The entire Investor Relations Department fell silent the moment Gang Si Won stepped through the glass doors.
Keyboards slowed. Conversations died mid sentence. Even the sound of the air conditioner seemed louder than usual as heads slowly turned toward him.
Some employees froze in disbelief.
Others exchanged confused glances.
A few widened their eyes as if they had just seen a ghost.
Gang Si Won, who had left the company a year ago for unknown reasons, was now standing at the center of the department once again, calm and composed as ever.
His footsteps were steady as he walked forward. His gaze swept across the office, taking in familiar faces and unfamiliar ones alike. Some people instinctively straightened their posture when his eyes passed over them.
"Everybody, please pay attention."
Ingrid Mikage's voice cut cleanly through the silence.
She stepped forward, heels clicking softly against the polished floor, and positioned herself beside Gang Si Won. Her expression remained composed, but there was a faint tension in her eyes.
The department slowly gathered around. Chairs rolled back. A few employees stood up. Others leaned slightly forward in anticipation.
"The company has appointed a new Managing Director for the Investor Relations Department," Ingrid announced clearly.
She turned slightly, gesturing toward the man beside her.
"Everyone, this is Director Gang Si Won."
A moment of stunned silence followed.
Then, scattered applause broke out.
Some clapped politely.
Others hesitated before joining in.
Many simply stared, still trying to process what they had just heard.
Gang Si Won gave a small smile and stepped forward.
"I'm sure you're all quite surprised, huh?"
His tone was light, almost casual, as if he had never left.
"I was recently employed again. Name's Gang Si Won. You may already know me by now."
A few nervous chuckles came from the crowd.
"But truth is, back then, I tried to live a quiet life since I hate things that trouble me."
He paused briefly, letting his words settle.
Then he dropped the bomb.
"However, my parents really needed a successor. Hence, I was appointed here by my father's orders… or is it the other way around?"
He tilted his head slightly, smiling jokingly at his colleagues.
The tension eased just a little.
"After all, my father, Chairman Eh San Won, decided to let me go and 'hunt' and make up for my… how should I put it… ah yes, mistakes along the way."
Several employees blinked.
Some looked at one another.
Others slowly realized what he had just said.
"Anyway, I hope not to disappoint him in any matter. And thank you for having me here again. That is."
Silence.
Then murmurs erupted across the department.
"Chairman's son?"
"Wait, seriously?"
"He never said anything before…"
"So he was always…?"
The whispers spread quickly.
Gang Si Won stood calmly, hands in his pockets, watching the reactions unfold.
The news spread like wildfire.
Gang Si Won was the son of the Chairman.
And now, he was the Managing Director of the Investor Relations Department at Won Group Headquarters.
For a conglomerate like Won Group, this wasn't a small appointment.
In large conglomerate structures, authority flowed from the Chairman down to the Vice Chairman, then to Group Presidents, followed by Executive Directors, Managing Directors, and finally Department Directors and Team Leaders.
The Investor Relations Department itself played a crucial role. It was responsible for managing communication between the conglomerate and its shareholders, institutional investors, and financial media.
They handled earnings briefings, investor confidence, corporate disclosures, and strategic messaging.
By appointing Gang Si Won as Managing Director, it meant he now stood above the entire IR department hierarchy.
All IR teams would report to him, and major investor decisions would pass through his approval before reaching upper management.
It was not just a return.
It was a promotion with power.
And influence.
And visibility.
Ingrid folded her arms lightly as she observed the scene.
He really got me this time.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied him.
Gang Si Won stood confidently in the center, smiling calmly as if he had already calculated every reaction.
Ingrid felt a faint chill.
A new predator had entered the game of chess.
And this one…
Was born into the board itself.
"Oh, and uh… could I have a word with Mr. Wolf for a moment?"
Gang Si Won's voice sounded casual, but it immediately drew attention. Several employees turned their heads toward Shan Wolf, curiosity flickering across their faces.
Shan Wolf felt a faint unease settle in his chest as Gang Si Won stepped forward. The distance between them closed quickly, and before Shan could react, Gang Si Won leaned slightly toward him, whispering near his ear.
"Since it's actually a personal matter, I'd prefer we talk about this outside."
His tone was low, controlled.
Shan Wolf's eyes narrowed slightly. Something felt off.
A short while later, the two men stood outside near a bridge that was still under construction for a new road.
The metallic scent of steel lingered in the air. Workers moved in the distance, their voices faint beneath the rumbling of heavy machinery.
Dust floated lazily through the sunlight.
Shan Wolf slipped his hands into his pockets, his posture relaxed, but his eyes remained sharp.
"What did you call me out for? And at a construction site to sum it up?"
His voice carried a tone of seriousness. His guard was already up.
Gang Si Won didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked toward the unfinished structure. The bridge extended toward a nearby slum, where rows of aging rooftops stretched into the distance. People moved below like small figures, their lives continuing in quiet struggle.
Gang Si Won watched them silently.
To him, they looked insignificant.
Disposable.
"Since there are many eyes and ears roaming here and there inside the company… and I mean walls too," Gang Si Won finally spoke, his voice calm.
"It's hard to have a secret conversation like this. If we did it inside the company, there'd be rumors. And I hate talk without proof."
Shan Wolf sensed the shift immediately.
The tone.
The demeanor.
The subtle arrogance.
He remembered Gang Si Won as someone more laid back, someone who carried himself casually despite his wealth.
But now, after revealing himself as the Chairman's son, something about him had changed.
His voice had grown colder.
Sharper.
Almost as if he were mocking everything around him.
"Are we that close to have a secret conversation?" Shan Wolf replied calmly.
"We worked together because we're nothing more than pawns in a game we don't even know is being played. Yet, we just didn't give a damn."
Gang Si Won chuckled softly.
"My, so cold, Mr. Wolf."
He turned slightly, a faint, cold smile appearing on his face.
"You changed quite a bit since the notice of your transfer back to Malaysia was canceled due to your excellent performance."
He glanced sideways.
"It's been a long time, so I'm just not sure if you'd remember."
Then, he turned fully toward Shan Wolf.
The wind brushed past them. The sounds of construction echoed faintly behind.
"There was an incident about the hidden camera."
Shan Wolf raised a brow.
Something was definitely off with Gang Si Won ever since that incident a year back. Combined with his sudden resignation from the IR department, everything felt too coincidental.
Gang Si Won stepped closer.
His expression remained calm.
But his eyes were cold.
"Should I tell you who the culprit is...?"
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Chapter 74 — End.