaped despite their skill.


    ¡°Was it really the same person Shin-woo caught?¡±


    ¡°I believe it would have been difficult to subdue him without pre-emptive restraint.¡±


    With that explanation, Im Hee-yeon¡¯s concern deepened.


    ¡°¡­Then how did Shin-woo subdue him? He seemed to have caught him without a scratch.¡±


    ¡°That was also a question I had. Additionally, I felt that the security team disguised as customers at the cafe were detected.¡±


    ¡°Are you suggesting that Shin-woo might have undergone special training?¡±


    Song Tae-hoon was a 12th Dan martial artist and a UDT veteran with real combat experience from overseas deployments. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Baek Shin-woo¡¯s movements, viewed from such a perspective, left no room for minor gaps. It was similar to what one would experience with seasoned veterans met on the battlefield.


    ¡°In my subjective opinion, it¡¯s hard to believe he just served as a logistics non-commissioned officer in the military.¡±


    ¡°Can we get more details through the Ministry of National Defense contacts that found Shin-woo?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll check into it.¡±


    Vroom¡ª Vroom¡ª


    At that moment, Song Tae-hoon¡¯s phone rang. It was a call from one of the colleagues sent to the warehouse.


    He connected the call and switched to speakerphone.


    ¡°Did you arrive at the warehouse safely?¡±


    [¡­S-Secretary!]


    A voice full of pain mixed with moans was heard.


    Startled, Song Tae-hoon¡¯s expression turned serious.


    ¡°Kim Seung-hoon! What¡¯s happening!¡±


    [Ugh¡­ There was an accident, and we lost that guy¡­¡­!]


    The voice continued weakly.


    ¡°How could this be missed? More importantly, is Manager Kim okay?!¡±


    [He has some injuries but it¡¯s not life-threatening. I am truly sorry.]


    ¡°Where is the location?¡±


    [He was attacked almost at the warehouse. The warehouse should be sealed off immediately.]


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of that. You should head straight to the hospital.¡±


    After ending the call, Song Tae-hoon approached Im Hee-yeon.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry. It appears the assailant managed to escape due to the attack. Since he was attacked on the way to the hideout, it seems that information must have been leaked somewhere.¡±


    Im Hee-yeon, having heard the conversation, understood the situation.


    ¡°Myung In-chul is quite formidable. Also, please make sure that the injured get proper treatment.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure everything is taken care of.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s avoid using other locations for the warehouse.¡±


    The enemies were waiting for security personnel to arrive near the hideout. Just from that, it was clear that the Strategic Planning Department¡¯s information had been significantly compromised.


    ¡°That seems necessary. How will you handle the actual inspection? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to report the collected data to the Chairman now?¡±


    Im Hee-yeon, like Song Tae-hoon, was also pondering this issue.


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t the Chairman already be aware if we didn¡¯t mention it?¡±


    ¡°So¡­ Are you saying that he¡¯s just watching Myung In-chul¡¯s actions even though he knows?¡±


    Chairman Myung Joong-hwan had built MH Group from scratch on his own. Throughout this process, he had to compete with many people and lost countless things. Naturally, it would be hard for him not to be aware of what happened within MH Group, which he established through so much effort.


    ¡°Since the Chairman does not trust anyone, even though I don¡¯t know to what extent, he must at least have some idea.¡±


    ¡°Ultimately, it¡¯s important whether you¡¯ve secured evidence that the Head of the Department might wield a sword.¡±


    ¡°He only looks at results, not the process.¡±


    A brief silence followed. Then, Song Tae-hoon became concerned about one issue.


    ¡°¡­What about Your son? Are you going to let him go abroad like this?¡±


    ¡°What can be done? I thought it was all over, but since it wasn¡¯t, I can¡¯t keep him during a war.¡±


    ¡°But, no matter what, he¡¯s from the Myung family. Although there is discord, ¡­¡±


    Im Hee-yeon¡¯s expression hardened.


    ¡°Stop it. I have no intention of bringing Shin-woo into this hellish family. Originally, I planned to leave after finishing this matter. And it¡¯s actually good that he¡¯s going abroad.¡±


    It might be better not to seek out someone who went abroad from the Myung family. At the same time, Im Hee-yeon had many thoughts. She had lived as the shadow of MH Group for 26 years since she entered the Myung family at seventeen. But now she was very weary of it.


    Originally, she intended to finish this matter and quietly live with Shin-woo. That was why she had suggested living together when they first met at the caf¨¦.


    ¡°¡­I apologize for not being more attentive.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s first secure the internal control and then move forward. While they will act during the time we buy, we need to wait for the right moment.¡±


    ¡°But now that they know what we¡¯re targeting, it might be difficult to find a gap.¡±


    Im Hee-yeon sighed deeply. The long-awaited moment had slipped away. Still, the face of her son she saw earlier that day lingered in her mind.


    ¡°He won¡¯t easily give up moving thousands of billions in funds. So, another opportunity will surely come.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to create an opportunity as soon as possible. Also, I will investigate the individuals hired by Myung In-chul.¡±


    ¡°I appreciate that. Oh, and please confirm the date of Shin-woo¡¯s departure. He mentioned leaving this week, so just let me know once it¡¯s confirmed.¡±


    The fact that Myung In-chul also knew about the meeting with Shin-woo could be a weakness, so it was reassuring that Shin-woo was going abroad.


    ¡°I will request that.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Song Tae-hoon then left. Left alone, Im Hee-yeon rubbed her temples. Then, the internal phone rang, and Song Tae-hoon¡¯s voice came through.


    [Director, the Chairman will visit the family home tomorrow morning.]


    It must be related to the financial statement audit of MH Electronics scheduled for today.


    Im Hee-yeon let out an even longer sigh than before.

 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5: So What?


    A few days had passed after the regression. Shin-woo, who decided to stay in Korea, had rented a one-room apartment not far from Cheonggyecheon and moved in. Jang Man-soo, who came along with him, sighed as he looked around the empty space.


    ¡°It looks too empty¡­ Aren¡¯t you going to buy any other furniture?¡±


    In the 33 square meters room, only a mattress with no cover was placed in the middle of the room.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need anything else right now. I¡¯ll buy some clothes later.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have any clothes because you always wore military uniforms?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t have time to buy any because I was always going on missions. But is the hideout really okay? Won¡¯t the National Intelligence Service find it?¡±


    The National Intelligence Service had detained Jang Man-soo for a long time, just like they did with the LEUCO virus. Shin-woo couldn¡¯t help but worry since it was not a plan they had prepared lightly.


    ¡°The only reason they knew about the LEUCO virus was because I uploaded the basic algorithm to an IT journal out of curiosity. I won¡¯t be doing that kind of thing anymore, and the hideout was bought under a different name, so there¡¯s no problem.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve come back to the past after living enough, so you must have prepared well.¡±


    Shin-woo said that and hung his few military and civilian clothes in the wardrobe.


    ¡°Are you not going to throw away the military uniforms?¡±


    ¡°I have 6-year mobilization training, including reserve forces.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡ª Is it longer for non-commissioned officers?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s annoying, but it can¡¯t be helped.¡±


    Feeling embarrassed, Jang Man-soo wiped his finger over the kitchen gas stove. When dust came off, he frowned.


    ¡°Ugh¡­ But if we¡¯re going to chase the 666th Unit, we need to prepare. Do you have a plan?¡±


    ¡°First, we need to secure funds¡­ I¡¯m worried because there¡¯s no basic capital.¡±


    In the future, Shin-woo had amassed considerable wealth while working as a mercenary. Particularly, missions from Triad Eye were worth billions at a time.


    But now, with about 100 million won accumulated from military salaries, hazard pay, and severance pay, there wasn¡¯t much left after renting the house.


    ¡°Money? Is that a concern?¡±


    ¡°Do you have a lot saved up?¡±


    ¡°Not much for me either. But where did we come from?¡±


    ¡°¡­2023?¡±


    ¡°Well, the answer is simple then. Just invest according to the domestic capital flow we know, like in fantasy novels, and it will be money-making.¡±


    Shin-woo scratched his head after a moment of thought.


    ¡°Sorry, but I haven¡¯t been back to Korea since I left.¡±


    Jang Man-soo, stunned, looked at Shin-woo with a disbelieving expression.


    ¡°Really? Not even once?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t have any reason to come back. I didn¡¯t have any connections worth returning for.¡±


    Thus, he had no idea what his biological mother was doing or how she had lived.


    After a moment of hesitation, Jang Man-soo cautiously spoke.


    ¡°Actually, I recalled something about the MH Group from the intelligence National Intelligence Service collected in the past.¡±


    ¡°What was there?¡±


    ¡°There was nothing about your mother. Instead, MH Group is expected to face several issues over the next 1¨C2 years. Then it will be absorbed by a private equity fund called TSF Investment.¡±


    ¡°What about my mother?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s your mother, so isn¡¯t ¡®aunt¡¯ appropriate? Should I too say ¡®mother¡¯ instead?¡±


    ¡°Do you want to die? But what¡¯s this TSF company?¡±


    Shin-woo, who was irritated, was knowledgeable about combat but almost completely unaware of corporate matters.


    Along with his response, Jang Man-soo used the tablet he had brought to search for TSF Investment and showed it to him.


    The site was in French, but Shin-woo read it without difficulty.


    Thanks to his long years as a mercenary, he had learned a considerable number of languages while traveling around the world.


    ¡°There¡¯s not much information here.¡±


    It only had a company introduction and some descriptions of a few external partner companies.


    ¡°It¡¯s a private equity firm that deals directly with only major clients. They¡¯ve acquired and torn apart hundreds of companies up until now. In the original timeline, MH Group couldn¡¯t avoid the same fate.¡±


    ¡°That means Chairman Myung Joong-hwan couldn¡¯t protect it.¡±


    ¡°Chairman Myung Joong-hwan had already died of illness at the time.¡±


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    Jang Man-soo continued his explanation in response to the shocked question.


    ¡°The news reported it as an acute myocardial infarction. They couldn¡¯t control the media, so MH Group¡¯s stock prices plummeted. At the same time, a mold issue broke out in the products of MH Foods, where the second son Myung Sung-chul was the CEO. Shortly after, MH Electronics faced problems including design plagiarism and unauthorized use of technology patents for various products, including phones and laptops.¡±


    Listening to this, Shin-woo found himself puzzled.


    ¡°Why do you remember all of this so well? This happened more than 10 years ago, right?¡±


    Even though Jang Man-soo was a genius, it was hard to believe he could remember something from so long ago in such detail, as if it were yesterday.


    ¡°Now that you mention it, yeah. Why do I remember it so well? Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m such a mind-blowing genius?¡±


    Jang Man-soo smugly adjusted his horn-rimmed glasses, prompting Shin-woo to shake his head in disbelief.


    ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense. You might be good with computers, but you used to misplace your glasses even when they were on your head¡­ Your memory wasn¡¯t that good.¡±


    ¡°Was it? But seriously, why do I remember it so clearly? Oh, I just remembered that bastard, Deputy Director Ban Sang-won from the National Intelligence Service. He was the one who arrested me and when I asked for seolleongtang, he brought me cheonggukjang instead¡­¡±


    *Seolleongtang: A traditional Korean soup made from ox bones, brisket, and other cuts of beef. The broth is simmered for several hours until it becomes rich and milky white. It¡¯s typically served with rice and seasoned with salt, pepper, and chopped green onions.


    *Cheonggukjang: A Korean fermented soybean paste stew. It has a strong, pungent smell and is known for its bold flavor. Cheonggukjang is made from soybeans that are fermented for a shorter period than doenjang, giving it a distinct aroma and a unique taste.


    Watching him, Shin-woo began to entertain a possibility.


    ¡°Could this be a side effect of returning to the past?¡±


    ¡°A side effect? Let¡¯s say my memory improved, what about you?¡±


    ¡°Throw this at me.¡±


    He pulled out a folding karambit knife he had bought for self-defense from his back pocket, opened it, and handed it over.


    ¡°What? You want me to throw this knife at you?¡±


    The distance between Jang Man-soo and Shin-woo was only about two steps. No matter how skilled he was, it would be hard to avoid at this close range.


    ¡°Just throw it.¡±


    ¡°Has your mind no regressed along with your body? You¡¯re gonna get hurt!¡±


    ¡°Shut up and throw it. Not just randomly¡ªthrow it properly.¡±


    ¡°Damn it¡ªif you get hurt, it¡¯s not my problem!¡±


    In that moment, Jang Man-soo remembered how Shin-woo had pranked him with his first love, and he threw the knife.


    Swoosh¡ª


    At the same time, Shin-woo didn¡¯t avoid the spinning knife after it left Jang Man-soo¡¯s hand. Instead, he focused even more intently and reached out his hand.


    Snap¡ª


    ¡°¡­W-What? How did you catch that?¡±


    The spinning karambit knife¡¯s handle was now in Shin-woo¡¯s hand, its blade¡¯s tip right in front of his eyes.


    ¡°Hey, weren¡¯t you being a little too serious when you threw that?¡±


    ¡°If I could aim and throw like you or the others, this would be another story. But how did you catch that? Don¡¯t tell me¡­ is that part of your return-to-the-past perk?¡±


    ¡°My dynamic vision and reaction speed have improved compared to before. My memory isn¡¯t as good as yours, but I can remember things from a long time ago fairly well.¡±


    Hearing this, something occurred to Jang Man-soo.


    ¡°Then maybe my reaction speed has improved as well? Throw that knife at me too.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Oh, but aim for my feet, not my head¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, Shin-woo threw the knife.


    Swoosh¡ª Thud!


    The rapidly spinning karambit knife just barely grazed Jang Mansoo¡¯s left shoulder sleeve and flew past. Slowly turning his head, Jang Man-soo saw the knife embedded in the kitchen cabinet door and shouted.


    ¡°You, you¡ª! You crazy bastard! I almost died of a heart attack!¡±


    ¡°Like I would actually hit you.¡±


    ¡°Are you completely insane? Are you getting revenge because I threw it hard earlier?¡±


    Shin-woo shrugged his shoulders.


    ¡°Revenge? And did you see me miss?¡±


    ¡°People can make mistakes! Damn! What if I had moved out of surprise? I could have had a knife stuck in my head!¡±


    ¡°That was obviously factored in.¡±


    It was the same as when he fought the man he had subdued at the cafe where he had met his biological mother.


    But now, having returned to the past, there was a lot lacking compared to his peak performance as a mercenary, both in terms of physical strength and ingrained combat habits.


    However, those deficiencies were more than adequately covered by the return-special abilities, allowing him to subdue his opponent easily.


    ¡°Other guys might be like this too, right?¡±


    ¡°That, I don¡¯t know. Anyway, you¡¯re responsible for the funds?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s no problem.¡±


    ¡°Then should we investigate the back of Myung In-chul, who might have contracted the 666th Unit?¡±


    Shin-woo muttered, causing Jang Man-soo to recall something he had missed.


    ¡°What about the collapse of MH Group? It¡¯s somewhat related to your maternal side. Aren¡¯t you concerned?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about the issue with them.¡±


    For now, the 666th Unit, which he had dealt with in his previous life as Triad Eye, was more important.


    It seemed quiet, so there didn¡¯t appear to be any issues, but since there had been no contact, he had no idea when they might move again.


    ¡°For now, I¡¯ll look into Myung In-chul. If it was contracted to the 666th Unit, there might be some records left somewhere. Of course, they wouldn¡¯t have left traces that are easy to find.¡±


    Vroom¨D Vroom¨D


    Shin-woo¡¯s phone rang with an unknown number.


    ¡°Who could it be?¡±


    At this point, only a few people would know his number besides military personnel.


    The number for his biological mother had been saved before, so it wasn¡¯t unknown.


    ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°Hold on a moment.¡±


    He pressed the call button. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    With the question, an unfamiliar middle-aged man¡¯s voice came through the receiver.


    [Is this Baek Shin-woo?]


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    [I¡¯m Park Sang-kyu. If it¡¯s convenient, may I meet you for a moment?]


    ¡°For what reason?¡±


    [I¡¯d like to discuss it in person.]


    Shin-woo felt displeased with the abrupt request.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see any particular reason to meet.¡±


    [It will be brief. I¡¯ll be at your door soon, so please make a little time.]


    From Park Sang-kyu¡¯s polite yet chilly tone, Shin-woo felt a sense of unease.


    He turned on the intercom.


    Outside the door were three men in suits who had just arrived. From the general atmosphere, it didn¡¯t seem like they were there for a quiet conversation.


    ¡°Please wait a moment.¡±


    The call ended that way.


    Jang Man-soo, who didn¡¯t know what was happening, looked at the intercom screen in surprise.


    ¡°Who¡¯s here?¡±


    ¡°A person named Park Sang-kyu. Judging by his tone and manner, it doesn¡¯t seem like he¡¯s here for a pleasant reason.¡±


    ¡°Could it be the 666th Unit?!¡±


    ¡°If that were the case, it would be less of a problem.¡±


    If it were indeed the 666th Unit, it would save them the trouble of finding them.


    ¡°Should we let them in?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no reason to avoid them. From the atmosphere, it seems like they won¡¯t leave quietly. Just in case, you should stay in the bathroom. Lock the door too.¡±


    ¡°¡­Understood.¡±


    Jang Man-soo packed his shoes and bag and went into the bathroom, locking the door.


    Click¨D


    As he heard the sound of the bathroom door locking, Shin-woo opened the front door.


    In front of him stood Park Sang-kyu, the head of security for Myung In-chul, along with his subordinates.


    ¡°Please proceed.¡±


    ¡°Since the corridor is narrow, may we discuss inside for a moment?¡±


    ¡°Very well.¡±


    Shin-woo stepped back and let them in.


    Click¨D Click¨D


    As they passed by the tightly shut bathroom door and the sink, they were startled by the Karambit knife embedded in the shelf.


    ¡°¡­¡­!¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s just for throwing practice. By the way, aren¡¯t your manners a bit impolite?¡±


    The men felt a sense of discomfort for a moment.


    Meanwhile, Shin-woo drew the knife and kept his distance from them.


    He then observed their shoes, which were still worn.


    ¡°Etiquette will depend on how Mr. Baek Shin-woo responds.¡±


    ¡°Haa¡­ So where are you from?¡±


    Then, Park Sang-kyu, with a serious expression, looked at Shin-woo and said.


    ¡°We¡¯re from MH Group.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the purpose?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Baek Shin-woo, you met Director Im Hee-yeon at a cafe in Namyangju recently, correct? We¡¯d like to know the reason for that meeting.¡±


    It definitely wasn¡¯t a request.

 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6: To What Extent


    The atmosphere in the newly moved-in room grew cold and heavy.


    Baek Shin-woo stared at Park Sang-kyu and said calmly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it.¡±


    ¡°Please tell me when I ask politely. Also, tell me your relationship with Im Hee-yeon, the department head.¡±


    With this response, the men in the back stepped forward one by one. It was a sign that they were prepared to use force depending on the answer.


    ¡°These days, it seems that large corporations solve problems with strength rather than brains.¡±


    ¡°Efficiency in work is important in the right place. Of course, my decision can change based on Baek Shin-woo¡¯s actions.¡± S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Park Sang-kyu¡¯s gaze turned to the Karambit knife Shin-woo was holding.


    ¡°Oh, this? It seems it was uncomfortable for you to see.¡±


    Immediately, Shin-woo folded the knife and threw it onto the mattress.


    ¡°That¡¯s a good choice. Now, let¡¯s talk.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say I would tell you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re being stubborn for no reason. Sorry, but I¡¯m not very patient, so I will use a slightly uncomfortable method.¡±


    Eventually, the two men from both sides approached Shin-woo.


    At the same time, Shin-woo quickly grabbed the tie of the man on the left, pulling it and striking his temple with his elbow.


    ¡°Ugh!¡±


    As the man¡¯s body collapsed, Shin-woo twisted and swung him by the tie he was holding.


    The man on the right fell on top of him, and Shin-woo kicked the man¡¯s head with his knee.


    Thud!


    Shin-woo didn¡¯t stop there and stomped on the chin of the man with the heel of his foot.


    Thud!


    He had perfectly completed the execution(?) with a confirmatory kill.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    A silence filled the room.


    Park Sang-kyu¡¯s eyes widened, and his face hardened.


    Although his subordinates were not as skilled as the 666th Unit, they were still capable of handling at least five men alone.


    Yet, they had fallen and collapsed after facing Shin-woo.


    ¡°I confirmed that you are a non-commissioned officer, but it seems you¡¯re not just any soldier.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what I did in the army. How about showing some manners now? Or just leave immediately.¡±


    Shin-woo stepped on the ankle of the man lying on the floor.


    ¡°Ahhh!¡±


    ¡°Ahh!¡±


    The man underneath also screamed as his legs were crushed.


    Park Sang-kyu was stunned by Shin-woo¡¯s ruthless actions.


    ¡°It seems you also lack patience.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t wait. I¡¯ll just charge in immediately.¡±


    Park Sang-kyu, whose head was in a mess, thought about moving himself.


    However, he couldn¡¯t gauge Baek Shin-woo¡¯s skill level. Furthermore, trying to deploy more subordinates was risky due to the high visibility of the densely populated commercial area around the studio.


    ¡°¡­Let¡¯s retreat for today.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t particularly want to see more.¡±


    Shin-woo stepped back.


    The men, who had regained their senses due to the pain, staggered and went back to Park Sang-kyu¡¯s side.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see you again somehow, Baek Shin-woo.¡±


    ¡°Oh, please clean the floor before you leave. This is a newly moved-in house.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    One of the men, given Park Sang-kyu¡¯s signal, muttered incoherently and began to wipe the floor with his tie.


    The other two, together with him, erased the shoe prints one by one and exited.


    Soon, the door closed, and the room became quiet again.


    ¡°You can come out now.¡±


    Click¡ª


    Jang Man-soo carefully opened the bathroom door.


    ¡°Did they really leave?¡±


    ¡°They left. By the way, did you bring the laptop?¡±


    ¡°Yeah? It¡¯s here.¡±


    Jang Man-soo handed over his bag.


    Shin-woo took out a cellphone from his pocket and threw it to Jang Man-soo.


    ¡°Install some spyware on this and check it.¡±


    ¡°Whose cellphone is this?¡±


    ¡°One of those guys from earlier. They¡¯ll come looking for it if they notice it, so hurry.¡±


    He had taken the cellphone from the inner pocket while subduing the men.


    ¡°Your skills are really impressive.¡±


    As he spoke, Jang Man-soo connected the cellphone to the laptop and started unlocking it with the password.


    Thanks to the decryption program he developed himself, it didn¡¯t take long.


    ¡°Done.¡±


    ¡°Ok¡ª!¡±


    Ding-dong¡ª


    Just then, the doorbell rang.


    ¡°Perfect timing. Go hide in the corner where you can¡¯t be seen.¡±


    Baek Shin-woo grabbed his phone and opened the front door.


    Standing outside was the man who had pulled Shin-woo¡¯s tie earlier.


    ¡°You¡¯re here because of the phone you dropped, right? It was in the corner,¡± the man said.


    ¡°Ah¡­ yes.¡±


    ¡°Here you go.¡±


    As the man handed the phone over, he immediately took it and went downstairs.


    Shin-woo, who came back inside, spoke to Jang Man-soo, who was looking at his laptop.


    ¡°Clear out the contacts and call history while you¡¯re at it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m already on it. It¡¯s been quite a mess, and right now, I¡¯m listening to the captain.¡±


    Since Jang Man-soo was eavesdropping with spyware, he had earphones plugged in.


    ¡°Let me hear it too.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    He removed the earphones and switched to the laptop speakers. At the same time, Park Sang-kyu¡¯s voice was heard.


    [¡­ The fighting style was extraordinary. What did you think about it?]


    [It was extremely swift.]


    [Moreover, it felt like he had received professional combat training, and it was quite rough.]


    They were evaluating Shin-woo¡¯s combat skills.


    During the conversation, Park Sang-kyu sighed and seemed to be making a call.


    [Let¡¯s keep quiet for a while. Don¡¯t make any conspicuous actions out of boredom.


    ¡­Yeah, ¡­Okay¡­¡­]


    Since it was eavesdropping, only Park Sang-kyu¡¯s voice was heard, with no explanation or detailed information.


    Then the call ended, and it became quiet.


    Shin-woo slowly nodded.


    ¡°It seems like the call was from them.¡±


    ¡°666th Unit?¡±


    ¡°Given the failure of the previous plan, they will likely keep a low profile for a while. Can you get recent GPS coordinates?¡±


    ¡°I checked too, but they¡¯ve turned off the phone¡¯s GPS thoroughly. It seems that the spyware won¡¯t be detected for a long time.¡±


    Park Sang-kyu was meticulous enough to find Shin-woo¡¯s house on the day he moved in.


    That was something Jang Man-soo also felt while going through the phone.


    ¡°Once all the information inside is copied, make sure to delete the spyware cleanly.¡±


    ¡°Ok¨D!¡±


    Tapping sounds echoed as Jang Man-soo¡¯s fingers moved swiftly over the keyboard.


    *


    The weekend arrived.


    Im Hee-yeon visited Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s mansion in Pyeongchang-dong.


    As she entered the living room, her eyes met with Myung In-chul, who was sitting on the sofa.


    ¡°It seems difficult to see your face these days.¡±


    His comment made Im Hee-yeon frown slightly.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been quite busy. By the way, what brings you home? I thought you were always out on weekends for dental appointments. It seems like you¡¯ve been very busy too, Mr. Myung.¡±


    The one turning the group upside down was Im Hee-yeon.


    Because of that, Myung In-chul had been keeping a low profile and dealing with many things quietly.


    ¡°What about the audit of MH Electronics? Are you not delaying the preparations?¡±


    ¡°Seeing your confidence, it looks like you¡¯ve prepared thoroughly.¡±


    ¡°The audit is handled by the staff. What can I do?¡±


    Im Hee-yeon¡¯s frown deepened at his smirking expression.


    ¡°Chairman called, so I must excuse myself now.¡±


    ¡°¡­Oh, do you know a man named Baek Shin-woo?¡±


    At that moment, Im Hee-yeon¡¯s footsteps halted. She turned back with the calmest expression she could muster and looked at Myung In-chul.


    ¡°Who is that?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t know? Hmph¡­ Doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t know.¡±


    It was already expected that Myung In-chul had information about Shin-woo.


    ¡°I¡¯ll excuse myself now.¡±


    With her mind troubled, Im Hee-yeon went into the study, trying not to show her distress.


    In the study, Myung Joong-hwan, the chairman of MH Group, was sitting on a sofa reading a newspaper.


    His white hair and solemn expression were complemented by the transparent rimless glasses perched on his nose. His eyes slowly turned toward Im Hee-yeon.


    ¡°Director Im seems to be dealing with many complicated matters these days.¡±


    ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t mention it.¡±


    ¡°So, the due diligence for MH Electronics will be conducted next week? Have the other places been wrapped up?¡±


    ¡°MH Electronics is the only one left.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been working hard.¡±


    Even while the conversation went on quietly, the atmosphere grew heavy.


    ¡°I apologize for not proceeding according to schedule.¡±


    ¡°Even if it takes time, it doesn¡¯t mean the business will be affected. By the way, there was some issue with MH Retail during the due diligence, wasn¡¯t there?¡±


    Im Hee-yeon responded calmly to the question.


    ¡°There was a rebate issue with the executive in charge and the MD at MH Convenience Store under MH Retail. The relevant documents have been handed over to the audit team.¡±


    ¡°Busan, huh¡­ Is it Joo Seong-man? What¡¯s the amount of the rebate?¡±


    ¡°The amount identified so far is 3.2 billion won.¡±


    At that answer, Myung Joong-hwan made a bitter expression.


    Joo Seong-man was someone who had worked with Myung Joong-hwan when he was establishing the base of MH Retail. However, three years ago, he was demoted to Busan after causing a similar issue while in the Seoul headquarters.


    ¡°Ah¡­ Joo Seong-man, that guy, has become blind to petty money since he went down to the provinces.¡±


    ¡°What should we do?¡±


    Silence followed while waiting for the answer.


    ¡°One chance is enough. And if he has harmed the company, he should naturally be punished. So proceed according to the regulations.¡±


    ¡°I will do that.¡±


    The conversation paused for a moment.


    Then Myung Joong-hwan closed the newspaper he had been reading and made eye contact with Im Hee-yeon.


    ¡°I heard you raised your voice with In-cheol earlier in the living room.¡±


    He was asking why.


    Im Hee-yeon hesitated for a moment before cautiously opening her mouth.


    ¡°It was a conversation about a person. ¡­I said I didn¡¯t know the person.¡±


    ¡°Baek Shin-woo¡­?¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a loud voice, but it was loud enough to be heard even through the door.


    At the same time, Im Hee-yeon¡¯s fingertips trembled slightly. She looked at Myung Joong-hwan as calmly as possible.


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s what they say.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    A peculiar sigh escaped Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Why¡­ is that?¡±


    Myung Joong-hwan, who had risen from the sofa, walked to his desk at the end of the study and sat down.


    ¡°Hee-yeon.¡±


    He always called her with a title, but now he just used her name, which surprised Im Hee-yeon slightly.


    ¡°What is it, Chairman?¡±


    ¡°It has already been 26 years since you connected with our family, hasn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s already been that long. Time really flies¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s gaze turned toward the garden outside the window, where the trees were thick and lush.


    ¡°Eighteen years ago, I gave you the opportunity to leave MH Group.¡±


    It was around the time when Im Hee-yeon had graduated from Harvard. But she had chosen not to take the opportunity Myung Joong-hwan offered.


    ¡°¡­You did.¡±


    ¡°Honestly, I thought you would accept it. But you have lived as a shadow in our MH Group until now.¡±


    ¡°Because I owe you, Chairman. I just didn¡¯t want to betray that.¡±


    That was sincere enough.


    Myung Joong-hwan tapped the armrest of his chair with his fingers with a peculiar expression.


    Tap¡ª Tap¡ª Tap¡ª


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you worried about what would happen to your son in our MH Group?¡±


    The previously heavy atmosphere instantly turned as cold as ice.


    ¡°Indeed¡­ Chairman, you knew.¡±


    Im Hee-yeon had long suspected it. However, she had kept silent all this time because she couldn¡¯t bring herself to ask Myung Joong-hwan.


    ¡°Even if your child was born outside, it doesn¡¯t change the fact that he is my blood. So, I couldn¡¯t ignore hearing news about you while you were studying abroad.¡±


    ¡°¡­I see.¡±


    During the time she was studying in the United States, MH Group only sent money. She had thought it would be enough to stay out of sight.


    Yet, it had been of no use.

 Chapter 7

    Chapter 7: So Many People Want to See


    Im Hee-yeon¡¯s mind was in turmoil. Even so, she thought that if her son, if Baek Shin-woo, only went abroad, there wouldn¡¯t be any problems.


    In the meantime, Myung Joong-hwan calmly looked at Im Hee-yeon and continued speaking.


    ¡°You must have thought of wrapping this up and quietly stepping back.¡±


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t mention it in advance.¡±


    ¡°You have put in a lot of effort to bring our MH Group to its current position. It¡¯s regrettable that you¡¯re considering stepping back.¡±


    Myung Joong-hwan, the current chairman of MH Group, had only one failure in his life: raising his children.


    His children with his first wife, Oh Jin-sook.


    Among them, the second, Myung Seong-cheol, and the third, Myung Soo-yeon, had caused countless incidents and accidents since their school days.


    The eldest son, Myung In-chul, wasn¡¯t too bad, but perhaps because his ambition exceeded his capabilities, he often failed in his work.


    Of course, the other children were even worse.


    Only Im Hee-yeon, as Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s bloodline, had shown exceptional skills.


    ¡°But here¡­ I don¡¯t think there is a place for me until the end.¡±


    After all, a stepdaughter was a stepdaughter. As a hidden issue of the previous chairman and not recognized externally, she would inevitably be an uncomfortable presence for anyone becoming the next chairman.


    ¡°If I take care of In-chul¡¯s work and thoughts, I would like you to stay here.¡±


    ¡°Even so, wouldn¡¯t Myung In-chul keep me in check?¡±


    Im Hee-yeon, as the head of the Strategic Planning Department, knew all the ins and outs of MH Group. In that sense, Chairman Myung Joong-hwan couldn¡¯t help but worry about her leaving the company.


    ¡°Just because someone harbors such thoughts, doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re easily dealt with.¡±


    ¡°Can it be done according to my will? My strength ultimately comes from MH Group.¡±


    ¡°Even if I publicly acknowledge your existence, will it be like that?¡±


    ¡°¡­Pardon?¡±


    For a moment, Im Hee-yeon was so shocked that she was left speechless.


    ¡°A bit of packaging is needed, but¡­ I¡¯m saying that I will add you and your son to our Myung family¡¯s household registry. Of course, I¡¯ll also take responsibility for your son¡¯s future.¡±


    ¡°Is this a measure to prevent Myung In-chul from feeling secure?¡±


    It meant she might be used as a tool to increase the eldest son Myung In-chul¡¯s sense of crisis.


    ¡°It¡¯s not just for that reason. How about it? You¡¯ll also be given qualifications. Just that would prevent In-chul from acting recklessly towards you and your child.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t incorrect. Just being acknowledged as a member of the Myung family would be sufficient to qualify for inheriting the wealth.


    Moreover, Im Hee-yeon had a solid position built as the shadow of MH Group. If that were to be revealed, her presence would inevitably be highlighted to the company¡¯s top executives.


    ¡°What if I push aside the chairman¡¯s children?¡±


    ¡°Then they will be pushed aside. I don¡¯t want to see the MH Group, which I¡¯ve built my whole life, go to someone without any ability.¡±


    ¡°Are you serious? If the children hear this, they will be very upset.¡±


    ¡°If they do, let them. What matters now is your decision.¡±


    Im Hee-yeon sighed and spoke.


    ¡°Do I have a choice? From what you¡¯ve said, it seems like a decision has already been made.¡±


    It meant that whatever happened, Im Hee-yeon¡¯s feet would be tied to MH Group.


    ¡°The decision will depend on your thoughts.¡±


    ¡°Really? Then¡­ please exclude my son from that plan. After all, he¡¯s a child who will leave Korea. He may have already left. He said he would never return to Korea. So, there will be no further relation with MH Group.¡±


    Im Hee-yeon tried to handle everything alone.


    Myung Joong-hwan stared at her intently.


    ¡°That kid is still in Korea. As far as I know, he has found a house in Seoul and even completed his move-in registration. Given his actions, it doesn¡¯t seem like he plans to leave anytime soon.¡±


    ¡°¡­I see. I¡¯ll handle my child¡¯s matters myself. And I ask that the plans you¡¯ve made stay within my scope only.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll consider it.¡±


    Having finished their conversation, Im Hee-yeon left the study and headed straight to the car parked outside.


    At that moment, Myung In-chul, who was still sitting in the living room, called her back.


    ¡°What did you discuss with my father for so long?¡±


    ¡°¡­You should ask him directly. I¡¯m busy, so I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±


    She went outside and got into the back seat of the car.


    Song Tae-hoon, who had taken the front seat, looked at her with a worried expression.


    ¡°Chief! Is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°Do we have any updates on Shin-woo¡¯s whereabouts?¡±


    ¡°We haven¡¯t received any news from the Immigration Office yet. There¡¯s been no record of his departure as of today.¡±


    ¡°The chairman knows about Shin-woo. I heard that he has completed his move-in registration in Seoul.¡±


    ¡°So he isn¡¯t leaving Korea?¡±


    ¡°It seems like his mind has changed for some reason. Please confirm it right away.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    The car they were in headed towards the MH Group headquarters.


    *


    Myung Joong-hwan, who was alone in the study, summoned his dedicated secretary, Goo Sang-ho, to check on Baek Shin-woo.


    ¡°I heard that two of Park Sang-kyu¡¯s subordinates were badly beaten by Shin-woo recently.¡±


    ¡°¡­Beaten? Didn¡¯t he work in the Military Supplies Division?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I confirmed. However, it seems that he was beaten in a manner that suggests professional fighting skills.¡±


    This response deepened the mystery.


    Myung Joong-hwan looked puzzled.


    ¡°Does this mean that the identity verification data from the Ministry of National Defense might be incorrect?¡±


    ¡°I also checked with the National Intelligence Service, but it was consistent.¡±


    ¡°Yet Park Sang-kyu¡¯s subordinates are not ordinary. I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯re quite skilled as well.¡±


    The security team under MH Group was a subsidiary of MH Tech, a defense industry affiliate. The team was divided and operated independently, with each member being a notable expert from special forces, police, or the National Intelligence Service.


    Naturally, it was hard to believe that someone like Baek Shin-woo, who worked in the Military Supplies Division, could defeat such skilled individuals.


    ¡°We need to investigate further.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a personal guess, but¡­¡±


    Pausing for a moment, Myung Joong-hwan looked up.


    ¡°Feel free to continue.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve occasionally heard rumors about the military forming independent units for special operations.¡±


    ¡°Without the National Defense or Ministry of National Defense knowing?¡±


    ¡°It would be like special project teams operated by the National Intelligence Service. But I¡¯ve only heard about it and never seen it myself.¡±


    Hearing this, Myung Joong-hwan fell into thought.


    ¡°So you¡¯re suggesting that Shin-woo might have been part of such a unit?¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, it makes some sense why Park Sang-kyu¡¯s subordinates had trouble dealing with him. However¡­¡±


    ¡°Is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°Given that these are classified operations with significant rewards, it¡¯s rare for someone to complete their service and leave. Also, due to the high level of secrecy, leaving the country is typically restricted for 2-3 years.¡±


    This explanation seemed to align with Shin-woo¡¯s current situation.


    ¡°How intriguing. Is there no way to precisely confirm this?¡±


    ¡°To investigate based on these assumptions, we¡¯d need to identify members of the special unit Shin-woo might have belonged to, including direct commanders or team members.¡±


    Considering the number of soldiers in Korea, it would be like finding a needle in a haystack if the connections were not clear.


    ¡°Hm¡­¡±


    ¡°But this is all just speculation. Shin-woo could simply be exceptionally skilled in hand-to-hand combat.¡±


    Myung Joong-hwan first learned of Baek Shin-woo¡¯s existence alongside the news of his birth. Afterward, he paid little attention to where Shin-woo was or what he was doing. It was only when he learned that Im Hee-yeon was looking for Shin-woo that he began to investigate again.


    Im Hee-yeon¡¯s business acumen was superior to her siblings, and he did not want to let her go easily for any reason. Thus, he used Shin-woo as a card to ensure she couldn¡¯t leave easily.


    ¡°It looks like things will get quite lively at home soon.¡±


    ¡°Is there anything we should prepare for?¡±


    ¡°I need to meet that kid directly.¡±


    ¡°I will contact you and arrange a schedule as soon as possible.¡±


    Gu Sang-ho replied like that and went outside.


    *


    Shin-woo visited Jang Man-soo¡¯s workshop.


    On the table in the center, there were twelve 8-sided dice in red, blue, and yellow, divided into four of each color.


    ¡°Are these the same as the ones I used before?¡±


    As he picked up a few and rolled them, he felt a familiar sensation.


    ¡°I improved them as much as possible within the constraints. Among them, the blue ones are sensitive, so be sure to read the manual before use.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re good. The center of gravity seems appropriate.¡±


    The dice were equipment Shin-woo had used before the regression.


    Of course, they were only outwardly dice, and numerous functions like tracking and eavesdropping were hidden within them.


    ¡°I thought my eyes were going to pop out while making them with this unfamiliar body. I can¡¯t make many right now, so don¡¯t abuse them.¡±


    ¡°Got it. Oh, by the way, has there been any investigation into a person named Baek Jeong-hun?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve placed it next to the dice manual.¡±


    As he mentioned, there was an envelope.


    After checking the contents inside, Shin-woo¡¯s mouth fell open in surprise.


    ¡°So he died in a car accident in the US¡­¡±


    ¡°It was concluded as an ordinary accident. The body was buried by a welfare facility because there were no family members. But who is this person that you wanted to investigate?¡±


    Jang Man-soo asked since he hadn¡¯t been given an explanation when Shin-woo requested it. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°My father.¡±


    ¡°Oh, your¡­ father? Now that you mention it, you do have the same surname. And you look a bit alike.¡±


    In the meantime, Shin-woo looked at the photo of Baek Jeong-hun at the top of the documents.


    A slender jawline, a prominent nose, and light double eyelids. Overall, a delicate and handsome face.


    ¡°Alike? Last time you said I resembled that woman.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s clear to see that you resemble him. But how are you feeling about it?¡±


    As a colleague, Jang Man-soo had never heard about Shin-woo¡¯s family before. However, since the regression, family stories seemed to come pouring out like a broken dam. It would be confusing for an ordinary person.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. And I was just curious about this man. It¡¯s not that I didn¡¯t know of his existence, but I can¡¯t ignore it knowing about it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nice of you to care. Oh, I traced a number from a copied phone last time. It seems that Park Sang-kyu works under Myung In-chul.¡±


    ¡°Just as I thought. What about the number related to the 666th Unit?¡±


    Jang Man-soo shrugged his shoulders.


    ¡°I had it, but it¡¯s disappeared. The device seemed like a burner phone, and it looks like it was discarded right away due to the failure of the last operation. Or maybe it¡¯s replaced periodically.¡±


    ¡°No contact since then?¡±


    ¡°No, none. They seem to be hiding thoroughly. These guys are meticulous whether in the past or now.¡±


    ¡°They are tough ones. So, if we want to live comfortably, we need to be thoroughly prepared. How about the funding?¡±


    Jang Man-soo had previously said there would be no difficulty in raising funds. Since it had been a few days since then, Shin-woo was curious if there had been any progress.


    ¡°It¡¯s going very smoothly. I¡¯ve come to realize how amazing the regression cheat key from fantasy novels can be.¡±


    ¡°Is it that significant?¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s possible only if past memories are clear. It¡¯s considerable.¡±


    Hearing this, Shin-woo became curious about something.


    ¡°How did you secure the initial funds? Neither of us is over twenty-three, so it couldn¡¯t have been much.¡±


    Currently, Shin-woo¡¯s savings were entirely from his military salary and hazard pay. Even then, he had saved quite a bit compared to others his age.


    ¡°For me, I sold the programs I developed as freelance work and also sold my house. Until everything is settled, it¡¯s better to avoid the National Intelligence Service¡¯s eyes.¡±


    ¡°Thorough.¡±


    ¡°Well, this is my second life after all.¡±


    Buzz¡ª Buzz¡ª


    Shin-woo¡¯s phone rang. An unknown number was displayed on the screen.


    ¡°My phone has been quite busy lately.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take the call and let you know.¡±

 Chapter 8

    Chapter 8: The Inevitable Ceasefire


    MH Hotel VIP Lounge in Itaewon.


    Shin-woo was guided by the front desk staff into the interior.


    There were several men who seemed to be bodyguards standing at the door and around the area.


    One of them stared at Shin-woo and said,


    ¡°You may go inside.¡±


    As the door opened, Shin-woo saw an elderly man seated at the center of the table and another man standing beside him.


    It was Myung Joong-hwan, the chairman of MH Group, and Goo Sang-ho, his secretary and bodyguard.


    At the same time, Shin-woo recalled what Jang Man-soo had told him about future events.


    ¡°Heart attack, right? He doesn¡¯t seem to be in pain at the moment¡­ He might have some undisclosed illness.¡±


    Myung Joong-hwan looked directly at Shin-woo and said,


    ¡°So, you are Baek Shin-woo. Please, have a seat.¡±


    Shin-woo walked calmly and sat across from him.


    ¡°What is the reason for calling me here?¡±


    ¡°You go straight to the point without any pleasantries? Oh, I suppose it¡¯s alright to speak casually?¡±


    ¡°Do as you please. And is there a need to exchange pleasantries when we already know who we are?¡±


    Despite Shin-woo¡¯s curt demeanor, Myung Joong-hwan did not frown.


    ¡°It seems you¡¯ve heard about me from your mother. Then, as my grandchild, isn¡¯t a greeting more appropriate?¡±


    Shin-woo¡¯s eyebrows twitched slightly.


    ¡°Is there any need to formalize a relationship that we¡¯ve been unaware of for a lifetime?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re more stubborn than I expected.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a trait I use as needed.¡±


    Amid the calm conversation, a sharp atmosphere crossed between them.


    Then Myung Joong-hwan let out a slight chuckle.


    ¡°Heh. You¡¯ve inherited your mother¡¯s temperament.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not exactly a pleasant comment. So, what is it that you really want to discuss? If there¡¯s nothing of importance, I might as well leave.¡±


    Shin-woo stared at Myung Joong-hwan intently.


    Having established MH Group through numerous adversities, Myung Joong-hwan carried a heavy presence.


    But Shin-woo did not falter in the face of it.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite impatient.¡±


    ¡°That depends on the counterpart. Will you continue to beat around the bush like this? If there¡¯s nothing to discuss, I will leave.¡±


    ¡°I apologize. It seems I¡¯ve become a bit playful, as you are very different from my other grandchildren.¡±


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the real matter?¡±


    Under continued prodding, Myung Joong-hwan smiled broadly and said,


    ¡°I intend to formally adopt your mother.¡±


    ¡°¡­And what does that have to do with me?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re agreeable, I¡¯m also considering adopting you, Baek Shin-woo. As my grandchild, of course.¡±


    ¡°Will the other family members accept this? Not just one, but two¡­ It would certainly cause many issues.¡±


    Myung Joong-hwan looked puzzled at Shin-woo¡¯s response, which was neither acceptance nor rejection.


    ¡°This is my decision. Of course, there might be various issues arising due to the truths revealed up to now. There will be many challenges for you and Hee-yeon, too.¡±


    Shin-woo looked at him with cold eyes.


    ¡°And what if I end up taking over MH Group?¡±


    It was a rather provocative reply.


    Myung Joong-hwan paused for a moment, then gave a peculiar smile.


    ¡°I¡¯ve unintentionally investigated you, Baek Shin-woo. You¡¯re from an orphanage, graduated from elementary, middle, and high school in Jeonnam Jin-do with good grades, and recently discharged as a sergeant.¡±


    ¡°Are you implying that my abilities are lacking?¡±


    ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t think you¡¯re extraordinary¡­ Am I wrong?¡±


    It was a discussion about the succession rights to MH Group, which was known as one of the leading companies in Korea.


    The descendants of Myung Joong-hwan, who would inherit such a conglomerate, had been receiving business training since childhood. Moreover, Myung In-chul and Myung Seong-chul held important positions in the group.


    No one could easily topple such figures.


    ¡°If that¡¯s how the chairman views it, then it must be your perspective.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying I misjudged you?¡±


    ¡°I expected someone in your position would only make decisions and announcements, but it seems you have many questions.¡±


    Myung Joong-hwan was momentarily struck as if hit by something.


    ¡°It seems I¡¯ve become a nuisance to you.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m not particularly interested in adoption.¡±


    ¡°Would you consider joining MH Group if you¡¯re planning to stay in Korea?¡±


    Shin-woo, who was about to get up, paused upon hearing those words.


    ¡°Joining MH Group?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll offer you a suitable position. And, of course, after your mother¡¯s formal adoption, she will take up an appropriate position as well.¡±


    ¡°She isn¡¯t someone I¡¯d call ¡®mother¡¯.¡±


    Regardless of the reason, whether it was for 23 years or including the past life before regression, it had been several decades.


    During that time, Myung Joong-hwan showed a slightly awkward expression.


    ¡°How do you feel about my offer?¡±


    ¡°What kind of position are you thinking of giving me?¡±


    ¡°I thought you would start from the bottom as a military man. But I suppose that¡¯s not the case?¡±


    ¡°Whether it¡¯s this or that, it¡¯s still a parachute, isn¡¯t it? If so, it¡¯s better to have it higher.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s a bit greedy?¡±


    ¡°Not particularly. If you¡¯ve said everything you wanted to, I¡¯ll excuse myself now.¡±


    Shin-woo said this and left the room.


    *


    A few days later.


    At the Myung family¡¯s residence in Pyeongchang-dong, most of the family members had gathered, including Myung Joong-hwan.


    As various conversations went back and forth, Myung In-chul, the eldest son, looked at Myung Soo-yeon, who had just arrived, and said to Myung Joong-hwan.


    ¡°Father, everyone is here.¡±


    ¡°¡­Not yet.¡±


    Myung In-chul, with a glimmer of hope, counted the family members again, but there were no errors.


    ¡°What? Everyone seems to be here.¡±


    ¡°One is missing.¡±


    The family members murmured among themselves.


    Soon after, the front door opened, and Im Hee-yeon came in, changing into indoor slippers.


    ¡°I¡¯m here.¡±


    At that moment, Myung Soo-yeon, the youngest daughter of Myung Joong-hwan, stood up angrily.


    ¡°Why are you here!!¡±


    ¡°I came because I was called by the Chairman.¡±


    ¡°Father¡­?¡±


    All the family members¡¯ gazes turned to Myung Joong-hwan.


    ¡°Yes, it was my call, so sit down.¡±


    Everyone had no choice but to fall silent.


    Im Hee-yeon slightly bowed her head and sat on a chair brought by Goo Sang-ho.


    In the quiet atmosphere, Myung Joong-hwan slowly looked around at the family members.


    ¡°Although it¡¯s late¡­ I will accept Hee-yeon as a member of the Myung family.¡±


    Everyone understood what that meant.


    The family members were shocked and exclaimed.


    ¡°Father! What do you mean by that?!¡±


    ¡°Father, are you recognizing Director Im Hee-yeon?!¡±


    ¡°Father¡ª!¡±


    Myung Joong-hwan continued speaking once the voices died down.


    ¡°Hee-yeon is of my blood, isn¡¯t she? Just because she¡¯s a half-sibling doesn¡¯t mean she¡¯s any different from you.¡±


    ¡°But¡­!¡±


    ¡°Until now, Hee-yeon has worked hard for the group as the Head of Strategic Planning. This decision is in recognition of her efforts, so you are not to say anything. Of course, the Strategic Planning Department will also be officially elevated under a different name.¡±


    Myung In-chul, looking very worried, spoke up.


    ¡°If this becomes known outside, it will harm the group¡¯s image. The stock price will fall drastically!¡±


    Any company would have to deal with owner risks. Especially with extramarital children, which are often issues that can damage public image, it was something that needed to be kept under wraps as much as possible.


    Indeed, concerns about Im Hee-yeon¡¯s existence had been so great that she had been made to live in the shadow of MH Group until now.


    ¡°While there will be some impact, I¡¯ve already prepared a buffer story, so don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°¡­A story?¡±


    At that moment, Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s secretary, Goo Sang-ho, came out with a document.


    ¡°Chairman, the timing of your meeting with Im Hee-yeon¡¯s biological mother, Im Young-joo, was after the late Mrs. Myung passed away. Based on this, we will announce that you and Im Young-joo met briefly and parted ways, and that you only learned later that she was pregnant and took her in.¡±


    ¡°But the fact that she¡¯s an extramarital child doesn¡¯t change. There will be shareholder backlash!¡±


    ¡°At first, the focus will be on the fact that you attempted to officially adopt Director Im but she refused. Instead, if we announce it together with the successful projects she¡¯s managed, we can minimize the problems.¡±


    The plan was to create a massive public sympathy through media play.


    If things went as explained, there might be no major issues. Of course, MH Group had enough power to make that happen.


    Myung In-chul, who had been listening quietly, looked at Im Hee-yeon.


    ¡°Is it acceptable that Im Hee-yeon¡¯s pitiful life is being packaged to suit the group¡¯s taste?¡±


    It was a statement that belittled her life on its own.


    But Im Hee-yeon was undeterred and responded.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡±


    ¡°Sigh¡­¡±


    Myung Joong-hwan then looked around at his family, who were watching him cautiously.


    ¡°For now, move the Strategic Planning Department to the ground floor of the group headquarters. Hee-yeon will remain in her position as department head.¡±


    ¡°¡­Understood.¡±


    ¡°And Hee-yeon should quietly resolve the issue with MH Electronics that came up during the audit. In-chul should also provide sufficient help before the situation escalates.¡±


    ¡°Ah, Father¡­!¡±


    At that moment, Myung In-chul¡¯s sharp gaze fixed on Im Hee-yeon.


    Simultaneously, Myung Joong-hwan sternly addressed Myung In-chul.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t think I wouldn¡¯t know anything, did you?¡±


    ¡°That¡­¡±


    ¡°This matter must be resolved with Hee-yeon at the center. Also, set up a position for your son at the Strategic Planning Department at the group headquarters. Not too high, not too low¡­ A position at the assistant manager level with the title of manager should be appropriate.¡±


    The atmosphere, which had been heavy for a while, suddenly became stormy with that statement.


    It was a bigger issue than Im Hee-yeon¡¯s adoption.


    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®son¡¯?!¡±


    ¡°Department Head Im has a son?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about!¡±


    At the same time, Im Hee-yeon¡¯s face turned white for the first time.


    ¡°Chairman! about that child¡­!¡±


    Even with her outcry, Myung Joong-hwan continued.


    ¡°I met him in person not long ago. He seems quite bold for his age, maybe because he takes after you¡­ It¡¯s unmistakable that he¡¯s from the Myung family¡­¡±


    There was no undoing the fact that he had already met him.


    Im Hee-yeon, unsure of what to do, slowly spoke up.


    ¡°I told you I would take full responsibility for company matters.¡±


    ¡°I know that. But that child also carries the blood of the Myung family. It wouldn¡¯t be right to exclude him from the process of bringing you in.¡±


    ¡°Still¡­!¡±


    ¡°That child has also accepted the terms. Of course, the position I mentioned earlier is part of the compensation.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Under the heavy atmosphere created by Myung Joong-hwan, everyone remained silent. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Everyone, understand that and leave for now.¡±


    Myung Joong-hwan went into his study with Goo Sang-ho.


    Meanwhile, the family members stared at Im Hee-yeon with sharp eyes as she quietly stood up.


    Soon, Myung In-chul approached Im Hee-yeon.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk for a moment.¡±


    ¡°¡­Sure.¡±


    The two stepped out into the dark, moonlit yard.


    ¡°A son¡­ Your son? Sigh¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­It happened.¡±


    ¡°And now adoption? Are you out of your mind?¡±


    ¡°If it weren¡¯t something I wanted, would you believe me?¡±


    ¡°Then why is the Chairman doing this? What did you say to change his mind? Could it be related to MH Electronics¡­?¡±


    Myung In-chul hastily stopped himself from saying more, realizing he might dig his own grave.


    ¡°You know that what you were about to say are the Chairman¡¯s conditions, right? The undisclosed funds found so far amount to at least 200 billion. Quietly restore everything by next month. You can quietly deposit it into the MH Electronics reserve account if you prefer.¡±


    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve made it clear. If you don¡¯t take action, you might not be able to prevent things from getting out of control later.¡±


    In a calm tone, Im Hee-yeon said, causing Myung In-chul to clench his fists and tremble.


    ¡°Are you challenging me now?¡±


    ¡°You moved the funds to a paper company called Hong Kong Blue One International and a company named Sudan Trust Distribution, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Since the route of the funds, which he thought was thoroughly hidden, had been precisely exposed, Myung In-chul¡¯s face turned grim.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°The Chairman doesn¡¯t offer many chances. So, think carefully.¡±


    With that, Im Hee-yeon left.


    Outside the door, Song Tae-hoon appeared with his face showing.


    ¡°Is it done?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to Shin-woo¡¯s house.¡±


    The two quickly got into the car and departed.

 Chapter 9

    Chapter 9: If You Give, You Have to Take


    Shin-woo was exercising on a pull-up bar installed in the corner of his one-room apartment.


    With his shirt off, his right arm, holding the bar, repeatedly bent and straightened quickly.


    ¡°83, 84, 85¡­ 96, 97, 98¡­¡±


    Sweat dripped down his body and began to pool on the floor.


    Meanwhile, Shin-woo¡¯s biceps, shoulders, and chest muscles, which seemed to be tearing apart, were deeply delineated.


    Ding-dong¡ª Ding-dong¡ª


    ¡°Dammit¡ª who¡¯s there?¡±


    Amidst the sweat dripping down to the floor, he answered the intercom, and a voice was heard.


    [¡­It¡¯s me.]


    The face reflected on the intercom screen was that of Im Hee-yeon.


    Shin-woo then roughly wiped the sweat off his body and the floor with a towel, put on the shirt he had taken off, and opened the door.


    ¡°¡­What brings you here at this hour?¡±


    ¡°Are you not curious about how I found this place?¡±


    ¡°Even if you don¡¯t tell me who posted the flyer with my address, people manage to find their way here just fine.¡±


    This was a reference to the time Park Sang-kyu had visited. Since Im Hee-yeon had learned about it later, she didn¡¯t bother responding.


    ¡°¡­Can I come in?¡±


    ¡°Please do.¡±


    Im Hee-yeon, along with Song Tae-hoon, who was standing behind her, entered.


    She then noticed Shin-woo¡¯s sweat-soaked t-shirt.


    ¡°Looks like you were exercising.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been so busy lately that I took a break from exercising, and now my body feels stiff. But what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°¡­I heard you met the chairman.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re talking about the discussion about your family¡¯s lineage, which has nothing to do with me.¡±


    The meeting with the chairman was a very tiresome experience for Shin-woo. And even now, it wasn¡¯t something he particularly cared about.


    Seeing this, Im Hee-yeon slightly bit her lip.


    ¡°I heard the chairman even suggested that you join the company.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Did you accept the offer?¡±


    ¡°I asked for a high position if they were going to give me a job.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a wrong statement. However, how they interpreted it might differ¡­


    To Im Hee-yeon, it was a shocking answer.


    ¡°Today, the chairman officially announced your existence to the Myung family.¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m not a member of that family.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, but you¡¯re not unrelated to the chairman¡¯s bloodline either. Besides, weren¡¯t you supposed to go abroad? You said you¡¯d never return!¡±


    This was something Shin-woo had mentioned before he recovered his memory at the caf¨¦.


    Indeed, he had genuinely considered leaving Korea until then.


    ¡°I have something to do.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Why should I tell you about that?¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s about money, I can help you with any amount.¡±


    The issue of the succession rights within the conglomerate was not just a matter of political conflict. It could also pose a risk to Shin-woo¡¯s life, as seen in the recent caf¨¦ incident. Concerned about that, Im Hee-yeon tried to find any means to send him abroad.


    ¡°There¡¯s no problem.¡±


    ¡°Then what exactly is the issue? You saw what happened to me last time. You could end up in the same situation!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll handle my own affairs.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re really going to join MH Group?¡±


    ¡°As someone who is currently unemployed and job hunting, there¡¯s no reason not to.¡±


    ¡°Shin-woo!¡±


    Seeing Im Hee-yeon¡¯s heightened agitation, Song Tae-hoon stepped forward to block her.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know what Baek Shin-woo is thinking, but working in the company is not easy. Moreover, if it¡¯s a parachute appointment, it will be even more difficult. The director is worried about that.¡±


    ¡°As I said earlier, that¡¯s my problem.¡±


    The conversation kept going in circles.


    Im Hee-yeon sighed deeply.


    ¡°Alright. Do as you wish. I¡¯ll make sure to give you a suitable position. I don¡¯t know how long you¡¯ll be able to last there, though¡­¡±


    ¡°Thank you for that.¡±


    ¡°When can you start working? Or, are you thinking of moving somewhere else? I can help you find a safer place, as buying a property is also possible.¡±


    Im Hee-yeon¡¯s gaze swept over the cramped one-room apartment. Moreover, Shin-woo¡¯s apartment was located in the middle of the Seun Commercial Complex street near Cheonggyecheon.


    She was worried because, like last time, people from Myung In-chul might do something dangerous.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    ¡°¡­Got it. Still, if you need anything, just let me know anytime.¡±


    After finishing the conversation, Im Hee-yeon and Song Tae-hoon exited the one-room apartment.


    *


    ¡¾MH Group Chairman Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s Illegitimate Child Revealed? Myung Joong-hwan had a relationship with a woman for several months after his wife¡¯s death. Then they broke up due to personality differences, and the woman was pregnant with Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s child at the time¡­¡¿


    The Chairman¡¯s Story of Paternal Love! After his wife passed away, he found out that a woman he had met gave birth to a daughter. Later, the woman died of an incurable disease, and Chairman Myung Joong-hwan took in the child without any questions. He tried to formally adopt her immediately, but the illegitimate daughter, feeling burdened, refused¡­


    Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s illegitimate child, Im Hee-yeon, has worked as an employee of MH Group until now, starting from the bottom and succeeding in various projects. Currently, she holds the position of Head of the Strategic Investment Department at the group¡¯s headquarters¡­


    The Head of the Strategic Investment Department, Im ¡ð¡ð, is Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s illegitimate daughter and a single mother with a son¡­


    News articles poured out based on MH Group¡¯s official announcement.


    The public¡¯s reaction was overwhelming. At the same time, MH Group¡¯s stock prices fluctuated, but due to the honest statement, there was also a sympathy trend.


    As morning arrived, Shin-woo, dressed in a black suit without a tie, arrived at the MH Group headquarters on the first floor in Yeouido.


    Clink¡ªClink¡ª


    He rolled two dice that Jang Man-soo had made for him.


    Inside the headquarters, the newly established Strategic Planning and Operations Department created a lot of noise.


    Meanwhile, Shin-woo¡¯s phone in his pocket rang.


    Beep¡ªBeep¡ª


    It was a call from Jang Man-soo.


    ¡°What¡¯s up this early in the morning?¡±


    [I was curious.]


    ¡°What¡¯s so curious?¡±


    [You¡¯re entering a major corporation like MH Group as a parachute. Are you really okay? You¡¯ve never worked in a company before.]


    Jang Man-soo knew Baek Shin-woo¡¯s past, which began and ended in combat. Naturally, it was hard to picture him working at a desk.


    ¡°They need to reveal themselves again, so they need to threaten Myung In-chul.¡±


    [So, you¡¯re becoming bait?]


    The 666th Unit had left only speculative clues about Myung In-chul and then disappeared.


    In that situation, the presence of Im Hee-yeon and Shin-woo was a means to provoke Myung In-chul.


    If Shin-woo could build recognition within MH Group to the point of becoming a threat, traces of Myung In-chul and the 666th Unit might reappear.


    Although it meant becoming bait¡­


    ¡°For now, this is all I¡¯ve got. In my current state, I could easily tear them apart.¡±


    [Sigh¡­ Hang in there. Contact me if you need help. But don¡¯t be too obvious in tearing them apart. This is not a battlefield, but South Korea. You could end up in handcuffs.]


    ¡°Be quiet. How is the contact network setup going?¡±


    Jang Man-soo was reestablishing the system to find the other members of Triad Eye.


    [Basic structures are almost complete; only important parts are left. It will take more time because some parts need to be custom-made. There are some developed parts at MH Tech, but can you check them out? It might be an industrial secret.]


    ¡°Do you want to get caught by the National Intelligence Service before dealing with this? Isn¡¯t there any other way? Will they come after us?¡±


    [Even if they know we are Korean¡­ finding Mr. Kim in the middle of Seoul is..]


    ¡°Alright. Keep up the good work.¡±


    After ending the call, Shin-woo rolled the dice and approached the reception desk on the first floor lobby.


    A female employee greeted him with a smile.


    ¡°Do you have business with us?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here to see Head of the Strategic Investment Department, Im Hee-yeon.¡±


    Recently, news about the newly established Strategic Investment Department had been circulating, and the fact that Im Hee-yeon was a member of the owner¡¯s family had been announced.


    ¡°¡­Did you have an appointment?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I did.¡±


    ¡°I will check with the Strategic Planning Department. What is your company and name?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a company, and my name is Baek Shin-woo.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see. Please wait a moment.¡±


    The employee¡¯s call didn¡¯t take long.


    ¡°Confirmed. Someone from the Strategic Investment Department will come down to meet you. Please wait a moment.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    After a while, Song Tae-hoon, Im Hee-yeon¡¯s secretary, came down via the elevator.


    ¡°Welcome. Please go up right away.¡±


    With his guidance, the entrance next to the desk opened with a security card, allowing them to pass through.


    ¡°After starting work, you will need to install security software developed by MH Electronics on your mobile phone. Inside the company, personal mobile phones will be restricted from storing and transmitting internal company data based on GPS coordinates. Camera functionality will also be disabled.¡±


    ¡°¡­Thorough measures.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s how MH Group operates. Other large corporations manage things similarly.¡±


    Shin-woo nodded and followed Song Tae-hoon.


    Clink¨D Clink¨D


    Then Song Tae-hoon¡¯s gaze shifted to Shin-woo¡¯s hand, which was rolling a dice.


    Seeing their eyes meet, Shin-woo raised his hand to show him.


    ¡°It¡¯s a habit. I don¡¯t like idle hands. It also serves as acupressure.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    Following Song Tae-hoon, they arrived at the 32nd floor, which housed the newly established Strategic Investment Department.


    As they walked down the corridor, Song Tae-hoon spoke in a calm voice.


    ¡°To put it briefly¡­ Originally, MH Trading operated independently in Incheon, and now the 32nd floor is being used by our Strategic Investment Department.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s quite large for a newly established department.¡±


    ¡°Officially, it¡¯s a new department. In reality, it¡¯s just the department that was secretly operating within the group coming to the surface.¡±


    ¡°Is it really okay?¡±


    ¡°It had to come to light eventually.¡±


    During their conversation, they reached the department head¡¯s office.


    Knock, knock¨D


    ¡°Department Head, Baek Shin-woo has arrived.¡±


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    Upon entering, Im Hee-yeon was working in a burgundy business suit.


    ¡°So you¡¯ve finally arrived.¡±


    ¡°I was unemployed anyway. If you¡¯re offering a job, it¡¯s only natural I¡¯d come.¡±


    As Shin-woo sat on the sofa beside her, Im Hee-yeon stared at him with sharp eyes and said,


    ¡°I¡¯ve said this before, but the work won¡¯t be easy. And if you don¡¯t demonstrate the ability suited to your position, you can be disciplined or dismissed according to company regulations. And I won¡¯t show any leniency.¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Of course. If I¡¯m being parachuted in, I shouldn¡¯t be doing things half-heartedly.¡±


    Im Hee-yeon frowned at Shin-woo¡¯s nonchalant reply.


    ¡°What exactly are you thinking?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just trying to get employed. And also looking to benefit a bit from a life of over twenty years of being alone.¡±


    ¡°¡­I really don¡¯t understand.¡±


    ¡°So, what position and role will I have in the company? I hope it¡¯s not just a desk in the corridor.¡±


    Having nothing more to say, Shin-woo asked with genuine curiosity.


    Im Hee-yeon sighed and looked at him.


    ¡°Haa¡­ If you make the final decision, you¡¯ll be assigned as the Director of Strategic Investment Operations. The public notice will go up immediately.¡±


    ¡°Director is not a low position.¡±


    ¡°¡­Can I take that as a decision?¡±


    ¡°Is there any need for further consideration? Let¡¯s proceed with that.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s decided then. Mr. Song.¡±


    Upon Shin-woo¡¯s response, Song Tae-hoon handed over the employment contract.


    As Shin-woo began to read it, Im Hee-yeon added,


    ¡°Your rank is Deputy General Manager, and your position is Director, but since you don¡¯t have any previous experience, your salary is set at 50 million won. Other than that, it¡¯s the same as a standard employment contract.¡±


    ¡°Not bad.¡±


    During his time as a mercenary, he received bonuses of at least a hundred million won at once. Thus, a salary of 50 million won didn¡¯t particularly impress him.


    ¡°Your duties will involve investment-related work. You will handle the tasks planned by the Strategic Investment Planning Department, so just follow the handed-over instructions.¡±


    It was a reminder not to cause unnecessary issues in the company.


    Shin-woo calmly inquired,


    ¡°May I add one more condition?¡±

 Chapter 10

    Chapter 10: Paragliding


    Im Hee-yeon was skeptical whether Shin-woo had fully grasped her explanations up to now. However, she was both surprised and concerned when he suddenly brought up conditions.


    ¡°¡­What conditions?¡±


    Shin-woo, in response, presented what he had been contemplating.


    ¡°Please allow me to also proceed with investment planning separately.¡±


    ¡°Investment planning? That¡¯s risky; first, learn the operations.¡±


    Planning is the start of a business. It involves moving funds and determining profits or losses. If problems arise later, the initial planning phase carries significant responsibility. Im Hee-yeon didn¡¯t want Shin-woo to bear such responsibilities within the company.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, isn¡¯t planning from the start part of the job?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°My condition is an incentive based on the investment planning. I would like 5% of the net profit from investments I planned.¡±


    ¡°¡­An incentive? Do you think that¡¯s feasible?¡±


    MH Group was not a small enterprise. The funds involved were at least tens of billions at a time. Naturally, 5% was not a small figure for investment-related amounts.


    ¡°If it¡¯s 5% from the investment plans I create, it¡¯s not much. Of course, if the investment fails, I¡¯ll follow your instructions.¡±


    Im Hee-yeon¡¯s deliberation did not take long.


    ¡°Are you really willing to do that? Are you saying you¡¯re prepared to leave Korea?¡±


    She knew well that this was something she had long desired.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a spy, so why would you suggest leaving Korea? I¡¯ll follow whatever instructions you give. Is that acceptable?¡±


    ¡°¡­Alright. I¡¯ll have it revised and send it to you. Manager Song, please issue the formal notice immediately.¡±


    Song Tae-hoon manipulated something on his tablet.


    ¡°The general notice has been posted.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. And Shin-woo¡­ No, from now on, let¡¯s refer to you as Director Baek Shin-woo in official settings. Director Baek, you can start your duties now. Manager Song will provide explanations regarding the guidance and the Strategic Investment Operations Office.¡±


    ¡°That sounds more convenient for me too, Chief.¡±


    ¡°Then you may leave. Manager Song will guide you through the rest.¡±


    As Shin-woo stepped out, he followed Song Tae-hoon, who began explaining.


    ¡°The Strategic Investment Headquarters is divided into three departments. First, the Strategic Investment Planning Office plans its own investment projects. Then, the Strategic Investment Operations Office executes them to generate profits. Finally, the Strategic Investment Audit Office monitors the profit and loss, conducting audits if any issues arise.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s quite an inconvenient sequence.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s designed to prevent unrestrained actions by individuals and teams, as it involves handling pure financial transactions.¡±


    Shin-woo nodded as he listened to the explanation.


    ¡°Understood. It¡¯s a sequential process: planning, execution, and inspection. Are there many staff members?¡±


    ¡°The Strategic Investment Headquarters was previously known as the Strategic Planning Headquarters, responsible for operational audits across all group affiliates. It has been restructured into an independent investment operations affiliate.¡±


    With Song Tae-hoon¡¯s detailed explanation, Shin-woo understood the setup easily.


    ¡®This seems similar to what Man-soo is doing these days.¡¯


    They crossed the hallway in front of the elevator and arrived at an office.


    ¡°This is the Strategic Investment Operations Office. The internal staff includes 2 team leaders at the deputy manager level, 4 assistant managers, 8 regular staff members, and Director Baek Shin-woo, totaling 15 people. You may request additional personnel T/O if needed.¡±


    The office was approximately *50 pyeong in size.


    *165 square meters.*


    Inside, staff members were busy working in the newly established department.


    Shin-woo observed the office and nodded.


    ¡°Arrived at work without any issues and am currently catching up on tasks.¡±


    During this time, the employees¡¯ attention shifted to Shin-woo, who had entered with Song Tae-hoon. Despite being in his mid-twenties at most, dressed casually without a tie and with his hair styled casually, he looked more like a guest than an employee.


    Song Tae-hoon surveyed the employees before leading Shin-woo forward.


    ¡°Good. This is Baek Shin-woo, the new Director of the Strategic Investment Department.¡±


    Everyone was astonished at hearing this.


    Shin-woo then addressed the employees.


    ¡°As introduced, my name is Baek Shin-woo. I am twenty-three this year, and the head of the Strategic Investment Department is my biological mother.¡±


    The employees were even more surprised than when they had discussed the official notice earlier.


    It had been announced that Im Hee-yeon, who was now in the position of the Strategic Investment Department Head, was the illegitimate child of Myung Joong-hwan, the Chairman of MH Group.


    Naturally, this meant that Baek Shin-woo was also part of the owner family.


    At the same time, it was understandable why a twenty-three-year-old was appointed as the head of the Strategic Investment Department.


    The employees were silent, not knowing what to say first.


    ¡°Looking forward to working with you.¡±


    Even such a statement was met with continued silence.


    ¡°Director, let me guide you to your office.¡±


    ¡°Please do, Manager.¡±


    ¡°Everyone, please return to your seats as it will soon be working hours.¡±


    As the employees dispersed, Shin-woo followed Song Tae-hoon to the office area, where the Director¡¯s office had been set up.


    The office was about *20 pyeong in size, with a large desk, a sofa, and a conference table.


    *66 square meters*


    ¡°It¡¯s quite spacious.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a room used by anyone in a Director position. Of course, some parts were prepared for the comfort of the Department Head.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    Shin-woo murmured this while approaching the window.


    The view of Seoul from the 32nd floor was quite new to him.


    Song Tae-hoon asked in a calm voice.


    ¡°May I ask why you did that earlier?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? Oh, you mean revealing that the Department Head is you biological mother?¡±


    ¡°The information released publicly is only that the Department Head is the illegitimate child of the Chairman. While your existence was mentioned, no other details have been leaked.¡±


    ¡°Someone will find out and reveal it sooner or later, as long as those who knows this fact aren¡¯t all dead.¡±


    The new grandson of Myung Joong-hwan had appeared.


    Though the succession line was lower due to being an illegitimate child, the interest of people was inevitable.


    ¡°That may be true. However, the analogy seems somewhat extreme.¡±


    ¡°I tend to lead an extreme life. And I thought it would be more convenient if it was revealed sooner.¡±


    ¡°¡­I understand what you mean. Then, you can gradually get acquainted with the work starting today. You should be able to request necessary materials from the employees you saw earlier within your authority.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡± S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With this, Song Tae-hoon left the room.


    Left alone, Shin-woo took out his phone and called Jang Man-soo.


    [Why the call so soon? Have you finished your first day?]


    ¡°I¡¯ve introduced myself to the staff and come in. Luckily, they¡¯ve even given me a personal office.¡±


    [Oh, that¡¯s impressive. How does the work seem? It might be too early to tell on your first day.]


    ¡°It¡¯s not quite like that. It seems the department handles investment matters.¡±


    [Good, then. If it¡¯s related to that, I can provide sufficient assistance.]


    Jang Man-soo, unlike Shin-woo, was with the National Intelligence Service and was well-versed in social and economic trends. Plus, his improved memory due to the regression made him almost like a cheat code for investment insights.


    ¡°So, I need a favor.¡±


    [What¡¯s the favor?]


    ¡°I¡¯ve been appointed as the Director of Strategic Investment. So, I need you to help me identify prominent investment targets for the current period. Exclude the ones within your scope.¡±


    [Investment? Are you really going to give it a serious try?]


    ¡°It¡¯s good timing. To make them feel the sense of crisis, it¡¯s fine to increase my influence within the company.¡±


    [Got it. I¡¯ll prepare the information so that the scale is feasible for corporate investment. After all, the scale of what I was managing wasn¡¯t enough to handle such things.]


    Even Jang Man-soo, who understood the economic flow, was still at an individual level. It would be different if he increased his scale later. For now, investing with corporate-sized funds was challenging.


    ¡°Thanks. Just make sure to deliver it through a route that won¡¯t be traced. You can give it directly if needed.¡±


    [Who do you think I am? You don¡¯t need to worry about that.]


    In his previous life, Jang Man-soo was responsible for information management and erasing traces in Triad Eye. Having that experience and returning to the past made it easier than any other task.


    *


    MH Group Headquarters, President¡¯s Office.


    Myung In-chul received the files and contract documents for Shin-woo, who had been appointed as the head of the Strategic Investment Operations Office, through his bodyguard, Park Sang-kyu.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ It looks like the identity check information is no different from last time.¡±


    ¡°There were no special points.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ 5% investment incentive? Is this for a trade freelancer or what?¡±


    He was surprised to see that Baek Shin-woo, who was appointed as the head of the Strategic Investment Operations Office, would be involved in investment planning despite not having planning duties.


    ¡°According to the content, it seems that he will be handling operations and also conducting investment planning independently.¡±


    ¡°Investment? He¡¯s clearly set on falling into his own pit.¡±


    ¡°He had an overly confident personality when we met last time as well.¡±


    ¡°If that foolish guy is set on digging his own grave, then it¡¯s a good thing for us.¡±


    Myung In-chul muttered as Park Sang-kyu continued with other reports.


    ¡°As you mentioned, we¡¯ve placed people within the Strategic Investment Operations Office.¡±


    ¡°Good. What else?¡±


    ¡°Due to the last caf¨¦ incident, the personnel in the head of the Strategic Investment Division¡¯s security team have been replaced. We will need to look for opportunities in the future.¡±


    This referred to the time when Im Hee-yeon visited the caf¨¦ to meet Shin-woo. At that time, they had identified the appropriate time and place to deal with Im Hee-yeon through the personnel they had placed.


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t that just a minor placement?¡±


    ¡°It was difficult as we chose from those with clean external records. It will be more cautious going forward.¡±


    ¡°We lost an important card. Well, if that¡¯s the reason I survived, it¡¯s a good thing. Are there still any people who can be recruited internally?¡±


    It was a method they had explored before. However, Im Hee-yeon¡¯s meticulous nature ensured that only trustworthy individuals were selected.


    ¡°Not at the moment.¡±


    ¡°We should have never allowed that woman to create Team 5 in KITE.¡±


    KITE was a security company and a subsidiary of MH Tech, a defense industry affiliate of MH Group. It had been responsible for the security of the owner¡¯s family by dividing into special security teams. Team 5 did not originally exist. It was created by Im Hee-yeon as she rose to the position of Strategic Planning Division Head, thus forming a highly organized team.


    ¡°No one expected that Im Hee-yeon, then Head of the Strategic Planning Division, had prepared so extensively.¡±


    ¡°Even my father was completely unaware, so it was an indication of her high capability.¡±


    ¡°Now that the Strategic Planning Division has come to the surface as the Strategic Investment Division, there will be many restrictions on them as well.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all part of my father¡¯s plan.¡±


    Myung In-chul had to covertly return the funds siphoned from MH Electronics. Otherwise, he might have had trouble maintaining his current position.


    ¡°Upper management instructed not to worry and to keep an eye on the situation.¡±


    In reality, the funds returned to the company were not the ones originally siphoned. The siphoned funds had already been used, and Park Sang-kyu had urgently provided alternative support.


    ¡°There must have been many complaints from the higher-ups. I feel sorry about that.¡±


    ¡°There were some issues, but don¡¯t worry about it for the sake of your great work.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all that woman¡¯s fault. She keeps obstructing everything¡­¡±


    ¡°We are still exploring methods regarding Im Hee-yeon.¡±


    Myung In-chul leaned deeply into his chair and tapped the armrest with his fingers.


    ¡°Are there any plans to deal with Baek Shin-woo as well?¡±


    ¡°For now, with all eyes on him, it¡¯s easy to attract suspicion. We will discuss it further.¡±


    ¡°Please do.¡±

 Chapter 11

    Chapter 11. Whose Palm Are We In?


    The office was buzzing with activity in the chat system due to the arrival of Baek Shin-woo.


    [Team Leader Kim Jong-soo of Team 1]: Team Leader Ji! Aren¡¯t we doomed here?


    [Team Leader Ji Young-sook of Team 2]: We really don¡¯t know yet. But a parachute of this magnitude at our company¡­ it¡¯s unprecedented.


    [Team Leader Kim Jong-soo of Team 1]: And isn¡¯t he only 23? Judging by his age, it seems like he didn¡¯t even go to college.


    [Team Leader Ji Young-sook of Team 2]: These days, the owner risk is all over the news¡­ What if he¡¯s just a troublemaker?


    The employees were already anxious about their transfer to the newly created department. The addition of Baek Shin-woo, rumored to be the third-generation heir to a conglomerate, only stirred up more worries. The thought of him brought to mind numerous scandals of second and third-generation heirs, such as drunk driving, assaults at entertainment venues, and illegal overseas gambling¡ªnews that seemed to surface regularly.


    [Team Leader Kim Jong-soo of Team 1]: If anything goes wrong, won¡¯t our team get blown up? Could it be that this is¡­ exile?


    [Team Leader Ji Young-sook of Team 2]: No way, come on. It¡¯s not like we did anything wrong.


    [Team Leader Kim Jong-soo of Team 1]: Maybe this is a way of sweeping us out instead of doing layoffs.


    [Team Leader Ji Young-sook of Team 2]: But would the Royal family shoot themselves in the foot like that? If a scandal breaks, MH Group¡¯s stock prices will plummet.


    *


    The rest of the employees were equally abuzz with conversations about Shin-woo. The sound of keyboard keys tapping filled the office. Just then, Shin-woo stepped out of his office.


    ¡°It¡¯s my first day, but let¡¯s have a meeting.¡±


    Startled, the employees immediately stopped typing, their fingers freezing mid-air. Team Leader Kim Jong-soo, standing up abruptly, asked him in confusion.


    ¡°¡­A meeting, sir? We haven¡¯t even received the project portfolio from the planning office yet.¡±


    Since the department was newly established, they didn¡¯t have any set work yet. Being told to hold a meeting under such circumstances naturally confused them.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Let¡¯s have the meeting anyway. Everyone, gather up.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    His forceful tone made the employees exchange awkward glances before slowly shuffling towards the meeting room. Once seated, they avoided direct eye contact with Shin-woo, who stood at the center of the room. It felt as if this ¡®parachute¡¯ was already showing signs of abuse on his very first day.


    Waiting patiently, Shin-woo played with a die in his hand before finally addressing them.


    ¡°For now, I¡¯m the Director of Strategic Investment Operations, as well as independently in charge of investment planning.¡±


    Typically, the Strategic Investment Operations Office would review projects passed down from the Strategic Investment Planning Office, getting involved only after final approval had been granted to begin investments. Due to the sheer size of MH Group, the sums involved in investments were substantial, and everything had to proceed cautiously.


    Team Leader Kim Jong-soo took the initiative to raise a point.


    ¡°Then, how will you handle projects passed down from the Strategic Investment Planning Office? You¡¯ll be overburdened with work.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not the case now, is it? Like you said earlier, there are no portfolios that have come down yet. Are you planning to sit around and do nothing until then?¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s¡­¡±


    The employees were seasoned professionals who had been working at MH Group for years. They were already preparing for the projects that would eventually come from the Strategic Investment Planning Office.


    ¡°My duties have been approved by upper management, so I expect your cooperation.¡±


    ¡°¡­But the Strategic Investment Planning Office will likely have issues with this.¡±


    ¡°And so?¡±


    ¡°Do you not know who the head of the Strategic Investment Planning Office is?¡±


    ¡°Who is it?¡±


    Although Shin-woo knew full well, he pretended to ask out of ignorance.


    Team Leader Kim Jong-soo let out a shallow sigh before explaining.


    ¡°It¡¯s Director Myung Un-seok, who was previously in the Future Strategy Investment Planning Office.¡±


    ¡°Myung Un-seok¡­¡±


    The surname ¡°Myung¡± wasn¡¯t common within the MH Group. Moreover, if employees were turning pale at the mention of this name, there could only be one reason.


    ¡°He¡¯s the eldest grandson of the Chairman and the son of President Myung In-chul. You really didn¡¯t know?¡±


    The nuance behind his words was clear: Shin-woo, the son of Im Hee-yeon¡ªan extramarital child¡ªwas fundamentally different in status from Myung Un-seok when it came to the inheritance hierarchy.


    Of course, Shin-woo was well aware, but he didn¡¯t let it show.


    ¡°Oh, I see. But what does that have to do with why I shouldn¡¯t be handling this project? Especially since I have both the approval of Director Im Hee-yeon and the Chairman. Is Director Myung Un-seok higher in rank than them?¡±


    ¡°Well, no, but¡­¡±


    BAM¡ª


    When Shin-woo slammed his hand down on the desk, everyone flinched in surprise.


    ¡°From now on, none of you need to worry about conflicts of interest with the Royal family when it comes to how I work. If I choose to do something, I¡¯ll do it, and if I don¡¯t, it will be by my own choice, not because of external pressure.¡±


    ¡°Still, each department has its assigned responsibilities. If we clash with the Planning Office, we might end up being the ones to suffer.¡±


    ¡°Suffer how?¡±


    At his calm question, Kim Jong-soo hesitated to answer.


    Then, Team Leader Ji Young-sook, who had been sitting across from him, spoke up.


    ¡°The Planning Office handles the actual investment portfolio. They have exceptional information-gathering capabilities. We rely on the data they provide to carry out our investments.¡±


    ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°In the process, we regularly receive updates from the Planning Office. But if our relationship with them deteriorates over this, we might face complications in that flow of information, don¡¯t you think so?¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She wasn¡¯t wrong.


    Shin-woo could understand that point, but it didn¡¯t convince him.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I said we¡¯d conduct our own investment planning.¡±


    ¡°As I mentioned earlier, creating an investment plan requires extensive information. That kind of information can only be obtained from the Strategic Investment Planning Office.¡±


    The company had regulations to prevent information leaks during projects, confining it to specific departments.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying I don¡¯t have access to that information?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that true? No offense, but I heard¡­ that you¡¯re a former non-commissioned officer. You were only recently discharged from the military, right?¡±


    It was obvious where that information had come from.


    It was leaked by others in the family to undermine Shin-woo and his mother, Im Hee-yeon.


    ¡°Yes, I was a non-commissioned officer. Is that a problem?¡±


    Ji Young-sook was momentarily at a loss for words, likely due to his brazen response.


    Shin-woo glanced around the room at the other employees, all of whom wore similar expressions, and continued.


    ¡°Even if the project fails, I¡¯ll take full responsibility, so there¡¯s no need to worry.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not as simple as you make it sound.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. How could all the responsibility fall solely on you, Director?¡±


    Despite their objections, Shin-woo remained unfazed.


    ¡°If you¡¯re unwilling, I can handle it myself. Or I can hire new staff who will follow my directions.¡±


    In fact, through Song Tae-hoon, he¡¯d already discussed the personnel allocation (T/O).


    Any essential personnel could be recruited with that.


    Hearing this, murmurs started circulating among the employees seated behind the team leaders.


    ¡°Is he suggesting we¡¯ll be replaced?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s his deal?¡±


    Their whispers were clearly audible to Shin-woo.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to force anyone to work with me if they don¡¯t want to. I¡¯ve understood your stance. The meeting ends here. I¡¯ll handle the project myself.¡±


    With that, Shin-woo left the conference room.


    As soon as the door closed, the voices inside grew louder.


    Team Leader Kim Jong-soo hurriedly followed him out.


    ¡°Director Baek Shin-woo! Investment projects aren¡¯t something you can easily manage with just your military experience!¡±


    Shin-woo turned his head slightly, his expression icy.


    ¡°And what do you know about me to say that?¡±


    Kim Jong-soo, now visibly nervous, struggled to form a response.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been at this company longer than you have, at the very least. Besides, it¡¯s not your personal money but company funds. You can¡¯t just use it recklessly without certainty.¡±


    ¡°Team Leader Kim Jong-soo, you¡¯re working hard for the company¡¯s benefit.¡±


    ¡°¡­I¡¯ve never worked carelessly before.¡±


    Kim Jong-soo had worked at MH Group¡¯s headquarters for 12 years and climbed to his current position as team leader. His loyalty to the company was high.


    ¡°But that doesn¡¯t give you the right to reject the company¡¯s decisions, does it?¡±


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    ¡°No matter how much of an outsider I am, I was officially assigned the position of Director of Strategic Investment Operations. I also have the authority to make investment decisions, which has been approved.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re dissatisfied, remain so. I will work according to the authority I¡¯ve been given. Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me.¡±


    After finishing his response, Baek Shin-woo entered his office.


    Kim Jong-soo, left alone, let out a sigh. He soon rejoined the other employees and took his seat.


    ***


    At the same time¡­


    Myung Un-seok, the Director of Strategic Investment Planning, was seated in the office of his father, Myung In-chul, the President of MH Electronics.


    ¡°It¡¯s your first day. How do you think it¡¯s going?¡±


    Seated on the sofa, Myung Un-seok¡¯s face showed discomfort at the question. He had originally been the Director of Future Strategy Planning under the Business Planning Department. However, the departments had been reorganized, and his role had now been consolidated under the leadership of Im Hee-yeon at the Strategic Investment Headquarters.


    ¡°To be honest, it¡¯s not great.¡±


    It was the same feeling he¡¯d had when his grandfather, Myung Joong-hwan, had announced Im Hee-yeon¡¯s promotion during a recent family gathering. Back then, he¡¯d kept quiet, unable to express his frustration because his father, Myung In-chul, and other senior family members had remained silent.


    Myung In-chul understood his son¡¯s position well.


    ¡°I can imagine.¡±


    ¡°Why did you tell me to work under Director Im Hee-yeon when you knew all of this?!¡±


    Originally, Myung Un-seok had been slated to move to a completely different department to gain management experience. But the plan had changed drastically, leading to the current situation.


    ¡°Are you really asking because you don¡¯t know?¡±


    ¡°How could I not know? You want me to keep an eye on the Strategic Investment Headquarters and Director Im Hee-yeon, right?¡±


    ¡°Is that all you think this is about?¡±


    ¡°What else is there?¡±


    Myung In-chul¡¯s expression turned more serious than ever. He stood up from his desk and walked over to the sofa to sit beside his son.


    ¡°You do know the scale of the projects that Director Im Hee-yeon has successfully led, right? I don¡¯t like that woman, but I can¡¯t deny her abilities.¡±


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s true.¡±


    MH Group had grown rapidly since Im Hee-yeon took over as the Director of the Strategic Investment Department and gained full operational authority. Her work efficiency was something that not only the two of them but also Chairman Myung Joong-hwan acknowledged, making it impossible to dismiss.


    ¡°You should learn from Director Im Hee-yeon. Chairman will be pleased if you show such growth.¡±


    ¡°Do I really have to go that far? Besides, I¡¯m also annoyed that her son has been placed in the same position as me.¡±


    That was his biggest complaint at the moment. Myung Un-seok had completed his middle and high school education abroad and graduated from Harvard with a business degree. He had since entered the Future Strategy Office and had been maintaining decent work performance.


    ¡°Do you think I like it? That kid even had a private meeting with the chairman. Who knows what was discussed there¡­ but it seems Chairman has taken a liking to him. Of course, it¡¯s also likely that he¡¯s been placed there as a leash to control Director Im Hee-yeon.¡±


    Not long ago, Im Hee-yeon had nearly driven Myung In-chul to the brink of losing his position. Of course, Myung In-chul had prepared for it, but all his plans had fallen through. Additionally, a project that Myung In-chul had been preparing privately had also collapsed, leaving him in a humiliating situation. Despite the disgrace, he was enduring it for the future.


    ¡°Do you really think Director Im Hee-yeon can be managed as Chairman intends? Just look at what happened to my father¡­ If she really cared about MH Group, things wouldn¡¯t have gone this far. Eventually, my father will become the Chairman of MH Group, right?¡±


    ¡°How would I know Chairman¡¯s true thoughts?¡±


    ¡°Are you suggesting that my grandfather might consider my uncle or aunt as successors? That¡¯s ridiculous.¡±


    The second son, Myung Seong-cheol, managed MH Food and MH Retail, while the third daughter, Myung Soo-yeon, managed MH Hotels. Myung Un-seok knew that they, too, were eyeing the succession of Chairman Myung Joong-hwan. But ultimately, the final decision lay with the Chairman. Many believed that Myung In-chul, the eldest son and the current president of MH Group¡¯s head office, overseeing both MH Electronics and MH Construction, would be the one to succeed him.


    ¡°That¡¯s why you need to do well. Your uncle and aunt don¡¯t have children who are in the company like you to back them up.¡±


    Among the two, only Myung Seong-cheol was married and had two children: Myung Jin-seok and Myung Yoo-hee. They were 26 and 22 years old, respectively. Myung Jin-seok was the Planning Team Leader at MH Food, and Myung Yoo-hee was a third-year economics major at Korea University. Naturally, Myung Yoo-hee would also enter MH Group after graduation, but the gap between her and Myung Un-seok, who had already established his foundation, was inevitable.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do as Father says for now.¡±


    ¡°Good choice. And don¡¯t worry about that Baek Shin-woo guy. No matter what he tries, what could he possibly do?¡±


    Myung In-chul had been investigating Baek Shin-woo for some time. What he found was that Shin-woo¡¯s grades in elementary, middle, and high school were average, and he wasn¡¯t a standout student. Even when asked, the teachers who had taught him couldn¡¯t recall anything significant about him.


    ¡°Then what does Grandfather see in that kind of guy to place him in the same position as me?¡±


    ¡°As I said earlier, I don¡¯t know the exact reason. The most plausible explanation is that he¡¯s just a leash for Director Im Hee-yeon¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­I see.¡±


    ¡°In any case, just keep doing your job well. I¡¯ll find the right time to promote you.¡±


    Myung In-chul patted the slightly disheartened Myung Un-seok on the shoulder.


    ¡°Understood.¡±

 Chapter 12

    Chapter 12: Do You Think It¡¯s Just Recklessness?


    Shin-woo was out on external business during his work hours and visited Mansoo Electric in Cheonggyecheon.


    ¡°Were you tailed?¡±


    ¡°There was, but I shook them off.¡±


    ¡°Was it the 666th Unit?¡± S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°If it was, do you think I would have let them go? It was a security team from MH Group. Probably Myung In-chul¡¯s men.¡±


    Although MH Group¡¯s security team was highly skilled in tracking and surveillance, they were no match for Shin-woo, who had survived numerous near-death experiences and refined his abilities in the process.


    ¡°You seem to be under significant scrutiny. Based on your public records, they should know there¡¯s nothing particularly special about you. Could they have found the UAD records?¡±


    ¡°Hard to say. But before I was discharged, I heard all UAD operation records were destroyed. Those records must never surface under any circumstances.¡±


    ¡°Given the nature of the operations, it¡¯s understandable.¡±


    Even Jang Man-soo only knew that Shin-woo was once part of UAD. He had never heard the specifics of what missions he carried out. But from what he saw of the missions Shin-woo undertook while in Triad Eye, he could imagine the type of operations they must have been.


    ¡°Let¡¯s drop that. Did you come up with an investment list?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got it. It¡¯s on the desk over there.¡±


    At his words, Shin-woo picked up the thick file and began reviewing it.


    ¡°It¡¯s not just stocks.¡±


    ¡°I included real estate as well. I picked out locations where new city development projects are likely to happen long-term.¡±


    ¡°Not bad, but I need something that will show immediate results.¡±


    ¡°For that, stocks are your best bet. Turn to page 14.¡±


    As he turned to the page Jang Man-soo mentioned, Shin-woo¡¯s head naturally nodded as he scanned the list.


    ¡¾Plate Bio¡¿ ¡¾Soonmyung High-tech¡¿ ¡¾Oceayang Industries¡¿ ¡¾Hae-nam Distribution¡¿ ¡­ ¡°The reasoning behind the predicted stock rise is quite solid.¡±


    ¡°Well, this is what I did day and night at the National Intelligence Service. I almost developed PTSD while compiling that list.¡±


    Jang Man-soo clenched his fists and trembled.


    ¡°You must have had a hard time. Thanks.¡±


    ¡°Just grow your assets quickly. Let¡¯s resolve this mess and get some proper rest.¡±


    Jang Man-soo, looking exhausted, cracked his neck from side to side.


    ¡°You know better than anyone how those 666th Unit bastards are worse than cockroaches.¡±


    ¡°I know better than anyone. But once we find the other guys, we¡¯ll move immediately?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to take out the most important targets first, one by one. How¡¯s the communication network? Any progress?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s tough, really tough.¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t the emergency email addresses I set up for them still be intact if they¡¯ve also come back?¡±


    ¡°I thought so too and tried, but they¡¯re all inactive accounts. Do you think they¡¯d even remember those addresses? Honestly, I was the one who created those accounts for them, and they never used them outside of my network.¡±


    The other members of Triad Eye were even more obsessed with combat than Shin-woo, so they were even less knowledgeable about systems and technology. Jang Man-soo handled everything related to the technical aspects.


    ¡°True. You¡¯ve got a point.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll try to set something up as quickly as possible. But if it¡¯s them, I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll remember the network codes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡±


    Shin-woo glanced down at the tattoo of the Triad Eye¡¯s pupil inked on the inside of his left wrist.


    . . .


    Song Tae-hoon, the deputy general manager of the Strategic Investment Headquarters, entered Im Hee-yeon¡¯s office holding a stack of approval documents. He handed over the folder, and she began reviewing the papers immediately.


    ¡°The requested budget¡­ 1 billion won. And stock investment, no less¡­¡±


    ¡°If you look at the contents, the investment rationale is quite reasonable. However, there¡¯s some risk as the odds aren¡¯t entirely in our Favor.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s hard to expect a high probability with stock investments unless you¡¯re an insider, right? You know that better than anyone, Mr. Song.¡±


    Song Tae-Hoon had been instrumental in building the Strategic Investment Headquarters alongside the department head, Im Hee-yeon. Naturally, though he wasn¡¯t on par with her, he had sufficient experience in managing investment projects.


    ¡°The immediate concern is that this project isn¡¯t being prepared by the Strategic Investment Operations Office but by Director Baek Shin-woo alone.¡±


    ¡°I hear the situation there isn¡¯t ideal.¡±


    Employees of MH Group were at least graduates from prestigious universities, or, in the case of those from local universities, had proven themselves through ability. To them, Shin-woo was nothing but a parachute dropped into the company by virtue of his ties to the owner¡¯s family. Naturally, he was met with discomfort, leading to friction.


    ¡°It will be difficult for him to handle this alone¡­ Doesn¡¯t he need some support?¡±


    Song Tae-hoon asked, knowing how much she cared about Baek Shin-woo.


    ¡°No. Leave him be.¡±


    ¡°If he fails¡­¡±


    ¡°That might actually work in our Favor. Then I can handle things as I see fit. Plus, the amount is something I can manage on my own.¡±


    ¡°I understand what you¡¯re implying.¡±


    Im Hee-yeon nodded at his response and continued reviewing Shin-woo¡¯s investment proposal.


    ¡°By the way, do you really think Shin-woo prepared all of this by himself?¡±


    The report was remarkably detailed. It included several documents that effectively supported the investment rationale, making the proposal easy to understand.


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe someone who only served as a non-commissioned officer could write this. This level of insight suggests not only academic knowledge of the stock market but also hands-on experience. But projecting over 300% in returns¡­ Even with professional backing, that¡¯s overly optimistic.¡±


    Unless one was involved in stock manipulation, such a return was virtually impossible. Naturally, neither of them believed Baek Shin-woo possessed that level of insider information.


    ¡°I agree. The projected return is a pipe dream. However, if Shin-woo didn¡¯t come up with this information himself, it means someone around him has this knowledge.¡±


    ¡°Shall we investigate further? Although President Myung In-chul is also keeping a close eye on Director Baek Shin-woo, we should be cautious.¡±


    Im Hee-yeon shook her head.


    ¡°They won¡¯t make a move unless there¡¯s trouble. Just keep an eye on things for now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll follow your lead.¡±


    ***


    Meanwhile, Myung In-chul was receiving a report from Park Sang-kyu. In his hands was a budget allocation document from the finance team, detailing the 1 billion won that had been granted to the Strategic Investment Operations Office. Myung In-chul¡¯s face lit up with satisfaction.


    ¡°Ho ho, 1 billion won, approved through the finance department? It seemed cold at first, but I guess Deputy General Manager Im Hee-yeon put in some effort for her son after all.¡±


    At his comment, Park Sang-kyu spoke cautiously.


    ¡°She requested approval for the budget under her authority as head of the Strategic Investment Headquarters.¡±


    ¡°Is it overprotectiveness? Or just foolishness¡­¡±


    ¡°It could be both. After all, he¡¯s the son she found after 23 years.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true¡­ That could be it.¡±


    Nodding his head in understanding, Myung In-chul gestured for him to continue the report.


    ¡°It appears Director Baek Shin-woo has been acting suspiciously.¡±


    ¡°Suspicious? How so?¡±


    ¡°He shook off our tail. We were keeping a loose watch to avoid detection, but his evasion was professional.¡±


    At this, Myung In-chul¡¯s brow furrowed slightly.


    ¡°He got away from you? Just what kind of background is this guy hiding¡­ And the fact that he acted first means he has something to hide. What else?¡±


    ¡°His phone was also turned off simultaneously while shaking off the subordinates. Of course, tracking through the cell tower makes pinpointing the exact location difficult, but he seems to have been thoroughly prepared.¡±


    ¡°A hard-to-read fellow. But it seems like he¡¯ll stumble right from the start¡­¡±


    He was referring to the 1 billion won Baek Shin-woo received as the budget for strategic investment operations.


    ¡°You seem to consider it a meaningless show of bravado.¡±


    ¡°He must have something in mind. But things rarely go that smoothly, do they?¡±


    ¡°Still, should we look into what Baek Shin-woo is doing, just in case?¡±


    He had already been listening to the information from someone he had planted among the staff in the strategic investment operations office.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t they all turned their backs on Baek Shin-woo because of his reckless actions? Moving unnecessarily might give him an opening. Just keep an eye on him for now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do as you instruct.¡±


    Beep¨D


    At that moment, the office phone rang, and the voice of the secretary sitting at the entrance echoed.


    [Sir, Deputy Manager Myung Un-seok from the Strategic Investment Planning Office is here to see you.]


    ¡°Let him in.¡±


    Shortly after, the door opened, and Myung Un-seok entered with an irritated expression.


    ¡°Father! Did you know that a project budget was approved for Baek Shin-woo?¡±


    As he approached Myung In-chul, the security chief Park Sang-kyu, who was standing next to him, bowed and exited the room.


    After confirming that the door had closed, Myung In-chul stared intently at the visibly upset Myung Un-seok.


    ¡°How could I not know?¡±


    ¡°That guy is just the head of the Strategic Investment Operations Office. He shouldn¡¯t be able to do anything without me assigning him a project! Why was such a budget approved for him?¡±


    ¡°Your boss is not me, but Director Im Hee-yeon. Why are you asking me?¡±


    ¡°I spoke with Director Im Hee-yeon too. But she said it was within her authority as director to approve it! Isn¡¯t this an excessive breach of group protocol?¡±


    Myung Un-seok¡¯s words were not wrong.


    But since it was within Im Hee-yeon¡¯s rights as the director, it was difficult for Myung In-chul to intervene.


    ¡°Just as she said, don¡¯t concern yourself with it. Focus on your own work.¡±


    ¡°How can I not care? This is different! Even within the Strategic Investment Planning Office, there¡¯s a lot of talk because of this.¡±


    It appeared that Baek Shin-woo, the head of the Strategic Investment Operations Office, had bypassed the usual procedures of collaborating with the planning office, causing unrest among the staff.


    Moreover, as the eldest grandson of Chairman Myung Joong-hwan, Myung Un-seok naturally felt sidelined, especially since the illegitimate son Baek Shin-woo seemed to be receiving more support.


    ¡°Everyone sees his actions as reckless. There¡¯s no need to get worked up over someone who¡¯s bound to collapse on his own.¡±


    ¡°I understand that. But our standing within the company is also important. The employees¡­¡±


    ¡°Un-seok.¡±


    With a calm yet heavy voice, Myung In-chul interrupted, and Myung Un-seok quickly fell silent.


    A tense silence hung between them before Myung Un-seok realized he had overreacted and began to calm down.


    Seeing this, Myung In-chul continued speaking slowly.


    ¡°You are the one who will inherit and lead MH Group after me. Of course, it¡¯s natural to worry about Chairman Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s intentions, but that¡¯s not important for either of us. We just have to trust and wait.¡±


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Forget about Baek Shin-woo. As I told you last time, focus on your own work. Learn what you can from Director Im Hee-yeon.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡±


    At that response, Myung In-chul let out a long sigh.


    ¡°Whew¨D Anyway, is the Strategic Investment Planning Office working on any projects?¡±


    ¡°We are currently compiling a list of companies using information lines previously utilized by the Future Strategy Office.¡±


    ¡°Focus on stable options rather than high-risk ones. You don¡¯t want to get greedy and have things fall apart. Though I trust you¡¯ll handle it well, I¡¯m just saying.¡±


    Sensing his father¡¯s slight concern, Myung Un-seok lowered his head.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve emphasized that point clearly to the staff as well.¡±


    ¡°And how big is the project¡¯s scale?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re looking at starting with around 20 billion won over a three-month period, with a projected profit margin of 135%.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re expecting a profit of around 7 billion won. Not bad. Just follow through as planned.¡±


    Myung Un-seok¡¯s face brightened with pride.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Chairman Myung Joong-hwan is looking to develop the Strategic Investment Headquarters into an independent fund subsidiary, and if you become the central figure in that, it will greatly benefit your future.¡±


    ¡°I understand that well. But what about Director Im Hee-yeon?¡±


    ¡°When the time comes, I¡¯ll take care of her. Chairman Myung Joong-hwan left her alone for his own reasons, but you don¡¯t need to worry. Of course, if things go awry, we¡¯ll have to deal with it differently¡­¡±


    At that moment, Myung In-chul¡¯s eyes turned cold.


    He hadn¡¯t come to his current position as President of MH Electronics easily. He had crushed various factions within the group, including those who sought to challenge the Myung family¡¯s dominance, to secure his place.


    MH Electronics and MH Construction were also part of his achievements. Many of his methods, however, were far from just.


    Although Myung Un-seok didn¡¯t fully grasp the extent of those actions, he felt a chill run down his spine as he sensed the ominous atmosphere.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 13

    Chapter 13: Curious Records


    A month had passed. Projects within the Strategic Investment Headquarters were treated as confidential, only known by the project managers and their direct supervisors. Naturally, the project Shin-woo was working on alone remained unknown to the rest of the department¡¯s employees.


    Team Leader Kim Jong-soo stood slightly, peering over the partition toward Baek Shin-woo¡¯s office.


    ¡°Did you hear the news, Team Leader Kim?¡±


    ¡°¡­Are you talking about how the Director managed to get approval for 1 billion won budget and is now managing it?¡±


    Kim Jong-soo recognized the matter instantly, as he was also aware of the situation. Ji Young-sook let out a long sigh.


    ¡°Hoo¡ª! Yes. They say the profits have already exceeded the investment amount.¡±


    ¡°I really thought it was impossible¡­ but he¡¯s really doing it all on his own? And even turning in profit?¡±


    Team Leader Ji Young-sook quietly approached in response to the murmurs.


    ¡°They say the finance team approved the billion Won budget without any issues from the beginning. And in such a situation, Director Shin-woo doesn¡¯t even share the details with us¡­ At least if the project fails, we won¡¯t be dragged down with it.¡±


    ¡°Still, 1 billion isn¡¯t just a small sum¡­¡±


    ¡°Anyway, we should focus on finishing the project materials we received from the Strategic Investment Planning Office.¡±


    A few days ago, materials from the Strategic Investment Planning Office had arrived. Of course, they came with Baek Shin-woo¡¯s approval, so they were already preparing for execution.


    ¡°We¡¯ve almost finished reviewing them in our Team 1. How about Team 2?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re about the same. I don¡¯t foresee any big issues with moving forward with the investments. The risk is minimal. They say Director Myung Un-seok had an excellent track record in his previous department, even before the merger, and it seems to be true.¡±


    Externally, Myung Un-seok was seen as the next heir to the MH Group, thanks to his father, Myung In-chul. His position was unshakable, more so than any other.


    Moreover, Myung Un-seok¡¯s abilities were widely recognized, making him a subject of envy among those working under a secondary heir.


    ¡°I agree. If the investments run smoothly, more employees will likely support Director Myung Un-seok.¡±


    ¡°Honestly, how could an illegitimate child and a legitimate heir ever be the same? Their starting points are just worlds apart.¡±


    Ever since Chairman Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s eldest grandson, Myung Un-seok, took the position of Director of the Future Strategy Office, his results had spoken for themselves. His father, Myung In-chul, managed both MH Electronics and MH Construction, earning him recognition as the group¡¯s future successor.


    Although there were other factions, such as those of the second son, Myung Seong-cheol, and his daughter, Myung Soo-yeon, their influence paled in comparison to Myung In-chul¡¯s.


    ¡°It¡¯s an obvious fight. Director Im Hee-yeon also suddenly showed up from nowhere¡­ It wouldn¡¯t have been a bad idea to place Director Myung Un-seok as the head of the Strategic Investment Headquarters instead.¡±


    ¡°It might still change later. Who knows, Director Im Hee-yeon might just be holding the position temporarily.¡±


    Their thoughts were influenced by the fact that all of Chairman Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s children held president positions in at least one company within the MH Group. Even though Im Hee-yeon was an illegitimate child, she was still the chairman¡¯s daughter. However, instead of becoming a president, she had been appointed as the head of the newly established Strategic Investment Headquarters.


    Just then. Clunk¡ª


    The office door near the elevator opened, and Im Hee-yeon entered, accompanied by Song Tae-hoon, her deputy. Startled, the employees immediately stood to bow. However, the pair did not notice them and swiftly passed through, heading directly into Shin-woo¡¯s office.


    Click¡ªClick¡ª


    Shin-woo was rolling two dice in his left hand while browsing the internet on his computer.


    ¡°What brings you here, Director?¡±


    His indifferent question was met with a serious expression from Im Hee-yeon.


    ¡°I just checked¡­ the investment operations report you submitted. Did we really make a profit as stated?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already completed the deposit to the treasury account. Didn¡¯t you confirm that?¡±


    The account details were also attached in the report.


    ¡°I checked. With this stock investment operation, we netted around 1.7 billion KRW in profit.¡±


    *KRW: Korean Won


    ¡°This is only from about 60% of the allocated budget.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s only been a month, right?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s more than enough.¡±


    They had earned almost triple the amount from just 600 million KRW out of the initial 1 billion KRW investment.


    And it wasn¡¯t even a group effort¡ªShin-woo had achieved this all on his own.


    Im Hee-yeon, who had been skeptical of this endeavor and anticipated failure, couldn¡¯t believe it. This disbelief had prompted her to come directly to see Shin-woo, rather than calling him.


    ¡°Surely¡­ you didn¡¯t engage in insider trading, did you?¡±


    She was referring to the illegal practice of trading stocks using confidential information obtained from company employees. This would be a violation of the Capital Markets Act and was considered a crime.


    ¡°Me? Insider trading with the companies I invested in? I don¡¯t have those kinds of connections. Maybe in the military, but not here.¡±


    Shin-woo casually shrugged his shoulders.


    Im Hee-yeon didn¡¯t really believe Shin-woo had such connections for insider trading, but it was hard to imagine that someone could predict stock surges so accurately and profit from multiple companies like this.


    ¡°I¡¯m not here for word games.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m not giving you any funny answers either.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    An awkward silence filled the room when a voice from the office side broke the stillness.


    ¡°Ch-chairman!¡±


    It was Kim Jong-soo¡¯s voice.


    Simultaneously, both Im Hee-yeon and Song Tae-hoon turned their heads.


    As announced, Chairman Myung Joong-hwan of MH Group was walking in, accompanied by Goo Sang-ho.


    ¡°I heard the Strategic Investment Operations Office made quite a significant profit in a short time, so I came to see for myself. Ah, Director Im Hee-yeon is here too.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes, Chairman.¡±


    ¡°I overheard some raised voices just now. Is there a reason for the tension? Ah, were you offering congratulations?¡±


    Given how loud the conversation had been in the office, it was unlikely that Myung Joong-hwan hadn¡¯t heard them. He was deliberately steering the conversation in another direction.


    Realizing this, Im Hee-yeon did not revisit the accusations she had made against Shin-woo.


    With a smile, Myung Joong-hwan spoke.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not do this here. Come to my office instead.¡±


    The chaotic atmosphere in the surroundings was his reason for suggesting the move.


    Shin-woo followed Im Hee-yeon, joining Myung Joong-hwan and the others as they made their way to the chairman¡¯s office.


    They all sat around the sofa in the center of the chairman¡¯s office.


    Myung Joong-hwan cast his gaze at Im Hee-yeon and Shin-woo, who were sitting in a row.


    ¡°Deputy General Manager Baek Shin-woo, you¡¯ve only been here for just over a month, yet you¡¯ve already produced such results¡­ Impressive.¡±


    ¡°¡­It wasn¡¯t difficult.¡±


    Despite the fact that Shin-woo¡¯s response could have come off as arrogant, Myung Joong-hwan didn¡¯t frown. Instead, he seemed to be in a good mood and asked further.


    ¡°Ha ha. Is the word ¡®humility¡¯ not in your vocabulary?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t particularly like that word.¡±


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t that come off as arrogance?¡±


    ¡°That works for me.¡±


    Myung Joong-hwan tilted his head curiously at Shin-woo¡¯s response.


    ¡°¡­Works for you? Why is that?¡±


    ¡°It means the other party is off-guard. That¡¯s the perfect position for me to strike.¡±


    The eerie tone of his reply startled both Myung Joong-hwan and the previously silent Im Hee-yeon.


    ¡°Deputy General Manager Baek Shin-woo! That¡¯s a bit extreme, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t find it extreme.¡±


    ¡°It sounds as if, to you, relationships with others are either allies or enemies.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not up to me to decide. Whether they are allies, enemies, or neutral, that¡¯s the other party¡¯s decision to make.¡±


    In the battlefields Shin-woo had traversed, there were no permanent allies or enemies. A comrade who was an ally a few seconds ago could turn into an enemy.


    Conversely, someone who had been an enemy could momentarily become an ally, depending on the situation.


    While there weren¡¯t many such cases in Triad Eye, back in his old mercenary unit, where people moved based solely on money, living without constant vigilance was impossible.


    Of course, neither Myung Joong-hwan nor Im Hee-yeon could understand such experiences.


    ¡°Ha ha ha! The choice between friend and foe lies with the other party¡­ Not wrong. So, what would Deputy General Manager Baek Shin-woo do if the other party chooses to be an enemy?¡±


    ¡°Take their head.¡±


    The simple yet chilling response created a moment of silence in the chairman¡¯s office.


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    Then, Myung Joong-hwan let out a hollow laugh like earlier.


    ¡°Haha¨D From what I know, you worked in the military logistics department. But from what I just heard, I¡¯d believe it if you said you fought in the Vietnam War.¡±


    According to official records, that was the case. But Shin-woo had spent more time outside the base on numerous missions.


    ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±


    ¡°Does the logistics department teach stock trading these days?¡±


    ¡°I picked it up during my breaks.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a tough world where even those who struggle to learn can barely make a profit, yet you¡¯ve made 1.7 billion won by learning it on the side¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you mocking me?¡±


    Perhaps because he asked so directly, Myung Joong-hwan showed a surprised expression once again.


    ¡°It might sound that way, but it was meant as a compliment.¡±


    ¡°It didn¡¯t sound like a compliment to me.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps my tone wasn¡¯t the best.¡±


    ¡°Ambiguous positions often prepare for an easy retreat. If this is the only conversation we¡¯re going to have, would it be alright if I left? I¡¯m busier than I look.¡±


    The stock market hadn¡¯t closed yet. Shin-woo was busy checking stock data Jang Man-soo had given him, so he was genuinely pressed for time.


    ¡°I see. I¡¯ve kept a busy man tied up too long. I simply wanted to offer some encouragement to ensure this goes well.¡±


    ¡°I feel I¡¯ve received all the encouragement I need, so I¡¯ll be heading down.¡±


    With those words, Shin-woo left the chairman¡¯s office. Inside, Myung Joong-hwan turned to Im Hee-yeon, who had remained silent, and spoke.


    ¡°Baek Shin-woo, the deputy general manager, huh? Even when I first met him, I felt it. He has the aura of a Predator.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re saying he¡¯s aggressive.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not wrong. He¡¯s ready to tear into his enemies at any moment. For a brief moment earlier, I felt a chill.¡±


    There was a slight playful tone to his words.


    Listening to him, Im Hee-yeon let out a sigh through her nose.


    ¡°You seem to be enjoying this situation, Chairman.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you? Most people cower in fear the moment they stand before me. Frankly, I¡¯d prefer if more people behaved like Baek Shin-woo.¡±


    How many people within MH Group could truly stand confidently in front of Chairman Myung Joong-hwan? In that sense, he found many things about Shin-woo¡¯s attitude quite appealing.


    ¡°It¡¯s not an easy task.¡±


    ¡°Haha. Now that I think about it, Baek Shin-woo does have a performance incentive, doesn¡¯t he?¡±


    ¡°He receives 5% of the net profit.¡±


    ¡°So, about 85 million won from this 1.7 billion profit?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s only from about 60% of the investment.¡±


    At that, Myung Joong-hwan nodded.


    ¡°If the remaining 40% of the investment yields a similar profit, he¡¯ll be earning several times his annual salary in just a month.¡±


    ¡°Do you really think these profits were generated normally?¡±


    ¡°I overheard something about insider trading earlier. But as Baek Shin-woo mentioned, does he have the network to access such information?¡±


    Im Hee-yeon also didn¡¯t believe that someone like Shin-woo, who had only just left the military, could have that kind of information network. However, the suspiciously large profit made her worry that he might be involved in something unsavory.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s worth investigating. This could potentially disrupt your plan for the hedge fund subsidiary.¡±


    MH Group was in the process of preparing a large-scale hedge fund subsidiary. The goal was to reduce the company¡¯s debt ratio and solidify the group¡¯s capital by generating profit solely from investments. Of course, it was also intended to resolve various other issues simultaneously.


    ¡°Once we check what happens with the remaining 40% of the investment, we¡¯ll know if it¡¯s skill or luck.¡±


    ¡°Do you believe Baek Shin-woo made this profit purely based on skill?¡±


    ¡°Connections are a resource, too. And as long as they¡¯re not caught, even questionable relationships aren¡¯t illegal.¡±


    ¡°¡­It sounds like you¡¯re ready to discard him if he becomes useless.¡±


    ¡°Everyone must bear their own risks.¡± sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A moment of silence passed before Goo Sang-ho, who had been quietly standing at the back, stepped forward.


    ¡°Chairman, it¡¯s time to move on to your next appointment.¡±


    ¡°Oh? What was next?¡±


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s the meeting with Minister Ko Seung-won of the Ministry of National Defense regarding the new MH Tech project.¡±


    ¡°Is it that time already? Then, Hee-yeon, you should head back as well.¡±

 Chapter 14

    Chapter 14. RESTRICTED AREA


    Myung Joong-Hwan, accompanied by Goo Sang-ho and his bodyguards, arrived at the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan.


    He was escorted to the office of Minister Ko Seung-won by the Minister¡¯s aide, who had come out to greet them.


    ¡°Hahaha¡ªChairman Myung! Welcome.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Minister Ko.¡±


    The two exchanged greetings and sat down on the sofa.


    ¡°I was surprised when you requested a meeting regarding MH Tech all of a sudden.¡±


    MH Tech was a defense industry subsidiary under the MH Group. Recently, they had been in discussions over issues related to the supply of military vehicles and engines. MH Tech was also a subsidiary that Myung Joong-hwan personally took a keen interest in, often resolving issues directly with the Blue House and the Ministry of National Defense.


    ¡°That, and there¡¯s something else I wanted to ask while I¡¯m here.¡±


    Ko Seung-won leaned back into the sofa, smiling.


    ¡°Seems like that ¡®something else¡¯ might be more important than the MH Tech matter.¡±


    ¡°I guess my true intentions were too obvious.¡±


    ¡°Since you¡¯re not the type to backtrack on finalized deals, I assume there¡¯s a more pressing reason for your visit. And you¡¯ve come all the way here to the office, no less.¡±


    Usually, they would meet elsewhere, or a business associate would visit the MH Group headquarters or MH Tech directly. Ko Seung-won, even as the Minister of National Defense, was no exception. Thus, this unusual meeting made him curious.


    ¡°You¡¯re aware of the recent turmoil within my family, correct?¡±


    ¡°I read about it in the news. An illegitimate child of Chairman Myung¡­ it seems there¡¯s quite a story behind it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m reaping what I¡¯ve sown.¡±


    ¡°But why bring up that story now?¡±


    After a brief pause, Myung Joong-hwan spoke in earnest.


    ¡°My daughter had a son, without getting married. He¡¯s 23 this year and recently completed his service as a non-commissioned officer in the army.¡±


    ¡°So your grandson was in the military. But to hear that your daughter is a single mother¡­ it seems she¡¯s been through a lot, just like you.¡±


    ¡°She didn¡¯t have it easy with a father like me. While looking into things, I found some irregularities in my grandson¡¯s military records.¡±


    The chairman openly admitted in front of the Minister of National Defense that he had accessed his grandson¡¯s military service records. For a moment, Ko Seung-won¡¯s expression hardened but quickly returned to normal.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you being a bit too forward?¡±


    ¡°Why bother hiding what will be known eventually? And besides, this concerns my own blood.¡±


    Sigh. ¡°So, what exactly is strange?¡±


    It was a casual inquiry.


    ¡°My grandson served as a non-commissioned officer in the logistics department of the Army Special Warfare Command. Out of curiosity, I tried to ask some soldiers who had been discharged around the same time if they knew him, but none of them did.¡±


    The faint smile on Ko Seung-won¡¯s face vanished for a moment, replaced by a cold expression, before reverting back.


    ¡°Soldiers don¡¯t always have a lot of contact with non-commissioned officers, do they?¡±


    ¡°My secretary, Goo Sang-ho, met with a soldier who served in the logistics department of that command. He didn¡¯t even recognize my grandson¡¯s name. Could such a thing be possible?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps there was a mistake in identifying the unit, or the soldier simply forgot.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re suggesting that MH Group¡¯s information network is wrong¡­ I find that hard to believe.¡±


    Ko Seung-won was well aware of Goo Sang-ho¡¯s meticulous nature as Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s secretary. If Goo Sang-ho had gathered the information, it was almost impossible for there to be any errors unless the data itself was flawed.


    ¡°May I ask your grandson¡¯s name? If it¡¯s alright with you, I can look into it.¡±


    The only name publicly known was that of his illegitimate daughter, Im Hee-yeon. The existence of a son had never been mentioned, let alone his name.


    ¡°¡­Baek Shin-woo.¡±


    Once again, Ko Seung-won¡¯s expression shifted momentarily before returning to normal.


    ¡°Baek Shin-woo¡­ It won¡¯t be easy, but I¡¯ll inquire with the Army Special Warfare Command.¡±


    ¡°Will I be able to get accurate results?¡±


    ¡°Though I hold the position of Minister of National Defense, I¡¯m merely a link between the various commands and the national army structure. Each command has its own chain of command and protocol, so I can¡¯t interfere beyond that.¡±


    It felt like he was skirting around the issue.


    Myung Joong-hwan noticed this and displayed a subtle smile.


    ¡°You seem hesitant to verify the military records of a mere non-commissioned officer, Minister.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m simply respecting the boundaries of each domain.¡±


    ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll leave it in your hands.¡±


    Afterward, Myung Joong-hwan wrapped up the conversation regarding MH Tech and left the office.


    As Ko Seung-won watched him leave, he turned to his aide standing nearby.


    ¡°Bring in the commander of the Army Special Warfare Command immediately.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Ko Seung-won returned to his office. Not long after, Lieutenant General Yoon Tae-in, the commander of the Army Special Warfare Command, entered, wearing his crisp military uniform.


    ¡°You called for me, Minister.¡±


    There was a slight look of concern on Yoon Tae-in¡¯s face, given the unexpected summons from the Minister of National Defense.


    ¡°There¡¯s something I need you to verify. Please, have a seat.¡±


    Once Yoon Tae-in was seated, Ko Seung-won paused briefly before speaking.


    ¡°Do you know a Baek Shin-woo who was recently discharged as a non-commissioned officer in the logistics department of the Army Special Warfare Command?¡±


    ¡°¡­Sorry? I¡¯m not in charge of personnel, so I¡¯m not sure if a non-commissioned officer by that name was discharged from our Special Warfare Command.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not just asking casually. I¡¯m speaking as the Minister of National Defense.¡±


    With Ko Seung-won¡¯s voice and expression more serious than ever, Yoon Tae-in swallowed nervously.


    ¡°¡­If the Baek Shin-woo that you and I know is the same person¡­ then yes, I know who he is.¡±


    A long sigh escaped from Ko Seung-won¡¯s lips.


    ¡°I thought I¡¯d seen the name before in classified documents. He was a member of the ¡®UAD Project¡¯ under the codename Muakjae, wasn¡¯t he?¡±


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s correct. However, the project has ended, and all documents and personnel records have been completely destroyed.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡±


    UAD (Underground Attack Department). The name directly translates to the Underground Attack Department, a secret operations team briefly formed within the Army Special Warfare Command. As the final overseer of UAD, Ko Seung-won had regularly received mission reports from Yoon Tae-in, so he knew the project well.


    ¡°But why are you asking about Sergeant Baek Shin-woo?¡±


    ¡°Do you know where Sergeant Baek is now?¡±


    ¡°He was discharged after completing a non-disclosure agreement. I haven¡¯t kept track of his whereabouts since.¡±


    The atmosphere grew heavier. Ko Seung-won, now feeling the pressure, looked at the increasingly puzzled Yoon Tae-in and spoke.


    ¡°Codename Muakjae¡­ I¡¯m told Sergeant Baek Shin-woo is the illegitimate grandson of Chairman Myung Joong-hwan.¡±


    The term illegitimate grandson refers to the child of an illegitimate son or daughter. Realizing what was said, Yoon Tae-in¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    ¡°Sergeant Baek Shin-woo was an orphan, abandoned as a newborn. That was one of the minimum requirements when we selected members for the UAD Project.¡±


    ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t know that?¡±


    Orphans were chosen to minimize complications if anything happened to the team members during missions.


    Given Baek Shin-woo¡¯s qualifications and abilities, it was already surprising that he was a member of such a unit. But to learn he was the illegitimate grandson of MH Group Chairman Myung Joong-hwan left everyone astonished.


    ¡°So¡­ if he¡¯s the illegitimate grandson, that means he¡¯s the son of the woman recently reported as Chairman Myung¡¯s illegitimate daughter?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Moreover, Chairman Myung found a loophole in Sergeant Baek Shin-woo¡¯s falsified service records and asked me to look into it.¡±


    ¡°What? But that¡­¡±


    The primary mission of UAD was to neutralize potential threats to South Korea¡¯s national defense and eliminate enemies or hostile forces before they could strike. The number of enemies eliminated during UAD¡¯s operations was beyond imagination.


    Baek Shin-woo had been on the front lines of those missions, excelling in assassination, hand-to-hand combat, and close-quarters shooting.


    Naturally, his real service records were classified as top secret and were completely destroyed following the conclusion of the UAD Project.


    ¡°Even if those records existed, I couldn¡¯t provide them. But it seems they¡¯ve already sensed something.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t Goo Sang-ho always by Chairman Myung¡¯s side?¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    Yoon Tae-in was well aware that Goo Sang-ho was a former National Intelligence Service (NIS) agent.


    Since he was so well-versed in the inner workings of government organizations, it was no surprise that he could easily discern the authenticity of military records.


    ¡°This is becoming a headache. And to think he¡¯s connected to Chairman Myung¡¯s bloodline¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­Indeed.¡±


    ¡°If he hadn¡¯t been discharged, we could have found a way to handle it.¡±


    At that moment, Ko Seung-won¡¯s sharp gaze locked onto Yoon Tae-in.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like I didn¡¯t try to stop him. You know that, Minister.¡±


    Originally, the UAD Project was meant to be staffed by officers of at least the rank of commissioned officers.


    Despite being a non-commissioned officer, Baek Shin-woo¡¯s outstanding abilities had earned him a key position in the unit.


    When Baek Shin-woo requested to be discharged, it was none other than Yoon Tae-in, the Commander of the Special Warfare Command, who personally met with him to dissuade him.


    ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know that? General Yoon, you even tried to establish a system to promote him from a non-commissioned officer to a commissioned officer.¡±


    ¡°To be honest, I was more than half serious about it.¡±


    ¡°I thought so, too. It¡¯s a shame that such talent was discharged¡­¡±


    ¡°But what about Chairman Myung? If Secretary Goo is involved, there¡¯s no way the falsified records will hold up.¡±


    ¡°At this point, we can¡¯t hide it any longer, and we have to consider the business relationship as well¡­ We¡¯ll need to explain everything to Chairman Myung and resolve it at his level.¡±


    Both men¡¯s expressions grew even darker.


    ¡°As for the missions¡­¡±


    ¡°I know. But without any remaining records, there¡¯s nothing for them to find. Still, just in case, verify it once more.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I will review it again.¡±


    ¡°Please do.¡±


    ***


    Several days later. Minister of National Defense Ko Seung-won personally visited the headquarters of MH Group. Seated before him was Chairman Myung Joong-hwan.


    ¡°You could have simply called me to the Ministry, Minister, but you came here yourself.¡±


    ¡°It is the duty of the one with business to come. How could I summon the chairman of such a prominent group?¡±


    After exchanging these polite formalities, Myung Joong-hwan, who already knew the reason for Ko Seung-won¡¯s visit, calmly spoke.


    ¡°What did you find out about my grandson?¡±


    As soon as they entered the main topic, Ko Seung-won hesitated for a moment before speaking.


    ¡°¡­I cannot provide any official records regarding your grandson, Baek Shin-woo.¡±


    Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s brow furrowed at once.


    ¡°I find that difficult to understand. As a relative, don¡¯t I have the right to request that information?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s as I said.¡±


    ¡°And why is that?¡±


    ¡°The first reason is that, under my authority, I cannot release Baek Shin-woo¡¯s military service records.¡±


    The person explaining this was none other than the Minister of National Defense of South Korea.


    Given the status of the person delivering this explanation, it was even harder for Myung Joong-hwan to comprehend.


    ¡°And the second reason?¡±


    ¡°All the records have been destroyed and no longer exist.¡±


    ¡°¡­Are you playing word games with me right now?¡±


    ¡°This is the truth. Baek Shin-woo¡¯s service in the military is classified, and all related documents were destroyed upon his discharge.¡±


    In reality, it wasn¡¯t just his discharge but the conclusion of the operation that led to the records being destroyed.


    However, it was impossible to reveal the full truth, so a plausible explanation was given instead.


    Still, Myung Joong-hwan, unaware of the specifics, maintained a cold expression. Of course, he could guess the deeper meaning behind Ko Seung-won¡¯s words.


    ¡°It sounds like my grandson was involved in a highly dangerous mission.¡±


    ¡°¡­I cannot go into details, but it wasn¡¯t a safe operation. At the time, no one was aware that Baek Shin-woo had any family.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re saying he was part of some kind of special forces unit.¡±


    Strictly speaking, it was far more specialized than ordinary special forces. However, given the circumstances, further explanation of the mission was not possible.


    ¡°Something like that. This matter is classified as a state secret, so I ask for your understanding.¡±


    ¡°Frankly, I¡¯m not satisfied with your answer. The fact that someone of MH Group¡¯s bloodline was involved in life-or-death missions¡­.¡±


    ¡°I apologize. And, in truth, this is not a subject that should have been brought up here in the first place. So¡­ Chairman Myung, I hope you understand¡­.¡±


    ¡°I know exactly what you mean. Still, I appreciate you clearing up at least some of my questions.¡±


    With that, the conversation wrapped up, and Ko Seung-won bid his farewell to Myung Joong-hwan and left.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 15

    Chapter 15: At the Dinner Table


    ¡¾MH NEWS¡¿ ? MH Group¡¯s Strategic Investment Headquarters achieves 440% growth, netting 3.4 billion won! Recently appointed Baek Shin-woo (Deputy General Manager) led the newly established department¡¯s investment project singlehandedly¡­


    ***


    The profit from the stocks that Shin-woo had invested in also began to materialize. As a result, the internal publication of MH Group widely promoted this achievement.


    On Saturday, Shin-woo was invited by Myung Joong-hwan to visit the mansion in Pyeongchang-dong. He entered the residence, escorted by the security guard at the gate.


    The eyes of the Myung family, seated in the living room, immediately fixed on Shin-woo as he walked in. Im Hee-yeon, however, was nowhere to be seen¡ªeither she wasn¡¯t invited or hadn¡¯t arrived yet.


    ¡®They¡¯re showing their hostility too openly,¡¯ Shin-woo thought.


    Naturally, the atmosphere wasn¡¯t pleasant. There was envy and resentment over the profits Shin-woo had brought in from his investments for the group. Shin-woo didn¡¯t greet them but stared right back at the others.


    Seeing this, Myung Seong-cheol, the second son of Myung Joong-hwan, chuckled and spoke up.


    ¡°You saw us but didn¡¯t bother to greet¡­ isn¡¯t that a bit rude in front of your elders? Or do you not even know who I am?¡± His tone was clearly provocative.


    Shin-woo found the remark amusing.


    ¡°You¡¯re Myung Seong-cheol, the President of MH Food and MH Retail. But judging by everyone¡¯s expressions, it didn¡¯t seem like anyone wanted my greeting.¡±


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    At that moment, a young man sitting next to Myung Seong-cheol stood up and approached Shin-woo. It was Myung Jin-seok, the eldest son of Myung Seong-cheol.


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t that a little harsh toward my father? Or is it because you grew up outside, you don¡¯t know any manners?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t seem all that polite yourself.¡±


    ¡°What?! Are you crazy?¡±


    ¡°Jin-seok, that¡¯s enough!¡±


    The voice came from Myung In-chul, who had been quietly sitting on one of the sofas.


    ¡°But, Uncle! This punk¡ª¡±


    ¡°The Chairman invited him. Show some basic respect.¡±


    ¡°¡­Understood.¡±


    At that moment, the door to the study opened, and Goo Sang-ho, the Chairman¡¯s secretary, appeared.


    ¡°You¡¯re here. The Chairman is asking for you. Please follow me.¡± ¡°Excuse me.¡±


    Shin-woo briefly nodded to the people seated on the living room sofas before heading into the study.


    Inside, Myung Joong-hwan greeted him with a faint smile. ¡°It seems like things were getting noisy out there.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not exactly a welcomed guest. So, what¡¯s the reason you asked me to come here today?¡±


    Genuinely annoyed, Shin-woo furrowed his brow. He didn¡¯t want to waste time with unnecessary words and went straight to the point.


    ¡°This meeting is, first and foremost, to celebrate your successful start.¡±


    Shin-woo looked serious as he responded.


    ¡°It¡¯s not really about a celebration, is it? You had Ko Seung-won, the Defense Minister, look into me, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    At those words, both Myung Joong-hwan and Goo Sang-ho, who was standing by the door, stiffened in surprise.


    ¡°¡­You knew?¡±


    ¡°I happened to see him when he came to the company.¡±


    ¡°It could have been a business visit, yet you¡¯re so certain it was about you.¡±


    Shin-woo had reason to believe otherwise. He had been monitoring MH Group¡¯s key executives through LEUCO, a surveillance system developed by Jang Man-soo. This allowed him to know that Defense Minister Ko Seung-won had personally met with Myung Joong-hwan.


    ¡°You were curious about my background. But I doubt you found out much.¡± ¡°So, you anticipated my move.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t hard. Did it satisfy your curiosity, at least a little?¡±


    The mission records of Shin-woo¡¯s operations with the UAD Special Forces could never be revealed to the public.


    The records were likely completely destroyed, meaning even Myung Joong-hwan would never be able to access them.


    However, given the relationship between the Defense Minister and MH Group, it was clear that Ko Seung-won had offered some plausible explanation to Myung Joong-hwan.


    ¡°I¡¯ve learned enough to be satisfied. Though I still have many unanswered questions¡ªlike the recent profits you generated.¡±


    Shin-woo had turned 1 billion won into 3.4 billion won of net profit. The sheer number of stocks involved made it impossible to believe that he had relied on illegal methods or insider information. Myung Joong-hwan had even instructed Goo Sang-ho to investigate the companies Shin-woo had invested in, but no connection could be found.


    ¡°If you¡¯re unhappy with the profits, I could stop working.¡±


    ¡°No, the more money you make, the better.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll keep doing what I¡¯m doing.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it. By the way, do you know how to play Go?¡± Myung Joong-hwan gestured toward the table. A Go board made of an old tree sat there, the stones worn from years of use.


    ¡°No, and I don¡¯t care for it.¡±


    ¡°Investing is a lot like playing a game of strategy. I think you¡¯d be good at it if you gave it a try.¡±


    ¡°I have no interest in sitting around playing a stone-grabbing game. If it were something more real, maybe.¡±


    Challenged by Shin-woo¡¯s daring tone, Myung Joong-hwan was slightly taken aback.


    ¡°Hahaha¡­ You¡¯ve been using quite the dangerous tone since our last conversation.¡±


    ¡°I dislike beating around the bush. So, is this conversation over?¡±


    ¡°Not yet. Now that your first investment has been successful, wouldn¡¯t it be time to expand the strategic investment operations to target corporations?¡±


    From the start, the Strategic Investment Headquarters was established to lay the groundwork for MH Group¡¯s fund subsidiary. Naturally, the plan was never to run it solely on company funds. The goal was to expand into private capital and corporate investments, ensuring zero-risk funds.


    ¡°Investment sales should be handled by the Strategic Investment Planning Office, as I understand it.¡±


    In terms of investments, the sales team handles communication with corporations. As a result, they are primarily responsible for managing trust and information, which strengthens the power of the department. One of the reasons why Myung In-chul convinced Myung Joong-hwan to place his eldest son, Myung Un-seok, as head of the Strategic Investment Planning Office was for this very reason.


    ¡°Are you saying you¡¯re not confident?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t provoke me meaninglessly. It just makes you look worse.¡±


    Myung Joong-hwan had initially assumed that if he poked at Shin-woo just a little, his skills would naturally come to the fore.


    ¡°Hahaha. I thought you were a reckless, daring person, but it seems you¡¯re not just a wild horse without reins.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it if you stopped testing me.¡±


    ¡°Haha¡­ I¡¯ll keep that in mind. So, are you saying the Strategic Investment Operations Office will continue to handle independent investments with the company¡¯s funds, like before? Even though there¡¯s a limit to how much profit can be made from such capital?¡±


    In company investments, profits increase in proportion to the size of the funds. If the amount Shin-woo had invested earlier had been several times larger, the profit would have multiplied as well. Shin-woo knew this very well.


    ¡°I don¡¯t feel like working that hard. I think what I¡¯ve done so far has been enough to cover my salary.¡±


    Perhaps due to Shin-woo¡¯s brazen response, Myung Joong-hwan let out a dry laugh once again.


    ¡°Hahaha. So, you only plan to work as much as you¡¯re paid?¡±


    With this recent success, Shin-woo would be earning roughly 170 million won¡ª5% of the 3.4 billion won in net profit. Compared to the pay he used to receive for mercenary work, it was a relatively small amount, but he couldn¡¯t let that show.


    ¡°It¡¯s enough to live on.¡±


    ¡°But I am the chairman of MH Group. I don¡¯t like it when talented employees work half-heartedly.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re dissatisfied, feel free to fire me.¡±


    With an even more impudent response than before, Myung Joong-hwan was left speechless.


    ¡°Are you saying you have no attachment to MH Group at all? Even though it¡¯s the place your mother works at?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m only working here because I had nothing else to do. Besides, I¡¯m not sure if I should feel any attachment to someone who abandoned me for 23 years.¡±


    ¡°¡­Well, I suppose that¡¯s one way of looking at it. For now, you can manage the Strategic Investment Operations Office as you see fit.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    As Shin-woo finished speaking, Myung Joong-hwan stood up from his seat.


    ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner now. By the way, is Hee-yeon here yet?¡±


    He directed the question to Goo Sang-ho.


    ¡°She arrived earlier and is waiting with the rest of the family.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good. Let¡¯s head out.¡±


    The study door opened, and Shin-woo followed Myung Joong-hwan into the living room. The family members seated on the sofa immediately stood up.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡±


    Everyone proceeded to the dining room, where they sat around a long dining table. Shin-woo sat at the far end, next to Im Hee-yeon. In the midst of a long silence, the food was brought out, and they began eating. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After some time had passed, Myung Joong-hwan was the first to break the silence.


    ¡°Yoo-hee, how¡¯s university life going? Is everything alright?¡±


    Myung Yoo-hee was the second daughter of Myung Seong-cheol, the younger son of Myung Joong-hwan. At 22 years old, she was in her third year as an economics major at Korea University and the youngest of the Myung family. She quietly put down her spoon before responding.


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s fine. There haven¡¯t been any problems.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡±


    It was the kind of formal question that was often asked. Yoo-hee, fully aware of that, didn¡¯t think much of it and answered simply. But Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s questioning continued.


    ¡°Is there anyone you¡¯re seeing?¡±


    ¡°¡­Excuse me? Oh, no, there isn¡¯t.¡±


    As the conversation veered into more personal matters, the rest of the family exchanged curious glances. Noticing their reactions, Myung Joong-hwan cast a quick glance at them.


    ¡°Whenever you meet someone, I hope they won¡¯t be someone too greedy.¡±


    ¡°Greedy¡­? What do you mean?¡±


    At that moment, Myung Seong-cheol¡¯s expression became slightly uneasy. In fact, Seong-cheol had been quietly searching for a potential arranged marriage partner for his daughter, Yoo-hee, to help expand the scale of his company. It seemed Myung Joong-hwan had picked up on this, as his gaze briefly landed on Seong-cheol before continuing.


    ¡°Power is something you must cultivate on your own; you cannot rely on others for it.¡±


    Both Myung In-chul and Myung Seong-cheol¡¯s wives were not from famous corporate families but were ordinary people. This was to ensure that there would be no justification for external capital or forces to interfere in the running of the group. By operating purely on the independent power of MH Group, they avoided any unnecessary complications.


    However, Myung Seong-cheol, being the second son and aware of the limited influence of his own subsidiary, intended to use his daughter, Myung Yoo-hee, to expand his reach. Yoo-hee, sensing the warning in his words, cautiously responded.


    ¡°¡­I will keep that in mind.¡±


    As her soft voice trailed off, Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s gaze shifted to Shin-woo, who was seated at the far end of the table.


    ¡°There¡¯s something I didn¡¯t get to say earlier in the study,¡± he began.


    Shin-woo, meeting his eyes, looked back at him without any hesitation. Unlike the other family members, Shin-woo showed no signs of being intimidated, which caused Myung Joong-hwan to raise the corners of his mouth slightly as he continued.


    ¡°What would you think about taking on some work at MH Tech in addition to managing the Strategic Investment Operations Office?¡±


    At that moment, the other family members, who had been sitting with their heads bowed, suddenly focused their attention on Myung Joong-hwan.


    Shin-woo, who had already been looking at him, calmly asked in return, unfazed by the sudden suggestion.


    ¡°What kind of work are you referring to at MH Tech?¡±


    MH Tech, a defense industry affiliate, was not only responsible for producing military supplies like boots, guns, ammunition, military vehicles, and food. All security and protection personnel for MH Group were employed under MH Tech¡¯s subsidiary, KITE.


    ¡°I was thinking of having you take charge of KITE.¡±


    At that moment, Im Hee-yeon, whose thoughts had been racing, abruptly shouted.


    ¡°Chairman! I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea!¡±


    Everyone turned to look at her in surprise, but since her words were directed at Myung Joong-hwan, no one dared to speak.


    ¡°Why do you think that?¡± he asked.


    ¡°¡­Baek Shin-woo hasn¡¯t been in charge of the Strategic Investment Operations Office for long. I think it would be better for him to gain more experience there before taking on something else.¡±


    While her reasoning seemed fair, Im Hee-yeon had other, more pressing concerns. KITE, responsible for the close protection of the Myung family, was known for having distinctly divided factions within its special security teams. No matter what role Shin-woo would take there, he would inevitably be exposed to more danger than he would face working at the headquarters.


    ¡°He has already demonstrated his capabilities with this latest achievement, hasn¡¯t he?¡± Myung Joong-hwan responded, referring to the 3.4 billion won profit Shin-woo had made from an initial 1 billion won investment.


    At this, the expressions of the other family members turned slightly grim.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 16

    Chapter 16: Bait for Whom


    A chilling atmosphere lingered in the dining room where the family gathered for a meal.


    Everyone around the table was busy gauging each other¡¯s reactions, curious about what kind of answer Shin-woo would give to Myung Joong-Hwan¡¯s proposal.


    ¡°What exactly do you mean by taking charge of KITE?¡± Shin-woo asked, his bold question causing Myung Joong-Hwan to smile.


    ¡°What position would you prefer? Like before, would you want something neither too high nor too low?¡±


    ¡°Well, since we¡¯re at it, I¡¯d like a higher position this time.¡±


    At that moment, the faces of the other family members became noticeably tense. Shin-woo noticed but deliberately ignored their reactions and stared directly at Myung Joong-hwan.


    ¡°The higher the position supported by thin pillars, the more likely it is to falter and collapse. Are you still fine with that?¡±


    He was pointing out that Shin-woo¡¯s current foundation was weaker compared to the other family members. Shin-woo understood this well.


    ¡°It¡¯s my responsibility to figure out how to reinforce those thin pillars and make them stronger.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re confident?¡±


    ¡°As long as you give me the necessary authority.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re saying you¡¯re prepared to bear the full consequences if something goes wrong?¡±


    ¡°If responsibility is required, I¡¯ll take it.¡±


    Hearing this, Myung Joong-hwan glanced around the table at the rest of his family. They were all content with maintaining the status quo, preferring stability over growth. Even the eldest grandson, Myung Un-seok, who led the recent projects at the Strategic Investment Planning Office, wasn¡¯t much different.


    His own children, Myung In-chul, Myung Seong-cheol, and Myung Soo-yeon, were no exception.


    This is why Myung Joong-hwan found Baek Shin-woo, the more aggressive and ambitious grandson, born out of wedlock, so fascinating.


    ¡°Fine. You¡¯ll take the position of CEO at KITE, a subsidiary of MH Tech.¡±


    At this, the family was even more shocked than before.


    Myung In-chul, who had been silent until now, felt compelled to intervene.


    ¡°Father! Baek Shin-woo is only twenty-three years old. Even if it¡¯s a subsidiary, assigning him such a position is a heavy burden. KITE¡¯s operations are also very different from investment management.¡±


    KITE, after all, was primarily focused on corporate security and personal protection services.


    ¡°KITE is already a well-established company. There¡¯s little risk involved, and any issues that arise can be dealt with afterward.¡±


    ¡°But KITE is responsible for more than just external security; it also handles the family¡¯s private protection.¡±


    ¡°And don¡¯t those teams follow orders from you and the others more than from KITE?¡±


    The special security teams operated independently, separate from KITE¡¯s usual management.


    ¡°Still¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you expecting me to convince you here and now?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Silence filled the room once more.


    Myung Joong-hwan turned his attention back to Shin-woo.


    ¡°What do you think about becoming the CEO of KITE? Do you think you can grow it into something more significant, whether through funds, influence, or anything else?¡±


    This was an acknowledgment of Shin-woo¡¯s limited experience, but it was also an offer with an advantage.


    Of course, Shin-woo wasn¡¯t someone to accept it at face value.


    ¡°If I¡¯m going to grow the company, I¡¯d want full control.¡±


    ¡°Can you do it?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll only know once I try. But sure, I¡¯ll take the position. When do I start?¡±


    Shin-woo wasn¡¯t entirely sure what Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s intentions were in offering this position.


    Moreover, KITE also included the security team that protected Myung In-chul. It was both a chance to inspect the inner workings of the group and akin to stepping into enemy territory.


    ¡°I like your decisiveness,¡± Myung Joong-hwan said.


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    It was clear Shin-woo had conditions. The tension in the room immediately thickened as everyone realized what was happening.


    Who would dare place conditions on Myung Joong-hwan?


    The silence grew heavier than before.


    ¡°I want full and solid authority. Without it, control won¡¯t be effective, and progress will be hindered, resulting in conflicts. Naturally, those conflicts will get loud.¡±


    ¡°¡­Conflicts, you say?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll break through them. Of course, there¡¯ll be plenty of noise.¡±


    At that moment, Myung Joong-hwan set down his chopsticks, making his decision.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you a 5% stake in KITE. I own all of KITE¡¯s shares anyway, so you¡¯ll become the second-largest shareholder, following me, and sit in the CEO¡¯s chair.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s sufficient.¡±


    ¡°But I also have a condition. Within three months, you must generate profits at the Strategic Investment Operations Office equivalent to what you made last time. Otherwise, you¡¯ll only be CEO of KITE for three months.¡±


    Even with these conditional terms, Shin-woo¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver for a moment. In truth, generating that level of profit was comparable to the 5% stake in KITE.


    ¡°That¡¯s fine with me. Let¡¯s do it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s settled then.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A satisfied smile spread across Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s face.


    Meanwhile, except for Im Hee-yeon, the other family members wore expressions as sour as if they had swallowed something bitter.


    Until now, Myung Joong-hwan had never transferred shares to any of his children.


    While KITE was technically a subsidiary with no direct involvement in corporate governance, the fact that he had acted on his trust in Shin-woo still made the others uneasy.


    .


    .


    .


    Evening


    After having dinner at the Pyeongchang-dong mansion, Myung In-chul found himself sitting in an upscale bar in Gangnam, tending to other business.


    Not long after, his younger brother and second son of the Myung family, Myung Seong-cheol, entered and sat beside him.


    ¡°You¡¯re early.¡±


    ¡°Why did you call me? Oh, I¡¯ll have the usual drink here.¡±


    As Myung Seong-cheol casually placed his order, Myung In-chul watched him and spoke.


    ¡°I was wondering what you think about Father¡¯s intentions.¡±


    ¡°Father? How would I know what¡¯s going on in that old man¡¯s head?¡±


    ¡°You must have thought about it at least once.¡±


    The two brothers were usually busy keeping each other in check over MH Group¡¯s management rights. Because of their rivalry, Seong-cheol found it hard to understand why In-chul had asked to meet now.


    ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re the heir of MH Group. What¡¯s got you so worried?¡±


    The slightly mocking tone caused a twitch in In-chul¡¯s brow.


    Meanwhile, the whiskey that Seong-cheol had ordered was poured into a glass over ice.


    ¡°Do you really think so?¡±


    ¡°¡­What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand Father¡¯s thinking. Especially with him accepting Im Hee-yeon and her son¡­¡±


    ¡°To be honest, that surprised me too. Why would he bring in that woman when he¡¯s been using her like a shadow all this time? Could Father be¡­ having second thoughts?¡±


    At that, In-chul paused mid-sip of his drink.


    ¡°Second thoughts?¡±


    ¡°You never know. Father might be¡­¡±


    Even though Seong-cheol didn¡¯t finish his sentence, In-chul could easily infer the meaning.


    ¡°Are you suggesting that he might be considering her as a successor?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not saying that. It¡¯s just unsettling. So, is this why you called me here? Ah, bartender, another round here.¡±


    The bartender refilled his glass, and after a moment, In-chul tapped his fingers on the table and spoke.


    ¡°I heard that there was a major incident involving Executive Director Joo Seong-man at MH Retail recently. Something about over 3 billion won, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°¡­Hyung, what are you trying to say?¡±


    **Tl/n: Hyung is a Korean term used by a male to address or refer to an older brother or an older male friend, Previously I have used brother/Sister as we normally do, Tho I will go on using the Korean terms from now on.**


    The MH Retail scandal had been caught by Im Hee-yeon while she was still in the Strategic Planning Department.


    Of course, Executive Director Joo Seong-man was found guilty of embezzlement due to the rebates he had received over the years. He was now in custody, awaiting trial. However, the 3.2 billion won that had gone through the rebates had yet to be recovered, causing headaches for the company.


    ¡°How long do you think Joo Seong-man will keep his mouth shut?¡±


    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re trying to say.¡±


    Feeling thirsty, Seong-cheol downed his glass in one go.


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to do it, do it properly. What¡¯s 3 billion won?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°How long can Joo Seong-man keep quiet? And do you really think Im Hee-yeon doesn¡¯t know you¡¯re involved?¡±


    The MH Retail rebate embezzlement scheme had been orchestrated by none other than Seong-cheol.


    Joo Seong-man had kept quiet because he believed that Seong-cheol would protect him.


    However, this conversation made it clear that the situation wouldn¡¯t go down smoothly.


    ¡°¡­Hyung, are you threatening me?¡±


    ¡°Threatening you? We¡¯re brothers. What could I gain from that? I¡¯m just letting you know that Im Hee-yeon isn¡¯t sharpening her knives for me alone.¡±


    Seong-cheol felt his throat grow even drier.


    ¡°She¡¯s after me? Over just 3 billion won? Hyung, you¡¯re on a whole different level than me!¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t act innocent¡­!¡±


    Until recently, Myung Joong-hwan hadn¡¯t mentioned anything about MH Electronics. Now, though Seong-cheol had suspicions, he lacked solid evidence.


    ¡°Ahem! Anyway, what do you expect me to do?¡±


    Once again, In-chul tapped his fingers on the table and spoke.


    ¡°How about we bring your son, Jin-seok, into the headquarters?¡±


    At that, Seong-cheol, who had been about to lift his glass, turned sharply to look at his brother.


    ¡°My Jin-seok? In the headquarters?¡±


    The power dynamics within MH Group ultimately revolved around positions of authority.


    How many people you could place in key subsidiaries determined your faction¡¯s strength.


    Naturally, holding a position in the headquarters significantly impacted the succession ranking as well.


    But up until now, Myung Jin-seok, the son of the second son, had not been able to enter the headquarters since Myung In-chul was already seated as the president.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Isn¡¯t he currently the Head of Product Planning at MH Food?¡±


    ¡°¡­He is. So, you¡¯re really suggesting Jin-seok enter the headquarters?¡±


    ¡°His experience at MH Food should be sufficient. It¡¯s about time for him to move up.¡±


    This was an opportunity that Seong-cheol couldn¡¯t have wished for more.


    However, hearing this proposal right after the mention of Joo Seong-man¡¯s rebate scheme naturally made him suspicious.


    ¡°What do you want in return, Brother? You wouldn¡¯t make this offer without a reason.¡±


    ¡°Two is better than one, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    ¡°¡­Two?¡±


    Seong-cheol looked puzzled, not fully understanding.


    ¡°You¡¯re aware that Un-seok is currently under Im Hee-yeon, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s there to learn from her. But while that¡¯s happening, Baek Shin-woo has started catching Father¡¯s eye.¡±


    ¡°¡­True.¡±


    ¡°So why not send Jin-seok to join him? The Strategic Investment Audit Office could be a good fit.¡±


    Seong-cheol¡¯s surprise intensified.


    The Strategic Investment Audit Office was responsible for reviewing every project handled by the Strategic Investment Headquarters.


    In essence, it functioned like an internal audit team with immense power.


    In some ways, the role could even surpass that of Myung Un-seok¡¯s position in the Strategic Investment Planning Office.


    ¡°¡­The Audit Office? Are you serious?¡±


    ¡°My son makes progress in the Planning Office, and your son could act as a brake on Baek Shin-woo in the Audit Office.¡±


    ¡°But the results¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying just to block him. In the Audit Office, Jin-seok could evaluate and analyse the profits that Baek Shin-woo is generating. Don¡¯t you think he¡¯d learn a thing or two?¡±


    Hearing this, Seong-cheol nodded.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    ¡°If Jin-seok does a good job of applying the brakes, the CEO position at KITE that Father promised Baek Shin-woo will end after the initial three months.¡±


    From the beginning, this had been Myung In-chul¡¯s goal.


    When Myung Joong-hwan offered the CEO position at KITE to Baek Shin-woo along with 5% of the shares, In-chul had seethed with frustration.


    But rather than showing it, he had silently planned for this moment.


    ¡°What do you think? Sound good?¡±


    Seong-cheol didn¡¯t need much time to decide.


    ¡°Great. The transfer will happen soon, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    The Two brothers clinked their freshly filled glasses together.

 Chapter 17

    Chapter 17. Glittering Parachute


    Inside the Strategic Investment Operations office, the employees were busy watching each other, trying to gauge the mood.


    This was because the atmosphere had shifted after Shin-woo successfully completed a solo stock investment project.


    They then watched as Shin-woo, the head of Strategic Investment Operations, entered the office, barely acknowledging their greetings before heading into his private office.


    Tap-tap-tap-tap¡ª


    Team 2 Leader Ji Young-sook, seated at one of the desks, sent a message to Kim Jong-soo.


    ¡¾Team Leader Ji Young-sook: Team Leader Kim, can we really just sit here like this?¡¿ ¡¾Team Leader Kim Jong-soo: Honestly, I have no idea what we should do.¡¿


    At first, Shin-woo had proposed projects to them and even held meetings.


    Of course, the employees were still working on projects that had been handed down from the Strategic Investment Planning Office.


    But, they had nothing to do with their direct superior, Baek Shin-woo.


    No wonder rumors were spreading in other departments that the Strategic Investment Operations Office was just Shin-woo working alone.


    ¡¾Team Leader Ji Young-sook: Should we go ask him to assign us some tasks now?¡¿ ¡¾Team Leader Kim Jong-soo: Would that even work?¡¿


    The recent net profit of 3.4 billion won that Shin-woo had earned felt to them like a second-place lottery prize they missed out on right in front of their eyes.


    Such results could significantly affect their performance evaluations for promotions¡­ It was hard to face him after doubting his abilities and turning away from him.


    Moreover, the investment Shin-woo succeeded in this time was essentially a test. Since it had concluded successfully, it was certain that the next project would be even larger.


    If they were excluded again, their positions would become precarious.


    ¡¾Team Leader Ji Young-sook: But we can¡¯t just sit around, can we?¡¿ ¡¾Team Leader Kim Jong-soo: I¡¯m really losing my mind here. Who would¡¯ve thought the director had this level of skill?¡¿ ¡¾Team Leader Ji Young-sook: Do you think he might have completed an MBA course or something before he joined the military?¡¿ ¡¾Team Leader Kim Jong-soo: There were rumours that he didn¡¯t even attend college. Plus, he¡¯s only 23 years old, meaning he must¡¯ve gone to the military right when he turned 20.¡¿


    They tried to come up with various hypotheses to explain Shin-woo¡¯s abilities.


    But none of them fit, which only made them more frustrated.


    ¡¾Team Leader Ji Young-sook: Still, don¡¯t you think we should go and talk to him?¡¿ ¡¾Team Leader Kim Jong-soo: And say what?¡¿ ¡¾Team Leader Ji Young-sook: Let¡¯s ask him to give us some tasks now, before it¡¯s too late.¡¿


    Kim Jong-soo, who had been vigorously typing on the keyboard, exchanged glances with Ji Young-sook from across the partition.


    The two, having made up their minds, stood up and walked over to Shin-woo¡¯s office door.


    Knock knock¡ª


    ¡°¡­Come in.¡±


    Kim Jong-soo and Ji Young-sook entered cautiously.


    Shin-woo, who had been sitting at his desk, stopped typing and looked at the two of them.


    ¡°What can I help you with?¡±


    Since Shin-woo had been working alone, completely excluding the Strategic Investment Operations team from all tasks since his first day, it was strange to see them visiting him all of a sudden.


    Kim Jong-soo, feeling a bit awkward, exchanged glances with Ji Young-sook before stepping closer.


    ¡°¡­We¡¯re really sorry for how we acted before.¡±


    It was a sincere apology. But Shin-woo merely looked at them indifferently before responding.


    ¡°Given my background, it¡¯s understandable you had doubts. I get it. So, did you come here just to apologize?¡±


    ¡°¡­We would like to participate in your future projects.¡±


    The atmosphere seemed to be going smoothly.


    ¡°Is that necessary?¡±


    ¡°¡­Pardon?¡±


    The easy flow they had expected after receiving forgiveness was just a misconception on their part.


    ¡°After working alone on this investment project, I found it a bit difficult, but not impossible. I think the operations team can keep working on their own projects as they¡¯ve been doing.¡±


    ¡°¡­But eventually, the workload will become too much.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware. That¡¯s why I plan to hire the people I need separately. Fortunately, I¡¯ve been told there¡¯s enough room in the personnel allocation (T/O).¡±


    Shocked, Kim Jong-soo exchanged glances with Ji Young-sook.


    After a moment of silence, Ji Young-sook spoke up.


    ¡°Director, we don¡¯t know who you plan to hire, but the members of the Operations team, including us, were all brought in with investment operations experience from within the group.¡±


    ¡°¡­And?¡±


    Shin-woo¡¯s response was just as emotionless as before.


    Noticing the lack of reaction, Ji Young-sook continued cautiously.


    ¡°It¡¯s a bit awkward to say this myself, but we are considered talented employees. Plus, no one else in the group is as familiar with the current work as we are.¡±


    Other than the fact that he held the position of Strategic Investment Operations Director and was connected to the owner family, Shin-woo didn¡¯t have any network within the company.


    Naturally, finding qualified employees within the group would be difficult for him.


    Ji Young-sook¡¯s suggestion implied that, rather than hiring new people, Shin-woo should utilize the existing team.


    Click, click¡ª


    Shin-woo picked up the two 8-sided dice he had left on his desk and rolled them in his left hand.


    ¡°Who said I was planning to hire from within the company?¡±


    ¡°¡­What? So, you¡¯re planning to bring in external personnel?¡±


    ¡°If I can¡¯t find the right people here, I¡¯ll look outside.¡±


    ¡°But¡­!¡± Ji Young-sook almost asked Shin-woo if he even had such connections but stopped herself.


    ¡°I¡¯ll handle my work, so you just focus on the tasks assigned to you.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Anything else you want to say?¡±


    ¡°¡­No.¡±


    As the two were about to leave, Shin-woo suddenly spoke up.


    ¡°Oh, please pass on one thing to the other employees.¡±


    Kim Jong-soo turned back with a puzzled expression.


    ¡°What do you want us to say?¡±


    ¡°Tell them that while climbing the ranks by aligning with the right people is inevitable in corporate life, if they don¡¯t do it moderately, they¡¯ll fall as far as they¡¯ve risen.¡±


    ¡°¡­What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°The ones who need to understand will get it. You can go now.¡±


    With uneasy expressions, the two left the office.


    As they walked side by side, Kim Jong-soo nervously whispered to Ji Young-sook.


    ¡°Was that a warning not to follow the wrong person?¡±


    ¡°¡­I wouldn¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°I honestly have no idea what the director is thinking.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, me neither¡­¡±


    They muttered to themselves as they returned to their desks and conveyed Shin-woo¡¯s message to the rest of the staff.


    The employees reacted with the same bewildered expressions as Kim Jong-soo and Ji Young-sook.


    Ding¡ªding¡ªding¡ª


    At that moment, a notification sound rang from the computer, and a corporate announcement popped up in the bottom left corner of the screen.


    ¡°Huh? No way!¡±


    One of the employees, who had been listening to the message, checked the notification and gasped in shock.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Kim Jong-soo, the leader of Team 1, asked, and the employee pointed at their computer screen.


    ¡°Team Leader! You need to see this announcement right now!¡±


    ¡°What? Is it something serious?¡±


    Kim Jong-soo and the rest of the employees quickly checked the announcement and were equally stunned.


    ¡¾Personnel Announcement¡¿ ? MH Group Headquarters Strategic Investment Division ¡®Baek Shin-woo,¡¯ the Director of Operations (Deputy General Manager), will assume the position of CEO of KITE Company under MH Tech as of XX/XX/2023.


    . .


    This meant that, while still being the Director of Strategic Investment Operations, Shin-woo was now also the CEO of KITE, a security company under MH Tech. It was such a shocking personnel change that the employees all lifted their heads over the partitions, staring at Shin-woo¡¯s desk.


    ***


    Mansoo Electric, Cheonggyecheon.


    Jang Man-soo, who had been typing away furiously in his hidden workshop, was so surprised that he shouted aloud.


    ¡°You want me to work at your company?!¡±


    Seated beside him was Shin-woo, who had finished his day¡¯s work and come by after hours.


    ¡°Now that I¡¯m also the CEO of KITE, I need to understand and manage that business too, but I can¡¯t be in two places at once.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re asking me to handle the Strategic Investment Operations Office on my own, huh?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll promote you to manager. Manager Jang Man-soo. How does that sound?¡±


    Jang Man-soo¡¯s face contorted as if he had just gulped down bitter ginseng tea.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been helping you plenty already¡ª! And I have low blood pressure! How am I supposed to show up to work in the morning?!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll set you up with flexible working hours. The domestic market closes at 3:30 PM anyway.¡±


    ¡°Do you not realize I¡¯m still building the network to track those guys down? I¡¯m already tearing my eyes out trying to build parts for that system!¡±


    Dark circles had formed under Jang Man-soo¡¯s eyes, a testament to his sleepless nights.


    Of course, Shin-woo knew very well the kind of hard work that entailed.


    ¡°You said it would take a long time anyway since you don¡¯t have the parts.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m trying to make them!¡±


    ¡°Do you really think it¡¯s possible? Wouldn¡¯t it be faster if I leveraged my position as CEO of KITE, which is a subsidiary of MH Tech, to acquire the technology directly?¡±


    After all, one of the components for building the server network was developed by MH Tech.


    ¡°You¡¯re basically telling me to go to work!¡±


    ¡°Exactly. And isn¡¯t it safer than continuing to work alone here?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re talking about the NIS (National Intelligence Service), I¡¯ve already erased all the traces!¡±


    ¡°Beyond that, the 666th Unit might still be tracking you. Instead of hiding in the shadows, we¡¯re going to make your name public. That way, they might come looking for you.¡±


    For this plan, Shin-woo had even revealed that he was Im Hee-yeon¡¯s son when he entered MH Group. Of course, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for now, but if they publicized his name, it would be faster than waiting for Jang Man-soo to build the network server.


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be bad if my face became too well-known?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s better than dying unnoticed. And I¡¯ll be the only one whose face is known. You, on the other hand, should just think of yourself as disguised as an ordinary office worker.¡±


    ¡°Ah¨D this is so annoying!¡±


    Jang Man-soo scratched his head in frustration, his face full of complaints. Shin-woo had expected him to be this resistant to the idea.


    ¡°Can I tell them about the secret room in your hideout later?¡±


    At that moment, Jang Man-soo¡¯s pupils and lips quivered as if an earthquake had hit him.


    ¡°Wha-what?! Wha-what are you talking about?!¡±


    ¡°You really don¡¯t know? The secret room?¡±


    ¡°Is this a movie reference? I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    Jang Man-soo stared blankly into space.


    Shin-woo smiled broadly.


    ¡°You really don¡¯t know?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure I don¡¯t know!¡±


    ¡°Hm~¡±


    Jang Man-soo, now sweating profusely, made Shin-woo¡¯s smile even wider.


    . . .


    A few days later. Shin-woo was already in his office early in the morning. He was checking the stock trends Jang Man-soo had suggested. However, his face soon became perplexed.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ It feels like I¡¯ve forgotten something important.¡±


    No matter how hard he thought, he couldn¡¯t remember. At the same time, an overwhelming sense of anxiety washed over him.


    ¡°¡­Did I miss something in my plan?¡±


    The anxiety was so great that he couldn¡¯t even focus on the stock information in front of him.


    Then, the phone on his desk rang.


    Ring-ring-ring¡ªring-ring-ring¡ª


    ¡°Strategic Investment Operations Director Baek Shin-woo speaking.¡±


    [This is the reception desk on the first floor. A man named Jang Man-soo is here to see you.]


    ¡°Ah! Understood. Tell him I¡¯ll be down shortly.¡±


    Jang Man-soo had arrived, having finally decided to start working. Shin-woo immediately left his office and headed downstairs.


    However, as soon as he got off the elevator, he noticed people stopping in their tracks near the reception desk.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Sensing something strange, Shin-woo stood on tiptoe to find out the reason. A wave of dread suddenly hit him like a tsunami.


    ¡°Oh no¡­¡±


    The reason people were gathering was because of a man standing in front of the reception desk.


    Dressed in a glaringly bright lime-green jacket, a sky-blue shirt, and burgundy pants. His shoes and tie were spotless white, as if they were carefully matched. His overly flashy fashion sense was stopping MH Group employees in their tracks on their way to work.


    ¡°I should have warned him about that¡­¡±


    The culprit behind the outrageous fashion was none other than Jang Man-soo. As if that wasn¡¯t enough, he was wearing yellow horn-rimmed sunglasses and posing like a model, casually leaning his arm on the reception desk.


    Shin-woo¡¯s head throbbed as if a grenade had just exploded right in front of him.

 Chapter 18

    Chapter 18: The Skilled Clown


    Before his regression, Shin-woo had known Jang Man-soo for about 8 years.


    Their relationship began even before Triad Eye was formed, back when Shin-woo was still a freelance mercenary.


    Their meeting had been particularly striking.


    While taking a break in Paris after completing a mission, Shin-woo had noticed a man in a zebra-print jacket, red shirt, and shiny blue pants working on a laptop at a caf¨¦.


    That man, of course, was Jang Man-soo.


    While Jang Man-soo had briefly stepped away, someone stole his laptop and bag, and Shin-woo had caught the thieves.


    That¡¯s how their bond formed, and together they laid the foundation for Triad Eye based on their respective skills.


    When asked why he dressed like that, Jang Man-soo said it was just something he did when he wanted to dress up.


    Perhaps the more nervous he got, the more he lost control of his fashion sense.


    Today was Jang Man-soo¡¯s first day at MH Group.


    ¡°¡­What am I supposed to do with this guy?¡±


    As the start of the workday approached, the people who had paused began to disperse.


    In the clearing space, Jang Man-soo, standing confidently in his flamboyant attire, spotted Shin-woo waiting quietly.


    ¡°C-Captain, no, Baek Shin-woo!¡±


    Jang Man-soo, almost out of habit, called Shin-woo ¡°Captain¡± before correcting himself.


    Seeing Jang Man-soo approach in his dazzling outfit, Shin-woo instinctively took a small step back.


    ¡°¡­Should I just go up alone?¡±


    He was being completely sincere.


    Jang Man-soo came closer and addressed him.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who told me to come to work. Why are you just standing there?¡±


    ¡°¡­You¡¯re not going to dress like this all the time, right? This is just for today, right?¡±


    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t I look good like this?¡±


    Jang Man-soo confidently spun around, his lime-green jacket flaring slightly.


    What part of this was supposed to look ¡°good,¡± Shin-woo had no idea.


    ¡°¡­Never mind. Let¡¯s just go up.¡±


    Shin-woo had already informed the Human Resources Department through Director Song Tae-hoon of the Strategic Investment Headquarters about Jang Man-soo¡¯s arrival.


    Since he had used his authority as the Director of Strategic Investment Operations to hire Jang Man-soo, there was no issue there.


    However, the time spent waiting for the elevator was pure agony, thanks to Jang Man-soo¡¯s outfit.


    ¡®Please, he¡¯s not going to show up dressed like this every day, right¡­?¡¯


    Worrying to himself, they finally arrived on the 32nd floor, where the Strategic Investment Operations office was located.


    Even while walking through the office hallway and heading to Shin-woo¡¯s private room, they continued to draw the attention of the staff.


    ¡°Wow~ This place is really nice!¡±


    Jang Man-soo said as he flopped down loudly on the sofa after looking around the office.


    ¡°It¡¯s just spacious, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re treating you well, huh? So, where¡¯s my seat?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll set up an office for you right next to mine. Later, if you have any team members you want, we can hire more and assign them to your team.¡±


    Jang Man-soo nodded, then glanced through the office glass at the staff of the Strategic Investment Operations office.


    ¡°What about those people? If they work at MH Group¡¯s headquarters, they can¡¯t be bad, right?¡±


    He wasn¡¯t wrong.


    As Team Leader Ji Young-sook had mentioned before, they were indeed talented people selected from within MH Group.


    However, Shin-woo had no intention of placing them under Jang Man-soo¡¯s command.


    ¡°There¡¯s someone planted here by the Myung family.¡±


    ¡°What?! They already placed someone from the Myung family here? Wow¡­ they¡¯re really on guard.¡±


    ¡°Yesterday, Myung Seong-cheol, the president of MH Retail and MH Food, sent his second son to the Strategic Investment Audit Office as Deputy Director.¡±


    Jang Man-soo was even more surprised at this explanation.


    ¡°So, Myung In-chul, the eldest son, is the Director of the Planning Office, and now the second son is the Deputy Director of the Audit Office? They¡¯re really making it obvious that they¡¯re watching you.¡±


    ¡°They must have felt threatened after the last profit report. I¡¯ve already taken precautions, but it¡¯s impossible to leave things unattended now.¡±


    Shin-woo now had to assess the internal situation, not only as the CEO of KITE but also within MH Group.


    ¡°I get what you mean. So, the rank is just as you mentioned before?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll be a manager. Later, when you go to the HR department, they¡¯ll give you your ID card and the necessary paperwork.¡±


    ¡°You mean the Personnel Office? Sounds good. Thanks to you, I¡¯ll get to be a manager in a big company.¡±


    ¡°Oh, and be careful with what you call me, too.¡±


    Up until now, Jang Man-soo had been calling Shin-woo ¡°Captain¡± at every opportunity.


    After knowing each other for 8 years before the regression, the habit had stuck. He had almost slipped up again in the lobby downstairs.


    ¡°So should I call you Director? Or CEO?¡±


    Although part of it was due to Shin-woo holding two different positions, Jang Man-soo was clearly teasing him.


    ¡°Just call me whatever¡¯s comfortable. It¡¯s not like it won¡¯t be obvious to everyone that we¡¯re friends.¡±


    ¡°Ok¨D!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll take care of your work as usual. But make sure that the task we talked about before is handled as planned without any issues.¡±


    ¡°You mean the 400% profit within three months, right?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a conditional project tied to my position as the CEO of KITE. Since Myung Jin-seok is now in the Strategic Investment Audit Office, he¡¯ll be reviewing the investment strategy you¡¯ve designed.¡±


    It was a warning to be cautious.


    However, Jang Man-soo smiled, as if he had something in mind.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to invest in companies with solid foundations.¡±


    ¡°If you can do that, I¡¯ll appreciate it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the same guy who used to secretly make slush funds for the NIS without getting caught~!¡±


    ¡°Watch how you say that, too.¡±


    It was all talk about their experiences and habits before the regression.


    Even though there wasn¡¯t a bug in the office right now, if something like that slipped out, it could lead to a misunderstanding.


    ¡°Ok! Ok¨D!¡±


    Jang Man-soo cheekily made a circle with his thumb and forefinger.


    ¡°Oh, the Director of Strategic Investment Headquarters might want to meet with you.¡±


    ¡°Huh? The lady?¡±


    It was a teasing comment, just like last time.


    ¡°Do you want to die?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just kidding. Anyway, if she calls me, is there anything else I should know besides what we talked about?¡±


    ¡°For now, just stick to what we discussed. There¡¯s nothing on the surface that¡¯ll cause trouble.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m supposed to say we met in the military, kept in touch occasionally, and then I got scouted while working as an investment trainer, right?¡±


    At this point in time, there was no public connection between Shin-woo and Jang Man-soo.


    The fortunate thing was that Jang Man-soo had finished his military service early.


    Publicly, Shin-woo had been discharged as a non-commissioned officer from the Army Special Warfare Command¡¯s logistics division.


    During his service, he could claim to have met Jang Man-soo while dispatched to another unit.


    Such events during one¡¯s military service didn¡¯t leave detailed records, so it was a plausible cover story.


    ¡°After that, say we only exchanged a few messages and that you don¡¯t know anything more about me. Even if they think it¡¯s suspicious, they won¡¯t be able to dig any deeper.¡±


    ¡°This feels like a full-on spy mission. Got it. So, I just take over the project you were working on, right?¡±


    ¡°Please.¡±


    ¡°Then shall we head to my seat?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll show you where it is.¡±


    Shin-woo led Jang Man-soo out of the office and toward his designated spot.


    ¡¾Strategic Investment Operations 3rd Team Leader (Manager) Jang Man-soo¡¿


    A nameplate with his title and rank was already set up on the partition in front of the desk.


    The desk itself was equipped with six monitors and a high-performance computer, ready for stock trading and analyzing countless data.


    ¡°Oh~ This spot is nice. They even put my name on it.¡±


    Jang Man-soo sat down, immediately booted up the computer, and pulled something out from his belt buckle.


    Shin-woo, startled, whispered.


    ¡°A USB?¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure what they might have done to this system, so I brought this with me just in case.¡±


    The USB had been disguised as a metallic belt buckle.


    Jang Man-soo inserted it into one of the computer¡¯s ports as it booted up.


    Tatatatadak¨D


    His fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard, bypassing MH Group¡¯s security to get the unauthorized USB recognized.


    The program on the USB soon loaded, and a familiar screen from Jang Man-soo¡¯s workspace appeared.


    ¡¾LEUCO Operating System Access¡¿


    ¡¾Log£­in¡¿


    Shin-woo, now even more surprised, almost raised his voice before quickly lowering it.


    ¡°Hey¨D! How is this possible?¡±


    LEUCO was supposed to only work from Jang Man-soo¡¯s workshop.


    But here it was, running on a freshly booted-up computer.


    ¡°You told me to come to the office, so I modified the OS so it could work from anywhere.


    But look at this, they¡¯ve been messing with it.¡±


    On the screen, a list of programs detected by LEUCO OS popped up.


    It showed a series of programs that recorded all user activity, including website login IDs and passwords, and sent them to an unknown location. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Did you delete them already?¡±


    Jang Man-soo continued typing rapidly, alternating between making new screens appear and deleting data.


    ¡°No, I rerouted everything through the router and used packet sniffing to divert the monitoring program.¡±


    He had redirected the monitoring programs to another destination through the network.


    Shin-woo had enough knowledge to understand the concept.


    ¡°Where to?¡±


    ¡°To a place where revealing the surveillance program would be a real headache.¡±


    ¡°And where is that?¡±


    Jang Man-soo tracked the IP address of the computer receiving the surveillance data and found the names and positions of the people involved.


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s a guy named Kim Yong-sik, the Head of the Personnel Management Department at MH Group headquarters. And the one receiving the program logs is Assistant Manager Moon Ji-hoon under him. But if this is going on, isn¡¯t your computer at risk, too?¡±


    ¡°I called someone from the Personnel Management Department the moment I arrived and had them format my computer before installing only the essential programs under my supervision.¡±


    Shin-woo had already anticipated this level of scrutiny and acted accordingly. Plus, his computer had also been safeguarded by Im Hee-yeon to ensure that no one from the Myung family could tamper with it.


    However, Shin-woo wasn¡¯t aware of the extent of this situation.


    ¡°Well done. Just to be safe, I¡¯ll give it a check. I¡¯ll also set it up so anything installed later can be deleted automatically.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d appreciate that. But won¡¯t this trigger MH Group¡¯s system?¡±


    ¡°I told you, it¡¯s a master key. As long as LEUCO is in play and the server isn¡¯t completely isolated, everything is connected.¡±


    ¡°Even so, be careful.¡±


    LEUCO was a program even the National Intelligence Service had tried to acquire. Its risk level depended entirely on the user¡¯s intentions.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll finish up some work and then pay a visit to the Personnel Management Department. You get back to what you need to do.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    With that, Shin-woo returned to his office.


    ***


    MH Group Headquarters, Personnel Management Department.


    Beep¨D Beep¨D


    Kim Yong-sik, the department head, was hard at work when a security alarm suddenly flashed on his computer screen.


    At the same time, his computer froze completely, and a password input window popped up.


    ¡°What is this? What¡¯s going on?¡±


    He was baffled by the unexpected situation.


    He tried moving the mouse and typing on the keyboard, but nothing worked.


    ¡°Can someone take a look at this? My computer¡¯s acting strange all of a sudden.¡±


    One of his subordinates approached and glanced at the screen.


    ¡°It looks like the safety program installed by the Systems Management Department has been triggered. Maybe it detected some kind of dangerous virus?¡±


    The Personnel Management Department was responsible for overseeing the staffing within MH Group.


    Given that they handled sensitive employee information, security was of utmost importance.


    ¡°What? A virus? What should I do?!¡±


    ¡°We should contact the Systems Management Department immediately.¡±


    ¡°Hurry and call them!¡±


    Before long, a Systems Management employee arrived.


    ¡°Excuse me.¡±


    The employee quickly halted the frozen screen and entered the administrator password to assess the situation.


    ¡°Ah¡­ It looks like there¡¯s a surveillance program installed on this computer.¡±


    Upon hearing that, Kim Yong-sik¡¯s frustration and anger skyrocketed. To him, it could only mean that someone had targeted his company computer.


    ¡°What?! Why is something like that installed? Who put that on my computer?¡±


    ¡°One moment, please. It seems like the program was set up to transmit logs¡­ If we trace it back¡­¡±


    The Systems Management employee was skilled enough to conduct an efficient search.


    It didn¡¯t take long before they traced the IP address connected to the surveillance program.


    ¡°Uh¡­ The person responsible for transmitting the logs seems to be from this very department.¡±


    ¡°What?! Who is it?¡±


    With a conflicted expression, the Systems Management employee spoke carefully.


    ¡°It¡¯s coming from Assistant Manager Moon Ji-hoon¡¯s computer.¡±


    ¡°Assistant Manager Moon?! Where¡¯s Assistant Manager Moon Ji-hoon? Moon Ji-hoon!!¡±


    Kim Yong-sik knew exactly who he was talking about.


    His eyes blazed with anger as he looked around and shouted the name.


    At that moment, Moon Ji-hoon emerged from the break room, humming a tune with a fresh cup of coffee in hand.

 Chapter 19

    Chapter 19 ¨C Knight In The Elements


    Strategic Investment Audit Office.


    Recently, Myung Jin-seok, who had been the Product Planning Director at MH Foods, was transferred to the position of Deputy Director at the Strategic Investment Audit Office.


    Although he didn¡¯t receive the full title of director, he was satisfied to have entered the headquarters.


    At the same time, his father, Myung Seong-cheol, instructed him to establish a foothold at the headquarters, so he took it upon himself to gather information and recruit a staff member from the Personnel Management Department.


    He was thoroughly prepared to succeed at the headquarters.


    ¡°Where did they find such an idiot?¡±


    Just recently, Baek Shin-woo parachuted in a manager into the department, a rare opportunity.


    As he entered the building, he had seen that new manager in the lobby on his way to work.


    He barely stopped himself from laughing at the ridiculous clown-like fashion.


    ¡°Now, all I have to do is figure out what those two are up to in the Operations Office, and the game is over.¡±


    He had recruited a staff member from the Personnel Management Department and had installed surveillance software on Jang Man-soo, the parachuted manager¡¯s computer.


    While there was a risk of being caught, he minimized any traces by using a burner phone to issue the instructions.


    Myung Jin-seok smiled at his flawless execution, revelling in the success as he reviewed the latest performance reports from the Operations Office.


    It was the stock chart detailing the recent profits generated by Baek Shin-woo, the Director of the Strategic Investment Operations Office.


    Until he saw the data, Jin-seok had assumed Shin-woo had just gotten lucky.


    But the timing of the trades was eerily perfect.


    ¡°How did he get this kind of information? How is this not insider trading?¡±


    The data had already passed the Audit Office¡¯s review, yet Jin-seok was still curious about the process, so he was reviewing it under the pretense of familiarizing himself with the work.


    ¡°There¡¯s no way that military guy has the connections for insider trading¡­ Could it be that clownish guy?¡±


    He thought of Jang Man-soo, the man in the garish outfit he had seen earlier.


    He had already checked Man-soo¡¯s personnel records, which had been submitted through the Personnel Management Department.


    There was nothing noteworthy: a high school graduate with no interesting history since his military discharge.


    The content was so unimpressive that it made him laugh.


    ¡°If they¡¯re close, they could be sharing stock tips¡­¡±


    That was Myung Jin-seok¡¯s theory.


    The close interaction between Baek Shin-woo and Jang Man-soo that he witnessed in the lobby only reinforced this possibility.


    In his office, he anticipated his future success.


    Then, a buzzing sound came from somewhere on his desk.


    Bzzz¡ª Bzzz¡ª


    It was the burner phone he had left in his drawer.


    ¡°Damn it. Didn¡¯t I tell them not to call me?¡±


    Frustrated, Jin-seok harshly pressed the call button.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    The voice on the other end belonged to Moon Ji-hoon, the staff member from the Personnel Management Department he had recruited.


    [Deputy Director! There¡¯s a big problem!]


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    [It seems like the software we installed on that parachute¡¯s computer has been discovered!]


    ¡°¡­What? How did that happen?¡±


    Myung Jin-seok¡¯s face hardened.


    [Well, it¡¯s complicated¡­ We definitely installed the program on the parachute¡¯s computer, but somehow it ended up on our department head¡¯s computer.]


    Moon Ji-hoon was trying to summarize the situation, but Jin-seok couldn¡¯t understand why the software installed on Jang Man-soo¡¯s computer had ended up on someone else¡¯s.


    ¡°What the hell are you talking about?!¡±


    [Anyway! Because of this, the Systems Management Department found it, and now I¡¯ve been summoned by the Audit Office. What should I do?]


    Realizing the gravity of the situation, Jin-seok immediately hung up the phone.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    His office rang with the force of his scream.


    The noise attracted the attention of the staff in the Strategic Investment Audit Office, who turned to look.


    But Jin-seok ignored them and threw the phone to the floor, stomping on it.


    Crash¡ª Crash¡ª Crash¡ª


    ¡°No matter what that bastard says, there won¡¯t be any evidence left.¡±


    He had been meticulous.


    If he had used intermediaries, it might have been easier, but he didn¡¯t have enough connections at the headquarters to rely on others.


    ***


    MH Group Headquarters was buzzing with rumours.


    ¡°Did you hear Assistant Manager Moon Ji-hoon from the Personnel Management Department was spying on Director Kim Yong-sik?¡±


    ¡°I heard he got summoned by the Audit Office because of it.¡±


    ¡°Is he crazy? An assistant manager spying on the director?¡±


    ¡°I heard someone higher up told him to do it.¡±


    ¡°But what¡¯s with that new manager¡¯s fashion?¡±


    ¡°I thought he was from some kind of event when I first saw him.¡±


    The rumors spread quickly.


    Even the employees of the Strategic Investment Operations Office were abuzz with the gossip.


    Shin-woo was at Jang Man-soo¡¯s desk, listening to the voices and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    ¡°They seem to have taken the bait.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Whose skills do you think we¡¯re talking about? But it seems like the guy behind it will be watching us more closely now. Aren¡¯t we being too exposed inside enemy territory?¡±


    Jang Man-soo¡¯s eyes showed a hint of concern.


    ¡°As long as they can¡¯t figure out exactly how we¡¯re working, they won¡¯t be able to act rashly.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, but still¡­¡±


    ¡°If anyone contacts you, just tell them you¡¯re following my orders. Say you¡¯re only executing the buy and sell trades as instructed.¡±


    On the surface, it would appear that Shin-woo had placed Jang Man-soo in charge of investment operations because he trusted him.


    ¡°So you¡¯re throwing all the blame on me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s easier to handle that way. Anyway, I should get going soon.¡±


    ¡°You said you¡¯re heading to KITE, right? But isn¡¯t it a bit late? It¡¯s been a few days since you were appointed as CEO.¡±


    It had been exactly a week since his appointment.


    Oddly enough, the people at KITE hadn¡¯t reached out to express dissatisfaction with Shin-woo¡¯s appointment as CEO.


    ¡°I¡¯ll figure it out when I get there.¡±


    ¡°Take care, then.¡±


    ¡°Finish your work and head home when you¡¯re done.¡±


    Shin-woo quickly made his way to the underground parking lot, got in his car, and drove off.


    As he merged onto the road, his eyes instinctively checked the rearview mirror and the side mirrors.


    ¡°They never seem to get tired, do they?¡±


    He noticed that he was being followed. Just before getting into his car earlier, he had found and destroyed a tracker that had been placed on it.


    ¡°If they¡¯re that curious about me, they should just come and ask directly.¡±


    Shin-woo sped up and merged onto the Olympic Expressway.


    He could still see a black car following him, weaving through traffic to keep up.


    On the four-lane road, he continued speeding in the second lane before suddenly accelerating and braking while turning the wheel.


    ¡°Now, time for a turn¡ª!¡±


    Screeech¡ª


    Shin-woo¡¯s car drifted across the front of a car in the third lane, narrowly avoiding a collision as he darted into a side street.


    The car following him couldn¡¯t brake in time and sped past on the Olympic Expressway.


    ¡°Persistent bastards¡­ Even though they keep getting shaken off, they still follow.¡±


    Today, Shin-woo wasn¡¯t heading to Jang Man-soo¡¯s hideout but to KITE, so it didn¡¯t matter if he was being tailed.


    Still, he had gotten into the habit of shaking off tails, and it would have felt wrong not to do it today as well.


    Eventually, Shin-woo merged onto Yeoui-daero and headed towards KITE¡¯s headquarters in Incheon.


    .


    .


    .


    After about an hour¡¯s drive, Shin-woo arrived near KITE¡¯s headquarters.


    The area was filled with factory buildings, as KITE¡¯s headquarters was also the main office of MH Tech and its Incheon factory.


    ¡°The atmosphere is bleak.¡±


    Loud mechanical noises echoed from the nearby factories.


    He pulled up to the security barrier at the entrance to the factory grounds.


    An older security guard opened a small window and looked at Shin-woo.


    ¡°What brings you here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here to work.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re an employee, please scan your ID at the machine in front.¡±


    Shin-woo pulled out his employee ID from MH¡¯s headquarters and scanned it.


    Beep beep¡ª Beep beep¡ª


    An error sound rang out, and the guard¡¯s gaze returned to Shin-woo.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re an employee?¡±


    ¡°I am. It¡¯s my first day.¡±


    ¡°Ah~ but it¡¯s already past 3 p.m¡­¡±


    It was almost time for the end of the workday.


    The guard tilted his head, confused by the situation.


    ¡°There¡¯s a reason for it.¡±


    ¡°One moment, please.¡±


    The security guard approached Shin-woo and checked the ID he had scanned. Upon seeing the photo and position listed on the card, the guard was startled.


    ¡¾MH Group Strategic Investment Operations Office¡¿


    ¡¾Deputy General Manager, Baek Shin-woo¡¿


    ¡°You¡¯re really a deputy general manager from the headquarters?!¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A typical deputy general manager might not have been a big deal, but a deputy general manager at a major corporation was different. Furthermore, the title ¡°Head of Operations¡± added even more weight to the situation.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m starting today as the CEO of KITE. Will it take long?¡±


    ¡°¡­Pardon? The CEO¡­ of KITE?¡±


    ¡°If you need confirmation, please contact KITE¡¯s HR team and check.¡±


    At that moment, the security guard recalled a notice he had received about a week ago from KITE¡¯s HR team, which was linked to MH Tech.


    ¡°Ah¡ª! Just a moment.¡±


    He remembered the content but needed to verify it. The security guard immediately picked up the phone. After a brief explanation to someone from HR and a few exchanges of ¡°Yes¡ª Yes¡ª,¡± the call ended.


    At the same time, the barrier blocking the entrance lifted.


    ¡°You may go in.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Shin-woo retrieved his ID and drove into the factory grounds. Inside, there were several large factory buildings scattered around. All but one of them were part of MH Tech¡¯s headquarters and factories.


    Shin-woo headed towards the building with a simple sign that read ¡°KITE¡± and parked his car.


    ¡°It¡¯s bigger than I expected.¡±


    The site was managed by a basic security company, but it also housed a special security team responsible for protecting members of the owner¡¯s family.


    However, the special security team had separate offices and rarely stayed at the headquarters.


    As Shin-woo was looking around, a man walked out of the KITE building with a calm stride.


    He was in his early 50s, dressed in a neat brown suit, black shoes, and stood at about 180 cm tall with a solid build.


    ¡®Yu Hyung-jin, the Executive Director of KITE.¡¯


    He was the actual operator of KITE, aside from the real owner, Chairman Myung Joong-hwan.


    Shin-woo had already recognized him from the organizational chart he had studied.


    Turning off the car¡¯s engine, Shin-woo stepped out and walked towards Yu Hyung-jin.


    ¡°Hello, sir. I am Yu Hyung-jin, the Executive Director of KITE.¡±


    His greeting was serious yet composed.


    Shin-woo exchanged a handshake with Yu Hyung-jin, maintaining eye contact.


    ¡°I¡¯m Baek Shin-woo. I¡¯ve been busy with matters at headquarters, so I¡¯m a bit late.¡±


    Considering it had already been a week, it wasn¡¯t a short delay.


    Still, Yu Hyung-jin didn¡¯t seem bothered.


    ¡°It¡¯s no problem. Shall I take you to your office?¡±


    ¡°No, let¡¯s take a look around the company first.¡±


    ¡°As you wish.¡±


    Shin-woo followed Yu Hyung-jin into the building, glancing around the various parts of the facility as they passed through the lobby.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 20

    Chapter 20 ¨C Easygoing


    KITE¡¯s headquarters is a four-story building with a total area of approximately 500 pyeong. The basement and the 1st and 2nd floors of the building are various training facilities, while the offices for business operations are located on the 3rd and 4th floors.


    While listening to the explanation about the place, Shin-woo slowly observed the interior.


    ¡°As a security company, it seems to have quite a large number of on-site personnel.¡±


    This was because, based on the number of people visible from the training facility alone, there seemed to be dozens.


    ¡°As you know, this facility is being used together with MH Tech. At the same time, our KITE is responsible for all security duties for MH Tech, which means our stationed personnel are always on standby.¡±


    Shin-woo had already known that fact, but he asked on purpose.


    ¡°It¡¯s a very important role.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Due to that purpose, MH Tech¡¯s security forces are composed of personnel whose careers are comparable to those of special security team members.¡±


    MH Tech is a company that deals with the defense industry. Since it is a place where cutting-edge technology projects linked to the Ministry of National Defense are concentrated, its importance is also high.


    At that moment, a man in athletic wear noticed Yu Hyung-jin in the hallway and approached him.


    ¡°Director. A representative from an external company has arrived for the 15:30 meeting.¡±


    ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll be right there. Also, this is our new CEO, so guide him as needed and show him around the office. I¡¯ll excuse myself for a moment.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Yu Hyung-jin walked away along the hallway from where the man had come, after receiving a response from Shin-woo.


    Meanwhile, the man stared at Shin-woo in surprise.


    Shin-woo made eye contact with the man who was now in charge of guiding him instead of Yu Hyung-jin.


    ¡°I¡¯m Baek Shin-woo, the new CEO of KITE. What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Oh! I¡¯m Jang Jin-ho, and I work at EST.¡±


    EST (External Security Team) refers to the external security team. To be precise, it deals with private security operations based on the requests of other companies or individuals.


    ¡°How many years have you been here?¡±


    ¡°This is my third year.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    Listening to his answer, Shin-woo continued walking along the glass window overlooking the training facility.


    Three men walking from the opposite direction discovered Jang Jin-ho standing behind Shin-woo and spoke up.


    ¡°Hey! Jang Jin-ho! What are you doing there? Who¡¯s the guy next to you? A new recruit?¡±


    They were Jang Jin-ho¡¯s senior colleagues, Park Dae-sung, Go Jun-sun, and Lee Young-hoon.


    ¡°Well¡­¡±


    At the same time, when Jang Jin-ho tried to say something, Shin-woo raised his hand to stop him and answered on his behalf.


    ¡°I just joined today.¡±


    ¡°A real newbie?¡±


    Based on his appearance and his actual age, Shin-woo was still only in his early twenties.


    It was difficult for others to perceive him as someone in a high-ranking position.


    ¡°Which team are you in?¡±


    When the questioning continued, Shin-woo slightly smiled.


    ¡°¡­It hasn¡¯t been decided yet.¡±


    ¡°Really? How long has it been since we¡¯ve had a new recruit? But there wasn¡¯t any notice about it, right?¡±


    As the employees continued to boast and show off, only Jang Jin-ho, who was supposed to guide Shin-woo, looked increasingly uncomfortable.


    In response, Shin-woo glanced back at him and spoke quietly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take responsibility, so just follow as you are doing now.¡±


    Since it was an instruction from the CEO, Jang Jin-ho had no choice but to keep his mouth shut. Moreover, Shin-woo¡¯s face was not known even within the MH Group.


    It was a situation that could only happen because none of them recognized Shin-woo.


    Meanwhile, Park Dae-sung smirked.


    ¡°What did you do before you came here?¡±


    ¡°¡­I was a non-commissioned officer.¡±


    ¡°Oh, military? This place is full of military veterans. How about showing us your skills? Consider it a test.¡±


    Park Dae-sung pointed his thumb towards the sparring arena beyond the glass window.


    ¡°Do new recruits usually undergo such tests before they¡¯re officially assigned?¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s kind of an unspoken rule.¡±


    Following them into the sparring arena, Shin-woo stood in the center.


    Next to him, Go Jun-sun tossed him an open-finger glove and a headgear.


    However, Shin-woo casually threw them back and spoke indifferently.


    ¡°The headgear is uncomfortable, so I prefer not to use it.¡±


    Standing across from him, Park Dae-sung was dumbfounded.


    ¡°You¡¯ll regret it¡­ Are you sure? No matter how experienced you are, training and real combat are entirely different.¡±


    With that, Park Dae-sung began to warm up by swinging his fists in the air.


    He thought of Shin-woo as a genuine newbie and wanted to intimidate him right from the start.


    ¡°If it¡¯s real combat, I should treat it as such.¡±


    After taking off his jacket and rolling up his shirt sleeves to his elbows, Shin-woo picked up only the gloves and put them on.


    At that moment, Go Jun-sun and Lee Young-hoon, who were outside the ring, were startled when they saw the revealed scars on Shin-woo¡¯s forearms.


    ¡°Hey! What¡¯s with his arms?¡±


    ¡°Did he get stabbed or something? That hole¡­ Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s a gunshot wound?¡±


    ¡°No way, that¡¯s not a gunshot wound.¡±


    Shin-woo¡¯s forearms were full of scars from the missions he carried out while serving in UAD.


    ¡°Looks like he did some serious work somewhere, huh?¡±


    In response to Park Dae-sung¡¯s sarcastic remark, Shin-woo glanced at his own scars nonchalantly and looked up at him.


    ¡°I used to do my job quite well.¡±


    ¡°Then, let¡¯s see some of that shoveling skill!¡±


    Standing on one side, Jang Jin-ho wore an awkward expression, perplexed by the sudden turn of events.


    While Park Dae-sung¡¯s character as a senior was certainly problematic, he was once ranked 10th in the WFC lightweight division in global mixed martial arts, making him one of the top fighters in the External Security Team (EST).


    In the brief silence that followed, Park Dae-sung, who had already gotten into his stance, made the first move.


    Swoosh¡ª Swoosh¡ª


    A series of quick left-hand jabs flew toward Shin-woo.


    ¡®Is his base boxing? But his footwork looks more like kickboxing or Muay Thai.¡¯


    Shin-woo only moved his waist and neck to dodge the punches while keeping his eyes on Park Dae-sung¡¯s legs. At the same time, a right-hand straight punch came hurtling toward him with full force.


    Once again, Shin-woo dodged by leaning his body to the side.


    Having anticipated this, Park Dae-sung shifted his weight onto his back foot and, with a step forward, executed a powerful knee strike, drawing an arc in the air.


    Swoosh¡ª


    Under normal circumstances, it would have been impossible to avoid that attack, given that Shin-woo¡¯s center of gravity had already shifted. Frustrated by Shin-woo¡¯s constant evasions, Park Dae-sung attempted to finish the fight with his signature move.


    ¡®Is this a modified flying knee kick?¡¯


    With that thought, Shin-woo pushed off the ground and jumped, avoiding the attack despite his unbalanced posture.


    As Park Dae-sung¡¯s knee strike sliced through empty air, he quickly spun around and regained his stance.


    ¡°Your evasive maneuvers are quite impressive. You move like a slippery eel.¡±


    ¡°Your moves are too exaggerated.¡±


    ¡°What? Did you just say ¡®your moves¡¯?¡±


    Provoked by the remark, Park Dae-sung launched another flurry of attacks.


    This time, Shin-woo didn¡¯t evade like before. Instead, he blocked Park Dae-sung¡¯s punches and kicks with his gloves and forearms.


    Smack¡ª Smack¡ª Smack¡ª Smack-smack¡ª


    ¡°You¡¯re so focused on your outward form that your body is wide open.¡±


    ¡°What? You bastard¡ª?!¡±


    Not a single attack had landed properly so far.


    Enraged, Park Dae-sung tried to take Shin-woo down by charging at him with a tackle.


    Swoosh¡ª


    At that moment, Shin-woo grabbed Park Dae-sung¡¯s shoulder and held his ground firmly.


    Seeing this, Park Dae-sung adjusted his body and attempted to sweep Shin-woo¡¯s leg.


    However, Shin-woo had already predicted that move¡­


    Crack¡ª Thump¡ª


    He quickly twisted Park Dae-sung¡¯s right arm, bending his elbow, and struck him in the neck before throwing him down.


    Crash¡ª


    Park Dae-sung rolled across the floor and, gasping for breath, couldn¡¯t get up.


    The onlookers, who had been training nearby, were also taken aback by the scene and watched with wide eyes.


    Momentarily stunned, Go Jun-sun and Lee Young-hoon stared at Shin-woo with sharp gazes.


    ¡°That bastard¡­! How dare you spar like that!¡±


    They were about to charge at Shin-woo with their bare fists.


    Jang Jin-ho, knowing Shin-woo¡¯s true identity, grew increasingly nervous.


    Fuming with anger, Go Jun-sun and Lee Young-hoon moved closer to Shin-woo.


    ¡°What on earth is going on here?!¡±


    Executive Director Yu Hyung-jin, who had gone to the meeting earlier, entered the training ground and shouted.


    With his sudden appearance, Go Jun-sun and Lee Young-hoon had no choice but to stop right in front of Shin-woo.


    ¡°D-Director!¡±


    ¡°How did you get here¡­?¡±


    With Yu Hyung-jin¡¯s arrival, the other team members grew curious about how the situation would unfold.


    Yu Hyung-jin, who had walked from the entrance to the center of the training ground, looked at Shin-woo, who was still wearing gloves, and spoke.


    ¡°CEO! What are you doing here?¡±


    As soon as they heard that, question marks appeared on everyone¡¯s faces.


    In particular, Go Jun-sun and Lee Young-hoon found it hard to understand.


    Until just a moment ago, they had only thought of Shin-woo as a new recruit at KITE, which made the situation even more confusing.


    ¡°I was just checking the skills of KITE¡¯s security team. However, it seems the problem is bigger than I expected.¡±


    ¡°No matter how much you are KITE¡¯s new CEO, it¡¯s hard to see such actions in a positive light before the official inauguration.¡±


    ¡°The inauguration announcement was made a week ago, so is there really a need for such formality now? Besides, there seems to be a lot of work to do,¡±


    Shin-woo shifted his gaze to Go Jun-sun, Lee Young-hoon, and the people around them.


    Everyone could figure out the situation after hearing the conversation between the two.


    The new CEO of KITE, Baek Shin-woo, who had recently been announced through an official document.


    At the same time, various rumors had spread from the headquarters.


    The illegitimate grandson of Chairman Myung Joong-hwan of MH Group.


    A non-commissioned officer with no experience in the corporate world¡ªan unprecedented parachute entry.


    Currently the Director of Strategic Investment Operations at headquarters, and rumored to have made tens of billions in net profit through insider trading¡­


    Most of the rumors were so unbelievable that people found them hard to accept.


    ¡°¡­I understand what you¡¯re saying. But sparring with your subordinates out of nowhere is another matter!¡±


    ¡°I was curious about what it¡¯s like to protect MH Group with force, so I pretended to be a new recruit. Of course, I never claimed to be one myself.¡±


    From being mistaken as a new recruit to the sparring match, everything started due to the misunderstanding of Park Dae-sung and the senior trio.


    At that, Shin-woo looked at Park Dae-sung, who was lying on the floor, and spoke.


    ¡°Hey, over there. I know you¡¯re awake, so get up. Don¡¯t think you can get away with pretending to be unconscious now that you¡¯ve grasped the situation.¡±


    Unlike before, Shin-woo¡¯s tone was sharp, and Park Dae-sung, who had been lying quietly, flinched and slowly got up.


    ¡°You¡¯re too slow!¡±


    ¡°S-Sorry, sir!¡±


    With the continued urging, Park Dae-sung immediately stood up and went over to stand beside Go Jun-sun and Lee Young-hoon. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After confirming this, Shin-woo turned his gaze to Yu Hyung-jin.


    ¡°If they¡¯re part of the external security team, EST, isn¡¯t it just as important to be vigilant of the opponent¡¯s capabilities as it is to have individual skills?¡±


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s correct.¡±


    ¡°Judging from the experience just now, not only did they try to haze me under the guise of sparring just because I¡¯m a new recruit, but they even used techniques that should never be employed in real combat.¡±


    With Shin-woo¡¯s relentless criticism, Park Dae-sung couldn¡¯t lift his head.


    Of course, Yu Hyung-jin, as the Executive Director, had a decent understanding of the skills of the security and guard personnel he hired.


    ¡°Even the Chairman hasn¡¯t interfered to such an extent. Also, the issues you mentioned fall under the responsibility of the training instructors, so let¡¯s leave it at that.¡±


    Hearing this, Shin-woo¡¯s brow twitched.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but as the CEO now, I must get involved.¡±


    ¡°CEO¡­ that¡¯s¡­¡±


    Tap, tap.


    The training ground door opened, and a man entered, leaning on a cane and limping slightly.


    ¡°Director Yu, is something the matter?¡±


    He was Jung Kang-ho, the tactical training instructor for KITE¡¯s security and guard team, who had sensed something unusual while passing through the hallway outside the training ground.


    ¡°Ah, Instructor Jung.¡±


    ¡°This person¡­ Huh?¡±


    Shin-woo, who had begun rolling down his sleeves again, turned to meet eyes with Jung Kang-ho as he approached.


    ¡°Baek¡­ Sergeant Baek Shin-woo?¡±

 Chapter 21

    Chapter 21. Bulldozer


    Shin-woo was also surprised by the words of Jung Kang-ho, the tactical training instructor of KITE. It was because he recognized the face from the past.


    ¡°¡­Colonel Jung Kang-ho?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s really Sergeant Baek! But what brings you here? Did you join after being discharged?¡±


    As these questions were exchanged, Yu Hyung-jin interjected.


    ¡°Instructor Jung, do you know Representative Baek Shin-woo?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ We got to know each other in the military. But, CEO?¡±


    ¡°There was a notice of his appointment in the previous personnel announcement, wasn¡¯t there?¡±


    Jung Kang-ho tried to recall the event mentioned by Yu Hyung-jin.


    ¡°Oh, so the CEO mentioned in that notice¡­ was Sergeant Baek Shin-woo?¡±


    At the time, he had assumed that the name Baek Shin-woo was just a namesake of someone he knew.


    Of course, Shin-woo was equally surprised to be reunited with Jung Kang-ho, whom he had only met once during the UAD mission.


    Shin-woo briefly looked at the dazed Jung Kang-ho before extending his hand for a handshake.


    ¡°I¡¯m Baek Shin-woo, newly appointed as the CEO of KITE. It¡¯s been a long time.¡±


    ¡°Haa¨D I¡¯m Jung Kang-ho, responsible for tactical training at KITE. But seriously, what in the world is going on here¡­?¡±


    Jung Kang-ho still seemed confused by the situation.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we head up to the office and talk?¡±


    Yu Hyung-jin took the lead at Shin-woo¡¯s suggestion.


    ¡°Was your name Jang Jin-ho?¡±


    Jang Jin-ho, lost in thought, was startled by Shin-woo¡¯s question.


    ¡°Yes? Oh, yes! CEO!¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, come up with us. I have something to ask of you too.¡±


    ¡°Me, sir?¡±


    ¡°Is there another Jang Jin-ho here?¡±


    ¡°N-no, sir.¡±


    And so, the four of them went up to the CEO¡¯s office.


    It was a neat and modern space spanning 15 pyeong. A glass desk had a nameplate with ¡®CEO Baek Shin-woo¡¯ engraved on it.


    **T/n: 15 pyeong is equivalent to approximately 49.586 square meters (sqm).**


    They all took seats on the sofa in the middle of the office. However, Jang Jin-ho stood behind Jung Kang-ho instead of sitting.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you sitting?¡±


    ¡°I-I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m not fine with it. Sit down.¡±


    ¡°But still¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s hurting my neck just looking at you.¡±


    ¡°I apologize. I¡¯ll sit immediately!¡±


    At Shin-woo¡¯s firm instruction, Jang Jin-ho quickly darted over to the empty seat beside Yu Hyung-jin and sat down.


    Watching this, Shin-woo then turned to speak to Jung Kang-ho.


    ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve been appointed as the CEO of KITE.¡±


    ¡°¡­I see. Honestly, I¡¯m shocked. To see someone I knew from the military become the CEO¡­¡±


    ¡°I never thought I¡¯d see you here either. I look forward to working with you. And, Executive Director Yu Hyung-jin.¡±


    His gaze shifted to Yu Hyung-jin.


    ¡°Go ahead, CEO.¡±


    ¡°As I said earlier, I didn¡¯t take on the CEO position here just for the authority.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying you¡¯ll be involved in the operations as well?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°But CEO, don¡¯t you lack knowledge about the security and guard systems?¡±


    Executive Director Yu Hyung-jin had heard rumours about Shin-woo and had also conducted investigations through the headquarters.


    However, there was no particular information besides the fact that he was a discharged non-commissioned officer. Thus, he concluded that Shin-woo had only taken on the position as a figurehead for Chairman Myung Joong-hwan.


    ¡°Who said I don¡¯t know?¡±


    ¡°Pardon? Well¡­¡±


    He couldn¡¯t bring himself to mention the information he had secretly gathered on Shin-woo.


    ¡°I observed the training methods of the security and guard teams earlier. If you¡¯re a professional getting paid, maintaining physical fitness is a given, but the technical and practical training aspects seemed severely lacking.¡±


    ¡°The training program was created by KITE¡¯s Operations Management Division with input from experts, including Instructor Jung Kang-ho, based on scientific analysis.¡±


    Shin-woo leaned back deeply into the sofa and stared at Yu Hyung-jin intently.


    ¡°Then why did a professionally trained security guard fail to hold his ground against me?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡±


    Yu Hyung-jin murmured quietly, recalling the scene of Park Dae-sung collapsing in the training field.


    Although he was already aware of Park Dae-sung¡¯s arrogance, he hadn¡¯t expected him to be overpowered so effortlessly by Shin-woo.


    ¡°I despise the clich¨¦, ¡®Training is training, reality is reality.¡¯ Training should be for reality.¡±


    ¡°So, are you saying you¡¯ll change the training program that¡¯s been in place for years just by your authority as CEO?¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s for the betterment of KITE, it should be changed.¡±


    Before returning to the past, Shin-woo had spent twelve years as a mercenary. And a mercenary¡¯s job wasn¡¯t just participating in wars; they often protected clients as well.


    It was just that the locations were war zones or far more dangerous than typical situations.


    Of course, Yu Hyung-jin didn¡¯t know Shin-woo¡¯s background, so he could only be dissatisfied with everything.


    ¡°But there hasn¡¯t been a single instance of issues or deficiencies on-site thus far.¡±


    ¡°That ¡®so far¡¯ might just end today.¡±


    Yu Hyung-jin sighed shallowly, his expression stiffening.


    ¡°What exactly are you trying to do?¡±


    ¡°It is exactly as I said. If you¡¯re that doubtful, how about sparring with another veteran security officer?¡±


    ¡°Are you serious¡­?¡±


    ¡°Ahem¡ª!¡±


    At that moment, Jung Kang-ho interrupted the flow of conversation with a deliberate cough.


    Shin-woo turned to look at him and waited.


    ¡°For now, why not do as CEO Baek suggested?¡±


    ¡°Instructor Jung, this isn¡¯t something that can be decided so easily. Changing the existing security and guard system could cause significant issues.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t wrong.


    Moreover, if a problem arose, it could jeopardize the reputation and trust that KITE had built up to this point.


    Yu Hyung-jin, who was one of the founders of KITE along with Chairman Myung Joong-hwan, had been handling the actual operations up until now, so he bore a heavy responsibility.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you trust me and give it a try?¡±


    ¡°What? Instructor, no matter how close you are, pushing something like this could lead to unfavourable results.¡±


    ¡°To be honest, I¡¯ve been considering the limitations of the current system, just like what CEO Baek mentioned earlier.¡±


    ¡°Then why are you only saying this now?¡±


    ¡°Even if I had said it earlier, there was no way to change things immediately.¡±


    Before joining KITE, Jung Kang-ho was a colonel under the Capital Defense Command in the Army. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was kidnapped by an unidentified armed group while on a diplomatic mission overseas, and the Army Special Warfare Command deployed UAD to rescue him.


    However, due to severe torture, he suffered such serious injuries that he lost the ability to use one of his legs properly and had to retire just before being promoted to brigadier general.


    Instead, with his military career and experience, he was scouted as a tactical training instructor for KITE.


    It was Yu Hyung-jin who personally reached out and recruited him to KITE.


    ¡°So, are you saying that the CEO can actually make this happen?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure, but¡­ I believe he¡¯s more than capable.¡±


    Jung Kang-ho had witnessed the skill Shin-woo displayed when UAD rescued him. He saw him single-handedly take down dozens of heavily armed soldiers and still manage to rescue him.


    ¡°But I don¡¯t think this is something that can be decided unilaterally by the representative. Did you even discuss it with the chairman?¡±


    ¡°The chairman granted me full authority. Is there really a need to ask him for more approval?¡±


    With Shin-woo¡¯s confident reply, Yu Hyung-jin had no words left to counter.


    ¡°Changing the training system isn¡¯t a trivial matter. It¡¯s not easy at all. Can you come up with a better alternative just like that?¡±


    Yu Hyung-jin thought Shin-woo¡¯s criticism was baseless.


    He assumed Shin-woo, having been appointed as KITE¡¯s CEO by the chairman¡¯s orders, was making such remarks out of a desire to build a track record.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯ll have the next training program sorted out and delivered through Mr. Jang Jin-ho by the end of this week.¡±


    At the same time, Yu Hyung-jin glanced at Jang Jin-ho, who was sitting beside him.


    ¡°Security Officer Jang Jin-ho?¡±


    ¡°Since I¡¯m also holding the position of Director of Strategic Investment Operations, I need someone to communicate the real situation at KITE to me.¡±


    ¡°Then wouldn¡¯t it be better to hire a secretary?¡±


    As KITE¡¯s CEO, it was natural for him to be assigned a secretary.


    ¡°A secretary wouldn¡¯t know the practical environment and circumstances of KITE better than Mr. Jang Jin-ho.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, but¡­¡±


    ¡°I need someone who can give me precise information. So, let¡¯s have Mr. Jang Jin-ho act as my secretary.¡±


    ¡°But Security Officer Jang Jin-ho has his original duties.¡±


    To be exact, he was a member of the External Security Team 4 (EST), along with Park Dae-sung, Go Jun-sun, and Lee Young-hoon, whom Shin-woo had encountered earlier.


    ¡°Any personnel who cannot complete the revised training program will be reassigned based on their abilities. Until then, we won¡¯t be taking on any additional external security contracts.¡±


    ¡°Using that method will decrease the company¡¯s revenue.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take responsibility for that part, so you don¡¯t need to worry.¡±


    Shin-woo¡¯s stubborn answer made Yu Hyung-jin feel stifled.


    But since he couldn¡¯t ignore Shin-woo¡¯s authority, it was difficult to continue objecting.


    ¡°Hah¡­ fine. Do as you wish, CEO. But I won¡¯t be able to offer any solutions if problems arise.¡±


    ¡°Sure. You may leave now. Ah, Mr. Jang Jin-ho, please stay.¡±


    Just as Jang Jin-ho was about to get up with Yu Hyung-jin and Jung Kang-ho, his relieved expression suddenly darkened, and he sat back down.


    ***


    Meanwhile, Jung Kang-ho followed Yu Hyung-jin to his office and sat down.


    ¡°Instructor Jung, how close are you to the representative that you¡¯d put me in such a difficult position?¡±


    Yu Hyung-jin felt conflicted as someone who had been working well with Jung Kang-ho was now siding with the newly appointed Baek Shin-woo.


    ¡°It¡¯s not because of our relationship.¡±


    He was also a lifesaver.


    But Jung Kang-ho made his decision purely based on the skill he had witnessed from Shin-woo.


    ¡°Then what did you see that made you support the representative¡¯s decision? And what exactly is your relationship with him?¡±


    ¡°In the military, CEO Baek saved my life.¡±


    ¡°¡­Saved your life? As far as I know, the representative served as a logistics non-commissioned officer.¡±


    How could a logistics non-commissioned officer possibly save the life of a colonel from the Capital Defense Command?


    Perplexed by the response, Yu Hyung-jin became even more frustrated than before.


    ¡°It¡¯s related to military secrets, so I can¡¯t provide details.¡±


    ¡°¡­Military secrets¡­?¡±


    ¡°To be honest, I didn¡¯t expect to meet Sergeant Baek¡­ I mean, CEO Baek Shin-woo here either. With his abilities, the military wouldn¡¯t have let him go so easily.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying he came from some special unit?¡±


    KITE was mostly staffed with people who had military, law enforcement, or police backgrounds, starting from at least a black belt in martial arts.


    Naturally, Yu Hyung-jin, who was handling the operations, knew the military system to some extent.


    ¡°You could think of it that way.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s discharged anyway, isn¡¯t he? There shouldn¡¯t be an issue, so why are you being so evasive?¡±


    ¡°Although I know you wouldn¡¯t talk about it elsewhere, this particular military secret involves not only the individual but also the lives of many others.¡±


    ¡°¡­Is it really that serious?¡±


    The unknown armed group that kidnapped Jung Kang-ho was later identified as Unit 8402, North Korea¡¯s elite special forces.


    Their objective was to extract military secrets from Colonel Jung Kang-ho of the Capital Defense Command.


    After Jung Kang-ho¡¯s rescue, the operation was kept so secretive that no information ever leaked out.


    However, because the incident was related to North Korea, even after his discharge, Jung Kang-ho remained cautious.


    ¡°I know what you¡¯re concerned about, Executive Director Yu. But please, just trust him and let him handle it this time.¡±


    ¡°Hah¡­ What can I possibly do in this situation? Fine, I understand.¡±

 Chapter 22

    Chapter 22. The Relentless Fashion Terrorist


    Park Sang-kyu, the secretary and bodyguard of President Myung In-chul from MH Group, knocked on the office door with a stern expression early in the morning.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    President Myung In-chul was sitting at his desk, busy with his work.


    ¡°Excuse me.¡±


    ¡°What brings you here at this early hour?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s been a bit of an issue on that front.¡±


    ¡°Issue?¡±


    At the question, Park Sang-kyu took a shallow breath.


    ¡°There has been a significant loss on the stock that TSF Investment has been working on recently.¡±


    TSF Investment was a company that Myung In-chul had ties with through Park Sang-kyu. Although it was known as an investment firm, it also handled troublesome and complex matters in a straightforward manner.


    Moreover, it was the same company that had recently returned funds to MH Electronics and MH Construction due to complications caused by Im Hee-yeon.


    With such a company facing an issue, it was natural for Myung In-chul to be surprised.


    ¡°¡­What? Are you saying the plan leaked somewhere else?¡±


    ¡°That hasn¡¯t been confirmed yet. But the problem is the entity that got involved in the plan.¡±


    ¡°Which entity is that?¡±


    After a brief pause, Park Sang-kyu cautiously spoke.


    ¡°It¡¯s here.¡±


    ¡°¡­Here? Are you referring to MH Group?¡±


    ¡°Specifically, it¡¯s the Director of Strategic Investment Operations. It seems he was able to profit by interfering with TSF Investment¡¯s plan during this stock investment.¡±


    ¡°Huh¡­¡±


    For a moment, Myung In-chul let out a breathy laugh in disbelief.


    Park Sang-kyu continued his explanation.


    ¡°TSF has realized that MH Group was the entity that intervened and is demanding an explanation.¡±


    ¡°How much is the loss?¡±


    ¡°Around 30 billion won.¡±


    ¡°¡­Is it that much?¡±


    ¡°There are two companies involved: Oseyang Industrial and Haenam Distribution. Right before TSF was planning to drop their shares, Baek Shin-woo sold all his stocks, which caused the rest of the small investors to start selling below the target price.¡±


    The basic principle of stock trading is to buy low and sell high. Depending on the timing of the initial capital investment, profits can multiply by several times or even dozens of times.


    If one can accurately predict the point of peak profit, it is possible to anticipate gains higher than the maximum expected return.


    TSF Investment had intended to manipulate the stock prices intentionally to gain profits during this process.


    ¡°It¡¯s only natural they would be hit hard. So, are they asking us to hand over internal MH Group documents?¡±


    While there was a certain level of trust in their relationship, that trust was limited to mutual cooperation.


    No matter how trivial it might seem, it would be difficult to pass on internal documents of MH Group without hesitation.


    ¡°They have already gathered information on Baek Shin-woo. However, they need to verify the source of the information.¡±


    ¡°And what can they do if they know the source?¡±


    After failing to deal with Im Hee-yeon¡¯s situation last time, TSF Investment had forced their operatives in the background to go underground.


    ¡°For now, TSF will need to conduct a detailed investigation of the situation.¡±


    ¡°What happens after that?¡±


    ¡°For now, Team 5, under Director Im Hee-yeon, is closely monitoring, so they won¡¯t make any hasty moves. However, if the source turns out to be from within TSF, they¡¯ll have no choice but to take action.¡±


    ¡°What kind of action are we talking about? Are you implying they¡¯ll handle it?¡± sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lost in thought for a moment, Park Sang-kyu¡¯s expression turned grim.


    ¡°Even if it means risking escalation, they will have to deal with everyone connected to the leak.¡±


    Leaking internal information, even if it wasn¡¯t TSF Investment, was an extremely serious matter.


    Moreover, TSF Investment was not just an ordinary investment firm but also engaged in manipulating stock prices through insider trading. If such information were to leak out, all of TSF Investment¡¯s plans could collapse.


    Naturally, Myung In-chul was also involved in those plans.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ This is going to be a headache. But the source of the stock information was also investigated by the Strategic Investment Audit Office, and they couldn¡¯t find anything specific.¡±


    Recently, using Baek Shin-woo as an excuse, Myung In-chul had placed his younger brother, Myung Seong-cheol¡¯s son, Myung Jin-seok, in the position of Deputy General Manager at the Strategic Investment Audit Office. Naturally, through his new position, Myung Jin-seok had also investigated the source of Baek Shin-woo¡¯s stock profit.


    But all they found were some analysis reports related to stock charts.


    ¡°They need something more convincing¡­ If not, it could turn into a difficult situation.¡±


    ¡°But making a move too soon could endanger both me and TSF.¡±


    ¡°TSF is likely thinking the same. For now, they will keep observing, and if something like this happens again, they might take action then.¡±


    ¡°A guy like that suddenly drops into the company out of nowhere¡­ Im Hee-yeon and her son are both equally troublesome.¡±


    Myung In-chul pressed his temples with his right thumb and middle finger.


    ¡°We¡¯re still struggling to keep track of Baek Shin-woo¡¯s external activities.¡±


    ¡°Is he still slipping away from your team?¡±


    ¡°He keeps finding the trackers and destroying them, and even manages to evade the tails we put on him.¡±


    ¡°What kind of person is he?¡±


    The special security team in charge of the owner family was composed of highly capable agents, skilled not only in basic security and close combat but in various fields.


    Yet, Baek Shin-woo easily evaded them every day.


    ¡°According to the members who were tailing his vehicle, they said it¡¯s not something an amateur would be able to pull off.¡±


    ¡°So, are you telling me that a mere non-commissioned officer is better than our special security team?¡±


    So far, it had been impossible to uncover anything out of the ordinary in Baek Shin-woo¡¯s career, which was frustrating.


    ¡°Not to mention how he easily overpowered our guards last time. There are too many unexplained aspects about him.¡±


    ¡°Was his identity as a logistics non-commissioned officer just a front, and did he actually come from a covert special unit?¡±


    ¡°Our guards also have considerable experience. While they might have let their guard down, even if Baek Shin-woo were from special forces, it¡¯s not easy to take down two trained guards in an instant.¡±


    ¡°So, what¡¯s your conclusion, Director Park?¡±


    It was a question filled with nothing but uncertainty.


    In such a situation, Park Sang-kyu¡¯s expression darkened further.


    ¡°¡­Honestly, I¡¯m not sure either. Judging by the atmosphere, though, I have a bad feeling.¡±


    Myung In-chul¡¯s forehead furrowed deeper.


    ¡°Is that so¡­? If it seems like there will be problems, we might need to advance the timeline from the original plan.¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be too reckless to set everything in motion now?¡±


    ¡°¡­There will definitely be some noise. But if I become the head of MH Group, I can take care of everything. TSF will provide ample support as well. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    Park Sang-kyu¡¯s expression turned even more serious than before.


    ¡°If we push the plan forward, there will be a lot to prepare on our side as well.¡±


    ¡°You know, the Chairman likes to play Go.¡±


    ¡°¡­Why are you bringing that up?¡±


    ¡°When one holds the black stone and plays the first move in Go, they concede six and a half points to the opponent because the first move is advantageous.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯ve decided to play the first move.¡±


    It meant there was no further room for discussion.


    With a sigh, Park Sang-kyu bowed his head slightly.


    ¡°Hm¡­ I understand what you¡¯re saying. I¡¯ll discuss it with TSF and come up with a plan.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡±


    At that moment, a chilling glint seemed to flash in Myung In-chul¡¯s eyes.


    ***


    Shin-woo was at his desk in the Strategic Investment Operations Office when he decided to call Yu Hyung-jin, the Executive Director of KITE.


    ¡°Director Yu, I was reviewing the information on KITE employees, and I noticed that details regarding the members of the Special Security Team are missing. I wanted to confirm if they were overlooked.¡±


    [The Special Security Team handles the protection of the owner family, so the personal information of the team members is managed independently by each team leader.]


    ¡°Is it not possible to access them even with Executive Authority?¡±


    [Even the Chairman is restricted from accessing it. Think of it simply as a private security team exclusively serving the owner family.]


    One of the reasons Shin-woo accepted the position as the CEO of KITE was to verify the personal information of the Special Security Team assigned to Myung In-chul and see if they had any ties to Unit 666.


    Of course, he knew it wouldn¡¯t be easy, but he hadn¡¯t expected that they would be entirely separate from the main office.


    ¡°¡­I understand. And have you reviewed the training program I sent through Secretary Jang?¡±


    [I¡¯m going through it right now. But¡­ don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a bit excessive?]


    ¡°MAT and FRT are essential components for security and guard training.¡±


    MAT (Multi-Person Assault Training) and FRT (Firearms Response Training).


    These terms referred to training for multi-person assaults and responding to firearms. KITE already had similar programs in place, but the difficulty of the training Shin-woo proposed was several times higher.


    [Excessive training could lead to unnecessary tension.]


    ¡°They need to be on edge. Besides, if they can¡¯t handle this level as professionals, then it¡¯s a problem. If it becomes an issue, it¡¯s up to the individual to adjust during missions.¡±


    [¡­¡­.]


    ¡°Please proceed as I¡¯ve instructed.¡±


    [¡­Understood. Is there anything else you would like to add?]


    At that moment, someone knocked on his office door, and Jang Man-soo poked his head in.


    ¡°Are you busy?¡±


    Shin-woo gestured for him to come in while continuing the call.


    ¡°Please also provide me with the current duty list and personnel allocation for EST and FST security and guard operations.¡±


    [That list is confidential and can only be accessed within the company network.]


    ¡°Then please prepare it, and I¡¯ll come by when you¡¯re ready.¡±


    [I¡¯ll leave the file with Secretary Jang Jin-ho.]


    After ending the call, Shin-woo walked over to the sofa and sat across from Jang Man-soo.


    ¡°Wow~ You¡¯re really playing the role of CEO now, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Cut it out. By the way, is that seriously the only outfit you own?¡±


    ¡°What? What¡¯s wrong with it?¡±


    Today, Jang Man-soo¡¯s fashion consisted of a dung-colored jacket, a bright red shirt, and sky-blue pants. On top of that, his shoes and tie were in a black-and-white killer whale pattern, seemingly his signature style.


    Ever since his first day at work, his fashion choices have always been flamboyant, never lacking in excess.


    ¡°¡­You seriously don¡¯t know?¡±


    ¡°What? I think I¡¯m dressed pretty appropriately for work.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have any thoughts when you see the other male employees or look at my clothes?¡±


    Jang Man-soo glanced up and down at Shin-woo¡¯s outfit, which consisted of a black jacket, black pants, black shoes, and a white shirt with no tie.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ It¡¯s plain.¡±


    ¡°And your outfit?¡±


    ¡°Mine is full of personality. In office life, your outfit should catch people¡¯s eyes, shouldn¡¯t it?¡±


    Of course, he stood out more than anyone else. So much so that even from 4,000 meters away, a sniper could aim for his heart with pinpoint accuracy.


    ¡°But you¡­ you¡¯re living in your workshop, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°For now, yes. Why?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember seeing a wardrobe in your place. So, where do you keep all these clothes¡­? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re renting them?¡±


    ¡°Renting?! No way! I bought them all with my own money!¡±


    ¡°But you said you¡¯re living in your workshop. Where do you keep them¡­? Did you build a secret room in there too?¡±


    At that moment, Jang Man-soo looked startled as if he¡¯d been caught off-guard.


    ¡°W-What secret room? There¡¯s a wardrobe! You just didn¡¯t see it.¡±


    ¡°I stayed there for days. How could I have missed it?¡±


    The workshop was a spacious one-room place where almost everything was visible except for the bathroom.


    Yet, Shin-woo had never seen where Jang Man-soo stored all his clothes.


    ¡°There¡¯s no such thing! Anyway! Aren¡¯t you going to talk about the next investment project?¡±


    Seeing how he changed the topic, Shin-woo narrowed his eyes.


    At the same time, the thought of finding that secret room in the workshop and setting it on fire crossed his mind.

 Chapter 23

    Chapter 23. Have You Crossed the River Jordan?


    Beep-beep-beep-beep¡ª beep-beep-beep-beep¡ª beep-beep-beep-beep¡ª


    The Strategic Investment Planning Office was in chaos from the early morning as phones kept ringing non-stop.


    ¡°Sorry, but the investment project you mentioned is not handled by our office.¡±


    ¡°Sunmyung Hi-Tech? That stock¡­ was not managed by our Planning Office¡­¡±


    ¡°The stocks you¡¯ve mentioned¡­¡±


    ¡°You want to be connected to the person in charge of that investment? But that¡¯s not¡­¡±


    This was because rumours about the 440% net profit that Shin-woo had generated recently began spreading outside.


    The problem was that only the Planning Office had its phone line connected for external client acquisition and management.


    Meanwhile, the Operations and Audit offices were so closed off that their phone lines only allowed outgoing calls. Even if people knew the number, they couldn¡¯t call in.


    Naturally, complaints among the staff increased, but at the same time, exclamations of admiration were heard here and there.


    ¡°Where does Director Baek Shin-woo get such information?¡±


    ¡°A 440% return, including the principal¡­ That¡¯s a total of 4.4 billion won? So, he made 3.4 billion? Wouldn¡¯t it be better for him to just become a stock trader?¡±


    ¡°He handled such a project all by himself without any help from other employees, didn¡¯t he?¡±


    ¡°They say he was a soldier¡­ but he¡¯s actually a genius?¡±


    Amidst the market-like noise of phone calls, many whispers could be heard.


    ¡°Hey! Assistant Manager Kim! Shh! Shh!¡±


    ¡°The Director is looking at us. Everyone, focus on your work!¡±


    Some employees hurriedly turned their heads after making eye contact with Myung Un-seok, who was in his private office within the Strategic Investment Planning Office.


    Inside, Myung Un-seok couldn¡¯t help but overhear his employees¡¯ conversations.


    ¡°What¡¯s so special about that guy¡­¡±


    At that moment, Team Leader Na Jung-hyun of the Strategic Investment Planning Office¡¯s Team 1 knocked and entered.


    ¡°Director. We¡¯ve been receiving continuous investment inquiries, and it¡¯s becoming difficult to handle¡­¡±


    It wasn¡¯t something that Myung Un-seok was unaware of.


    But since the Operations Office had a policy of maintaining closed input channels, it was hard for him to justify opening the lines.


    He had tried to appease the corporate and private clients who had called in, but all of them only sought Baek Shin-woo, the Director of the Strategic Investment Operations Office.


    ¡°If it¡¯s difficult, does that mean you don¡¯t want to work?¡±


    ¡°Pardon? No, that¡¯s not what I meant¡­¡±


    Na Jung-hyun had gathered the opinions of other team leaders and members with great difficulty due to projects they weren¡¯t even responsible for.


    Moreover, they were already busy with their original investment planning work. With customer complaints piling up on top of that, it was driving them crazy.


    Finally, after some contemplation, Myung Un-seok spoke up with a decision.


    ¡°Let¡¯s proceed with the Livio Soft project.¡±


    For a moment, Na Jung-hyun¡¯s face hardened.


    ¡°¡­Excuse me? But while that company has high potential for growth in terms of technology patents, it carries significant risks. There¡¯s a lot of controversy surrounding it as well.¡±


    The ¡®Livio Soft¡¯ that Myung Un-seok mentioned was a company established in Silicon Valley, USA, and was preparing for an IPO.


    However, Livio Soft¡¯s core technology was a mind-mapping program that had a niche focus. Recently, there were even rumours about issues related to patent infringement.


    ¡°It¡¯s a company with great growth potential. And as for the patent issues, we can investigate them thoroughly and offer our support if necessary.¡±


    ¡°What scale of investment are you considering?¡±


    ¡°At the very least, we need to consider more than 20 billion won as a standalone investment, along with a condition of acquiring at least 5% of its unlisted shares.¡±


    Of course, if Livio Soft were on track for an IPO without any issues, acquiring more than 5% of its shares with the minimum budget would be impossible.


    But if the patent infringement issue turned out to be true, just resolving that problem cleanly could make an option contract feasible.


    Moreover, if Livio Soft successfully completed its IPO, MH Group¡¯s profit would multiply several times over.


    Na Jung-hyun fully understood this, but he couldn¡¯t help but worry.


    ¡°I¡¯ll begin the investigation immediately.¡±


    ¡°Also, schedule a meeting. It would be best if they could visit our headquarters first.¡±


    ¡°How will you handle upper management approval?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have much time. We need to get it approved within three days at the latest, so prepare the PPT presentation by tomorrow morning. The theme should highlight Livio Soft¡¯s high potential for success.¡±


    At this, Na Jung-hyun was startled.


    ¡°By tomorrow morning?¡±


    There were no materials secured other than the basic project proposal. Even if they worked urgently, it would take at least a week to gather and analyze the necessary data to support the investment.


    ¡°Why? Is it not possible? You know we don¡¯t have time to hesitate once we understand Livio Soft¡¯s situation.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but¡­¡±


    ¡°Then, please make it happen. I¡¯ll get preliminary approval and then contact Livio Soft.¡±


    With a dejected expression, Na Jung-hyun returned to his seat. When he informed his team members about the all-nighter for PPT preparation, the office was filled with desperate sighs.


    ***


    Rattle¡ª Rattle¡ª


    Shin-woo watched the training at KITE while rolling two eight-sided dice in his hand.


    One person was currently engaging in MAT (Multi-Person Assault Training), dealing with three attackers at once.


    Thud¡ª Thud¡ª Thud¡ª Thud¡ª


    Each person utilized their specialty to fend off multiple opponents, but as they became more accustomed to the coordinated attacks, it became increasingly difficult to handle them.


    Eventually, it became hard for them to handle even two opponents, and they ended up rolling on the ground.


    Many people watched from the sidelines, waiting for their turn.


    ¡°Sigh! This is really too much.¡±


    As Shin-woo murmured, Executive Director Yu Hyung-jin stepped forward.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I say the training was too intense? No one is able to keep up, and if this continues, it could even interfere with the security operations.¡±


    It was practically a grumble.


    Due to the intense emotions built up, the training sessions had become more severe than usual, leaving the guards with nothing but bruises all over their bodies.


    Moreover, with strained relationships among colleagues, just as Yu Hyung-jin said, it was hard to dismiss the possibility of problems arising.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t fully master the method according to the program.¡±


    ¡°Is there anyone who can even complete this training right now?¡±


    In response to Yu Hyung-jin¡¯s emotional retort, Shin-woo shook his head slowly.


    ¡°With moderate training, you can only reach a moderate level.¡±


    ¡°But there¡¯s a limit! How can you crush their morale when they already lack confidence?¡±


    ¡°Just wait and see.¡±


    Shin-woo entered the training area, took off his jacket, laid it aside, and rolled up his sleeves as he approached.


    The guards who were in the midst of intense training abruptly stopped at his presence.


    ¡°It seems like none of you are able to follow the training well. Let me show you personally. But instead of three, you, you, and you¡ªattack me together.¡±


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    ¡°Are you saying six of us?¡±


    Everyone stared at Shin-woo in surprise.


    ¡°Why? Are you scared? To be honest, you didn¡¯t like me, did you? Complaining that someone much younger than you has come in as CEO and is pushing you too hard.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    The rumours circulating within KITE were obvious.


    Of course, Shin-woo had occasionally overheard such chatter in hallways and break rooms.


    ¡°What are you waiting for? Would you ever have the chance to throw a punch at me otherwise? Or are you scared you¡¯ll get beaten by just one person? Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t sue or treat you unfairly for hitting me. Come on.¡±


    The guards, who were momentarily angered, glanced at each other and exchanged looks. It seemed they had made up their minds as they adjusted their gloves and slowly approached, surrounding Shin-woo.


    ¡°You promised.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too late to regret now.¡±


    Shin-woo chuckled at their words and picked up a finger glove that had been lying outside the sparring ring, putting it on.


    ¡°Don¡¯t come crying later asking why I didn¡¯t go easy on you.¡±


    All of them were at least black belts and had practical combat experience. Provoked by Shin-woo¡¯s words, the guards frowned and exchanged looks like before.


    ¡°¡­Let¡¯s go.¡±


    In the middle of the group stood Park Dae-sung, who had previously been defeated by Shin-woo.


    ¡°Do KITE¡¯s guards even give warnings before engaging an enemy?¡±


    ¡°Grgh¡ª!¡±


    Park Dae-sung lunged first. The others followed, moving to encircle Shin-woo so that he couldn¡¯t escape.


    In an instant, Shin-woo moved to his right, catching the punch aimed at his face, twisting it, and pulling it.


    Crack¡ª Thud¡ª


    It wasn¡¯t just a joint lock. In a flash, he struck the ribs and jaw with his knee and elbow.


    ¡°Ugh¡ª!¡±


    The man screamed in pain, his balance disrupted, and he was pulled by Shin-woo toward the man on the right.


    Meanwhile, Park Dae-sung and the man to his right moved to flank Shin-woo.


    However, Shin-woo pushed off the fallen man, flipped over, and kicked the man who was trying to move behind him before landing back on the ground.


    ¡°What¡¯s with the clumsy movements? I thought you had been practicing ambush tactics for a while, but it seems you¡¯ve only been practicing punching.¡±


    The first man was completely subdued and couldn¡¯t get back up.


    Seeing this, Park Dae-sung and the four remaining guards swallowed nervously.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t even started properly yet. Are you already scared?¡±


    Shin-woo beckoned them with a finger that extended out of his glove.


    Their pride shattered, the guards closed in on Shin-woo even more tightly than before.


    First, they tried a tackle from the front, while the left and right sides waited for Shin-woo to retreat. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to gang up, make it tighter!¡±


    With that shout, Shin-woo lowered his body even more than the man charging at him.


    Swish¡ª


    ¡°Damn¡ª!¡±


    Shin-woo collided with the man and grabbed his left leg, attempting to twist his knee joint.


    Just as the man, who was about to tackle, tried to escape¡­


    Whack¡ª


    ¡°Argh!¡±


    Instead of twisting his joint, Shin-woo kicked the man¡¯s chin with his heel and rolled backward.


    Now, only four remained.


    ¡°Do they think this is some kind of sports match? Trying to do jiu-jitsu or wrestling with me?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t hold back! Go all out!¡±


    Even without Park Dae-sung shouting, everyone was already seething with rage.


    ¡°Were you holding back all this time? I thought you were just playing along because you noticed me holding back.¡±


    ¡°Grr¡ª!!¡±


    There were no more tackles.


    Together with Park Dae-sung, the three others aimed at Shin-woo¡¯s head and vital spots, attacking relentlessly.


    Shin-woo clenched his glove tightly and pretended to deflect Park Dae-sung¡¯s punch while trying to grab him.


    At that moment, Park Dae-sung seemed to recall the pattern from their last encounter and quickly withdrew his arm.


    But that was exactly what Shin-woo had anticipated.


    ¡°No progress at all.¡±


    This time, what Shin-woo aimed for wasn¡¯t his arm but his collar. Pulling him by his clothes, Shin-woo drove his knee straight into Park Dae-sung¡¯s abdomen.


    ¡°Ugh¨D!¡±


    The others around him didn¡¯t stay idle. Seeing an opening, they immediately swung their fists at Shin-woo.


    But with his heightened senses due to regression and the combat habits he had revived up until recently, Shin-woo dodged their densely-packed punches and kicks.


    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±


    ¡°¡­How¡­?¡±


    The attack, which should have inevitably landed on Shin-woo who was entangled with Park Dae-sung, only cut through empty air.


    While everyone was still in shock, Shin-woo flashed a sly grin.


    ¡°Listen up, everyone! Up until now, that was an example of how not to handle a situation when facing multiple opponents! So watch closely from now on!¡±


    Shouting out, Shin-woo leaned back slightly to dodge a fist flying towards him, grabbed the assailant by the collar, and struck his left waist, right chest, and neck in quick succession with his elbow.


    ¡°Gah!¡±


    A brief cry escaped the man¡¯s lips as he tried to grab Shin-woo.


    But Shin-woo anticipated it, grabbed the man¡¯s arm instead, lowered his centre of gravity, and threw him toward another man.


    Whoosh¨D Thud!


    The man, thrown along with his ally, tried to get up quickly, but Shin-woo was already standing beside his head.


    ¡°If an enemy breaks through your line, you should immediately adjust your position. Are you planning to just stand in line for an orderly beatdown?¡±


    Smack¨D Thud!


    Shin-woo finished off by kicking the man¡¯s chin and then stomped on the abdomen of the other man he had thrown earlier, effectively ending the match.

 Chapter 24

    Chapter 24. LIVIO SOFT


    The sparring between Shin-woo and the bodyguards didn¡¯t end with just the initial six men. He provoked the remaining 22 bodyguards, who had been waiting their turn for training, to come at him all at once.


    And now, 30 minutes later, every single one of them was lying flat on the ground.


    ¡°Phew¨D!¡±


    Catching his breath, Shin-woo looked around. All of them were clutching their waists or necks, unable to get up.


    Executive Director Yu Hyung-jin, who had been observing the scene from the side, was dumbfounded.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    What he had just witnessed wasn¡¯t merely a display of proficiency in close combat.


    If he had to put it into words¡­


    ¡®¡­A monster?¡¯


    Baek Shin-woo had narrowly dodged attacks from every direction and countered with pinpoint precision. Each hit was on a vital point, and yet Shin-woo hadn¡¯t even used his full strength.


    Had he not held back, the number of casualties might have matched the number of people currently lying on the floor.


    ¡°Stand up¨D!¡±


    Startled by Shin-woo¡¯s shout, the bodyguards flinched and stirred.


    ¡°If you¡¯re too embarrassed to get up, you might as well stay down and submit your resignation when you go home.¡±


    Honestly, some of the bodyguards were already contemplating quitting on the spot.


    But what Shin-woo said next forced them to open their tightly shut eyes and stand up.


    ¡°However, be prepared for the word to spread that 28 of you got beaten by a single man.¡±


    The security and bodyguard industries are filled with professionals, many of whom have personal or professional connections to the police or military.


    Naturally, a few connections are enough to make acquaintances and share news quickly.


    Bad rumours spread like wildfire in such a tight-knit community.


    Soon, the bodyguards slowly got up and lined up in neat rows and columns.


    Shin-woo took off his gloves and began pacing back and forth in front of them.


    ¡°Hey, you over there!¡±


    Park Dae-sung, who was singled out, raised his head in shock.


    ¡°¡­Y-Yes? Yes! Please, speak.¡±


    ¡°Do you understand why you and the others lost, even when you ganged up on me?¡±


    ¡°¡­I think¡­ our field of vision narrowed.¡±


    Shin-woo nodded, as he had deliberately disrupted their postures whenever they tried to counter, and had purposefully attacked their flanks so they couldn¡¯t rush in from all directions.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got it right. So, what should you have done instead?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°You should have found a way to create a favourable situation for yourself by any means necessary, in the shortest time possible.¡±


    Just then, one of the bodyguards raised his hand courageously.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we prioritize securing the safety of the person we¡¯re protecting?¡±


    Of course, that wasn¡¯t entirely wrong either.


    ¡°No form of security is better than neutralizing the threat. Of course, if the enemy is armed with weapons or firearms, ensuring the safety of the client should take precedence.¡±


    Shin-woo¡¯s explanation continued.


    The bodyguards, who had been listening quietly, had no choice but to acknowledge Shin-woo¡¯s skill, which they had just witnessed firsthand.


    Having finished overseeing the training, Shin-woo noticed that Tactical Training Instructor Jung Kang-ho had arrived at some point.


    ¡°When did you get here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been watching for a while. It seems your skills are as sharp as ever.¡±


    ¡°Shall we talk in my office?¡± S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shin-woo picked up his jacket from the floor and headed to his office with Jung Kang-ho.


    This was the first time they were sitting down together since Shin-woo¡¯s initial day at KITE.


    Once inside, Jang Jin-ho, who had become his secretary, brought some cold water.


    Taking a sip, Shin-woo glanced at Jung Kang-ho, who was sitting diagonally opposite him. Seeing Jung staring at him intently, Shin-woo spoke up.


    ¡°Are you of the same opinion as Director Yu Hyung-jin, thinking that the training is too intense?¡±


    ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s not light¡­ but it¡¯s a necessary training for KITE right now.¡±


    ¡°There were complaints, I see.¡±


    Jung sighed deeply at Shin-woo¡¯s question.


    ¡°Unlike the Special Security Team, it¡¯s true that the general security and bodyguard teams have been complacent, having been hired based solely on their experience.¡±


    ¡°But didn¡¯t you design the training program together with Director Yu?¡±


    ¡°That was the best I could do with my abilities. But now we have someone more capable as our CEO, so I¡¯m relieved.¡±


    He spoke with genuine acknowledgment.


    Shin-woo chuckled at Jung¡¯s expression.


    ¡°I¡¯ve reviewed all the security strategy reports you¡¯ve submitted so far, Instructor Jung.¡±


    ¡°¡­All of them?¡±


    Jung Kang-ho had joined KITE two years ago.


    During that time, he had submitted dozens of strategic reports on managing the security and guard teams.


    Naturally, each report was thick with content.


    ¡°It¡¯s necessary to go through them for the sake of KITE¡¯s future.¡±


    ¡°You seem different from what I remember.¡±


    The Shin-woo in Jung¡¯s memory was someone who would appear alone and aggressively take down enemies. Although his character hadn¡¯t changed much, seeing him act thoughtfully as a CEO was unexpected.


    ¡°I had to change. By the way¡­ your leg¡­ it hasn¡¯t fully healed, has it?¡±


    ¡°They said the nerve damage was too severe for full recovery. But I¡¯m grateful to still be alive. I couldn¡¯t properly thank you back then¡­ but I¡¯m really grateful now.¡±


    With those words, Jung Kang-ho, still seated on the sofa, bowed deeply.


    ¡°It was my mission after all.¡±


    ¡°No matter if it was your mission, it was almost an impossible rescue operation. Honestly, I thought the CEO had gone mad at the time.¡±


    The kidnappers were members of North Korea¡¯s worst special forces unit, known as Unit 8402, composed of the best of the best, armed with combat experience and skills.


    ¡°I won¡¯t deny it was a crazy thing to do.¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t ask back then due to the circumstances, but¡­ did you leave the place under unfavourable conditions?¡±


    Jung Kang-ho used to be a colonel in the Capital Defense Command.


    Among all the people he encountered throughout his long military career, no one possessed combat instincts and skills as sharp as Baek Shin-woo¡¯s.


    Naturally, the military wouldn¡¯t have let someone like Shin-woo leave so easily. Even if his unit had been disbanded for some reason, they would have reassigned him to another unit to keep him on board.


    ¡°I just left because it was time for me to do so.¡±


    ¡°Did your commanding officer stand by idly?¡±


    ¡°He tried to dissuade me. But what can you do? I insisted on leaving. Although, I did have a lot of papers to sign.¡±


    Confidentiality agreements, temporary travel bans, non-disclosure agreements for intelligence agencies, and many others¡­


    There were mountains of security documents designed to prevent the leakage of information due to the numerous special operations carried out by UAD.


    ¡°That must have been quite the headache.¡±


    ¡°It was a bit annoying, to be honest, being summoned by the commander every other day after submitting my discharge papers.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no wonder they tried to stop you. Losing someone with your record would be a big loss for the Ministry of National Defense. But, what does it mean for you to be the Chairman¡¯s descendant? From what I know, members of such units aren¡¯t supposed to have any family ties.¡±


    The Capital Defense Command had once formed a team similar to UAD, so Jung Kang-ho was roughly aware of the qualifications required for unit members.


    ¡°Well¡­¡±


    Shin-woo briefly explained how he came to meet his biological mother, Im Hee-yeon, after his discharge.


    Of course, he didn¡¯t mention anything related to Unit 666.


    Jung Kang-ho¡¯s head nodded sympathetically as he listened to the complicated story, showing a look of pity.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot of complex situations.¡±


    ¡°Well¡ª it¡¯s not too bad. I went from being a complete orphan to becoming the child of a conglomerate family.¡±


    ¡°I understand the intricacies of the owner family¡¯s situation. Even though you might not be easily swayed, you still need to be cautious.¡±


    He was referring to the Special Security Teams assigned to each member of the owner family. These teams operated independently within KITE but were known for being willing to handle any dangerous task without hesitation. There were plenty of rumours about them within KITE. As a lifesaver, Jung Kang-ho sincerely hoped Shin-woo wouldn¡¯t end up in a dire situation.


    ¡°Thank you for your concern.¡±


    ***


    Several days later¡­


    Myung Un-seok, Director of the Strategic Investment Planning Office at MH Group, arrived in Silicon Valley with Team Leader Na Jung-hyun and the security personnel.


    ¡¾LIVIO SOFT¡¿


    The company¡¯s name was displayed in front of a three-story building. Myung Un-seok had come here to ensure that he could turn around the declining performance, a situation made urgent by Baek Shin-woo¡¯s influence.


    Upon entering, Team Leader Na Jung-hyun approached the reception desk. After mentioning the appointment, a woman walked out from inside, her high heels clicking on the floor.


    Click-clack¡ª Click-clack¡ª


    A blonde Caucasian woman with shoulder-length hair and green eyes, wearing a tight gray striped two-piece skirt suit over a red shirt, walked up and spoke in English.


    ¡°Hello, you must be Director Myung Un-seok and Team Leader Na Jung-hyun from MH Group, correct?¡±


    Myung Un-seok stared at her for a moment, momentarily lost, before responding.


    ¡°¡­Ah! Yes, I am Myung Un-seok, Director of Strategic Investment Planning at MH Group.¡±


    He naturally answered in English and waited for her response.


    ¡°I¡¯m the secretary to Dale Becker, the CEO of LIVIO SOFT.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see. Your presence is so striking that I thought you might be the CEO. May I ask for your name¡­?¡±


    ¡°Let me show you to the CEO¡¯s office.¡±


    The blonde secretary, seemingly not having heard Myung Un-seok¡¯s question, took the lead and walked up the stairs. Following behind, Myung Un-seok glanced at the secretary¡¯s back with a sly smile.


    ¡®¡­Not bad at all.¡¯


    Many employees could be seen walking around.


    After climbing up to the third floor, they walked down a hallway to a door labelled ¡®CEO¡¯ before knocking on it.


    Inside, a middle-aged man with brown hair and eyes, a solid build, and dressed in a checkered shirt and jeans, was seated.


    ¡°Thank you for coming all the way here. I¡¯m Dale Becker, the CEO of LIVIO SOFT.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Myung Un-seok from MH Group.¡±


    Na Jung-hyun introduced himself.


    After exchanging greetings, everyone took their seats on the sofa.


    ¡°You proposed quite a radical condition.¡±


    Getting straight to the point without any formalities, Myung Un-seok replied with satisfaction.


    ¡°It¡¯s basic business etiquette to offer the counterpart exactly what they need.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the simplest yet the most difficult thing to accomplish. So, have you managed to locate the rightful owner of the base program?¡±


    Currently, there were rumours surrounding LIVIO SOFT due to a patent infringement issue regarding their mind-mapping-based program, which serves as the company¡¯s foundation.


    The problem stemmed from an unknown individual claiming to be the original creator of the program and distributing it for free.


    On the other hand, LIVIO SOFT asserted that they were the ones who developed the foundational program.


    The issue escalated when other companies, who had previously used the original program, raised complaints.


    ¡°We first need a solid reason to act on our end to avoid any wasted efforts.¡±


    Myung Un-seok took the contract that Na Jung-hyun handed over and presented it to Dale Becker.


    Dale Becker carefully examined the contract and then smiled.


    ¡°20 billion won as an investment secured by 5% of non-listed shares¡­ Isn¡¯t this condition too harsh?¡±


    This amount was far below the actual value of 5% of LIVIO SOFT¡¯s shares.


    ¡°The additional option clauses attached at the end of the contract should make up for that, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    ¡°Is there a definite way to fulfil those conditions?¡±


    To finalize the investment contract under such terms, Myung Un-seok needed to find the developer of LIVIO SOFT¡¯s foundational program and secure ownership rights.


    However, despite utilizing all of their resources, LIVIO SOFT had been unable to locate the developer up until now.


    ¡°If I say there is¡­ will that make the contract possible?¡±


    ¡°Honestly, it feels like we¡¯re taking a loss, but it¡¯s something our side has to endure.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    After reviewing the contents of the secondary contract, Dale Becker signed it without hesitation.


    The attached contract included a termination clause in case the developer could not be found, so there were no issues.


    ¡°¡­So, what method did MH Group come up with? Or perhaps¡­ are you already aware of the developer¡¯s identity and just testing me?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t know for certain yet. However, we did find out that the developer¡¯s ID is ¡®MANDU¡¯ and that they are Korean.¡±


    ¡°We are aware of the ID ¡®MANDU.¡¯ But Korean? How did you find out that the developer is Korean?¡±


    ¡°We traced the individuals who used the program¡¯s basic source code. Fortunately, we managed to have a conversation with the developer, and they mentioned residing in Korea.¡±


    Dale Becker was visibly shocked by the explanation.


    ¡°Is that true?!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a high probability that it is. Moreover, ¡®MANDU¡¯ is a Korean food name. Based on that, we are tracking them.¡±


    Feeling confident about the success of this investment contract, Myung Un-seok smiled.


    Then, Dale Becker hesitantly spoke up.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t have the chance to mention it earlier, but would it be alright to add one more condition?¡±


    ¡°¡­What kind of condition?¡±


    ¡°Since LIVIO SOFT is on the verge of going public¡­ the negotiation with the developer must be conducted as quickly as possible.¡±


    ¡°I understand what you mean.¡±


    ¡°So, I was wondering if my secretary could join the MH Group in the process of finding the developer.¡±


    Dale Becker¡¯s gaze turned to his secretary, who was standing beside him.


    ¡°Are you referring to her? Oh, I didn¡¯t catch her name earlier.¡±


    This was because when he had asked her name on the first floor, she had ignored him and only guided him forward.


    With a confident expression, the secretary introduced herself.


    ¡°Hello. I am Dale Becker¡¯s secretary, Lillian Foster.¡±

 Chapter 25

    Chapter 25: Lure Trap


    A Few Days Later.


    Seoul, South Korea. Phrase Residence Hotel, VIP Room.


    It was a room with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and both a large and small living room.


    Lillian Foster, who had stepped inside, walked towards the window and looked down at the view from the top floor with a haughty expression.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Myung Un-seok, who followed her in, wore a satisfied smile.


    ¡°Do you like it?¡±


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°Since this is a matter of utmost importance, we¡¯re keeping it low-key even within MH Group. That¡¯s why I brought you here instead of our group¡¯s subsidiary, MH Hotel.¡±


    Lillian Foster kept her gaze fixed on the scenery outside.


    ¡°I understand. But what progress has been made in tracking down the program developer, MANDU?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re currently tracing the IP using the computer logs of the person who contacted MANDU. We should have results within three days at the latest.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡±


    Myung Un-seok scrutinized Lillian Foster¡¯s back, which was turned towards him.


    ¡°How does LIVIO SOFT plan to acquire MANDU¡¯s ownership rights?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s for us to handle, so there¡¯s no need for you to get involved.¡±


    ¡°If there¡¯s anything I can help with, just let me know.¡±


    ¡°All MH Group needs to do is find him for us.¡±


    The sharp response cut through his offer, making Myung Un-seok¡¯s forehead twitch slightly.


    ¡°Would you be interested in having dinner tonight? It would be a good opportunity to discuss various matters related to business.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll take care of my own meals. Please focus solely on finding MANDU.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re joining us in the search for MANDU, shouldn¡¯t we be working together?¡±


    Lillian Foster let out a soft laugh, sensing the ulterior motives in Myung Un-seok¡¯s actions.


    ¡°You¡¯re not the one doing the actual work anyway, are you? I¡¯ll move on my own, so just let me know as soon as you have any information on MANDU¡¯s identity. That¡¯s all I need from MH Group.¡±


    It was another decisive rejection.


    Realizing there was no point in pursuing the matter further, Myung Un-seok let it go.


    ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll inform you as soon as there¡¯s news.¡±


    After bidding farewell, Myung Un-seok headed down to the underground parking lot of the hotel and climbed into the backseat of his car.


    At that moment, Lee Chang-sun, a member of KITE¡¯s Special Security Team 2, sitting in the passenger seat, turned and handed him a file.


    ¡°Here¡¯s the information you requested on Lillian Foster of LIVIO SOFT.¡±


    Myung Un-seok opened the file and began reading through it carefully.


    Meanwhile, the car, which had been stationary, began moving towards the company.


    [Personal Information]


    ¡ª Name: Lillian Foster ¡ª Birthdate: September 4, 1996 (27 years old) ¡ª Affiliation: LIVIO SOFT COMPANY / Secretary ¡ª Education: Stanford University, Department of Chemical Engineering (Bachelor¡¯s) Stanford Graduate School of Engineering, Chemical Engineering (Ph.D.) Stanford Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Materials Science (Master¡¯s) ¡ª High School: West High School


    .


    .


    ¡°Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and a Master¡¯s in Materials Science¡­? Isn¡¯t it typical for secretaries to come from related fields?¡±


    Lee Chang-sun added to his musing.


    ¡°She¡¯s a genius who completed her Materials Science degree simultaneously. Even before graduation, she received numerous offers from famous companies in the industry. But for some reason, she applied directly to LIVIO SOFT earlier this year.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s quite an unusual case. It doesn¡¯t mean she¡¯s lacking in ability either.¡±


    ¡°She rose to the position of CEO¡¯s secretary in a short period at LIVIO SOFT. CEO Dale Becker himself acknowledges her capabilities.¡±


    Myung Un-seok nodded naturally.


    ¡°I like her in many ways. Her abilities¡­ and her appearance¡­¡±


    The file was filled with recent photos of Lillian Foster. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As he looked through them one by one, a satisfied smile spread across Myung Un-seok¡¯s face. He held up one of the photos separately.


    It was a picture of Lillian Foster holding a takeout coffee cup near the company¡¯s vicinity.


    On the inside of her left wrist, holding the coffee cup, was a tattoo shaped like an eye.


    ***


    A few days later.


    Shin-woo was busy organizing materials for a meeting of the Strategic Investment Headquarters from the early morning.


    Meanwhile, Jang Man-soo, who had been sitting on the sofa, suddenly started scratching his ear furiously.


    ¡°Argh¨D! Why is my ear so itchy these days?!¡±


    Jang Man-soo kept grumbling while scratching his ear with one hand, but he never took the other hand off his laptop.


    Today¡¯s fashion was a red corduroy jacket and pants, a blue shirt, and blue shoes. To top it off, he wore a black tie with yellow polka dots.


    His flashy style seemed to evolve daily.


    Shin-woo looked at him with an expression full of disapproval.


    ¡°¡­Why don¡¯t you go see an ENT doctor?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that kind of itch. I feel like someone is talking about me somewhere¡­¡±


    ¡°Maybe the National Intelligence Service is looking for you?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t joke about that. And I¡¯ve erased every trace that would make the NIS look for me, alright?!¡±


    Baek Shin-woo smiled as he transferred the meeting materials onto a USB drive.


    ¡°Check it out from time to time, just in case.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. And the second investment is going well. But are you sure it¡¯s fine to proceed with only these strategic stocks?¡±


    ¡°The investment profit is guaranteed.¡±


    ¡°But if that group finds out, they won¡¯t sit idle.¡±


    Strategic stocks are almost guaranteed to succeed if there are no obstructing forces when inside information is available. However, since they are part of a stock manipulation plan orchestrated by a specific entity, they are also extremely risky.


    That¡¯s why Jang Man-soo hadn¡¯t heavily recommended investing in strategic stocks, not for himself, nor for Shin-woo, even among the investment opportunities he had suggested.


    But this time, most of the second investment under Baek Shin-woo¡¯s name as the Director of Strategic Investment Operations was made up of strategic stocks.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We have a strong shield called MH.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying we¡¯ll use MH Group to fend them off if they catch on?¡±


    ¡°Officially, it¡¯s not an individual investment, but an investment made by MH Group. We just ride along and make money.¡±


    ¡°As long as there are no problems, I¡¯m all for it. Thanks to that, we¡¯re able to strike and withdraw without a hitch, steadily building up funds.¡±


    With his knowledge of regression, Jang Man-soo steadily amassed war funds.


    ¡°Make full use of everything you can without hesitation.¡±


    ¡°To be honest, I was a bit cautious because it¡¯s your family, but since you put it that way, I won¡¯t hold back!¡±


    ¡°Do as you see fit. Just report if any problems arise. I¡¯ll be heading to the meeting now.¡±


    With that reply, Shin-woo left the office and headed to the conference room on the 12th floor.


    As he took his seat, the Deputy General Manager and above-level employees of the Strategic Investment Headquarters entered one by one.


    Among them were Myung Un-seok and Myung Jin-seok, whom Shin-woo had seen previously at Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s residence in Pyeongchang-dong.


    Both of them looked at Shin-woo with eyes filled with contempt.


    ¡®It¡¯s as if they want to tear me apart just with their glares.¡¯


    Not a word was exchanged.


    At that moment, the door opened again, and Director Im Hee-yeon and her secretary, Deputy General Manager Song Tae-hoon, appeared.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get started. Planning Office, please proceed with the meeting.¡±


    At the same time, Myung Un-seok grabbed his USB and went up to the platform to connect it. The large central screen lit up, displaying the materials prepared by the Strategic Investment Planning Office.


    Clank¡ª


    Just then, the conference room door opened, and Chairman Myung Joong-hwan and his secretary, Goo Sang-ho, entered.


    Startled, everyone in the room immediately stood up.


    ¡°Chairman! How did you¡­?¡±


    In response to Im Hee-yeon¡¯s question, Myung Joong-hwan glanced around the conference room.


    ¡°I heard it¡¯s a meeting to review the third quarter, so I came by. I¡¯ll just observe, so continue.¡±


    With that, he went to sit at the head of the table.


    As the room quieted down again, Myung Un-seok resumed his presentation on the projects prepared by the Strategic Investment Planning Office.


    ¡°¡­The project currently in progress ended with results higher than expected, closing at 142%. Future projects are planned with a target profit of 200% or higher¡­¡±


    Although he could have ended his report at that point, Myung Un-seok didn¡¯t want to miss the chance to make an impression on Myung Joong-hwan.


    ¡°The last project I would like to present is one that I personally received approval for and have been leading¡ªan investment in LIVIO SOFT in Silicon Valley, USA.¡±


    ¡°Director Myung Un-seok. Didn¡¯t we decide to report on the LIVIO SOFT project after further progress had been made?¡±


    The situation of an invested company changes as unpredictably as waves.


    Countless unforeseen variables arise if the situation isn¡¯t read perfectly.


    Im Hee-yeon judged that it was appropriate to report when there was a higher certainty of the investment¡¯s success or failure.


    ¡°It¡¯s an investment project the Planning Office is conducting independently. I thought it was necessary to report due to its high importance.¡±


    ¡°But there¡¯s still a possibility of failure, right? The LIVIO SOFT investment won¡¯t necessarily go smoothly.¡±


    At that moment, Myung Un-seok¡¯s eyebrow twitched.


    It felt as if Im Hee-yeon was raining on his parade just when everything was falling into place.


    ¡°I¡¯m confident that any issues will be resolved without difficulty.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not as easy as you think.¡±


    ¡°Enough. Director Myung Un-seok, please continue with your report.¡±


    With Chairman Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s intervention, Im Hee-yeon had no choice but to remain silent.


    In that moment, a faint smile appeared on Myung Un-seok¡¯s lips as he slightly bowed his head.


    ¡°Ahem, ahem! I will continue. Currently, LIVIO SOFT is a pre-IPO company, and we have completed the first investment contract. The expected profit from this investment is estimated to be at least 300%¡­¡±


    ¡°How much capital is involved?¡±


    ¡°20 billion won. As part of the option, we included 5% of LIVIO SOFT¡¯s unlisted stock shares in the contract.¡±


    Myung Joong-hwan nodded and asked with a look of anticipation.


    ¡°How much is LIVIO SOFT¡¯s 5% equity worth?¡±


    ¡°Since it¡¯s an unlisted stock, it¡¯s difficult to determine the exact amount, but it¡¯s estimated to be over 60 billion won.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯ve managed to knock it down to just a third of its value¡­ That means there must be tough conditions attached.¡±


    ¡°There is some noise surrounding the company. I will be resolving those issues as we proceed.¡±


    For a company with an estimated value of over 60 billion won for a 5% stake in unlisted shares, the value could increase several times over after going public.


    ¡°Very well. I look forward to it.¡±


    Myung Joong-hwan displayed a composed but slightly pleased expression.


    As Myung Un-seok returned to his seat, Im Hee-yeon shifted her gaze towards Shin-woo.


    ¡°It¡¯s your turn, Director Baek.¡±


    Shin-woo moved forward, connected his USB, and began presenting the results of the projects that had been transferred from the Planning Office.


    Most of the content overlapped with what Myung Un-seok had already presented, so there wasn¡¯t anything particularly noteworthy at first.


    The real substance came after that.


    ¡°This report is regarding the second investment managed by the three teams. The investment capital was 5 billion won, and it was distributed across the stocks of 13 companies. The current profit rate stands at 230%.¡±


    The meeting room screen changed, showing recent stock price charts for the 13 companies.


    The attendees stared at the screen in shock.


    All of them were seasoned investors, and they could easily calculate how profitable Shin-woo¡¯s investments had been.


    Im Hee-yeon spoke up first.


    ¡°I¡¯ve listened carefully. But most of these are high-risk stocks¡­ How did you manage the risk?¡±


    The stock price graphs displayed on the screen could have plummeted at any time. Within those risky movements, Shin-woo had accurately captured the peak prices and only took the profits.


    Without a change in his expression, Shin-woo calmly answered.


    ¡°There was no risk management.¡±


    The attendees were even more astonished than before, causing a stir in the room.


    ¡°It was a 5 billion won investment. What would you have done if it failed?¡±


    ¡°Responsibility is something to discuss only in the event of failure. I didn¡¯t fail. In the end, isn¡¯t this place all about results?¡±


    ¡°That 5 billion wasn¡¯t Director Baek¡¯s personal funds; it was company money. Of course, if there were any illegal processes involved, you would have to bear the corresponding responsibility!¡±


    ¡°Cough, cough¡ª!¡±


    Just then, Myung Joong-hwan¡¯s coughing sound resonated through the microphone in the meeting room.


    The surroundings quieted down, and Myung Joong-hwan looked at Im Hee-yeon.


    ¡°I¡¯ve noticed that Director Im¡¯s tone has been quite harsh lately.¡±


    ¡°¡­I Apologize.¡±


    ¡°Of course, like Director Im said, the process is important as well. But upon reviewing the report, there doesn¡¯t seem to be any procedural issues. The results are good too.¡±


    This outcome was achieved in a shorter period than the first investment. At the same time, the profit was twice as high as the previous round, making it an astonishing result.


    After a brief silence as he took a breath, Myung Joong-hwan continued speaking.


    ¡°I¡¯ve reviewed Director Baek Shin-woo¡¯s report thoroughly. So, let¡¯s not dwell on this any longer and proceed with the rest of the meeting smoothly.¡±


    With those final words, Myung Joong-hwan exited the room.


    As the meeting continued, the expressions on Myung Un-seok and Myung Jin-seok¡¯s faces turned sour.

 Chapter 26

    Chapter 26 : Are they feeding it to me?


    After the meeting ended, Myung Un-seok returned to his office.


    The sudden appearance of Chairman Myung Joong-hwan and the successful completion of the announcement regarding the investment in LIVIO SOFT was a success.


    The fact that Myung Joong-hwan seemed pleased with the outcome was something to be satisfied with.


    However, the report that followed from Baek Shin-woo crushed Myung Un-seok¡¯s pride once again.


    ¡°Where on earth does that bastard get such information?¡±


    A 5 billion won investment with a 230% return. If you look at the amount, it means they earned 11.5 billion won.


    Myung Un-seok tried to utilize his information network to figure out the source of the stock information but found nothing. When he tried to dig deeper, his father, Myung In-chul, stopped him.


    Knock, knock¡ª


    With the sound of knocking, Lee Chang-sun, Myung Un-seok¡¯s personal bodyguard, entered.


    ¡°Director. A report on MANDU has come in.¡±


    ¡°How did it go?¡±


    ¡°The IP we were tracking was routed overseas, but the connection was cut off domestically. Experts say they used a thoroughly routed connection.¡±


    Myung Un-seok¡¯s face contorted at that moment.


    ¡°¡­So, does that mean we can¡¯t find them?¡±


    ¡°They say it might be difficult to track them.¡±


    ¡°This is getting troublesome.¡±


    Just moments ago, he had confidently reported to the Chairman about LIVIO SOFT. He couldn¡¯t let this slip away after he had spoken with such confidence about the expected returns.


    He had to come up with a solution somehow.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told them to keep looking based on the IP records we obtained, just in case there are more traces.¡±


    ¡°Try asking around if there are other hackers who¡¯ve had contact with MANDU on the Dark Web. Even though there hasn¡¯t been activity recently, if there¡¯s any past record, we might be able to trace it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give that order.¡±


    As Lee Chang-sun was heading out, Myung Jin-seok appeared as if taking over the scene.


    ¡°Are you very busy?¡±


    Myung Un-seok was two years older than Myung Jin-seok. When they were younger, they were somewhat close, but as the issue of succession arose, their parents¡¯ relationship became strained, and they naturally grew apart.


    They still met occasionally at family events, but they hadn¡¯t exchanged many words beyond that.


    ¡°¡­What brings you here?¡±


    ¡°Well, I just wanted to check in. I started at the headquarters but haven¡¯t had a chance to greet you properly, so I came by.¡±


    As he said, after joining MH Group¡¯s headquarters, Myung Jin-seok had never come to see Myung Un-seok personally. Of course, they met during meetings, but there was no personal greeting.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t come here just to exchange small talk, did you?¡±


    Seeing his cautious demeanour, Myung Jin-seok clicked his tongue.


    ¡°Tch¡ªAren¡¯t you being a bit too serious?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t throw unnecessary jokes. Just get to the point.¡±


    Myung Un-seok spoke dismissively while organizing the documents on his desk.


    Seeing this, Myung Jin-seok¡¯s brow furrowed.


    ¡°Do you know the guy that Baek Shin-woo parachuted in?¡±


    ¡°Parachuted in? You mean that manager with the weird fashion sense?¡±


    Already overwhelmed by various matters, Myung Un-seok found Baek Shin-woo¡¯s presence bothersome. Though he was only vaguely aware of the manager in charge of the third operations team, whose rumors were wild, he acknowledged the connection.


    ¡°Yeah. That manager. His name¡¯s Jang Man-soo. He was parachuted in, and he¡¯s always busy with something. From what people in the operations team say, Baek Shin-woo gives him a lot of work.¡±


    Listening silently, Myung Un-seok¡¯s brow furrowed deeper.


    ¡°What are you trying to say?¡±


    After a brief pause, Myung Jin-seok swallowed his saliva and spoke.


    ¡°I was thinking, what if we tried to bring Jang Man-soo over to our side? If he got in through a parachute, wouldn¡¯t he be easy to sway?¡±


    ¡°We? Since when were we working together? And weren¡¯t you handling the matter of Manager Jang through Assistant Manager Moon Ji-hoon in the Personnel Management Department?¡±


    At that moment, Myung Jin-seok¡¯s face turned pale.


    ¡°¡­You knew?¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t MH Food; it¡¯s MH Group Headquarters. No matter how much you struggle, those who start under you won¡¯t stick around for long. They¡¯ll look for someone higher.¡±


    Myung Un-seok was the one who concluded that Assistant Manager Moon Ji-hoon was higher up than Myung Jin-seok. As soon as Moon Ji-hoon was dismissed by Myung Jin-seok, he clung to Myung Un-seok with the leverage of what he had done.


    Although Moon Ji-hoon was dismissed due to a violation of the Personal Information Protection Act, the matter was quietly settled thanks to his connection to Myung Un-seok, and he managed to find employment elsewhere.


    While looking stunned, Myung Jin-seok met the sharp gaze of Myung Un-seok.


    ¡°Are you saying that guy has my leash now?¡±


    ¡°Does he even have the value to put a leash on you?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    Silence filled the room.


    Attempting to use cooperation as an excuse to manipulate Myung Un-seok, Myung Jin-seok¡¯s thoughts grew more tangled.


    Then, with a heavy expression, Myung Un-seok spoke.


    ¡°Myung Jin-seok. You should just mind your own business. Don¡¯t end up getting into trouble like this time by overreaching yourself.¡±


    Myung In-chul had given Myung Seong-cheol an assignment.


    It was to verify the project Baek Shin-woo was pushing forward and track down the source of the information.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m busy, so you should leave now.¡±


    With a dark expression, Myung Jin-seok left the office.


    * * *


    After the meeting, Shin-woo called Jang Man-soo to his office.


    ¡°Why did you call me when I¡¯m busy?¡±


    ¡°Do you know a company called LIVIO SOFT by any chance?¡±


    As he sat on the sofa, Jang Man-soo easily recalled.


    ¡°LIVIO? Yeah, I know it. Why all of a sudden?¡±


    ¡°Myung Un-seok just mentioned in the meeting that they signed an investment project with them.¡±


    ¡°That place has been making noise recently.¡±


    Jang Man-soo made a very profound expression. It wasn¡¯t like a vague recollection.


    ¡°Was that company on your stock investment list?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s a bit more personal than that. LIVIO SOFT is running a business using the source code I created.¡±


    Shin-woo couldn¡¯t help but be surprised by the explanation.


    ¡°The source code you made?¡±


    After the meeting, Shin-woo had looked up information on LIVIO SOFT. Although it hadn¡¯t gone public yet, its size was comparable to that of a major corporation.


    Moreover, as an IT company, it had very high growth potential.


    And now, they were using the source code created by Jang Man-soo.


    ¡°A while back, I made it out of boredom and released it for anyone to use. After I returned through the regression, I found out, and yeah, it stung a bit.¡±


    ¡°I heard there¡¯s been some noise before their IPO¡­ Is that because of the source code you made?¡± S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Probably. Although I don¡¯t have a patent, I planted a lock in the source code, so I can claim ownership.¡±


    It was about time to shake Myung In-chul through Myung Un-seok.


    Though he¡¯d been searching for methods, up until now, he¡¯d only been able to strike through successful investments.


    ¡°Try reaching out to them.¡±


    ¡°Right now?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve presented us with an opportunity, so we should take advantage of it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re really quick on your feet. Hold on a second.¡±


    Jang Man-soo grabbed his laptop from his desk.


    As he turned around, Shin-woo, watching him, raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Is it okay to send it from here? Won¡¯t it be tracked?¡±


    ¡°What do you take me for! I¡¯m using a burner phone hotspot to create a routed connection, so they can¡¯t trace the IP. But what should I say? Threaten them? Offer cooperation? Negotiate?¡±


    ¡°Start with a threat. If they need the source code¡¯s ownership, let¡¯s see what conditions they put on the table. Oh, and send it in Swahili.¡±


    ¡°Got it¡ª!¡±


    Tap, tap, tap¡ª Tap, tap, tap¡ª


    Like playing piano keys, Jang Man-soo¡¯s fingers flew across the laptop keyboard.


    ¡°Done! Given that they¡¯re in a rush to go public, they¡¯ll probably respond quickly.¡±


    ¡°If the source code you created is the company¡¯s foundation, could we swallow LIVIO SOFT?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s difficult right now, but we can demand a significant stake. If they don¡¯t want to see their company disintegrate, they¡¯ll meet the terms even if it¡¯s unreasonable¡­ Oh, here¡¯s the reply.¡±


    A mail notification popped up in the corner of Jang Man-soo¡¯s laptop screen. As expected, it was a reply from LIVIO SOFT.


    The contents of the email clearly showed their urgency.


    ¡¾From: Dale Becker£¯LIVIO SOFT COMPANY¡¿


    ¡¾¡­This is Dale Becker, CEO of LIVIO SOFT. I would like to meet with you in person to discuss this issue proactively. I¡¯m willing to visit you anywhere¡­.¡¿


    Reading the message with Shin-woo, a small laugh escaped.


    ¡°Hmph¡ªLooks like the situation is more urgent than I thought.¡±


    ¡°What should we do?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll meet. Tell them we can meet as soon as possible. But you¡¯ll need to hide your identity, so I¡¯ll go as your representative. As for the location¡­.¡±


    Muttering to himself, Shin-woo pulled out his phone and searched for a suitable spot on a map app.


    ¡°What are you looking for?¡±


    ¡°A secluded place.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re planning to deal with them if they try anything, right?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not the first time we¡¯ve seen desperate people take risky moves.¡±


    The missions that Shin-woo handled with Triad Eye rarely went smoothly.


    The high risk and secrecy of the missions often led to betrayals from the clients themselves.


    In fact, many clients who tried to betray Shin-woo and his team ended up destroyed instead.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you thinking too much about the times we nearly got stabbed in the back during our missions?¡±


    ¡°This place is just as much of a battlefield, filled with all sorts of tricks and schemes. So be careful. Don¡¯t let your guard down and make any unnecessary openings.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah. Geez, I haven¡¯t heard you nag like this in a while.¡±


    As the leader of Triad Eye, Shin-woo had gone through life-and-death situations with Jang Man-soo and his other comrades for about seven years.


    They had faced dangers beyond anyone¡¯s imagination.


    Even up until the moment of his death, the primary reason Shin-woo could complete the missions was thanks to his cold-headed decisions and bold actions.


    At the nuclear missile base, it was Shin-woo who made the final sacrifice to save his comrades¡­.


    * * *


    Meanwhile, at the Phrase Residence Hotel¡¯s VIP Room.


    Lillian Foster sat with a serious expression, on the phone with Dale Becker, the CEO of LIVIO SOFT.


    ¡°Are you saying MANDU, the owner of the program¡¯s source code, reached out directly?¡±


    [Yes. So, return to the company immediately.]


    ¡°In what way did they reach out?¡±


    [It came through an untraceable email. I¡¯ve already replied. But why do you ask?]


    ¡°Can I see the email address as well?¡±


    Dale Becker paused for a moment before replying.


    [I can¡¯t give you that information. We¡¯ve set up a separate negotiation team to handle it. Your job ends here, so come back.]


    However, Lillian Foster didn¡¯t back down.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you entrust me with handling all contact and negotiations regarding this matter?¡±


    [I acknowledge your skills. Thanks to you, we may even be able to accelerate the IPO. But the final decision is mine to make, not yours.]


    ¡°I can¡¯t accept that. I only joined LIVIO SOFT under the condition that I¡¯d handle all of this. If you don¡¯t share that information with me, I¡¯ll consider my role over.¡±


    At that moment, Dale Becker¡¯s voice boomed angrily through the phone.


    [Foster!]


    ¡°Without me, negotiating with MANDU won¡¯t be easy. And you can take care of my resignation papers on your own.¡±


    [Are you really going to¡ª!]


    Click¡ª


    Lillian Foster hung up before he could finish.


    ¡°Ugh! Dale Becker¡­ Even after all I said, he still plans to act out of greed.¡±


    Muttering under her breath, Lillian swept her hand through her hair in frustration.


    Her gaze fell on the eye-shaped tattoo etched below her left wrist.


    Below the tattoo were English words inscribed: ¡¾The ordeal is not over¡¿


    As she exhaled deeply, the sound of the hotel doorbell echoed urgently.


    Ding dong¡ª Ding dong¡ª

 Chapter 27

    Chapter 27: A Reckless Move That Brings a Bloodstorm sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lillian opened the door right away.


    There stood a very agitated Myung Un-seok, entering with a deep scowl.


    ¡°What the hell is this?! Cancelling the investment contract?!¡±


    Just a few minutes ago, LIVIO SOFT had unilaterally notified MH Group of the cancellation of the investment contract, without any prior discussion.


    Of course, the reason was listed in the notice.


    ¡¾¡­It has been confirmed that your company cannot fulfil the clauses outlined in the subsidiary contract¡­.¡¿


    But Myung Un-seok could not accept that, so he came to confront Lillian.


    ¡°So, the termination notice has already gone out. Doesn¡¯t the reason seem pretty obvious to you?¡±


    ¡°¡­Don¡¯t tell me¡­ LIVIO SOFT found that programmer, MANDU, on their own?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°How did they find him?¡±


    Myung Un-seok had been anxiously searching for MANDU¡¯s trail, only to lose it.


    And now, LIVIO SOFT, which hadn¡¯t been able to make any headway before, had found MANDU.


    ¡°That, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t disclose.¡±


    ¡°But wasn¡¯t that something MH Group was fully entrusted with?¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t a full delegation. And I¡¯m no longer with LIVIO SOFT. So, I¡¯d like to end this unnecessary conversation here.¡±


    Lillian¡¯s annoyance flared, already fed up with Dale Becker¡¯s broken promises.


    And now, being hassled by Myung Un-seok, who had thrown lustful glances at her even in the U.S., she wanted nothing more than to leave the situation.


    But Myung Un-seok, surprised by her statement, spoke again.


    ¡°You mean you¡¯ve left LIVIO SOFT?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s none of your concern. And I¡¯ll be checking out of this hotel shortly, so please leave.¡±


    Despite her clear words, Myung Un-seok hesitated for a moment before speaking again.


    ¡°Then, how about working for me?¡±


    ¡°I appreciate the offer, but I¡¯m quite busy with other matters, so employment isn¡¯t really an option.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll offer a salary and benefits better than what you got at LIVIO SOFT.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not interested.¡±


    Lillian maintained her dignified expression, just wanting him to leave.


    But Myung Un-seok wasn¡¯t ready to give up, offering again.


    ¡°Did they fire you from LIVIO SOFT? If there¡¯s any bad blood, I can help you crush them later. What do you say?¡±


    He believed that once his father, Myung In-chul, took over as chairman of MH Group, the next in line would be him.


    At that moment, Lillian¡¯s previously calm face contorted, and she spoke clearly in Korean.


    ¡°Are you a stalker? Or are you just too stupid to understand words?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°I already told you no, didn¡¯t I? Why do you keep pestering me? Get out right now, or do you want me to tear you limb from limb and display you in the hotel lobby?¡±


    Completely shocked, Myung Un-seok was left speechless for a moment before slowly walking out of the room.


    Once she was alone again, Lillian, her face twisted in fury, screamed out.


    ¡°Where the hell is that damned MANDU anyway¡ª!!¡±


    * * *


    A few days later.


    Past midnight, in a desolate area northwest of Vladivostok, Russia. A single black sedan pulled up in front of an abandoned warehouse surrounded by hills and open fields.


    With no moon in the sky, the area was pitch black.


    Three foreign men got out of the car.


    Two of them were large, muscular men in black suits, while the third was a man with a kind demeanour, wearing glasses with a casual outfit.


    ¡°He hasn¡¯t arrived yet¡­.¡±


    The man leading them was Lloyd Douglas, a renowned corporate lobbyist, sent on an important mission by Dale Becker of LIVIO SOFT.


    Not long after, headlights pierced through the dark road, heading toward them.


    The vehicle approached and stopped a short distance away from them.


    The person who got out was Shin-woo. Despite it being nighttime, he wore sunglasses as he stepped out of the car.


    The only light illuminating them came from the headlights of the two cars.


    Lloyd Douglas smiled as he watched the scene unfold.


    ¡°Je wewe ni MANDU? (Are you MANDU?)¡±


    Jang Man-soo had sent the email on Shin-woo¡¯s behalf in Swahili, so Lloyd Douglas responded in the same language.


    ¡°§á§â§Ö§Õ§ã§ä§Ñ§Ó§Ú§ä§Ö§Ý§î. (Representative.)¡±


    But the words that came out of Shin-woo¡¯s mouth were in Russian.


    Lloyd Douglas was slightly surprised but, being a lobbyist, he smoothly switched languages.


    ¡°Are you Russian?¡±


    ¡°Does that matter?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re a representative, I assume you¡¯re a lobbyist like me. I¡¯m Lloyd Douglas.¡±


    He spoke in a friendly manner as if trying to create a comfortable atmosphere, stepping closer.


    ¡°I don¡¯t feel the need to tell you my name. Whether or not I¡¯m a lobbyist is for you to decide. What are LIVIO SOFT¡¯s terms?¡±


    Getting straight to the point, Shin-woo¡¯s words caused Lloyd Douglas¡¯s face to tense slightly.


    ¡°You seem to be in a hurry. But how can I trust that you are really MANDU¡¯s representative?¡±


    In response, Shin-woo took out a pen from his pocket and tossed it to him.


    Lloyd Douglas caught it with some difficulty and examined it, twisting it open. It was a USB flash drive disguised as a pen.


    The man next to Lloyd Douglas naturally brought a laptop from the car and immediately plugged in the USB to verify its contents.


    ¡°Bring him over.¡±


    At Lloyd Douglas¡¯s command, one of the men opened the backseat door and dragged out a bewildered-looking man, standing him up in front of the group.


    ¡°Verify it.¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes, sir.¡±


    Since the job involved the IT industry, Lloyd Douglas had brought an expert to verify the authenticity of the data.


    With trembling hands, the man pushed his glasses up from the tip of his nose and began checking the laptop¡¯s screen. It didn¡¯t take long for him to give an answer.


    ¡°This is the real deal.¡±


    ¡°How did you confirm it?¡±


    ¡°The source code matches, and there¡¯s a hidden lock option that we hadn¡¯t detected while managing the program until now.¡±


    After confirming it for himself, Lloyd Douglas grinned widely, looking at Shin-woo.


    ¡°What¡¯s the unlock code for the option lock? Or better yet, how about you tell us who MANDU really is and where he¡¯s located?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to know anything about MANDU. You¡¯ll need to provide appropriate compensation for the unlock code and the usage rights.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you understand the situation?¡±


    As he spoke, the two burly men standing beside him began walking toward Shin-woo.


    Seeing this, Shin-woo couldn¡¯t help but sigh.


    ¡®Greedy people always think in their favour, don¡¯t they?¡¯


    Click


    From behind him, the familiar sound of a gun¡¯s hammer being cocked reached Shin-woo¡¯s ears.


    Turning his head slightly, he saw a Black man approaching him, aiming a gun at him.


    ¡°Is this the situation you were talking about? You claim to be a lobbyist, but your real job seems to be that of a thug.¡±


    ¡°The best skill of a lobbyist is negotiation, by any means necessary.¡±


    Step, step.


    The man behind Shin-woo moved closer, pressing the muzzle of his gun against Shin-woo¡¯s back.


    ¡®Is he a professional? He feels like a former soldier.¡¯


    Normally, people think aiming at the head is more certain, but the head is a small target and can move with the neck, making it less effective for intimidation. A real expert would aim at the back, just like the man behind him.


    ¡°To arrive first and set up an ambush¡­ quite impressive.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather hear the answer to the question I asked earlier. About MANDU.¡±


    For LIVIO SOFT, this was a life-or-death issue for the company. If the owner of the foundational program source code had even the slightest change of heart, it could destabilize everything. That¡¯s why they chose the fastest and most reliable way to resolve the matter.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to answer that.¡±


    At the same time, the man behind him poked Shin-woo in the back with the muzzle of the gun.


    ¡°Did you pick this place as a grave? Oh, but before that¡­¡±


    With a nod from Lloyd Douglas, one of the men standing beside him pulled out his gun and shot the man who had verified the authenticity of the data.


    Bang!


    ¡°Ugh¡ª! Why, why¡­ me, why¡­?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, but I was asked to keep the source of the data confidential.¡±


    Soon, the man¡¯s breath ceased entirely.


    Shin-woo watched the scene through his sunglasses.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite ruthless.¡±


    At Shin-woo¡¯s murmur, Lloyd Douglas¡¯s face turned cold, though he smiled sinisterly.


    ¡°A clean job builds credibility.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. But the thing you said earlier¡­ this is indeed a grave. Except it¡¯s for you, not me.¡±


    ¡°Stop spouting nonsense. If you keep this up, the finger on the trigger is going to get awfully twitchy.¡±


    This time, it was Shin-woo who smiled.


    ¡°Huh. It hasn¡¯t gotten twitchy yet? My hands have already lightened up.¡±


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    Twang!


    At that moment, something flew through the air, cutting through the darkness, and spun around the arm of the man holding the gun.


    Simultaneously, as Shin-woo moved his body to the left and pulled with his right hand, the man¡¯s arm dropped as if something had grabbed it.


    Bang!


    The bullet was fired into the ground, and Shin-woo quickly turned his body, jabbing his elbow into the area between the man¡¯s collarbone and neck.


    Thud!


    As Shin-woo shifted behind the man, just like before, the man¡¯s arm and body, which held the gun, became bound by something, leaving him unable to move.


    Shin-woo snatched the man¡¯s gun and pointed it at Lloyd Douglas.


    In an instant, the positions of the man and Shin-woo were reversed.


    The other men standing across from him also raised their guns, ready to engage.


    The previously amiable expression on Lloyd Douglas¡¯s face twisted into one of frustration.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t an ordinary lobbyist, were you?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not an ordinary lobbyist either. Besides, I never said I was a lobbyist.¡±


    ¡°You think the situation¡¯s changed just because you¡¯ve taken one hostage?¡±


    Even though Shin-woo had a gun, it was still two against one.


    ¡°Nothing¡¯s changed. I had the upper hand from the start.¡±


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    Bang! Bang!


    Flames erupted from the gun Shin-woo was holding, and the two men across from him crumpled to the ground, their heads twitching.


    ¡°See? Nothing¡¯s changed.¡±


    Bang!


    Shin-woo also shot the man he was holding in the head.


    Now, only Lloyd Douglas remained.


    ¡°¡­How¡­ how can this be?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? That I killed these guys? Didn¡¯t you just kill that guy earlier too? Why are you acting like an amateur?¡±


    Lloyd Douglas swallowed hard as he stared at the gun pointed at him by Shin-woo.


    ¡°Ca-calm down¡­ What terms do you want? I can negotiate the best possible deal for you. Considering the situation, you could demand more than half of LIVIO SOFT¡¯s shares.¡±


    ¡°Oh~ so now you¡¯re saying you¡¯ll do anything if I let you live?¡±


    ¡°How could negotiations proceed without me?¡±


    ¡°You said a lobbyist¡¯s best skill is negotiation, right? But I¡¯m a bit different. I think the best skill is getting the job done right.¡±


    Muttering that, Shin-woo pulled the thin wire from the man¡¯s body, which he had just killed.


    Whirrr¡ª


    In his right hand was the yellow eight-sided die he always carried with him. It was made by Jang Man-soo, and when pulled apart, a specially designed high-strength micro-wire came out, which he had used to restrain the man¡¯s arm.


    Shin-woo slowly walked toward Lloyd Douglas.


    ¡°P-please spare me! If you let me live, I¡¯ll make sure LIVIO SOFT agrees to whatever conditions you want!¡±


    ¡°First you threaten me, now you¡¯re offering me everything. What should I believe?¡±


    Click¡ª


    Shin-woo pointed the gun directly at Lloyd Douglas.


    ¡°It¡¯s the truth! I swear it¡¯s not a lie, please believe m¡ª¡±


    Bang!


    Without hesitation, Shin-woo¡¯s finger pulled the trigger.

 Chapter 28

    Chapter 28. The Price of Recklessness


    At Livio Soft¡¯s headquarters in Silicon Valley, USA, the CEO, Dale Becker, spent a sleepless night and couldn¡¯t hide his anxious expression even when he arrived at work.


    It was because Lloyd Douglas, who should have contacted him last night, had been completely out of touch for several hours.


    Ding¨D


    In the silence, an email written in English arrived with an alarm sound.


    ¡¾From : MANDU¡¿


    ¡¾I hope you were prepared, as much as you were trying to kill me.¡¿


    Startled, Dale Becker jumped up from his seat and stumbled back with his chair.


    ¡°No, it can¡¯t be¡­¡­!¡±


    He had spent a large sum of money to hire Lloyd Douglas, a famous lobbyist and fixer from the underworld, to handle this situation.


    Douglas had a solid reputation for getting the job done, so Becker had trusted him and waited, but it had ended in failure.


    ¡°What should I do now? Right, Lillian!¡±


    He recalled Lillian Foster, who had recently quit after verbally submitting her resignation.


    Lillian Foster had claimed that no negotiations would be possible without her involvement. The biggest reason Livio Soft had hired her was because she knew the company¡¯s secrets all too well.


    Of course, because she could become another threat to the company, as soon as MANDU made direct contact, she was excluded from this business.


    However, the situation had now completely changed.


    Dale Becker called Lillian Foster. The ringing continued for a while before the call connected.


    [¡­It seems the plan has gone awry.]


    Hearing Lillian¡¯s response, who already anticipated the outcome, Dale Becker was shocked once again.


    ¡°This has become a dire situation. Could you help me again?¡±


    [I need to know exactly what happened to offer any advice. Tell me everything without leaving anything out.]


    ¡°Well¡­.¡±


    After a brief pause, Dale Becker had no choice but to confess everything, from hiring Lloyd Douglas to receiving the email just now.


    Of course, he left out the part about trying to kill MANDU after extracting the source data, as well as the exact contents of the email.


    Upon hearing the explanation, Lillian asked in a slightly surprised voice.


    [Are you saying you haven¡¯t heard from him at all?]


    ¡°He¡¯s completely out of contact. Do you have any ideas?¡±


    [Is the email untraceable?]


    ¡°I already tried, but MANDU¡¯s skills are no joke¡ªit¡¯s impossible to track.¡±


    [Give me the email address. I¡¯ll try to get in touch.]


    ¡°All I need is for you to tell me how to handle this¡­.¡±


    Dale Becker hesitated to connect Lillian Foster with MANDU, who was deeply entangled with Livio Soft¡¯s secrets.


    He worried whether it was the right decision to link someone like her with such an elusive target.


    [Do you have a death wish?]


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    [If that lobbyist was still alive, he would have contacted you somehow. If he¡¯s been silent for this long, there¡¯s only one reason.]


    ¡°¡­Are you saying he¡¯s really dead?¡±


    [Didn¡¯t you plan to kill MANDU from the start?]


    Lillian hadn¡¯t worked for Livio Soft or Dale Becker for long.


    Even so, she understood his character better than anyone else.


    ¡°What, what do you mean?¡±


    [That lobbyist was probably a professional in his field, but if he was taken down, MANDU must have hired a professional too, or maybe MANDU is one himself. The next target is probably you.]


    ¡°I never intended to kill him! I was even willing to share stock options if he accepted!¡±


    [Then handle it yourself. I¡¯m not the one in trouble here; you are.]


    Click¨D


    The call ended with that response.


    At the same time, Dale Becker¡¯s desperate scream echoed through the office.


    ¡°Lillian! Lilliaaaan¨D!¡±


    .


    .


    .


    Meanwhile, Lillian, having finished the call, was in a different hotel in downtown Seoul.


    She had to move as quickly as possible after Myung Un-seok kept visiting her previous hotel.


    ¡°Hah! That CEO values money more than his own life¡­ But that idiot MANDU wouldn¡¯t have the ability to take down someone sent by Dale Becker¡­.¡±


    The ¡®idiot MANDU¡¯ Lillian was referring to was Jang Man-soo. Lillian, too, had returned from the future, 12 years after dying with her comrades.


    Her return point was when she had just graduated from university and was taking the CIA agent test. Of course, even for her, this situation was hard to believe.


    As time passed, and she faced reality, she began searching for her comrades.


    The first person she sought was Jang Man-soo, the developer of Triad Eye¡¯s emergency communication network, which is why she joined Livio Soft.


    ¡°Could it be¡­ that he¡¯s already found the Captain and joined him?¡±


    Since both were Korean, it was highly likely they would have met first.


    ¡°But why would that idiot suddenly show interest in Livio Soft, when he didn¡¯t care about it before¡­ Did he change his mind? Or does he need money?¡± Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Whatever the reason, the important thing was that Jang Man-soo, who had ignored Livio Soft in his previous life, was now connected to them.


    ¡°Mandu should have been working on establishing the communication network instead of causing trouble like this! But why did the contact come right after the investment contract with MH Group was signed? The timing seems strangely perfect¡­¡±


    Lillian¡¯s thoughts spiralled endlessly.


    Then, she came up with a hypothesis.


    ¡°Could it be¡­ that Mandu got a job at MH Group? No, no way. He said he couldn¡¯t even look at a place like that because of his memories of working for the NIS.¡±


    The NIS referred to the National Intelligence Service of South Korea.


    Before the regression, whenever Jang Man-soo got drunk, he would rant endlessly about how much he hated that place, so it was impossible for her to forget.


    She had also heard about the situation with Livio Soft in a similar way.


    ¡°Where in the world is he?! Or should I just go back to Livio Soft and break into the CEO¡¯s office?!¡±


    If there had been no prior connections or if it was a warzone, things might have been different. But in this situation, if Lillian Foster broke into Livio Soft to steal the email address, she would be suspect number one.


    On top of that, Jang Man-soo was obsessively meticulous when it came to anything related to computers, to the point of putting even a germaphobe to shame.


    He might have used a one-time email to avoid being traced, so even if she found the address, it might be useless.


    ¡°If that idiot Mandu were here, I could have easily tracked down his email¡­ Should I just poke around the most suspicious places?¡±


    Right now, the timing of the contact with MH Group was bothering her the most.


    With that in mind, Lillian immediately searched for Myung Un-seok¡¯s contact information on her phone.


    ***


    ¡¾A suspect identified as Mr. A, who had stalked national goddess Yoo Ha-yeon for years, has been arrested for attempted kidnapping. During the process, KITE, a private security firm responsible for Yoo Ha-yeon¡¯s protection, discovered and apprehended the intruder at her residence. Although the stalker, a former member of U.S. Special Forces, demonstrated meticulous planning¡­ There was a knife fight during the arrest, but KITE¡¯s security personnel swiftly subdued the attacker¡­¡¿


    After returning from Russia over the weekend, Shin-woo headed to Hanyul General Hospital in Seoul on Monday.


    When he knocked on the door of Room 1402, he found two KITE security personnel lying side by side in the two-person ward.


    ¡°B-boss!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re here!¡±


    Shin-woo quickly motioned for the two men, who were trying to get up, to stay put.


    ¡°Just stay lying down.¡±


    Yu Hyung-jin, the operations director who had arrived at the hospital earlier, greeted Shin-woo.


    ¡°Did you have a restful vacation?¡±


    Officially, it was a vacation. In reality, Shin-woo had passed through China and into Russia.


    Because of his UAD background, he couldn¡¯t officially leave the country, so he had to use a carefully crafted fake passport.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t too bad. But how severe are the injuries?¡±


    ¡°Go Jun-seon has two broken ribs on his left side, and Lee Young-hoon has a fractured upper left arm and a stab wound to his left waist. Fortunately, no internal organs were damaged.¡±


    As Shin-woo listened to the explanation, he looked over the two men.


    ¡°You guys did well. Make sure they get a generous bonus and paid leave.¡±


    At that moment, Go Jun-seon and Lee Young-hoon exchanged glances and smiled slightly.


    But Shin-woo¡¯s words didn¡¯t end there.


    ¡°¡­But it seems MAT (Multi-Person Assault Training) and FRT (Firearms Response Training) aren¡¯t enough. We need to add Weapon Strike Drill.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    The two men, who had been quietly celebrating inside, suddenly turned pale.


    With a worried look, Yu Hyung-jin spoke up.


    ¡°You mean¡­ even more training than now?¡±


    ¡°If you weren¡¯t lacking, why would two of our guards struggle so much against just one man?¡±


    ¡°But in the end, they caught him and handed him over to the police. And the perpetrator wasn¡¯t just an ordinary person; he was former U.S. Special Forces.¡±


    ¡°And what if the next person to attack our client is someone like him? Are we just going to sit there and take it?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡±


    Shin-woo¡¯s expression was more resolute than ever.


    ¡°Send the updated training program through Jang Jin-ho. Is there anything else we need to deal with? I saw the news report¡ªit seems to have been covered quite extensively.¡±


    This was no ordinary incident. A famous actress had been stalked for years and was almost kidnapped.


    Usually, the focus of such stories was on the victim and the perpetrator, but KITE¡¯s role was also being highlighted in the media.


    ¡°I moved the PR team to act. It¡¯s also beneficial for the company. Of course, we received permission from Yoo Ha-yeon¡¯s side as well.¡±


    ¡°Good work.¡±


    ¡°Thanks to this, we¡¯ve received more security requests and contracts than before.¡±


    ¡°If something like this happens again, make sure to keep promoting it.¡±


    Initially, Yu Hyung-jin wasn¡¯t too fond of Shin-woo.


    But during this Yoo Ha-yeon incident, he had noticed how much the security team¡¯s skills had improved.


    At the same time, he began to understand why Chairman Myung Joong-hwan had appointed Shin-woo as CEO.


    ¡°Leave that to me.¡±


    Bzzz¡ª Bzzz¡ª


    Shin-woo¡¯s phone buzzed in his pocket.


    ¡°Excuse me for a moment.¡±


    When he answered, Jang Man-soo¡¯s voice came through.


    [Not coming to the office today?]


    ¡°I¡¯ll be there soon. Why?¡±


    [All the profits from the recent investment have come in. I wanted to discuss the next move.]


    ¡°Already?¡±


    [Yeah, it seemed like the people involved caught wind of something, so we pulled out early. Still, we made more than expected. But it looks like four stocks are being manipulated by the same group.]


    Shin-woo¡¯s face hardened as the conversation grew serious. He stepped into the hallway.


    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s the same group? Or is it just a feeling?¡±


    [There are some differences in the fluctuations, but the rumours started and the stocks began getting hit around the same time. It¡¯s something I¡¯ve experienced before. Back then, they told me not to worry about it, but I think there¡¯s more to it.]


    Shin-woo lowered his voice as much as possible.


    ¡°¡­You¡¯re talking about the NIS?¡±


    [It¡¯s something the Financial Supervisory Service could easily handle, but they¡¯ve kept quiet. No public announcements either. I think we need to be careful for a while.]


    ¡°Can you figure out where it¡¯s coming from?¡±


    [It¡¯s not too hard. Why?]


    Last time, there had been a significant number of stocks manipulated through insider trading.


    If it was an organized effort, it was no small matter.


    ¡°I¡¯m wondering if it¡¯s connected to the company I mentioned last time, TSF Investment.¡±


    [The company that blew apart MH Group? They¡¯re a pretty big investment firm¡­ You think they¡¯re involved in stock manipulation too?]


    ¡°Just check it for me.¡±


    [Alright. Got it.]


    After ending the call, Shin-woo returned to the hospital room to finish his visit and then left.

 Chapter 29

    Chapter 29. For Some, It¡¯s Damn Unfortunate


    MH Group Headquarters.


    It was lunchtime.


    A woman with golden bobbed hair, dressed in a black crop top, red pantsuit, and heels, stepped out of a taxi. She was Lillian Foster, coming to resolve the uneasy feeling she had after speaking with Myung Un-seok.


    Her walk through the lobby from the entrance of the building was so captivating that she drew the attention of everyone around her.


    Lillian arrived at the information desk, took off her sunglasses, and spoke in fluent Korean.


    ¡°I¡¯m Lillian Foster. I have an appointment with Director Myung Un-seok from the Strategic Investment Planning Office.¡±


    The receptionist stared blankly at her for a moment before quickly contacting the Strategic Investment Planning Office.


    Not long after, Myung Un-seok, who was dressed more neatly and formally than usual, came down from the elevator.


    ¡°Thank you for coming. You could have called directly instead of stopping by the information desk.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t feel like doing that. Besides, what exactly did you want to show me by asking me to come all the way here?¡±


    ¡°To recruit talent like yourself, I have to show you what this company is all about. What do you think?¡±


    With her sunglasses back on, Lillian scanned the three-story-high lobby with its open centre.


    She could also see the many busy employees moving around.


    ¡°The building is massive, unlike anything in Silicon Valley. Does MH Group use the entire building?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. MH Group is one of the top five companies in Korea. Shall we head upstairs?¡±


    After receiving a temporary visitor¡¯s pass, Lillian and Myung Un-seok got on the elevator.


    As they went up, Myung Un-seok explained the company. Eventually, they arrived at the 32nd floor, where he began showing her around the Strategic Investment Planning Office.


    ¡°This is where MH Group puts its full support. All strategic investment planning happens here.¡±


    ¡°So, it¡¯s the foundation of the investment subsidiaries.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. You catch on quickly.¡±


    ¡°Is that section over there part of a different department?¡±


    Lillian asked, having only seen about a quarter of the floor.


    ¡°That area belongs to the Strategic Investment Operations Office. It¡¯s the department that executes the projects planned by our office.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the Strategic Investment Headquarters has been performing very well lately.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re doing alright.¡±


    Myung Un-seok showed a hint of modesty, but his expression stiffened at Lillian¡¯s next words.


    ¡°I heard that the revenue generated by the Strategic Investment Operations Office¡¯s independent investments is enormous.¡±


    For a moment, Myung Un-seok¡¯s face twitched slightly.


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s more of a test project. However, it does involve high risks, and there have been quite a few problems.¡±


    ¡°High risk, high return. It¡¯s a simple yet attractive principle.¡±


    ¡°Do you like danger?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t dislike it.¡±


    As they continued their conversation, they entered Myung Un-seok¡¯s private office.


    ¡°Since this is the company headquarters, there¡¯s not much more I can show you.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t bad.¡±


    ¡°So, has your opinion changed from before?¡±


    ¡°¡­I still don¡¯t find it particularly appealing.¡±


    Lillian had seen only limited areas, so it was difficult to determine what connection Jang Man-soo had with MH Group.


    ¡°Forgive me for the intrusion, but I did some research on you. I see you studied chemical and materials engineering at Stanford University.¡±


    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t like being investigated.¡±


    ¡°To recruit someone of your calibre, I had to look into it. If you¡¯re interested, I can also arrange a position for you in MH Energy or one of our related subsidiaries.¡±


    ¡°You think I¡¯m that valuable?¡±


    At her question, Myung Un-seok smiled.


    ¡°To succeed, one must have a good eye for talent. And you, Miss Foster, are certainly someone worth scouting.¡±


    Knock, knock¡ª


    As their conversation continued, there was a knock at the door.


    It was Na Jung-hyun, the team leader of Planning Team 1.


    Na Jung-hyun had met Lillian with Myung Un-seok in the U.S., so he entered with a slight nod of acknowledgment.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°The Strategic Investment Operations Office has finalized its revenue report.¡±


    For a moment, Myung Un-seok¡¯s eyebrows furrowed deeply.


    ¡°¡­We have a guest. I¡¯ll hear the details later.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m curious too. Can¡¯t I hear it together?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but it¡¯s difficult to discuss departmental profits with outsiders.¡±


    ¡°If I were to join this company, I¡¯d find out about it anyway. And the sales figures will be publicly disclosed later on, won¡¯t they?¡±


    She wasn¡¯t wrong. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But what worried Myung Un-seok wasn¡¯t that.


    Just by looking at the uneasy expression on Na Jung-hyun¡¯s face, he could tell what kind of report had come in.


    Realizing he couldn¡¯t avoid it, Myung Un-seok nodded at Na Jung-hyun.


    ¡°¡­The total number of investment stocks is 13. The confirmed net profit¡­ is 427%.¡±


    ¡°427%? Is that even possible? That¡¯s based on the total investments of the Operations Office, right?¡±


    ¡°No, this is the return generated solely by the team led by the Director of the Strategic Investment Operations Office and Team 3.¡±


    At that moment, Myung Un-seok clenched his teeth.


    ¡°How could the profit be that high¡­?¡±


    Baek Shin-woo had managed an investment of 5 billion won. At 427%, the profit¡ªexcluding the principal¡ªwould amount to 21.3 billion won.


    Even if someone was highly skilled in the stock market, such a return was impossible, which made it even more shocking.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll leave you now.¡±


    ¡°Wait. Is Director Baek Shin-woo in the office today?¡±


    At that moment, Lillian, who had been quietly listening, flinched.


    However, Myung Un-seok, seemingly unaware, waited for Na Jung-hyun¡¯s response.


    ¡°When I stopped by the Operations Office this morning, I heard that he was visiting the hospital regarding some KITE matters and would come to work afterward.¡±


    The fact that Baek Shin-woo was also serving as the CEO of KITE didn¡¯t sit well with Myung Un-seok. Hearing his name again only soured his mood further.


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    After Na Jung-hyun left, Myung Un-seok turned back to Lillian.


    ¡°In any case, the Strategic Investment Headquarters of MH Group holds endless potential for growth.¡±


    ¡°¡­By the way, the name you mentioned earlier, Baek Shin-woo, you said he¡¯s the Director of the Strategic Investment Operations Office, right?¡±


    This time, Myung Un-seok¡¯s expression hardened slightly.


    ¡°Yes, Baek Shin-woo is the Director of the Strategic Investment Operations Office. Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°The position of director isn¡¯t low¡­ Has he been with MH Group for a long time?¡±


    Lillian had come to find out if Jang Man-soo was connected to MH Group. However, hearing the name Baek Shin-woo, who she knew as the leader of Triad Eye, left her momentarily confused.


    Of course, given the position of director isn¡¯t low, there was the possibility that it was just a coincidence that Baek Shin-woo, who had lived his entire life in combat, shared the same name.


    ¡°That¡¯s not it, there¡¯s some¡­ background to this parachute situation.¡±


    ¡°¡­Background?¡±


    After a moment of hesitation, Myung Un-seok spoke.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a big secret; you¡¯d find out quickly if you looked into it a little¡­ Have you seen the recent articles about the MH Group owner family? It¡¯s about the chairman¡¯s illegitimate daughter.¡±


    That was something Lillian had already confirmed under Dale Becker¡¯s orders before LIVIO SOFT signed an investment contract with MH Group.


    ¡°I know. She¡¯s the head of the Strategic Investment Headquarters, right?¡±


    ¡°Correct. And the Director of the Strategic Investment Operations Office, Baek Shin-woo, is her son. Completely out of nowhere, the headquarters director pushed him into the company using her connections.¡±


    Lillian, who had been slightly hopeful, felt disappointed. The leader of Triad Eye, Baek Shin-woo, had been abandoned in an orphanage as a newborn, a true orphan.


    ¡°¡­I see. It sounds complicated. Still, wouldn¡¯t he need some ability even as a parachute?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not his ability that matters. It¡¯s the person supporting him from behind. His mother is the head of the Strategic Investment Headquarters, after all.¡±


    Myung Un-seok found it unpleasant that Lillian was showing interest in Baek Shin-woo. So, he subtly tried to undermine Baek Shin-woo while steering her interest away from him.


    ¡°I suppose that¡¯s possible. Anyway, if there¡¯s nothing more to discuss, may I leave now?¡±


    Lillian¡¯s interest in MH Group, which had been growing, rapidly waned.


    ¡°What do you think about my recruitment offer?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll send the details via email. I guarantee you won¡¯t be disappointed.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll look forward to it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll escort you to the lobby.¡±


    Lillian exited the office with Myung Un-seok and headed toward the elevator.


    A short while later, the elevator arrived on the 32nd floor, and someone inside was about to step out.


    At that moment, Lillian was startled.


    Standing before her was Shin-woo, the comrade she had been most eager to see since her return to the past.


    Simultaneously, Myung Un-seok, standing next to Lillian, spoke as he looked at Shin-woo.


    ¡°I heard you visited the hospital to check on the injured guards. Did everything go well?¡±


    ¡°¡­More or less. But who is this next to you¡­?¡±


    Shin-woo was also surprised to see Lillian but refrained from acknowledging her since he was standing next to Myung Un-seok.


    ¡°This is the person I¡¯m trying to recruit. Today, I invited her to introduce our company.¡±


    ¡°I see. Good luck with that.¡±


    ¡°Oh, by the way, I heard about your recent profits. Quite a success¡­ congratulations.¡±


    His tone was slightly sarcastic.


    Of course, Shin-woo picked up on that immediately.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t bad. By the way, I heard that your Livio Soft contract got cancelled. You might wanna try a little harder next time.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    As Shin-woo passed them and entered the office, he glanced back slightly.


    He saw Lillian¡¯s silhouette disappearing as she boarded the elevator.


    ¡®What¡¯s Lillian doing here? And getting scouted?¡¯


    Feeling confused, Shin-woo quickly walked toward Team 3¡¯s office.


    There, Jang Man-soo, who had finished most of his work, had his feet up on his desk while reading a fantasy novel.


    ¡°Hey, Jang Man-soo!¡±


    ¡°Huh? When did you get here?¡±


    ¡°I just saw Lillian. Did you know she was here?¡±


    At that, Jang Man-soo also looked up in surprise.


    ¡°Lillian?! Why is she here? Where did you see her?¡±


    ¡°Just now, in front of the elevator on the 32nd floor. She was with Myung Un-seok. Anyway, I¡¯m going back down.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m coming too!¡±


    Jang Man-soo stood up immediately.


    ¡°You stay here. If this is related to Myung Un-seok, you¡¯ll only draw attention.¡±


    ¡°But still¡­¡±


    ¡°With your flashy outfit, the whole staff will notice you. Just stay put.¡±


    Lately, Jang Man-soo had been into matching flashy outfits, wearing a sparkly blue jacket, pants, tie, and a black shirt. Though it was relatively tame compared to his usual style, he still stood out more than anyone else in MH Group.


    Reluctantly, Jang Man-soo sat back down, pressing his lips together.


    Watching him, Shin-woo left the office.


    He quickly got into the elevator and headed down to the first floor, stepping outside the building. People were moving around in all directions.


    But Lillian was nowhere to be seen.


    ¡®Could it be that Lillian didn¡¯t return to the past like us? If she did, I thought she¡¯d be waiting.¡¯


    He wasn¡¯t sure what Lillian had been doing during this time.


    In the original timeline, she might have had experience working with MH Group.


    As various thoughts crossed his mind, Shin-woo started walking in a chosen direction.


    Just then, he felt a sharp gaze piercing the back of his head.


    ¡®From five o¡¯clock?¡¯


    Shin-woo quickly turned to see who it was.

 Chapter 30

    Chapter 30


    In front of the MH Group headquarters building, on the small park path where many people were coming and going.


    Standing among the people, Shin-woo saw Lillian Foster in her red pants suit.


    He slowly walked toward her and loosened his wristwatch, showing the inside.


    In response, Lillian did the same, revealing the same spot.


    Both of them had a tattoo of a thin black hexagram imprinted in their white pupils.


    Shin-woo smiled as he got closer to Lillian and spoke softly in Swahili.


    ¡°Mahali hapa panaonekana sana, je, nihamie? (This place stands out too much. Shall we move?)¡±


    ¡°Ni nzuri. (Sounds good.)¡±


    As they walked for a while, a strange feeling overtook them. The thought that filled Shin-woo¡¯s mind was one of relief.


    Even though he had hoped for a peaceful life after the last mission, he had ended up facing death.


    Was this some kind of trick of fate, or perhaps a second chance? Like Jang Man-soo, Lillian had also returned to the past.


    After walking for a while, Shin-woo and Lillian entered a small caf¨¦ tucked away in a corner and sat at the innermost table.


    He casually ordered coffee according to Lillian¡¯s usual preference, and then they continued their conversation in the same language.


    ¡°I never thought I¡¯d run into you here, Lillian. What happened?¡±


    ¡°I was tracking that scum, Mandu! But more importantly, why are you here? I heard you¡¯re the grandson of Chairman Myung Joong-hwan and Director of Strategic Investment Operations for MH Group.¡±


    Lillian had gathered information and even deduced the situation, but there were contradictions, given what she knew about Shin-woo¡¯s past connections.


    ¡°It¡¯s a bit complicated. But you said you were tracking Mandu? How?¡±


    ¡°Mandu once told me about a company called LIVIO SOFT. He claimed that he was the one who made the main program source. So I stormed out of the CIA test and headed straight there. I got in by negotiating about Mandu.¡±


    Shin-woo was startled at that moment.


    ¡°You were at LIVIO SOFT?¡±


    ¡°Not anymore. Mandu must have contacted them directly and excluded me. So, I quit. Wait! Did you¡­ handle Lloyd Douglas, the lobbyist?¡±


    ¡°I did.¡±


    ¡°¡­I knew it. So Mandu was working with you after all. I thought I was barking up the wrong tree and almost left for the U.S. after meeting that disgusting guy.¡±


    Shin-woo realized that Lillian was talking about Myung Un-seok.


    He couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at how little Lillian had changed from the person he used to know.


    ¡°You tracked it well. It was close, but you managed.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s so strange. Seeing both you and Mandu, as well as myself, looking over ten years younger¡­ Oh, by the way, Mandu also came back to the past, right?¡±


    Lillian asked, just in case.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t changed much either. Still as beautiful as ever. And yes, Mandu came back too. He was the first to find me. He showed up on the very day we returned to the past.¡±


    ¡°Wow~ Really?¡±


    Lillian blushed and laughed as she continued to speak.


    ¡°So, what have you been doing all this time? Mandu should have set up the communication network quickly! That would have saved me a lot of trouble.¡±


    Shin-woo also agreed with that point.


    ¡°Some of the parts we used before aren¡¯t available now. But he¡¯s working hard to rebuild it.¡±


    ¡°So, where¡¯s Mandu now?¡±


    ¡°Where else? He¡¯s at the company.¡±


    Lillian couldn¡¯t believe what she heard, despite being certain.


    ¡°¡­Company? What company?¡±


    ¡°What company do you think? MH Group, the headquarters we were just at.¡±


    ¡°That guy hates anything related to companies, especially because of the NIS. That¡¯s why I was skeptical even when I checked MH Group¡¯s side.¡±


    Shin-woo couldn¡¯t help but laugh softly.


    ¡°For someone who supposedly hates companies, he sure knows a lot about them. Especially LIVIO SOFT.¡±


    Lillian¡¯s pale face turned bright red at Shin-woo¡¯s teasing response.


    ¡°What nonsense are you spouting! Shut up! What are you planning to do next? Why are you at MH Group?¡±


    Shin-woo erased his smile and began explaining seriously.


    ¡°I¡¯m trying to get rid of the 666th Unit soldiers before they come after me.¡±


    ¡°Why would they target you? Isn¡¯t there no connection to this timeline?¡±


    Shin-woo briefly explained the events he encountered immediately after returning to the past.


    Lillian¡¯s expression turned more serious as she listened intently.


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s as far as I know. If I leave them alone, I doubt we¡¯ll ever be able to rest quietly.¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­ Those cockroach-like bastards¡­ So, there¡¯s someone in MH Group who¡¯s connected with them? Can¡¯t we just catch them and beat them up?¡±


    At that moment, Shin-woo quietly gazed at Lillian with half-closed eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re smart, but are you just acting dumb on purpose?¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a battlefield; we¡¯re in the middle of South Korea. Plus, now that we¡¯ve come back to the past, we need a solid plan.¡±


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t that they lacked meticulous planning in the previous life.


    But they needed to be more thorough, considering their enemies might go all out in desperation.


    ¡°So you¡¯re working with Mandu and the company for now?¡±


    ¡°For now, yes. I¡¯m also setting up a financial base.¡±


    ¡°Financial base? How?¡±


    Lillian would have found it easier to track down Jang Man-soo if she had access to money.


    However, she didn¡¯t have much money when she returned to the past, which is why she thought of LIVIO SOFT as the best option.


    ¡°Have you noticed any changes since returning to the past?¡±


    ¡°Me? Now that I think about it, I¡¯ve become more sensitive, more attuned, I guess. There are definitely changes.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the same for me. Mandu¡¯s memory has also improved. We¡¯re using that along with our knowledge of pre-return stock information.¡±


    ¡°That stingy guy who always nitpicked over every little detail?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what he says. Anyway¡­ Where are you staying now?¡±


    ¡°At a hotel, of course. What about you and Mandu?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re living in a suitable place for now. Let¡¯s meet at Mandu¡¯s hideout tonight.¡±


    With that, Shin-woo handed her a card with a number written on it. He also scribbled down the address of Jang Man-soo¡¯s hideout with a pen.


    ¡°¡­KITE CEO? Isn¡¯t KITE a subsidiary of MH Tech, which is affiliated with MH Group? And you¡¯re also the Director of Strategic Investment Operations?¡±


    ¡°I hold both positions.¡±


    ¡°I thought you¡¯d struggle with corporate life like Mandu, but it seems like you¡¯re managing just fine.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Mandu¡¯s help.¡±


    ¡°Him? That guy who¡¯s always staring at monitors? You must have been doing everything yourself.¡±


    Even after returning to the past, Lillian still dismissed Jang Man-soo.


    ¡°Just don¡¯t fight when you see him.¡±


    ¡°Are we kids? Fighting? He¡¯s the one who always gets beaten up by me, though.¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­ Just come to the address on the card. Memorize it and destroy it afterward.¡±


    ¡°Ok¨D!¡±


    With that, the two finished their conversation, left the caf¨¦, and went their separate ways.


    .


    .


    .


    Same time.


    At the office of the Strategic Investment Headquarters in MH Group, Im Hee-yeon called Myung Un-seok to stand in front of her desk.


    ¡°What exactly are you trying to do right now?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    The reason for the summons was because of the issue with LIVIO SOFT, which had been presented during a recent meeting.


    ¡°I clearly said we should wait for things to progress a little more before making the announcement. But what¡¯s the result now?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    LIVIO SOFT had unilaterally sent a notice of contract termination, which was reported to Im Hee-yeon.


    Although there were no direct losses since the investment hadn¡¯t gone through, the situation couldn¡¯t be kept quiet.


    ¡°Sure, there¡¯s no actual loss since the funds weren¡¯t invested yet. But shouldn¡¯t you refrain from making arbitrary decisions that exhaust your subordinates?¡±


    It was a justified reproach.


    But Myung Un-seok stood still with an expression full of silent complaints.


    ¡®What hard work¡­ It¡¯s all part of the job¡­¡¯


    Reading his expression, Im Hee-yeon¡¯s eyes sharpened.


    ¡°Does Chief Myung Un-seok think this is no big deal?¡±


    ¡°¡­There was no loss, so I don¡¯t see any problem.¡±


    ¡°Ha¨D! Is this how things worked at the Future Strategy Office?¡±


    ¡°As a director, I believe it¡¯s my job to lead, and the staff should naturally follow me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re talking about hierarchy, but that sounds like you¡¯re saying they should follow you even if you¡¯re wrong or unreasonable.¡±


    To Myung Un-seok, this was obvious.


    As the eldest grandson of the Myung family and working at MH Group, he believed it was his role to lead people.


    ¡°I believe right or wrong is determined by the results.¡±


    ¡°And how does that change things?¡±


    ¡°Even if the method was wrong, if the result yields enough profit, then it¡¯s not wrong.¡±


    At that moment, Im Hee-yeon¡¯s eyebrows twitched.


    ¡°It¡¯s not entirely incorrect. But it sounds like you¡¯re saying that even if there¡¯s illegality in the process, it¡¯s still not wrong.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    His silence spoke volumes.


    At the same time, Im Hee-yeon could guess who had taught him this way of handling matters.


    ¡°Submit a detailed report on the termination of the LIVIO SOFT investment.¡±


    ¡°Director!¡±


    ¡°You mentioned hierarchy, right? Then follow my orders.¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±


    After his frustrated sigh, Im Hee-yeon turned to review another document.


    ¡°What¡¯s this T/O request? The Strategic Planning Office is currently operating with three teams under the existing T/O, right?¡±


    It was a request related to recruiting Lillian Foster.


    ¡°I want to have someone I found as a valuable asset under me.¡±


    ¡°¡­There¡¯s no resume, though.¡±


    No matter how hard she looked, there was only a request, and no resume of the person to be scouted was attached.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t received their approval yet. Once the T/O request and approval go through, I¡¯ll submit it immediately.¡±


    Without much thought, Im Hee-yeon responded.


    ¡°Fine. Offer the scouting proposal as requested in terms of salary and position. But if there¡¯s an issue with the resume, it may be rejected.¡±


    At that, Myung Un-seok showed a faint smile.


    ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll do that.¡±


    ***


    Evening.


    Lillian opened the door to Mansoo Electric in Cheonggyecheon.


    Ding-dong¨D


    The bell attached to the front door rang, and a familiar face appeared from inside.


    It was Jang Man-soo, dressed in a red tracksuit.


    ¡°Welcome¡­¡±


    ¡°Long time no see. Jang. Man. Du¡ª!¡±


    When Lillian spoke fluent Korean, Jang Man-soo¡¯s face stiffened.


    ¡°Oh¡­ Yeah, it¡¯s been a while, huh?¡±


    ¡°You jerk! You crashed the helicopter, and we all died because of it! Didn¡¯t I tell you to turn left instead of right?!¡±


    She was referring to the situation right before they returned to the past.


    Whoosh¡ªThud!


    With her shout, Lillian swung her tightly clenched fist at Jang Man-soo.


    At that moment, Shin-woo suddenly appeared and caught her fist.


    ¡°If you hit him, Man-soo will die.¡±


    ¡°The captain risked everything to send us back!¡±


    ¡°But we¡¯ve met again, haven¡¯t we? Let¡¯s go inside first. Man-soo, lock the door.¡±


    Jang Man-soo stared at Lillian¡¯s fist, which had stopped right in front of him, then slowly backed away toward the door.


    Shin-woo released Lillian¡¯s hand and pushed aside the bookshelf.


    ¡°Come this way.¡±


    ¡°A secret passage? Did Mandu even dig tunnels in here?¡±


    ¡°He says it¡¯s a place he¡¯s been using for a long time.¡±


    The three of them entered the inner workshop.


    ¡°It looks just like the hideout Mandu used before.¡±


    ¡°Old habits die hard, I guess.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just as dark and gloomy. So, how far along is the plan?¡±


    Shin-woo leaned against the corner of the desk and spoke.


    ¡°I¡¯m building my position within MH Group, and I¡¯m about to seal the deal with LIVIO SOFT, which Myung Un-seok was trying to invest in.¡±


    ¡°Oh, what about Dale Becker, the CEO of LIVIO SOFT? We took care of the guys he sent, but there¡¯s no guarantee he won¡¯t try again.¡±


    Dale Becker, a shadowy lobbyist and fixer who sent men to kill them, was a looming threat, as Lillian pointed out.


    ¡°It¡¯s not impossible to deal with him. But we¡¯ll need to get something in return.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to take over the company?¡±


    Shin-woo shook his head.


    ¡°We don¡¯t plan to run the place ourselves. So, we¡¯ll need to negotiate.¡±


    ¡°¡­Negotiate?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll handle that, Lillian. Just shake them down however you want.¡±


    Lillian tilted her head in confusion at his overly simple explanation.

 Chapter 31

    Chapter 31: Thick Skin, or Do You Want to Die?


    A few days later.


    Baek Shin-woo knocked on the door of the Strategic Investment Headquarters director¡¯s office. Inside, Im Hee-yeon and Song Tae-hoon were talking.


    He stepped inside, stood in front of Im Hee-yeon, and spoke.


    ¡°There¡¯s an urgent matter that needs your approval. And it¡¯s convenient that the Director is here as well.¡±


    ¡°¡­What is it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve uploaded the approval request.¡±


    Im Hee-yeon walked over to the desk with Song Tae-hoon and accessed the company system on her computer to read the newly uploaded approval document.


    All individuals involved in the approval line could immediately view the document, which had been submitted as an emergency. Soon after, Im Hee-yeon¡¯s brows furrowed like a sheet of paper.


    ¡°¡­What is this?¡±


    She was surprised by the title on the approval document.


    [Investment in LIVIO SOFT]


    ¡°You can see it for yourself.¡± S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m asking because I can¡¯t read?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s as written. It¡¯s an investment contract with LIVIO SOFT.¡±


    ¡°This project was initially withdrawn on the company¡¯s end by Director Myung Un-seok.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve taken it up again. And the terms are different from the previous contract.¡±


    With that, Im Hee-yeon continued reading through the contents of the document.


    [¡­The amount is set at 30 billion won¡­]


    [¡­In exchange, LIVIO SOFT agrees to sell a 7% stake to MH Group¡­]


    The previous agreement made by Myung Un-seok was for 20 billion won in exchange for a 5% stake, structured as a stock option rather than an outright sale.


    However, this time, the proposal was to purchase a 7% stake in LIVIO SOFT for 30 billion won, directly selling shares to MH Group.


    If LIVIO SOFT went public in the future, its value would skyrocket by several times.


    Additionally, even the current set price for a 7% unlisted equity stake was unbelievably low at 30 billion won, practically a bargain.


    ¡°¡­Do you really think LIVIO SOFT would accept such unreasonable terms?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve already verbally accepted. They¡¯re scheduled to visit headquarters this afternoon to finalize the sale contract.¡±


    Im Hee-yeon looked at Shin-woo with incredulity that went beyond mere disbelief.


    ¡°They¡¯re coming here this afternoon?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s correct. So please approve it quickly. We need to have it confirmed before their visit to proceed.¡±


    ¡°Are you telling me LIVIO SOFT actually accepted these terms?¡±


    She had to confirm it once more as it was still hard to believe.


    ¡°I simply proposed it, and they agreed. Is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°Problem? No¡­ it¡¯s not exactly a problem¡­¡±


    What company would sell their stock at a fraction of its value unless they were desperate or had other compelling reasons?


    ¡°If you¡¯re concerned, you¡¯re welcome to join the contract meeting.¡±


    Although hesitant, Im Hee-yeon continued reading the remaining parts of the document.


    There were no toxic clauses, and everything seemed overwhelmingly favourable to MH Group. This made her doubt if an agreement on such favourable terms for unlisted stock sale was even possible.


    ¡°To ensure contract stability, I think I should attend as well. What time are they scheduled to arrive?¡±


    Shin-woo checked his watch.


    ¡°I just received a message¡ªthey should be arriving shortly.¡±


    Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ª


    As if on cue, Shin-woo¡¯s phone rang. It was a call from the secretary of LIVIO SOFT.


    ¡°Excuse me for a moment.¡±


    ¡°¡­Go ahead.¡±


    Turning away, Shin-woo took the call. The conversation was brief, and soon he looked back at Im Hee-yeon.


    ¡°They¡¯ve arrived in the lobby on the first floor.¡±


    ¡°Already? And you brought the documents just in time?¡±


    ¡°We had to discuss and decide quickly due to LIVIO SOFT¡¯s imminent listing status.¡±


    ¡°¡­Understood.¡±


    As she responded, Im Hee-yeon completed her signature in the approval section on the document.


    ¡°The contract meeting will take place in the 12th-floor conference room. I¡¯ll stop by the first floor to escort them up, so head there directly.¡±


    ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll do that.¡±


    Shin-woo promptly left the director¡¯s office.


    Afterward, Im Hee-yeon turned to Song Tae-hoon, who had been standing behind her.


    ¡°Do you really think this deal is feasible?¡±


    ¡°¡­Honestly, it doesn¡¯t make sense.¡±


    From the moment Myung Un-seok had initially proposed the investment in LIVIO SOFT, Song Tae-hoon had looked into it. LIVIO SOFT had a high probability of going public, and its CEO, Dale Becker, held all the unlisted shares.


    With just a bit of patience, they could expect a substantial profit increase due to the anticipated listing. Naturally, it was hard to believe anyone would sell shares at such a low price.


    ¡°Even Director Myung Un-seok¡¯s proposal only involved a stock option, not an outright sale. But how could Shin-woo, who lacks relevant experience, negotiate such terms¡­?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s important to monitor the contract process in case there¡¯s an issue.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    The two of them finished talking and got up to head to the conference room.


    .


    .


    .


    Meanwhile, in the first-floor lobby, Dale Becker stood with Lillian Foster by his side.


    They were here to handle business between the two companies. However, Dale Becker looked lifeless, as if he had been fed nothing but dirt.


    Watching him quietly from the side, sunglasses on, Lillian spoke calmly.


    ¡°Loosen up a bit. You didn¡¯t come here to die, did you?¡±


    ¡°¡­Isn¡¯t this situation practically telling me to go die?¡±


    ¡°You should¡¯ve known when to stop being greedy.¡±


    As they quietly exchanged words, Myung Un-seok happened to walk by and spotted them, surprised.


    ¡°What brings you here, President Becker and Miss Foster?¡±


    In truth, it wasn¡¯t a coincidence.


    Lee Chang-sun, their dedicated bodyguard, had noticed their visit and reported it through the other team members.


    Feigning surprise to assess the situation, Myung Un-seok acted as if it was a random encounter.


    At the same time, Lillian stepped forward.


    ¡°We¡¯re here with a contract for MH Group, accompanying the president.¡±


    ¡°¡­A contract?¡±


    Once again taken aback, Myung Un-seok¡¯s reaction was met with a smile from Lillian.


    ¡°Yes, a contract. Our president has made a significant investment decision.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ weren¡¯t you no longer with LIVIO SOFT, Miss Foster?¡±


    Because of this, he had even bowed his head to Director Im Hee-yeon, seeking approval for personnel allocation.


    ¡°It¡¯s complicated. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here now.¡±


    ¡°Then, what is this investment contract you mentioned? Wasn¡¯t it initially handled with me?¡±


    ¡°Apologies, but that has changed. LIVIO SOFT¡¯s majority shareholder has requested a separate investment line.¡±


    Myung Un-seok barely managed to suppress a grimace.


    ¡°And who would that be?¡±


    ¡°Oh, there he comes now.¡±


    From the direction of the elevator, Baek Shin-woo appeared and walked over to them.


    Ignoring Myung Un-seok, Shin-woo directly handed out his business card to the two visitors.


    ¡°I¡¯m Baek Shin-woo, Head of the Strategic Investment Operations Office.¡±


    Surprised by his fluent English, Myung Un-seok, standing off to the side, was taken aback.


    Meanwhile, the two guests introduced themselves to Shin-woo.


    ¡°Dale¡­ Becker.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Lillian Foster.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for coming all the way to MH Group¡¯s headquarters in Korea. But¡­ why are you here, Director Myung?¡±


    Feigning delayed recognition, Shin-woo¡¯s remark made a vein bulge on Myung Un-seok¡¯s forehead.


    ¡°Just to confirm¡­ Did Director Baek Shin-woo take over the LIVIO SOFT contract?¡±


    ¡°I merely revived a deal that had been abandoned.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I mean by taking it over. I was the one who researched, investigated, and obtained investment approval for that company.¡±


    ¡°But it still fell through, didn¡¯t it?¡±


    It wasn¡¯t incorrect. In fact, Myung Un-seok, still lingering with regret, had continued searching for the elusive programmer, MANDU.


    If he could secure MANDU, the investment with LIVIO SOFT could extend beyond investment to potential management rights.


    But since the last attempt, he had found no trace, leaving him more frustrated than ever.


    ¡°It was merely postponed.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s your perspective, Director Myung. Now, would you mind stepping aside so our guests aren¡¯t kept waiting?¡±


    They were standing in the middle of a spacious lobby, not a narrow passageway where only one person could pass.


    Nonetheless, Shin-woo purposefully provoked Myung Un-seok.


    ¡°Hmm¨D!¡±


    Aware of the public setting, Myung Un-seok couldn¡¯t push further and slowly backed away.


    With that, Shin-woo guided Dale Becker and Lillian Foster toward the elevators.


    Left standing alone by the information desk, Myung Un-seok clenched his teeth and balled his fists tightly.


    ***


    In the meantime, Im Hee-yeon and Song Tae-hoon were already waiting quietly in the 12th-floor conference room.


    Soon, a knock sounded, and the door opened, with Shin-woo entering alongside Dale Becker and Lillian Foster from LIVIO SOFT.


    The two stood up immediately, greeting the guests with handshakes and exchanging business cards.


    ¡°I¡¯m Im Hee-yeon, head of Strategic Investment Headquarters at MH Group.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Director Song Tae-hoon.¡±


    After the introductions, they all took their seats. Remaining standing, Shin-woo placed the contract folder in front of Dale Becker.


    ¡°This is the unlisted stock sale agreement. Please review and sign it.¡±


    Dale Becker, still bearing a sombre expression, began skimming through the contract.


    It wasn¡¯t easy for him to stomach giving away shares of a company he had painstakingly built, one that would skyrocket in value, for such a low price.


    At that moment, Im Hee-yeon, who had already reviewed a copy of the contract, closed it and spoke in English.


    ¡°Selling a 7% stake in LIVIO SOFT for 30 billion won¡­ That¡¯s quite a difficult decision.¡±


    Dale Becker took a deep breath in response.


    ¡°Whew¨D! Yes, that¡¯s how it turned out.¡±


    The terms of the contract were overwhelmingly favourable for MH Group.


    If LIVIO SOFT went public without any issues, the current 30 billion won investment could easily triple or quadruple, potentially even increase tenfold.


    ¡°I heard there were some issues regarding LIVIO SOFT¡¯s technology patents. Are they fully resolved?¡±


    ¡°¡­They¡¯ve been settled. There¡¯s no problem now.¡±


    At that moment, Im Hee-yeon was taken aback, although she didn¡¯t show it.


    Myung Un-seok had attempted to proceed with the contract following that issue¡¯s resolution, but he hadn¡¯t been able to finalize anything.


    ¡°Does this mean you found the programmer known as MANDU?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s correct. Simultaneously¡­ the arrangement now makes MANDU the largest shareholder, excluding me.¡±


    Both Im Hee-yeon and Song Tae-hoon were surprised.


    ¡°If he¡¯s the majority shareholder¡­ how much equity does MANDU hold?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t disclose that.¡±


    ¡°Does that include MANDU¡¯s identity?¡±


    ¡°The party involved requested that their identity remain confidential.¡±


    In truth, even Dale Becker didn¡¯t know who MANDU was. Lillian had suddenly returned to the company, claiming to represent MANDU, which had led to this current situation.


    As everyone processed this surprising revelation in silence, Shin-woo stepped forward.


    ¡°Shall we proceed with the contract?¡±


    Momentarily flustered, Dale Becker refocused on the contract and continued reading.


    At that moment, Im Hee-yeon voiced a lingering question.


    ¡°May I ask just one more thing?¡±


    ¡°¡­Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°I understand that the original contract was discussed with Director Myung Un-seok at our Strategic Investment Headquarters. Why did it suddenly switch to Director Baek Shin-woo?¡±


    Dale Becker took a moment, glanced briefly at Lillian, and then replied.


    ¡°It was at the request of the majority shareholder, MANDU. They specified that the contract with MH Group be handled by Director Baek Shin-woo of Strategic Investment Operations.¡±


    As he gave his answer, Dale Becker¡¯s brown eyes narrowed to the point that his pupils were barely visible.


    Meanwhile, Im Hee-yeon continued watching Dale Becker sign the contract, still unable to fully comprehend the turn of events.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 32

    Episode 32: No Old House, Only New Ones!


    ¡¾US, LIVIO SOFT Goes Public! Stock starting at USD 32.33, now rising to USD 137.43 and climbing¡­¡¿


    ¡¾A transformative new image: LIVIO SOFT¡¯s mind-mapping program, recognized as the future of presentations, is now valued at approximately $4.2 billion, which is estimated at around 5.6 trillion KRW¡­¡¿


    With the patent issues fully resolved, LIVIO SOFT¡¯s listing proceeded without any obstacles. Consequently, as companies and individual investors alike scrambled to buy shares, the stock price surged immensely.


    Among them was MH Group.


    Unlike other companies, MH Group had secured a 7% stake in advance, enabling it to earn profits and gain an additional 0.5% share.


    The cost for this 0.5% alone was about 28.3 billion KRW. This amount was nearly the same as the 30 billion KRW initially spent to acquire the first 7% stake.


    That initial 7% stake, however, had now grown sixfold in value, amounting to about 400 billion KRW. And it was still rising.


    While reading this news with mixed feelings in his office, Myung In-chul looked over at Myung Un-seok, who was seated by the sofa, and rose to his feet.


    ¡°What kind of work are you doing out there?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    He was referring to the LIVIO SOFT investment deal, which had been taken from him by none other than Baek Shin-woo.


    Although Myung Un-seok knew the reasons, he was at a loss for words.


    ¡°You let it slip right under your nose? And practically handed it to him? Do you even have a brain?¡±


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Ha¡­ You were doing well up until now, so what happened? Otherwise, you should just play it safe and hold your position.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t expecting a project that would immediately bring in trillions of won.


    Simply holding on to his position with caution and rising steadily over time would have sufficed.


    Knock knock¡ª


    At the sound of a knock, Head of Security Park Sang-kyu entered.


    Exchanging a glance, Myung In-chul sighed and spoke to Myung Un-seok.


    ¡°For now, don¡¯t cause any unnecessary trouble and keep a low profile.¡±


    ¡°¡­Understood.¡±


    As Myung Un-seok left, Park Sang-kyu, who had been standing at a distance, approached.


    ¡°It seems the higher-ups won¡¯t stay quiet this time.¡±


    ¡°So they¡¯ve decided to take action?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the second time already. Although we haven¡¯t identified the information leak yet, the higher-ups believe they can¡¯t just sit back.¡±


    At this, Myung In-chul stroked his stubbly chin.


    ¡°Now isn¡¯t the time for such attention.¡±


    They were talking about Baek Shin-woo.


    In the recent second investment project, some of TSF Investment¡¯s stock schemes had surfaced earlier than planned.


    ¡°But the higher-ups insist they can¡¯t ignore it any longer.¡±


    ¡°Are you even aware of Baek Shin-woo¡¯s current standing?¡±


    Aside from his position as Director of Strategic Investment Operations, he was also the CEO of KITE, MH Tech¡¯s subsidiary in charge of security and protection services.


    Furthermore, KITE was racking up numerous achievements, including handling the security for the national celebrity Yoo Ha-yeon.


    Naturally, targeting KITE¡¯s CEO, Baek Shin-woo, could present significant challenges.


    ¡°TSF has suffered losses amounting to billions due to this. Regardless of the difficulty, they deem it necessary.¡±


    ¡°In what way, exactly? Don¡¯t you realize that Chairman Myung¡¯s attention is also on Baek Shin-woo right now? If a suspicious issue arises, it could hinder not only your position but also disrupt the plan. And wasn¡¯t your security team defeated by him once already?¡±


    Because of the complications caused by Baek Shin-woo, Myung In-chul had been preparing to accelerate his plans.


    In this situation, another setback in his plan was unacceptable.


    ¡°We¡¯ll make it look as natural as possible.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure about that?¡±


    ¡°The upper management¡¯s task team will handle it, so you needn¡¯t worry.¡±


    With this suggestion, Myung In-chul took a moment to think.


    At present, Baek Shin-woo¡¯s presence was a considerable obstacle.


    ¡°Ensure that not a trace is left.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll handle it without issue.¡±


    With a nod, Myung In-chul watched Park Sang-kyu exit the room.


    ***


    Meanwhile.


    Shin-woo was in the office of Strategic Investment Headquarters, having been summoned by Im Hee-yeon.


    ¡°¡­Once again, Director Baek pulled off a major success.¡±


    ¡°Not bad, right?¡±


    Despite having turned 30 billion KRW into an asset worth 400 billion KRW, his reaction was rather indifferent.


    Watching him quietly from her desk, Im Hee-yeon walked over and sat down on the sofa.


    ¡°So, what do you want this time?¡±


    Without much thought, Shin-woo looked directly at her and spoke.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s about time for a reorganization of the Strategic Investment Headquarters.¡±


    At that moment, Im Hee-yeon¡¯s expression hardened.


    It was something she had been considering and planning with Song Tae-hoon for some time.


    However, hearing about this supposedly secret plan from Shin-woo¡¯s mouth caught her off guard.


    ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? Dividing into a planning office and an operations office seems overly cumbersome. Moreover, it didn¡¯t seem necessary for the capital management subsidiary that you and the chairman have in mind.¡±


    Working within the company, Shin-woo had come to understand many things. Additionally, the rough experiences he had gone through before returning had greatly contributed to this knowledge.


    ¡°And you deduced that just from observation?¡±


    In truth, along with his assumptions, it was thanks to Jang Man-soo¡¯s LEUCO, which had fully seized control of MH Group¡¯s network.


    ¡°Catching the stumbling mice, whether moving forward or backward, is all that matters.¡±


    ¡°Your analogy is¡­ not exactly pleasant.¡±


    ¡°So, I do have something I¡¯d like to request in exchange for this success.¡±


    ¡°¡­What request?¡±


    After a brief pause, Shin-woo replied.


    ¡°When the restructuring happens, I¡¯d like all the current team members, except for Section Chief Jang Man-soo, to be transferred elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. It would cause problems.¡±


    ¡°Currently, Teams 1 and 2 are only working on projects transferred from the Planning Office. I believe they would fit well back under the Planning Office.¡±


    ¡°But then there¡¯d be no one left in the Operations Office.¡±


    ¡°Section Chief Jang Man-soo is still here. And we plan to recruit additional personnel as well.¡±


    Feeling a headache coming on, Im Hee-yeon pressed her fingers to her temples.


    ¡°And what exactly do you plan to do with these new people?¡±


    ¡°There hasn¡¯t been an issue so far.¡±


    ¡°Of course, things are fine now, but how long do you think that will last? The scale of capital management will only grow larger in the future.¡±


    ¡°I understand that. But that doesn¡¯t mean we can continue to drag along people with ulterior motives.¡±


    ¡°¡­What do you mean by that?¡±


    Shin-woo looked visibly irritated.


    ¡°Team Leader Kim Jong-soo of Team 1 reports to Executive Director Lee Myung-jin, Team Leader Ji Young-sook of Team 2 answers to Executive Director Park Tae-wook, and Assistant Manager Im Seong-joo of Team 1 is under Director Go Seok-hyun. Not to mention, behind them are your half-siblings. And there are more as well.¡±


    The names that just came out of Shin-woo¡¯s mouth were those of the executives at the headquarters. And Im Hee-yeon knew exactly who was behind them. However, she didn¡¯t know which employees they had exactly recruited. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°I have my own ways. In any case, please follow my request. I¡¯ll fill in any vacant spots myself.¡±


    After saying that, Shin-woo nonchalantly stood up and left the room.


    ***


    ¡¾Strategic Investment Headquarters Restructuring Details¡¿


    ? Strategic Investment Operations Office ¡ú Strategic Investment Operations Division 1


    ? Strategic Investment Planning Office ¡ú Strategic Investment Operations Division 2


    ? Strategic Investment Audit Office ¡ú Strategic Investment Audit Division


    ¡¾Personnel Appointment Notice¡¿


    ? Deputy General Manager of Strategic Investment Planning Office, Myung Un-seok ¡ú Head of Strategic Investment Operations Division 1


    ? Deputy General Manager of Strategic Investment Operations Office, Baek Shin-woo ¡ú Head of Strategic Investment Operations Division 2


    ? Team Leader of Team 1 in Operations Office, Na Jung-hyun ¡ú Deputy General Manager of Strategic Investment Operations Division 2


    ? Team 1 in Operations Office ¡ú Team 4 in Strategic Investment Operations Division 1


    ? Team 2 in Operations Office ¡ú Team 5 in Strategic Investment Operations Division 1


    .


    .


    .


    A few days later.


    The Strategic Investment Headquarters underwent a major restructuring based on their performance in the first and second quarters of this year. The Planning and Operations Offices, which had previously operated separately for project and investment management, were now fully divided.


    One notable change was the expanded office space for the newly enlarged Strategic Investment Operations Division 1, which now required construction for a larger office. Meanwhile, Shin-woo¡¯s Division 2 had reduced in size, proportional to Division 1¡¯s expansion.


    Jang Man-soo, stepping out of the elevator, entered the new office space and was left speechless.


    ¡°Wow¡­ Isn¡¯t this a bit much?¡±


    The Strategic Investment Operations Division 2 office now had no private room for Shin-woo, with only six desks set up in clusters of three.


    Shin-woo, who had arrived earlier and was sitting at his desk, looked up at Jang Man-soo.


    ¡°You¡¯re here?¡±


    ¡°They really set it up like this in such a huge office? Sure, it¡¯s just the two of us in this division, but this is really too much.¡±


    ¡°The only thing that¡¯s too much right now is probably your outfit.¡±


    Currently, Jang Man-soo was dressed in a green jacket and pants, paired with a blue shirt and shoes that seemed to represent water. Although his look wasn¡¯t as attention-grabbing as it used to be, the colour combination was still hard to take in comfortably.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me? Since it¡¯s a newly restructured office, I decided to go with a fresh style and bought some new clothes.¡±


    Jang Man-soo spun around in the middle of the spacious office.


    ¡°¡­New clothes? That?¡±


    ¡°Yes! They¡¯re new!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    While Shin-woo was at a temporary loss for words, Jang Man-soo set his backpack down on the floor and hung his jacket on a chair. From his bag, he pulled out a large thermos.


    Seeing this, Shin-woo tilted his head.


    ¡°Did you bring beef bone soup or something?¡±


    ¡°No way.¡±


    Inside the open thermos, colourful USB drives and devices the size of fists spilled out.


    ¡°What did you bring?¡±


    ¡°Bug detectors and camera detectors. Hey, you haven¡¯t turned on your computer, right?¡±


    ¡°Not yet.¡±


    ¡°Hold on.¡±


    Man-soo turned on all the computers in the room, inserting USB drives into each of them. After assembling the devices from his thermos into a forearm-sized detector, he began testing the room.


    ¡°Do we really have to go this far?¡±


    ¡°You never know.¡±


    ¡°Anyone would be crazy to try it again after getting caught last time.¡±


    Despite Shin-woo¡¯s remark, Man-soo swept the detector around the office. Aside from the desks by the windows, the break room, conference room, and OA Room with the multifunction printer, the room was completely empty.


    ¡°No bugs or cameras detected. The computers seem fine too.¡±


    He ran diagnostic software on the computers with the USB drives he¡¯d inserted and finally let out a sigh of relief.


    ¡°They won¡¯t be able to act recklessly inside the company.¡±


    ¡°So, does this make this place our hideout?¡±


    ¡°Something like that.¡±


    After confirming everything, Shin-woo pulled up the documents that needed reviewing on his computer.


    ¡°Now that we¡¯ve acquired LIVIO SOFT, what¡¯s next? Continue with investments?¡±


    ¡°Keep it going. Since Myung Un-seok¡¯s been taken down, Myung In-chul won¡¯t stay idle either.¡±


    ¡°But you know¡­¡±


    Man-soo turned his gaze to the nameplate on the partition.


    ¡°Why? Is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a division head now, so why am I still just a team leader? Honestly, I handled all the work this time.¡±


    ¡°¡­Did you actually care about promotions?¡±


    Originally, Man-soo wasn¡¯t even keen on coming to the office. Lately, though, he seemed to enjoy it, judging by the fact that he dressed up every day.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m obsessed¡­ It just feels a bit disappointing.¡±


    ¡°You practically own LIVIO SOFT anyway. Why does a promotion even matter?¡±


    Currently, Jang Man-soo held the largest share of LIVIO SOFT, with a 42% stake worth approximately 2.3 trillion KRW. Although it was an astronomical amount, he couldn¡¯t reveal his identity, so his proxy, Lillian, was listed on the surface.


    ¡°That¡¯s true, but¡­ still¡­¡±


    Beep beep¡ª


    At that moment, a security authentication sound echoed from the entrance connected to the elevator hallway. As the door opened, someone walked in, carrying a box about the size of their torso.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 33

    Episode 33: Fierce Battle Between Equals


    Shin-woo and Jang Man-soo turned their heads toward the entrance.


    The person who entered was Lillian Foster.


    ¡°Li¡­ Lillian?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re here?¡±


    ¡°Oh¨D Captain!¡±


    Walking up to the desk, Lillian placed a box on the left side of Shin-woo¡¯s desk.


    ¡°This is my spot, right?¡±


    At this, Jang Man-soo looked at Shin-woo with a bewildered expression.


    ¡°What¡­ What is this? Lillian is working here too?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Where else would she be?¡±


    ¡°What about managing LIVIO SOFT in the States?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what Dale Becker is for. With the leash tightened, he won¡¯t be thinking of betraying us.¡±


    Currently, Dale Becker¡¯s stake was far lower than Jang Man-soo¡¯s, making it difficult for him to betray the company and protect his own safety.


    Lillian, listening to their conversation, shot a sharp glare at Jang Man-soo.


    ¡°Jang Mandu! Do you have a problem with me working here?¡±


    ¡°Huh? No¡­ I don¡¯t. No problem¡­¡±


    ¡°Lillian, be careful with that ¡®Mandu¡¯ nickname from now on. It¡¯s fine when it¡¯s just us, but if someone else hears, who knows what could happen.¡±


    ¡°What? I¡¯ve been calling him ¡®Mandu¡¯ my whole life! How can I call him anything else?¡±


    It¡¯s only been seven years.


    When Lillian first learned Korean, she mispronounced Jang Man-soo¡¯s name and continued calling him that ever since.


    ¡°There are people in this company who know the name ¡®MANDU,¡¯ you know.¡±


    ¡°Then what should I call him?¡±


    ¡°Just use his name. His actual name.¡±


    Lillian¡¯s face twisted as if she absolutely didn¡¯t want to call him that.


    ¡°You dislike it that much?¡±


    ¡°It feels strange¨D!¡±


    Then, Jang Man-soo muttered under his breath.


    ¡°As if I enjoy hearing it¡­¡±


    ¡°What was that? Want to die?¡±


    The two, who had once wiped out enemies on the battlefield, were bickering over trivial matters.


    Shin-woo looked at them with exasperation.


    ¡°Both of you, knock it off.¡±


    ¡°Tch¨D!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Once they quieted down, Shin-woo shook his head in disbelief.


    ¡°Lillian is here as a long-term transfer from LIVIO SOFT. Her position is Deputy General Manager.¡±


    ¡°What?! Deputy General Manager? I¡¯m just a team leader! Why is she a Deputy General Manager?¡±


    Once again, Jang Man-soo shot up in indignation.


    At that moment, Lillian ran over and smacked him on the head.


    ¡°¡®She¡¯? ¡®She¡¯? In the Eastern Land of Courtesy, Korea, you call your elder ¡®she¡¯? To your sister?!¡±


    Jang Man-soo was twenty-three, and Lillian was twenty-seven¡ªa four-year difference. Lillian Foster was an American through and through.


    Of course, as an elder by age, she technically was his ¡°Noona¡± (older sister), but having spent so much time abroad, she hadn¡¯t really taken to the custom.


    ¡°Both of you, seriously, tone it down.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s the one who keeps provoking me! By the way, how¡¯s the communications network coming along? We need to find Rick, Hector, and Wei as soon as possible. They¡¯re probably looking for the Captain too.¡±


    Lillian looked at Jang Man-soo with an expectant gaze.


    ¡°What?! Why are you looking at me like that? You think I¡¯m holding off on it? We¡¯re missing parts!¡±


    ¡°What exactly do you need? I can check with some black-market sources to see if I can get it.¡±


    ¡°An IBDN8334 military satellite aperture antenna and a CELIS049 bi-directional ultra-high-frequency array jammer.¡±


    At the same time, Lillian¡¯s brow furrowed as her expression twisted in confusion.


    ¡°¡­Wh-what is that?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®what¡¯? Those are the parts you just asked for. And they don¡¯t even exist yet.¡±


    ¡°Why did you make it so complicated? Is this for the Pentagon? A secret intelligence organization?¡±


    ¡°You specifically asked me to make it impossible for anyone to trace us!¡±


    ¡°Oh, right.¡±


    Initially, Jang Man-soo hadn¡¯t planned on constructing such a complex communications network.


    But given Lillian¡¯s CIA background, she was concerned about the possibility of Triad Eye being tracked, so she had insisted on it.


    ¡°I told you I¡¯d make it simpler¡­¡±


    ¡°You should have figured that out yourself!¡±


    ¡°Are you done talking?¡±


    The two began arguing once again.


    With a growing headache, Shin-woo took out an eight-sided die and rolled it in his hand to calm himself.


    Clatter¨D Clatter¨D


    ¡°Huh? Isn¡¯t that the equipment you used to carry, Captain?¡±


    Hearing the sound, Lillian stopped fighting and stared at the die in Shin-woo¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Yeah. Man-soo made it for me.¡±


    ¡°Then, what about mine?¡±


    Jang Man-soo bristled again.


    ¡°Did you leave your equipment in my care?!¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you responsible for our gear?¡±


    Lillian¡¯s specialty within Triad Eye was bomb-making and disarming.


    Her equipment back then included a tactical vest called the C4 Tool, outfitted with detonators, fuse lines, working tools, and other bomb-making essentials.


    ¡°We¡¯re in South Korea! Where am I supposed to make your equipment? You want to be arrested as a terrorist?¡±


    ¡°Even a basic kit would be fine!¡±


    ¡°¡­Fine, fine!¡±


    It seemed Jang Man-soo was finally tired of arguing.


    ¡°Both of you, seriously, take it down a notch. I have to go visit KITE, so you two stay here and get some work done. If you need help, Man-soo, work with Lillian.¡±


    ¡°¡­What does Lillian even know?¡±


    ¡°Are you looking down on me? Who do you think you¡¯re talking to, with no college degree?¡±


    ¡°Are you belittling me for just having a high school diploma?¡±


    Lillian, at twenty-seven, had completed both a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and a Master¡¯s in Materials Science at Stanford¡ªa bona fide genius.


    On the other hand, Jang Man-soo, only twenty-three, had learned computer science and mechanical engineering through self-study¡ªa genius in his own right.


    But watching them bicker made them seem no different from schoolchildren.


    ¡°Do whatever you two want¡­ I¡¯m heading to KITE.¡±


    Shin-woo shook his head in resignation and left the office.


    As he reached the underground parking lot and got into his car, he noticed a transparent piece of plastic on the floor. It was a piece of cellophane tape he had placed there as a marker to detect unauthorized entry.


    ¡®Did someone break into my car?¡¯


    The car¡¯s dashcam footage was also erased.


    With a growing sense of caution, he inspected the seats, under the car, the trunk, and the hood before calling Jang Man-soo.


    [Why are you calling me right after you just left?]


    ¡°Looks like someone¡¯s been in my car.¡±


    [Seriously? Is there a problem?]


    ¡°Not at first glance.¡±


    [Then take the red die I gave you, split it open, and plug it into the car¡¯s USB connector. Set it to decoy mode.]


    One side of the split eight-sided die popped off like a lid, revealing a USB connector.


    Shin-woo followed Jang Man-soo¡¯s instructions. The navigation screen turned on, displaying something.


    ¡¾LEUCO Operating System Access¡¿


    It switched to remote mode, allowing Jang Man-soo to control it. Soon after, the screen began to flicker, and shortly, a voice came through.


    [The VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) safety lock has been disabled by hacking. The brake system is also compromised. This looks like they¡¯re out to kill you.]


    ¡°So, they¡¯re finally making their move. And they¡¯ve set the stage quite nicely, too.¡±


    Shin-woo smiled, as if he¡¯d been waiting for this moment.


    From the other end of the line, he could hear the sound of rapid typing.


    [Since the remote device has a limited range, they¡¯re probably nearby. What¡¯s your plan?]


    ¡°Can you reset the hack without alerting them?¡±


    [Already done. If they try to activate anything, you¡¯ll get an alert.]


    ¡°Then it¡¯s time to act as bait. Let¡¯s go with the Ashgabat Operation style. Remember that one?¡±


    [Ok¨D!]


    ¡°Set up a network with Lillian, and don¡¯t make any moves until I send the safe signal.¡±


    Shin-woo plugged in his earphones and started the engine.


    Leaving the headquarters building, he drove onto the main road, his senses heightened.


    ¡®If they¡¯re smart, they¡¯ll avoid crowded areas.¡¯


    They¡¯d hacked his vehicle¡¯s system¡ªclearly planning to stage an accident as a cover-up for their plot.


    The car continued south, heading into the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province.


    Beep¨D


    As if on cue, an alert popped up on the navigation screen.


    ¡¾Vehicle Control System Trespassing¡¿


    It was the alert Jang Man-soo had mentioned.


    ¡°So, it begins?¡±


    Thanks to the precautions already in place, the vehicle had no immediate issues.


    However, Shin-woo¡¯s car began swerving left and right erratically as if the brakes were malfunctioning, and its speed accelerated rapidly.


    Screech¨D Screech¨D


    The car sped up uncontrollably, with the brakes seemingly failing.


    ***


    Meanwhile, about 20 meters behind Shin-woo¡¯s vehicle, a black sedan was tailing him, with two men grinning maliciously.


    ¡°Got him perfectly.¡±


    ¡°Make sure you stay close. We have to finish the job right.¡±


    The two men, Nam In-hwang and Moon Tae-beom from Unit 666, were tasked with eliminating Baek Shin-woo on their superior¡¯s orders.


    At Moon Tae-beom¡¯s prompting, Nam In-hwang, the driver, accelerated to match Shin-woo¡¯s now faster pace.


    ¡°I doubt he¡¯ll hold out for long before crashing!¡±


    ¡°I heard from the commander that he¡¯s an exceptional driver. He might hold out for a while.¡±


    They had received some details about Baek Shin-woo in advance.


    ¡°What¨D? Hey!¡±


    Screech¨D Screech¨D


    As if in response, Shin-woo continued to dodge oncoming vehicles, barely avoiding collisions as he sped forward.


    ¡°Is he trying to stop without hitting anyone?¡±


    Scrape¨D Scrape¨D


    Shin-woo tried slowing down by scraping against guardrails and medians, but it was futile.


    Eventually, he veered onto a side road, leading into an abandoned construction site.


    The car climbed over a pile of sand, flipped, and rolled. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Crash¨D Bang¨D


    From a short distance away, Nam In-hwang hit the brakes. The flipped vehicle lay still, silence settling over the scene.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t explode, huh? Guess it¡¯s not like in the movies.¡±


    As Moon Tae-beom muttered, Nam In-hwang nodded.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to finish it ourselves. I¡¯ll check him first. Bring the tools.¡±


    They got out of their car and approached Shin-woo¡¯s vehicle.


    Nam In-hwang crouched by the driver¡¯s side door, peering inside.


    Shin-woo hung upside down, his body held by the seatbelt, with blood trickling from his head and his eyes closed.


    ¡°He¡¯s out cold, alright.¡±


    Moon Tae-beom, who had been grabbing tools from the trunk, called out.


    ¡°Should I go with Plan A, same as last time?¡±


    ¡°That should do.¡±


    Moon Tae-beom walked over with a toolbox, pulling out a wrench, wire, and a cutter.


    ¡°Just tampering with the oil pipe and brake pads enough?¡±


    ¡°Replace the cylinder, too. Use the worn parts to make it look like an old vehicle malfunction led to a sudden acceleration and explosion. Oh, and give him a dose, too.¡±


    Nam In-hwang extended his hand as he spoke.


    Moon Tae-beom took a syringe and a vial from the toolbox.


    ¡°Here. But aren¡¯t you really going to help with the rest?¡±


    ¡°We decided with rock-paper-scissors, didn¡¯t we? You get the engineering, I get the cleanup.¡±


    He inserted the syringe into a vial labelled ¡®Prilene,¡¯ drawing in the clear liquid.


    ¡°Don¡¯t give too much. If it leaves traces in the body, it could lead to complications. They warned us to be extra cautious this time.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like this is our first job.¡±


    Nam In-hwang smirked, tapping the syringe before approaching Shin-woo to administer the injection.


    Looking at Shin-woo¡¯s unconscious face, blood still trickling down, he murmured.


    ¡°What rotten luck you¡¯ve got, poking around where you shouldn¡¯t have.¡±


    Meanwhile, Moon Tae-beom began tinkering with the engine components exposed by the crash.


    He swapped out the cylinder and messed with the oil pipe.


    Then he noticed that Nam In-hwang had gone silent near the driver¡¯s side.


    ¡°Hey! What¡¯s taking so long? Injecting him shouldn¡¯t take this long!¡±


    Annoyed, he shouted, but there was only silence.


    Sensing something was off, Moon Tae-beom walked around the front of the car toward the driver¡¯s side.


    Nam In-hwang was slumped against the shattered driver¡¯s window, unmoving.


    ¡°What are you doing? Fell asleep giving the injection?¡±


    ¡ª

 Chapter 34

    Chapter 34: The Bait Is Exhaustingly Difficult


    Nam In-hwang, who was approaching to inject Shin-woo, suddenly found himself gripped by the neck and wrist, unable to utter a sound.


    Crack¨D


    Simultaneously, his wrist was dislocated by Shin-woo¡¯s overwhelming strength, making it impossible for him to move.


    With his free hand, Nam In-hwang tried to push Shin-woo¡¯s grip from his neck to defend himself, but he couldn¡¯t budge it.


    It was astonishing how such strength could come from Shin-woo¡¯s slender frame.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±


    In contrast, Shin-woo looked at Nam In-hwang and smiled.


    ¡°Thank you sincerely for coming to me first.¡±


    Just then, the legs of Moon Tae-beom, who had been approaching through the gap between the open hood and the ground, came into view.


    Shin-woo twisted Nam In-hwang¡¯s wrist holding the syringe, plunging it into his own chest.


    Nam In-hwang¡¯s pupils dilated rapidly as he lost consciousness.


    ¡°Hey! What the hell are you doing over there?!¡±


    The irritated Moon Tae-beom, still oblivious, grabbed Nam In-hwang¡¯s body, which was blocking his view inside the driver¡¯s seat.


    Nam In-hwang¡¯s body pulled back, sliding out like a stalk of radish being plucked from the ground.


    It was then that he realized something was wrong.


    ¡°Oh no¨D!¡±


    At that exact moment, Shin-woo, who had been hanging upside down in the driver¡¯s seat, swung a yellow eight-sided dice wire he had prepared earlier.


    It was swift.


    Just before the wire could fully wrap around Moon Tae-beom¡¯s neck, he managed to wedge his right hand into the gap, desperately struggling to create some space.


    Although he had a knife under his left armpit, it was difficult to reach with his left hand.


    As a result, Moon Tae-beom had no choice but to retreat.


    Shin-woo unfastened his seatbelt, sliding out of the car by leveraging Moon Tae-beom¡¯s strength.


    ¡°Argh! Ugh¨D!¡±


    ¡°Not bad reflexes for a pro.¡±


    As if appraising him, Shin-woo tightened the wire even more between them.


    Struggling against the wire, Moon Tae-beom¡¯s face twisted as he pressed against it with his inserted hand.


    ¡°You¡­ who the hell are you?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? I¡¯m the guy you tried to kill. Also, the guy who¡¯ll kill you in self-defense.¡±


    With that response, Moon Tae-beom began to suffocate as the wire tightened around his neck.


    ¡°Did you¡­ know all along?¡±


    ¡°What if I did?¡±


    ¡°But the car definitely¡­¡±


    Earlier, Shin-woo¡¯s car had lost control and flipped over due to the hack on its vehicle control system.


    ¡°My driving skills aren¡¯t half bad, right?¡±


    ¡°So you even knew the car was hacked?¡±


    ¡°For a professional, you sure talk a lot. Let¡¯s wrap this up, shall we?¡±


    ¡°As if I¡¯d let you!¡±


    Moon Tae-beom, retrieving the knife from under his left armpit, cut through the wire.


    At the same time, Shin-woo lunged at Moon Tae-beom, who was now holding the knife in his right hand.


    Thud¨D Thud¨D Thud, Thud¨D


    The two closed in, exchanging swift knife strikes and punches. Moon Tae-beom¡¯s expression grew even more twisted than before. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°This guy¡­ his speed¡­¡±


    Shin-woo deftly evaded the knife and countered with strikes, each one delivering substantial impact.


    For Moon Tae-beom, who was recognized for his knife skills and close-quarters combat within Unit 666, Shin-woo¡¯s prowess was difficult to comprehend.


    ¡°What? Are you nervous?¡±


    Thud¨D Thud¨D


    Playfully, Shin-woo landed blows to Moon Tae-beom¡¯s sides, finishing with a punch to his chin.


    ¡°Ugh¨D!¡±


    ¡°Careful, or you might bite your tongue.¡±


    As Moon Tae-beom staggered back from the dizzying blow, he felt his right arm, which held the knife, suddenly restrained by something.


    Shin-woo had retrieved a wire from another yellow die and wrapped it around Moon Tae-beom¡¯s arm.


    Simultaneously, he pulled Moon Tae-beom¡¯s arm inward, striking his solar plexus with his knee and stepping on his ankle while tightening the wire.


    Crack¨D


    ¡°Ahhh¨D!¡±


    With a scream, Shin-woo forcefully twisted Moon Tae-beom¡¯s right arm inward, bending his elbow in the opposite direction.


    Snap¨D


    Moon Tae-beom, unable to even retaliate, let out a chilling scream, twisting and writhing from the swift sequence of attacks.


    The combination was so fast that he couldn¡¯t pull back his captured limb or defend himself.


    Without letting go of the wire, Shin-woo moved to the side, wrapping it around Moon Tae-beom¡¯s arms and legs, tying him up with the wire around the knife in his hand.


    Finally, Moon Tae-beom, overwhelmed by the intense pain, couldn¡¯t maintain his balance and collapsed.


    Thud¨D


    ¡°Ahh! Let me go!¡±


    ¡°Huff¨D If it were you, would you let someone go? It¡¯s a pity about the car, though. I just finished paying it off.¡±


    This was the first and last extravagant purchase Shin-woo made during his military days, used for getting out of the base on rare leaves or outings.


    Now, after the incident, his first car had been reduced to scrap.


    ¡°Let me go¨D!¡±


    Unable to move due to being tightly bound with the knife still in hand, Moon Tae-beom shouted angrily.


    ¡°What a nuisance.¡±


    Mumbling, Shin-woo picked up a syringe lying near the unconscious Nam In-hwang and injected it into Moon Tae-beom.


    Thunk¨D


    ¡°You¡­ bastard¡­¡±


    ¡°Phew¨D Now it¡¯s finally quiet.¡±


    The drug they had intended to use on Shin-woo was Prilene, a muscle relaxant. Nam In-hwang and Moon Tae-beom had planned to completely subdue Shin-woo with it, then blow up the car to make it look like an accidental death.


    Shin-woo then searched their bodies and vehicle.


    However, he found nothing that could identify them. The rest was only tools and weapons, clearly intended for their purpose.


    The only things of note were the two flip phones each of them carried.


    ¡°Emergency Clear.¡±


    Speaking into his earpiece, he heard the voices of Jang Man-soo and Lillian.


    [Did everything go smoothly?]


    [I¡¯m almost there. Coming right away!]


    Lillian, who had been in the office, had started following Shin-woo¡¯s signal as soon as the operation began.


    ¡°There were two of them. They¡¯ve both been subdued. Should I move them to a safer location? Is there a safe house nearby?¡±


    In response, he heard the sound of Jang Man-soo typing before he replied.


    [For interrogation?]


    ¡°I have to get some information out of them.¡±


    [Won¡¯t they get even more dangerous?]


    Shin-woo had narrowly escaped a deadly situation, fully retaliating in response.


    Naturally, it was possible that his adversaries might feel the pressure and become even more dangerous.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m going to throw them off the trail.¡±


    With that, he powered off the phones of the two he had subdued.


    ***


    Park Sang-kyu, his expression hardening, all but sprinted down the hallway and burst into Myung In-chul¡¯s office.


    ¡°President! There¡¯s been an incident!¡±


    ¡°What kind of incident?¡±


    Park Sang-kyu immediately pulled his phone from his pocket, searching for the breaking news report, and held it out.


    ¡¾Today, in southern Gyeonggi Province, the CEO of MH Tech¡¯s subsidiary KITE, identified only as Baek, was rushed to the emergency room following a vehicular accident suspected to be intentional¡­ At the scene, several unidentified devices, as well as a vehicle believed to belong to a suspect, were found¡­ Baek¡¯s current condition remains unconfirmed¡­¡­.¡¿


    At that moment, Myung In-chul¡¯s expression twisted in a way it had never before.


    ¡°¡­What is this?¡±


    ¡°It seems¡­ they failed.¡±


    ¡°Failed? Did you just say ¡®failed¡¯?! Didn¡¯t I specifically tell you to wait if there was any doubt about completing the job?¡±


    Park Sang-kyu had assigned Nam In-hwang and Moon Tae-beom, specialists in ¡°accidental deaths¡± from TSF, trusting their record of never having failed. He had waited confidently.


    But now, the news coming to him was of failure.


    ¡°¡­I have no excuse.¡±


    ¡°Hah! So? Judging by the report, it seems they got away without getting caught?¡±


    Park Sang-kyu hesitated to answer immediately.


    Seeing his hesitation, the furrow between Myung In-chul¡¯s brows deepened.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Don¡¯t tell me¡­ are there problems with that, too?¡±


    ¡°We haven¡¯t been able to reach them. TSF is searching for them as we speak.¡±


    ¡°Searching? How on earth did you manage things that this happened!!¡±


    Nam In-hwang and Moon Tae-beom¡¯s vehicle had been found at the scene¡­ and Baek Shin-woo, their target, was alive.


    No matter what they found in or around the vehicle, it would be impossible to erase the suspicions directed at the two of them.


    If they moved hastily now, it would only raise unnecessary suspicion.


    ¡°I apologize¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Sigh¨D! All we¡¯ve done is make things worse. Now Baek Shin-woo is about to be brought into the media spotlight, too.¡±


    Until now, Myung In-chul had ensured that Baek Shin-woo¡¯s name stayed out of the media, regardless of what he was involved in.


    It wasn¡¯t possible to suppress everything, but they¡¯d done their best to keep him out of sight, away from public scrutiny.


    But that was no longer feasible.


    Now that the dam had broken, the media would start to uncover Baek Shin-woo¡¯s existence.


    ¡°TSF has said they¡¯ll monitor the situation for now.¡±


    ¡°What else can they do?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Have you confirmed Baek Shin-woo¡¯s condition?¡±


    If he were gravely injured, hovering on the brink of death, it might even be better.


    ¡°He has minor lacerations on his arm and abdomen.¡±


    ¡°¡­Nothing seems to go right.¡±


    Myung In-chul, feeling a headache coming on, pressed his temples in frustration.


    ***


    At the same time.


    Im Hee-yeon, accompanied by Song Tae-hoon and other bodyguards, arrived at the VIP ward floor of a major hospital in Gangnam, where Shin-woo was admitted.


    As soon as she learned of the incident from the news, she tracked down the hospital.


    However, the crowd of reporters gathered outside the hospital made it difficult to get in.


    Eventually, she and her team spotted a room guarded by bodyguards wearing the same KITE badge as Song Tae-hoon.


    When they entered, they found Shin-woo, who had just finished receiving treatment.


    Shin-woo sat bare-chested, large bandages covering his left abdomen and forearm.


    ¡°¡­You¡­ those¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not serious, so there was no need for you to come.¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it¡­ your body¡­!¡±


    Im Hee-yeon¡¯s gaze was drawn not to the treated wounds but to the countless scars covering his chest, sides, shoulders, and more. Standing beside her, Song Tae-hoon was just as shocked.


    ¡°These? I got them in the military. Some rough work out there.¡±


    At a glance, they were clearly no ordinary scars. Numerous punctures and gashes hinted at far more than simple injuries.


    Im Hee-yeon suddenly felt a chill run through her veins.


    ¡°Does that make any sense to you?¡±


    ¡°What will you do if you don¡¯t believe me?¡±


    Would she storm to the military unit where Shin-woo had served and demand answers like a protective mother?


    Yet, Im Hee-yeon hadn¡¯t done anything for Shin-woo until now.


    ¡°¡­Forget it. Are you all right?¡±


    ¡°No problem. But it seems this incident is becoming quite the commotion.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the media. I¡¯ll try to keep it quiet¡­¡±


    At that, Shin-woo¡¯s expression hardened as he looked at Im Hee-yeon.


    ¡°No. Don¡¯t do anything.¡±


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    ¡°I said, don¡¯t do anything. Just leave it alone.¡±


    ¡°Leave it alone?¡±


    ¡°If the media stirs things up, I¡¯ll actually be safer.¡±


    Hearing that, Im Hee-yeon¡¯s expression hardened as well.


    ¡°Are you saying¡­ that someone really targeted you intentionally?¡±


    ¡°They tried to kill me and disguise it as an accident.¡±


    ¡°Is¡­ is that true?¡±


    ¡°Well, thanks to some help, I managed to survive.¡±


    ¡°Who are you talking about?¡±


    At that question, Shin-woo let out a sigh of relief.


    ¡°There were several people. They were completely covered up from head to toe, so I couldn¡¯t tell if they were men or women. They took down the ones who were trying to kill me and dragged them off. Only after that did I finally gather my wits and make the report.¡±


    ¡°¡­I see. And their faces?¡±


    ¡°I already told you, I couldn¡¯t tell if they were men or women. They were covered in black clothing, masks, hats, even strange goggles. Identifying them was impossible.¡±


    Of course, this was all a lie.


    Had he admitted the full truth, the captured attackers would have had to be handed over to the police. That would reveal the hidden motives behind the incident, so Shin-woo had no choice but to fabricate the story.


    ¡°As long as you¡¯re okay, that¡¯s all that matters. Don¡¯t worry about the company for now; just rest.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t seriously hurt. Besides, there¡¯s too much work for me to take a long break.¡±


    ¡°Oh, and from now on, don¡¯t go anywhere alone. Director Song Tae-hoon will assign the security team from Team 5 to stay with you.¡±


    At those words, Shin-woo frowned.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want that.¡±


    ¡°Someone is out there trying to kill you. And you¡¯re saying you¡¯ll keep moving alone?¡±


    Im Hee-yeon thought back to the people who had targeted her in front of the cafe. Although she¡¯d managed to capture one, they had to abandon the safe house after its location was compromised.


    Those attackers had been highly skilled, and she remained cautious ever since.


    But this time, they weren¡¯t after her; they had targeted Shin-woo.


    ¡°It¡¯s just more comfortable this way.¡±


    Honestly, it would feel more like surveillance than protection.


    However, Im Hee-yeon wasn¡¯t willing to back down easily.


    ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous!¡±


    ¡°I refuse.¡±


    Hearing Shin-woo¡¯s cold response, Im Hee-yeon could push no further.


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°How long do you plan to stay here? Aren¡¯t you busy?¡±


    As the head of the Strategic Investment Headquarters, Im Hee-yeon managed business operations for the headquarters and was responsible for strategic investment projects across various affiliates. This workload kept her extremely busy.


    ¡°I should be going. But think about the security team. As a member of the owner family, even the other kids have security assigned to them.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    With that, Im Hee-yeon sighed and left with Song Tae-hoon.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 35

    Chapter 35: Treatment is Finished, Patients


    Park Sang-kyu visited a luxurious hotel suite in the Gangbuk area.


    The guards at the door recognized him and opened the door.


    Upon entering, Park Sang-kyu went straight to the living room, bowed in front of the sofa, and spoke.


    ¡°¡­I have no excuses, Director.¡± S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His demeanour here was even more formal and cautious than when he dealt with Myung In-chul.


    The man seated there, with an elegantly sharp face and dressed in a golden robe, was none other than Kwak Chi-young, the director of TSF Investment¡¯s Korean branch.


    At the moment, Kwak Chi-young was watching the news on the large TV in front of him.


    ¡¾¡­The police investigation revealed that Mr. Baek, the CEO of KITE, nearly died at the hands of unknown men following a car accident. The police¡¯s preliminary report mentioned signs of system manipulation found in Mr. Baek¡¯s vehicle¡­¡­.¡¿


    The news continued with more updates, showing no signs of abating.


    Beep¨D


    Kwak Chi-young turned off the TV and let out a shallow sigh.


    ¡°What¡¯s there for you to be sorry about? It¡¯s the incompetence of those idiots who couldn¡¯t handle the job properly.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    After a brief silence, Kwak Chi-young sipped from his wine glass.


    ¡°So, have you figured out where those idiots have disappeared to?¡±


    ¡°For some reason, the tracker malfunctioned, and the last signal was detected over the East Sea before it vanished.¡±


    ¡°¡­Meaning they¡¯ve been taken care of?¡±


    The members of Unit 666 had tracking devices implanted in their bodies, allowing for their location to be known at all times.


    ¡°Most likely, yes. It appears they were aware of the trackers within their bodies.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡­.¡±


    Feeling a headache coming on, Kwak Chi-young bit his lower lip.


    ¡°We¡¯re currently checking vessels operating near the last tracker signal. It¡¯s highly likely they¡¯re heading toward Vladivostok.¡±


    ¡°And do you expect to find anything useful there?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    Judging by the situation, it was clear that Nam In-hwang and Moon Tae-beom had been led into a trap.


    And the fact that the tracker signal had stopped meant the adversaries had been cautious in their movements.


    Any attempt to trace them might only end up exposing them further.


    ¡°Is there a chance that information was leaked internally?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re investigating everyone since the plan was set in motion to rule out that possibility.¡±


    ¡°Could either Nam In-hwang or Moon Tae-beom have betrayed us? Or perhaps both?¡±


    In response, Park Sang-kyu immediately fell to his knees.


    Before joining MH Group, he had trained both of them as recruits.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe there¡¯s any chance of betrayal from either of them!¡±


    ¡°And why is that?¡±


    ¡°If that were the case, they would have prevented the operation from beginning. And if they were indeed targeting us, they would have attacked the base as soon as one of them was compromised.¡±


    Kwak Chi-young nodded at his words.


    ¡°Your reasoning isn¡¯t entirely wrong. So, do you have any other theories?¡±


    Park Sang-kyu swallowed once before answering carefully.


    ¡°Rather than an internal leak, I suspect a separate organization has its sights on Baek Shin-woo.¡±


    ¡°¡­An organization?¡±


    ¡°Currently, Baek Shin-woo has shown remarkable investment skills in his short tenure at MH Group. He could be an asset to certain groups with no direct affiliations.¡±


    Hearing this, Kwak Chi-young looked at him with interest, gesturing for him to continue.


    ¡°They might have been following him to gauge his capabilities, and perhaps they intervened when they saw us making a move on him. They might have done it to gain leverage.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying they¡¯ve dealt with Nam In-hwang and Moon Tae-beom? Any suspects in mind?¡±


    Park Sang-kyu hesitated for a moment before replying.


    ¡°If we consider domestic possibilities¡­ the National Intelligence Service (NIS) would be the top candidate.¡±


    ¡°The NIS¡­ That¡¯s the most plausible guess in the current scenario. Even if it¡¯s not them, caution is certainly warranted.¡±


    ¡°To eliminate any risks, we¡¯ve already relocated the safe house previously used by Nam In-hwang and Moon Tae-beom.¡±


    Kwak Chi-young listened to the explanation and then motioned for Park Sang-kyu to stand up.


    ¡°In your opinion, what do you think of Baek Shin-woo?¡±


    ¡°¡­Could you clarify your question?¡±


    ¡°I mean, is he worth the trouble?¡±


    Kwak Chi-young was well aware of the relationship between Baek Shin-woo, Im Hee-yeon, and Myung In-chul, whom Park Sang-kyu was assisting.


    But now, being asked about Baek Shin-woo¡¯s value felt as though his potential was being weighed.


    ¡°As of now, Baek Shin-woo¡¯s actions lack a clear purpose.¡±


    ¡°Purpose?¡±


    ¡°Myung In-chul¡¯s goal is to smoothly succeed Chairman Myung Joong-hwan and take control of MH Group.


    However, Baek Shin-woo, since entering the main office with the chairman¡¯s approval, has shown no signs of cooperation with Myung In-chul and seems to be challenging him.¡±


    ¡°Is he aiming to dethrone Myung In-chul and elevate his mother, Im Hee-yeon, within MH Group?¡±


    A questioning sigh escaped from Park Sang-kyu.


    ¡°That isn¡¯t certain either. So far, he hasn¡¯t shown any direct contact with Im Hee-yeon while working in the Strategic Investment Operations Division.¡±


    ¡°No assistance from her?¡±


    ¡°It seems that way.¡±


    ¡°Oh? So, it seems he may be as capable as his mother?¡±


    Kwak Chi-young, the director of TSF¡¯s Korean branch, had heard about Baek Shin-woo through multiple channels, including from Park Sang-kyu.


    Naturally, the recent listing of LIVIO SOFT had piqued his interest as well. MH Group had made billions in profit from the deal in a short time, and so he was intrigued.


    ¡°Purely based on results, he is said to be more impressive than Im Hee-yeon.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t the Strategic Investment Headquarters undergo some restructuring recently? There seem to be many unusual aspects.¡±


    ¡°Most of the personnel in the Operations Division were reassigned under Myung Un-seok¡¯s Operations Division 1. And in Baek Shin-woo¡¯s Division 2, only Jang Man-soo, a high-school graduate, and Lillian Foster, the secretary of LIVIO SOFT¡¯s CEO Dale Becker, joined as deputy general managers on a long-term assignment.¡±


    Kwak Chi-young knew these details but found the unusual mix intriguing.


    ¡°What¡¯s their connection?¡±


    ¡°It appears that Baek Shin-woo and Jang Man-soo became acquainted during their military service, while Lillian Foster came into contact with MH Group in a professional capacity through the recent LIVIO SOFT transaction.¡±


    ¡°And are there any other points of concern?¡±


    ¡°None. I¡¯ve verified this several times to be sure.¡±


    Business often relies on connections and financial resources.


    However, as a former non-commissioned officer, Baek Shin-woo had neither of these. Yet, he appeared out of nowhere, seemingly planting towering trees in a barren land.


    It was a series of baffling developments.


    ¡°So, there¡¯s little chance he could be swayed?¡±


    ¡°From a relationship standpoint, it seems that a choice would have to be made between Myung In-chul and Baek Shin-woo.¡±


    ¡°And if you had to choose right now?¡±


    ¡°Without a doubt, it would be Myung In-chul.¡±


    Myung In-chul was currently the most promising successor within MH Group.


    His solid foundation within the group made him a strong candidate.


    Kwak Chi-young, holding his wine glass, tapped his finger as he asked the next question.


    ¡°What about three years from now, at this growth rate?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­.¡±


    In less than half a year, Baek Shin-woo had generated billions in profit.


    Of course, part of that came from operations TSF Investment had been working on.


    Aside from that, it was also a significant achievement to have secured Dale Becker of Livio Soft.


    ¡°Of course, the chances of Chairman Myung Joong-hwan passing the company to an illegitimate child are slim.¡±


    ¡°For now, yes.¡±


    ¡°But tell me, what¡¯s more useful to us¡ªthe one who was meant to have it, or the one who could never have it?¡±


    Initially, Kwak Chi-young considered Myung Seong-cheol and Myung Soo-yeon while engaging with MH Group, but their abilities fell far short of his expectations.


    The fortunate development was Chairman Myung Joong-hwan bringing in his illegitimate child, Im Hee-yeon, to start checking Myung In-chul.


    This, in turn, had put Myung In-chul on edge, pushing him to firmly secure his succession rights by accepting TSF Investment¡¯s offer.


    ¡°If usefulness alone is the measure, the latter might serve us better.¡±


    ¡°When someone who could never have something does obtain it, they¡¯re bound to understand its true value.¡±


    ¡°So, are you planning to change the cards?¡±


    To Park Sang-kyu¡¯s cautious question, Kwak Chi-young responded without much hesitation.


    ¡°For now, I¡¯ll double-check, get more information on Baek Shin-woo from the higher-ups, and make a decision.


    Director Park, make sure not to give anything away in front of Myung In-chul.¡±


    ¡°¡­Understood.¡±


    ***


    Late at night.


    At the end of a secluded mountain path in southern Gyeonggi Province was an abandoned farm complex.


    After being discharged from the hospital, Shin-woo drove to this location. Perhaps wary after their previous attempt, his pursuers did not tail him or make any moves.


    After getting out of the car, he entered an old greenhouse, where a faint light leaked out.


    ¡°Mmmph¨D mmmph!¡±


    ¡°Mmph! Mmmph!¡±


    The thick cloth was pulled back, and the sound of muffled groans filled the air.


    The ones tied up were Nam In-hwang and Moon Tae-beom, whom Shin-woo had captured.


    They were bound and dangling from a thick pillar running across the centre of the greenhouse.


    ¡°You¡¯re here?¡±


    Lillian, sitting in a chair and observing the two men, noticed Shin-woo.


    ¡°How are they?¡±


    ¡°They just regained consciousness without issue. Are we starting right away?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the plan.¡±


    Shin-woo walked slowly toward the men, exuding an intense aura.


    ¡°If you make any more noise, I won¡¯t ask questions¡ªI¡¯ll kill you immediately. Do you understand?¡±


    Before this mission, they had identified Baek Shin-woo as a former non-commissioned officer with advanced combat skills.


    But the atmosphere of the man standing before them now wasn¡¯t just someone who¡¯d killed once or twice.


    It was entirely different from the air of someone who had fought in ruins.


    Simultaneously, Nam In-hwang and Moon Tae-beom stopped their muffled noises, nodding in acknowledgment.


    ¡°Good.¡±


    Once the gags were removed, the two men quietly stared at Shin-woo.


    Observing them, Shin-woo made eye contact with each in turn.


    ¡°You two¡­ are from the Chicken Coop, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    At once, Nam In-hwang and Moon Tae-beom¡¯s expressions stiffened, their eyes momentarily shaken.


    The ¡°Chicken Coop¡±¡ªformally known as CELLA, a facility where Unit 666 members were trained from a young age.


    Even those who graduated from CELLA were strictly forbidden from mentioning its existence. It was practically impossible for an outsider to know about it.


    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    Feigning ignorance, Nam In-hwang replied, but Shin-woo withdrew his aura and smirked.


    ¡°Judging by what you tried to do to me, I¡¯d guess you¡¯re part of SHASS¡¯s assassination unit, specializing in staging accidental deaths.¡±


    Once again, their faces stiffened.


    SHASS, short for Six Hundred And Sixty Six, was the official name of their unit. Outsiders referred to them as Unit 666, but only members knew about CELLA.


    ¡°Why are you silent? Aren¡¯t you going to deny it like before?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    The two men realized that denying their identity with words wouldn¡¯t solve anything. From the start, their opponent fully understood their backgrounds and the nature of their organization.


    They recognized that silence, rather than denial, was the best response to someone like him.


    At the same time, Nam In-hwang and Moon Tae-beom exchanged glances, as if they had decided on something, and slightly pursed their lips.


    ¡°Oh, if you¡¯re looking for the cyanide capsule hidden in your molars, don¡¯t bother.¡±


    As Shin-woo explained, Lillian, standing behind him, smiled brightly as she shook a small vial containing two extracted teeth like candy.


    Clatter¨D Clatter¨D


    ¡°The extraction is complete. Treatment is finished, patients.¡±


    ¡ª

 Chapter 36

    Chapter 36: The Fear of Knowing


    Where did things go wrong?


    Nam In-hwang and Moon Tae-beom each lived as orphans before meeting at CELLA.


    After graduating from CELLA, they endured countless gruelling training sessions before they could finally join Unit 666. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Kill or be killed. If you don¡¯t kill, you¡¯ll die.


    From a young age, they grew accustomed to killing and became desensitized, losing even the slightest hesitation.


    They moved with the mindset that death was inevitable, no matter the circumstances.


    But now, Baek Shin-woo, standing before them, was filling them with terror.


    Eventually, Nam In-hwang spoke, his voice shaking as he looked at Shin-woo.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ll be okay, knowing exactly where we belong, and still doing this?¡±


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not okay.¡±


    ¡°Then shouldn¡¯t you be handling us differently?¡±


    ¡°I am concerned, which is why I¡¯m dealing with this cleanly.¡±


    Shin-woo stepped back from where they were hanging and pulled away the cloth covering the ground.


    A large rectangular pit lay exposed.


    Lillian, who had been shaking the glass jar containing two molars, pulled a rope to move the two men over the pit.


    Creak, creak, creak¨D


    The pulleys echoed eerily within the greenhouse.


    ¡°Wh-what are you planning to do?¡±


    Without a word, Nam In-hwang and Moon Tae-beom were lowered down into the pit.


    Unable to understand the situation, their confusion grew.


    ¡°What do you think I¡¯m doing? Handling this cleanly. Did you think I¡¯d let you go? You¡¯ve already seen our faces.¡±


    From the start, even they had sensed it since neither Shin-woo nor Lillian wore masks.


    But there were trackers implanted in their bodies by the organization.


    Yet, several hours had passed with no sign of movement from the organization, and their fear grew even faster.


    ¡°Oh, I almost forgot to mention¡ªyour trackers? I copied the signal and sent it elsewhere. By now, they probably lost the signal somewhere off the East Coast.¡±


    It was as if he was reading their thoughts, explaining, while their faces turned pale.


    They had lost even the option of self-termination, and now their last hope had been crushed.


    ¡°The trackers too¡­ you knew about them?¡±


    ¡°I know about CELLA and SHASS, so naturally, I¡¯d know about the trackers. And from here on out, this lady here will explain the rest.¡±


    Lillian stepped forward, taking over as if in a relay.


    ¡°Hey, guys, don¡¯t worry too much. This won¡¯t take long.¡±


    ¡°What are you planning to do to us?¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on¡ªno need to stress. It¡¯s not like you¡¯d tell anyone, right?¡±


    With that, Lillian slipped on thick welding gloves and picked up a metal container of bubbling brown liquid with tongs from a nearby table.


    ¡°If you¡¯re with a mercenary unit, you must know what white phosphorus is, right?¡±


    In an instant, their faces turned not just pale but blue with fear.


    ¡°Stop lying! There¡¯s no way people like you could get your hands on that!¡±


    White phosphorus is a banned weapon known as the devil¡¯s weapon due to its indiscriminate harm; it clings to skin or objects and doesn¡¯t go out easily.


    Of course, it¡¯s almost impossible to obtain it in South Korea.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t white phosphorus. I made this with a few ingredients of my own. Handmade, you know? I went through a lot of trouble, but I¡¯m pretty clever.¡±


    Lillian poured the white liquid into the pit¡¯s corner from the metal container.


    Before it even touched the ground, it ignited and blazed as it spread, refusing to go out.


    ¡°It¡¯s safe when it¡¯s contained, but as soon as it gets plenty of air, it catches fire like that. Fascinating, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Lillian¡¯s cheerful smile made her seem more devilish in their eyes.


    ¡°What¡­ what do you want from us?¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s fine! There¡¯s nothing we¡¯re curious about, so you don¡¯t need to tell us a thing. And you won¡¯t have to worry about cleanup either. This will dissolve everything, down to your bones.¡±


    As she explained, Lillian approached with a posture like she was about to pour water on them.


    ¡°W-we¡¯ll talk! We¡¯ll tell you everything! Isn¡¯t that enough?¡±


    ¡°We said we¡¯re not curious. Shin-woo, are you?¡±


    Watching from the side, Shin-woo shrugged at her question.


    ¡°Not really.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll tell you everything!¡±


    ¡°Everything, just please¡ª!¡±


    Nam In-hwang and Moon Tae-beom were thoroughly indoctrinated by CELLA.


    They were trained to the point where, in a dangerous moment, they would bite into fake molars implanted with poison to end their own lives.


    Their resolve was not easily swayed by simple persuasion or threats.


    It was nearly impossible to shake the beliefs of those who lived by their convictions, feeling embittered by their lives and this situation.


    ¡°What are you planning to say? Go on, keep chanting like it¡¯s a mantra to bear the pain. This fire will burn slowly and last a while.¡±


    ¡°Our base! We¡¯ll tell you where it is!¡±


    ¡°Gwangmyeong! 11 Ga-hak-dong, Gwangmyeong City, Gyeonggi Province!¡±


    Despite their screams, Shin-woo and Lillian remained indifferent.


    ¡°Even if you told them, do you think your bosses would leave the base unchecked? They probably evacuated ages ago.¡±


    At that moment, Moon Tae-beom, who was hanging next to Nam In-hwang, cried out.


    ¡°TSF Investment! They¡¯re the ones who ordered us to take you out!¡±


    Early on, Shin-woo had heard from Jang Man-soo that MH Group was absorbed by TSF Investment.


    Hearing that name again matched the ominous feeling he¡¯d had all along.


    ¡®So it was them¡­ though I didn¡¯t expect a direct connection¡­.¡¯


    In his past life, Unit 666 was backed by Brilliant Group, a large international corporation, raising children into mercenaries through CELLA.


    But at the time, TSF Investment didn¡¯t seem involved; instead, it was Brilliant Group that operated Unit 666.


    It was a company that no longer existed. But based on recent developments, it seemed TSF Investment might be laying the foundation for what Brilliant Group once was.


    ¡°TSF? Aren¡¯t they an investment firm? How do I know you were really ordered by them? Besides, your partner doesn¡¯t seem aware.¡±


    Pretending not to know, Shin-woo watched Nam In-hwang¡¯s reaction.


    The two shouldn¡¯t have known who was backing them.


    Unit 666 would never explain; they simply gave orders, and their subordinates carried them out, whether that meant killing or intimidating.


    ¡°I only found out by chance! That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s all.¡±


    Moon Tae-beom¡¯s gaze was fixed on the steaming metal container Lillian held.


    ¡°You¡¯re asking to be killed gently?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    It seemed to be his last shred of pride, as he offered no reply. Still, even in silence, his intentions were clear.


    ¡°Look at you, a mercenary who can¡¯t even beg for his life.¡±


    ¡°¡­ You¡¯re going to kill me anyway. And that¡¯s all I know. There¡¯s nothing more.¡±


    Shin-woo was convinced there was nothing more he could gain.


    The fact that Moon Tae-beom had even mentioned TSF was already a significant gain.


    With that, Shin-woo reached out to take the gun Lillian handed him.


    They had found it in the car Nam In-hwang and Moon Tae-beom had been using.


    ¡°Colt M1911A1. It¡¯s the standard pistol adopted by the U.S. military and remains in use for its reliability. It¡¯s also easy to acquire abroad if you know the right channels.¡±


    Click¨D Click¨D Thud!


    Baek Shin-woo checked the chamber, magazine, and bullet status of his pistol with smooth movements before loading it.


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s the skill of someone very familiar with it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve handled it until my fingerprints wore off. Well, maybe not in this body.¡±


    ¡°It seems the organization severely miscalculated about you¡­ Aren¡¯t you going to ask who made the request?¡±


    In situations like this, that was usually the most important thing.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to ask. And you only follow orders, so you don¡¯t know those details, right?¡±


    ¡°¡­Exactly.¡±


    He thought about deceiving Shin-woo with a lie, but even that wasn¡¯t going to work.


    Along with his answer, Shin-woo pulled the trigger of the gun.


    Bang¨D Bang¨D


    The bullets pierced the two men¡¯s heads, leaving their bodies to slump down.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit too merciful?¡±


    ¡°Well, we were fakes too.¡±


    Lillian threw the metal container she was holding into the pit.


    Just like before, the flames ignited before the liquid even hit the ground, merging with the fire that refused to go out since it was first poured.


    It looked like it could melt anything on the surface, but in reality, it couldn¡¯t actually dissolve anything.


    ¡°True, dragging it out wouldn¡¯t have mattered much anyway.¡±


    With that, she cut the knot at the end of the rope that had bound the two men.


    Thud¨D


    Nam In-hwang and Moon Tae-beom¡¯s bodies fell to the ground, engulfed in flames that began to consume them.


    ¡°It worked well. They knew about white phosphorus, so it scared them more.¡±


    The true effect of white phosphorus is that once ignited, it sticks to flesh and burns down to the bone. That kind of threat tactic only works on those who know what white phosphorus can do.


    Nam In-hwang and Moon Tae-beom, as members of Unit 666, were very familiar with white phosphorus and thus felt the fear.


    ¡°But TSF, huh¡­ Could it be that Brilliant Group, the original backer of Unit 666, started from there?¡±


    ¡°Considering the situation, it¡¯s likely. Thanks to them appearing first, we got a bit of useful information.¡±


    ¡°So now the target is TSF?¡±


    ¡°Time to make a plan.¡±


    They had moved on to the next step.


    The two of them briefly looked down at the bodies burning in the pit.


    ¡°Not exactly a pleasant sight, huh? Right, Captain?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not meant to be.¡±


    Neither Shin-woo nor Lillian were psychopathic killers who enjoyed murder. From the beginning until now, they had only fought back for survival.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t the first time you¡¯re fighting in this body, is it, Captain?¡±


    ¡°¡­No, it¡¯s not.¡±


    Before returning, Lillian was simply a rather unique college student.


    But Shin-woo had already sacrificed too much, performing dangerous missions in UAD.


    While they were talking, Jang Man-soo emerged from the other entrance to the greenhouse.


    ¡°Their phones¡­ Ack! What is that smell? Did you already finish them off?¡±


    As he got closer, Jang Man-soo winced at the sight of the two burning bodies in the pit.


    ¡°There¡¯s TSF behind them.¡±


    ¡°So, there¡¯s a reason TSF took over MH Group in the future. President Myung In-chul, the favoured successor, is just a puppet.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s just being used for their goals. So, what about the phone?¡±


    At Shin-woo¡¯s question, Jang Man-soo handed him a tablet showing a blueprint of the phone.


    ¡°There are no call logs, only received messages. Everything¡¯s encrypted. But the phone itself has been dead from the start.¡±


    ¡°Dead?¡±


    ¡°It was odd, so I checked and found it was fitted with an old chip from city phones.¡±


    ¡°¡­A city phone? What¡¯s that?¡±


    Jang Man-soo shook his head while glancing at Lillian, who merely shrugged.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know? It¡¯s an old type of phone that only worked near public phones. It needed a repeater to function.¡±


    ¡°But didn¡¯t you say it¡¯s old? Wouldn¡¯t the city phone chip be unusable now?¡±


    ¡°It means they have a repeater set up somewhere. They go to that place at a designated time to receive orders. Quite thorough. It¡¯s not as solid as the old Unit 666 we knew, but¡­ it¡¯s evolved, I guess.¡±


    ¡°What about the encryption?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m working on remaking the decryption program I used in the future? Or is it the past? Anyway, without the base program, it¡¯ll take a bit, but it¡¯s not impossible.¡±


    Shin-woo nodded at his words.


    The three of them stared down at the two bodies, now reduced to nothing but charred bones amid the acrid smell of burning.


    ¡ª