Chapter 136: The Foundation for Entry into the US (6)

I said in an unwavering voice.

“Don’t worry too much about that part. I am here, am I not.”

In an instant, the air inside the conference room changed slightly. Kim Byeong-kwon, Han Dae-gyu, and Lee Seok-bae looked at me as if somewhat surprised.

President Lee Seok-bae asked.

“Are you saying that you will handle it, Representative?”

He felt a bit of doubt along with surprise.

Was it something that had to be done to this extent?

I nodded my head and spoke calmly.

“Yes. What is important right now is not the financial loss, but correcting this problem quickly. If the schedule is pushed back, the damage becomes greater. The issue of the amount can be adjusted later. However, a timing once missed is difficult to catch again.”

President Lee Seok-bae looked at me without a word for a moment. After contemplating in the short silence, he answered slowly.

“I understand. Since you say so, Representative, we will also trust and follow you. Let us proceed with the replacement.”

I expressed gratitude to him for accepting readily and said.

“Good. Then let us coordinate the detailed schedule right away. Let’s proceed with the audit preparation at the same time. Because we must reduce the time as much as possible.”

President Kim Byeong-kwon said with a bright expression.

“We will also prepare immediately. I will give instructions to the technical team right away to move the production schedule forward even by a little.”

Manager Han Dae-gyu also added and said.

“We will also organize the necessary data and approval documents in advance. I should check the ABS side’s audit schedule again as well.”

President Lee Seok-bae still seemed to have a bit of a burden remaining. However, his mind became much lighter at my firm attitude. In fact, even if they proceeded as is, there was no sharp way. It would only waste time.

After the meeting was concluded, they joined the dinner spot prepared by President Kim Byeong-kwon of Sammyeong Heavy Industries.

Throughout the meal, President Kim Byeong-kwon and President Lee Seok-bae treated my group with extreme hospitality, saying that the entry into the US seemed like it would be resolved smoothly this time.

President Lee Seok-bae was in a good mood and laughed heartily.

“Thank you very much for giving us great help today. To be honest, it was bleak, but thanks to you, the way has opened.”

I replied.

“The future is more important. The work in the US must also go well.”

By the time we came outside after eating dinner, the day had already set.

It was to the extent that the face was cold from the chilly sea breeze.

President Kim Byeong-kwon and President Lee Seok-bae came out to the parking lot and saw us off.

“Go up well. I will see you with better news next time.”

At President Kim Byeong-kwon’s words, President Yu Hyeon-seok also headed toward the vehicle after exchanging greetings.

Before going, he greeted me separately.

“I will see you in Seoul, Representative. Go up safely.”

“Yes, President Yu, you go up safely too.”

After each got into their cars, Hong Jang-gun took the steering wheel of the car I rode in. As Choi Seo-jun also got in, the car began to run smoothly on the road.

After silence flowed for a moment, Choi Seo-jun asked cautiously.

“Representative, do you have a separate reason for rushing the audit to that extent?”

While watching outside the window, I spoke slowly.

“Watching the problem that broke out at Yeongnam Marine Industry this morning, the thought that I should proceed faster came to mind. Not only the timing, but there are more than one or two suspicious points.”

“I also thought that was strange. Since it wouldn't be the first time for such a thing, a problem wouldn't occur in the certification audit under normal circumstances.”

I turned my head, looked at Choi Seo-jun, and said.

“That’s right. That is why I could not drag the time any longer. I get the feeling that there is something to this case.”

“Is it perhaps because of your phone call with Team Leader Kim Jongseok?”

My eyes grew sharp.

“Yes, that’s right. Just before the preliminary certification audit, and in the most difficult piping line at that, a serial mismatch broke out. If it really was a simple mistake, they would have noticed it before.”

Hong Jang-gun added a word while holding the steering wheel.

“The timing is certainly too exquisite. It is clear that someone did this on purpose.”

“I think so too. Since a problem with even one part of the supply chain is a big deal, we must be cautious. However, for such a thing to break out from the preliminary certification audit is obvious without looking.”

Choi Seo-jun spoke while crossing his arms.

“Then, someone inside might have intervened.”

“It could be someone inside, or it could have been intentionally manipulated from the outside.”

My gaze headed toward the road that had turned dark outside the window.

“What is certain is that it is not a coincidence this time.”

The air inside the car became somewhat heavy.

Hong Jang-gun muttered lowly.

“If someone did it by matching the timing on purpose, it means there is something more behind it.”

I silently nodded my head.

“That is why I decided on changing the parts altogether. And I should proceed by moving the audit forward as much as possible.”

Choi Seo-jun let out a long sigh and said.

“Nothing ever seems to go easily.”

I answered like an old soul.

“The world is just like that.”

The car ran hard on the night road and headed toward Seoul.

***

The next morning, even though I arrived in Seoul late at night, I woke up at dawn and went to work early. As soon as I arrived at the office, I made a cup of coffee and immediately turned on the laptop.

As I worked for a long time, I did not know the time was passing because I was concentrating. Before I knew it, Choi Seo-jun, who had come to work and saw me, stopped by the office.

“Aren’t you even tired? You came late yesterday.”

Choi Seo-jun sat in the chair while naturally making coffee. Only then did I raise my head and acknowledge him.

“Because there is a lot to do these days. If I am free, I also go to work after resting a bit, but what can I do? Work is overflowing.”

“Still, don’t overdo it. It has been a continuous forced march since you were discharged from the hospital.”

When Choi Seo-jun spoke worryingly, I glossed over it with a laugh.

After that, while the two of us were sharing stories related to work, my phone vibrated.

The caller was President Lee Seok-bae of Yeongnam Marine Industry.

“Hello, President Lee. This is Lim Hyunjun.”

-Representative, is a phone call possible right now?

In Lee Seok-bae’s voice, a sense of tension flowed for some reason.

I spoke while leaning my back slightly against the chair.

“It is fine. What is the matter?”

-The tank line that became a problem as you mentioned yesterday. We conducted an internal audit immediately today. However, the manager who was in charge of the parts line that became a problem did not come to work this morning. He does not answer the phone, and even when I contact his house, I cannot reach him.

I looked at the coffee cup placed on the desk without a word. Steam rose slowly.

It was the moment when that ominous intuition I felt inside the car yesterday was gradually becoming a reality.

I opened my mouth calmly.

“I see. Right now, rather than going around to catch the employee who cannot be contacted, preparation for the re-audit is the top priority. I ask that you prepare thoroughly for entering the certification audit by collaborating with Sammyeong Heavy Industries.”

-Yes. I will do as Representative Lim said.

“Good. Then please proceed according to the audit schedule.”

After finishing the call, I sat still for a moment. The coffee gradually grew cold.

I felt Director Choi Seo-jun’s gaze, but I checked the contact list on the phone and pressed President Yu Hyeon-seok’s number.

“President Yu, this is Lim Hyunjun.”

-Yes, Representative. Did you enter well yesterday?

“I arrived in Seoul safely yesterday. More than that, there is one thing I must confirm. In the past during the Daehan Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering days, did you ever work with a company called J&T Marine Tech?”

-You mean that company from yesterday, right? To be honest, I was also uneasy and was in the middle of looking for them as soon as I went to work. However, since there is almost no data left from the Daehan Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering days….

President Yu Hyeon-seok’s voice became slightly slower. A busy sound was heard as if he were rummaging through something.

-It is not certain. I have a memory of seeing it a few times in the delivery list in the past.

“In that case, could you check accurately once more? Whether it is transaction history or a contract, anything is fine. I need confirmation regarding that company.”

-I understand. I will check right away.

After hearing the content of my conversation, Director Choi Seo-jun asked with a serious expression.

“Representative, could that company be related to Daehan Group?”

“I don’t know yet. However, the possibility seems to be there.”

I muttered lowly.

“J&T Marine Tech….”

There were more than one or two suspicious things.

I began to look into J&T Marine Tech with the laptop and tablet.

On top of that, I gave instructions to contact Advisor Baek Yu-jin and the Information Analysis Department within the company to look into it.

***

A few days passed, and as the aftermath of the sharp drop in global steel demand spread to Europe, Tara Steel UK (Tara Steel UK) finally could not hold out and applied for court receivership.

The company, which had been accumulating deficits for several years, eventually had its funding cut off and completely stopped factory operations. In an instant, thousands of workers lost their jobs.

At the unexpected large-scale unemployment crisis, the British government immediately held an emergency measure meeting.

Since Tara Steel was not a simple private company but a company that once played the role of the central axis of the European steel industry, the aftermath caused ripples throughout the regional economy and the financial market.

However, the Tara Group (Tara Group) headquarters in India unexpectedly maintained an attitude that management problems of a subsidiary should be resolved at the level of the subsidiary.

They stepped back while showing a lukewarm attitude toward financial support or the injection of a bailout.

This decision soon called forth fierce criticism in British society.

Labor organizations and the media strongly condemned the Indian parent company, saying it exploited the British economy and turned its back during a crisis.

The political circles also engaged in a sharp battle over the location of responsibility.

Meanwhile, Indian political circles also fell into an embarrassing situation.

As the national image was tarnished and even the shock to the financial sector entangled with the parent company overlapped, both the political and business worlds expressed difficulty.

Eventually, the situation spread into a structure of political and diplomatic conflict where Britain and India pushed responsibility to each other over who would take responsibility.

Because Tara Steel was practically being managed by a relative of Ravindra Rajan and an influential figure in the Rajan family, this bankruptcy situation also caused an unusual ripple inside the Rajan family.

Just at that time, when it was developing into a complex case where the political and business worlds of Europe and India were entangled, an unexpected entity suddenly appeared on the stage.

It was none other than the giant Chinese investment company, Chen Wei Holdings.

Chen Wei came out with a proposal that they would buy up the non-performing loans and factory assets of Tara Steel in a bundle at a bargain price.

They precisely pierced through the gap while the British government and creditors were in confusion.

With the sudden appearance of Chen Wei, the situation fluctuated in an instant.

Britain grew nervous while being wary of a steel company, which was a strategic industry, passing over to the Chinese capital.

India also could not hide its sense of crisis that their influence might disappear.

Inside the Rajan family, there was also a stir at the news that Chinese capital was trying to swallow the company that the relative was operating.

Thanks to that, HJ Partners became even busier.

Even though it was late at night, the conference room was filled with tension.

On the large screen, news and financial data related to the Tara Steel crisis were being updated in real-time.

Director Choi Seo-jun said while looking at the screen with his arms crossed.

“The Chen Wei bastards are moving faster than I thought.”

Looking at the screen, I said.

“They have already begun to buy up some of the non-performing loans locally in London. It seems to be the intention to push through the acquisition procedure quickly. In addition, they even created a frame in the local newspapers as the relief pitcher of the Chinese capital.”

“They are doing public opinion manipulation as well.”

I got up from my seat and walked toward the window.

The city lights were reflected in the window and shone on my face.

“It is now slowly time for us to step forward. Let’s start shaking it from under the water.”