Chapter 261: Boardroom Maneuvers and a Visit to the Past

“President Yoon Ho-il of Soonyang Life Insurance.”

“Yes, Chief of Staff.”

Unlike the others, President Yoon, whom I had appointed, looked quite cheerful. He had sensed his dismissal the moment former President Yang Woo-chan appeared in the main conference room.

However, he couldn’t have missed the shift in power when I appeared instead of the two vice-chairmen who were expected to lead the board meeting.

“Let’s proceed with the board meeting quickly.”

“Yes.”

President Yoon Ho-il pushed back his chair and stood up.

“We apologize for convening this integrated board meeting of Soonyang Group’s financial subsidiaries for convenience. Now, I will present the agenda for the extraordinary board meeting.”

He glanced over the CEOs before continuing.

“First, the agenda concerns the dismissal and appointment of the CEOs of Soonyang Life Insurance, Soonyang Card, Soonyang Fire & Marine Insurance, and Soonyang Securities. If anyone has any comments, please speak up.”

Everyone remained silent, like they had swallowed honey, their eyes darting around. My presence in this conference room signified that the major shareholder remained unchanged.

For a CEO appointed by such a major shareholder, suggesting their dismissal was no different than submitting one’s own resignation. And no one wanted to resign.

President Yoon Ho-il scanned the quiet room and confirmed again.

“No comments? Then, let’s move on to the second agenda item, which concerns the dismissal of the directors of these companies.”

I gave Vice President Jang Do-hyung a nod, and he quickly spoke.

“Allow me a moment to comment on the meeting’s progress.”

Vice President Jang looked at President Yoon Ho-il, who nodded in response.

“To save time, I propose something. If there are no specific objections to today’s board agenda, how about we conclude the meeting?”

Everyone remained tight-lipped, exchanging glances, and then President Yoon Ho-il announced.

“As there are no objections to today’s board agenda, it is deemed withdrawn. With that, we will conclude this extraordinary board meeting.”

As soon as he finished speaking, people began to rise from their seats, and Vice President Jang Do-hyung spoke again.

“Presidents of each subsidiary, please remain for a moment.”

At this signal, the executives fled the conference room as if escaping.

The four presidents’ faces were slightly flushed, whether from excitement or tension. They had resigned themselves to the humiliation of being ousted today, but they knew that my continued presence, the one who had placed them in their CEO positions, meant their positions were secure.

Vice President Jang Do-hyung handed them several documents.

“This is the newly revised personnel list. Let’s take this opportunity to clean out the people of the two vice-chairmen. I can no longer tolerate these brazen individuals who pledge allegiance elsewhere while drawing their salaries from our company.”

“So, this list is… ?”

“I’m distributing it for a final check. Please review it to see if there’s anyone we’ve misjudged.”

They began to check the names, subtly glancing at me.

“I’ll mention this in advance, just in case. Don’t worry about reading my intentions, and make accurate judgments.”

The main conference room, which had hosted a failed board meeting, had suddenly transformed into a personnel committee.

After scrutinizing the list for nearly ten minutes, they handed it back, with several names marked with a pen.

“These individuals are indeed on their side, but their skills and abilities are outstanding. Dismissing them like this is a bit…”

President Yoon Ho-il said, watching my reaction.

“The ‘abilities’ you’re thinking of might stem from their Soonyang executive title. I would usually follow your lead, but not this time. Don’t consider their abilities, judge them solely based on their allegiance. And find talented individuals to fill those positions. Isn’t that also the job of a CEO?”

After revising the list, it wasn’t much different from Vice President Jang Do-hyung’s initial assessment.

I pointed at the list and said firmly.

“Transfer all those people to provincial branches. In the case of Soonyang Card, they can be sent to the debt collection department. Furthermore, I plan to replace everyone up to the department head level. Don’t leave a single person from those executives’ lines; send them all to frontline branches.”

“Even the department heads?”

“Yes.”

“Replacing department heads might cause some unrest.”

“Is that something I should be concerned about? Handling it without causing unrest is a basic requirement, isn’t it?”

The presidents wiped away their troubled expressions and bowed their heads.

I turned to Vice President Jang Do-hyung.

“Vice President Jang, please oversee this as well. Finalize the personnel transfers and report the results by tomorrow.”

“Yes, Chief of Staff.”

As I stood up, the presidents also shot to their feet.

“Ensure the two vice-chairmen won’t even dare to request another board meeting to seize the financial group. You need to build such a solid organization that even if they try to oust you and appoint others, they won’t find suitable replacements. This mass layoff isn’t just for my sake; it’s for your benefit too.”

I left the conference room, leaving them bowing their heads.

The major hurdle was cleared; now was the time to build even stronger defenses.

* * *

“…I deeply apologize for causing confusion due to a hasty investigation that failed to properly verify tips and evidence. I also offer my apologies to those who have been unnecessarily misunderstood because of this matter.”

I will take responsibility for tarnishing the prosecution’s reputation due to my personal mistake and will be leaving the prosecution….”

“What are we going to do with that guy?”

“He’ll be joining my father’s company’s legal team. Bringing him in with ten times his prosecutor’s salary is hardly a loss for him.”

“A single press conference has changed his fate.”

Vice-chairman Jin Dong-gi and I confirmed the second press conference of the prosecutor who had initially pulled the trigger and turned off the TV.

“What about the Labuan money?”

“I’ll fly there myself to withdraw it after finishing things here. And I’ll destroy all the documents.”

“Don’t even think about using it twice. You’re smart, so I trust you won’t do anything that foolish.”

“Trust me. We’ve even signed the joint voting rights agreement.”

We each took the signed documents.

“Speaking as a partner, this time you went too far. Purging even the department heads will disrupt the entire group’s atmosphere. It’s not good when the owner family’s power struggle affects ordinary employees.”

“You misunderstand. For white-collar workers, their daily lives are a tightrope walk. With department heads and above gone, the deputy department heads and team leaders who survived will be ecstatic about their promotion opportunities. The surviving department heads are already salivating at the thought of becoming executives. It’s probably a festive atmosphere right now.”

My uncle smiled wryly and subtly changed the subject.

“It’s not too late for you to walk the tightrope too. Smooth-talk Miracle and draw up a grand plan. If you and I curb our greed a little, dividing Soonyang Group isn’t impossible.”

“I’ll think about it a bit longer until I get older. Being young is a handicap in management.”

“I can’t wait that long. My mind could change at any moment.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Uncle. Heh.”

As I was about to leave with a smile, the door opened, and a sharp voice burst out.

“Dong-gi! What are you doing with that bastard right now?”

“Oh, Mother.”

My uncle jumped up in surprise at the sudden appearance of my grandmother.

Annoyance surged within me at the sight of her, but I couldn’t stay seated alone, so I slowly stood up. My grandmother shouted at me.

“Have you become so high and mighty that you don’t even greet your old granny anymore?”

I kept my mouth shut and lightly bowed my head.

“W-well….”

My grandmother’s eyes narrowed at my discourteous behavior, and my uncle gave me a look before stepping in front of her.

“Mother, please sit down. There’s nothing to get upset about, so calm down.”

There was no reason to hesitate and read the room, so I bowed to my uncle and slipped out.

I carried the image of my grandmother’s blazing glare as she watched me leave.

Suddenly, I missed my grandfather and took out my cell phone.

“We’re going to Gunsan. Now! Make preparations.”

* * *

“Why Gunsan all of a sudden?”

“Executive Director, you haven’t visited the gravesite in person yet, have you? I’m creating an opportunity for you, just in case you were wondering when you’d get to go.”

Executive Director Woo Byung-joon gave a faint smile.

“Is that the only reason?”

“Does that mean you don’t believe me… ?”

“Of course. Heh.”

We smiled at each other in the speeding car.

“Well… it’s also because I think I’ll need to ask for forgiveness for something, so I’m going to apologize in advance. But the main reason is you, Executive Director.”

Suddenly, the smile vanished from Executive Director Woo’s face.

“Is it about Madam Lee Pil-ok?”

No one can match this man’s quick wit.

“How’s the task I assigned progressing?”

“Yes, I was about to report. I waited because you seemed busy with the board meeting.”

“Not clean, is it?”

“No, but we don’t have the level of evidence you desire. I’ve heard the general situation from those thugs in that world, but they won’t testify.”

“If the work was done cleanly, there would be a paper trail.”

Executive Director Woo Byung-joon hesitated slightly. His demeanor suggested he had an idea who it was.

“Someone like you, Executive Director.”

“Yes. Someone who has worked by Madam Lee’s side for a very long time. Known for their excellent work.”

“Then wouldn’t probing someone who worked under that person yield something?”

Woo Byung-joon shook his head briefly and spoke to the employee in the passenger seat.

“Hey. What if someone approaches you?”

The passenger seat employee said without looking back.

“I’ll pretend to be swayed until I figure out who sent them and what their purpose is.”

“And then?”

“I’ll report to you, Executive Director, when it’s beyond my ability to handle.”

“What if they tempt you with tens of billions of won?”

“Oh, Executive Director, why are you like this? I want to live a long life.”

Woo Byung-joon looked at me and said.

“They’re the same way. Approaching carelessly will ruin everything.”

Not just tens of billions, but hundreds of billions. And even if you approach with a guarantee of safety, would you get that kind of answer?

Ah, that’s right.

The guy who killed me said so.

“We might be a little dumb. But we’re not dumb enough to aim for rice cakes we can’t swallow.”

The guy who killed me refused trillions of won.

It’s different for everyone. You have to discard the notion that everyone can be bought with money.

“Well… let’s find a way. No matter how strong the fortress, there’s bound to be a dog hole somewhere, right?”

The car sped towards Gunsan.

As Soonyang Museum came into view, Woo Byung-joon’s eyes changed.

Surely, this guy isn’t going to burst into tears, is he?

I got out of the car and started walking towards the sunny park behind the museum before stopping.

“Executive Director, please go up ahead. I’ll have a coffee and follow slowly.”

Woo Byung-joon hesitated, then bowed his head.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Woo Byung-joon disappeared with quick steps, and I had a coffee at the cafe near the museum entrance.

I left the cafe about thirty minutes later.

When I arrived at my grandfather’s gravesite, Executive Director Woo Byung-joon was pulling weeds around the mound. His eyes were swollen.

I paid my respects to my grandfather and slowly began to speak.

“I won’t be able to keep my promise. But it’s not that I haven’t forgiven Grandmother for her past mistakes. It’s that I have to make unavoidable choices for my future, not the past.”

Executive Director Woo Byung-joon slowly came to my side and said.

“Can you tell me what choice you will make?”

“I will have to send Grandmother back to the villa in Switzerland. I plan to ensure her old age there, where she can live without doing anything but breathing.”

Woo Byung-joon nodded lightly.

“A comfortable old age that most people dream of. I don’t think you need to ask the Chairman for forgiveness.”

We smiled at each other again.