President Dae-sang Kim, facing Tak-hyeon and Seong-ho seated across from him, began with a smile.

"A few days ago, I saw the Ilhyeon Securities advertisement. And I was deeply moved."

Dae-sang laid a hand over his chest and wore an expression steeped in emotion.

"The slogan — let us save the Republic of Korea — struck the deepest part of my heart. Even companies are striving like this to save the country, and it made me look back on myself and ask what the man called president is doing."

Dae-sang smoothed a hand down his chest and lowered it. Then, keeping his eyes on Seong-ho, he spoke.

"And I spent time in no small amount of reflection over what methods there might be to save the nation. But my own head has its limits. So I invited the two of you here. Because I wanted to hear directly from those who are out in the field."

Finishing, President Dae-sang Kim turned to Tak-hyeon.

"What industry should the Republic of Korea foster now?"

And he threw out a question at once simple and dangerous. It was a question by which, depending on Tak-hyeon's answer, the futures of both the Republic of Korea and the Ilhyeon Group could be altered.

He could not say they should foster an industry the Ilhyeon Group operated in — nor, for that matter, could he answer that they should foster an industry in which some other group was floundering. It would be one thing if what was said here didn't travel outside, but the Blue House would surely announce the president's meeting with Tak-hyeon through official channels the moment it concluded. And the odds were very high that they'd let what had been said here slip out, however subtly. Speak carelessly, and he might turn into a greed-blinded old man.

Tak-hyeon thought for a moment, then opened his mouth.

"Well, now. It's a truly delicate matter. As Your Excellency says, it is indeed a moment when we must find a new engine of growth — since the industries that have grown the Republic of Korea until…