Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 595: Jinseong Hotel & Resort (2)

Before the regression, it was revealed through a prosecutor's investigation that Executive Director Kwak Sang-Hyo met with the president of Sejin Resort at the high-end club VIXX to plot the fraudulent acquisition.

Knowing roughly when that incident happened, I had contacted my friend Go An-Na to find a way to record their conversation. Go An-Na then told me that her younger acquaintance worked at Club VIXX and promised to get me the recording.

And this morning, I received the recorded file from Go An-Na, taken at VIXX.

Jin Ah-Ram had asked me to play the recording.

"Mr. Jung, please show us the evidence."

Jin Dae-Woon and the executives were all watching me expectantly, wanting to see proof that Kwak Sang-Hyo had colluded with Park Eun-Soo of Sejin.

However, Jin Myung-Hee suddenly shrieked and turned to Jin Dae-Woon. "Dad! You're not seriously going to believe some guy who follows around celebrities, are you?"

Jin Dae-Woon replied in a low voice. "Shut your mouth!"

"Dad!"

"If you call me Dad one more time, I'll have you thrown out. Do you understand?"

Only after Jin Myung-Hee reluctantly shut her mouth did Jin Dae-Woon furrow his brows and looked at me. Though a problem had occurred during the merger, his expression showed concern that a talent agent might be the one holding evidence of corruption by one of the company's executives.

"Chief Jung. From here on, you better speak carefully."

"I'll keep that in mind, sir."

"Then let's see the evidence."

Jin Dae-Woon had once told his children they could do whatever it took in the succession battle. Nevertheless, the final decision about Jinseong's successor still rested with him. If he changed his mind, not only I but also the positions of Jin Sung-Joon and Jin Ah-Ram could disappear in an instant.

So I had to be careful not to damage the dignity of Jin Dae-Woon, who would serve as the judge of this war.

"Wouldn't it be difficult to discuss this here in front of everyone, Mr. Chairman?"

Only then did Jin Dae-Woon realize that the employees on the 5th floor were watching this situation.

"Myung-Hee, Sung-Joon, Ah-Ram, and Chief Seok—just the four of you follow me. Everyone else stays here. Chief Jung, you come too."

He meant to bring only the key people into his office for the discussion, leaving the rest behind.

"Yes, Mr. Chairman."

Those called by name followed Jin Dae-Woon into the elevator.

***

Jin Dae-Woon sat at the head of the old sofa in the chairman's office, with Chief Secretary Seok Han-Joong and Jin Myung-Hee on his right.

Jin Sung-Joon, Jin Ah-Ram, and I sat on the left side of the sofa.

Jin Dae-Woon urged me and said, "All right. That's everyone. Now show us the evidence."

At that moment, I placed my phone on the table. From the phone, audio recorded at Club VIXX began to play.

The first voice was that of Park Eun-Soo, the president of Sejin Resort. His words were slurred, likely from drinking.

-Ah, Director Kwak, just do me a favor. I'll take care of you generously in return. You know how big-hearted I am, right? Don't you?

Then came the voice of Kwak Sang-Hyo. His speech was even more slurred than Park Eun-Soo's.

-But Mr. Park~ Still, I'm a Jinseong man~ Do you think I'd be swayed by a few bucks? Hic~

-Yeah? Then let me be straight with you. You know the Eiffel Place penthouse in Gangnam, right? I'll transfer that to you under a borrowed name. It's an 80-pyeong penthouse.

Eiffel Place was a top-tier apartment complex where each pyeong cost around 50 million won. But if it was the top-floor penthouse, it would've had a premium attached, bringing the value close to five billion won.

Kwak Sang-Hyo responded with a laugh in his voice.

-Heh! Mr. President, you're too generous, aren't you?

-It's a big deal, so what's one apartment? And it's under a borrowed name, so no one will find out. I'll make sure you're well taken care of from now on too. What I'm saying is, if you and I work together, there's nothing to be afraid of.

Kwak Sang-Hyo's laughter grew louder.

-Eheheh. I guess... I'll be the one paying for drinks tonight~ Ooh~

-Come on, there's no way I'll let you pay. Anyway, once this is wrapped up nicely, you won't be Jinseong's man anymore, you'll be Sejin's. How about it?

The president of Sejin Resort had promised massive compensation in exchange for overlooking the accounting fraud.

-Sounds good~

-Then let's have even more fun tonight~ Hey, girls~!

Click.

Because it had been recorded secretly, that was the end of the audio. I picked up the phone from the table and looked at Jin Dae-Woon. His face had turned red with rage.

I said in a calm voice. "This is the evidence."

"Director Kwak... that bastard... how dare he..."

Jin Dae-Woon trembled for a moment, then immediately gave an order to Seok Han-Joong at his side.

"Bring him in. Now."

"Team Lead Park Sang-Gu from Security Team 2 lives in the same apartment complex as Director Kwak. I'll contact him right away."

Seok Han-Joong picked up the phone immediately.

"Team Lead Park. Director Kwak Sang-Hyo took a bribe from Sejin. Drag him straight to the Chairman's office."

-Yes, sir. I'll bring him in right away.

After the call ended, Jin Myung-Hee screamed in disbelief. "T-This is fake! There's no way Director Kwak would do that. Dad. That guy Chief Jung must've hired a voice actor or something. This has to be fake!"

Jin Dae-Woon glared at Jin Myung-Hee. "And I'm supposed to believe that nonsense?"

"Dad! You know that Director Kwak isn't even capable of something like this. He's too timid..."

Jin Dae-Woon looked ready to explode, but he chose to hold back since there were more urgent matters at hand.

"Fine. If the investigation proves otherwise, I'll apologize on his behalf. But until then, keep your mouth shut."

Having calmed his anger just barely, Jin Dae-Woon looked at me.

"Chief Jung."

"Yes, Mr. Chairman."

"What do you want?"

"Excuse me?"

"Don't play dumb. You wouldn't bring this kind of thing unless you wanted something."

I did want something—the complete downfall of Jin Myung-Gyu and Jin Myung-Hee. Also, for either Jin Sung-Joon or Jin Ah-Ram to be chosen as successor.

But I couldn't say that aloud. After all, succession was something only the one sitting on the throne could decide.

"There's nothing I want, sir."

"You said the same thing during the situation with Myung-Gyu. Are you saying you really want nothing?"

"If I had to say something... I hope to avoid creating too much friction with Jinseong."

I wasn't afraid of Jinseong Inc., but if they came after me, my actors could be harmed. That was something I had to avoid at all costs.

Jin Dae-Woon stared at me silently. It seemed he was debating whether to treat me as an enemy or an ally.

At that moment, a call came in on Seok Han-Joong's phone.

"Yes, you caught him? What? He's insisting he didn't do it?"

Jin Myung-Hee suddenly stood up as if to say 'I told you so.'

"See, Dad!? I told you I was right!"

'What absolute nonsense.'

I immediately spoke to Seok Han-Joong.

"Eiffel Place, unit 5005. Ask him if he knows it."

Seok Han-Joong nodded and repeated into the phone.

"Team Lead Park. Ask him about Eiffel Place, unit 5005. Isn't that the place he got from President Park Eun-Soo?"

-Eiffel Place, 5005. Got it.

A moment later, Park Sang-Gu's flustered voice came through.

-Sir! Kwak Sang-Hyo confessed everything! As soon as I mentioned Eiffel Place, he went pale.

Jin Dae-Woon leaned back into the sofa and rubbed his temples. "Sigh... Go to Eiffel Place. Tear it all apart and bring everything back."

"Yes, sir."

Seok Han-Joong relayed Jin Dae-Woon's orders to Park Sang-Gu.

Once the situation settled, Jin Dae-Woon looked at Jin Myung-Hee and spoke. "Myung-Hee... no, President Jin. You'll have to take responsibility for this incident."

"No way! Why should I be held accountable for something that guy did?"

"Jin Myung-Hee!"

"You're the one who said that dirty work should be left to the hired help, Dad! Why are you turning on me now?!"

The wrinkles on Jin Dae-Woon's forehead deepened. "Where did you pick up that disrespectful tone, Jin Myung-Hee?!"

"I don't care! I don't know anything, so make that guy take the fall!"

Jin Dae-Woon trembled with rage. He looked at his daughter with eyes full of disgust for the disgrace she had become.

"This won't do. Chief Seok. Get this disgrace out of here!"

"Understood, sir."

Seok Han-Joong approached Jin Myung-Hee and took hold of her arm.

Jin Myung-Hee screamed as she struggled. "Hey! Don't do something you'll regret later. Let go!"

But Seok Han-Joong, who pledged loyalty only to the chairman, didn't flinch and firmly pulled Jin Myung-Hee to her feet.

"Let's go, Mrs. Jin."

Jin Myung-Hee screamed at the top of her lungs. "Aaah! Let go of me!"

Unbothered, Seok Han-Joong dragged her toward the door.

"Dad! Dad!"

Dragged out like a child, Jin Myung-Hee kept calling out to her father. However, Jin Dae-Woon turned his head away.

Then Jin Myung-Hee looked toward Jin Sung-Joon and Jin Ah-Ram, shrieking in rage. "You think I'll let this go?! Just wait! When I come back, it's over for all of you!!"

Even as she was dragged out of the chairman's office, Jin Myung-Hee didn't stop disgracing herself.

***

After a brief and uncomfortable silence, Jin Dae-Woon let out a long sigh.

"Ah-Ram, you'll take charge of Jinseong Hotel & Resort for now."

Jin Ah-Ram hardened her expression and asked, "Then what's my status? Am I still just a director? Or are you promoting me?"

"Acting President. And after reviewing your performance for three months... I'll make a final decision."

Jin Dae-Woon still couldn't let go of his lingering attachment to his eldest daughter, Jin Myung-Hee. But Jin Ah-Ram had a strong will and full intent to become the official president.

"You're asking me to prove I can clean up this mess, aren't you?"

"Of course. Did you think you could just take over the company without overcoming challenges like this?"

"You're right. In that case, I have conditions."

"What?"

"Please provide group-level financial backing. That's the least you can do, right?"

Jin Dae-Woon nodded reluctantly. "That's... something I'll naturally do."

"I'll contribute my share too, so please use your personal assets as well."

"Fine. What else?"

"Most importantly, give me full autonomy over Jinseong Hotel & Resort. I can't work with the people that unnie planted. For the next three months, I'll use only my team."

"That's your call... do as you see fit."

"Good. Then I'll take it on."

"All right. Everyone out now. I have things to do before the market opens. Ah-Ram, keep your phone on all day. We start immediately."

Jin Ah-Ram stood and replied confidently. "Yes, Mr. Chairman."

We bowed to Jin Dae-Woon and left the office.

***

Only Jin Dae-Woon and Seok Han-Joong remained in the office.

Jin Dae-Woon rubbed his temples, trying to soothe his throbbing headache. "Ever since Ah-Ram started spending time with that Yoon-Ho Jung fellow, hasn't she completely changed?"

Seok Han-Joong answered, "She was always the most capable of your children, Mr. Chairman. Honestly, even more so than Mr. Jin Sung-Joon. So she probably picked up on Jung Yoon-Ho's strengths quickly."

"Ugh... I had hoped the succession war would unfold slowly, but this is moving way too fast."

Jin Dae-Woon had originally thought the succession battle would last ten years. But ever since Jung Yoon-Ho appeared, all his plans had been overturned. First, Jin Myung-Gyu lost all his aides and was suspended, and Jin Myung-Hee crumbled without a fight when faced with the evidence Jung Yoon-Ho brought.

Rather than a succession battle, Jung Yoon-Ho alone was playing a completely one-sided game.

Jin Dae-Woon let out a long sigh. "Han-Joong."

"Yes, Mr. Chairman."

"In your opinion, who should be the successor?"

Seok Han-Joong answered with a stiff expression. "That's not for me to say, sir."

"Don't say that. I want to hear your honest thoughts."

For Seok Han-Joong, commenting on succession matters felt burdensome. But because Jin Dae-Woon asked sincerely multiple times, he eventually opened his mouth.

"In principle, I believe the eldest son should inherit... but if we want to strengthen Jinseong, it should be either President Jin Sung-Joon or Director Jin Ah-Ram."

Jin Dae-Woon tapped the armrest of his chair and asked again. "If that happens, won't they cast me aside as just some old relic?"

"Who would dare disrespect the founder of Jinseong!? That's absurd—"

"Calm down. I just want your honest opinion."

Seok Han-Joong opened his mouth with difficulty. "This is just my personal opinion... but in the past, I could see that both President Jin Sung-Joon and Director Jin Ah-Ram might have cleared out everyone if they rose to power. And that's including you, sir. But since they started spending time with Jung Yoon-Ho, they've completely changed. The cold, elite air they once had... now they actually feel human."

"Hahaha. Is that so?"

"Yes. And as far as I can tell... if you keep Jung Yoon-Ho by their side, they won't turn their knives on you so easily. He doesn't seem like the type to strike first."

"He doesn't strike first?"

"No. From what I've looked into, he only responds in kind."

"So in other words, as long as we don't provoke him, there's no problem?"

"That's what it looks like."

Jin Dae-Woon nodded as he spoke. "Got it. Keep an eye on things for now."

"Yes, Mr. Chairman."

"All right. Then let's forget succession for now; we've got a fire to put out today."

With the stock market about to open, they had to deal with the most urgent matter first.

***

Just as we stepped out of the chairman's office at Jinseong Inc. headquarters, Jin Ah-Ram let out a deep sigh.

"Phew~ I thought I was going to die in there."

Jin Sung-Joon chuckled. "You did well, Ah-Ram."

"What did I even do? Mr. Jung had already laid everything out and I just put a spoon on the table."

But as she spoke, Jin Ah-Ram's face beamed with more confidence than ever. It seemed like she had finally landed a blow on the half-sister who had tormented her all her life.

In any case, today's events had placed the two of them in a massively advantageous position in the battle to become Jinseong Inc.'s successor.

Jin Myung-Gyu and Jin Myung-Hee wouldn't go down quietly, but I wasn't too worried. Whatever they tried, I would block it all.

I smiled and said, "Congratulations to both of you. You've now gained the upper hand in the succession race."

Jin Ah-Ram and Jin Sung-Joon thanked me.

"Thank you for helping my sister, Mr. Jung."

"It's nothing. We joined hands, so of course I'd help."

Then Jin Ah-Ram smiled with her eyes and said, "I'll repay you with more than just words."

And in that moment, Jin Ah-Ram began proposing an utterly ridiculous reward.