Tak-hyeon Lee, still seated on the sofa and looking up at Hyeon-u Bang, pointed a finger at the sofa to his left.

"Sit down first. Let's talk sitting down."

"Chairman."

Even with Tak-hyeon Lee telling him to sit, Hyeon-u Bang stayed standing where he was and went on speaking.

"I want to be in on the semifinal with Ilhyeon. Name your terms. Mirae is prepared to meet any condition you set."

"Now, now. This man. Such a hurry…"

Tak-hyeon Lee let a laugh slip out, apparently satisfied with the way things stood.

Then he spoke to Mun-jong Lee and Sang-jong Lee, standing on either side of Hyeon-u Bang.

"Help Vice-Chairman Bang take a seat."

Hearing that, Mun-jong Lee took hold of Hyeon-u Bang's arm and pulled him toward the sofa.

"Brother. Please, sit. There's time enough to talk it through sitting down."

"He's right, Brother. Sit."

Sang-jong Lee tugged down on Hyeon-u Bang's arm as well.

With hands pulling at him from both sides, Hyeon-u Bang finally sat down on the sofa.

His gaze, though, never came off Tak-hyeon Lee.

Taking that stinging stare full on, Tak-hyeon Lee opened his mouth.

"There's no use talking to me. That matter has been left entirely to Seong-ho here. If you have something to say, say it to Seong-ho."

Having made it clear that all decision-making authority lay with Seong-ho Kim, Tak-hyeon Lee gave every appearance of easing back a step.

But Hyeon-u Bang went on looking at Tak-hyeon Lee rather than Seong-ho Kim as he spoke.

"Even so, the final say rests with you, doesn't it, Chairman. I'd like to discuss it with you."

"You've run a company yourself — surely you know what it means to go over the head of the man in charge and take it straight to the man who decides. It may work that way at your company, but it can't at Ilhyeon. Talk it over with the man in charge, and when it's settled, come and tell me."

Hyeon-u Bang's face registered surprise at that.

He was startled to find that the position Seong-ho Kim had…