Tak-hyeon Lee stared blankly at Sang-jong Lee for a moment before he opened his mouth.

"Now that Jeong-eun's gone, are you taking over her share of the work too?"

"Sorry? What do you mean by that, Father?"

"I mean, have you taken over the yapping and snapping she used to do?"

At those words, Sang-jong Lee flushed and let his head drop.

Tak-hyeon Lee flung one more scolding remark at him.

"Stop chattering away, prattling like some woman. A grown man, whining to have things explained to him."

Having rebuked Sang-jong Lee with a displeased expression, Tak-hyeon Lee waved his hand toward Seong-ho Kim.

"Enlighten these useless fools."

At Tak-hyeon Lee's instruction, Seong-ho Kim dipped his head slightly to signal that he understood, then turned around.

Looking at the curious Mun-jong Lee and the still-flushed Sang-jong Lee, he spoke.

"Future Asset has been selected as the party to acquire Ilhyeon Fire & Marine."

"Where's Future Asset?"

Mun-jong Lee tilted his head at the unfamiliar name.

Then, calling one particular company to mind, he asked Seong-ho Kim.

"You don't mean Silla Future Asset, do you?"

"Yes. They dropped the 'Silla' that used to sit in front of it."

"Decided they'd gotten enough mileage out of the Silla Securities name, did they? Well, fine, let's leave that aside. How did Future Asset become the top-priority bidder for Ilhyeon Fire & Marine? They don't have any insurance business."

"That's why I made the proposal to President Dae-sang Kim."

"You proposed it?"

"Yes."

Seong-ho Kim nodded and explained in a composed voice.

"Because if it went to an existing insurer, we might see the birth of an insurance company that dominates the market in this country."

"That's true. Ilhyeon Fire & Marine alone is big enough to contend for the top spot in the industry. Merge it with somewhere else, and it would climb to a level where you'd have to worry about monopoly."

"Exactly. So if it were to be handed off, the government wanted it handed to somewhere that isn't already in the insurance business."

"And so you recommended Future Asset?"

"Yes.…