Former Mastermind To Chaebol Son-in-Law

Chapter 26

Why Is This Guy...

Within Taeshin Group, the response to the establishment of the M&A/PE Division under the subsidiary Taeshin Asset Management was quiet.

This was partly because it was processed solely on Chairman Tae Gun-seung's authority, and more importantly, because the newly appointed division head was In-hyuk, the CEO's husband and a so-called parachute appointee.

All along, In-hyuk had moved with the staff of Equity Investment Team 3 to the 6th floor of the company building and immediately began distributing the tasks at hand.

"Is this enough for now?"

Through the window of his independent office as division head, he could see the busy employees moving around.

Then, his cell phone rang.

【Norman: I've attached the earnings report on this week's stock investment. Please send the next part.】

While In-hyuk was setting up the M&A/PE Division, the AMK Partners Korea branch was also completed through Norman McGrath.

Of course, only the name had changed to Korea branch; all the investment and overall business matters Go Mi-ah used to handle would now fall under Norman.

Simultaneously, the branch could now handle AMK Partners' funds more aggressively than before.

【Gordon: Sent. Please make sure the timing is accurate.】

He attached a pre-prepared file and sent it. Not long after, Norman McGrath called.

[Many of the companies in the investment deals under the share acquisition terms seem to be startups or high financial risk firms. Are these confirmed? Objectively, there are quite a few with weak brand positioning or low investment value.]

As he said, on the surface, many companies on the investment list seemed quite risky.

Since tens of billion to billions of won was going to be invested, caution was essential.

Norman had thought maybe there was something special about these firms and did his own investigation.

But no matter how much he searched, he couldn't find any event likely to boost their value right away—so he pressed the call button.

"I suppose you're entrusting me with this because I can see what you can't?"

There was a silent pause over the receiving end.

Since the founding of the AMK Partners Korea branch, most of the stock trades had been made as short-term trades.

Norman McGrath reaped great profits simply by following the buy and sell timing In-hyuk provided.

At first, he was sure it must be insider info.

But while the stock sectors were all over the place, the profit rate was staggering.

"Is there a problem with proceeding with business?"

[It's not that, but I was wondering if we need some grounds to explain to employees. And if we keep going like this, the Financial Supervisory Service might investigate someday.]

"No need to worry yet. And there hasn't been anything illegal in how the information was obtained."

Norman McGrath found it hard to believe.

[... Can you really guarantee that?]

"If there was ever something problematic, wouldn't you have known first, branch manager?"

At In-hyuk's retort, Norman flinched. He had investigated Gordon Grimes before setting up the Korea branch.

But for some reason, there were only paper records, no photos, no family, no acquaintances.

Even those records were all ordinary, with nothing to dig up.

[You... knew?]

"I've dealt with people of your temperament before. Better save your stamina and focus on making money than wasting time worrying."

[...... I'll continue to count on you.]

And so, with Norman grasping his neck, the call ended.

With a slight mocking smile, In-hyuk shifted his gaze to the monitor on his desk.

"This shouldn't be happening..."

With the establishment of the M&A/PE Division, Equity Investment Team 3 was transferred and a recruitment announcement was posted.

As a result, several teams had sent a number of applicants.

【Applicants: 17】

It was odd, for a simple reason: because In-hyuk was in charge.

He was so widely known as a parachute in Taeshin Asset Management that he could hardly earn employees' trust.

Rumors even went around that his recent performance was only possible because of Group-level support.

Ding—

Just then, as the page refreshed, another applicant was added.

【Applicants: 18】

【Equity Investment Team 2 Manager Noh Dongjun】

In-hyuk tilted his head.

"Why is this guy...?"

Noh Dongjun's status in Equity Investment Team 2 wasn't bad.

His performance was decent, and with a few more years of solid work, he'd make deputy department head without being pushed out from promotion.

"It doesn't look like a good motive."

That included Noh Dongjun as well.

Even if the original Kang In-hyuk remembered nothing particularly bad about him, he couldn't trust everyone.

After all, he'd taken a huge blow from Baek Si-hwan, whom he'd trusted all his life.

"I figured something like this would happen, but I'll definitely need to keep an eye out."

Among the applicants, there could be those who had allied with people hostile to In-hyuk.

The transferred Team 3 staff could be in the same boat.

Ring ring— Ring ring—

As he was thinking, the internal phone rang.

"... This is Kang In-hyuk."

A woman's voice answered.

[This is the 1st floor desk. Someone named Park Mi-jung called and asked to be connected to Division Director Kang In-hyuk. Should I put her through?]

As soon as he heard that name, In-hyuk's brow furrowed and a headache swept over him.

He thought he'd recalled every memory, but this was something he'd forgotten.

"... The orphanage?"

Park Mi-jung was the head of the orphanage where Kang In-hyuk had stayed until he graduated middle school.

Of course, at that time, she wasn't the director but a teacher, but with time, she had become the head.

As the desk staff waited for his response, they asked again.

[What should I do?]

With a shallow sigh, In-hyuk allowed the call.

After the connection signal ended, a familiar voice was heard.

[... In-hyuk?]

The mood felt rather pitiful. The original Kang In-hyuk probably would have been emotional over that call.

But now, he felt completely different.

"Yes, it's me. What's the reason for your call?"

[It's been a while. How have you been?]

"I don't think we're in a relationship where you can ask things like that."

The fact she didn't even have his cell number spoke volumes.

[... Still as cold as ever.]

"With the money I sent two years ago, there's nothing left between us, is there?"

While Kang In-hyuk resided at the orphanage, Park Mi-jung had not been a good person.

She pretended to be warm and kind, but would discipline and use the children as she pleased behind the scenes.

Kang In-hyuk had been one of those children.

He'd tried to sever ties with the orphanage by attending high school and university in Seoul with support from the Taeshin Education Foundation.

'Back then, once she learned I was marrying Tae Ju-ha of Taeshin Group, she tried all sorts of pathetic threats.'

Even present-day In-hyuk didn't know exactly what the original was thinking.

The memories surfaced like a video, so he could only guess.

If he had to hazard a guess, the original didn't want to cause any harm to Taeshin Group.

[No, it's just... I thought it was something important for you.]

"What is?"

[It's about your parents.]

At that, In-hyuk's face further contorted.

"... My parents?"

Even the original Kang In-hyuk had had a time when he was curious about his birth parents and tried to search for them.

But he'd been in orphanages since he was a baby, before he'd learned to speak, and there weren't even proper records, so he gave up.

[Someone who knows you came to the orphanage. I thought it'd be good for you to meet, so I'm contacting you.]

"Then I'll give you my number, so please pass it to them."

Even now, In-hyuk didn't want to get further entangled with Park Mi-jung.

[Wouldn't you like to come down and catch up in person? You could meet that person as well.]

"I have no intention..."

He felt something suspicious.

And lately, people from Daemyung Detective Agency had been tailing In-hyuk every day.

'Don't tell me...'

A bad premonition struck like lightning.

The orphanage was in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province.

If the original Kang In-hyuk received a similar message and was attacked on his way to the orphanage...

[If you're going to react like this, I can't pass on any message. So if you won't come, forget it.]

Her pitiful voice suddenly took on a hard edge. When In-hyuk hesitated, she seemed ready to push further.

In-hyuk calmly asked,

"You said someone who knows my father? Are both of my parents alive?"

That question had a simple reason.

In-hyuk was an orphan even in his past life.

Both his parents had died in a car accident when he was seven, and he had entered an orphanage—his tragic life began then.

If what Park Mi-jung said was just a lure, but she really knew his biological father, he wanted to glean whatever he could.

[Your mother passed away giving birth to you. Your father is currently overseas. An acquaintance of your father, who lives in Korea, was looking for you and managed to find this orphanage.]

There was no solid proof—just Park Mi-jung's words.

If In-hyuk moved, he'd be giving the Daemyung people, who tailed him daily, an opening.

Of course, regardless of how, the current In-hyuk would have no major problems...

Since she clearly wasn't going to tell him more, if he wanted to learn anything, he'd have to visit the orphanage himself.

"How soon do I need to go?"

[The sooner the better.]

She ended with a slightly mocking tone.

"I should at least be able to contact that acquaintance of my father before setting a date, shouldn't I?"

[Ah, just tell me when you're coming, and I'll arrange it for then.]

"I'll go by tomorrow before lunch."

[Tomorrow? Aren't you working?]

"I'll use vacation days. So please confirm and contact me."

[Um...!]

Click—

In-hyuk hung up before Park Mi-jung could finish.

At the same time, he let out a long sigh, recalling the tangled memories of the original Kang In-hyuk.

"You really lived one hell of a life."

.

.

.

At the same time.

Suite 516, 5th floor, Banpo Plaza General Arcade, Banpo neighborhood, Seocho district, Seoul.

'Salieri Snack Bar'—an old sign hung above a firmly closed door.

It looked like it had been out of business for a long time.

Inside, mercenaries Charybdis's Hong Yu-geon and Van Hester sat with heavy headphones on, monitoring the screens before them.

They were observing Suite 416 below, where Daemyung Detective Agency was.

They had hacked into the building's CCTV system and installed hidden cams everywhere for surveillance. They even rented the shop directly above to conduct cross-floor eavesdropping.

"Hear anything?"

Van Hester asked, noting the focused look on Hong Yu-geon's face.

Hong Yu-geon raised a palm as if to tell him to wait. He seemed completely focused on listening.

"They're making a move."

"Really?"

At that, Hong Yu-geon switched the display to the CCTV at Daemyung's office entrance. No one had come out yet.

So Van Hester connected the headphone jack to Hong Yu-geon's set. After a brief hiss, voices came through.

[... Execution next day. This is the out point. Team A: accident. Team B: execution. Afterward, Team A joins Team C for cover-up. Meanwhile, Team B takes care of Kang In-hyuk for good.]

It sounded like an operation briefing.

A male voice continued.

[If the plan goes off track, we switch to Plan B right away without communication. Teams A and B combine and use the car, then Team C pushes through. Then, turn yourselves in. Organization will handle any legal issues. And finally, plan C...]

Van Hester, who could only understand a little Korean, stared at Hong Yu-geon.

"Sounds heavy... What's going on exactly?"

"They're up to something dangerous. I'll report—"

Vrrr— Vrrr—

Just as he reached for his phone, it started vibrating first.

On the screen, it displayed the name of their employer: In-hyuk.

【Mr. Money】