Ilhyeon Group made the decision to give up the 300 billion.

That it would provide no support of any kind to the Dubo Group and would follow the creditors' decision — in that roundabout phrasing, it conveyed, sidelong, that it would write off the 300 billion invested in Dubo Steel.

People looked at Ilhyeon Group with astonished eyes. Because when it was only natural to begrudge even 3 billion won, cutting away a huge sum like 300 billion struck them as extraordinary.

And at the measure that followed, people clicked their tongues in amazement.

"Chairman Lee of Ilhyeon Group's second son came down from the Ilhyeon Construction presidency?"

"Seems the one who pushed this Dubo Steel investment was that second son. That's why they suddenly announced a dismissal outside the presidents' reshuffle season."

"It's a dismissal, right? Not a move to another affiliate or… something like that?"

"It's a dismissal. A dismissal. He got sacked."

"Well, I never…"

Having sat in the Ilhyeon Construction presidency more than five years, the prevailing view had been that the construction line would pass to the second son, Sang-jong. Yet hearing that he hadn't been moved to another affiliate's presidency but sacked, no one could hide their surprise.

"So now the Ilhyeon Group succession is settled on the eldest?"

"Just about… wouldn't you think?"

"As the eldest son he's furthest ahead on standing, and the seat he holds now is the highest of the siblings'… Hasn't Vice-Chairman Mun-jong, the eldest, been decided as the next chairman…?"

"So Ilhyeon can move into the succession process now?"

"They'll start before long. With even the second son cleared out, they can't leave the next seat empty forever."

The people talking it over all nodded. With Sang-jong stepping down from the Ilhyeon Construction presidency over the Dubo Steel matter, the thought that the succession process would now begin surfaced in every mind.

But contrary to what people thought, Ilhyeon Group couldn't devote itself to the succession.

Home late in the evening, Gyeong-eun flopped into a chair with a weary face.

Seong-ho, who'd been studying the leather diary until…