Chapter 196: The Shaking Empire (9)

I looked down at the screen for a while even after hanging up the phone.

No more messages came.

It was because the meaning of reporting had disappeared.

The world had already begun to move.

After a moment, the phone vibrated briefly.

It was a breaking news alert.

I opened the screen and checked the article title.

[<Breaking News> Cyprus ghost corporation J&T Marine Tech. Circumstances of Daehan Group's money laundering channel]

[Prosecution. Arrest of Shin Jung-woo, Strategy Planning Chief of Daehan Group. Execution of search and seizure warrant]

I read down the screen with an indifferent expression, as if it were nothing.

Then, I put the phone in my pocket and slowly turned around.

At that time, the elevator doors opened and people poured out.

The first one to appear was Lim Hye-seon.

She hadn't even fastened all her coat buttons.

It was a disheveled appearance that would be impossible normally.

Lim Do-kyung followed her out.

A look of exhaustion was evident on his face.

The two of them headed straight toward the VIP hospital room without exchanging a single word.

When she saw Kang Cheol-woo waiting outside, Hye-seon asked.

“Where is Father?”

“This way. The Chairman is currently deep in sleep. The doctor in charge said stability is needed, so….”

Instead of an answer, Hye-seon placed her hand on the door handle.

After catching her breath for a moment before opening the door, she quietly entered the hospital room.

Lim Man-seok was lying on the bed.

The oxygen mask that had been attached was removed at dawn.

An IV was stuck in the back of his hand.

The hand revealed on top of the white sheet looked exceptionally thin and bony.

Hye-seon approached closely and looked at her father's face.

Only after confirming that his breathing was regular did the tension ease a little.

Lim Do-kyung stood next to the bed and was silent for a while.

His gaze moved to his father's hand.

He saw the hand wrapped in bandages.

Only then did what Kang Cheol-woo said hit home.

Lim Do-kyung muttered in a low voice.

“…Why to this extent.”

Hye-seon was about to move outside the hospital room without a word but grabbed the collar of her younger brother who was standing blankly.

Only then did Lim Do-kyung notice.

The three people came out of the hospital room.

Hye-seon asked Kang Cheol-woo first.

“What happened? Please tell us now.”

“The Chairman met Chairman Nam Kun-ho yesterday. He injured his own hand to make him hand over President Lim Do-hyun.”

Hye-seon asked back with a startled look.

“Who did he meet?”

“It is Chairman Nam Kun-ho.”

This time, Lim Do-kyung asked.

“Are you saying Chairman Nam was holding Do-hyun?”

Kang Cheol-woo was at a loss as to how to explain.

It was because he could not judge how much he should talk about.

“It is difficult to tell you in detail right now. The Chairman will speak to himself once he wakes up.”

Hye-seon did not pry further at those words.

Instead, she scanned near the hospital room once.

Something was strange.

It was just then.

Lim Do-kyung's phone rang.

After he checked the screen, his face hardened instantly.

“…This is.”

Hye-seon's phone also rang.

[J&T Marine Tech. Circumstances of Daehan Group's slush fund channel]

[<Breaking News> Shin Jung-woo arrested. Additional investigation into charges related to kidnapping and confinement]

Hye-seon's eyes shook.

It was her first time hearing of J&T Marine Tech.

However, as she saw words like Cyprus and tax haven, she immediately realized what they meant.

Lim Do-kyung spoke as if surprised.

“Daehan Group's slush fund….”

Hye-seon spoke in a cold voice.

“The fact that the media is biting in groups like this means someone released the data with intent.”

Kang Cheol-woo also checked with his tablet and showed something to the two.

There, the full text of the article appeared.

The word original appeared several times.

Lim Do-kyung spat out words as if flustered.

“If it's this much, it means there's even physical evidence, not just simple suspicion.”

Hye-seon had the same thought.

“Who did such a thing….”

In the fight involving Daehan and Taeseong, there were not many people who could set off something like this at this time.

At that time, footsteps were heard from the other end of the hallway.

Click. Click.

The sound of shoe heels was exceptionally clear in the quiet VIP ward.

Hye-seon and Do-kyung turned their heads at the same time.

I was walking there.

The hem of the thick coat I was wearing swayed.

My expression was not much different from usual.

Rather, it was more calm.

I approached closely, stopped my steps, and spoke.

“Do not be surprised.”

Lim Do-kyung asked first.

“No way... Hyunjun, did you do this?”

“That is correct.”

When I answered briefly, Hye-seon's gaze became sharp.

“You say it's correct... what does that mean?”

I looked at my aunt and said.

“Something like this has not even begun yet. Since Chairman Nam Kun-ho touched us first, we should do at least this much.”

Lim Do-kyung lowered his voice.

“If we strike Daehan head-on at a time like this, we could also become difficult together.”

“I will not let that happen.”

I continued my words firmly.

“And this much is not enough. Nam Kun-ho will hold out while denying everything from now on. While talking about legal responses. I plan to push even more.”

Hye-seon asked with a worried expression.

“Still, aren't you hurrying too much?”

“I am not hurrying.”

My voice became even lower.

“You say that because you do not know what Shin Jung-woo tried to do in the warehouse last night. He even broke through public power to attack my uncle and try to take away Taeseong.”

My gaze froze coldly.

“They intended to make him throw up everything even if it were a lie. If only they could trouble Taeseong, they do not care what happens to a person.”

Lim Do-kyung's face distorted.

It was hard to compose his expression as anger welled up.

“So Father….”

“It is also the reason why Grandfather had no choice but to move himself.”

I answered briefly and then turned my gaze toward the hospital room next door.

“And there is one more thing.”

The gazes of Hye-seon and Do-kyung headed somewhere at the same time.

I spoke calmly.

“My uncle is in the hospital room right next door.”

Lim Do-kyung's eyes widened.

“What?”

“…Next door!”

Hye-seon also lost her words for a moment.

Kang Cheol-woo quietly moved his steps.

The security guard who was guarding opened the door.

They quietly moved their steps and entered the hospital room.

I spoke.

“He is currently under treatment. I have restricted my visitation.”

Lim Do-kyung clenched his fist while looking at his younger brother who had a wretched appearance.

Anger soared in an instant.

“No, how can they make a person like this.”

Hye-seon also had a look of firm anger.

Her gaze turned cold for the first time.

“The reason Father moved last night was because of Do-hyun.”

I nodded my head briefly instead of an answer.

Lim Do-kyung exhaled roughly and spat out words.

“Hyunjun, if it weren't for you, my uncle would have….”

Even though he could not finish his words, I knew what he meant.

I answered calmly.

“Yes. Perhaps my uncle might not have survived. The same goes for Taeseong.”

Those words froze the air inside the hospital room.

Hye-seon grit her teeth.

And she spoke quietly.

“Nam Kun-ho will go until the end.”

“He will.”

I raised my head.

“So I plan to go until the end as well.”

***

Nam Kun-ho met in the morning without knowing anything.

The sunlight coming through the curtains was exceptionally bright.

That light rather ruined his mood.

His head still ached as if it were going to break from the alcohol.

The piercing gaze of Lim Man-seok from last night kept coming to mind.

‘That old man... has gone senile.’

Nam Kun-ho felt around and picked up the phone placed on the table next to the bed.

The time was much later than usual.

He frowned and swiped the screen.

There were no missed calls.

“…This bastard Shin Jung-woo.”

Nam Kun-ho checked the phone screen habitually.

There was nothing.

Nothing at all.

He immediately pressed the call button.

Shin Jung-woo did not pick up.

The space between Nam Kun-ho's brows furrowed deeply.

But soon a snort leaked out.

“Ha. This bastard... what.”

Shin Jung-woo was a person who did not make mistakes.

He always handled even dirty and cumbersome work cleanly.

Nam Kun-ho kept him by his side for that clean nature.

So the fact that there was no contact now could mean the work was finished well.

He tried to persuade himself like that, but something was not right.

The gaze of Lim Man-seok from yesterday kept flickering before his eyes.

He jumped up from the bed and contacted the secretary.

“Tell Secretary Kim to come in.”

After a moment, the door opened and the secretary came inside with his head lowered.

“Did you call, Chairman?”

“I cannot reach Chief Shin Jung-woo for some reason. Find out.”

The secretary blinked his eyes for a moment.

“Pardon?”

“Check right now. What is he doing where.”

Just as the secretary was about to step back while nodding his head hurriedly, Nam Kun-ho's phone vibrated briefly.

Nam Kun-ho pressed the screen reflexively.

Then his finger stopped right there.

[<Breaking News> Cyprus ghost corporation J&T Marine Tech. Circumstances of Daehan Group's money laundering channel]

[Prosecution. Arrest of Shin Jung-woo, Strategy Planning Chief of Daehan Group. Execution of search and seizure warrant]

Nam Kun-ho's face hardened.

“…What?!”

He pressed the full text of the article in one breath and checked it.

Cyprus. Paper company.

Ship registration agency.

Daehan Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.

Circumstances of the actual owner.

Securing original related documents.

Already embarked on overseas account tracking.

All those words were as accurate as a prepared scenario.

Veins bulged on the back of Nam Kun-ho's hand.

“Who is it!”

The secretary's face turned pale.

He quickly checked and then made a call somewhere.

After that, he spoke while trembling in front of Nam Kun-ho.

“Ch-Chairman, I just received a report, but Chief Shin Jung-woo... is said to be currently in a state of being arrested by the prosecution. A search and seizure warrant also came in for the headquarters side.”

“Shut up!”

Nam Kun-ho's voice popped out sharply.

Strength entered the hand with which he gripped the phone.

“Arrest makes sense? Do not even say such a ridiculous thing.”

He quickly organized the situation in his head.

Shin Jung-woo was not a guy who handled work so clumsily that the prosecution would move over a confinement case.

Furthermore, a search and seizure.

That made even less sense.

If there were no clear charges or physical evidence, a warrant does not just drop.

If that was not the case, it meant someone pushed strongly.

Nam Kun-ho slowly breathed in and then out.

“This old fox Lim Man-seok….”

The moment the name leaked from his mouth, his insides twisted.

The sight of that old man even cutting his hand last night kept flickering.

It was a gaze like a person who had already finished the match.

“I knew this old man would be like this.”

The secretary spoke cautiously.

“Chairman, a contact came from the PR Office. Right now, media response….”

“Just say you do not know.”

Nam Kun-ho spoke while gritting his teeth.

“I mean deny it entirely. Warn that we will even take legal action. Whether it is false facts or whatever!”

The secretary swallowed his breath and barely answered.

“Yes, I will move immediately.”

“Ah, and convene a meeting of the legal team, external cooperation team, and PR Office. All of them. Right now!”

The secretary nodded his head and hurried.

Nam Kun-ho pretended to be calm.

No, he had to be calm.

If one shakes at a crisis of this level, one is not qualified to be called the master of an empire.

However, his fingertips began to tremble little by little.