Chapter 91: An Unexpected Outcome

When I stepped out through the gate on my way to work, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan and Driver Kim were already waiting for me.

"Good morning, Director."

"Chief Secretary Kang, what's going on so early in the morning?"

"Today is your workday at Korea Investment."

"I know that myself, but..."

I deliberately trailed off, hoping to understand the real reason Chief Secretary Kang Inhan had come in person.

"I'll explain everything on the way."

I got into the rear seat, which had already become quite familiar to me, and turned to the Chief Secretary, who sat down beside me.

"Chief Secretary Kang, shouldn't you be accompanying the Chairman?"

"The Chairman left for work an hour ago."

"So early?"

"He needs to receive President Cho's report."

Korea Investment had invested 7.4 billion dollars (about 10 trillion won) in purchasing Endivia shares.

Chairman Park Yeongil had personally invested 8 billion dollars (about 11 trillion won) in shares of Bongard Group.

Last night, President Melvin Douglas had issued a statement promising his full support for the HBM joint venture so it could begin operations as quickly as possible.

As a result, both Bongard Group and Endivia shares had skyrocketed.

Following my instructions, Cho Myeongjeong had completely liquidated both positions overnight.

It was obvious Chairman Park Yeongil had come to the office early specifically to hear the report on the investment profits.

"Ah, now I understand."

"Now I'll explain why I personally came to pick you up, Director."

"I'm listening."

"There has been a bit of trouble stemming from last night's gathering at the bar."

Last night, several men sitting near the window had tried to hit on Yun Sola and the other women.

However, thanks to the owner's quick thinking, their attempt ended there.

Unfortunately, they didn't give up. They approached our table and deliberately tried to provoke a fight.

At that point, the National Intelligence Service agents who had been secretly protecting Tracy and the others intervened to prevent an incident. They quickly subdued the troublemakers and escorted them out of the bar.

I'd assumed the matter had ended there, but apparently I had been mistaken.

After recounting everything that had happened at the bar, I looked directly at Chief Secretary Kang Inhan.

"So what's the actual problem?"

"Director, do you remember the online news outlet Today News?"

Today News had suddenly abandoned its investigation into the hit-and-run that had left my younger sister seriously injured.

That was because Today News CEO Kim Mansu had sold all of the investigation materials to Li Jiahan, one of Chen Shao's subordinates.

As a result, the witnesses to the accident had been murdered overseas by Li Jiahan.

"Of course I remember."

"That makes things easier. Among the people subdued by the National Intelligence Service agents was CEO Kim Mansu's nephew."

"I see..."

"After listening to his account of what happened at the bar, the vultures at Today News began digging into the story."

Tracy, Gloria, and Isabella were heirs to families whose names spoke for themselves.

On top of that, National Intelligence Service agents had effortlessly subdued the men who started the disturbance.

It didn't take a prophet to predict what would happen if Today News uncovered those facts.

To attract readers, they would undoubtedly twist the story into the dirtiest, most sensational scandal imaginable.

And once that happened, the situation could become extremely complicated.

"...I understand."

"Director, how would you like to deal with this?"

"If you want to end a war quickly, the best approach is to behead the enemy's general."

"Ha-ha. I understand exactly what you mean."

"The best way to deal with filth like this is to act with lightning speed."

"It will be carried out exactly as you instructed, Director."

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan's voice carried a level of confidence I had never heard from him before.

***

As soon as I arrived at the office, I headed straight for the Chairman's office.

After receiving permission to enter, I found Chairman Park Yeongil speaking with Cho Myeongjeong.

I greeted the Chairman with a slight bow and sat down on the empty sofa.

He immediately addressed me with a concerned expression.

"You've already heard from Chief Secretary Kang about what happened at the bar yesterday, haven't you?"

"Yes, Chairman."

"Tell me what you think, Director Cha. How should we handle it?"

"Rot should be buried as quickly as possible before it starts to stink."

"Ha-ha-ha!"

My answer clearly pleased Chairman Park Yeongil, and he burst into booming laughter.

Once his laughter subsided, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan spoke.

"The Director has instructed us to dispose of that rot no later than this evening."

"Also think about compensating the people who suffered because of Today News."

"I was already planning to."

Chairman Park Yeongil nodded in satisfaction before turning toward Cho Myeongjeong.

"Report to Director Cha on the profits from our investments in Endivia and Bongard Group."

"Yes, Chairman. We deployed 8.5 billion dollars to purchase Endivia shares."

Strange...

Previously, Cho Myeongjeong had reported that Korea Investment had invested 7.4 billion dollars in Endivia.

Now he was saying the amount had increased by another 1.1 billion.

I carefully asked what had changed.

"The Chairman ordered every dollar of the company's available cash to be invested in Endivia."

"I understand, but I still can't help feeling a little disappointed."

"I'm not sure what you mean, Director."

"If I were in your position, President Cho, I would've put that money into Bongard Group rather than Endivia."

"Ah-ha-ha-ha!"

Chairman Park Yeongil suddenly burst into loud laughter.

Unable to understand what was happening, I stared at him.

A few moments later, after calming down, he continued.

"We also bought additional Bongard Group shares, so there's nothing for you to regret."

"Ah, I see."

"President Cho, continue your report."

"All Endivia shares were completely sold before dawn today, producing a return of 80%."

Compared to last Friday, Endivia's stock price had risen by 60% before pulling back slightly near the close.

So how had they managed to achieve an 80% return?

I voiced my doubts to Cho Myeongjeong.

"We steadily accumulated Endivia shares over the past ten days."

"Ah, that's right. It completely slipped my mind."

"Our net profit slightly exceeded 6.8 billion dollars."

"Wow. That's an enormous profit for such a short period."

"I completely agree, Director. Now I'll report the returns from our Bongard Group investment. The Chairman additionally allocated 20 billion dollars of his personal funds..."

In short, according to Cho Myeongjeong's lengthy report, after investing a total of 10 billion dollars into Bongard Group, they had realized a return of 72%.

"...Because of the sheer size of our position, we barely managed to complete all transactions before dawn today."

"President Cho, you've done an incredible job."

"We merely carried out your instructions, Director."

"Well, if you put it that way, I really have nothing to say."

"That concludes my report. Chairman, the floor is yours."

Having completed his assignment flawlessly, Cho Myeongjeong quietly stepped back.

"Director Cha, when do you think we should sell our Hangang Electronics shares?"

Korea Investment had spent 3 trillion won acquiring a 0.8% stake in Hangang Electronics.

Since the official announcement that the company would manufacture HBM semiconductors for Endivia, its stock price had continued climbing steadily.

"The effect of President Douglas's announcement will begin fading after today."

"President Cho, sell everything today."

"Understood."

"Once the proceeds from the Bongard Group shares arrive, transfer Director Cha's share of 3.6 billion dollars to him."

I was destined to inherit Chairman Park Yeongil's fortune of 70 trillion won.

However, one of the conditions of that inheritance required me to personally pay nearly 35 trillion won in inheritance taxes.

To accumulate that astronomical amount, I had asked him to invest my money in the stock market, and we had agreed to split all investment profits fifty-fifty.

"Chairman, I'd prefer to receive my share later."

"Why? Explain."

"This won't be our last investment."

"But if you take the money now and invest it yourself, every bit of the profit will belong solely to you, won't it?"

"As I mentioned before, I'm simply too busy with my primary work to manage investments myself."

"Very well. I understand. I'll hold onto that 3.6 billion for now. Well then, shall we head over to meet Chairman Yoon?"

"Chairman, just a moment."

I stopped Chairman Park Yeongil as he began rising from the sofa.

"What is it? Do you still have something to discuss?"

"Since we've earned such an incredible profit from the stock market, wouldn't it be appropriate to reward the employees with generous performance bonuses?"

"Ha-ha! So you're already thinking about things like that. Excellent. President Cho, give the employees the hottest bonuses possible."

"Understood!" Cho Myeongjeong answered loudly and confidently, his voice echoing throughout the office.

***

"You little rascal! What on earth were you wearing?"

Chairman Yoon Jongu angrily scolded Yun Sola while waving a photograph he had somehow managed to obtain.

"I didn't have any other choice if I wanted to beat my competition."

"Well, if you put it that way, I suppose I can't argue. But Tracy and Isabella are one thing—why was Gloria dressed so provocatively?"

"Probably because she wanted to impress the man she likes."

"Surely you don't mean... Specialist Cha?"

"You're absolutely right, Grandfather."

At that moment, Chief Secretary Song Dosok joined the conversation as though he had something to add.

"Sola, didn't you say Gloria already had a boyfriend?"

"I got curious myself, so I asked her directly. She told me she doesn't have one."

"And Gloria herself admitted that she likes Specialist Cha?"

"Gloria and Tracy said they first met him on the night of his interview."

Chief Secretary Song Dosok immediately grasped the hidden meaning behind Yun Sola's answer.

On the day of the interview, Cha Jiham had taken the miraculous herbal tranquilizer with its extraordinary effects.

Naturally, the medicine had reached the peak of its effectiveness on the day of the examination.

And by pure coincidence, that very night Cha Jiham had encountered Gloria and Tracy.

How could Gloria possibly have resisted his overwhelming, irresistible charm under those circumstances?

"...Two rivals were already bad enough, and now Gloria has joined them."

"Exactly."

"So how are we supposed to eliminate these competitors?"

"The playing field wasn't level to begin with."

"Not level? What do you mean?"

"I have the opportunity to see Specialist Cha regularly."

"Ah..."

Chief Secretary Song Dosok nodded in understanding.

At that moment, Chairman Yoon Jongu, who had been quietly listening, joined the discussion.

"Is there any chance Specialist Cha secretly met with the three of them after everyone left the bar?"

"The National Intelligence Service agents escorted the women directly back to the hotel, so it would've been physically impossible for them to meet him separately."

Bzzz.

Chief Secretary Song Dosok's phone vibrated briefly in his pocket.

He took it out, glanced at the screen, and immediately reported to Chairman Yoon Jongu.

"Chairman, Chairman Park and Specialist Cha have just entered the lobby."

"Sola, did you hear what Secretary Song just said?"

***

"What brings you here so early?" Chairman Yoon Jongu asked Chairman Park Yeongil with feigned displeasure as he entered.

"You already know perfectly well, so why bother asking?" Chairman Park Yeongil replied indifferently as he took an empty seat.

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan and I respectfully bowed to Chairman Yoon Jongu before sitting beside him.

Seeing this, Chairman Yoon Jongu turned toward me with obvious dissatisfaction.

"Specialist Cha, why are you sitting there?"

"...Pardon?"

"When you enter someone else's house, shouldn't you follow their rules?"

Chairman Yoon Jongu was openly emphasizing that I was, after all, an employee of Hangang Group.

Naturally, I had an entirely different opinion.

But just as I opened my mouth to respond, Chairman Park Yeongil cut in first.

"Chairman Yoon, perhaps you should spend some time thinking about which company Director Cha actually works for on Fridays."

"Ahem."

Unable to come up with a proper reply, Chairman Yoon Jongu merely coughed awkwardly into his fist.

Looking thoroughly pleased with himself, Chairman Park Yeongil continued.

"I'll personally deal with yesterday's incident at the bar, so you don't need to concern yourself with it."

"And why is that?"

"Because the organization called Today News, which is currently digging into the incident, has an old score to settle with Director Cha."

Chairman Yoon Jongu and Chief Secretary Song Dosok immediately turned their eyes toward me.

After quickly considering the best way to explain everything, I spoke in a calm, measured voice.

"As you may know, in January of last year my younger sister became the victim of a hit-and-run accident, and the driver fled the scene. Well..."