Free Web NovelA certain ancient castle in Germany.
“How many years has it been since we all gathered like this?”
Five elderly men sat around a large round table, talking.
“Probably since the Gulf War.”
The old men gave small nods and lifted their teacups.
At first glance, it looked peaceful and ordinary, but it was anything but.
“Before Bill steps down from the presidency, we need to make him sign the repeal of the banking regulation law, which has been our long-cherished wish.”
“Of course. That’s why we made that reckless brat president in the first place.”
The old men, who spoke proudly of having created the president of the world’s strongest nation, the United States.
“Because of the Glass-Steagall Act, we can’t do as we please. We must repeal it this time.”
Enacted in 1933, the Glass-Steagall Act reflected President Roosevelt’s strong will, as he believed reckless management by commercial banks was the main cause of the Great Depression and the stock market crash.
Aimed at banking reform and speculation control, the law strictly separated the operations of commercial and investment banks.
Commercial banks were restricted to deposits and loans, while investment banks were limited to investment-related business.
“Nace, say something too. You think keeping quiet will make this work?”
“David, Bill is nothing but our puppet. What’s there to worry about?”
“You’re always so relaxed. This is why people hate Jews, tsk.”
Nace and David’s gazes clashed in midair.
“Now, now, stop it. Why do you two always act like you’re ready to devour each other every time we meet? You’re too old for this nonsense.”
When another old man intervened, the two turned their heads away simultaneously.
“If we repeal that law, we’ll gain even greater power. Just like before. We’ve waited so long for this day. So why are we fighting among ourselves?”
“Alright, enough, Marx. You’re still nagging even at your age.”
The heated atmosphere cooled down again.
“Let David handle the law repeal. He’ll do fine. More importantly, have you all heard the rumor about Wall Street dogs being played by an Asian?”
Everyone turned their attention to the old man who spoke.
“I’ve read the report. Was it Charlie? He supposedly made a fortune by exploiting the East Asian currency crisis.”
“He’s only in his twenties, apparently.”
David took over the conversation, and soon the other old men began talking about Kim Muhyuk.
“Quite talented for someone so young. Is he from a Japanese noble family?”
“No, I heard he’s Korean.”
Marx pulled a disinterested face.
“Korea? Where’s that supposed to be?”
“A country next to Japan. Not well-known, but not to be underestimated either. Quite a sizable market.”
“Never mind that. So what about this Asian?”
The old man who had been silent after bringing up the topic spoke again.
“Although still insignificant, judging by his moves, I think he might clash with us one day.”
The other four old men burst into loud laughter.
“Lorenze, are you senile? Why are you saying such nonsense so seriously?”
The loudest laugh came from Marx.
“A nobody from some unheard-of country like Korea clashing with us? Hitler coming back to life is more likely.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, but Lorenze shook his head.
“Still, it wouldn’t be wise to be complacent. We’re entering an entirely different era. Times are changing fast. Look how much the world has changed in the last ten years. I’m saying we need to be prepared.”
“Lorenze, you’re not still paranoid because of that incident, are you?”
“Marx.”
Lorenze’s face stiffened.
“Ah, my apologies. I didn’t mean to mock you. Back then, it was just the Medici family, but now we’re united. Who can possibly stand against us? Don’t be so fearful.”
The other old men chimed in.
“Lorenze, you’re too cautious. Marx is right. Unless another lunatic like Hitler shows up... no, even if Hitler came back, he couldn’t stand against us.”
“...Understood. But just in case, I’ll keep monitoring that man.”
“Do as you please. Now, let’s talk about Russia. It smells delicious. Yeltsin’s health is failing, and the economy’s in crisis.”
The old men gathered here were the forces moving the world from behind the scenes.
The Rothschild family, whose influence stretched across the globe.
The Medici family of Italy.
The Rockefeller family of the United States.
The Wallenberg family of Sweden.
And...
“Why so quiet?”
“No reason. Let’s begin.”
The one man who brought all these people together.
The mediator who united once-rival families into an alliance.
The House of Habsburg.
Once rulers of Europe, the family was believed to have fallen with the decline of monarchies and the rise of democracy.
But in truth, they had merely hidden their power, manipulating the world from the shadows through other families.
Far from Kim Muhyuk’s knowledge, ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) a great movement had already begun.
* * *
It had been a long time since all of my friends had gathered like this.
“How’s Busan?”
At my question, Myungsoo shrugged.
“Same as always.”
“My grandma went down to Busan. Check in on her sometimes.”
“Alright. So, have you wrapped up your business?”
“Mostly. Hyunwoo must be swamped these days.”
Hyunwoo, who had been chatting with the others, turned to me.
“Thanks to you. I passed your message to that bastard. His face turned pale.”
“Bae Beomgyu?”
“Yeah. He didn’t even understand the situation and tried to talk back, so I gave him a good smack.”
“Hahaha. Are you sure that’s okay?”
“Chief Prosecutor Yoon ordered it. I’m just a grunt prosecutor who follows orders.”
I snorted at Oh Hyunwoo’s exaggerated tone.
“What’s so funny between you two?”
Han Minkyung asked, handing me a glass of alcohol.
“Ah, you wouldn’t know, huh? Chief Prosecutor Bae Beomgyu.”
“I saw the news.”
“That bastard dragged Muhyuk to the Central District Prosecutors’ Office. I got sweet revenge for him.”
“What? Muhyuk, you were dragged to the prosecutors’ office?”
Han Minkyung asked, shocked.
I waved my hand, saying it was no big deal.
“No, it was just a voluntary appearance. I went briefly and left quickly. Hyunwoo’s exaggerating.”
“You should’ve told me first if something like that happened! I’m hurt. Aren’t we friends?”
“I said it was nothing. Not even worth mentioning. Hyunwoo only knew because he’s a prosecutor, and Jaeha was my defense lawyer...”
I trailed off mid-explanation.
Right. Now that I thought about it, everyone except Minkyung already knew.
I felt like a sinner.
“I didn’t mean to. You’ve been busy lately.”
“Still!”
“My apologies. I promise to report everything next time, Judge Han Minkyung.”
She slapped my back.
“Next time, make sure you tell me. Don’t make me feel left out.”
“Alright, let’s stop and have a drink.”
We all raised our glasses.
“To our eternal friendship!”
One drink led to another, and the mood grew lively.
As everyone chatted freely, catching up on their lives, I quietly called Myungsoo.
“How’s life as a prosecutor?”
“Well, just like any other civil service job. Finished my stint as a military judicial officer, and thanks to you, I was assigned to Busan for my first post, so I’ve adjusted well.”
“You’ll be called to Seoul soon.”
“Why?”
Myungsoo stared at me, wondering why I was being so cryptic.
“You, thinking about going into politics?”
“Politics?”
Myungsoo’s face turned incredulous.
“Are you crazy? Me, politics? Don’t be ridiculous.”
He laughed it off, but I asked again.
“I’m serious. Don’t you want to?”
“Damn it, you told me to become a prosecutor, and now you want me to be a politician?”
Myungsoo, who had mostly lost his dialect after military service, suddenly slipped back into his old accent.
“Politics isn’t some game. Me, a politician? No way. Let Hyunwoo do it instead. He’s cut out for politics.”
Oh Hyunwoo glanced at us, hearing his name.
I waved him off.
“Nothing. Drink.”
“You weren’t calling me?”
Hyunwoo turned back to his conversation with Hyunseong.
“Lower your voice. Did you swallow a megaphone?”
“Why politics all of a sudden?”
I glanced around at my friends, all engaged in cheerful conversation.
These people would one day move Korea’s future.
But none of them had their eyes on politics. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
“Are you still attached to being a prosecutor? Or do you just hate politics?”
“I became a prosecutor because you told me to. Honestly, I could quit anytime... but politics isn’t for someone like me.”
“What’s wrong with you?”
His reaction surprised me. He seemed almost disgusted by politics.
“I’m telling you, politics isn’t for me. You want to throw a friend into that filthy world...”
“I just don’t have anyone I can trust. Without trustworthy politicians, it’s too risky.”
There were plenty of lawmakers and politicians tied to me with money, but they could turn against me anytime.
I needed a political force I could rely on.
I was already considering backing Chief Prosecutor Yoon for president after his retirement.
And before that, it would be ideal if Myungsoo secured a seat in the National Assembly under Yoon’s influence.
“My parents’ revenge is done. Now I’m living for myself. Right now, money is the greatest power. Maybe it’ll always be. But in Korea, politicians can crush even the wealthiest if they want to. That bothers me.”
Someone once said: political power is short-lived, but wealth lasts a lifetime.
But in Korea, political power could still crush wealth.
Myungsoo scratched his head.
“Damn... I worked so hard to become a prosecutor.”
“That’s why it’ll be easier for you to establish yourself as a politician. Not right away. Build enough experience as a prosecutor first. I’ll hand you the cases you need.”
“What are you two talking about?”
Yoon Jaeha approached with a drink.
“Jaeha, Muhyuk here is telling me to go into politics.”
“What? Myungsoo? Muhyuk, are you sick or something?”
Myungsoo bristled.
“What’s that supposed to mean? What’s wrong with me?”
“Come on, you as a politician? I can’t even imagine it. Hey, guys! Muhyuk’s telling Myungsoo to go into politics.”
Everyone looked surprised.
Myungsoo jumped up.
“What’s so wrong with me?!”
But everyone just ignored him.
“Muhyuk, are you drunk?”
“Yeah, Muhyuk, go get some air.”
“Stop teasing Myungsoo.”
Even Hyunwoo, Minkyung, and Hyunseong joined in.
“You bastards...”
Then Myungsoo suddenly shouted.
“Fine! I’ll do it! I’ll go into politics!”
“Hey, that’s not something to decide out of anger.”
“I can’t stand those smirks anymore. What do I need to do?”
I had prepared all sorts of persuasive arguments, but Myungsoo flipped so quickly I couldn’t help laughing.
Honestly, I could’ve made anyone into a powerful politician.
But Myungsoo was simply the one I trusted the most.
“We’ll talk about the details later.”
“Assemblyman Lee Myungsoo, huh. Hahaha! I still can’t picture it.”
“Seriously, it’s too weird!”
Everyone laughed, except Myungsoo.
“Knock it off, you jerks...”
After spending a long, noisy night with my friends, I headed home.
“I’m not forcing my friends into this path out of selfishness, am I?”
Sitting in the passenger seat, Chief Ma turned to me.
“If it were the wrong path for them, then yes, it’d be a problem. But if it’s a path you walk together, then it’s fine.”
I silently looked out the window, thinking of the faces of those walking this path with me.
For some reason, the night felt strangely lingering.
Russia, still in negotiations with the IMF, eventually declared a moratorium.
American investors, including Wall Street, who had bet on Russia’s future, fell into panic.
The sleeping polar bear had shown its claws.
— Muhyuk. You need to come to the U.S.
“I was planning to anyway.”
— The private jet is headed for Korea. It’ll arrive at Gimpo Airport tomorrow. Take it.
“Got it. See you in New York.”
It was time to keep the promise I had made to pressure the government.
Of course, this too was all part of the plan.
