Chapter 197: Crack Starts from the Inside (1)

BANG!

The conference room door opened roughly.

Daehan Group headquarters situation room.

Normally, it was a place where quarterly performance or external strategy reports went back and forth, but today the very air was different.

It was to the extent that even the sound of someone speaking quietly was heard clearly.

Nam Kun-ho stepped inside without even taking off his coat.

A hardened expression and eyes that had sunk coldly.

It was the expression of a person who had already fought a war once.

“Hello!”

“Everyone, sit down.”

The PR Chief, Legal Team Leader, External Cooperation Team Leader, and Finance Team Leader.

And even several executives from major subsidiaries.

People who normally would have adjusted their schedules before coming in were all practically running here today in a flurry.

On the wall, there was a large screen.

Breaking news articles were pouring out continuously there.

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

[Shin Jung-woo was arrested. Execution of search and seizure warrant]

[Overseas account tracking embarked upon. Securing original documents]

Nam Kun-ho glanced at the screen and spoke without even sitting in his seat.

“Do not just stare blankly and try to organize the situation.”

The PR Chief swallowed his dry saliva and opened his mouth.

“Currently, articles are coming up simultaneously. From economic newspapers to broadcasts and internet media. The level is unusual. Furthermore, the original document is being repeated continuously rather than just circumstances.”

The Finance Team Leader spoke following that.

“As the word originally began to circulate in the market, the response from the lender group appeared first. There is a high probability that a risk review will begin on the bank side as well. Project advance payments, guarantees, insurance… everything is within the range of influence.”

The Finance Team Leader let out a sigh.

The lender group literally refers to the financial companies that lent money to Daehan Group.

It is not just one or two banks, but a structure where funds spread from hundreds of billions to trillions of won are shared by several places.

So they are usually quiet, but if an incident breaks out, they move collectively at the same time.

They do not wait for the facts to be confirmed.

It is because the moment the word risk is attached, they pull out the terms of the agreement.

Maturity extension reviews, interest rate recalculations, additional collateral requirements, etc.

If severe, they even review the acceleration of debt.

“If only one place moves, we can hold out somehow. But if the lender group turns away all at once, from then on, it will not be a matter of money but will choke our very breath.”

This time, the External Cooperation Team Leader narrowed the space between his brows.

“Overseas partners will move as well. Especially in construction, compliance is sensitive. The moment words like Cyprus or paper companies even float, talk of holding contracts could come out.”

The Legal Team Leader continued speaking while turning over materials.

“The search and seizure warrant has already been executed. The fact that the warrant was issued means the prosecution has secured clear evidence. There is a limit to simple reports.”

Nam Kun-ho’s jaw muscles hardened.

“How is Shin Jung-woo doing now?”

“He is currently in a state of detention. The charges are kidnapping and confinement. And they believe he provided money and valuables to Byun Do-shik of Yeongnam Marine Industry to make an improper solicitation, and Byun Do-shik received the money and valuables after distorting his professional judgment. I understand they are also investigating charges of obstruction of business and breach of professional duty along with this.”

After those words ended, the situation room became quiet for a moment.

No one spoke the thoughts coming to mind out loud.

Nam Kun-ho tapped the table with his finger.

Tap. Tap.

“Fine.”

Only now did he slowly sit in his seat.

Scanning the surroundings, he said decisively.

“What is important to us now is not whether J&T Marine Tech is real or fake.”

At those words, the PR Chief’s eyes widened.

Nam Kun-ho did not care and lowered his voice.

“The problem is that there are original documents. And the moment they keep shouting about originals, the public thinks of only one thing. That this is really real.”

He pointed to the screen and said.

“What will happen if we deny the facts? The media will write in the next article that additional originals were released despite the denial. Then we will be dragged around every time.”

The corners of Nam Kun-ho’s mouth rose gradually.

This was not so much a sneer as it was a sign that a conclusion had already been reached on how to solve the problem.

“So we change direction.”

The PR Chief asked cautiously.

“Are you talking about credibility?”

“Yes.”

Nam Kun-ho nodded and continued his words.

“Do not try to deny the facts. Instead, touch credibility.”

The air in the situation room became even sharper.

Nam Kun-ho gave out instructions one by one.

“The PR Office, find out the source first. Find out who threw this first. Confirm the first reporting media, reporter, and desk line to report, and find out where the original in that article came from and who handed it over.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

While the PR Chief recorded hurriedly, Nam Kun-ho’s voice grew louder.

“External Cooperation Team. Turn all the government lines. See if there is a hole to set the frame with political intent. Everyone knows what kind of period this is now.”

The External Cooperation Team Leader swallowed his breath.

He answered with a trembling voice.

“I understand.”

Nam Kun-ho turned his head toward the Finance Team Leader.

“And the Finance Team, prepare a report to stabilize the banks and lender group first. With materials convincing enough to say it is manageable, not that there is no impact. Do it today.”

The Finance Team Leader bowed his head immediately and answered.

“Yes.”

Nam Kun-ho looked straight at the Legal Team Leader last.

“Legal Team. Regarding Shin Jung-woo. Attach a lawyer.”

At those words, the Legal Team Leader asked cautiously.

“How shall we handle the meeting?”

Nam Kun-ho crossed his arms and fell into thought for a moment.

After that, he slowly spat out words.

“Tell the lawyer this. Make sure Shin Jung-woo cannot say anything. Tell him not to open his mouth and to refuse to testify.”

Stopping his words for a moment, he added in a cold voice.

“He will understand if you say I will take care of everything and resolve it.”

At those words, the sound of someone swallowing saliva was heard somewhere in the situation room.

Nam Kun-ho cast his gaze down.

“And one more thing. Since we will make it something Shin Jung-woo did alone in preparation for the worst case.”

The Legal Team Leader asked with a flustered expression.

“Chairman, that is….”

“This bastard is talking nonsense. Right now, our survival is the priority. Well, if Shin Jung-woo has loyalty, he will hold out.”

Nam Kun-ho’s eyes glinted sharply.

“If he doesn’t, we can just cut him off first.”

Nam Kun-ho stood up from his seat after saying that.

‘Original, original, original.’

That word filled his head.

He exhaled a sigh for a moment and then said.

“Exactly which fellow... find the source. We have to know who the fellow who leaked this is to deal with it too.”

Everyone sitting in the situation room answered in one voice.

“Yes, I understand.”

The roaring voices were to the extent that it gave the illusion of being in the military.

***

Taeseong Hospital VIP ward Lim Do-hyun’s hospital room.

Lim Hye-seon and Lim Do-kyung had troubled expressions and looked like they had many thoughts.

But I did not have time to hesitate here.

Now was not the time to look back.

Since I had said everything that needed to be said, I had to move.

Taking Advisor Hong and the guards, I walked toward the VIP-only elevator.

The guard guarding the entrance recognized us and touched the card key.

The elevator doors opened quietly.

While they boarded the elevator and went down, Advisor Hong glanced at me.

Because I had stayed up all night, shadows were cast around my eyes.

Advisor Hong asked quietly.

“Representative, you must be tired, are you alright?”

I replied without even turning my head.

“I am alright.”

Advisor Hong smiled faintly.

There was no way I was alright.

“I have never seen anyone who says they are alright actually be alright.”

Only then did my expression relax a little.

“Advisor Hong, you also could not sleep a wink yesterday. Please rest a bit when we arrive at the company.”

Advisor Hong said while even waving his hand.

“I am fine for several days. I received training for this kind of thing, you see.”

At those words, my gaze stayed in the air for a moment.

‘Exactly how does the NIS run people?’

I became curious whether they make being unable to sleep familiar.

However, I did not ask further.

When we arrived at the underground parking lot, the doors opened.

Several vehicles were waiting at regular intervals.

A guard went out first and scanned the surroundings.

Another guard moved on the opposite side and filled the gap.

As I moved my steps, Advisor Hong stuck to my side half a beat faster.

The car door opened, and I spoke briefly as I got into the back seat.

“Let’s depart immediately.”

“Yes.”

The sound of the door closing made the underground parking lot echo heavily.

The car we were in began to move toward the exit.

The moment we left the parking lot, I did not look out the window as usual.

How the world would be moving was already full in my head.

It did not take long for the car to arrive at the HJ Partners headquarters.

I stepped into the headquarters lobby after a long time.

Because I had not slept a wink all night, the area under my eyes was slightly sunken, but strangely, my mind was clear.

It felt as if my head had awakened.

Perhaps it was because the anger settled in my heart was keeping my nerves on edge.

While taking the elevator toward the conference room and going up, phone alerts rang in succession.

It was probably because the things I had prepared in advance were being accomplished one by one in order.

Leaving the phone as it was, I headed straight to the conference room as soon as the elevator doors opened.

When I entered the conference room, the atmosphere was more subdued than usual.

There was no vitality as we exchanged greetings.

Materials related to Daehan Group were piled like a mountain on the desk, but the people's gazes were not on the materials but were just reading each other's countenances.

Perhaps because they had stayed up all night, they sipped coffee with fatigue stuck all over them.

At that time, Choi Seo-jun approached quietly.

Standing close to me, he whispered in my ear.

“Representative, the employees are a bit skeptical about this matter.”

“…….”

“They have many complaints, saying they do not understand why we have to suffer because of Daehan when we are not even in the Taeseong Group.”

I did not say anything for a moment.

I nodded my head and said to Choi Seo-jun.

“I understand.”

I did not sit in my seat immediately after Choi Seo-jun stepped back.

Instead, I stood in a place where everyone in the conference room could be seen.

I opened my mouth quietly.

“It is nice to see your faces here. You have worked hard while handling work from home all this time. And did everyone stay up all night yesterday?”

Someone laughed awkwardly.

However, that laughter soon died down.

I pulled up the corners of my mouth and said.

“I know very well that you are working hard. Of course, I am also a person, so I am very tired.”

Stopping my words for a moment, I exhaled slowly.

“But strangely, my mind is clearer than usual today. Why is that?”

“…….”

“It is probably because my anger has not subsided.”

The air in the conference room became quite different.

I tapped lightly on top of the table.

“Now, let’s be honest. From your perspective, you might have this thought.”

I met eyes with each and every person.

“Why should we attack Daehan when we are not even in the Taeseong Group? Isn’t this something Taeseong should do? That is correct. That is a normal way of thinking.”

I nodded my head as if to acknowledge it.

My voice grew louder.

“However, this matter is not a fight for Taeseong alone. Think back to J&T Marine Tech. What happened at Yeongnam Marine Industry because of that?”

My voice filled the conference room.

“There have been setbacks in the investments and projects we have been carrying out until now. Of course, the same goes for financial losses. Daehan is not striking Taeseong, but is attacking the work we are doing right now.”

I placed my palms on the table.

“If we just stay still with our hands folded, our HJ Partners will be the first to stop.”