Chapter 181: Drawing the Sword (2)

"With this, I declare that the dismissal of President Lim Do-hyun of Taeseong Construction and Taeseong Finance has been passed."

The declaration of Chief Secretary Kang Cheol-woo filled the conference room.

However, for a while, no one got up from their seats.

In less than two hours after the meeting ended, it burst out into the world.

[Taeseong Group. President Lim Do-hyun abruptly dismissed]

[Crack in Taeseong's 2nd generation management? Abnormal signal in succession structure]

[Aftermath of Iraq project. Responsibility of President Lim Do-hyun becomes a reality]

The name Taeseong decorated the economic channels and the main portals.

"Taeseong finally pulled out the sword."

"Is this not practically a fight over the succession structure at this level?"

"It is divided into the Nuna line and the younger brother line."

Unconfirmed stories floated around, centered on online communities.

Before long, they swelled into other rumors.

In some places, articles came out saying that a person who was an acquaintance on Lim Do-hyun's side had an interview.

In other places, reports poured out that a key official on Lim Hye-seon's side had revealed their inner thoughts.

However, there was not even a single line of official position from Lim Do-hyun's side, who was the party involved.

Even if reporters scrambled to make phone calls, or stood and waited with cameras in front of the office building, he did not appear.

As if he were a person who disappeared without a sound, without a trace.

Actually, on the morning of the day the dismissal of Lim Do-hyun was brought forward.

Before the executive meeting of Taeseong Electronics was held, Chairman Lim Man-seok headed to his son's house first.

When the car stopped in front of the luxurious gate, the inside of the house was strangely quiet.

Not long after pressing the bell, the person who opened the door was the second daughter-in-law, Shin Seo-yoon.

"Father-in-law...."

It was a face as if she had not fully woken up from sleep.

However, her expression was already filled with tension.

Lim Man-seok asked bluntly.

"Where did Do-hyun go?"

Shin Seo-yoon lowered her eyes for a moment and then hurriedly shook her head.

"I... do not know well either. He went out last night and has not come back yet."

"You do not even know where he went?"

"Yes. He does not even take calls. It is true, father-in-law."

Whether she was feigning ignorance or really did not know.

Even if he asked back several times, the answer was the same.

Lim Man-seok did not feel like pushing his daughter-in-law at all.

After letting out a short sigh, he eventually left the house.

"Go inside. Take good care of your health."

The door closed, and the car door opened again.

As soon as he got into the car, Lim Man-seok spoke toward Kang Cheol-woo, who was sitting in the seat next to him.

"...Cheol-woo."

"Yes, Chairman."

"Find out where Do-hyun is right now. They said he has not come home since last night. If he has vanished, that is more of a problem."

"Understood. I will check immediately."

The car headed straight to the headquarters.

In the meantime, Kang Cheol-woo gave instructions to the Chief Secretary's office line.

But the result was to the point of being hollow.

"It seems he has not even shown up for work since yesterday. It is the same for the card usage history, and his cell phone location has not been caught since the last record. The private driver also said he could not meet him yesterday."

As if it were planned, all traces were cut off.

Whether he went into hiding after knowing in advance.

If not, he might be preparing something.

One thing was certain.

"What is this fellow trying to do again...."

Chairman Lim Man-seok's expression hardened further.

Was that why?

No matter how much the media tried to dig into the inner thoughts of the Taeseong family, or poured out all sorts of speculative articles regarding the succession structure.

When President Lim Do-hyun, the person who should be at the very center, showed no reaction until the end, the noisy rumors began to lose power faster than expected.

Rumors were also thick among the reporters.

"Why is President Lim Do-hyun not issuing a statement?"

"Could it be that they are already negotiating under the water?"

However, the voices that were talking also gradually gave way to other news after a few days passed.

But the people setting foot inside Taeseong knew.

***

After the executive-level meeting at Taeseong Electronics ended, Chairman Lim Man-seok, Acting Chairperson Lim Hye-seon, Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung, Chief Secretary Kang Cheol-woo, and Vice President Yoon Jae-hyuk gathered in one place.

Specifically, the Chairman's office on the top floor of the Taeseong Electronics headquarters.

Originally, it was the place Chairman Lim Man-seok used, but the person sitting at the desk now was Lim Hye-seon.

This office, which was once like a symbol of Chairman Lim Man-seok, had now practically become her space.

On the desk, which was neatly organized, reports from Taeseong Construction and Taeseong Finance were piled up in layers.

Several people were also seated on the sofa side.

Among them, the person who stood out was Yoon Jae-hyuk.

After a moment of silence flowed, Yoon Jae-hyuk opened his mouth first.

"Seeing you like this, Chairman... It is so good. You must return to the management front again, right?"

He continued speaking while being sincerely happy.

"I do not know how happy I was that the Chairman came to the meeting room today."

Lim Man-seok gave a snort.

"You are still in your fifties, are you not?"

"Yes, I am just fifty-two now."

"You are quite vigorous. You are at an age where you should be running around a lot, and I am soon eighty."

He glanced down at the protruding veins on the back of his hand and continued speaking.

"It is also time to hand it over. It is something that must be done someday. I just moved it forward a little.... I cannot sit in this position forever, can I."

Lim Man-seok turned his head slightly toward Lim Hye-seon.

"Hye-seon will do well. Since her personality itself is more fastidious than mine, she is one who cannot stand to see things passed over roughly, so what is there to worry about."

At those words, Lim Hye-seon walked over to the sofa side and sat down while lowering her head shortly.

"It is excessive praise, father."

Lim Man-seok moved his gaze back toward Yoon Jae-hyuk.

"So, Vice President Yoon... I will truly take my hands off once I finish only this matter. Instead, there is something you must do."

His voice became lower.

"Look into all the projects that were being carried out at Taeseong Construction and Taeseong Finance again. Especially everything that Do-hyun directly touched, without leaving anything out."

Yoon Jae-hyuk's expression hardened minutely.

"Are you speaking of only large cases like the Iraq refinery facility?"

"Would it be only that?"

Lim Man-seok cut it off firmly.

"Whether it is Sahara Investment or whatever, if the funds that came in through that fellow are intertwined even a little, organize them all separately. The contract structure, fund flow, and whose names are mentioned up to what level, all of it. If even a slightly suspicious corner is seen, report it immediately to me or Hye-seon."

He tapped the armrest lightly a couple of times with his finger.

"Do-hyun's dismissal is only the beginning. You must meticulously check what else is behind it."

The air inside the office sank more heavily.

Yoon Jae-hyuk took a short breath and then lowered his head.

"Understood, Chairman. As you have said, I will conduct a full review of all projects carried out by Taeseong Construction and Taeseong Finance. In particular, I will classify the cases led by President Lim Do-hyun as top priority and report them to you."

He looked calm on the outside, but other thoughts came into his head.

'...Dismissal is not the end.'

If they intended to end it with dismissal, there was no need to do even this.

Then, it clearly meant there was something bigger behind it.

A moment of silence flowed.

At that time, Hye-seon carefully opened her mouth.

"Father."

Lim Man-seok's gaze turned toward his daughter.

"In order for Vice President Yoon to properly carry out the work you just mentioned, the position of the person in charge also seems like it must be clear."

Hye-seon naturally moved her gaze and looked at Yoon Jae-hyuk.

"How about appointing Vice President Yoon as the President of Taeseong Construction and Taeseong Finance?"

Yoon Jae-hyuk was a person who usually had few changes in expression, but this time he was surprised.

It was to the extent that his eyes widened.

Soon he tried to maintain it as calmly as possible, but he could not stop his heart from leaping.

'...Am I finally rising to the president's position?'

Something hot surged up from deep in his chest.

However, he kept his mouth shut and lowered his eyes.

He did not want to appear like a light person by revealing signs of being happy for no reason.

Lim Man-seok let out a short cough.

He continued speaking slowly on purpose.

"If you are going to give him work, the title should also be suitable for it. The business card must change first for others to recognize it too, would it not."

At those words, Lim Do-kyung smiled quietly.

"That is right, father. There is no one else like Vice President Yoon as a person to entrust this work to."

The corners of Chairman Lim Man-seok's mouth rose slightly.

"So from now on, I suppose we can call him President Yoon Jae-hyuk, not Vice President Yoon."

That word was like a declaration.

Yoon Jae-hyuk quickly got up and bowed his waist deeply.

"Thank you for entrusting me with this heavy responsibility, Chairman."

His voice seemed calm, but a lot of strength was put into his body.

Lim Man-seok waved his hand.

"Say thank you later, and just remember one thing for now."

His gaze became firm again.

"What we are trying to do now is not clapping because we feel relieved after cutting off Do-hyun. It is to check to what extent Taeseong is broken. Do not think about making the outside look flashy, and try to do it thoroughly as much as you are taking the lead."

"Yes, I will keep that in mind."

Yoon Jae-hyuk lowered his head once again.

Hye-seon added shortly.

"I will organize and give the necessary materials to President Yoon immediately. Since I will make HR, finance, and internal audit all cooperate, it will be burdensome, but let us organize it together."

"Yes, I will do my best!"

Spirit was put into Yoon Jae-hyuk's voice.

He bowed his waist one more time at the end and then stepped back.

It was thanks to Chairman Lim Man-seok gesturing as if telling him to leave.

Even as Yoon Jae-hyuk walked toward the door, his footsteps were light.

As the door closed, the inside of the office became much quieter.

The people remaining now were Lim Man-seok, Lim Hye-seon, Lim Do-kyung, and Kang Cheol-woo.

For a while, no one brought up a word.

A heavy lingering feeling was filling the office.

The one who opened her mouth first was Hye-seon.

She turned her head toward her younger brother.

"Do-kyung, did Hyunjun arrive well?"

Lim Do-kyung caught his breath for a moment and then answered.

"Yes, according to Hyunjun's mother, he said he would stay quiet at home for the time being."

At those words, Hye-seon said with a bit of relief.

"It is a relief. That Hyunjun understood."

Lim Man-seok also nodded and said.

"Still, you will not be able to hold him for long. Is Hyunjun not also the head of a proper company now. You cannot leave such a child only at home."

While he spoke bluntly, he showed signs of relief.

"For now, it is better to pass over quietly."

Kang Cheol-woo cautiously chimed in.

"I will pay more attention to the security of the Vice Chairman's residence."

"Yes. You take good care of it, Cheol-woo. By the way."

The gazes in the room all gathered on Lim Man-seok.

"I stopped by Do-hyun's house in the morning."

He narrowed his eyes as if tracing his memory for a moment.

"The trace of where the fellow ran away to is obscure."

Hye-seon's gaze became slightly sharp.

"Father, did you go there in the morning? Was he not at home?"

"Only the second daughter-in-law was at home. According to that child, she said he did not come in last night. Looking at how she feigned ignorance when I asked where he went, I do not know if she is really doing that because she does not know or if she knows and is covering for him...."

Kang Cheol-woo also added a word.

"The whereabouts of President Lim Do-hyun are already being tracked by the Chief Secretary's office... but so far, there are no clear clues. It looks as if he intentionally vanished."

Lim Do-kyung also opened his mouth.

"It is about time something came out by now, but it is too quiet."

Hye-seon closed her lips tightly.

"The fact that there is no reaction even after the news of the dismissal went out... it is also uneasy for me."

Lim Man-seok's gaze became cold again.

"So, I am telling you in advance but...."