Jinhyuk Park did his best to hide his reddening face, forcing himself to act nonchalant.
[Right now, the lead actor of this performance is the Executive Director.]
Jinhyuk Park repeated Vice President Hyun’s words several times before getting out of the car and pushing his way through the people gathered to greet him.
As he strode forward, people began to gather behind him one by one, and in no time, about thirty people were trailing after Jinhyuk as they entered DS Construction.
Those who had been waiting at the building’s main entrance greeted Jinhyuk, opening the doors for him. With long strides, Jinhyuk walked in and scanned the interior of DS Construction.
A high ceiling and gleaming marble floors greeted him.
Without stopping, Jinhyuk pressed on deeper inside.
It felt as though Jinhyuk and his followers were entering the palace within a conquered castle—their momentum seemed to envelope all of DS Construction.
The usual gates separating employees and outsiders, which would normally be closed, were all open now, nothing blocking Jinhyuk’s path.
Even the security staff, overwhelmed by the aura of Jinhyuk’s group, bowed at ninety degrees and began to greet him.
At that moment, about twenty people approached Jinhyuk.
At the front of the group stood a man in his early forties wearing glasses.
After smoothing back his pomaded hair, he bowed deeply to Jinhyuk.
“Director, you’ve arrived? We’ve been waiting for you.”
Jinhyuk couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable at this scene, like the arrival of some gangster boss, but since he’d been warned several times, he kept a straight face, gave a small nod, and continued walking.
Now, with the additional twenty people, about fifty people in total were following behind Jinhyuk.
“What’s going on there?”
Employees stranded on the second floor, unable to use the elevators as all six were stopped, looked down at the lobby.
They watched, tongues clicking, as fifty people simultaneously entered the open elevators.
“Is that the Jinhyuk Park? He looks really young.”
“Jinhyuk Park?”
“Yeah. The guy sent down from above to lead the restructuring.”
“He’s so young. Looks like he’s about our age.”
“I heard he’s the Chairman’s son. I think he’s an Executive Director, but the Deputy Director of the restructuring HQ is a Vice President. The ranks are totally messed up.”
“What kind of weird company hierarchy is that? The Director is an Executive Director, but the Deputy Director is a Vice President?”
“You think he got that Director position for his rank? He’s the Chairman’s son, that’s why he’s sitting in the director’s chair.”
“Too young… Do you think he’ll manage?”
“He’s just a figurehead. That Vice President behind him will do all the work. That’s how royal families work, right?”
They looked again, distrustful, at where the restructuring headquarters staff were gathered.
In the center stood a well-dressed man with his hands in his pockets, listening to those on either side.
At a glance, his demeanor seemed arrogant, and they found him hard to trust.
“Rumor has it he’s lived his life soaked in booze and women. His name’s only on the company rolls—he’s never actually done any real work.”
“So the Chairman put his son out front just to make some results.”
“I don’t know… Will this even make results? Looks more like he’s been pushed into a pit.”
It was hard to talk about results, given the company’s dire condition.
One colleague cocked his head at the comments, and another, watching from the side, clapped him on the back and laughed.
“What are you so worried about? It’s not like the layoff storm has anything to do with us, right? No way they’ll let us go too.”
They’d only been with the company for three years, so they figured they’d be relatively safe from layoffs.
But another colleague, with a sigh, muttered in a low voice.
“Haven’t you heard how things are running here? It wouldn’t be strange if we went bankrupt tomorrow.”
“No way. But it’s DS…”
“DS, DS’s grandfather—doesn’t matter. The company’s projected to lose 500 billion won this year alone.”
“What? 500 billion in losses?”
“Yeah. And I’ve heard the losses projected for next year will be in the trillions. Do you think they’ll keep people like you and me? Don’t you remember that group from a few years back, the one that did those ‘People Come First’ ads? When they started restructuring, they fired new hires just months after joining. Remember the uproar?”
“Oh, the one that said people come first on TV, but tried to lay off even new recruits and got trashed for it?”
“Yeah. If even they did that, nothing’s stopping them from doing the same here. Brace yourself. We could all lose our heads.”
“No way…”
The company was in dire straits, and now the Chairman’s son parachuted in as a figurehead.
And that son, so the rumors said, was a man drowning in drink and women.
Whatever the case, there didn’t seem to be any hope for DS Construction, and those looking down at Jinhyuk’s party from the second floor wore anxious faces.
In the elevator with Jinhyuk were Deputy Director Hyun Isu from the restructuring HQ, Seokgi Kwak the finance team leader, Myungjin Hong the planning team leader, and Jin Kim the management analysis team leader—five people in total, riding up to the 22nd floor, the very top.
“That was quite the obvious performance, wasn’t it?”
“No. We needed to set the mood.”
“But even without that, the staff can probably sense what’s going on.”
“Still, first impressions matter. It’s useful for our work ahead to establish the restructuring HQ as an occupying force, not an allied one.”
Jinhyuk subtly glanced at the man standing to his right.
To have reached Vice President at such a relatively young age—early forties—was proof of unusual ability.
On top of that, the fact that he’d been tapped as the HQ Director before Jinhyuk’s arrival showed just how much trust Junman Park placed in him.
And the number floating above his head confirmed that trust.
[60 billion]
Aside from company owners, he was the highest-scoring person Jinhyuk had ever seen.
Even Secretary Hwang, whom Junman Park valued highly, only had 10 billion above their head, so to see 60 billion here showed this man’s exceptional worth.
“As we discussed yesterday, the HQ camp will be set up on the 21st floor?”
“Yes. Preparations to convert the entire 21st floor into a camp were completed yesterday.”
“And I’ll be on the 22nd floor?”
“Yes. Director, you’ll use the existing President’s office on the 22nd floor.”
As the conversation ended, the elevator doors opened.
Waiting in front was a man, partially bald, who bowed deeply to Jinhyuk.
“Good day, Executive Director. It’s an honor to meet you.”
Standing before the man as he bowed, Jinhyuk looked down at him. Vice President Hyun approached and whispered in Jinhyuk’s ear, identifying the man.
“This is Donghyuk Park, the President of DS Construction.”
Jinhyuk nodded and extended a hand to Donghyuk, smiling.
“Please, stand up. No need for such a deep bow. People will laugh if they see.”
“It’s an honor to meet you.”
“Let’s not do that. People might get the wrong idea. You’re the proper President of a subsidiary, and I’m just someone recently promoted to Executive Director.”
As Jinhyuk helped Donghyuk to his feet with a smile, Donghyuk looked up at Jinhyuk with a beaming face.
Jinhyuk smiled back, but what caught his eye first was the number above Donghyuk’s head.
[1 million]
Even putting aside Vice President Hyun’s 60 billion, the team leaders behind him each had tens of billions floating above their heads.
Even the attractive female secretary behind Donghyuk had several tens of millions above hers.
And yet, the head of a subsidiary had only 1 million. Jinhyuk couldn’t help but sigh.
“Sigh~.”
The first person Jinhyuk would have to cut from DS Construction.
It was none other than the man fawning before him: Donghyuk Park.
“Director, is something wrong?”
At Jinhyuk’s sigh, Donghyuk quickly changed his expression, looking at Jinhyuk with concern.
Jinhyuk approached Donghyuk and, slinging an arm around his shoulders, spoke.
“Donghyuk. Donghyuk. My name is Jinhyuk, and my younger brother is Sanghyuk. Are you from our same clan, the ‘hyuk’ line?”
“Oh, you know? I didn’t want to mention it myself since it might look like I was seeking support from our family, but I’m the 42nd-generation descendant of the Boksun branch of the Juksan Park clan.”
“So, we’re from the same clan, right?”
“Yes, yes.”
“Then I suppose you’re my elder.”
“Well… haha, if you put it that way, yes.”
Donghyuk laughed, wearing a friendly smile.
He seemed to think things might go smoothly now that Jinhyuk had recognized the connection right away.
Jinhyuk, arm still around Donghyuk’s shoulders, strode into the President’s office.
Jinhyuk led the way, as if he were the rightful owner of the room, with Donghyuk following behind.
Donghyuk and his secretaries, not knowing what to do, trailed after Jinhyuk.
In contrast, Vice President Hyun and the other team leaders were unfazed by Jinhyuk’s behavior, touring the President’s office as they entered.
Once inside, Jinhyuk dropped his arm from Donghyuk’s shoulders, standing before the President’s desk and addressing Donghyuk.
“Do you know why I’m here?”
“Yes. I do. I’ve been waiting. Vice President Hyun came ahead and told me the Executive Director would be coming, and I’ve been waiting, stretching my neck out to see you.”
“You’ve been waiting that much for me?”
“Yes. Every time there’s a Presidents’ meeting or when I visit headquarters, you’re never there. I’ve always wanted to meet you but couldn’t, which was a shame.”
“Oh, I see. If I’d known, I would have come earlier.”
“Haha. Exactly.”
Jinhyuk sat in the President’s chair, spinning it once as he spoke.
“Nice seat. Great view, too. You can see Dosan-daero stretching out in a straight line.”
“Yes. Our DS Construction is well situated here.”
“It’s just a shame that such a good position ended up with the wrong person as President, bringing the company to this state.”
Donghyuk flinched at Jinhyuk’s words.
He knew “the wrong person” referred to him.
Resting his arms on the desk, Jinhyuk turned to Vice President Hyun.
“What’s the first step in restructuring?”
“Reassignment of personnel.”
“And the very first thing to do in reassignment?”
“Selection and sorting out of unnecessary staff.”
“Good. President.”
Donghyuk swallowed dryly, listening quietly to Jinhyuk’s words.
The more he heard, the more a chill ran down his spine.
He couldn’t immediately answer when Jinhyuk addressed him.
Seeing this, Jinhyuk tilted his head in mock confusion.
“Are you hard of hearing? I called you, but you didn’t answer. How unfortunate.”
“Pardon? No, I’m fine. My ears are fine.”
“I don’t think you are. Why don’t you go inside and rest? You seem unwell after all your hard work.”
“No, really, I’m fine. Rest? I’m still full of energy.”
“President. Someone has to take responsibility for the current situation, don’t you think? The company is a mess—we can’t just let it go. Take this chance to step down and take responsibility.”
“Director, Executive Director—no, Young Master. I’m still at the prime of my career. Rest? My children are still in college…”
Before Donghyuk could finish, Jinhyuk raised his hand.
At the gesture, Seokgi Kwak, the finance team leader, glanced at his documents and spoke.
“Ahsan, 2,000 pyeong. In Pyeongtaek, a five-story building worth 4 billion won. Two villas in Ulsan. Your current home in Apgujeong is worth 2 billion. 20,000 shares of DS Construction, and 1 billion in cash in your account. Just in your name, your assets exceed 10 billion, and we’re still tallying your wife’s and children’s assets.”
Jinhyuk nodded at Seokgi Kwak’s report and looked at Donghyuk with a smile.
“You’ve done well for yourself. The Chairman must be generous, for a salaried President to amass hundreds of billions.”
“Executive Director…”
“When you go home, be sure to listen for the doorbell. In a few days, some papers from the court will arrive. I suggest you meet a lawyer first. Embezzlement, isn’t that up to five years in prison or a fine of 15 million won? Our laws need changing—what’s the point of a 15 million won fine? Right? President. Dong. Hyuk.”
Donghyuk, sweating coldly, shouted out.
“Jinhyuk Park! How can you do this to a member of your own clan? Do you think your uncle will sit still? What about the family elders? Do you even know how this DS Group was built? It was the Park clan that founded it!”
There was no trace left of Donghyuk’s earlier respect.
Jinhyuk, listening, rose from his chair.
Pointing at Donghyuk, Jinhyuk shouted even louder.
“Park or Kim, it’s got nothing to do with me. The clan? This isn’t the Joseon dynasty, so who cares about clans? Frankly, if we handed over all the land you grabbed in the name of the clan, the elders would be thrilled! You sat in the President’s seat, ignored the company’s struggles, and only filled your own pockets, so how dare you talk back? We’ve already collected all the evidence, so if you want to fight, do it in court. I mentioned embezzlement, but there are plenty more charges—breach of trust and more. Enjoy a nice long ten-year rest in a cold cell. Take him away.”
“You can’t fire me! I’m the officially appointed President with board approval!”
“The board? If any director supports a criminal, that’ll be interesting to watch, too.”
At a signal from Vice President Hyun, the door opened and security team staff rushed in, grabbing Donghyuk on either side.
He seemed to have plenty left to say, but without a word more, Donghyuk was dragged out by the security team.