Free Web NovelWhile Kim Muhyuk was meeting Kim Jongil in Pyongyang at that very hour.
“President Cheon, you’ve arrived?”
“You’ve worked hard, Manager Ha.”
Ha Myeonghun greeted Cheon Sooman as he entered the VIP ward.
For some reason, Cheon Sooman’s face looked slightly haggard.
“I can visit, right?”
“Yes, please go in.”
The hospital room door opened.
Cheon Sooman patted his shoulder and stepped inside.
Whether it was exhaustion, grief, or simply emptiness, his face did not carry the usual viciousness.
Ha Myeonghun found it strange as he closed the door.
Even after the door shut, Cheon Sooman stood at a distance, staring at Cheon Taesan lying motionless in bed.
“Father...”
Only after a long silence did he approach.
“Why on earth did you do this? What is Kim Muhyuk to you?”
His gaze trembled.
He bit his lip as if overwhelmed with emotion, then shook his head to clear his thoughts.
He reached into his inner pocket.
“...This is all because of you. You made me this way.”
What he pulled out was a small vial and a syringe. With trembling hands, he drew the liquid.
“I’ll apologize later... in the afterlife.”
Grinding his teeth, Cheon Sooman grabbed the IV line attached to Cheon Taesan’s arm.
The needle pierced in, and little by little the drug seeped inside.
He shut his eyes tightly.
In his mind echoed Gong Seungyeon’s words, who had given him the drug:
— Once it’s injected, he’ll die naturally within a day or two. His heart will stop. It can’t be detected, so don’t worry. As soon as Chairman Cheon Taesan dies, we’ll immediately proceed with the inheritance lawsuit. Everything is already prepared.
The vial was empty.
‘...Yes. It’s all over now.’
When he opened his eyes, Cheon Sooman staggered back in shock.
Cheon Taesan’s eyes were open, looking straight at him.
“Father?”
There was no reply.
Only that gaze, as if saying it already knew everything.
“Don’t look at me like that. It’s too late.”
Perhaps it was a hallucination.
Looking again, Cheon Taesan’s eyes were closed.
Clenching his lips, Cheon Sooman turned and walked out.
When he opened the door, Ha Myeonghun approached.
“Are you leaving now?”
He forced his expression calm and nodded.
“Taesan Finance? I hear you’re becoming its chairman. Congratulations. You worked hard under Father; it paid off.”
“...”
“Someday, that’ll be my seat. Keep it safe. With Manager Ha’s skills, it won’t collapse.”
Cheon Sooman still believed Taesan Finance belonged to Cheon Taesan and would return to him.
Ha Myeonghun didn’t bother correcting him.
“It’s more than I deserve.”
“Good. We’ll meet again.”
Ha Myeonghun watched him disappear down the corridor.
The following evening.
Ha Myeonghun quietly opened the door and entered the room. He came to check on Cheon Taesan, who had almost completely lost consciousness.
But just as he neared the bed, /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ he froze.
Cheon Taesan’s eyes were open, looking right at him.
It was the same look he had seen every day of his life.
“Myeonghun...”
After months, he heard Cheon Taesan’s voice.
It was weak and cracked, yet startlingly clear.
“Chairman!”
His startled voice drew the staff outside. They opened the door.
“Call the director! Right now!”
“Yes!”
The bowed staff rushed off.
“Chairman, do you recognize me? It’s me, Myeonghun. The boy you raised from childhood.”
A faint smile touched Cheon Taesan’s lips.
“Of course... how could I not know you. By the way... what’s the date today?”
“It’s June 3rd.”
“Where’s Muhyuk?”
As he spoke, his voice grew clearer.
“He’s in Pyongyang at the government’s request. He’ll return tomorrow.”
“Pyongyang?”
“There’s a summit between the two leaders. For some reason, he accompanied them.”
“Heh... a summit?”
Urgent footsteps echoed outside, and the door burst open.
Doctors, led by the hospital director, rushed in.
“Chairman.”
“It’s been a while, Director.”
The director gaped in shock at Cheon Taesan’s condition.
“Excuse me, Chairman.”
As he checked the monitors, his face hardened.
“Do you feel any discomfort?”
“None. Why? You look grim.”
“That’s...”
“Speak. It’s fine. I know my own body. Can I last until tomorrow?”
His calm tone made the director bite his lip.
“...I cannot promise. Your heart function is severely diminished. Even speaking like this is a miracle.”
“...I see.”
Cheon Taesan seemed unsurprised, but Ha Myeonghun’s face twisted in anger.
“What do you mean? Explain his condition clearly. He’s speaking perfectly well.”
“...This is the first case I’ve ever seen. His heart is almost entirely failing. And the dementia-related brain damage... suddenly reversed. In my career, I’ve never seen someone regain function like this. If I hadn’t seen it myself, I wouldn’t believe it.”
“So... he’s dying?”
“....”
The director could not answer.
Ha Myeonghun’s face twisted further.
“Myeonghun, enough. It’s not the director’s fault.”
“But Chairman—”
“I said enough.”
“...Understood.”
He bowed his head, eyes filled with sorrow.
Meanwhile, Cheon Taesan spoke evenly, as if expecting it.
“I may not live until tomorrow. I understand. Leave us now.”
“Chairman.”
“That’s enough. Make sure no word spreads of this.”
“...Yes, sir.”
The hesitant director left with the doctors.
There was nothing more they could do.
“Myeonghun. Can you reach Muhyuk?”
“If we go through the Blue House, yes.”
“...Then do it. I must hear his voice before I go.”
“Chairman...”
Ha Myeonghun’s eyes grew wet.
“If there truly is a God, and this is a miracle... then He’s given me time to set things right before leaving.”
“....”
He didn’t say that although his mind was clear, he couldn’t move even a finger.
All he wanted was to see his grandson one last time.
“I’ll contact them.”
“Please.”
Ha Myeonghun left to call the Blue House.
Alone, Cheon Taesan stared at the ceiling.
‘Yesterday, Sooman...’
He remembered clearly everything that happened when Cheon Sooman visited.
His heart ached. That his son had chosen such a path—this too was his fault.
‘Is this God’s command, to settle my sins myself?’
The door opened.
“They’ll connect with Pyongyang through the Blue House and call us back.”
“Pyongyang... the world has changed. Once unthinkable.”
He muttered emptily, then slowly opened and closed his eyes.
“Now, tell me everything that’s happened while I was lying here.”
“....”
Ha Myeonghun began to speak, and Cheon Taesan listened quietly.
* * *
Not only my table, but even those watching with interest froze stiff.
“....”
“My condolences.”
“Manager Pyo, explain. What about the Cheon family?”
Before I could answer, Chairman Song asked with shock.
“I don’t know details. But the Blue House hotline called. They asked to connect with Kim Muhyuk. Chairman Cheon was said to be in critical condition.”
“....”
Even Chairman Song, my grandfather’s old friend, was struck speechless.
I barely steadied myself.
“Let’s go. Where can I call Seoul?”
“This way.”
Pyo Minguk hurriedly led the way.
Baek Cheolsu, standing nearby, came right over.
“Where are you going?”
“Captain Baek, it’s urgent. I’ll explain later.”
“I’ll accompany you.”
He followed in his car behind ours.
We finally arrived at the guesthouse where President Kim Hakgwon was staying. From there, we could connect with Seoul.
“Manager Ha, what is going on?”
From the receiver came Ha Myeonghun’s heavy voice.
— Sir, the Chairman asks for you.
“What?”
My grandfather was asking for me?
— One moment...
I froze with the receiver in hand.
After a pause—
— Muhyuk?
That voice. After so long.
“Grandfather?”
— Heh. Have you forgotten my voice already?
“...Are you alright?”
Words stuck in my throat, swelling inside.
My eyes blurred.
— So you’re in Pyongyang?
“They said you were critical.”
— No. I just wanted to hear your voice since you were so far.
“...Are you really okay?”
— For the first time in years, my mind is clear. Don’t worry.
He sounded as if it were nothing.
I bit my lip, uneasy.
“I’ll return to Seoul tomorrow. I’ll come straight to you.”
— Good. I’ll see you then. Hearing your voice after so long... it makes me happy.
“You had me worried, seriously...”
From the receiver came his low chuckle—the one I remembered.
But it sounded tinged with sorrow.
We couldn’t talk long.
When I hung up, it felt like something stuck in my throat.
‘A man whose brain had deteriorated to where he forgot how to eat—how could he suddenly speak like that?’
There was no need to contact Pyongyang under “critical condition” unless it was serious.
“Manager, what exactly did the Blue House say?”
I looked firmly at Pyo Minguk.
“They said Chairman Cheon may not last the night.”
“....”
I fell silent. Pyo Minguk watched me uneasily.
I couldn’t tell whose words were true—Grandfather’s or Manager Ha’s.
“Is there a way I can return earlier?”
“What?”
His face turned blank with disbelief.
“I must get to Seoul.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Even so, I will go.”
“Mr. Kim!”
“Contact Seoul.”
Pyo Minguk sighed in exasperation.
“The North won’t allow it.”
“I’ll handle that. Captain Baek.”
I turned to him.
“I need to return to Seoul. Could you explain to the Chairman?”
“Understood. I’ll contact him.”
Pyo Minguk looked back and forth between us, stunned.
But I had no time for him. Reaching Seoul was all that mattered.
“If not, I’ll go through China tonight if I must.”
“Please wait.”
Whether through China or Russia, I would use everything I had to get back.
Tension hung between us briefly until Baek Cheolsu returned.
“The General Secretary has approved. You may return to the South through Panmunjom.”
“What?”
Pyo Minguk’s face drained of color.
“Contact the South immediately to prevent conflict at the border. Armed confrontation could break out. We’ll handle our side.”
“You’re serious?”
Baek Cheolsu’s cold eyes fixed on him.
“President Kim Hakgwon has also agreed. You know the two leaders are in talks right now, don’t you?”
“...I understand.”
“Mr. Kim Muhyuk, we’ll escort you to Panmunjom. It will take about three hours. Handle everything before then.”
Pyo Minguk was still frozen, but Baek Cheolsu turned to me.
“You should depart now.”
When I stepped out with him, night had already fallen.
“The General Secretary’s gift. He also asked that you take care of the work entrusted to you.”
“Please thank him. Tell him I’ll see it through with my life.”
Leaving Baek Cheolsu, I climbed into the waiting car. freeweɓnovel.cøm
It sped south, racing down the unlit dirt road toward Panmunjom.
