Once one storm had passed through the Restructuring Headquarters, another was already gathering.

"Not that one — this one. This looks better."

"No. Taepyeong Machinery has too much bad debt on its books."

"Isn't bad debt beside the point right now? If we apply to the creditors for debt restructuring, they'll surely accept it. I think acquiring Taepyeong Machinery is the best choice we have."

"We're not only trying to acquire Taepyeong Machinery. A debt restructuring like that might work once or twice, but we can't keep applying for it over and over. There's no guarantee the creditors will even accept it, and even if they do, should we really spend one of our limited debt-restructuring requests on Taepyeong Machinery? It's not a good choice."

"Debt restructuring gets approved no matter how many times you ask. If they don't approve it, the banks themselves go under — there's no way they'd refuse."

Heated argument was flying back and forth across the Restructuring Headquarters. Staff were fiercely debating which companies were worth acquiring and at what price. As each side insisted their own view was correct, eyes slowly turned toward Seong-ho, seated at the head of the room. In moments like this, when opinion split, his decision was what mattered most.

Sitting quietly, reviewing the reports his staff had compiled, Seong-ho — feeling the eyes gather on him — spoke without lifting his gaze from the documents.

"Taepyeong Machinery's fine. But we already own Ilhyeon Machinery. So tell me what benefit we'd actually gain by acquiring Taepyeong Machinery on top of that."

At the question, the staffer who'd argued for the acquisition had nothing to say.

Still looking down at the report, Seong-ho put another question. "Now, let's hear from whoever argued against acquiring it. Setting aside the point about creditors refusing debt restructuring, is there any other reason we shouldn't acquire it? What loss would we suffer by acquiring it that makes it a bad idea?"

At this, the staffer who'd argued against the acquisition also had nothing to say.

As the meeting room, so heated a moment ago, fell…