Genius Grandson Of The Loan Shark King

After asking Wen Jiabao to look into Jang Daeho’s family, I hadn’t heard a word from China for months.

‘For there to be no news for this long... Don’t tell me he’s dead?’

Just when the thought was starting to gnaw at me, I finally got a call from China.

— President Kim, it was a difficult job.

“You’ve worked hard. Did you find them?”

— Yes. But the North Korean side has set conditions. Can you come to China?

“More than that, are they alive?”

— Yes, the children are alive. The wife has already passed away.

Sadly, the wife had already departed this life, but the news that the children were alive was welcome.

This wasn’t just about the deal I had made with Jang Daeho—knowing the man’s character, I wanted to help him no matter what.

“Understood. I’ll leave tomorrow.”

— Then I’ll see you tomorrow.

I hung up with Wen Jiabao and stood up.

Not knowing yet what kind of demands North Korea would make only made me more impatient.

“Chief Ma, contact the airport so we can leave for China tomorrow.”

Following behind me, Chief Ma asked again.

“Boss, China?”

“Yes. They say they’ve found Jang Daeho’s family. Apparently the North made some demands, so I need to go and hear them out.”

Chief Ma stopped in his tracks.

The unusual act made me stop as well, and when I turned around, his face was filled with worry.

“The North is dangerous, Boss. If it’s found out that you met a North Korean official in China, it could put you at risk.”

“Are you worried?”

I asked with a deliberate smile, but the stiffness on Chief Ma’s face didn’t ease.

“I know what you mean. But you know as well as I do that we need to bring back Jang Daeho’s family.”

“Then let me go instead.”

I fully understood what he was concerned about.

Even with the historic first inter-Korean summit coming up this year and the atmosphere of thaw between the two Koreas, the North was still the primary enemy.

It was handing the enemy an excuse to attack me under the National Security Law, but even so, I felt it was right for me to go in person.

“No. Since I don’t know what demands they’ll make, I need to go myself.”

“But...”

“Let’s meet them first and worry after.”

When I started walking again, Chief Ma followed alongside.

“You never know. You should at least give the U.S. a heads-up.”

“Ah...”

I let out a low sigh.

Chief Ma had pinpointed something I’d overlooked.

“All right. I’ll handle that.”

“Yes, Boss.”

The U.S. was probably monitoring my every move.

If I suddenly flew to China to meet with a North Korean official without saying anything, it could cause quite a headache.

And there was also what former Treasury Secretary Rubin had said, which lingered in my mind.

‘President Kim, the U.S. administration is preparing to put pressure on you. It seems to be the work of the Jewish lobby.’

I’d anticipated that the U.S. government wouldn’t remain friendly toward me forever, but to start checking me even before a change in administration...

‘Things are turning out more entertaining than I thought.’

I smirked, lifting one corner of my mouth.

The next day, I stopped by my grandfather’s place as part of my morning routine, then called Han Kyungyeong.

— Oh, Muhyuk.

“Hyung, busy? Sounds noisy around you.”

— Nah. I stepped outside from a party to take your call.

“I’m headed to China today to meet a North Korean official. Can you give the U.S. administration a little advance notice?”

— What?

His voice rose in shock on the other end of the line.

“There are people I need to bring out of the North. They said they’ll tell me their demands in person, so I need to meet them to find out.”

There was a long pause. I could picture the worried look on Han Kyungyeong’s face.

— Ha... This is crazy. Do you really have to go yourself?

“It’s necessary.”

— You do realize dealing with the North is on a completely different level than dealing with Russia or China? It could become a weakness for you.

It was the exact same warning I’d heard from Chief Ma.

I chuckled lightly.

“That’s why I’m letting the U.S. know in advance. They probably already know I’m on the move anyway.”

— All right, fine. The Secretary of State is here at the party, so I’ll casually drop it in.

“The Secretary of State is at your party?”

He’d been grumbling about the endless parties lately, but this sounded more like a social networking circuit.

— The presidential election’s just around the corner. I’m being dragged everywhere. Today it’s a Democratic Party event; tomorrow’s Republican. Oh, that reminds me, I’ve got something to report to you.

“What is it?”

— Not something to wrap up quickly, so I’d rather not do it over the phone. Call me after you get back from China.

“Got it. Nothing urgent?”

— Not urgent. Ah, they’re calling me back in. I’ll go. Talk later, Muhyuk.

He switched to English and hurriedly ended the call.

Honestly, sometimes it seemed like he was busier than I was.

Remembering how he used to complain about having too much money and nothing to spend it on, I fiddled with my phone and gave a small laugh.

“Let’s head to the airport.”

“Yes, Boss.”

On the way to Gimpo Airport, I called Myungsoo.

“I hear you’ve got a one-on-one with President Yoon today?”

— Yeah. We’re meeting in a bit.

“Tell him you’re definitely running in your district. If he pushes back, drop my name. That should win most of them over.”

Myungsoo didn’t seem to grasp it right away and asked curiously.

— Wouldn’t it be better for me to tour the country helping with the campaign? Wouldn’t that be more beneficial?

“That’s good for the Centrist Party, but not particularly for you. When you’re campaigning, you should be turning the people you help into your own allies—you don’t have to just help the party.”

I explained patiently for the still-politically-green Myungsoo.

In the Centrist Party, those who already had an established political base wouldn’t welcome his help. freewёbnoνel.com

But as the party had only been founded a year ago, there were many newcomers to politics.

If they won re-election, a third, and a fourth term thanks to Myungsoo’s help, they’d become part of his personal faction.

“Focus on those in tough races or first-termers, and turn them into your people.”

— I get it.

“Follow the plan I mentioned, and your faction will balloon in no time.”

— Got it. I’d better head in now. Let’s grab a meal when you’re back from China, Muhyuk.

“Yeah.”

I was already excited at the thought of what kind of figure Myungsoo might become in the future I was shaping.

When I stepped out of the airport in Beijing, I saw people waiting—Wen Jiabao’s men.

“President Kim Muhyuk?”

“Yes.”

“We’ve been instructed by the Vice Premier to escort you.”

The appearance of the men in black suits instantly put my security team on alert.

“Do we move separately?”

To Chief Ma’s question, the man replied evenly.

“Escort is limited to one person. You will travel with us separately.”

“...Chief Ma, have the security team rest at the hotel.”

“Boss.”

Chief Ma called to me in a low voice, but I shook my head firmly.

Wen Jiabao had no reason to harm me.

“If Wen Jiabao made up his mind, no number of security personnel in China could resist. I think he just wants to maintain security since the North is involved.”

Wen Jiabao had no reason to get rid of me.

On the contrary, if he tried, it would endanger him.

I was the one laundering his slush funds and moving them out to Hong Kong. And if I disappeared, he’d also lose Han Kyungyeong, who had been helping him build his political standing.

“Understood.”

Resigned, Chief Ma ordered the security team to wait at the reserved hotel.

Only Chief Ma and I got into the car Wen Jiabao had prepared.

After about two hours’ drive, we arrived at a safehouse on the outskirts of Beijing.

It wasn’t a traditional Chinese residence, but a European-style house—something from the early 1900s that Europeans might have stayed in.

“Welcome, President Kim.”

Escorted inside by the men in black suits, I was greeted by Wen Jiabao.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other face to face.”

“Yes, it has.”

Wen Jiabao gave a faint smile and gestured lightly.

“Let’s go in. He’s waiting inside.”

“All right.”

Making small talk with Wen Jiabao as we entered, I saw a man seated in the reception room.

When he saw me, he stood up first.

Something about his face felt familiar.

‘That’s Jang Songthaek, isn’t it?’

He was an even bigger figure than I’d expected.

“Pleasure to meet you. I’m Jang Songthaek.”

“Yes, a pleasure. I’m Kim Muhyuk.”

When we shook hands, we spoke not in Chinese, but in Korean.

It wasn’t a conversation to be had standing, so after a brief greeting, I took my seat.

“President Kim, do you know Deputy Director Jang Songthaek?”

At Wen Jiabao’s question, I nodded.

“Yes. Deputy Director Jang is well-known even in the South. The brother-in-law of Chairman Kim Jongil, and said to be a man of considerable political power.”

“Haha, you know him well. He and I are close.”

Jang Songthaek was famously pro-China even in North Korea.

In the end, he would be purged by Kim Jongun for having seized control of the North Korean economy.

The feeling was entirely different from meeting Putin or other power brokers.

“I didn’t know the two of you were close.”

“When I go to the North, or when Deputy Jang comes to China, we stay at each other’s homes.”

The friendship between Wen Jiabao and Jang Songthaek seemed far stronger than was publicly known.

It wasn’t surprising that Jang Songthaek was said to have earned a large portion of the North’s political funds through trade with China...

And I had a pretty good guess as to why he was eventually purged.

“So, Deputy Director Jang, what business do you have in meeting me?”

I’d asked Wen Jiabao, but the answer came from Jang Songthaek himself.

His fluent Chinese was smooth.

“The Vice Premier spoke so highly of you that I wanted to meet you in person. And I have a favor to ask.”

“Is Jang Daeho’s family alive?”

“Yes, I’ve confirmed they are. I can’t say they’re living well. As the family of a ‘wavering element,’ they’re under Party surveillance.”

Wavering element... the term for those who had abandoned the North to survive left a bitter taste in my mouth.

If wanting to live made one a criminal, then every living person was guilty.

If anything, those holding the reins of power in the North were the real criminals.

But I kept such thoughts to myself and smiled.

“That’s a relief. They’re important people to me.”

“I looked into you, President ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) Kim, and found you have no ties to the North whatsoever. What’s your reason for finding them?”

“It’s a personal matter. There’s not a single grain of political intent.”

I said it deliberately and firmly, but he still continued in a sly tone.

“Bringing them to the South would be an issue, but that’s something for the Chinese government to handle. Bringing someone legally into China through a trading company isn’t hard. The difficulty is purely political...”

Jang glanced at Wen Jiabao and trailed off.

“I understand perfectly. Deputy Director, tell me what you want.”

Jang nodded and spoke.

“First, during the upcoming summit, come to the North with the government delegation.”

“To the North?”

“Yes. It’s a request from Chairman Kim Jongil. I believe the South Korean government has already been approached as well.”

I nodded at his words.

The Kim Hakgwon administration had in fact sounded me out about it before, but I had rejected it outright at the time.

I had thought then that it wasn’t yet the right moment to be involved with the North.

“Yes, I was approached before, but I refused.”

“I know. That’s why I’m making a direct request again now.”

“Can you tell me the reason?”

“I can’t at this moment, but if you come to the North, you’ll find out. You’ll have a private audience with Chairman Kim Jongil.”

Attend the summit and meet Kim Jongil in Pyongyang?

The Americans would go berserk.

Perhaps sensing my concern, Jang Songthaek went on.

“Don’t worry about the U.S. They already know everything. Even about you and me meeting now—though probably not the location.”

As he said, a summit between the North and South would be impossible without U.S. approval.

Still, this thaw wouldn’t last long, and by next year we’d be back to walking on thin ice...

For now, I decided to hear his other request.

“What else?”

“What I just said was the North Korean government’s request. I also have a personal request. I want you to move my slush funds somewhere safe.”

The bastard’s insane.

I almost said it out loud.

“That, I absolutely cannot do.”

“Why not? It shouldn’t be difficult for you.”

Jang Songthaek said it as if it were nothing, but this was something I would never agree to, no matter who asked.

“Besides, I’ve heard you moved the Vice Premier’s money overseas as well.”

I turned my head to look at Wen Jiabao in the seat of honor.

“We’re like brothers. We share all kinds of stories.”

Even under my reproachful gaze, Wen Jiabao just shrugged as if it were nothing.

The fewer people who knew about this kind of thing, the better.

“Vice Premier, in matters like this, the fewer who know, the better.”

“Sorry, President Kim. I wasn’t thinking.”

He apologized, but there wasn’t a hint of remorse on Wen Jiabao’s face.

I clenched my fist under the table at his shamelessness.

This is exactly why I hate dealing with the Chinese.

But right now, I was the one in need, so I swallowed my anger.

Turning back to Jang Songthaek, I replied.

“China and the North are two different matters. Even a rumor that I met you would be damaging for me. And to be caught hiding slush funds on top of that? The moment that’s exposed, I wouldn’t be able to do business in the U.S. at all.”

There was no point in sugarcoating it. I drew the line with a firm tone.

“It’s not Chairman Kim Jongil’s slush fund. It’s my personal money.”

“To other countries, there’s no difference between Chairman Kim and Deputy Director Jang.”

The more I spoke, the more the genial look on Jang Songthaek’s face hardened.