Episode 11 of "The Art of Negotiation" picks up the thread from its preceding chapter, where Joo-no finds himself ensnared in a probe targeting insider trading and market manipulation. The HR Director, sensing the shifting winds, promptly switches sides, aligning with CFO Ha, and divulges that they had received an anonymous missive tagging Joo-no as a stakeholder in JUMBO Pharmaceuticals—the epicenter of the insider trading accusations.
It transpires that the CEO of JUMBO, who was purportedly toiling over a novel ADHD drug, had earlier solicited investment from CFO Ha. During that juncture, Ha, still an integral part of the M&A team alongside Joo-no, facilitated an initial deposit for the venture.
In the contemporary narrative, Joo-no exhorts his team to collaborate with the audit and disclose the bare truth. Meanwhile, Jae-shik convenes with the HR Director, CFO Ha, and Director Dong-ju, who The collective decision is to initiate a disciplinary hearing against Joo no, Dong-ju agreeing to sit on the committee. Joo-no also reconnects with a former associate who had served a stint in prison for stock manipulation, hinting at deeper, untold facets of the unfolding scandal.
A detailed flashback illuminates how Joo-no’s team embarked on a re-examination of JUMBO Pharmaceuticals. Despite escalating sales figures, they uncovered that the company’s profits had dwindled due to ballooning expenses. Further investigation revealed that the purported “novel” ADHD drug was a mere replica of an expired U.S. patent medication.
Even more alarming, JUMBO had been dishonest about conducting original research. Upon visiting the company’s listed address, Joo-no discovered no actual laboratory but merely a shell corporation repackaging an outdated drug. The team also unearthed that JUMBO was selling the drugs at a loss, suggesting a colossal investment racket.
Interwoven within this sequence, we glimpse that the individual Joo-no repeatedly phones in the U.S. could be his partner. Simultaneously, in another Memories fragments, Joo-no’s brother drops by his apartment and stumbles upon Sanin’s investment blueprint in JUMBO, fostering additional suspicions.
It is at this critical juncture that Joo-no comes to the sobering realization that Ha Tae-su and the CEO of JUMBO have formed an unholy alliance. Rather than informing Ha of his discovery, Joo-no learns of a clandestine agreement between the duo to divide the investment funds amongst themselves. The JUMBO CEO, in a brazen display of collusion, further proposes to manipulate stock prices to Ha's advantage, solidifying their deceitful partnership.
As the disciplinary hearing unfolds, a haunting flashback unravels the tale of how Joo-no's brother inadvertently became privy to the confidential investment information. Despite Joo-no's vigilance, the JUMBO CEO cunningly approached his brother directly, feigning desperation for a loan while subtly leaking the investment details. He even resorted to bribery, disguised as a gesture of generosity meant for Joo-no, but the brother, steadfast in his integrity, refused the offer. Unbeknownst to Joo-no, his brother later leveraged borrowed funds to purchase JUMBO stocks, sparking a cascade of events that now jeopardizes Joo-no's professional life.
In the heat of the moment, during the ongoing hearing, Joo-no confesses that his brother was indeed aware of Sanin's investment and acknowledges his brother's ownership of JUMBO shares. CFO Ha, seizing the opportunity, pressures for Joo-no's immediate dismissal. However, Joo-no, undeterred and resolute, refuses to accept his fate so easily, demanding a second review of the situation. The episode concludes on a tantalizing cliffhanger, hinting at Joo-no's burgeoning determination to fight for his own defense.
