Free Web NovelThis was my first time seeing Xavier in person.
I had seen photographs before, but even those had been blurry, making it impossible to recognize his face clearly.
As we looked at one another, neither of us hesitated before moving.
“Hello. I'm Kim Muhyuk.”
“A pleasure. Xavier.”
Smiling, we shook hands.
Lorenze watched us with an uncomfortable expression.
But another guest approached him to offer condolences, and he turned his attention away from us.
Releasing Xavier’s hand, I said,
“I've heard a lot about you.”
“Haha. You've heard a lot about me? Did Lorenze tell you?”
“No. You must know that the President of Russia is a close friend of mine. He told me.”
Xavier’s face stiffened.
Russia was one place where even a man as influential as Xavier in Europe had no power.
Baltice’s influence was weak in countries close to Russia.
“It's noisy here. Shall we move somewhere quieter and talk?”
“Do we have anything to discuss?”
“If we're honest with each other, perhaps we'll have a constructive conversation.”
Stroking his chin, Xavier nodded slightly.
“Then let us each bring only one attendant. How about that?”
“Fine. Let's do that.”
I led Xavier to a corner of the garden.
The moment I heard he had arrived, I had ordered a table and chairs prepared.
“Please, sit.”
As soon as we sat facing each other, I asked what I had wanted to know.
No beating around the bush.
Straightforward.
“Why do you hate us? No matter how much I think about it, I just can't understand.”
“I don't hate you.”
“There have been repeated attempts to undermine us.”
“Our paths are different, so conflict is inevitable, no? Strange. Listening to you, it sounds as though you are the victim when we are the ones who suffered.”
Victims?
Hearing that word come out of a man who looked like he had never been associated with such a thing almost made me laugh.
“Isn't it natural in investment to make losses sometimes and profits at others?”
“The one who benefited most from the board we laid out was Dreamhigh. Do you know how much time and effort we invested?”
He was referring to the Asian financial crisis.
“How could you make more money than us on the board we created?”
“Because I saw weaknesses.”
It wasn't a lie.
I knew the future, so I had the confidence to step into a board created by others.
But they didn't.
Because variables existed, they had to fear failure.
Simply put, it was the difference in conviction.
When two players engage in a battle of wits, the one with conviction is bound to win.
“Weaknesses... It's not something that can be explained so simply.”
“If it sounded simple, I apologize.”
“Isn't it only logical to assume someone gave you our information?”
His eyes were full of suspicion and doubt.
Smiling, I shook my head.
“Information? At that time, I had nothing. Who would give me such high-level information?”
That was before I had even properly established myself in Korea.
“As you know, weaknesses always exist. The stock market and currency market are filled with unseen variables.”
“So you're saying you discovered those weaknesses and moved in a way no one expected?”
“Exactly. And that was one reason we survived.”
Looking him directly in the eye, I continued.
“Afterward, I even yielded opportunities so people hurt because of us could profit from the board we had built. Yet after that, it wasn't me who treated the other side with hostility. It was you.”
I had never been hostile toward Baltice from the beginning.
I didn't even know they existed.
But they had opposed me from the start and collided with me every step of the way.
“In Afghanistan, I almost died. I know you were behind that.”
Instead of answering, Xavier stared at me.
“There may be no evidence, but I have enough reason to believe it.”
“You have quite the imagination.”
“You can deny it all you want. It doesn't change what I think.”
The attack in Afghanistan had been truly dangerous.
And it wasn't the only time.
“The same goes for China.”
Every time my life had been threatened, Baltice had been lurking in the shadows.
Just because there was no evidence didn't mean I could overlook it.
“I simply return what I receive. On your main battlefield.”
“Hahaha!”
Xavier burst into laughter.
“What a funny fellow. Tell me, Mr. Kim. If I proposed cooperation, would you accept?”
Cooperation?
We had already gone too far.
Even if we joined hands now, nothing would change.
Still, instead of rejecting him immediately, I decided to test him.
“What do we gain by cooperating with you?”
“If you work with us, we can use our emotions to achieve greater things together. We possess resources and infrastructure beyond your imagination. All our influence would stand on your side. Why take the long road?”
“Resources and infrastructure...”
“What we possess has been accumulated over centuries. It isn't a sandcastle built overnight.”
I already knew from Cosimo that Baltice's history was far older than I had imagined.
“No matter how I think about it, this seems like a deal where I'm the one taking the loss.”
“What?”
“The information we possess is more than data. We can predict the future and prepare for change. That's why you've never beaten us. Resources and infrastructure? Isn't it true that despite having all that, you've been pushed back by us time and again?”
The warmth vanished from Xavier’s eyes.
“You're looking down on us.”
“Not at all.”
I had never underestimated Baltice.
Their influence was real.
“Then why refuse my offer?”
“The biggest reason is that I can't trust you. Trust isn't built overnight.”
“Trust?”
Meeting his eyes, I replied,
“Yes. I don't trust you. At any moment, you might let go of the hand you've taken.”
They were thorough white supremacists.
No one who wasn't white was truly accepted into the organization.
“I don't trust you either, Mr. Kim.”
I smiled at his resolute answer.
It was irritatingly amusing that we thought alike.
“You don't have to trust me, Xavier. I never intended to take your hand in the first place.”
“Then one of us will have to disappear from this world before this ends.”
Drawing a deep smile, Xavier continued,
“The traps I've prepared have already begun to ensnare you.”
His voice dripped with mockery.
Even the formal speech he had maintained had vanished.
“By now, your people are already caught in our nets.”
Without the slightest hesitation, I answered,
“Is that so? If all you've prepared is using politicians in Korea, I'll be disappointed.”
“That is merely a declaration of war. I don't expect much from it.”
“I see. Then you should prepare for your downfall as well. The flutter of wings that began in America will sweep across Europe, your stronghold. I hope you'll enjoy watching what happens to your financial network.”
Xavier responded only with a cold stare.
“So we're pointing blades at each other. Time will tell whose blade is sharper.”
There was no need to hide anymore.
I nodded honestly.
“Just as you trapped me, I've spent years preparing to destroy you.”
Rising to his feet, Xavier looked down at me.
“The winner will have everything, and the loser will have nothing.”
“Isn't that how this world works?”
I stood and met his gaze.
“There is no turning back now.”
Watching me with cold eyes, Xavier asked,
“One question. Since when has Lorenze been on your side?”
“I don't know what you mean. I've never joined hands with Lorenze.”
“We've already spoken frankly. Tell me the truth.”
“It is true that I helped him during this crisis. Thanks to that, I gained a good partner. Thank you, Xavier.”
I bowed lightly.
When I raised my head again, the corners of his eyes twitched.
“If you've prepared something, try it. I'll answer every move.”
Just then, Lorenze approached and stood beside me.
“Family Head. I... no, my family will withdraw from Baltice. I cannot walk alongside people who tried to kill me.”
“...Lorenze Medici!”
“My grandfather has passed peacefully. Yet neither you nor the other family heads attended the memorial Mass or visited the cemetery. He devoted his entire life to Baltice and the Medici Family.”
There was an old saying that when a prime minister's dog died, crowds gathered, but when the prime minister himself died, the mourners grew few.
From beginning to end, not a single member of Baltice had accompanied his final journey.
Only the people of Italy had mourned and honored him.
“Please leave. Family Head. You have no right to mourn my grandfather.”
It was a clear order to leave.
“So this is your choice, Lorenze?”
“You betrayed me first. If the other family heads participated in this affair... then they too will become my enemies.”
“You betrayed us first.”
At Xavier's words, Lorenze answered coldly,
“Think whatever you wish, Family Head. No matter what you say, I am the one who was betrayed.”
“You'll regret this, Lorenze Medici. Not just you, but your entire family will be in danger.”
“This was my decision. Therefore, I alone will bear all responsibility.”
At that moment, commotion arose near the front gate.
“They've finally arrived.”
I turned toward the entrance.
Three men were approaching.
The remaining heads of Baltice's families had arrived together.
One by one, they offered condolences in Italian.
“Thank you all for coming.”
“Lorenze...”
“Fortunately, I survived and was able to protect my grandfather's final moments. It's all thanks to you.”
There wasn't a trace of emotion in Lorenze’s voice.
I studied their expressions.
Two showed no change.
One looked completely bewildered.
“What are you talking about, Lorenze? Survived?”
“Marx. You don't know?”
“What are you talking about? Nace, David, why is Lorenze saying such things?”
Seemingly flustered, Marx turned to the others.
“I'll tell you later.”
“What do you mean later? What happened?!”
True to his fiery temperament, Marx raised his voice.
“Marx, lower your voice.”
At Xavier’s command, Marx turned toward him.
“Family Head... don't tell me you tried to kill Lorenze?”
“...I'll explain everything later. This is not the place.”
“Family Head!”
“Marx! I said lower your voice.”
Faced with Xavier’s icy gaze, Marx faltered.
“...You'll have to tell me everything.”
Looking exhausted, Xavier nodded.
“Everyone, please leave. I don't want to create a disturbance on my grandfather's final journey.”
“Lorenze!”
“Marx. Thank you for coming. We'll talk later.”
Without another word, Xavier turned away.
“We're leaving. Everyone, follow me.”
Nace and David offered their condolences to Lorenze before turning around.
Even at the end, Marx hesitated.
“Lorenze, I'd like to share your grief, but... today isn't the day. I'll contact you.”
Without speaking, Lorenze quietly nodded.
Reluctantly, Marx turned and followed Xavier.
“Haa...”
Once Xavier disappeared from sight, Lorenze let out a deep sigh.
“I thought you and Marx didn't get along?”
“...That's right. We fought almost every day.”
For a long time, I stared at the front gate where Xavier and the others had disappeared.
