NOVEL NEXT chapter 19
19 – 19. Anti-hero (5)
“Have you come, sir.”
Kang Min-han, the head of the Strategic Planning Office at SeoHwa Group, bowed to greet his master.
And his master was none other than the president of SeoHwa Group, Seo Tae-han.
The gaze appeared reserved, yet contrary to that impression, the eyes seemed intense, as if flames were flickering.
The composed CEO inquired with a deep voice, “Is the meeting over?”
“Yes.”
“And the outcome?”
“It tilted towards Director Seo’s side.”
“Because the Chairman backed him?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm…”
CEO Seo Tae-han loosened his tie, tossing it aside, and leaned back in his chair.
The decision regarding the expansion of production facilities, reported from the Bupyeong car factory, was still pending.
Urgent matters demanded swift action. Even a day’s delay in decision-making could result in the fluctuation of interest payments in the tens of billions.
Yet, at this moment, his attention was more focused on the meeting his children had conducted.
After a brief contemplation, he spoke.
“Why do you think the Chairman went there, according to Director Kang’s perspective?”
“I presume it’s to assess Director Seo’s capabilities.”
CEO Seo Tae-han nodded.
“I share the same thought… But why bring it up now?”
“Perhaps it’s because Chairman got wind of Director Seo’s involvement in the new employee assignments?”
“I’ll see it in connection with that…”
President Seo Taehan, who was quietly pondering to himself, recently thought about the whereabouts of his fourth son.
Anything special?
There was none.
Woojin lived like a typical playboy.
Starting from his personality.
That’s why he implicitly allowed leaving the house.
Staying at home would obviously make him a target for the family members.
However.
It bothered him that as soon as he left the main house, he showed an interest in management.
…Could it be?
Has he been acting all this time?
“..To avoid revealing it..”
“Pardon?”
President Seo Taehan shook his head as if to brush off his stray thoughts.
“It’s nothing. As you know, Manager Kang, Woojin has no interest in management. Isn’t it strange for someone like him to suddenly suggest sending new employees abroad and proposing to merge the South American branch?”
“I also find it questionable. I wonder what’s behind this sudden change. Perhaps the chairman feels the same way as I do?”
“Is that so..”
It wasn’t just Chairman Seo Changsu.
President Seo Taehan also felt intense curiosity about his fourth son’s unexpected behavior.
Director Kang Min-han quietly spoke.
“Director Seo is definitely up to something. He mentioned a new project, but I couldn’t get the details. This intel is from Director Ahn Moo-hyuk.”
“After the meeting, did you contact Director Ahn?”
“Yes.”
“A new project… well, we can check on that later. What about the flow of the meeting and the content of the statements?”
“Director Ahn knows only the results, and he says he doesn’t know the details. He claims he didn’t enter the conference room.”
President Seo Tae-han smirked.
“He didn’t enter the conference room? Even though he always sticks by the chairman’s side? So, he sent only the chairman into the conference room, and he stayed outside?”
“That’s correct.”
“Why?”
“He said it was obvious what I would ask, so he didn’t go in.”
“hehehe.”
President Seo chuckled quietly for a while.
Currently, Seo Hwa Group has two key departments.
The Secretary’s Office and the Strategic Planning Office.
The Secretary’s Office belongs to Chairman Seo Chang-soo,
and the Strategic Planning Office belongs to President Seo Tae-han.
Although they don’t have a direct supervisory role, they are departments entangled in various matters.
A department that always treads a mysterious line.
Since you never know when the power structure between the chairman and the president might change, these departments never inquire about each other.
Because overall, we share information, but we are careful with the lines since the patrons are different.
“Director Kang.”
“Yes.”
CEO Seo Taehan smiled kindly and spoke.
“Director Seo… No, have our Woojin check the schedule.”
# # #
“Chairman. Senior Executive Seo Woosung is here.”
“Tell him to come in.”
Although employees would question whether the largest office in Sehwa Group headquarters is, of course, the chairman’s office, in reality, the largest office is where CEO Seo Taehan works.
Surprisingly, the chairman’s office was simple and modest.
The furnishings and supplies were as common as those found in any office.
But one thing.
The owner of the office was a precious presence that even the highest authority in South Korea could not casually address.
“Hello, Chairman.”
Senior Executive Seo Woosung erased his smile and politely greeted.
In contrast, Chairman Seo Changsu greeted him with a hearty smile.
“Woosung is here? Come and have a seat.”
His voice was too warm.
That was even stranger.
Senior Executive Seo remained tense as he took his seat.
The chairman still smiled and spoke.
“Woojin just left.”
“..Yes.”
“The kid seems to have changed quite a bit.”
“I think so too.”
“It’s strange.. Ah, right. What did you learn in the meeting a while ago?”
Learned?
About what?
Each question seemed to have a hidden thorn.
Answering carelessly would surely invite disapproval.
In moments like this, it’s better to bow and enter.
“I still have much to learn, Chairman. If there’s anything I missed, please let me know.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Saying an executive is lacking is quite something.”
“I apologize.”
“Tsk, tsk.”
Manager Seo avoided eye contact with the chairman.
Now is not the time to look.
It was evident that he was being stared at as if the chairman would devour him with predatory eyes.
It was because this was a meeting between the chairman and the manager of Seo Group, not between grandfather and grandson.
After a long pause, Chairman Seo finally spoke.
“Are you turning 31 this year?”
Why suddenly ask about my age?
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“In Korea, can someone become a high-ranking executive at that age?”
A shiver ran down my spine.
“…It’s impossible.”
“Then why do you think you were appointed?”
“I… because I’m the chairman’s grandson.”
A crawling answer from Manager Seo.
Chairman Seo chuckled.
“Do you really think so?”
“Uh, or maybe…”
Chairman Seo stood up from his seat.
If he weren’t in this position, he would look like an ordinary elderly man you’d see on the street.
But he is Seo Changsu.
In every word he spoke, there was a powerful force that an ordinary old man couldn’t wield.
“You know why. You became an executive because you received early education from the man who built one of Korea’s leading groups and is leading it without any shake.”
“Ah…”
“But let me ask you. Why are you already thinking of stopping?”
The Difference.
There was clearly a difference felt at the meeting.
Director Seo chose progress, while Manager Seo opted for preservation.
The difference was distinct.
Manager Seo answered without lifting his head.
“I, I chose to preserve…”
“Preserve? Preserve what?”
“T-t-that is…”
“Your thing?”
Silence.
A stifling atmosphere, as if even the air had stopped, filled the chairman’s office.
“That, that’s not it.”
“hehehehe.”
The chairman laughed for a while.
“Manager Seo. I never told you to preserve my thing. I said the same thing to your old man.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
The chairman sat back in his chair, crossing his arms.
“Opposition to unreasonable challenges. I understand that well enough. Opposition due to differences in position. I also understand that well enough. But if you’re going to oppose, oppose with something worth opposing for. Your opposition at the meeting was futile. Do you understand, Manager Seo?”
“Y-yes!”
The chairman silently looked down at Manager Seo for a moment, then soon smiled kindly and said,
I didn’t agree with Woojin’s opinion to avoid you. I just raised my hand because Woojin was a little more aggressive. He didn’t explain exactly what the new project is when he just came. But since he’s planning it, I’ll give him a chance. The Guatemala branch will soon be integrated into the Mexico branch. You should help Woojin well with whatever he wants to do. Do you understand?”
“I understand, Chairman.”
“Good. Then go.”
As Senior Executive Seo left the chairman’s office with his shoulders slumped, Chairman Seo Changsu, left alone, made a strange expression and muttered to himself.
“Woojin, this guy. Did he run away to give me such a hard time? …Anyway, I wonder if he’ll do well with the assignment I gave him.”
# # #
“Ugh, so annoying. So frustrating.”
Having a meeting right after an all-nighter, on top of that, even the final boss-like person showed up. I pretended to be wide awake, but I was actually startled.
By now, Senior Executive Seo must be in a mess, right?
The nagging of my grandfather still lingers in my ears like a broken record.
Sigh.
The nagging is beyond belief.
I was only in the chairman’s office for 30 minutes, but it feels like time is flying by so fast.
And giving me a useless mission?
It’s annoying, but I have no choice.
Because,
[You deliberately obstructed the protagonist’s path!]
[The relationship with the protagonist has worsened even more!]
[If exposed, the confrontation index between you and the protagonist will be 16.9%!]
[The total slots you can use are currently 5!]
[An additional slot has occurred, and the ending is postponed!!]
Heh heh heh.
Grandfather has made the final decision.
How can one possibly refuse in this situation?
So, shall we now go to fulfill Grandfather’s mission?