I did not refute Lim Do-hyun’s words head-on even after hearing them.

Rather, I slowly nodded and opened my mouth calmly.

“That is correct. I think you can naturally have such suspicions, just as President Lim Do-hyun said.”

At those words, the air in the meeting hall twisted strangely, and silence hung for a moment.

Unlike what everyone expected, I rather understood the situation and agreed.

Lim Do-hyun’s eyes narrowed thinly.

The composure of being certain of victory disappeared, and an unpleasant bewilderment was cast over his expression.

I continued speaking calmly.

“It is also true that I lack management experience and am young. It is natural for the people here to be concerned about such parts. Taeseong is that large of a company. It is not a position that can be led simply by emotion or justification.”

Some directors exchanged glances.

A complicated state of mind was cast over their expressions as they listened to my words.

Some were surprised and said it was unexpected as they watched me deal with the situation calmly.

It was understandable since usually people lunge for power rather than stepping back.

I soon leaned my back against the chair and continued speaking.

“So, I will make a proposal to you. If it is worrying to entrust the position of interim chairman to me right now, finding an alternative is also a method.”

The conference room began to buzz.

I quietly looked around and said.

“Who do you think would be good to take the position of interim chairman?”

When no one could open their mouth at those words, I continued speaking again.

“To state my personal opinion, I would like to recommend Representative Lim Hye-seon of Taeseong Department Store. She is someone who has stably led a subsidiary for decades, has thick internal trust, and I think her understanding of the entire group is also sufficient.”

The meeting hall was submerged in silence again.

The directors' gazes became intricately entangled.

They did not know I would step down from the position myself and recommend Lim Hye-seon here.

But right then, Managing Director Lee Tae-jun quickly shouted.

“Then I will also state my opinion. The most suitable person in the current situation is President Lim Do-hyun. This person is currently leading core subsidiaries, encompassing Taeseong Construction and Taeseong Finance. Above all, he is someone equipped with the ability to judge calmly in a crisis situation and command the organization.”

At Lee Tae-jun's words, the corners of Lim Do-hyun's eyes rose minutely.

It was a recommendation for himself, but his mood was not very good.

It was because it was too blatant.

Some of the directors subtly turned their eyes away.

If political movements were too blatant, it was easy to incur antipathy at a time like this.

Because it became a matter of survival for them, they were sensitive even to such parts.

In such an atmosphere, I quietly looked at Managing Director Lee Tae-jun.

And spoke after a short while.

“Good. Ultimately, it is a matter for the board to decide. Then, please speak freely about what each of you thinks.”

Some of the directors were submerged in deep thought with their heads turned.

It was the flow I wanted.

Giving up the position without fighting and making the opponent's desire reveal itself.

It was a way of inducing the directors to judge for themselves how greedy and precarious that desire was.

The conference room where silence flowed for a while.

The one who broke that quiet was Vice President Yoon Jae-hyuk’s calm voice.

“May I also say a word?”

Everyone's gaze turned toward him all at once.

Yoon Jae-hyuk continued speaking calmly.

“As a member of Taeseong and like everyone here, I think a more prudent and stable choice is needed right now in this crisis situation. In that sense, I would like to recommend Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung as a candidate for the interim chairman position.”

The quiet meeting hall buzzed again.

Lim do-kyung was the eldest son of Chairman Lim Man-seok and a figure who had silently supported the group until now.

Yoon Jae-hyuk added immediately.

“Vice Chairman Lim has been coordinating the overall group and, above all, is someone equipped with judgment and responsibility that are not shaken by emotions. I think he is the right person more than anyone in such a chaotic time.”

In an instant, the appearance of nodding was seen among some of the board of directors.

Lim Do-kyung's dignified image and prudent words and actions began to gain persuasiveness at this point.

However, Lim Do-kyung, the party concerned, took a short breath the moment he heard those words and spoke with a firm expression.

“First, thank you, Vice President Yoon, for speaking kindly.”

After bowing his head toward Vice President Yoon, he looked at the entire meeting hall.

While everyone's gaze was concentrated, Lim Do-kyung continued speaking without even a single inch of shaking.

“But I would like you to exclude my name from this discussion for the interim chairman position.”

The meeting hall became quiet again.

His declaration was firm.

Lim Do-kyung quietly continued speaking.

“When Representative Lim Hyunjun recommended Representative Lim Hye-seon, I could guess the intention. I think Representative Lim Hye-seon is a figure who can lead the group more stably than anyone.”

His gaze passed Lim Do-hyun and swept over the entire table again. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

“If I were to step forward as a candidate now, it would be seen as a vote showdown between brothers. That might look like a fight rather than a decision for Taeseong.”

He quietly smiled while adding the last words.

“I do not want to divide Taeseong. What is needed right now is a leader who can bring it together as one.”

Lim Do-kyung, who finished speaking, made eye contact with me briefly.

His choice was enough to shake the hearts of some of the board of directors.

I fully understood why my father did not step forward.

I even felt a thankful heart.

If even Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung stepped forward, the votes would be split and the possibility that President Lim Do-hyun would be elected was high.

Keeping that in mind, he did not show greed.

After Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung's refusal caused a gentle ripple in the meeting hall, the board of directors were submerged in silence without anyone saying anything.

Among them, there would be those who had already reached a conclusion in their hearts.

And there were those who had not yet made a decision.

Their gazes hovered over the table as they tried to read each other's inner thoughts.

Chief Secretary Kang Cheol-woo quietly rose from his chair.

“Considerable time has passed. In order to prevent further confusion and promote rapid stabilization of the group, I would like to confirm the intentions of the directors present here through a show-of-hands vote.”

He broke his words for a moment and moved his gaze to the two individuals.

“Before that, it seems appropriate in terms of procedure to also hear the opinions of the two who were mentioned as candidates. First, I would like Representative Lim Hye-seon to do it.”

All eyes were concentrated on Lim Hye-seon.

She stood up from her seat.

She wore an elegant smile while maintaining a calm expression like a quiet lake.

“I am Lim Hye-seon, the representative of Taeseong Department Store.”

Along with a soft greeting, she looked at the board of directors one by one and continued speaking.

“I have worked for Taeseong all my life, just like the directors here. Not even once have I regarded my role lightly before the name Taeseong.”

A few agreed and nodded their heads.

“I think this issue is not simply a matter of picking a person to act in the duties. I see it as a matter of whether the severed leadership can be reconnected and the confusion can be put to rest.”

The directors' gazes deepened further.

“If the interior is shaken, the organization has no choice but to collapse. At a time like this, what is needed most is balance, not a fight.”

She looked at Lim Do-hyun's side once and then moved her gaze back.

“I will not promise to do something new. However, I have confidence that I will hold the center more firmly than anyone in quieting down this confusion now.”

The meeting hall was quiet.

Her dignity stood out and weight was added to her voice.

“The choice is yours. Whoever rises, I am ready to comply with that decision. But right now, in this moment, I hope you will choose one person who will support Taeseong so it does not shake.”

She bowed her head deeply and slowly sat in her seat.

The appearance of Lim Hye-seon stepping to the front for the first time drew the trust of the directors.

In her speech, there were no exaggerated aspirations or ambitions.

The directors' gazes flowed differently for each, but the eyes toward her had changed from before.

A smile spread across my mouth as I watched quietly.

Chief Secretary Kang Cheol-woo quietly looked toward me once and then nodded his head briefly.

The next speaker, Lim Do-hyun, stood up from his seat.

“I am Lim Do-hyun, in charge of Taeseong Construction and Taeseong Finance. Taeseong is in a crisis right now. If the confusion continues for another day, or even just one hour, in a state where leadership is severed, the aftermath will immediately hit the subsidiaries and the market will reflect the anxiety.”

Lim Do-hyun continued speaking.

“I have led construction and finance for the past several years and have personally faced major crises. I also have much experience coordinating complicated interests politically and business-wise.”

He caught his breath for a moment.

“And what is needed at this point is not will but capability. We need a person who can remove uncertainty and make clear decisions and executions.”

His gaze intentionally passed as if brushing by me.

“I think whether one can handle it right now is more important than whose recommendation they received. I will leave that judgment to you. If that responsibility is given to me, I am prepared to handle it without shaking for even a single moment.”

Lim Do-hyun finished his last words and lightly looked around the entire meeting hall before sitting in his seat.

When the time for decision arrived, Chief Secretary Kang Cheol-woo stood up from his seat.

He opened his mouth toward the directors gathered in the conference room with movements that had no redundancy.

“Directors, as both candidates have expressed their views, I judge it is now the time to confirm the will of you who attended the board meeting through votes.”

His voice was very calm, but it was like a bolt from the blue to those who had not yet made a decision.

He pushed forward without giving them any leeway.

“Then, those who agree to appointing Representative Lim Hye-seon of Taeseong Department Store as interim chairman, please raise your hands.”

One outside director who was maintaining neutrality, along with me, quietly raised their hands.

Then, hands began to rise following that.

Kang Cheol-woo nodded and quietly counted the people who raised their hands.

The moment that number exceeded the majority, there was no longer a need to count further.

He said calmly.

“I inform you that the agenda item for appointing Representative Lim Hye-seon as the interim chairman of Taeseong Group has been passed with more than a majority in favor.”

Like words prepared in advance, Chief Secretary Kang Cheol-woo's voice filled the meeting hall.

The principle of majority rule.

This is precisely the rational power of the majority disguised as fairness.

The decision had already been made and it was an official result that no one could reverse.

Lim Do-hyun maintained silence.

Anger surged from within, but he knew that even if he rebelled here, it would be of no use.

Ultimately, he kicked back his seat and rose, leaving the meeting hall.

Lee Tae-jun's complexion turned very pale as he watched such a Lim Do-hyun.

Since the ship he was riding on while leaning on had tilted before his eyes, the future was as obvious as seeing a fire.