"Chairman. Since you've already given Director Kim the authority for restructuring, shouldn't you raise him to the same standing as the presidents here?"

Mun-jong looked around at the presidents and said to Tak-hyeon, "If the one holding the hilt is a director while those who must follow his orders are presidents, the work may not proceed properly. And even within the Restructuring Headquarters, the Head being a director while the Deputy Head is a managing director is somehow ill-matched."

Mun-jong urged Tak-hyeon to promote Seong-ho to president and winked at him. At the wink, Seong-ho quietly bowed his head to convey his thanks, and Mun-jong shrugged and turned his gaze to Tak-hyeon.

Tak-hyeon heard him out and sank into thought a moment. Then he slowly spoke. "That's true enough, but raising him from director to president in one go is too much of a promotion — so take your time and climb the steps gradually. For now, move him to managing-director treatment, and if he shows results, I'll promote him to full managing director. Take it as such."

"Chairman. Still…"

"Enough."

As Mun-jong made to speak again, Tak-hyeon cut him off. He looked around at the affiliate presidents and said, "Just because Head Kim is at managing-director treatment, the presidents here won't disobey him, will they? Isn't that so?"

Though Tak-hyeon phrased it as a question, everyone seated understood the meaning within was not a question but an order. The presidents answered in unison that no such thing would happen, and Tak-hyeon nodded with a satisfied look and ended the special presidents' meeting.

"Head Kim. A word with you."

As Seong-ho, the meeting over, was talking with Mun-jong, Chief Do-beom Hwang called him. Mun-jong, who'd been telling Seong-ho at length not to worry because he'd keep supporting him, turned to Do-beom and asked, "Brother. What is it?"

"Ah — I mean to talk over something to do with the Restructuring Headquarters. So the vice-chairman needn't mind it."

At the sight of Do-beom trying to talk while leaving him out, Mun-jong narrowed his eyes and spoke again. "Brother. Is it something…