Cheongwadae Yeongbingwan.

A long wooden table was placed right in the center.

The President was at the head of the table, and on both sides of him, business figures were sitting in a row.

Nameplates were placed at each seat.

On the table, instead of fancy dishes, bottled water and drinks in transparent glasses, along with simple things like cookies and nuts, were served in a neat form.

Today was a place for showing rather than conversation.

Those sitting at the table were the giants moving the heart of the Republic of Korea’s economy.

I, Lim Hyunjun, was sitting in the seat opposite the President and facing him.

Today, having welcomed the New Year past the end of the year, I was invited as the representative of HJ Partners.

Right next to the President, the Economic Deputy Prime Minister was seated, and on the other side, Nam Kun-ho, the head of Daehan Group and the chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was seated.

Nam Kun-ho opened his mouth first.

“Mr. President, thank you for arranging such a spot. I hope there will be frequent opportunities for the government and the private sector to put their heads together and discuss.”

After finishing the polite greeting, he lowered his voice and continued speaking.

“However, to say a word on behalf of the business community, domestic export companies are receiving a considerable blow due to the recent drop in global oil prices and instability in the Middle East situation.”

A heavy topic was thrown at me.

The President listened intently to his words while nodding his head.

“Particularly, because funds invested in Middle East resource development or construction businesses are not being recovered in time, and even new contracts are being delayed, it is becoming a big burden even on maintaining field personnel. If overseas profits decrease, an aftermath is bound to occur in domestic employment as well.”

After finishing speaking, Nam Kun-ho threw a meaningful gaze across the table.

“Of course, there are also companies that maintain a very close relationship with Iraq these days. I heard that their exchange with local high-ranking officials is also active. It must be quite advantageous in such a situation.”

On the outside, it was an appearance of praise, but it was full of subtle checking and sarcasm.

It was thanks to cleverly utilizing the power coming from the position of being in the seat next to the President.

I slowly raised my head.

There was no way I did not know that those words were aimed at me.

I raised the water glass to moisten my mouth and then spoke calmly.

“As you said, the Middle East situation is a big challenge and task for domestic companies. We, HJ Partners, also have some difficulties due to the delay of the Iraq field project.”

I turned my gaze toward Chairman Nam Kun-ho for a moment and then looked at the President.

“However, what we value is not friendship but trust. Cooperation with the local government was not made in a short period but is the result of a partnership built over a long time. If not for that trust, the businesses until now would not have been able to exist.”

The eyes of several figures changed.

Although I was speaking politely, I countered firmly.

That appearance was an attitude that was not intimidated by power or age.

The President took the words while smiling as if satisfied.

“Now is the time when companies and the government must join forces together. As Chairman Nam said, diplomatic stability is also important. In that sense, Representative Lim’s word ‘trust’ is impressive. Foreign affairs and businesses are both based on trust in a way.”

Everyone nodded their heads at the President’s words.

This was soon the same as officially giving weight to my statement.

Nam Kun-ho wore a faint smile while resting the glass on his hand, but his gaze alone was not easily read.

Everyone knew that he was not a person who would back down like this.

I looked at the table in front of my eyes for a moment.

This is not a simple briefing session.

An invisible battlefield where politics, economy, and diplomacy intersect and the future is overturned with a single word and a single look.

I quietly clenched my hand and vowed in my heart.

‘Try playing tricks as much as you want. As if I would fall for that.’

On the outside, it looked like a friendly scene, but a tight tension was wrapping around the hall.

The one who broke the atmosphere again was, as expected, Nam Kun-ho.

He slowly put down the water glass on the table and gave a meaningful smile.

In that laughter, leisureliness and a cunning intention coexisted.

Nam Kun-ho spoke while turning his body slightly toward the President.

“But you see, Mr. President. I heard that Taeseong Construction is in charge of the Iraq refinery construction project these days.”

Several giants sitting across the table expressed interest and nodded their heads.

Nam Kun-ho seemed to have the intention to bring out the real main point from now on.

He spoke in an even clearer voice.

“I am talking about President Lim Do-hyun.”

He stopped speaking for a moment and then scanned the surroundings’ reactions.

“Of course, no one can deny that Taeseong Construction is a leading company representing our country, but….”

The corners of his mouth began to rise little by little.

It was like the expression of a beast with prey in front of it.

“I honestly feel concerned whether President Lim Do-hyun can complete a large-scale project without a hitch in a complicated and sensitive international situation like now.”

While acting as a concerned elder, he was hiding a sharp blade called checking.

It was a method like a skilled politician accurately aiming for the opponent’s vital point.

Well, those gathered here were only masters when it came to being clever.

Thanks to Chairman Nam, the air in the banquet hall stiffened in an instant.

At that time, Lim Hye-seon, who was sitting quietly, opened her mouth.

Her voice stood out with a calm yet elegant atmosphere.

“You do not have to worry about that at all, Chairman Nam.”

Lim Hye-seon showed a grin as if it were nothing.

“Taeseong Construction is already a proven company that has successfully completed ultra-large overseas projects dozens of times in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa. This Iraq project is also being promoted under a meticulous and perfect plan.”

Nam Kun-ho nodded reluctantly and had an expression as if looking at a naive young person who still did not know the ways of the world.

“Of course it would be. I am not doubting the technological prowess and construction capability of Taeseong Construction.”

He smiled while dragging his words on purpose.

“I am talking about President Lim Do-hyun. Looking at the controversy that arose this time…. Tsk, tsk. How could a person do such a thing….”

The sound of people clearing their throats was heard from here and there.

Looking at his expression, it seemed the President was not unaware either.

Nam Kun-ho tilted his head slightly and was now openly enjoying it.

He continued speaking.

“President Lim Do-hyun tried to put Acting Chairman Lim Hye-seon in a predicament in a crude manner. Fortunately, he was driven into a corner himself. Haha. There is no one in the industry who does not know about that incident.”

The air around the table became noticeably bustling.

Chairman Nam Kun-ho shot out words that no one else could bring up.

Nam Kun-ho enjoyed their reaction and slowly raised the glass to take a sip.

“Of course, I know that Acting Chairman Lim Hye-seon settled it wisely. A young person is truly amazing.”

On the outside, it was a tone as if siding with Lim Hye-seon.

However, the words that followed behind were real.

“But seeing such a quarrel happening even internally, I wonder if the large-scale projects Taeseong promotes in the future can really roll properly…. Hmm, well.”

The way he slurred the end of his words felt to the point of being hateful.

“Isn’t a company eventually about trust and a sense of stability? If the inside is shaken, trust is bound to be shaken on the outside as well.”

Those words stabbed accurately toward the vital point.

It was a statement that shook trust by exposing Lim Do-hyun’s individual incompetence and pettiness while simultaneously making the internal conflict of the entire Taeseong Group public.

Moreover, without directly attacking Lim Hye-seon, he subtly highlighted the shadow of the power struggle within the group.

Lim Hye-seon raised her glass calmly, but her fingertips stiffened very minutely.

Her expression still looked elegant and calm, but inside she was full of displeasure.

It was because even she did not expect that this matter would be brought up at a polite briefing session in the Cheongwadae Yeongbingwan.

“That is a matter that has already been clearly settled internally, Chairman Nam. A single individual’s rash behavior does not immediately lead to the trust of the entire company. Rather, we have come to have a firmer system through this incident. Thank you for worrying.”

But Nam Kun-ho had no intention of backing down easily.

He nodded and laughed slyly.

“Of course it should be. It should be as Acting Chairman Lim Hye-seon says. However, since several stories are already floating around externally… you should respond a little more carefully in such parts. Of course, this is what I am saying as a senior. You should not feel bad. Hahaha.”

He spoke like an elder giving advice, but a clear intention was embedded in it.

An impure intention to swallow you up in an instant if Taeseong becomes unstable due to an individual mistake called Lim Do-hyun.

However, even if one feels bad, if one gets caught up in it, it goes exactly as he intended.

I, having watched the situation quietly until now, finally opened my mouth.

“Chairman Nam’s words also have a point, but the true value of a company is not shaken by one or two commotions. Rather, I think how to break through such a crisis is the real skill.”

My gaze slowly turned toward Chairman Nam Kun-ho.

Something challenging flashed in those eyes.

“Taeseong Group has grown while undergoing numerous trials in the meantime. This incident is the same. However….”

I stopped speaking for a moment and smiled meaningfully.

“I feel regretful as it seems you are showing excessive interest in someone else’s family affairs. I wonder if it would be better to focus more on your own company’s work during that time. Of course, I am not talking about Chairman Nam. How could I dare to say such words.”

Thanks to me, everyone burst into laughter.

In an instant, Nam Kun-ho’s face flushed red.

Although I spoke politely, the message contained within was clear.

‘Mind your own business!’

Nam Kun-ho answered while trying to smile.

“Haha. Since you are a young person, it is just like Representative Lim Hyunjun. I am truly envious of that spirit. However, speaking from experience, since industries are connected to each other, what happens in one place is bound to affect other places.”

I responded calmly.

“Of course it would be. But that is why one should be even more careful. I do not think disturbing the market with groundless speculations or rumors is something a wise manager should do.”

The area around the table became tight with tension once again.

Now, instead of a simple probing battle, it began to take the aspect of a direct confrontation.

The President said while nodding his head slowly.

“Everyone, today is a pleasant spot. Work stories are good too, but let’s put away heavy topics for a while. Haha.”

On the outside, they were words as if urging reconciliation.

A warning was contained within them.

That he does not want any more conflict.

Nam Kun-ho answered first.

“Of course, Mr. President.”

I slightly lowered my head toward the President to show courtesy, then slowly raised the glass on the table and took a sip of cool water.

I put down the glass and said.

“That is right, Mr. President. Today is a place to celebrate the New Year. I hope the New Year becomes a time where everyone looks a little further and bigger. A year where we can speak with real skills and results rather than being shaken by groundless rumors or controversies.”