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The eldest son of Choi Woo-sik and his wife had a different surname. Choi Woo-sik was aware of this.

Choi Woo-sik also had an illegitimate child. His wife, Yoon Hyun-joo, was also aware of this.

In short, it was a chaotic family.

"Are you aware that Chairman Choi Woo-sik knows the Director's secret?"

"You mean, accumulating stocks under a different name? The Boss…"

I shook my head, cutting Yoon Hyun-joo off.

"That the eldest son, who is supposed to inherit the company, is another man's child."

"..."

"Chairman Choi Woo-sik already knows."

"Is that the truth?"

Her eyes trembled intensely as she asked. I imprinted her reaction into my memory as I continued, to gauge her intentions.

"From what I've gathered, yes. He has already secretly completed a paternity test. I assumed the Director was also aware."

The moment the term 'management rights' was mentioned, I had assumed that Yoon Hyun-joo was aware that Choi Woo-sik had conducted a paternity test on his eldest son.

But the reaction was completely different.

"You weren't aware?"

She nodded, unable to hide her bewildered expression.

"I thought that was why he was trying to take away the management rights."

"How could he have…"

I shrugged, watching Yoon Hyun-joo mutter in a daze.

"I don't know either. I just happened to find out while investigating the KS Group. Oh, you are aware that Chairman Choi Woo-sik has an illegitimate child, right?"

"I know that. And that he plans to pass the group on to that child."

"You know that, but you thought Chairman Choi Woo-sik wouldn't know that his heir isn't his own blood?"

Both of them had children from affairs.

Both wanted to pass the group on to their own offspring.

"That must be why you accumulated stocks under a different name. It was after you knew that Chairman Choi Woo-sik would give the management rights to his illegitimate child."

"…That's right. It was insurance."

It was a good opportunity for Yoon Hyun-joo.

Due to Choi Woo-sik's accounting fraud and embezzlement, the stock prices of all KS Group subsidiaries plummeted.

She seized that chance and bought shares of not only the holding company but also all subsidiaries under different names.

However, with the appearance of Sovereign, the issue of a management rights dispute surfaced.

The stock price quickly rebounded and Yoon Hyun-joo, who did not secure enough shares to wage a battle, came to me.

She seemed to have judged that she could no longer stall as I had told Choi Woo-sik that his wife was buying shares under a different name.

"He started monitoring my every move by mobilizing his secretarial office. Because you told him I was accumulating shares."

"I didn't do it on purpose. As you know, Chairman Choi Woo-sik's smiling face is infuriating. I was just trying to get back at him, and it unintentionally caused you harm."

Yoon Hyun-joo didn't deny it, and slowly nodded.

"It's the fault of the person who got caught. I don't intend to blame you. But, I have no intention of being kicked out like this. Now that he knows my child's true parentage I can't back down. Please help me."

I didn't answer hastily and tapped the table as I thought.

While I was organizing my thoughts, she picked up her glass again.

'What would I gain by helping her?'

The reason I wasn't particularly interested in the management rights of the KS Group was because, except for KS Telecom, there were no signs of growth.

Daehyeon Electronics, which the KS Group was supposed to acquire in ten years, was already acquired by Jungwoo Group, who was conducting semiconductor business.

The future of the KS Group was semiconductors.

But that opportunity was now gone. Because I had no plans to sell Jungwoo Electronics.

Yoon Hyun-joo's desperate voice brought me out of my reverie.

"Please help me. I will do anything."

"Anything you say?"

I stopped tapping the table and stared at her intently.

"Don't you know how scary those words are?"

"The KS Group is a company built with my father's power. But that man, my husband, is an ungrateful person who has never once visited my father since he retired. He won't be grateful to you either. When you helped stop the management rights dispute with Sovereign? He probably thinks it's his due and is cursing you inside."

I knew that as well. How narrow-minded Chairman Choi Woo-sik was.

"I cannot forgive him."

The pot calling the kettle black. It seems like they found each other.

Well, if I'm going to help, I might as well help the slightly more filial one.

"Alright. I will help you."

Yoon Hyun-joo's face instantly brightened.

"Thank you."

"However, there's a condition."

"A condition?"

"Sell all of your real estate in Gangnam to me."

"What? What do you mean… ?"

Yoon Hyun-joo trailed off, rolling her eyes at my words.

"Why are you acting like an amateur? You know who my grandfather is. I'm talking about the buildings on the land in Gangnam that your father put in your name. Transfer all of it."

"…I don't know anything about it. What are you talking about?"

Look at this? Even after saying all this she's playing dumb.

Seeing her so obviously trying to deceive me, I burst out laughing.

"Where would the Director get the money to buy enough shares to take over the company? Isn't it all money that her father accumulated under different names? I already know the person who manages that real estate."

Chairman Jo, known as a multi-trillionaire in Gangnam real estate, was her warehouse keeper.

"I already know that Chairman Jo is the manager of the Director's family. My grandfather helped him with all that work. Are you still going to pretend you don't know?"

"How could you…"

Yoon Hyun-joo's jaw dropped in shock.

She didn't seem to have any idea how much I knew. There was even a hint of fear in her eyes.

"If you hand that over, I will help you. Of course, I will pay the market price. I have no intention of cutting it down by even one Won."

Chairman Jo had more than ten buildings in the core commercial area of Gangnam, and he also owned land all over Gangnam.

His land tax was the highest among those who owned land in Gangnam.

Chairman Jo, hidden behind a veil, never did any tax avoidance. He also paid his taxes meticulously and didn't think about reducing the rent to fill the empty buildings.

That's why most people didn't know his identity.

Although real estate agents in Gangnam knew him, only a few have met him in person.

"If it's hard for you to answer right away, I'll give you a week."

When I spoke firmly, Yoon Hyun-joo didn't deny it.

She just nodded her head weakly and said.

"…I'll think about it."

"The KS Group shouldn't be worth less than that land in Gangnam. No, even comparing them is an insult to the KS Group. I'm not asking for it for free, I'm saying I will buy it at market price, so I will be waiting for a positive answer."

I checked my watch and stood up.

"Then, please contact me within a week. I have another appointment, so I will get going now."

Yoon Hyun-joo nodded with a serious expression.

As soon as I left the Hanok, I immediately gave instructions to Manager Ma.

"Manager, find out all the shareholding relationships of the KS Group. Including all subsidiaries and anyone with more than 1% ownership."

"Yes, Boss."

"And Chairman Choi Woo-sik…"

I looked at the Hanok as I continued.

"Put a tail on Yoon Hyun-joo as well. Who she meets, and what she does."

"Yes, I understand."

"Lastly, investigate the surrounding area of Chairman Jo. Even if it's under a different name, the owner is still that old man. Have him report to me daily."

I hadn't done anything, but a rice cake covered in soybean powder had rolled in on its own.

Yoon Hyun-joo would probably not be able to choose anything other than handing over the land and buildings in Gangnam.

That is, if she did not intend to give up on the KS Group.

I got into the car and immediately contacted Eva.

After telling her to come to Myeong-dong, I quietly sank into thought.

Eva was already waiting in the Myeong-dong office.

"Boss!"

She got up from her seat and welcomed me as soon as she saw me sitting alone in my office.

"When did you get here? Aren't you busy?"

"Even if the world were to end, I would come running right away if the Boss called. What are you talking about?"

I chuckled at her stern face as she put her hand on her hip.

She's definitely getting better at joking. I patted Eva on the shoulder lightly and gestured for her to sit down as I sat.

"Let's sit first. Don't just stand there, have some tea or something."

"No. I just got here, Boss."

"What do you want to drink? Coffee? Or there's a good Pu-erh tea, would you like that?"

"Yes. The Pu-erh tea that the Boss makes is delicious."

I pressed the internal phone and ordered three cups of Pu-erh tea before asking Eva.

"Do you have anything to report?"

"Not really. I'm slowly organizing the stocks little by little as you instructed. I'm doing a mix of buying and selling, so no one should notice."

As expected of her. I nodded with satisfaction.

"I trust that Eva won't make a mistake."

"But why did you call me? Is there something urgent?"

"Are you still in contact with the Sovereign Fund?"

"Sovereign Fund? Of course. I'm still in contact because of the KS Group issue. We're discussing the timing of the stock liquidation now."

The Sovereign Fund planned to liquidate its shares and withdraw from Korea as promised.

"Is that so? Are Richard and Christopher Chandler brothers in Korea?"

"No. They went back to Monaco."

"Hmm…"

"Boss, is there really something going on? Why are you suddenly looking for the Chandler brothers?"

There was a knock on the door, interrupting our conversation.

After the staff member who delivered the Pu-erh tea left, I spoke again.

"I want us to take over the shares owned by the Sovereign Fund."

"Huh? Why take it over? There's no need to do that. We just mediated between both sides. Ah, it still makes me angry when I think about that day. That weird reporter…"

Eva frowned.

She complained, remembering the reporter who asked about the source of Eva's funds at the shareholders meeting.

I chuckled lightly and slid a cup of tea towards Eva.

"The board has changed. At that time, I was planning on leaving Chairman Choi Woo-sik alone. But now, Director Yoon Hyun-joo has jumped into the mix."

"Yoon Hyun-joo? Chairman Choi Woo-sik's wife? Why all of a sudden?"

I briefly told her the story of what happened between us.

"Is what I'm hearing true, Boss? It's like a Hollywood movie. The eldest son isn't Chairman Choi Woo-sik's child, and Chairman Choi Woo-sik has an illegitimate child with another woman?"

Eva, who had summarized my story, looked disgusted.

"So, Director Yoon Hyun-joo asked for the management rights to be handed over to her. She thinks it's possible if the Sovereign Fund and I help her."

Eva still frowned, but she nodded.

"It's enough. Half of the friendly shares of Chairman Choi Woo-sik are related to that woman, Yoon Hyun-joo."

"But if the Chandler brothers know about this, I don't think they'll withdraw."

"You're right. They are that kind of people. So, you're saying we should take over the shares owned by the Sovereign Fund?"

When I nodded, Eva pondered for a moment and then muttered.

"Well, if the shares owned by Sovereign are released on the market, they are bound to plummet…"

Currently, Sovereign owned quite a few shares.

They had purchased quite a bit of stock in KS Corporation and its subsidiaries.

"Offer 20% more than today's closing price."

"20% more?"

"It's still a bargain. The real estate that Director Yoon Hyun-joo owns under different names is invaluable. It's estimated to be worth around 1 trillion, but I think it's worth over 5 trillion."

At my words, Eva admired softly and then whistled.

"Wow. You wouldn't even need the KS Group. Why are you so obsessed with management rights?"

"I don't know. I guess she thinks it's hers since it's a company that grew because her father, Minister Yoon, gave them various privileges? Anyway, it's not bad for me."

"Minister Yoon, the political figure from the military who was rumored to be very powerful?"

"Right. That's why they were able to grow rapidly during the military regime. It was also thanks to him that they acquired KS Telecom."

Yoon Hyun-joo had been managing that property under a different name since her father passed away. She was an only daughter, so it was a given.

Choi Woo-sik doesn't know anything about that real estate at all.

Well, I would have never known about it either if it wasn't for my grandfather's ledger I obtained in this life.

In my past life, all sorts of suspicions were raised, but the owner of the real estate was never found out.

"Do you think it's possible?"

"Hmm. Should I tell them to come? Do you want to meet them yourself, Boss?"

I shook my head.

"Then they will be even more suspicious. You can make up a good reason for it. You can even say it's because of the iPhone."

"Okay. I'll do that. I'll have to fly to Monaco myself. Those heavy-bottomed guys will take forever if I tell them to come."

"I appreciate that. Now that we've finished talking, let's grab some food. You've gotten too skinny, Eva."

I didn't have any other plans today. I decided to spend some relaxing time with the people I cherished, for the first time in a while.

Eva grinned widely as if just the invitation to eat together was wonderful.

"Manager Ma, join us. What do you want to eat, Eva?"

"Something expensive. Will you buy me liquor too, Boss?"

I left the office while thinking of a dinner menu that Eva would be satisfied with.