Free Web NovelI pulled myself together after being stunned by the shocking report.
Then I asked Manager Ma again.
“Seo Jaehun tried to kill himself? That’s absolutely impossible. Explain in detail.”
“They say he hung himself with a towel in the solitary confinement cell. Fortunately, a guard found him quickly, so he’s not in any danger. He still hasn’t woken up yet.”
“No other inmates made contact with Seo Jaehun?”
“No. We isolated him completely, exactly as you instructed.”
The thing that destroys a person the most is loneliness.
Being locked in solitary confinement, unable to meet anyone, unable to do anything—
it’s the perfect environment for going insane.
Especially someone like Seo Jaehun. I already suspected he’d never be able to endure it.
He lived his whole life worshipped as the crown prince of Ilseong Group.
Even so—him breaking this quickly?
“So what now?”
“He’s been admitted to Ilseong Hospital.”
Hospital, huh.
I wouldn’t mind making him follow the same path as Seo Yonggeon.
I’d need to think about that a bit.
“Ah, speaking of which—what’s happening with the lawsuit Seo Heekyung filed? I feel like we’ve been paying less attention to that side.”
“Chairman Seo Yonggeon’s voting rights have been restricted. Director Eva and Seo Heekyung are handling everything. Should I look into the details?”
If Eva is handling it, there’s nothing to worry about. I shook my head.
“Eva will sort it out however she sees fit. More importantly, bring me everything about Seo Jaehun’s condition and the situation at the scene. Whether it was a real suicide attempt, a performance... or whether someone tried to kill him.”
“Boss, you believe someone intervened?”
“Valletze is too quiet. One of their limbs died at Seo Jaehun’s hands, and they’re doing nothing? Makes no sense.”
Manager Ma bowed his head.
“Yes, I’ll look into that as well.”
“If it’s Valletze, they might have bribed a guard.”
“I’ll investigate thoroughly and report back, Boss.”
Seo Jaehun’s suicide attempt might be a smokescreen.
That bastard is absolutely not the type to take his own life.
My conversation with Manager Ma ended naturally as Cheon Jiyoung reappeared.
I forced a smile onto my stiff face.
“Did you look around everything?”
“Yeah. I love it! It’s really great.”
“Good. I’m glad you like it. Want to go eat? I’m starving.”
I took Cheon Jiyoung out of the pier.
Whatever was going on with Seo Jaehun could wait.
Right now, my time with Cheon Jiyoung mattered more.
* * *
Seo Jaehun opened his eyes. His eyelids felt heavy—just opening them was a struggle.
‘Where am I.’
A strange ceiling blurred his vision, and loud machine noises filled the air.
Frowning, he looked around.
Only then did he realize he was in a hospital, and quietly retraced his memories.
‘Ah...’
He had been sleeping when suddenly someone strangled him.
A horrifying experience.
The sudden suffocation, the terror of having no one to help him.
It was an emotion he had never once experienced in his entire life.
Just then, the sound of the door opening made him snap his eyes shut again.
Two men entered, talking as they walked into the room.
“When do you think he’ll wake up?”
“The tests didn’t find any issues. He should wake up soon.”
“Can he be transferred back to the detention center immediately once he wakes?”
The irritated voice asked, and the other man answered politely.
“It would be better to observe him for a few days. I also recommend psychiatric counseling.”
“Counseling for a prisoner is a luxury.”
“He is still the vice chairman of Ilseong Group. If someone like that dies by suicide, the correctional authorities will be in trouble.”
“Ha... I’ll report this to the higher-ups first.”
Both voices were familiar.
One was the president of Ilseong Hospital.
The other was the guard assigned to supervise him.
“I’ll check his condition first.” free𝑤ebnovel.com
The hospital director approached to examine Seo Jaehun.
Meanwhile, the guard stepped back and made a phone call.
Just as the director was about to open his eyelids, Seo Jaehun moved his hand and grabbed the man’s collar.
The director froze, startled.
Seo Jaehun cracked his eyes open slightly and gave the faintest shake of his head before closing them again.
After a short hesitation, the director fiddled with random medical equipment instead of examining him.
“How is he?”
The guard returned after his call.
“He’s still unconscious.”
The guard glanced at Seo Jaehun, then nodded.
“If he wakes up, notify the people outside immediately. No visits allowed. Only you, Director, and one nurse. Anything beyond that is unacceptable.”
“Understood.”
“Damn rich bastards always make things complicated. I’ll head out first. Good luck.”
The guard clicked his tongue and left, slamming the door behind him.
“...He’s gone, Vice Chairman.”
Seo Jaehun opened his eyes.
Seeing him awake, the hospital director’s voice trembled.
“Vice Chairman, why... why did you do this?”
“...How long was I unconscious?”
“A full day has passed. Please explain first—what happened?”
Seo Jaehun hesitated.
He wasn’t sure he could trust this man anymore.
Until recently, this man was unquestionably one of his own.
He held the lifeline of his father, Chairman Seo Yonggeon.
But now—he couldn’t trust anyone. freewebnoveℓ.com
“Director Yang.”
“Yes, please speak, Vice Chairman.”
“I need you to do me a favor.”
“A favor?”
Being asked for a favor instead of an explanation made the director blink.
“Yes. Contact President Kim Muhyuk and tell him to come see me.”
“May I ask why? I need to know to relay the message properly.”
Seo Jaehun frowned.
This man had never before asked for a reason.
Now he was questioning him just because he landed in prison?
It felt like disrespect.
“Director Yang. Since when did you question my orders? Do you take me lightly now?”
The cold tone made the director flinch.
“I am Seo Jaehun. Seo Jaehun. I am not dead yet. I am the rightful heir of Ilseong Group. I have more than enough power to take your head off if I wish.”
The director immediately bowed.
“I’m sorry.”
“That’s enough. Contact President Kim Muhyuk and relay this exactly: I have something to say, so he should come see me.”
“Yes, I will.”
Seo Jaehun wasn’t sure the message would ever reach Kim Muhyuk,
but he was certain of one thing:
Given what happened, Kim Muhyuk would come anyway.
Having finished his calculations, he spoke firmly.
“This must not reach anyone else. If it does... you’ll be risking your life. But if you handle it well, I’ll reward you greatly. I’m trusting you, Director Yang.”
“Y-yes. Understood.”
“And... make sure I can stay in the hospital as long as possible.”
The director answered weakly.
“That is beyond my authority.”
“Make it possible.”
“I... I’ll try.”
“Don’t report that I woke up yet. Let’s say I regain consciousness this evening. I need time to think.”
“Understood.”
“I want to be alone. Leave now. And don’t say unnecessary things.”
Seo Jaehun closed his eyes again.
The director bowed and left the room.
‘Who tried to kill me. First of all, it wasn’t Kim Muhyuk. That bastard has absolutely no intention of killing me.’
Eyes still shut, Seo Jaehun exhaled low.
The deeper his thoughts went, the more his wounded throat throbbed.
* * *
The suspicion-filled articles pouring out from the U.S. and U.K. didn’t die down even after several days.
Zhou Yongkang came to visit me at my hotel in Guangzhou.
He never moves unless absolutely necessary—so seeing him come in person was unexpected.
Hiding my true thoughts, I welcomed him with a smile.
“Welcome.”
Zhou Yongkang shook my hand.
“President Kim, I came because there’s something I need to say.”
“Good. I was also curious how things were progressing. Let’s sit.”
We faced each other.
Zhou Yongkang didn’t test the waters—he went straight to the point.
“All pressure on Tencent has been stopped. We will not apply any further pressure from now on.”
“That’s pleasant news to hear.”
“Chairman Jiang Zemin was pleased with President Kim Muhyuk’s gift. And through negotiations with President Hu Jintao, a political agreement was reached to remove Wang Jianlin.”
I already knew Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao had met.
But I hadn’t heard what they exchanged.
Hu Jintao was greedy—he must have secured something big.
There’s no way he would let Wanda Group fall entirely into Jiang Zemin’s hands without compensation.
Still, they must have reached a smooth agreement.
Weakening the Princelings was mutually beneficial.
“So the Princelings haven’t made any comment?”
“Bo Xilai is guiding their internal stance. They won’t make any particular move.”
“Hm... So when will you arrest him? I’m not thrilled that Wang Jianlin is still breathing outside.”
“Please stop the foreign news outlets from publishing those articles first.”
I smirked. So that’s why he came to see me.
“Once I stop them, it’ll be difficult to run another special series.”
“The Central Party is uncomfortable. Chairman Jiang Zemin said to resolve this issue first and arrest Wang Jianlin once things quiet down.”
I clicked my tongue involuntarily. Politics—fine, I’d accept it.
“Understood. Hold on.”
I took out my phone and called Murdoch.
— Charlie! Long time no hear.
“Yes, Chairman Murdoch. How have you been?”
His voice was cheerful.
— Thanks to you, everything is going well.
Joining hands with me, Murdoch was building an even bigger media empire.
Our massive funding was holding up his kingdom.
“Glad to hear it. On another note, please stop all articles about Wang Jianlin.”
— Is this enough? I have more material prepared.
“The Chinese government accepted my demands. So I should stop here too.”
— A shame. Those articles stirred up quite the storm. U.S. politics loved it as well.
His voice dripped with disappointment.
“Haha, I’ll bring you an even better story next time.”
— Fine. Since it’s your request, Charlie, I’ll stop everything here. When are you coming to the U.S.?
“Probably soon.”
— Let’s drink together then. I’ve got a good bottle waiting.
“I’ll look forward to it. I’ll hang up now.”
I ended the call.
Zhou Yongkang stared at me, mouth agape.
“Was that Chairman Rupert Murdoch?”
I put my phone back into my pocket and nodded.
“Yes. All articles will be taken down today, including anything already online.”
“...Even in China, Chairman Murdoch is known for his stubbornness, yet he listens to President Kim’s request so easily.”
“A lot of our investment is in News Corporation. It’s hard for him not to consider that.”
Murdoch is famous for ignoring presidents.
The only reason he listens to me is simple.
Money.
Even Murdoch kneels before enormous money.
“Zhou Yongkang, I’ll return to Korea tomorrow.”
I wanted to see the situation unfold personally,
but I couldn’t stay in China forever.
It would take at least half a year to dismantle Wang Jianlin and Wanda Group.
“I hope everything is resolved before the year ends.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll arrest Wang Jianlin within this month and detain all involved parties. I’ll contact ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) you once Liu Lifeng’s investigation is complete.”
He understood exactly what I wanted.
His answer made me smile in satisfaction.
“Good. I like that.”
“And...”
Zhou Yongkang hesitated.
Looked like he had something else to say.
“Speak.”
“Chairman Liu Han requested a meeting to apologize.”
“Liu Han? No. Why would I meet someone like that. Just tell him to never get in my way again. That’s enough.”
“Yes. I’ve already warned him clearly.”
He bowed.
“Minister, you should start distancing yourself from him too. One day, that man will become your Achilles’ heel.”
“...I’ll consider it.”
The two men were practically an economic union.
But the deeper the entanglement, the more disastrous the collapse.
Not realizing that yet, Zhou gave an ambiguous reply.
If he couldn’t understand after such a clear warning, then so be it.
I nodded casually.
“Once everything is done, let’s have a meal together.”
The next day.
I arrived at Incheon Airport with Cheon Jiyoung.
My China trip, which had dragged on longer than expected, was finally over.
