Free Web NovelA thunderous roar erupted from Chairman Seo Yonggeon inside the chairman’s office of Ilseong Group.
“So you’re telling me the almighty Ilseong security team not only failed to act, but stood by and watched while Cheon Sooman was dragged away?”
“I have no excuse, sir.”
The head of the security team, who had gone out to support Sooman, bowed his head before him.
“You bragged about being a Special Forces veteran!”
At the chairman’s furious rebuke, the team leader lowered his head even deeper.
“Get out immediately!”
Unable to contain his rage, Seo Yonggeon grabbed the ashtray in front of him and hurled it.
“I’m sorry, sir.” freewёbnoνel.com
Muttering his apology in a voice barely above a whisper, the team leader turned and left, and Seo glared at the back of his head until the office door closed. Then, turning to his stone-faced Chief Secretary Lee Seokmin, he growled:
“Get in touch with a foreign mercenary company immediately. No matter the cost, bring them all to Korea. As for the ones who went out today—have them all resign.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“We cannot afford to lose the power struggle against Kim Muhyuk.”
As he muttered this, Seo clutched at his temple, dizziness rising with his blood pressure.
“Track Cheon Sooman’s location. If Ha Myeonghun took him, he won’t have killed him. He’s not the type to take a Cheon bloodline’s life with his own hands.”
“And once we confirm his location, what should we—”
“What kind of idiotic question is that? We bring him back, of course! Do you not understand how crucial Sooman is to our plan? You dare ask me that?”
“My apologies.”
Clicking his tongue in irritation at Seokmin’s repeated missteps, Seo muttered darkly:
“Tsk. Lately, you’ve been making far too many unsatisfactory moves.”
“I’m sorry, Chairman.”
With his head bowed once more, Lee Seokmin stood rigidly as Seo fixed him with a long, disdainful stare. Finally, Seo told him to lift his head and added:
“Find Sooman, no matter what it takes. Use any means necessary. Whatever it costs.”
He broke off, tapping the tabletop with his finger, sinking into thought.
What the dismissed security chief had said lingered in his mind.
“So, Ha Myeonghun gave them a warning, did he...? This doesn’t bode well.”
Seo continued tapping the table, brooding silently for a long while.
“Don’t interfere with Chairman Cheon’s funeral any further. If Ha Myeonghun truly decides to act, he’ll come straight for me without hesitation.”
As Ilseong’s chairman, Seo Yonggeon had never considered Ha Myeonghun a man to fear. But there was no {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} need to stir up unnecessary trouble.
“When it comes to Chairman Cheon, that madman would storm the Blue House with a bomb strapped to his chest.”
Thinking of Ha Myeonghun’s blind loyalty made Seo feel a sudden stab of envy.
A man like that—utterly devoted—was something money couldn’t buy. Glancing sidelong at Seokmin, who stood with eyes downcast, Seo sighed and continued:
“This is why I told you not to cause a scene at the funeral. You overstepped your place and now look at this mess. Hah.”
His stubbornness had forced him to deploy the security team.
It was useless to regret what was already done, yet he couldn’t shake the bitter aftertaste.
“The medicine is reliable, isn’t it?”
“Yes, sir. Completely undetectable.”
“Good. Cut every single tail connecting it back to us.”
“Understood.”
“Has Jaehoon arrived home yet? Send him in. You may leave.”
Seokmin bowed and stepped out. Soon after, Seo Jaehoon entered the office.
“You’re here.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Did you do as I ordered—speak with Kim Muhyuk in Pyongyang?”
“Yes, we even shared a drink.”
At the mention of drinking with Kim Muhyuk, Seo Yonggeon’s eyes lit with interest.
“And? How was he?”
“Well, he still seemed like a child. Blinded by pointless revenge, unwilling to have a real conversation.”
“...”
Jaehoon shrugged indifferently, as though it were nothing. Seo exhaled silently, suppressing a sigh.
The two of them were, at their core, cut from the same cloth. But Seo, older and more seasoned, had learned how to hide his lack of empathy for social and humanitarian concerns.
If only his son weren’t so reckless...
“Tell me exactly what you discussed.”
“Well, it went like this...”
Straightening his posture at Seo’s heavy tone, Jaehoon began recounting the details of what had transpired in Pyongyang.
* * *
The rain that had fallen all night finally stopped by dawn.
When I stepped into the mourning hall, Chief Ha was kneeling before Grandfather’s portrait.
“You’re up early.”
At the sound of my voice, he rose to his feet.
“You’re awake, sir.”
“You may sit.”
“No, I’ve already paid my respects enough.”
His eyes were bloodshot, clearly from a sleepless night. Pretending not to notice, I spoke instead:
“We’ll eat breakfast and then begin receiving guests. Please make the preparations.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ha bowed and left the hall. Alone, I lit incense before Grandfather’s portrait and bowed deeply.
“Grandfather.”
I softly called out to him, my mind tangled with the conversation I’d had with Ha yesterday.
To steady my thoughts, I closed my eyes and sat still.
“Oppa.”
Jiyoung, awake early, entered to greet Grandfather.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, I’m fine. I’m sure Grandfather is resting comfortably too.”
She didn’t cry just from looking at the portrait anymore. She seemed to have gathered her emotions somewhat.
“Yes. He isn’t in pain anymore, so he must be resting peacefully. Go ahead and pay your respects—I’ll step outside.”
I left so Jiyoung could have her moment alone.
Outside, I saw Chief Ha and Chief Ma speaking quietly. They stopped when they noticed me and approached.
“Have breakfast with the staff. Chief Ma, you’ll manage the guests outside, and Chief Ha, please guide those coming in to the mourning hall.”
Both bowed and moved at once.
Just then, Cheon Jiwon emerged slowly, as if only just waking.
“You’re up? Wash up and greet Grandfather. We need to prepare for the visitors.”
He stood there groggily, but I had no desire to exchange more words. I turned away.
Outside, the air was cool and fresh after the night’s rain.
“Aren’t you cold, sir?”
Chief Ma came over, offering me a suit jacket with a worried look.
I hadn’t meant to show fatigue, but clearly I did.
“Actually, it feels refreshing. Better than being stuffy. But aren’t you going to eat?”
“I don’t have much appetite.”
“Why not?”
Glancing awkwardly at the staff heading to eat, Chief Ma admitted:
“...I keep recalling what the Chairman said yesterday. It unsettles me.”
His rare show of emotion brought a faint smile to my lips.
“Did you resent my grandfather?”
“It would be a lie to say I didn’t. That’s why I suddenly left for abroad, and he didn’t stop me.”
I nodded slightly, remembering that his departure had been tied to his sister’s death.
“But still, I owe him. Without the Chairman, I might have ended up like Park Dongsu or Chairman Lee—a gangster.”
“My grandfather cherished all of you—Chief Ha, you, everyone. Please take care of him on his final journey.”
“Yes, Boss.”
I patted his shoulder and returned inside.
By then, Jisoo was up and even had her makeup done.
“Looks like everyone’s awake. Let’s eat together.”
Soon, the staff laid out breakfast. As we sat together, I spoke:
“Just today and tomorrow—let’s hold it together. For Grandfather, it’s just us left now. Until the funeral is over, forget any grudges against each other. Please.”
I refused to let Grandfather’s spirit witness us bickering before his portrait.
“Okay.”
“...Alright.”
Jiyoung and then Jisoo agreed softly.
“...Fine.”
Last came Jiwon, reluctant as ever.
Their presence soured my appetite, but I forced myself to eat.
Once I saw all the Cheons seated inside, I turned to Ha and Ma.
“We’ll start receiving guests now. Spread the word again. I already called Chairman Song—he’ll be here soon. Contact the others as well.”
The two nodded and began making calls, while staff prepared to receive mourners.
At last, the funeral hall looked as it should. I breathed a sigh of relief.
Not long after, Chairman Song arrived.
Catching my eye outside, he gave a slight nod before stepping in.
After paying his respects and exchanging brief words with Jiwon, he emerged.
“I’ll escort you to the reception room.”
I led him into one of the smaller reception rooms and, once seated, bowed my head.
“Thank you for coming.”
“Are you alright? This must have been a heavy blow.” freewebnσvel.cѳm
“I’m fine. Thankfully, I was able to be at his side at the end.”
He nodded faintly, grief etched across his face.
“At least that much. Had word come even a day later, you might have missed his final moments. President Kim Hakgwon and Chairman Kim Jongil made a great concession.”
“I will personally thank them both later.”
Even in his busy schedule, President Kim had sent a condolence wreath and banner, and dispatched his senior secretary in place of his chief of staff in Pyongyang.
Though I still held bitterness for his alliance with Ilseong, once the funeral ended, I would extend thanks.
To Kim Jongil, I would use the hotline to express gratitude and do everything in my power to fulfill the task he entrusted.
“...Everyone else is gone now, except me.”
“...”
Chairman Song’s face darkened with sorrow.
“Chairman Seo, Chairman Cheon—we all walked through the same turbulent history. Seo went first, and now Cheon has left me behind.”
The grief of losing old comrades was not something I could soothe. I simply held his hand.
“Heh... time is merciless. Soon it will be my turn to join them.”
“Please, Chairman. You must live longer.”
“Yes... I must. I can’t die until I’ve placed the North Korea project firmly on track. There’s still work to do. I’ll rely on you greatly.”
“Of course, sir.”
“That’s enough for me.”
Through this summit, much of my prejudice against the North had faded. Even if not for Chairman Song, I had resolved to invest there.
“Chairman, please get regular checkups. Don’t keep insisting you’re healthy.”
“You’re better than my own children. They’re all blinded by greed, scrambling for more.”
He said it half-jokingly, but I couldn’t laugh.
Daehyeon was far from free of the coming storm—it was only hidden while he still lived.
Bitter thoughts churned, though I only wished he could pass peacefully, unknowing.
“That won’t happen. You’ve already arranged succession and distributed shares. They should be satisfied.”
“Perhaps. But seeing Chairman Cheon’s final days... it makes me reflect. He and I lived only for our families.”
Closing his eyes, Song’s voice softened.
“All I ever wanted was to feed my children warm meals. That’s how I came this far. We all did.”
So it was true—age made one live in memories.
“People may curse us, but that was the era. If you didn’t step on others, you couldn’t even feed your family.”
“....”
There was deep bitterness in his voice.
“We lived like wolves. Both I and Chairman Cheon.”
“Yes, Chairman. We know. It’s thanks to your struggles that we live as we do today.”
“Chairman Cheon could rest peacefully because of you. I’ll follow soon and praise you to him. I’ll be going now.”
Struggling to his feet, he rose. I stood as well.
“You’re leaving already?”
“What good is there in staying longer? There’s no one left to reminisce with about Cheon. Once the funeral ends, come see me. I’ll share stories of him.”
“I will visit soon.”
“No need to go far.”
Patting my shoulder gently, he left the room, his secretary supporting him outside.
Just as he was about to depart the hall, Seo Yonggeon arrived.
“Chairman Song, leaving already?”
“Ah, Chairman Seo, you’ve come too?”
“Yes, of course. He was my father’s friend.”
“Friend, hm...”
Song’s smile was tinged with bitterness. Saying no more, he bid Seo farewell.
“Then I’ll be going.”
“Yes, Chairman. Until next time.”
The two men brushed past each other, their eyes betraying little warmth.
“President Kim, long time no see.”
I wanted to curse that brazen face—but I couldn’t.
The funeral hall had endured enough turmoil already.
“Yes, Chairman. Thank you for coming.”
I simply watched Seo Yonggeon’s back as he stepped inside the hall.
