Genius Grandson Of The Loan Shark King

There was no longer any reason to continue talking with a Japanese ambassador who wasn’t even a decision-maker.

Letting myself be dragged around by diplomatic rhetoric laced with laughable threats would only leave my mouth sore from talking.

It was far better to speak directly with the Japanese prime minister, the final decision-maker.

“You’re not answering. Then I’ll stand up.”

“President Kim!”

“Make sure you tell Prime Minister Koizumi clearly. I don’t waver over petty threats. Go ahead and try interfering with my business whenever you like. When that happens, you’ll see exactly how I respond. I can simply pull out of Japan. The portion Japan occupies in my investments is extremely small. But will that really be a good thing for Japan?”

At the firm final ultimatum, Toshiyaki’s face went pale.

I etched that expression into my eyes and stood up from my seat.

“P-President Kim......”

Sending someone this sloppy out to deal with me—what a disappointment.

No, Koizumi had surely warned him again and again: never underestimate me.

But those trapped in the fixed idea that Koreans could be ignored must have brushed off Koizumi’s advice.

That was the general mindset of Japanese bureaucrats, and the limitation of Japanese politicians.

Even if Korea’s economic power—and military power—rose right up under their chins. No, even if Korea outright defeated Japan, they’d still look down on Korea to the very end.

I looked down at Toshiyaki calling after me with emotionless eyes, clicked my tongue, and said,

“Either ignore me completely, or bow your head outright. Pick one. Don’t try to negotiate while clinging to pride that won’t get you anywhere.”

At a time like this, I had no intention of indulging Japan’s tantrums any further. I turned away.

Step. Step.

As I strode straight toward the exit, Toshiyaki shouted desperately from behind me.

“P-President Kim! I’ll call the Prime Minister!”

I stopped and turned back. Without saying a word, I glared at him. Toshiyaki bent over repeatedly and gestured to the chair with both hands.

“Please sit for now. I’ll contact the Prime Minister.”

You should’ve come out like this from the start.

I walked back and sat down again.

Crossing my legs, I jerked my chin at Toshiyaki.

“Contact him. Right now.”

Leaving Toshiyaki, who was repeatedly bowing as he pulled out his phone, I folded my arms.

Even if only briefly, I needed time to organize my thoughts.

‘Not being allowed to attend this summit alone would be humiliation for Japan...... And even if they do attend, their speaking power would be close to nonexistent.’

What would be a good price to demand in exchange for letting Japan attend?

Something President Yoon Changho could accept, and something that would benefit me. I had to find that overlap and make my proposal.

Accepting this request purely for my own gain would draw too many eyes—and involve far too many countries.

“President Kim. The Prime Minister says he’ll speak with you.”

At Toshiyaki’s call, I held out my hand.

I hadn’t yet decided what conditions to set, but I couldn’t exactly avoid the call either.

— President Kim Muhyuk. It’s been a while.

It was Prime Minister Koizumi’s voice, one I hadn’t heard in some time.

“It has been a while, Prime Minister Koizumi. The last time we spoke, you said you’d handle things on your own, didn’t you? I thought you’d forgotten all about me—didn’t expect you to come looking for me like this.”

— ......Please don’t misunderstand. The domestic political situation has been quite difficult, so I wasn’t able to pay you proper attention. That said, we’ve always kept an eye on the companies you’ve invested in within Japan.

“With good intentions? Or bad ones?”

When I replied sharply, silence flowed from the other end.

I continued.

“Prime Minister, I thought our relationship wasn’t exactly bad. Our goals were different, but we did join hands and cut out Japan’s cancerous growth together. So why this kind of treatment? Russia and China don’t act this way toward me—only Japan does. I truly don’t understand. Returning what you receive is the foundation of human relationships, and the basis of any deal, isn’t it?”

— President Kim, I think you’re misunderstanding something. Our relationship being bad—on the contrary, it’s a good one......

Even without seeing him, I could clearly picture Koizumi squirming on the other end.

“No. It’s not a misunderstanding. The Japanese ambassador you sent as your messenger is standing right in front of me, openly disrespecting me. And you’re saying that isn’t the case? How exactly do you see me? Did you think I’d do anything just because the Japanese government asked? We’re in a transactional relationship, not a subordinate one. And...... where did you even learn such half-baked threats?”

I’d deliberately turned the call volume up. There was no way Toshiyaki couldn’t hear everything.

Judging by how he sat there wide-eyed and fidgeting, I was certain.

Toshiyaki’s eyes were stretched as wide as they could possibly go. Watching him, I pulled one corner of my mouth up.

“Shall I show you what a proper threat looks like? You, of all people, Prime Minister, know exactly what kind of person I am.”

— Threats? What are you talking about? How could I possibly threaten you, President Kim? frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

So Toshiyaki’s words hadn’t come from Koizumi’s orders after all. Just as I suspected, it had been his own unilateral move.

Damn it. Even someone like this thinks he can look down on me. Maybe I should’ve crushed Japan more thoroughly back then.

Clicking my tongue, I looked at Toshiyaki. His face was already flushed bright red.

“Ambassador Toshiyaki told me this. That if I didn’t cooperate in this matter, there could be problems with my business in Japan.”

— ......Is that true? I never gave such instructions. I merely asked him to meet you and persuade you to allow us to attend this summit. I specifically told him not to make even the smallest mistake in front of you......

“I don’t know. Whether you gave the order and are now distancing yourself from it, or whether Ambassador Toshiyaki acted on his own. What matters is this: a Japanese ambassador did, in fact, say those words.”

— No! Absolutely not. That was never my intention! Why would I ever do such a thing? As you said, President Kim, we joined hands once, didn’t we? There’s absolutely no reason for us to fight.

Koizumi’s hurried voice was thick with fluster.

“Hm......”

I deliberately trailed off, looking at Toshiyaki. He was drenched in cold sweat.

“I don’t think this is something we can just brush aside as Ambassador Toshiyaki’s personal decision. No matter what, those words came from the mouth of the Japanese ambassador to Korea.”

— I apologize, President Kim. I’ll apologize on his behalf. Please clear up the misunderstanding. I will immediately replace the Japanese ambassador to Korea. freewebnovёl.ƈom

Without any discussion whatsoever, Toshiyaki’s head was cut off right then and there.

It seemed best to stop pressing the Prime Minister any further. There was nothing more to gain from it.

“I’ll let it go this once. You’ve gone that far, Prime Minister, so there’s no reason for me to cling # Nоvеlight # to it. But I don’t want anything like this to happen again. Once is forgivable—twice is not. Let’s not create reasons for resentment between us.”

From the other end of the line, I heard Koizumi repeatedly thanking me.

I glanced at the watch on my wrist and got to the point.

“Sorry, but I don’t have much time. Let’s wrap this up quickly. You want the Japanese government to send a delegation to attend the five-nation talks being held in a few days, correct?”

— That’s right. We conveyed our intentions to the Korean government and the American government, but they won’t budge. No—more precisely, the Korean government is firmly rejecting it. The American government said it respects Korea’s position.

There was no reason for the U.S. to offend the Korean government by insisting on Japan’s attendance.

I’d been the one leading this initiative, and it made sense for Korea to take the lead on the North Korea issue—so Japan’s proposal had likely been rejected for that reason.

Still, if the Korean government said it wanted Japan to attend, the U.S. would welcome it with open arms.

A 3–3 lineup would look better from the outside than a 3–2 standoff.

“I see. But why are you telling me this? I’m not a decision-maker—just a businessman.”

— You’re being overly modest, President Kim. You do have the ability to change the Korean government’s mind, don’t you? If you truly want to. I’m not mistaken about that, am I?

“Hm...... Even if that were possible, is there any reason I should do it? I can’t find one at all. Do you know of one? If so, please tell me.”

Silence flowed from the other end.

What is this? Are you really planning to just throw a tantrum with nothing to offer?

“Surely you weren’t planning to attend without offering anything, like a child throwing a fit? You should know better than that.”

— ......President Kim. This would help us, but it would help the Korean government even more. Isn’t it better to have two allies rather than one?

Well, it wasn’t wrong. Koizumi’s words were textbook.

But with all negotiations already finished behind the scenes, who attended wouldn’t change the outcome.

Koizumi surely knew that too.

Still, in politics, what matters most is what you show. And right now, he desperately needed a political show.

“Perhaps you’re right. But that’s something for the Korean and Japanese governments to discuss. It doesn’t seem like something I need to step into.”

— President Kim, please. I’m asking you to help us. If there’s something you want, I’ll grant it within reason. If Japan is left out of something this important, my political standing will inevitably shrink.

He really was desperate. More politically cornered than I’d expected.

“Japan’s domestic politics are in turmoil?”

— Yes. The far right is starting to rear its head again. They’re pressuring me by claiming I’ve abandoned Takeshima. That’s why it’s absolutely necessary for our cabinet’s delegation to attend this summit. On top of that, we need to resolve relations with North Korea as well.

“But don’t the far right lack a central figure now? Weren’t they all thoroughly cleaned out back then?”

At my question, Koizumi let out a deep sigh.

— ......Even without a central figure, politicians are always capable of taking far-right stances whenever it suits their interests. Far-right parties are already sprouting up everywhere. For the sake of the next general election, this is something we absolutely must attend. So tell me what you want.

“You’re saying that without even knowing what I’ll demand?”

— That’s how urgent it is. There are only a few days left until the summit, aren’t there? As long as your demands aren’t excessive, I’ll accept them.

What would benefit both me and Yoon Changho?

My mind kept racing even as he spoke.

“I can’t promise anything. But...... I’ll try moving things forward. I’ll discuss it with President Yoon Changho and contact you afterward.”

— Thank you. I’ll trust you and make preparations in advance.

“I’ll be in touch. Then I’ll hang up n—ah. I’ll pass the phone to the ambassador.”

Before saying goodbye to Koizumi, I noticed Toshiyaki’s face, pale as death.

I should deal with this first.

I handed the phone to Toshiyaki and stood up.

“Talk. I’ll be leaving now.”

With that, I notified Toshiyaki and left the room.

The secretariat staff member who had guided us earlier was waiting outside.

“I need to see President Yoon Changho. Please guide me.”

“Pardon? Right now? The President is currently with Chairman Jang Songthaek......”

“I know. I was on my way there, but the Japanese ambassador asked to speak with me briefly, which delayed me. I need to join them now.”

“That’s beyond my authority.”

“Just guide me for now. The Chief of Staff will be there, won’t he?”

The flustered staffer nodded and led me back into the banquet hall.

When we reached the place Yoon Changho had gone earlier, the Chief of Staff guarding the entrance widened his eyes.

“President Kim Muhyuk. Why are you here......?”

“I have something to discuss with the President.”

“Right now......”

“Just pass it along. He’ll tell you to let me in.”

The Chief of Staff hesitated briefly, then nodded.

“Please wait a moment.”

I stood there quietly until the Chief of Staff returned with permission.

A moment later, he opened the door and whispered to me,

“He says you may enter.”

I gave the Chief of Staff a slight bow and stepped inside.

Inside were Yoon Changho, Jang Songthaek, and Song Chanwoo—three people seated together.

I put a smile on my face and greeted them.

“Seeing the two of you facing each other like this really lifts my spirits.”