"As I understand it, the union said stability was what they and the employees wanted, and it was they who first raised changing the performance pay system."

"Money coming in right now matters more to them than money coming in later, is that it?"

"That's right."

Do-beom Hwang nodded, and he gave Tak-hyeon Lee Seong-ho Kim's words as they were spoken.

"He said money there's no telling about gets no great attention from them — ten percent of operating profit, fifty percent of annual salary. Their focus is on the incentive payment that comes every half-year, and they will take the proposal. And he said he has a move held back in case."

"A move held back?"

Tak-hyeon Lee looked up at Do-beom Hwang with interest and spoke.

"Did he tell you what it was?"

"Yes."

Do-beom Hwang nodded and answered.

"He said restructuring."

"Restructuring?"

Tak-hyeon Lee's eyes went wide.

And then he burst out laughing.

"Hahaha. If they won't take this proposal, he leans on them with restructuring. That's the shape of it."

It seemed to please him. Tak-hyeon Lee slapped his knee and spoke.

"Good. That's exactly the way to go at it. Don't let that union lot drag you around — lead the negotiation."

Tak-hyeon Lee was satisfied, and he sat back in his chair.

"But here's the thing."

The report he had been going over this way and that a moment ago was on the desk, and Tak-hyeon Lee looked down at it.

"Why does it strike me that even this is inside that Seong-ho boy's plan?"

"You're saying all of this is Vice-Chairman Kim's plan?"

Do-beom Hwang followed Tak-hyeon Lee's eyes down to the report, and spoke.

"It's true Seong-ho went into that negotiation prepared in advance. But it was the union who asked for the performance pay system to be changed in the first place. He heard that and went down to Suwon."

"No, no. Not that so much……."

Tak-hyeon Lee waved a finger at Do-beom Hwang.

"The order of it. Doesn't it strike you that the order of this is a little off?"