Genius Grandson Of The Loan Shark King

Ah...

When I opened my eyes, an unfamiliar hotel ceiling came into view.

My throat felt parched, probably from all the drinking.

I grabbed a bottle of water from the table and gulped it down, then got up and headed to the bathroom.

Under the cold stream of water hitting my head, I went over my conversation from yesterday with Jang Songthaek and Wen Jiabao.

Meeting the power brokers of two nations... it’s hard to believe.

Even after finishing my shower, my thoughts were still tangled.

When I returned to the bedroom, Chief Ma was waiting with a glass of honey water.

“I must have gotten drunk all at once—don’t remember a thing. Did you carry me up here, Chief?”

“Yes, Boss.”

“Nothing happened while I was out?”

Taking the empty glass from me, Chief Ma gave a small nod.

“The U.S. ambassador contacted us. He’d like to meet before you return to Korea.”

“The U.S. ambassador?”

Before coming to China, I’d passed word to the U.S. Secretary of State through Han Kyungyeong.

It was more of a notification than a request... but I figured it was something the Americans might take an interest in.

“Yes. He suggested dinner.”

“Then I guess we can have dinner and head straight to the airport. No word from Wen Jiabao?”

“Not yet.” freewēbnoveℓ.com

Last night, Wen Jiabao had been the first to collapse at the table.

If he hadn’t called, it meant he was either still recovering or too busy with his schedule.

As I sorted through my thoughts, a sour pain rose in my stomach, making me frown without realizing it.

“Chief, is there anything for a hangover? Ah—if you’ve got ramen, bring me some.”

After greasy food and liquor, I was craving something spicy.

Seeing my expression, Chief Ma asked carefully,

“It’s cup ramen—will that be okay?”

“Anything’s fine.”

“I’ll get it ready.”

He soon returned carrying cup ramen and kimchi.

The spicy aroma of the noodles and kimchi tickled my nose.

Just the smell seemed to ease my stomach.

“Yep, ramen’s the best for a hangover.”

“Some of the security team brought it along because they don’t care for Chinese food.”

“Is that so?”

I felt a little bad for taking it, but...

Even so, I finished the noodles down to the broth in one go, then smiled at Chief Ma.

“Tell them I enjoyed it. I’m going to rest until dinner. Wake me if anything urgent comes up.”

“Understood, Boss.”

The last thing I saw was Chief Ma leaving with the empty dishes, and soon I drifted off to sleep.

By dinner time, I met the U.S. ambassador at the Chinese restaurant inside the hotel.

“Good to see you, Charlie.”

“Likewise, John.”

We shook hands, took our seats, and made small talk as the food came out.

But when John Ryan, the U.S. ambassador to China, set his chopsticks down, the pleasant air cooled sharply.

“Let’s get to the point. Charlie, what did you discuss with Jang Songthaek?”

“Was I under any obligation to report that to you, Ambassador?”

“It’s an order from Washington.”

His was the most overbearing attitude I’d ever encountered from a U.S. official, and my brow furrowed instinctively.

“Ambassador, am I one of America’s operatives?”

“You’re an investor making money in the United States.”

When I’d met Jang Songthaek, I’d anticipated the American stance might be stern—but his tone made it clear that, after Rubin’s departure, Washington’s attitude toward me had shifted.

In Russia, when I met the Secretary of State, the mood had still been friendly. But since then...

“I [N O V E L I G H T] was invited to accompany President Kim Hakgwon to Pyongyang for the upcoming North–South summit. Because of my relationship with Vice Premier Wen Jiabao, I met with Jang Songthaek. Is there a problem?”

“Is that all? I heard there’s someone in the North you’re looking for.”

“Are you monitoring me?”

The only thing I’d told Han Kyungyeong to pass along was that I’d be meeting a North Korean contact in China through Wen Jiabao’s introduction.

I’d only said there was someone to bring back—never mentioning that it was Jang Daeho’s family.

The only people who knew about them were Jang Daeho, me, and Chief Ma.

And yet the U.S. government already knew.

“Monitoring? Would we dare? We’re protecting you.”

The oily evasion in John’s tone was irritating.

But I swallowed the anger—if I let him pull me in, it would be over.

“...An acquaintance’s family is in the North. I asked if they could look into it. Is that a problem?”

Then, as if his earlier harshness had been an act, John waved a hand and chuckled.

“Of course not. Looking for separated family members isn’t an issue. The U.S. cares deeply about North Korean human rights.”

“I’m aware.”

“But Jang Songthaek wouldn’t hand them over just for humanitarian reasons. What did you promise him, Charlie?”

“He didn’t say anything else. I’ll find out when I go to Pyongyang.”

There was no way I could mention his slush funds here.

My curt answer made John stroke his chin as he studied my face.

“Hmm... You don’t know what he’ll ask for...”

“He didn’t say at the meeting.”

“Charlie, I’ve served as ambassador to China for quite a while. I’d say I know the North better than anyone in the U.S.”

A sly smile appeared on his face.

“They never move without compensation. Whatever you’ve promised, remember—we’ll be watching.”

“Is that a threat?”

“Well... whether it’s a threat or advice is up to you, Charlie.”

His tone had a faint edge to it.

Glancing at his watch, John stood up.

“Time’s gotten away from us. I’ll tell Washington you’ve been invited to Pyongyang. Let’s meet again in the States.”

He extended his hand.

I stood and shook it, forcing a smile.

“I’m not sure if we will.”

“Hahaha, you’re amusing. We’ll meet again.”

With a hearty laugh, John walked out without looking back.

As soon as he was out of sight, Chief Ma approached.

“You don’t look well, Boss.”

“Contact our people in the U.S. and dig up everything on John Ryan—from birth until now.”

“Understood, Boss.”

Dark thoughts kept circling in my head.

“It seems the U.S. administration is no longer friendly toward me. Han Kyungyeong did hint as much...”

From sacking Secretary Rubin, who had been close to me, to their moves since—this was a very different path from the original history.

“For now, let’s return to Korea. Domestic matters are more urgent than the U.S. at the moment.”

“Yes, Boss.”

After this brief encounter in China, I flew back to Korea.

The next morning, I set out early for Gyeongsan.

“Elder, are you in?”

Just like before, Chief Ma rang the bell to summon someone, and soon Jang Daeho came out.

“Aren’t you one of Mr. Kim’s men?”

“Yes, Elder.”

He glanced around, as if searching for someone.

I got out of the car, carrying the envelope I’d brought from China.

It had taken some effort to obtain, but seeing his face light up at my arrival eased my mood a little. freewebnovel.cσ๓

“Elder, I’m sorry I’m late.”

“What’s the matter, showing up without a word?”

“I’d prefer to speak inside.”

“Come in, then.”

He dismissed the household staff, and in the study—where even the teacups reflected his modest nature—we sat down.

As I took a seat on the sofa, he poured tea for me.

“Well then, what’s today’s business?”

“I’ve brought news of your family.”

Jang Daeho dropped the teapot he had been holding.

It shattered into pieces, and the hot tea splashed onto his hand, but he didn’t even seem to feel the burn—he just stared at me blankly.

I quickly took out a handkerchief and wiped his hand.

“Elder, are you all right?”

“You... you’re not lying to me, are you?”

His voice trembled badly.

Guessing at what he must be feeling, I spoke steadily.

“No, Elder. I wouldn’t be so foolish.”

“A-Are they both alive? Seokdo and Mido, I mean.”

“Fortunately, both are alive. But... your wife passed away a long time ago.”

“...Huh...”

He had been hanging on every word, afraid to miss even a syllable. Now he covered his face with both hands and lowered his head.

Before long, he raised it again, seemingly having steadied himself.

It must have been something he had already prepared himself for; there were no tears, but the deep loneliness in his expression was unmistakable.

“And the children?”

“They’re both married, with children of their own. Some of your grandchildren are married as well.”

“...So they’re all alive?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

When I set the envelope on the table, his gaze locked onto it and wouldn’t move.

I pushed it gently toward him.

“These are photographs of your family. There’s also the last photo taken of your wife before she passed. They’ve all been through a lot, but I was told there are no major health problems.”

At that, surprise flickered across his face.

“Honestly... I wasn’t expecting anything...”

With trembling hands, he began untying the string around the envelope.

When he opened it, the first thing he looked at wasn’t the documents—it was the photographs.

And then...

Tears began to fall from his eyes.

The way he carefully stroked each photo spoke of a longing that words couldn’t capture.

Half a century had passed, but to him, family had always been something achingly dear.

He stopped when he reached the final photo of his wife taken while she was still alive.

“Sunok... you’re still... so beautiful.”

His voice carried a deep, lingering emotion.

Gently tracing her face in the photo with his finger, he clutched the envelope tightly.

“They’re all... safe.”

“They’re under government surveillance, but haven’t been subjected to severe sanctions. Of course, I can’t say life has been easy for them.”

With my explanation, a look of guilt crossed his face. He stood and brought back the photo album I’d seen before.

Carefully, he slipped the new photographs into the album that held his old family pictures, as if steadying his emotions.

After looking through them for a long while, he closed the album and held it close to his chest.

“Thank you... Thank you, Mr. Kim.”

“It’s nothing. I’m just glad to be able to bring you good news.”

“I’ve done all sorts of things just to hear even a scrap of news. But even that... wasn’t easy.”

His voice was tinged with regret, his words carrying the weight of years.

“When the military regime took over and made anti-communism the national creed... the moment I tried to contact the North, I could’ve lost everything. No—using that as an excuse, I never even truly tried.”

The generals who took power had made anti-communism their final shield of legitimacy.

“And when I heard the government was organizing separated family reunions, I demanded they find my family... but not a single piece of information ever came.”

Now his voice no longer trembled.

“It was the same when you made your bold promise. I thought it was just the rashness of youth, but... there was still a sliver of hope. And you’ve done in a few months what I couldn’t in fifty years...”

A faint smile lingered on his lips, joy etched into the lines of his face.

I shook my head lightly.

“I was lucky. The North and South are in an unusually good place right now.”

“Hah, lucky? You think I didn’t know the government’s mood? I pushed hard, but still got nothing back.”

No doubt he had used both his connections and his money to lobby government officials for information.

But the government could never risk upsetting the North on his account.

“How on earth did you get this?”

“I used my contacts in China to reach someone high up in the North.”

I’d already told him before that I’d try through China, so there was no reason to hide it.

“It took time, but eventually I was told to come to China. I received it at the meeting.”

“...You took a risk.”

“I promised you, Elder. Yes, I needed your shares, but more than that, I wanted to ease the burden you’ve carried.”

“Now I can die without regrets. Thank you, Mr. Kim.”

It was as if fifty years of bitterness had finally been lifted from him.

But I had no intention of ending things with just the news.

“Still, there’s one thing I’d like to ask. What exactly are you going to do about Ilseong? Of course, a promise is a promise, so I’ll back you no matter what.”

His expression was light now, free of the old weight, as he asked.

“This isn’t the end, Elder.”

“What else is there?”

“The promise I made wasn’t just to tell you they were alive. You should meet them in person.”

His body swayed, and his voice came out in a rush.

“Is... is that even possible?”

“Not right away. But if negotiations go well, I think I can have them brought to China.”

“...”

His lips trembled as he sat in silence.

“Is that... really true?”

“The negotiations are the hard part. For now, I’ll need to visit the North during the upcoming inter-Korean summit. That’s where I’ll push for it.”

“...Huh.”

He let out a deep, heavy sigh and closed his eyes.

He stayed that way for a long time, lost in thought, so I continued.