Free Web NovelEven after I entered, Representative Heo Tae-min didn’t bother to stand. He simply looked up at me from his seat.
If this was going to be a battle of nerves, I couldn’t back down either.
Without waiting for an invitation, I sat down directly across from him.
His stern gaze twitched faintly in disapproval, though the words that followed were different.
“You’re younger than I expected.”
Heo Tae-min’s expression softened slightly, his lips curving into a faint smile as he studied me.
“So why would a money-lending businessman want to meet an old man like me? I recall turning you down twice already... I can’t imagine why you’d even bother moving the President himself just to set up this meeting.”
Each time that sharp gaze swept over me, it felt like a knife’s edge cutting across my skin.
‘This one won’t be easy to handle...’
When I didn’t answer, Heo lifted the lid off the steaming pot sitting on a portable burner.
“Well then, let’s take our time talking. Eat first. I skipped breakfast, so I’m starving. This place serves the best chicken porridge in the region—I come here often.”
He ladled out a bowl of the soup and handed it to me.
I accepted it and set it down before me, and he filled his own bowl as well.
“Let’s eat first. Talking goes smoother on a full stomach. Try it—it’s good.”
He smiled pleasantly, but his eyes didn’t.
After a spoonful of the chicken soup, Heo let out a small sigh of satisfaction.
“This flavor never disappoints. You can’t get this taste in Seoul.”
He was clearly exaggerating to lighten the mood and take the lead in the conversation.
Matching his tone, I lifted my spoon and tasted the soup.
I nodded. “It’s good.”
“Right? I don’t tell many people about this place—it’s a hidden gem.”
Grinning, Heo dipped a ladle into a large earthen jar of makgeolli and offered me a bowl.
“Do you drink?”
“Yes, I do.”
“I like a drink now and then, but I can’t handle much. I’ve got afternoon appointments, so let’s just have a bowl today and save the heavy drinking for another time.”
After that, silence settled in.
Throughout the meal, Heo and I didn’t exchange words—only glances, each probing the other, our quiet duel continuing behind calm expressions.
After some time, Heo set his spoon down first.
“Now that we’ve eaten, let’s get to the point. Why did you want to see me?”
I laid my spoon down as well. “Please approve Jeong Chan-seong’s arrest motion.”
“Heh. A money-man making this kind of request? I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“Let’s not waste time on games. You already know why I’m asking, and you know exactly why Jeong Chan-seong is under investigation.”
Heo stared at me for a moment before suddenly laughing loudly.
“You’re amusing. To speak so freely before me—perhaps those rumors about you controlling President Kim Hak-kwon weren’t lies after all.”
The laughter stopped abruptly. His next words were sharp and cold.
“President Kim may owe you enough to grant favors, but I don’t. As for the political funds I received from Chairman Cheon while he was alive—if you plan to use that to trap me, go ahead. I won’t go down alone. Every politician and journalist in this country will unite to destroy you, President «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» Kim. You still want to play this game?”
At his provocation, I sighed deeply.
“I’m not here to threaten you, Representative. I’m only asking that you vote according to your conscience.”
“If Jeong Chan-seong’s arrest motion comes up, our Progressive Party will vote according to each member’s conviction.”
He repeated the same line stubbornly.
Typical politician—denial and evasion polished to perfection.
“Representative, we’re talking about a man who worked with the Chinese Triads to flood this country with narcotics. Doesn’t it shame you to share an assembly floor with someone like that? He belongs in prison, not the National Assembly.”
“I agree with you there. But even if I vote in favor, I won’t impose it as a party line on the rest of my members. I won’t let your personal vendetta dictate my actions.”
I shook my head.
“My issue with Lee Song-hee is separate. Her connection with Jeong Chan-seong was beyond what I anticipated.”
“What does that matter? That’s where all this began, isn’t it?”
He was as rigid as his face suggested. After a pause, he parted his lips again.
“Listen, President Kim. I know you have powerful ties in the U.S., Russia, and China. But this is South Korea. You can’t expect people here to move at your command. That’s arrogance.”
I said nothing, simply met his gaze in silence.
“And don’t assume every politician moves for money. I took campaign funds from Chairman Cheon and other conglomerates back then, yes—but that was survival, not greed. Since democratization, I haven’t taken a single won from anyone. So don’t think you can buy or threaten me. That’s why I came today—to tell you this face-to-face.”
I remained silent, studying him. Dangerous man.
People like this—utterly convinced of their own righteousness—were the hardest to deal with.
“I’ve said what I came to say. I’ll be going now. It was a pleasure meeting you.”
He rose from his seat.
“I don’t know if we’ll meet again, but don’t ever move President Kim Hak-kwon just to arrange another meeting with me. I’ll let this one slide.”
He delivered his final warning and began walking toward the door.
‘So I’ll have to use it after all.’
Once I used this, our relationship would be irreparably broken—but I had no choice.
As I watched him reach for the sliding door handle, I spoke.
“You said you’re a man who owes no debts to anyone, Representative. But do the people around you feel the same?”
If he still chose to open that door, that was his decision. I turned my head forward again.
No sound of the door opening came. He had stopped moving. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
“Your aide, Oh Cheol—the one outside—received a substantial sum from a construction company in your Gwangju district. It has nothing to do with me, so I could hand it to the prosecutors at any time. If you open that door now, that’s exactly where it’ll go.”
“······.”
“Several other lawmakers in your faction also received money from the Triads, just like Jeong Chan-seong. So tell me—are you really going to open that door and walk out?”
I didn’t turn around. I could feel his eyes burning into the back of my head as I lifted the unfinished makgeolli and drained it in one go.
Heo Tae-min was the kind of man who could never abandon his own people.
After hearing this, he wouldn’t be able to touch that door handle again.
“Choose, Representative. Work with me—or draw your blade. I’m ready either way. Are you?”
Silence filled the room. The heavy air grew thicker as neither of us spoke.
After what felt like an eternity, Heo broke the silence.
With a long sigh, he returned to his seat.
“Let’s hear it, then.” ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
We sat facing each other again, and he glared at me.
“I’ll call my aide.”
I called Manager Ma. Moments later, he entered the room.
“Manager, give him what we prepared.”
Ma handed me the briefcase he was carrying, then quietly left the room.
After the door closed, I set the file in front of Heo.
“Take a look. This is the true face of that man you trust so much—Oh Cheol.”
Heo’s hand trembled. Being betrayed by the man you trusted most always hurt the worst.
After hesitating, he picked up the documents with shaking hands and began flipping through them.
His face shifted from disbelief to anger, then turned crimson.
“These are all true?”
“Yes. There are a few smaller cases too, but they’re not even worth the newsprint. Want those as well?”
“······.”
By the last page, his face had gone pale.
He must have been furious. I kept my expression calm as I spoke.
“It’s quite serious, actually. I know you weren’t involved. I confirmed that during the investigation to obtain these files. But will others believe the same? Your aide since your first term takes money from a major construction company in your district. Then that company’s land zoning changes, and it builds apartments, making billions in profit. It writes itself, doesn’t it?”
I paused, watching him. He was staring at the door again.
He must’ve truly cared about Oh Cheol.
“This could destroy you in the upcoming primary—or even end your political career altogether. You know better than anyone that in politics, truth doesn’t matter—only perception does.”
Parched, Heo gulped down a full bowl of makgeolli and spoke.
When he did, the polite veneer was gone—his words came out blunt.
“Give me the rest of it.”
If that’s what he wanted, I’d oblige. I shrugged and handed him the other briefcase filled with records of his faction’s corruption.
He tore it open and flipped through the stacks of papers urgently.
For a long while, the only sound in the room was the rustle of pages.
“Phew······.”
Finally, Heo set the papers down and let out a deep breath.
“All of this is real?”
“Yes. You’ve seen it yourself.”
“······.”
“So what will it be, Representative? Have you changed your mind?”
“Just this once. But if you ever use this material to pressure me again, I’ll use every ounce of power I have to destroy you.”
I nodded. A card played twice only provokes resentment.
“I’m not that stupid.”
“When the arrest motion comes up, the Progressive Party will vote in favor. Handle the rest yourself.”
“That’ll be enough for it to pass in the Assembly. Thank you.”
He carefully placed the documents back into the briefcase.
“I’m taking this with me.”
“Of course. There are no copies. I won’t ever use this against you again.”
“Heh······. I thought you were just a young businessman, but you’ve got an old snake coiled inside you. No wonder President Kim Hak-kwon bows to you. How about one last drink?”
Instead of answering, I extended my cup.
He poured the makgeolli with a ladle, filled his own, and said,
“Drink this—and forget everything that happened here today. Forget these documents too.”
We emptied our cups in unison.
“I’ll be going.”
“Representative, may I ask one last question?”
Heo, about to rise from his seat, paused.
“What now? What else do you want to know?”
I met his sharp gaze head-on.
“What’s your relationship with former President Choi Sun-man? No matter how much I dig, I can’t find a single reason you two would ever cooperate. If anything, you should’ve been mortal enemies. Since you said this would be the last time, can you answer that?”
At my words, Heo Tae-min’s face froze in utter shock.
