Episode 33. Don’t I Have the Right, Too? 3.
Song Ga-eun slung a large paper bag over her shoulder and spoke to Kim Byeongjun.
“Assistant Manager, I’m going to stop by the main branch of Mancheon Department Store.”
“Because of Cartibazac?”
Cartibazac was the new overseas luxury brand Song Ga-eun was pouring her heart and soul into handling.
“Yes. A few new samples came in, so I’m going to ask the manager for her opinion and decide on the order quantity.”
“All right, go ahead.”
“I’ll be back.”
“Have a good trip, Chief.”
“Yes, Hyeonu. I’ll be back.”
After Song Ga-eun left, only Kim Byeongjun and I remained.
As it happened, Yang Gyeonghun was in the consultation room because a merchandise supplier had come by.
I had just finished organizing everything regarding Mancheon Passenger Transport, and the timing was perfect.
“Assistant Manager.”
Kim Byeongjun, who had been looking at his monitor, turned his head.
“Do you know a company called Black Eagle?”
“Black Eagle? Isn’t that the international hedge fund that bought companies for next to nothing during the IMF crisis and then took the money and ran? There was a huge uproar back then. Tons of people lost their jobs. Some even committed suicide.”
“But earlier, on my way to the sample room, I saw people from Black Eagle.”
Kim Byeongjun tilted his head.
“You saw Black Eagle? Inside the company?”
“Yes. They went into the Financial Planning Office.”
Kim Byeongjun shot to his feet.
“What the—could it be…”
[Are they saying Black Eagle is going to acquire Mancheon Passenger Transport or something?]
“So I did a bit of searching…”
Kim Byeongjun strode over and asked,
“So did you find anything?”
“There weren’t many articles about Black Eagle.”
Seeing the look of disappointment on Kim Byeongjun’s face after he had gotten his hopes up, I spoke again.
“But I did catch a glimpse of something like this.”
When Hyeonu pulled his chair back slightly, Kim Byeongjun bent at the waist to look at the monitor.
—Busan Passenger Transport, with 50 Years of History, Finally Sold amid Financial Difficulties.
“Busan Passenger Transport?”
“Yes. It was sold two months ago. The buyer was Bluestar Investment.”
“……”
Hyeonu clicked, bringing up the next windows in order.
“Seongjin Passenger Transport went to Hanaro Investment, Dong-Incheon Passenger Transport to Good People Investment, Joeun Passenger Transport to Pacific Investment, Sinseong Passenger Transport to Bluestar Investment again… All of these were sold within the past year.”
Kim Byeongjun, who had been silently watching the windows change one by one, swallowed dryly.
“They’re all investments.”
“Yes. I looked them up on Company Info, and they were all private equity funds.”
Kim Byeongjun straightened his back, folded his arms, and muttered,
“Why would all these private equity funds acquire passenger transport companies, without exception? Passenger transport companies aren’t the kind of firms that rake in enough profit for private equity funds to covet… Wait! Could it be…”
[Are they plotting something by taking control of the nation’s transportation infrastructure?]
Wrong.
“But, Assistant Manager.”
“What?”
“Don’t you find it strange that all these private equity funds were carrying out the same operation at the same time? It’s as if one head was moving all the hands and feet.”
“Hm?”
Kim Byeongjun tilted his head and thought again.
After thinking for about ten seconds, he flinched.
It seemed he had finally caught on.
“Aren’t all these guys in the same gang? No, not the same gang—they’re one and the same. There’s a separate mother fund, and all of these are subsidiary funds.”
“If there’s a mother fund…”
“Obviously Black Eagle. It’s a global hedge fund. The biggest one shows up at the end and gobbles up Mancheon Passenger Transport, the biggest prize.”
Correct.
They had acquired the small local passenger transport companies through subsidiary funds, but Mancheon Passenger Transport, being an affiliate of a major conglomerate, couldn’t have been easy.
Even if it was experiencing management difficulties, it had no problems with funding under support from the parent company, and there must have been too much lacking in terms of Mancheon’s name recognition and scale for a subsidiary fund to step in for the acquisition.
That was why Black Eagle had no choice but to step forward directly.
Their plan was to shake Mancheon Passenger Transport, the most desirable target, through public opinion and induce its sale, then acquire it in one swift stroke.
“Ah! Then that means this operation is almost finished. Black Eagle has revealed itself.”
Kim Byeongjun’s face, which had grown slightly excited at having taken another step closer to the truth, soon crumpled.
[But why did they buy up passenger transport companies like this? What benefit could there possibly be?]
As expected, the question returned.
Why?
That was the key.
“Assistant Manager.”
“Yeah?”
“Please take a look at this.”
I showed him the articles about the government-led eco-friendly project and electric vehicle subsidies that Ma Gyeongtaek had been singing about so much.
“What’s this now?”
His indifferent features suddenly widened.
“Ah!”
He had realized it.
“So it was about skimming government subsidies…”
Correct.
But there was still one more thing.
Once he connected this, it would truly be over.
“…In collusion with Assemblyman Ma Gyeongtaek…”
Hyeonu was practically out of breath from Kim Byeongjun finding the answers.
“That’s right, isn’t it? I had my suspicions, but seeing that you think the same, Assistant Manager, I guess I was right.”
“Hey, you really are incredible. How did you dig all this up?”
Anyone could have found it if they had heard the words Black Eagle, Ma Gyeongtaek, and government support.
“I happened to see Black Eagle and started searching, and everything just connected like this.”
“In any case, you really are something.”
[That’s why I said I’d take you with me. Because I recognized how capable you are.]
“That aside… Assemblyman Ma Gyeongtaek and Black Eagle… Hmm… This seems like it’ll be too difficult, doesn’t it?”
[This isn’t something we can handle. It’s a problem that can only be solved if we report it to the team leader and the president moves personally.]
Hyeonu’s eyes deepened as he heard Kim Byeongjun’s inner thoughts.
Because to simply do that, this case was far too good an opportunity.
For none other than Kim Byeongjun himself.
“Assistant Manager.”
“Yeah?”
“You know what you said on the rooftop yesterday? The story about the prince who wanted the king’s seat.”
He frowned, as if wondering what I meant.
“The way I see it, this Mancheon Passenger Transport case seems like the perfect opportunity for the prince’s debut battle.”
Kim Byeongjun’s eyes went wide.
“What did you say? You want me to solve this?”
“You were the prince, Assistant Manager?”
“Huh? No, well, uh.”
[What the hell is with this guy? He keeps going back and forth and confusing me.]
I wanted to pretend I didn’t know he was part of the royal family and continue my company life like this for a bit longer, but it was too good an opportunity to let pass.
So much so that I wanted to spoon-feed it to him no matter what.
But the fact that he was part of the royal family had to come from his own mouth.
If I said I had known in advance, he would be suspicious.
And if that suspicion grew little by little, later on we might end up with a strange relationship.
“Assistant Manager, were you really the chairman’s son?”
He met my eyes and stayed silent for a moment, then answered in a low, settled voice.
“Yes. I’m sorry. For not telling you sooner. I’ll explain the circumstances in detail next time.”
Good. This was enough.
Because now the conditions were in place to move on to the next part.
“I knew it. I thought something was a little strange on the rooftop.”
“Hey. But you’re not shocked after hearing this?”
“I am shocked.”
“You don’t look shocked.”
“……”
“Well, you are a wooden block of a guy.”
“……”
“But I don’t have the ability to resolve this matter. This is something that has to be handled at the company level. Political, legal—every possible method must be mobilized. Even then, it won’t be easy. Public sentiment is too unfavorable.”
Kim Byeongjun’s words were right.
But that was because a corporation would have to go up against politicians and private equity funds.
There would be no way to secure definite proof that Ma Gyeongtaek was involved, and if they couldn’t produce such proof, they couldn’t catch Black Eagle either.
But as the saying went, a hawk catches the pheasant—there was someone else who could deal with them.
He showed him the search window he had prepared as a final touch.
“Would you take a look at this?”
When Hyeonu clicked, the window in the bar covered the screen.
-Intraparty factional conflict within the ruling party surfaces. The Lee Haeseong faction and the Ma Gyeongtaek faction are in extreme confrontation. Some interpret it as laying groundwork for future primary competition.
“Representative Lee Haeseong? Why him?”
“Let’s use this person as the fixer for this matter.”
Kim Byeongjun, who had been staring with round eyes, soon snickered.
“Hey, would this person even meet with us? We probably couldn’t even reach him. Maybe if we were at least the president-level... That’s why I said we should just escalate this up the chain. It’s beyond our capacity.”
Hyeonu quietly opened his mouth.
“Representative Lee Haeseong’s daughter works at our company.”
Kim Byeongjun’s eyes widened again.
“What?”
“It’s easy for a daughter to meet her father.”
“.......”
“What do you think, Deputy? Let this case be your debut battle. I don’t think there could be a more splendid debut than this.”
His trembling eyes, filled with complicated thoughts, drifted through the air.
“Didn’t you tell me yesterday to hide you until you were completely ready?”
“That’s exactly why I’m telling you this. Hide your identity, Deputy, but earn recognition from the Chairman and the President, whom you’ll absolutely need for your future steps. This case is precisely that opportunity.”
“.......”
* * *
Hyeonu was looking over the personnel placement chart.
It was to find the department of Lee Minju—the daughter of Representative Lee Haeseong, who had been humiliated in front of people by Min Byeongsu, the President of Mancheon Chemical, and subtly browbeaten by the HR department.
-Lee Minju: Purchasing Team 1
Hyeonu rose from his seat.
* * *
He saw Lee Minju struggling to pull a two-wheeled cart loaded with three boxes, walking backward.
“Hello.”
“Oh, my!”
[What’s with this guy? Greeting me out of nowhere?]
The face of the startled Lee Minju went cold.
She couldn’t possibly have good feelings toward him.
There was what he’d said on the rooftop, and the fact that she’d been compared so unfavorably to him at the training center.
“What do you want?”
“Can I help you with that?”
[What the heck. Why is he pretending we’re close? So annoying.]
“Why would you?”
“I have something to tell you, so I thought I’d speak while we walk.”
“What is it?”
“Just a moment.”
When he grabbed the cart, she reluctantly and naturally stepped back.
“Where should I go?”
Whether because she was in a terrible mood, she crossed her arms and answered gruffly.
“The supply room.”
He spoke as they moved.
“How’s work?”
Lee Minju suddenly snapped in annoyance.
“What’s it to you?”
[What do you think? My pride’s been hurt because of you, so I’m trying to quit. Damn... so annoying.]
He couldn’t exactly admit that it was his fault, but he accepted it and leaned his head slightly toward Lee Minju.
As much as he leaned in, she leaned back.
“You know, back then. When you were praised by President Min Byeongsu.”
“.......”
“That question was related to President Min Byeongsu, and I knew the situation.”
“Huh?”
“That’s why I was able to give an answer that would satisfy President Min Byeongsu.”
It wasn’t a lie.
Because he had answered knowing the full situation through the man’s inner thoughts.
A strangely satisfied smile formed on Lee Minju’s face, which had been extremely guarded.
“Tch, I knew it.”
[As expected, the chairman’s parachute. He could only do that because he’s a parachute. But why is he telling me this?]
“I said it because I want to get close to you, Ms. Lee.”
“Huh?”
“We’re both parachutes, aren’t we? I thought that if we helped each other in the same situation, this tough corporate life might be a little more bearable.”
Lee Minju was suddenly overcome with emotion.
Ever since that incident, she’d been treated like a parachute and had grown distant from her peers, so it felt like he somehow understood her heart.
“My team leader and the HR director are classmates, and I’m also close with the HR director. I’ll put in a good word with him. Don’t be too hard on yourself over that incident.”
“.......”
As he placed the boxes in their spot, Lee Minju, watching with her arms crossed, asked.
“So what is it you want to ask of me?”
“Huh?”
“I’m not that stupid, okay?”
“Then if I ask you, will you do it?”
“Well, I’m not exactly thrilled about it, but if it seems like we can help each other, it’s a deal. As long as it’s a favor I can grant, of course.”
Lee Minju, sitting on a rooftop bench and exhaling cigarette smoke, opened her mouth.
“Whew... so you want me to set up a meeting with my dad, right?”
“Yes.”
“Well, it’s not a difficult favor.”
She took out her phone and pressed the call button.
“Yeah. (······) I called because I missed you, Dad. (······) Do you have time this evening? (······) Great. Buy me dinner tonight. I want to eat with just you for the first time in a while. (······) Prince Hotel Japanese restaurant? (······) Yeah. Got it. See you later. (······) Love you.”
She ended the call.
“Done, right?”
It was so easy that he was a bit bewildered.
“Huh? Ah, yes. Um, but didn’t you tell your father about what happened at the training center?”
“How could I talk about that? It’s embarrassing.”
Lee Minju threw away the cigarette butt and stood up.
“Let’s go.”
As it turned out, Lee Minju was less petty than he’d thought.
She was the type to be quick with her calculations, or something like that.