Former Mastermind To Chaebol Son-in-Law

Chapter 20

Nicely Put, it's Blackmail; Harshly Put, it's Death

The Rizeburn drug incident continued to cause significant repercussions in the political and business circles.

Moreover, with the involvement of children of high-ranking officials, the media became even busier.

In the meantime, In-hyuk was sitting in the conference room with his team members.

"Have you made a decision?"

This was a question regarding the additional Q2 stock investment plan from last time.

Back then, they had discussed whether to take In-hyuk's proposal and accept the associated risks.

However, deputy Chief Jung Jong-hyun and the other team members had all hesitated, looking to each other for a response and ultimately postponing an answer.

"We'll go with what you said, Team Leader."

"You made a good choice."

In-hyuk continued, checking off the items of the existing additional proposal with his pen.

"From now on, we'll be managing information as swing trades. I'll let the person in charge know separately when it's time to exit."

"What kind of profit cap are you anticipating?"

After a brief mental calculation, In-hyuk spoke flatly.

"At the very least... excluding the principal, a minimum of 80%."

At that, slight disappointment appeared on the faces of some team members.

"Ah..."

"What's wrong?"

"......"

No one rushed to answer.

Even at a glance, it was clear that the figure was far below the returns In-hyuk had achieved thus far.

Of course, In-hyuk knew well what their reaction meant.

"You all treated me like a placeholder Team Leader until now, but did you really think just agreeing to my proposal meant I'd pick stocks that would deliver huge profits, right off the bat?"

Apparently, he had hit the mark, as several team members lowered their heads awkwardly and cleared their throats.

"If things go well, I'll try to improve the returns in the future. Also, make sure none of the information we shared leaks out. Unless you want to take the blame for something unnecessary."

In-hyuk's sharp gaze swept across the team.

A few who briefly made eye contact looked startled and quickly averted their gazes.

"Well, let's end the meeting here."

After In-hyuk left first, the rest of the team members did not immediately get up.

After a while, Ahn Woo-chan cautiously spoke to Deputy Chief Jung Jong-hyun.

"About the Team Leader... I've been feeling this since last time, but don't you think his attitude has suddenly changed a lot?"

Everyone nodded, seemingly in agreement. Of course, Jung Jong-hyun thought the same.

"Did he eat something bad, or is he just showing a side he's kept hidden until now... Either way, since we've decided to follow, let's just do our best."

Everyone stood up.

While the lower-ranking employees were leaving, Ahn Woo-chan pulled Jung Jong-hyun aside for a moment.

"Deputy Chief, are things okay up above?"

"Who? Team Leader Kim?"

In fact, before In-hyuk arrived at Taeshin Asset Management, Jung Jong-hyun had worked under Team Leader Kim Seong-ho of Equity Investment Team 1.

When In-hyuk was parachuted into the Team 3 Leader position, Jung Jong-hyun became his direct subordinate, so he naturally had a lot of complaints.

To be honest, back when Kim Seong-ho passed on the difficult A2 client to Kang In-hyuk, Jung Jong-hyun had stood by, almost hoping to see In-hyuk get burned.

However, instead of suffering, In-hyuk had delivered an incredible 223% profit to that client.

"In this situation, what can we do?"

"I know, but... it's Team Leader Kim's personality I'm worried about."

Team 3, led by the parachuted Team Leader In-hyuk, was already out of favor.

Of course, recently, since Ahn Woo-chan's wife, Tae Ju-ha, who was also a member of the Taeshin Group family, became CEO and the team leader started to deliver high returns, the situation wasn't as obvious, but rumors still spread.

"For now, just..."

Bzzbzz— Bzzbzz—

Jung Jong-hyun's phone vibrated. Checking the screen, he let out a long sigh.

Ahn Woo-chan glanced at the caller ID and furrowed his brow as well.

【Team Leader Kim Seong-ho】

"... You're going through a lot."

"You too, hang in there."

With that, Ahn Woo-chan left, and Jung Jong-hyun pressed the call button, sitting alone in the conference room.

* * *

As night deepened, a middle-aged man with white hair, brown eyes, and light brown skin, dressed in a luxurious ash-gray suit, entered a narrow alley near Cheonggyecheon, Seoul.

The area was lined with shops selling lighting equipment and machine parts.

"Hoo―!"

The man was Norman McGrath, who had worked at the Asia branch of the famous U. S. hedge fund FOURGMA.

And now, due to the ongoing issue with a Taiwanese company called SolarView, he had left Singapore, where his branch was located, and just arrived in Korea.

Passing flickering streetlights, he checked his phone. According to the map app, this was the spot.

"This should be the place..."

For a downtown alley, it was eerily deserted. Bzzbzz―

Just then, an email arrived in English, as if on cue.

【Gordon: It's a pleasure meeting you.】

The content, as if someone was watching him, made Norman McGrath dart his eyes around in surprise.

But there were only cracked gray walls on either side, and only dim alleyways ahead and behind.

【Norman: I have arrived. Where are you?】

As soon as he replied, footsteps echoed from the alley behind him.

Tap, tap—

Turning around, Norman McGrath saw a shadowy figure standing on the dark road.

"Fortunately, you came here without getting lost."

The figure was In-hyuk. Responding in English, Norman McGrath stiffened his expression and answered in English as well.

"Thanks to you, I found the place. More importantly, are you really with AMK Partners, the firm that acquired shares of SolarView?"

"That's right. I'm Gordon Grimes."

The name he had just uttered was the representative identity registered under Go Mi-ah's direction when she formed AMK Partners at In-hyuk's instruction.

Naturally, Norman McGrath had done his research before coming to South Korea, so he recognized the name.

However, other than the name and age, there was no information about Gordon Grimes' photo or personal life.

"If you wanted to meet for business, shouldn't you at least show your face?"

At the probing question, In-hyuk didn't budge an inch from his spot.

"You're trying to pitch SolarView not to FOURGMA but to a competitor. Why should I show you my face?"

At that moment, Norman McGrath's brow crumpled. In-hyuk had stated the facts as they were.

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

"The fact that you're here in the first place pretty much proves it, doesn't it?"

The message In-hyuk had sent from Go Mi-ah's studio was clear: if he did not arrange a meeting soon, the relevant facts and evidence would be sent to FOURGMA HQ.

"AMK Partners is a new company. Why all this effort? What exactly do you do?"

In-hyuk couldn't help but let out a short laugh.

"I called because I need you. How about working with me from now on?"

Norman McGrath cocked his head at the proposition.

"Are you... recruiting me?"

"Yes. I'll pay you twice your current salary, plus a 3% incentive based on profits."

The offer was significant, and Norman's eyes flickered beneath the street lamp.

"I suppose my life depends on those conditions as well?"

"That depends on your decision. Ah, and I'll also keep secret the fact that you worked as a lobbyist under the nickname Gold Eye in the Middle East."

Norman McGrath was even more shocked.

There was no official record of his lobbying activities, and yet Gordon Grimes had just mentioned it.

"You know even that... Who are you really?"

"Just someone at AMK Partners with very powerful intelligence sources."

Plop—

With that, In-hyuk tossed a leather pouch about 5cm thick at his feet.

Picking it up, Norman glanced through its contents under the streetlight—then could not hide his shock.

Inside was documentation of every lobbying activity he'd been involved in, the rebate projects at FOURGMA, and detailed records on negotiations with competitors over SolarView.

Norman's hands trembled holding the documents.

"Refusing your offer would mean you're threatening to destroy my life."

"Think of it as blackmail, at best; at worst, death."

Norman's lips twitched.

"It's hard to find much solace in either, honestly."

"In exchange, I'll let you experience accomplishments and money you've never known before."

"Is AMK Partners really that exceptional?"

"Well, you saw for yourself how we gathered so much information and stock in SolarView that even you didn't know. Isn't that proof enough?"

No one who wasn't an insider should have been able to discover or gather that information—yet AMK Partners had it all.

"Do I have to decide now? I suppose so—there's only one option anyway."

After a brief sigh, Norman McGrath pressed on.

"So, what exactly do you want me to do?"

Plop—

Again, a leather pouch was tossed to him. Checking the contents, his expression subtly soured.

"AMK Partners branch establishment in Korea, and securing 30% of initial investment funds from FOURGMA as a loan for less than 3% equity... Do you think that's possible?"

Corporate loans through investment firms usually require shares as collateral.

"Well, that depends on your abilities."

"Unless AMK Partners' unlisted stock market cap and current profits are enormous, and unless the initial investment is sizable, if the equity condition is under 3%, even KRW 10 billion would be tough. If it's lower than that, 1 billion might be the limit."

He was right. In-hyuk stared at him in the darkness for a moment, then replied.

"If you check the middle section of the documents, you'll see the current profit ratio and available operating funds."

Norman quickly leafed through the documents.

"... Profit rate of 328% excluding the principal? Do you expect me to believe that?"

"You can check after the branch is established and account access is granted. From now on, use the phone inside the pouch for communication. Looking forward to working with you."

With that, In-hyuk finished and receded into the shadows.

"What, you're just ending the conversation like this? W-wait!"

For a moment, Norman stood dumbfounded. He quickly ran to where the figure had stood, then checked further down the alley.

But just as if the person had vanished into thin air, there was no trace of Gordon Grimes to be found.

"What the...?"

He had been blackmailed for his misdeeds and then received a sky-high scout offer.

No matter how simply he tried to understand it, it made no sense.

But the hefty documents in his hands left no doubt that what he'd heard was true.

.

.

.

Meanwhile, In-hyuk was standing on the rooftop of a nearby building, not far from where he'd just been.

He could see Norman McGrath scouring the alleyways below. Taking out his phone, he called Go Mi-ah.

"If you find anything on nearby CCTV footage, edit all of it out."

[Okay. But did you make sure to avoid any store CCTV or black boxes? I can't do anything about those.]

"I made sure to avoid them on my way to the meeting spot."

He himself would not have been caught, but the issue was Norman McGrath.

If anyone later investigated whom Norman met in Korea, there could be a trail.

[Judging from his resume, he's a big shot... Why are you roping him into our work? What if he stabs us in the back?]

Currently, Go Mi-ah continued to grow AMK Partners' assets using information provided by In-hyuk.

Thanks to that, just the accrued funds so far amounted to nearly KRW 20 billion.

She was naturally concerned Norman might try something with it.

"I'll restrict his authority. And we're holding the leash, so there's no need to worry."

[And why exactly?]

"We need someone to act as the public face. You can't do sales, and I can't handle AMK business with my current identity."

[Tch―!]

Finishing the call, In-hyuk quickly made his way through the rooftop, ensuring he avoided building CCTV or black boxes as he moved to the safe zone.