Free Web NovelAfter each of us had drunk a glass of alcohol, we set our cups down and continued our conversation.
“How’s the Secretary-General position?”
“Hoo······.”
Myungsoo furrowed his brow and let out a sigh. In that deep sigh was a sentiment that words could not fully express.
“There’s never been a first-term lawmaker who sat in the Secretary-General’s seat. Especially not in a negotiation bloc party. If it weren’t for the Chairman backing me, nobody would listen. The old geezers’ stubbornness is no joke.”
“Still, you need to have their leashes in your hands. You know what I mean, right?”
Myungsoo nodded and poured himself another glass.
“I know.”
“There’s still a long way until the presidential election, so you can take it slow. But when the party fully shifts into election mode, you need to take the party leadership for yourself completely.”
Even I felt like I was nagging as I repeated myself, so Myungsoo waved me off.
“Alright, enough already. But I still don’t understand why politics costs this much money. It’s insane. No wonder people hate politics.”
Hearing Myungsoo’s Busan dialect slip out as he spoke made me smile. It was good to see him show his true self when he was comfortable.
I poured alcohol into the glass in front of me. Spinning the cup to melt the ice, I continued speaking.
“Politics is a group where personal interest comes first. But thanks to that, you can seize power, so don’t think of it only in a bad way. If you use both whip and carrot well, you’ll succeed.”
Instead of answering, Myungsoo held out his glass. I clinked my glass against his and added.
“I’ve been gathering weaknesses on individuals. I’ll hand them over once I’ve sorted them. You can use them to more easily seize control.”
Not every politician was greedy for money.
Some had so much wealth that they couldn’t be bribed. Even more troublesome were those who, out of conviction, refused to take money.
But in reality, once someone entered politics, they inevitably got tangled up in corruption.
Myungsoo, being a politician, understood my words easily and gave a small nod. Then he naturally changed the subject.
“By the way, did you hear about the Japanese ambassador clashing with the Foreign Minister? I heard it was a total mess.”
“Really?”
Myungsoo wetted his lips with alcohol, set the glass down, and spoke.
“They say it was a complete disaster. The Japanese bastards treated the Foreign Minister like a subordinate. And the Minister couldn’t even say a word back. Fuck, is this even a country?”
It seemed the Japanese government was trying to pressure me through our government.
Listening to the sound of the melting ice, I waited for Myungsoo to finish.
“They pushed for a tax investigation into Future Investment. Isn’t that laughable? Since when has Future Investment been a Korean firm? It’s Hong Kong-based. They don’t dare say a word to China, but they pull this shit only with us.”
After finishing, Myungsoo downed his strong whiskey in one gulp, fuming with frustration. freēwēbnovel.com
For someone who used to ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) curse at politicians, he was becoming one himself.
“Are you angry?”
“The way they act is total bullshit. Now that I’ve thrown myself into politics, I see how powerless our country really is. Pushed around by China, pushed around by Japan, pushed around by America······. All we do is watch our step. Meanwhile, the government and politicians are busy tearing each other apart.”
“You change it. Into a strong Korea.”
I said it lightly, but Myungsoo let out a deep sigh.
“You think that’s so easy just because I want it?”
“I’ll help you. Did you see the Russian navy moving into the Kuril Islands this time?”
“Yeah, I saw it. I was shocked. Thought a war was about to break out.”
Russia’s recent move had thrown Korea and the surrounding countries into extreme tension.
A clash between Russia and Japan would never end as just their quarrel.
Korea, China, North Korea, and even the U.S. across the Pacific would all be affected, so nobody could afford to relax.
“That was because of me.”
“What?”
At those offhand words, a shocked Myungsoo dropped his glass. Since it was just the two of us in the bar, the sound of shattering glass echoed loudly.
Seeing his startled face, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Somehow it felt like I was just showing off, which was a bit embarrassing.
I wanted to act mature, but around my own people, I always felt like I became childish.
“Eva was attacked in Japan. She took refuge in the Russian Embassy, but Japan’s behavior looked unreliable. So I asked Russia for help······. I didn’t expect them to move their military, though.”
“No, fuck. Does that even make sense?”
Even after I explained everything, Myungsoo just looked at me like it was absurd. I shrugged my shoulders and pressed the bell beside me.
Soon Manager Ma came in, saw the broken glass on the floor, and called someone to clean it up.
Then he placed a new glass in front of Myungsoo and left again.
Myungsoo kept his mouth shut until the cleaning was done. Once the people left, he leaned in and demanded.
“So you’re saying Russia moved their military because you asked?”
I nodded slightly and poured alcohol into his new glass.
“Wow, this is just······. Leaves me speechless. You’re playing on a global scale. Are you really my friend Muhyuk?”
Though he said that, the corners of his lips curled upward.
“But what about Japan?”
I pushed the glass toward him and explained everything that had happened between me and Japan, step by step.
After listening to it all, Myungsoo let out a small sigh and nodded.
“It’s a tough thing, but you handle it like it’s nothing.”
“Of course I also braced myself for losses when I started this.”
“But still, who could do that so easily? So are you really planning to end it this time? Can a private person win against a country?”
Worry was written all over Myungsoo’s face. I gave a small nod.
“I can’t completely win. No matter how much this world revolves around money. But the Japanese government will eventually have to choose. Either suffer the humiliation of surrendering to me, or fight to the bitter end and lose credibility in the international community.”
“I don’t know. Still, that’s impressive.”
Myungsoo shook his head in disbelief.
“Well, don’t worry about Japan. I’ll handle it. More importantly, what about that thing?”
I had asked Myungsoo for a favor earlier.
“The bill?”
“Yeah, the shareholders’ meeting is coming up.”
“I think we can get it passed early next year. The National Assembly audit period and budget deliberations pile up at the end of the year, after all.”
“Getting it through the main session won’t be a problem, right?”
Suddenly, I remembered Park Younggeun, the Financial Supervisory Commission Chairman I had met months ago.
When first nominated, he had cried for reform with iron determination. But once in office, he faced resistance from MOFIA and vested interests, unable to move freely.
In the end, Park came to me.
‘President Kim Muhyuk, please help me. I’ve finally made up my mind.’
A reformer who had crashed against reality finally took the bait.
Once he held my hand, he would never be able to let go until the day he died.
“I’ve prepared the bill draft. We can propose it after the shareholders’ meeting. Since we control both the standing committee and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, once it’s introduced, it’ll be processed quickly through Judiciary.”
“Only trustworthy people know about this, right?”
I already knew Myungsoo’s handling of matters was clean, but being cautious never hurt. I asked carefully, and he nodded.
“Of course. Nothing good comes from rumors spreading. Even within our party, too many are tied to chaebols. But if Chairman Yoon and I push it strongly, the main session will pass without issue.”
Myungsoo spoke with strong confidence, which reassured me.
“Then let’s wrap it up next year.”
I raised my glass first and held it out toward him. With the cheerful clink of glasses, the drinking session stretched on until dawn.
After resting for about a day in Russia, Eva finally returned to Korea through Gimpo Airport.
When she arrived at the Myeongdong office, her face looked completely downcast.
“You’ve worked hard, Eva.”
“Boss, I’m really sorry.”
Seeing her bitter smile, I shook my head and gently patted her shoulder.
“It was something no one could’ve expected. What matters is that you’re safe. Come, sit.”
I led her to the sofa. She said she had received treatment, and fortunately, she seemed to be fine.
“How’s your body?”
“I’m alright.”
Even seated, Eva looked drained. Forcing a faint smile, she listened as I spoke.
“······I know it’s not easy to forget, Eva. That’s what trauma is. If it’s too hard, tell me anytime. I’ll give you plenty of time to rest.”
“I thought I’d forgotten it all, but my body seems to remember. Thank you, Boss. If it’s hard, I’ll tell you.”
At that moment, Manager Ma entered with documents.
He handed the pile to Eva. She immediately began reviewing the contents.
“Manager Ma prepared most of it. Bringing over Ilseong Trading won’t be a problem.”
Eva seemed too absorbed in the paperwork to hear me.
A true workaholic. I chuckled softly and shook my head.
To give her time, I drank coffee while waiting.
After some time, Eva finished checking the documents carefully and looked up.
“Manager Ma is impressive.” frёeωebɳovel.com
“Is he?”
“I thought he was just your secretary, but he’s better than most professionals.”
I smiled softly at her praise.
“Then we won’t need any extra preparation. We can secure management rights, then replace the executives with our people right after.”
“This has been prepared for a long time, so we can’t afford mistakes. I trust you, Eva, but check everything thoroughly.”
If we seized control of Ilseong Trading—the key in Ilseong Group’s cross-shareholding structure—we could shake the entire group.
Ilseong would fight back with everything they had, but I was confident in winning the equity battle.
Even if they mobilized shareholder thugs at the meeting, I had already prepared countermeasures.
“Park Younggeun finally came to me.”
“Really? I guess he’s finally facing reality.”
“He had no choice. No matter how clean the upper water is, the lower stream is already stagnant and rotten. One person couldn’t change it long ago.”
Eva wasn’t surprised. She had expected it and had even liked him, so she welcomed it.
“So you’ll pass the bill he wanted and use it as leverage to pressure Ilseong?”
“If the FSC and FSS step in, things will be much easier. And the bill—yes, the one I told you about before.”
Eva tilted her head. “The one separating finance and industry, and regulating cross-shareholding?”
I nodded slightly.
“A bill restricting cross-shareholding won’t be easy to pass. Few chaebols are tied to finance-industry separation, but almost all of them rely on cross-shareholding.”
Most of Korea’s conglomerates used cross-shareholding. With small stakes, they controlled huge groups.
It had its advantages and disadvantages, but the greatest issue was how vulnerable it was to outside attacks.
After the foreign exchange crisis, they realized this weakness and considered switching to holding company structures. But such a move required massive funds they couldn’t raise quickly.
If the law barred it, Ilseong and many chaebols would be standing on burning ground.
But Joongwoo Group was unaffected.
All its affiliates were unlisted, fully reorganized under Joongwoo Holdings, which owned about 80% of the group’s subsidiaries.
“Ilseong Trading will be battered internally, while outside it’ll be hit by the cross-shareholding restriction bill. Double blows will leave them reeling. And with finance-industry separation, Ilseong Life and Ilseong Card will have to dispose of their affiliate stakes.”
Ilseong could no longer rely on mutual shareholding.
Chairman Seo Yonggeon would have to use his personal fortune to restructure.
But no matter how rich he was, most of his assets were tied up in stock, leaving him cornered.
“It’s an unwinnable fight for them.”
“That’s why we supported the Centrist Party. But remember—keep it quiet.”
When I reminded her, Eva just smiled and pressed her finger to her lips.
That cheeky gesture made me laugh as well.
Time flew by.
Han Kyungyeong ramped up his assault on Japan.
The Bank of Japan and financial authorities defended the yen by dumping dollars, but only briefly. Soon, the stock market was flooded with shares like a bomb.
At the same time, massive short selling hit. In the bond market, Japanese government bonds were unleashed in huge amounts.
Japan was being attacked on all fronts—forex, stock, and bond markets—leaving it stunned and reeling.
And finally, the long-prepared Ilseong Trading shareholders’ meeting arrived.
