Donghae Group's Headquarters
A sleek black Mercedes-Benz sedan glided smoothly to a stop in front of Donghae Group's towering headquarters.
As soon as the car came to a halt, Han Ji-sung stepped out from the passenger seat and swiftly opened the rear door before stepping aside.
Emerging from the vehicle, Seok-won stretched out his long legs, his presence commanding in a navy-blue tailored suit accented with a pocket square.
For a brief moment, he stood still, gazing up at the tall, imposing building—its rough, rectangular structure resembling an oversized box. Then, with an unreadable expression, he lowered his head.
"Well then, shall we?"
With purposeful strides, Seok-won moved forward.
Following a string of scandals—including the Financial Supervisory Service corruption case, the Bosung Communication stock manipulation, and the recent Donghae Mutual Credit Union illegal loan incident—the once-intense battle over shares had lost some of its heat, settling into a temporary lull.
However, with Donghae Group's requested emergency shareholders' meeting set for the following week, a palpable tension still lingered between the two rival companies.
Though he was walking straight into enemy territory, Seok-won showed no sign of hesitation. Entering the grand lobby, its artificial marble flooring lending an air of sophistication, he remained completely composed.
Accompanied by his secretary, Han Ji-sung, Seok-won strode directly toward the reception desk near the entrance.
One of the two female employees in light-colored uniforms greeted him with a polite smile.
"How may I help you?"
"I'm here to see Chairman Woo Yong-gap."
"…Excuse me?"
The receptionist blinked in surprise at Seok-won's calm statement, momentarily thrown off.
"Tell him Park Seok-won from Daehung Venture Capital is here. He'll know who I am."
Still visibly flustered, the receptionist hesitated, unsure how to respond.
"S-So… You're saying you're here to see the chairman?"
Seok-won gave a slight nod. The receptionist, clearly unsure of what to do, opted for the standard response according to protocol.
"I'm sorry, but if you don't have a prior appointment, I'm afraid you won't be able to meet with the chairman."
Just then, a man hurried over, bowing deeply in apology.
"My sincerest apologies! I was supposed to come down earlier to wait for you, but we were delayed."
Seok-won looked at the man, studying him for a moment before nodding in recognition.
"I thought you looked familiar. We met once before, when I was with Ho-geun, didn't we?"
The man, caught off guard that Seok-won actually remembered such a brief encounter, responded awkwardly.
"Ah, yes. My name is Oh Sang-hyun. I'm a manager and was serving as Secretary Woo's aide."
Seok-won smirked.
"He's in a detention center now, isn't he? How's he holding up?"
Seok-won smirked and asked
For someone like Woo Ho-geun, whose status was undeniable and who could afford top-tier former prosecutors as defense attorneys, it was common to be investigated without detention.
However, with his involvement in not only the Bosung Communication stock manipulation case but also the Donghae Mutual Credit Union illegal loan scandal, authorities cited the risk of evidence tampering and had him detained for investigation.
Of course, the prosecution's strict stance was largely influenced by the opposition party keeping a close watch on the case, as well as directives from both the presidential office and the ruling party, who were determined not to lose control of the political narrative.
Oh Han Sang-hyun, caught off guard by the question, hesitated with an uneasy expression. He knew all too well that life in detention would be miserable for Woo Ho-geun, who had lived his entire life in comfort.
Still, Seok-won pressed on, his tone laced with amusement.
"He's a friend, after all. I should find some time to visit him. Summer's coming soon, and staying in a detention center without air conditioning must be tough. But tell him to hang in there—this is a rare experience, after all."
Seok-won grinned mischievously.
"…I'll pass the message along," Oh Sang-hyun replied reluctantly, already dreading the consequences.
'If he actually visits, Ho-geun's temper will explode. But… he wouldn't really go, would he?'
The more he observed Seok-won up close, the more unpredictable he seemed.
With his striking good looks, overwhelming charisma, and an undeniable presence that drew attention even when he was simply standing still, it was no wonder Woo Ho-geun burned with inferiority.
Forcing his expression back to neutrality, Oh Sang-hyun took the lead.
"The chairman is expecting you. Please follow me."
Seok-won stepped into the elevator, following him up to the executive meeting room on the top floor.
The room was furnished with plush carpeting and luxurious materials, exuding an air of prestige. Inside, Chairman Woo Yong-gap sat at the center of the long table, surrounded by key executives, including Chief Secretary Jeon Hae-chul and five other high-ranking officials.
As if reflecting Donghae Group's current turmoil, Chairman Woo had a cigarette in his mouth, his face stiff with tension. His gaze, filled with hostility, bore into Seok-won as he entered the room.
The intensity of the chairman's glare was palpable, but Seok-won remained completely unfazed. Instead, he met Woo Yong-gap's eyes with a relaxed, almost amused expression.
"It's been a while, Chairman."
His greeting was delivered with a slight nod—calm, confident, and utterly composed.
Compared to his own son, who had caused one disaster after another and ended up behind bars, Seok-won was flawless—so much so that it made Woo Yong-gap sick to his stomach.
'Who would've thought I'd ever envy Park Tae-hong this much?'
Despite his frustration, the chairman concealed his emotions, his expression remaining sour as he spoke, clearly displeased by the very fact that this meeting was happening.
"I heard you wanted to discuss the upcoming emergency shareholders' meeting next week."
"That's correct."
Seok-won, seated comfortably across from him with his secretary Han Ji-sung by his side, responded with ease.
"You're here to say you'll hand over the management rights to Mido Department Store, I assume?"
Woo Yong-gap deliberately threw out a light provocation.
He expected at least a flicker of reaction—perhaps a slight twitch of an eyebrow—but contrary to his expectations, Seok-won showed not even the slightest hint of agitation.
"Even if it came down to a shareholder vote, we still hold a significant stake. There's no way that would happen."
His expression was calm, not even giving the impression of holding back anger.
Unlike Woo Ho-geun, who was hot-tempered and easily provoked, Seok-won—despite being of a similar age—carried himself like a seasoned veteran, a snake who had shed its skin countless times. This contrast only made Woo Yong-gap compare him once more to his own incompetent son.
His frustration, fueled by envy toward Chairman Park Tae-hong, made his tone even sharper.
"Then why are you here?"
Seok-won took his time, his gaze leisurely sweeping over Woo Yong-gap and the key executives of Donghae Group seated across from him.
"I understand that Donghae Group's situation hasn't been great due to recent incidents. The atmosphere is already tense, and if the hostile M&A issue flares up again, neither side will benefit. So, why don't we put an end to this fight and seek reconciliation?"
Chief Secretary Jeon Hae-chul and the other executives, who had already begun doubting their chances of a successful takeover, couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope at Seok-won's unexpected proposal.
However, Woo Yong-gap leaned back in his chair, his expression indifferent as he replied.
"It's true things have been chaotic lately. But once next week's emergency shareholders' meeting is over, I'll have control of Mido Department Store. So, I don't see why I should entertain such a proposal."
His tone suggested disinterest, but Seok-won saw through the bluff immediately—this was nothing more than a ploy to secure better negotiating terms.
'If he's actually planning to take this to the bitter end, then he's just as much of a fool as Woo Ho-geun.'
Clearing his thoughts, Seok-won met Woo Yong-gap's gaze and spoke.
"Dragging this out until the shareholders' meeting will only create unnecessary noise, and in the end, your goal will still be unattainable."
"Hah. Are you pretending not to know about our aggressive stock purchases? On top of that, we've been steadily acquiring more shares in the market."
Woo Yong-gap scoffed before continuing.
"I also heard that you managed to buy the shares owned by Chairman Chun of Myeongdong. I don't know how you convinced that tough old man, but I'll give you credit—your negotiation skills are impressive."
Then, he arrogantly lifted his chin.
"But even with all that, your total holdings won't exceed 35%. And let me share a little secret—we've secured far more than that."
His confident posture made it clear that he believed he had a strong hand to play.
The fact that Woo Yong-gap had an almost exact grasp of Daehung Group's secured stake proved that he was no easy opponent.
However, Seok-won hadn't come to this negotiation empty-handed.
"You've certainly been aggressively acquiring shares. Thanks to that, Mido Department Store even managed to briefly enter the top 20 in market capitalization."
His tone carried a hint of sarcasm, mocking their reckless overpaying for Mido Department Store shares. Woo Yong-gap's eyebrow twitched.
Even Chief Secretary Jeon Hae-chul stiffened and interjected with a stern expression.
"If you didn't come here to pick a fight, I suggest you watch your words."
The other Donghae Group executives also couldn't hide their discomfort at Seok-won's direct remarks toward their chairman.
But Seok-won remained unfazed and countered without hesitation.
"It seems you may have miscalculated our holdings."
"What?"
Woo Yong-gap frowned as Seok-won smiled and continued.
"We acquired the shares held by Baekje Industries, pushing our stake past 44%."
"—!"
The conference room was instantly thrown into chaos.
As if a bomb had just been dropped, everyone sat in stunned silence, staring at Seok-won.
Chief Secretary Jeon Hae-chul and the executives widened their eyes, unable to conceal their agitation, while Woo Yong-gap slammed his palm onto the table.
"What kind of nonsense is this?! You think I'd fall for such an absurd lie?!"
His furious roar reverberated through the room.
Baekje Industries had a hidden agreement with Donghae Group—if the M&A succeeded, they stood to gain substantial benefits. Not to mention, the company was run by his own brother-in-law, making such a betrayal unthinkable.
As Woo Yong-gap seethed with rage, Seok-won remained unshaken and calmly replied.
"They say money knows no family or friends. Do you think I'd lie about something that could be exposed with a single phone call?"
His composure only made Woo Yong-gap's eyes waver with uncertainty.
Chief Secretary Jeon Hae-chul's expression also hardened, a sense of foreboding creeping over him.
Trying to dismiss the possibility, Woo Yong-gap suddenly recalled that his brother-in-law, Chairman Hwang Jung-hyun, was a notoriously greedy man. A cold chill ran down his spine.
Desperately clinging to his composure, Woo Yong-gap turned to Jeon Hae-chul.
"Call my brother-in-law. Right now."
"Yes, sir."
Chief Secretary Jeon Hae-chul picked up the keyphone installed on the conference table, pressed the speakerphone button, and dialed the number.
Trriing… Trriing…
Everyone held their breath, focusing intently on the ringing sound echoing from the speaker.
Though only a few seconds passed, to Chairman Woo Yong-gap, it felt like an eternity.
As the ringing continued, impatience crept onto Woo Yong-gap's face, and he snapped irritably.
"Why isn't he picking up?"
Just then, the call connected, and a deep voice resonated from the speaker.
[Hello?]
"Brother-in-law, it's me."
[Ah… yes. What's the matter, brother-in-law?]
The slight hesitation in Hwang Jung-hyun's voice sent a jolt of unease through Woo Yong-gap's chest.
Shaking off his growing sense of dread, he forced himself to speak calmly.
"I called to confirm something with you."
[What is it?]
Glancing up, Woo Yong-gap saw Seok-won sitting across from him, completely at ease. His heart pounded as he asked the question.
"I heard a ridiculous rumor that you sold the Mido Department Store shares I entrusted to you. That's nonsense, right?"
He deliberately emphasized that the shares had been entrusted, not transferred.
But the response he received was far from what he expected.
[Well… I'm sorry, brother-in-law.]
"...!"
[I sold all the Mido shares I was holding.]
For a moment, Woo Yong-gap was too stunned to react. Then, as the realization sank in, betrayal burned through him, and he clenched his fists tightly.
"How could you do this to me?!" he roared, his voice trembling with fury.
[With the mutual credit union and the securities firm under investigation—and Ho-geun in jail—the M&A was already as good as dead. We poured every bit of our company's liquid assets into this deal. I couldn't just sit back and let everything go to waste—I had to secure my own way out.]
The shameless tone of his brother-in-law made Woo Yong-gap grit his teeth.
"You had no right to sell something I only left in your care without my permission!"
[If it was just 'left in my care,' you should've taken it back on time. Or at least handled things properly.]
"You… You…!"
Woo Yong-gap's face turned an alarming shade of red.
[Anyway, what's done is done. Don't call me about this again.]
With that, the line abruptly went dead.
"You bastard, Hwang Jung-hyun!"
Woo Yong-gap shot up from his seat, shouting in rage. But the only response from the speaker was the dull, mocking beeping of a disconnected call.