Free Web NovelThe Japanese ambassador swallowed dryly under Koizumi’s icy gaze.
“Ambassador Kimura! I’ll say it once more. Go out and report to the Prime Minister. Tell him I’ll handle the negotiations myself and take full responsibility.”
“...Understood.”
At his firm words, the ambassador rose. Bowing slightly to Koizumi, he left the room.
Now only Koizumi and I remained in the study.
Thirsty, Koizumi lifted the teacup before him and drank a sip of the cold tea before speaking.
“The only authority I was delegated by the government is to hand you information and negotiate for you to stop attacking Japan. Frankly, I have no greater authority than that.”
The Prime Minister hadn’t sent one of his closest aides, but Koizumi—a man of a different political line. Naturally, he hadn’t been given much power.
I nodded; it was as I had expected.
“That has nothing to do with me. I made demands of the Japanese government, and as long as I get them, that’s all. The rest is Japan’s problem.”
Speaking coldly, I watched Koizumi set down his cup with a bitter smile.
“Of course. But if I fail to resolve this matter, my political career is finished. Within the LDP, my faction is already deeply despised.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Well, it’s karma, I suppose. In any case, that’s not the point. Mr. Kim Muhyuk, please, I beg you to yield a little. I will surely repay you later.”
At the word “repay,” I paused to think. But I could not trust Koizumi on just that.
“Repay? How exactly would you repay me, Congressman?”
“I can’t give a definite promise, but surely there is something we can exchange. Whatever it may be. If not now, then in the future.”
Not an untrue statement. I considered it briefly.
But in the end, my conclusion remained unchanged.
“The stakes are too big to let it end with a bit of information. If you have nothing more to offer, I can’t trust a mere verbal promise.”
The Japanese were not to be trusted. Especially the double-faced man before me.
“Mm...”
At my hard response, Koizumi scratched his cheek, hesitating.
“You didn’t ask me to speak with you alone just to say this, did you? Isn’t your political standing shaking right now?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Then bow properly. Don’t try to balance your pride against your life. If I help you, tell me clearly what you can do for me.”
Koizumi’s face flushed slightly. I said nothing more, just waited.
“T-The truth is...”
After much hesitation, Koizumi slowly opened his mouth.
After Koizumi and the ambassador left, I remained in the study alone.
To gather my thoughts, I left their send-off to Manager Ma and Han Kyungyeong.
When the two returned, I gestured for them to sit.
“Sit down first.”
Once they had, I leaned forward.
“Brother, stop the attack on Japan now.”
“So they surrendered? Are they handing over the people involved?”
“No. They said they can’t hand them over.”
“Ha... And you want to end it like this? You know how much money we’ve spent already.”
He spoke in a hollow voice, and I shook my head slightly.
“There’s no helping it. Wrap everything up within a week. Once you stop, the other forex dealers will start pulling out as well.”
“True. It was a move against the global current.”
Han Kyungyeong looked as though he had more questions, but he held them back.
“Manager Ma, go right now and bring me Seo Jaehun.”
At that name, Han Kyungyeong’s face froze in shock. Even Manager Ma, rarely showing emotion, couldn’t hide his surprise.
“Vice Chairman Seo Jaehun?”
“Yes. Bring him. Kidnap him if you must. Drag him here today.”
“Hey, Muhyuk!”
“Yes, Boss.”
Startled, Han Kyungyeong tried to speak, but Manager Ma immediately rose, bowed deeply, and left.
“Mu-hyuk, if you bring Seo Jaehun here, things will get extremely complicated.”
Watching the door Manager Ma had exited through, Han Kyungyeong spoke with worry.
But my mind was already set.
“Why? Did Japan say Seo Jaehun was behind this?”
“They said Yamaguchi-gumi acted under his orders. A few LDP lawmakers and bureaucrats even moved with him.”
Han Kyungyeong let out a long sigh, scratching his head with a frown.
“No matter what, Seo Jaehun is too dangerous. If you kill him, even you won’t get away easily. You know that, right?”
I nodded. I understood well what he feared.
Leaning back into the sofa, I muttered quietly.
“I know. I won’t kill him. I won’t.”
* * *
“What?”
Chairman Seo Yonggeon shot up from his office chair, his face frozen in shock.
“What did you just say!”
“Vice Chairman Seo Jaehun was attacked by unknown assailants and kidnapped.”
“What kind of bullshit is this! What were the bodyguards doing?!” freewēbnoveℓ.com
“Well...”
When Lee Seokmin hesitated, the sharp crack of a slap echoed through the office.
His head jerked to the side from the sudden blow.
“You bastard! You said they were elite mercenaries!”
“I’m sorry. It was sudden, and there were many attackers. By the time the clash began, Vice Chairman Seo Jaehun was already gone with them...”
“Connect me to the Commissioner right now! No, call that bastard Kim Hakgwon. If he refuses to answer, tell him I’ll blow everything I have wide open and drag him down with me.”
Lee Seokmin immediately pulled out his phone and contacted the Blue House.
Meanwhile, Seo Yonggeon tried to calm himself, sinking back into his chair.
Running a hand through his disheveled hair, he frowned deeply.
‘What the hell is he thinking? Kim Muhyuk has no reason to do something this reckless...’
No matter how he thought, it made no sense.
Kim Muhyuk had been shaking him from all sides with strategy. Why risk such an outrageous move now?
“Chairman.”
Lost in thought, Seo Yonggeon looked up as Lee Seokmin held out the phone.
“It’s the Chief Secretary of the Blue House.”
Seo snatched it.
“I have nothing to say to you. Put President Kim Hakgwon on, now.”
Unlike before, Seo Yonggeon spoke down bluntly.
— Chairman! Mind your manners.
“Hey, don’t you get it? I’m Seo Yonggeon. Ilseong’s Seo Yonggeon! If you want to go all the way, fine. Put President Kim on right ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) now, or tonight’s nine o’clock news will plaster his name across the headlines.”
A heavy silence fell over the line. Seo could hear the secretary swallow nervously.
He spoke again.
“Now. Put him on.”
— ...He is in a cabinet meeting. He will call shortly.
“I’ll give you five minutes. He’d better call within five.”
Without waiting for a reply, Seo hung up.
“Will this be alright?”
Lee Seokmin asked nervously.
“Forget that. What about the mercenaries?”
“There was a clash, and the police intervened. They’re all at the station now.”
“And Jaehun’s whereabouts?”
“....”
At his silence, Seo rubbed his forehead with a long sigh.
“Ha... I let my guard down.”
“It isn’t your fault, Chairman. No one could have predicted Kim Muhyuk would do this. To think he’d kidnap the Vice Chairman in the middle of Seoul...”
Seo shot him a sharp glare. His words weren’t wrong, but they grated nonetheless.
Just then, the phone in Seokmin’s hand rang.
“Yes, this is Lee Seokmin.”
Answering, he quickly handed the phone to Seo.
“Mr. President.”
— Chairman Seo, what is happening?
“My son, the Vice Chairman of Ilseong Group, has been kidnapped in broad daylight in Seoul. Can you believe this?”
— What?
Kim Hakgwon’s startled voice carried over the line, but Seo pressed on.
“There is only one man in Korea who could do this: Kim Muhyuk. Whether you send the police, the NIS... hell, even the military, I want my son back safe.”
— ...
No answer. Seo’s voice dropped to a chilling tone.
“No one can predict how a parent will act after losing a child.”
— Chairman Seo, are you threatening me? Me, Kim Hakgwon?
“Mr. President.”
Even through the phone, Kim Hakgwon’s voice was faint, unsteady.
Listening to the conversation, cold sweat ran down Lee Seokmin’s back.
“Just return Jaehun safely. If he loses even a finger... then...”
— Chairman Seo, I am still the President of this country. I could have you arrested this instant. The illegal political funds you have on me? Fine. I’ll take damage. But yours will be far worse.
It was true. Seo knew it.
But he didn’t back down. Instead, he spat out words like venom.
“It’ll be a mud fight.”
— ...You.
“Is this really so difficult? You mean to say you fear Kim Muhyuk but not me? I am Seo Yonggeon, the man responsible for Ilseong Group in this nation.”
Everything had gone awry thanks to Kim Muhyuk. But with ten years—no, five—Seo could have built his empire.
“Just bring Jaehun back safely. Then I will never speak of your matters again. Not until my death.”
— ...Very well. I’ll look into it.
After ending the call, Seo hurled the phone at Seokmin.
Bowing his head, he exhaled a long breath.
“Contact Kim Muhyuk.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
When Seo lifted his head again, his eyes gleamed viciously.
* * *
Alone in the study, I stared out the window, deep in thought.
The sun was setting. I pondered long over what must be done.
‘I can’t kill him.’
In truth, I wanted to kill Seo Jaehun immediately.
But that would be a blunder.
Besides, Seo Yonggeon was already drowning.
Better than a quick death would be slow suffocation—drawing out his torment.
As I debated, the phone on my desk rang.
The Blue House.
“Speak.”
— Mr. Kim, isn’t this breaking our agreement?
Kim Hakgwon himself, not even through his secretary. His voice carried urgency.
“What do you mean?”
— Didn’t you say no violence? Then what is this all of a sudden?
“...Mr. President. I’ll handle it.”
It seemed Seo Yonggeon had pressured him. I hadn’t expected Kim Hakgwon to call me first.
— You’re not planning to kill him, are you? This isn’t like Cheongpunghoe. He is Ilseong’s heir. Think of the consequences.
“I’ll talk with him and send him back.”
— Can I trust you?
“Yes. I won’t kill him.”
Catching my meaning, Kim Hakgwon pleaded urgently.
— Mr. Kim! Hold back. Whatever this is, restrain yourself. You could lose everything in a single moment.
“I’ll end this call now.”
Several vehicles were entering the estate. I hung up.
Turning, I sat on the sofa.
Soon the door opened, and Manager Ma entered with Seo Jaehun.
“President Kim Muhyuk. It has been a while.”
Despite being dragged here, Seo Jaehun walked in with composure, sitting down naturally.
So calm it was hard to tell whether he had been captured or had come of his own will. My brows furrowed.
“If you’d simply asked to meet, I would have come. Why resort to such rough means?”
He bore no injuries. Catching my look, Manager Ma reported.
“As soon as the bodyguards clashed, he recognized me and came quietly.”
I gave a small nod.
If he had taken even a single hit, I wouldn’t have been this irritated.
Clicking my tongue unconsciously, I watched Seo Jaehun smirk and jeer.
“President Kim Muhyuk, doing something like this brings you no benefit at all, does it?”
“Hey. Do you think this is a joke right now?”
At my icy retort, Seo Jaehun’s smile vanished instantly.
