Chapter 47 – Back of the Head (2)
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Kwak Chi-young, the director of TSF Investment’s Korean branch, was in the luxurious hotel suite he used as his residence.
He accepted the tablet brought to him by Oh Han-seong.
Inside, there was all the collected information about Japan’s Koga Pharmaceuticals.
Though the data had already been reviewed once, today was a significant day, and he felt the need to check it again.
“There’s been no noticeable reaction yet?”
“No significant changes so far.”
They were referring to the fluctuation in Koga Pharmaceuticals’ stock price. The Japanese stock market was bustling with activity, showing various changes.
But Koga Pharmaceuticals remained static and quiet.
With a small sigh, Kwak Chi-young returned his gaze to the data, checking for anything he might have missed.
“Hmm… They do have a drug under development, but it’s only in the early stages of clinical trials. And if it’s just a vasodilator, it’s hardly a groundbreaking innovation… Expectations shouldn’t be too high.”
“The existing drugs they’ve released are just health supplements, so there’s nothing particularly remarkable about them either.”
Kwak Chi-young scanned through the other data with an unsatisfied expression.
“The current stock price is about 2,500 yen, or 25,000 won. The market cap is just over 40 billion yen.”
Considering the funds TSF managed, this company didn’t hold significant value.
Even Oh Han-seong, standing beside him, expressed his doubt.
“To be honest, I don’t understand what CEO Baek Shin-woo saw in this company to consider it a worthwhile investment.”
“I feel the same. Hmm…”
“There’s not much time left for the investment period CEO Baek specified. What should we do? The stock price is low, so acquiring it wouldn’t be difficult.”
Pondering, Kwak Chi-young tapped the tablet screen with his finger.
He then switched the screen to the Japanese stock market, watching the stock chart for Koga Pharmaceuticals.
“…Huh?”
The end of Koga Pharmaceuticals’ stock graph began to twitch, showing a red line as it started to rise slightly.
“What is this?”
In the meantime, Oh Han-seong received a call from TSF Korea’s office.
The call was to inform them about the analysis of the recent movement in Koga Pharmaceuticals’ chart, which the branch had been monitoring.
“They said they sent the analysis by email.”
Kwak Chi-young immediately checked the tablet for the email contents, and his eyes widened as he read it.
“…Is this for real?”
【Koga Pharmaceuticals Discovers Breakthrough from Old Product ‘Korapan’! Scientifically proven to have exceptional effects on chronic rhinitis, transforming an existing supplement into a revolutionary treatment…】
The email included an article and an official announcement from Koga Pharmaceuticals about the scientific discovery of Korapan’s effectiveness.
Rhinitis was a condition with high recurrence rates worldwide. Korapan, with its outstanding ability to prevent recurrence of rhinitis symptoms, was bound to gain popularity.
Moreover, prominent influencers in Japan were backing its efficacy through testimonials, driving a surge in Korapan sales.
“What’s the current stock price of Koga Pharmaceuticals?”
“It’s at 2,933 yen, roughly 28,000 won—a 10% increase. And it’s still climbing.”
“It’s continuing to rise, huh.”
Kwak Chi-young switched the tablet screen back to the stock chart.
Exactly as Baek Shin-woo had predicted, Koga Pharmaceuticals’ stock price was skyrocketing—a detail that had eluded them until now.
“If this trend continues with sustained promotion, it’s hard to predict where the ceiling will be.”
“Reversing the situation with an existing drug instead of a new one… Why didn’t we catch this?”
At this question, Oh Han-seong cautiously shared his thoughts.
“The data did include information about Korapan’s effects on rhinitis. However, we didn’t expect the promotion to make it famous to this extent.”
“Let’s investigate where the promotion started.”
“What about the stock?”
The information had originally been provided by Baek Shin-woo in a give-and-take deal. However, jumping into the stock after it had already started hitting its peak seemed a bit late.
“Let’s just observe for now to confirm CEO Baek’s capabilities. How’s the progress on the requested technology patent?”
“It’s a military technology patent held by a British company called Westrope. Specifically, it’s for a signal disruption chip for electronic warfare systems. However, experts say the chip’s range is far too low compared to similar technologies, making it unfeasible for practical use.”
Baek Shin-woo, with his almost mystical investment skills, had included the technology patent as part of his terms. This had raised Kwak Chi-young’s expectations for something extraordinary related to Westrope or its patent.
“Why would Westrope develop such a patent?”
“It’s part of a broader radio stealth technology. It seems they patented just the foundational technology to secure intellectual property rights.”
“Is there no way to repurpose it?”
“I’ve inquired about that as well. Improving its range would require a specific type of device, but no such product has been developed yet.”
In other words, the technology patent was essentially useless.
Pondering briefly, Kwak Chi-young came to a realization.
“Could it be… He’s testing our abilities with something pointless?”
Baek Shin-woo had just provided TSF with confirmed, valuable investment information.
This meant TSF was obligated to honour his requested terms, at least on the surface.
But if they couldn’t meet those terms…
TSF would bear the reputation of overreaching beyond its capabilities.
“Do you think CEO Baek is trying to test us?”
“Hahaha! He’s got us good. Does he think he’s above us? Should I call it audacious or bold…”
“He certainly isn’t ordinary. Perhaps he doesn’t trust us either.”
Still chuckling, Kwak Chi-young muttered.
“Probably the latter. I approached him out of nowhere, so who would trust me so easily? We’re the same in that regard.”
In the end, they had not purchased Koga Pharmaceuticals’ stock and could only watch as it hit its upper limit.
It was a situation born out of mutual distrust.
“Then I will proceed to acquire Westrope’s technology patent without any issues.”
“I never expected to start a losing deal even before the transaction begins.”
If they had sold Koga Pharmaceuticals’ stocks and made a profit, it could have been a favourable deal from the beginning.
However, it was already too late to dwell on regrets. Instead, it was more important to use this deal to build trust and establish closer relationships.
Bzzzt― Bzzzt―
While their discussion continued, Oh Han-seong received a call from Park Sang-kyu.
After ending the call, his expression turned serious.
“…Director, it seems there’s been a slight issue with CEO Baek Shin-woo.”
“What kind of issue?”
“Last night, he was kidnapped by Ahn Seung-joo of S-One Finance but was rescued.”
At that moment, Kwak Chi-young’s expression darkened.
“Ahn Seung-joo? Is he the one who caused trouble with Myung Un-seok recently?”
Since it was previously reported, he could easily recall the details.
“Yes, that’s correct. He’s unharmed, but Ahn Seung-joo ended up with both knees completely shattered after confronting CEO Baek. Additionally, 12 employees from S-One Finance’s debt recovery team, who were involved in the abduction, are all hospitalized with broken bones or severe injuries to vital points.”
Kwak Chi-young looked incredulous.
“Did CEO Baek handle all that by himself?”
“If he’s a former special forces operative, taking down a dozen gangsters wouldn’t have been too difficult.”
They could only surmise that Baek Shin-woo’s background involved a secret, undisclosed special forces unit.
“This man… He’s truly extraordinary. He’s useful in so many ways.”
Usually, when someone excels in one area, they tend to lack in others.
However, Baek Shin-woo seemed to lack nothing in personality, skills, abilities, or background—at least from TSF’s perspective.
“But won’t this cause a problem if S-One Finance decides to make an issue out of it?”
Unlike MH Group, Yoo Ji-young, the chairwoman of S-One Finance, was a client of TSF Investment.
“If it gets excessive, we’ll need to calm things down appropriately.”
“However, Chairwoman Yoo Ji-young is not an easy person to deal with.”
“She must have passed her temper down to her son; otherwise, something like this wouldn’t have happened. Still, keep an eye on the situation just in case.”
After giving these instructions, Kwak Chi-young continued watching Koga Pharmaceuticals’ steadily rising stock price.
***
【Personnel Appointment Notice】
▷ Strategic Investment Operations Division 1 Director, Myung Un-seok → MH Electronics Future Technology Planning Division 3 Director
▷ Strategic Investment Operations Division 1 Deputy General Manager, Na Jung-hyun → Acting Director of Strategic Investment Operations Division 1
.
.
The sudden personnel appointment caused significant turmoil at MH Group’s headquarters.
After all, it wasn’t just anyone, but Myung Un-seok, the eldest grandson of Chairman Myung Joong-hwan and the only son of President Myung In-chul, being reassigned to a subsidiary.
Since the presumed successor was essentially losing his position at headquarters, rumours were bound to spread.
“What on earth is going on? Why is the director being sent to MH Electronics?”
“Did he do something wrong?”
“Come on, even so! Would that really justify this? Maybe if he had ruined an entire subsidiary…”
“You think he committed a crime or something?”
“Then what happens to Strategic Investment Operations Division 1 now?”
Speculations spread rapidly throughout the office.
Meanwhile, Myung Un-seok was in his office, packing his personal belongings.
Initially, he had considered asking someone else to do it, but even that was forbidden as Chairman Myung Joong-hwan had personally ordered him to handle it himself.
And it had to be done during office hours, no less.
“Ugh…”
As he packed his things one by one, humiliation surged from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
Even now, he could hear the murmurs of Strategic Investment Operations Division 1 employees through the glass walls.
Who would look at his current situation and think of him as the next successor?
Although the root cause of this incident was something he initiated, it had escalated because Ahn Seung-joo hadn’t followed through as planned.
“Damn it… I can’t even bury that bastard…”
No matter how much he wanted to, Ahn Seung-joo was the sole heir to S-One Finance.
When Chairwoman Yoo Ji-young stepped down, it was inevitable that Ahn Seung-joo would take over.
Eventually, Myung Un-seok finished packing all his belongings and opened the glass door.
The employees, who had been buzzing just moments ago, immediately went silent and lowered their heads below their partitions.
It was clear to everyone that this was a demotion, and no one knew how to respond.
“…”
Quietly, Myung Un-seok left the office and waited for the elevator.
After a short while, the elevator doors opened, and Shin-woo stepped out.
Their eyes met briefly, but Shin-woo said nothing as he walked toward the Strategic Investment Operations Division 2 office.
Just then, Myung Un-seok, instead of boarding the elevator, spoke up.
“So, do you think you’ve won?”
Shin-woo turned his head and stared at Myung Un-seok with an expressionless face.
“Do you think you can win?”
“Tsk… Do you think S-One Finance will let this slide?”
“They didn’t, which is why they ended up like that.”
Shin-woo’s sharp retort only heightened Myung Un-seok’s frustration.
“No matter how much you struggle, you’re nothing but an unworthy person.”
“And does it feel good to lose to someone unworthy?”
“…”
“Stop spewing nonsense and get in the elevator. Aren’t you supposed to report to your new position today? Being late as a director—tsk.”
With that final remark, Shin-woo entered the office, leaving Myung Un-seok standing there.
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