The Former Mercenary is a Chaebol Heir

Chapter 10: Paragliding

Im Hee-yeon was skeptical whether Shin-woo had fully grasped her explanations up to now. However, she was both surprised and concerned when he suddenly brought up conditions.

“…What conditions?”

Shin-woo, in response, presented what he had been contemplating.

“Please allow me to also proceed with investment planning separately.”

“Investment planning? That’s risky; first, learn the operations.”

Planning is the start of a business. It involves moving funds and determining profits or losses. If problems arise later, the initial planning phase carries significant responsibility. Im Hee-yeon didn’t want Shin-woo to bear such responsibilities within the company.

“If that’s the case, isn’t planning from the start part of the job?”

“……”

“My condition is an incentive based on the investment planning. I would like 5% of the net profit from investments I planned.”

“…An incentive? Do you think that’s feasible?”

MH Group was not a small enterprise. The funds involved were at least tens of billions at a time. Naturally, 5% was not a small figure for investment-related amounts.

“If it’s 5% from the investment plans I create, it’s not much. Of course, if the investment fails, I’ll follow your instructions.”

Im Hee-yeon’s deliberation did not take long.

“Are you really willing to do that? Are you saying you’re prepared to leave Korea?”

She knew well that this was something she had long desired.

“I’m not a spy, so why would you suggest leaving Korea? I’ll follow whatever instructions you give. Is that acceptable?”

“…Alright. I’ll have it revised and send it to you. Manager Song, please issue the formal notice immediately.”

Song Tae-hoon manipulated something on his tablet.

“The general notice has been posted.”

“Thank you. And Shin-woo… No, from now on, let’s refer to you as Director Baek Shin-woo in official settings. Director Baek, you can start your duties now. Manager Song will provide explanations regarding the guidance and the Strategic Investment Operations Office.”

“That sounds more convenient for me too, Chief.”

“Then you may leave. Manager Song will guide you through the rest.”

As Shin-woo stepped out, he followed Song Tae-hoon, who began explaining.

“The Strategic Investment Headquarters is divided into three departments. First, the Strategic Investment Planning Office plans its own investment projects. Then, the Strategic Investment Operations Office executes them to generate profits. Finally, the Strategic Investment Audit Office monitors the profit and loss, conducting audits if any issues arise.”

“That’s quite an inconvenient sequence.”

“It’s designed to prevent unrestrained actions by individuals and teams, as it involves handling pure financial transactions.”

Shin-woo nodded as he listened to the explanation.

“Understood. It’s a sequential process: planning, execution, and inspection. Are there many staff members?”

“The Strategic Investment Headquarters was previously known as the Strategic Planning Headquarters, responsible for operational audits across all group affiliates. It has been restructured into an independent investment operations affiliate.”

With Song Tae-hoon’s detailed explanation, Shin-woo understood the setup easily.

‘This seems similar to what Man-soo is doing these days.’

They crossed the hallway in front of the elevator and arrived at an office.

“This is the Strategic Investment Operations Office. The internal staff includes 2 team leaders at the deputy manager level, 4 assistant managers, 8 regular staff members, and Director Baek Shin-woo, totaling 15 people. You may request additional personnel T/O if needed.”

The office was approximately *50 pyeong in size.

*165 square meters.*

Inside, staff members were busy working in the newly established department.

Shin-woo observed the office and nodded.

“Arrived at work without any issues and am currently catching up on tasks.”

During this time, the employees’ attention shifted to Shin-woo, who had entered with Song Tae-hoon. Despite being in his mid-twenties at most, dressed casually without a tie and with his hair styled casually, he looked more like a guest than an employee.

Song Tae-hoon surveyed the employees before leading Shin-woo forward.

“Good. This is Baek Shin-woo, the new Director of the Strategic Investment Department.”

Everyone was astonished at hearing this.

Shin-woo then addressed the employees.

“As introduced, my name is Baek Shin-woo. I am twenty-three this year, and the head of the Strategic Investment Department is my biological mother.”

The employees were even more surprised than when they had discussed the official notice earlier.

It had been announced that Im Hee-yeon, who was now in the position of the Strategic Investment Department Head, was the illegitimate child of Myung Joong-hwan, the Chairman of MH Group.

Naturally, this meant that Baek Shin-woo was also part of the owner family.

At the same time, it was understandable why a twenty-three-year-old was appointed as the head of the Strategic Investment Department.

The employees were silent, not knowing what to say first.

“Looking forward to working with you.”

Even such a statement was met with continued silence.

“Director, let me guide you to your office.”

“Please do, Manager.”

“Everyone, please return to your seats as it will soon be working hours.”

As the employees dispersed, Shin-woo followed Song Tae-hoon to the office area, where the Director’s office had been set up.

The office was about *20 pyeong in size, with a large desk, a sofa, and a conference table.

*66 square meters*

“It’s quite spacious.”

“It’s a room used by anyone in a Director position. Of course, some parts were prepared for the comfort of the Department Head.”

“I see.”

Shin-woo murmured this while approaching the window.

The view of Seoul from the 32nd floor was quite new to him.

Song Tae-hoon asked in a calm voice.

“May I ask why you did that earlier?”

“What do you mean? Oh, you mean revealing that the Department Head is you biological mother?”

“The information released publicly is only that the Department Head is the illegitimate child of the Chairman. While your existence was mentioned, no other details have been leaked.”

“Someone will find out and reveal it sooner or later, as long as those who knows this fact aren’t all dead.”

The new grandson of Myung Joong-hwan had appeared.

Though the succession line was lower due to being an illegitimate child, the interest of people was inevitable.

“That may be true. However, the analogy seems somewhat extreme.”

“I tend to lead an extreme life. And I thought it would be more convenient if it was revealed sooner.”

“…I understand what you mean. Then, you can gradually get acquainted with the work starting today. You should be able to request necessary materials from the employees you saw earlier within your authority.”

“Got it.”

With this, Song Tae-hoon left the room.

Left alone, Shin-woo took out his phone and called Jang Man-soo.

[Why the call so soon? Have you finished your first day?]

“I’ve introduced myself to the staff and come in. Luckily, they’ve even given me a personal office.”

[Oh, that’s impressive. How does the work seem? It might be too early to tell on your first day.]

“It’s not quite like that. It seems the department handles investment matters.”

[Good, then. If it’s related to that, I can provide sufficient assistance.]

Jang Man-soo, unlike Shin-woo, was with the National Intelligence Service and was well-versed in social and economic trends. Plus, his improved memory due to the regression made him almost like a cheat code for investment insights.

“So, I need a favor.”

[What’s the favor?]

“I’ve been appointed as the Director of Strategic Investment. So, I need you to help me identify prominent investment targets for the current period. Exclude the ones within your scope.”

[Investment? Are you really going to give it a serious try?]

“It’s good timing. To make them feel the sense of crisis, it’s fine to increase my influence within the company.”

[Got it. I’ll prepare the information so that the scale is feasible for corporate investment. After all, the scale of what I was managing wasn’t enough to handle such things.]

Even Jang Man-soo, who understood the economic flow, was still at an individual level. It would be different if he increased his scale later. For now, investing with corporate-sized funds was challenging.

“Thanks. Just make sure to deliver it through a route that won’t be traced. You can give it directly if needed.”

[Who do you think I am? You don’t need to worry about that.]

In his previous life, Jang Man-soo was responsible for information management and erasing traces in Triad Eye. Having that experience and returning to the past made it easier than any other task.

*

MH Group Headquarters, President’s Office.

Myung In-chul received the files and contract documents for Shin-woo, who had been appointed as the head of the Strategic Investment Operations Office, through his bodyguard, Park Sang-kyu.

“Hmm… It looks like the identity check information is no different from last time.”

“There were no special points.”

“But… 5% investment incentive? Is this for a trade freelancer or what?”

He was surprised to see that Baek Shin-woo, who was appointed as the head of the Strategic Investment Operations Office, would be involved in investment planning despite not having planning duties.

“According to the content, it seems that he will be handling operations and also conducting investment planning independently.”

“Investment? He’s clearly set on falling into his own pit.”

“He had an overly confident personality when we met last time as well.”

“If that foolish guy is set on digging his own grave, then it’s a good thing for us.”

Myung In-chul muttered as Park Sang-kyu continued with other reports.

“As you mentioned, we’ve placed people within the Strategic Investment Operations Office.”

“Good. What else?”

“Due to the last café incident, the personnel in the head of the Strategic Investment Division’s security team have been replaced. We will need to look for opportunities in the future.”

This referred to the time when Im Hee-yeon visited the café to meet Shin-woo. At that time, they had identified the appropriate time and place to deal with Im Hee-yeon through the personnel they had placed.

“Wasn’t that just a minor placement?”

“It was difficult as we chose from those with clean external records. It will be more cautious going forward.”

“We lost an important card. Well, if that’s the reason I survived, it’s a good thing. Are there still any people who can be recruited internally?”

It was a method they had explored before. However, Im Hee-yeon’s meticulous nature ensured that only trustworthy individuals were selected.

“Not at the moment.”

“We should have never allowed that woman to create Team 5 in KITE.”

KITE was a security company and a subsidiary of MH Tech, a defense industry affiliate of MH Group. It had been responsible for the security of the owner’s family by dividing into special security teams. Team 5 did not originally exist. It was created by Im Hee-yeon as she rose to the position of Strategic Planning Division Head, thus forming a highly organized team.

“No one expected that Im Hee-yeon, then Head of the Strategic Planning Division, had prepared so extensively.”

“Even my father was completely unaware, so it was an indication of her high capability.”

“Now that the Strategic Planning Division has come to the surface as the Strategic Investment Division, there will be many restrictions on them as well.”

“That’s all part of my father’s plan.”

Myung In-chul had to covertly return the funds siphoned from MH Electronics. Otherwise, he might have had trouble maintaining his current position.

“Upper management instructed not to worry and to keep an eye on the situation.”

In reality, the funds returned to the company were not the ones originally siphoned. The siphoned funds had already been used, and Park Sang-kyu had urgently provided alternative support.

“There must have been many complaints from the higher-ups. I feel sorry about that.”

“There were some issues, but don’t worry about it for the sake of your great work.”

“It’s all that woman’s fault. She keeps obstructing everything…”

“We are still exploring methods regarding Im Hee-yeon.”

Myung In-chul leaned deeply into his chair and tapped the armrest with his fingers.

“Are there any plans to deal with Baek Shin-woo as well?”

“For now, with all eyes on him, it’s easy to attract suspicion. We will discuss it further.”

“Please do.”