Capítulo 196: Chapter 196: There Is No Ceasefire
Seo Yong-geon entered the memorial hall and glanced at Cheon Ji-won and Cheon Ji-su. Then, without a woord, he offered flowers and incense.
After bowing his head for a long time, Seo Yong-geon finally lifted it and walked toward Cheon Ji-won.
"I sincerely wish for the repose of the deceased's soul."
With Cheon Ji-won seeing him off, he stepped out of the memorial hall.
"Boss Kim, I need to have a word with you."
I gestured toward the reception room. Behind me, I saw Cheon Ji-won wearing a confident expression.
He still hasn't come to his senses. I stifled a laugh inside.
"Shall we go inside?"
Nodding, Seo Yong-geon raised his hand and patted Cheon Ji-won's shoulder.
"Just a few more days of hardship. I'll come visit after the funeral."
"Yes, Grandfather."
It was a significant statement. Cheon Ji-won smiled.
Cheon Ji-su, inside the memoriaal hall, cringed upon seeing that.
"Come on in, Boss Kim."
I led Seo Yong-geon to the reception room where I had spoken with Chairman Song earlier.
"Manager, you wait outside."
When I stopped Lee Seok-min from coming in, Seo Yong-geon nodded at him.
After confirming Seo Yong-geon took the first seat, I closed the door. I sat down opposite him.
"Thank you for coming. I didn't expect to see you, especially after the scene you made yesterday."
As soon as we were alone, a sharp voice shot out.
"Did I do it on purpose? I had to hire a bodyguard for his safety because Chairman Cheon insists on being stubborn. I didn't expect there would be a clash."
With his hands raised, as if to insist he wasn't at fault, Seo Yong-geon boldly declared.
"The process doesn't matter. What matters is the result. Isn't that your chairman's business philosophy? You're quick to abandon your principles when they work against you."
"...….."
Perhaps my reaction was sharper than expected, as Seo Yong-geon hesitated to answer.
If it weren't my grandfather's funeral, we wouldn't be having this conversation.
His smug smile irritated me further, provoking an even sharper retort.
"We're hardly in a position to sit here and chat amiably."
"...You clearly lack manners. You should know how to respect your elders."
Seo Yong-geon, who had maintained a smile throughout, showed signs of discomfort, his face hardening.
Respect. It was laughable to hear such a word from Seo Yong-geon, and I couldn't help but snicker.
"Respect? I can't recall seeing you pay that to Chairman Song, now can I?"
Seo Yong-geon only cleared his throat, offering no reply. He always avoided answering when cornered.
"Let's cut the nonsense. You said you had something to discuss with me."
Even though we both detested sitting here facing each other, I was still curious about what he had to say.
"What about a truce?"
"A truce?"
"Yes, a truce."
Seo Yong-geon nodded.
It was not even worth listening to.
My mouth curled into a natural smirk.
"We haven't even begun, yet you're already scared?"
"Me? Me, Seo Yong-geon, scared?"
He asked incredulously, but it was I who found it absurd.
He had made a mess but now sought a truce because things weren't going as he wished.
"I thought it was strange how you kept getting entangled with Seo Jae-hoon in Pyongyang on purpose. Then during my time in Pyongyang, my grandfather's health worsened. Such a stunningly bad coincidence, isn't it?"
Seo Yong-geon responded without the slightest change in his expression.
"Jae-hoon took my place, and the overlapping routes were managed by the government. It has nothing to do with me."
"So you're implying that President Kim Hak-gwon was toying with me?"
"...What?"
At my provocative question, Seo Yong-geon's brow twitched.
"If it wasn't the chairman's intention, then it must have been Kim Hak-gwon's. Can I ask now?"
It seemed he hadn't anticipated I would mention President Kim Hak-gwon.
I shot a chilling smile at Seo Yong-geon, who, with his mouth tightly shut, glared at me.
"Chairman Seo, my grandfather was my only control device. Now, there's no one who can stop me."
Yet it was my hesitation that led to my grandfather's passing.
I would hesitate no longer.
"Whoever tries to obstruct my plans will be trampled down by any means necessary."
"You…"
"You should have prayed for my grandfather to live long. Only then could you have remained in your position."
Anger marked Seo Yong-geon's face, but I didn't stop speaking.
"There is no ceasefire. Don't expect one."
"One of us will lose everything."
"I don't care. You're the one who's unsure. You think you can lose in this fight?"
At first glance, it sounded arrogant, but it was my genuine belief.
I held an ace in my hand: Jang Dae-ho, one he never saw coming.
"You're overconfident, my friend. This is Korea. Your influence may be higher than mine in foreign lands, but not here."
Seo Yong-geon, who initially seemed flustered, quickly softened his expression and started talking down to me.
But it was just laughable.
"Well, if you're relying on President Kim Hak-gwon, don't set your hopes too high. When a full-scale war breaks, he will maintain neutrality out of concern for his own safety."
"...That can't be true."
Seo Yong-geon looked convinced he had an unwavering grip on the election funds he had provided.
But politicians can change as easily as flipping a hand. I need not look far back at how recently he betrayed me.
President Kim Hak-gwon even keeps a wary eye on entrepreneurs. To me, he had merely used Seo Yong-geon to keep me in check.
If a full-scale war truly erupted, he wouldn't make a move.
"Of course, it's true that the Blue House possesses strong power in Korea. But we aren't living in an era where the president's influence is supreme like in the military regime. Don't put too much faith in Kim Hak-gwon. If that's what's driving your actions, then I'm disappointed. It's rather dull and unremarkable."
"Why go to such lengths? Do you think winning will secure you Il-sung?""
Secure Il-sung??
Seo Yong-geon appeared to be under the impression that I desired Il-sung and was thus provokking a conflict.
"Il-sung? I don't need it. II intend to dismantle it and uproot it to erase the name Il-sung from Korea entirelyy."
"What? How dare you belittle Il-sung in front of me?""
As soon as I mentioned Il-sung, Seo Yong-geon coulld no longer hold his anger back.
Without realizing, a sneer escaped my lips. How naive of him to act out of turn.
"There are companies larger than Il-sung in the world. You mmust think ruling in this narrow well, Korea, gives you some kind of superiority. Let me show you how a frog in a well meets its demise. Just wait and see."
Having spoken apathetically and closing my mouth, I noticed Seo Yong-geon's face flush with anger as he perceived it as an insult.
"Where is Cheon Su-man? Bring him to me at once."
As expected, Seo Yong-geon's real purpose for coming here was to search for Cheon Su-man. In other words, it meant even Il-sung could not trace himm.
Having been humiliated without results, it made sense he would be furious.
His desperate clinging to the inheritance law was quite amusing.
"Figure it out on your own. I don't know where he is either."
"I was informed Ha Myung-hoon took him away."
"Manager Ha has been here since yesterday. I can't fathom what nonsense you're spouting."
Seo Yong-geon glared at me with bloodshot eyes for a long time, but I did not flinch.
"If anything has happened to Cheon Su-man, neither you nor Ha Myung-hoon will escape unscathed. Don't disregard my warning."
"Are you seriously worried about my safety? Thanks, I guess."
"...You've got quite a mouth."
Did he only now realize that?
It was a statement hardly worth replying to, but I deliberately answered with annoyance.
"Since you came to pay your respects to my grandfather, I'll let this go. I'm not someone who shows mercy to my enemies. Isn't that the same for you, Chairman?"
Seo Yong-geon stood up instead of answering.
"I see Chairman Cheon off properly."
"Yes, thank you."
He slammed the door open and stormed out of the reception room.
Then, at the entrance of the funeral hall—specifically in front of Manager Ha—he paused momentarily.
I could see the malice behind Manager Ha's gaze.
"Manager."
When I called out softly, Manager Ha finally relaxed his eyes.
"Hmph, how insightful."
Seo Yong-geon shook his head and then left the funeral hall with Lee Seok-min.
"Manager, let's have a quick chat."
After they disappeared from sight, I took Manager Ha with me into the reception room.
Seo Yong-geon would never be so easily intimidated. I needed to add a warning.
"Seo Yong-geon will likely keep a close eye on you. Following you is a given, too. If it's Il-sung, the National Intellligence Service might also get involved."
"Yes, I had an inkling."
"After the funeral, move together with the mercenary team. They'll distract any followers, and you can manage the rest yourself."
"Understood."
While I had to exact revenge for my grandfather, losing Manager Ha was out of the question.
I locked eyes with him again, emphasizing my request.
"You must leave no traces behind."
"Don't worry about that."
He had lived for decades as my grandfather's blade. I knew he wouldn't leave any evidence, so I said no more.
"It's almost time for the funeral preparation, isn't it?"
"Yes, we should move soon."
My grandfather's preparatory service was about to begin. It was my last chance to see his face once more.
Following the guidance of the funeral home staff, the family, including me, moved to the place for the service.
Through the glass, I could see my grandfather's body.
Cheon Ji-young burst into tears upon seeing my grandfather's face, and Cheon Ji-su's eyes glimmered wiith unshed tears.
While Cheon Ji-won didn't shed any tears, his hands trembled slightly.
The funeral director began dressing my grandfather in his burial garments.
Seeming unable to bear it, Ji-young buried her head in my chest and continued sobbing.
I patted Ji-young's shoulder, desperately trying to keep my eyes on my grandfather for fear of missing his last moments.
Manager Ha, standing behind us, was trembling as well.
"Family members, please step inside."
The funeral director called for us.
Still crying, Ji-young was guided inside by Cheon Ji-su, with Cheon Ji-won following after.
As I was about to enter as well, I called out to Manager Ha, who was standing quietly behind me.
"Manager, you should come in too. We need to see my grandfather off together."
"Thank you, Young Master."
I entered with Manager Ha.
The smell of hemp and medicine filled the space.
"If you have any last words for the deceased, please say them. He will hear you."
After completing his statement, the funeral director stepped back a step.
Ji-young clutched my grandfather's face, crying loudly.
Cheon Ji-su gently touched my ggrandfather's arm, while Cheon Ji-won simply gazed at his face.
I silently looked at my grandfather's face, murmuring inside.
'...Grandfather. Please watch over me from the heavens, along with Mother. Please see how I come to live. It should be entertaining for you.'
I noticed that the corners of Manager Ha's eyes had turned slightly red.
"Goodbye, Grandfather. I'll hold your hand, Manager."
"...Yes, Young Master."
Manager Ha, having turned to my left side instead of the right where Ji-su was clutching my riight arm, gently took my grandfather's hand.
I could mourn my grandfather for even the briefest time.
"Please step back. We're finishing up now."
At the funeral director's prompt, everyone took several steps back.
I watched as the funeral director covered my grandfather's face with a thin blanket and securely wrapped it.
As the realization that it truly was the end sank in, a pang of sorrow twisted in my heart.
"Then I wish for the repose of the deceased's soul."
After completing all the procedures, we took a moment of silence.
Upon returning to the memorial hall, we spent the remaining time receiving mourners.
The next day, we rose early to prepare for the funeral.
My friends, including Myeong-su and Hyeon-seong, arrived at the funeral hall from early dawn.
I planned to entrust my grandfather's coffin to my friends.
I was willing to yield on everything else, but I did not want to hand over my grandfather's portrait to Cheon Ji-won.
This was my grandfather's final journey. I wanted to carry him to his ancestral grave myself.
Behind me walked Manager Ha, Manager Ma, and my friends, each bearing my grandfather's coffin.
We first stopped at the mansion in Pyeongchang-dong, where my grandfather had spent most of his life.
Holding the portrait, I wandered through the house, reminiscing every trace of my grandfather. I paused briefly in the study.
'Grandfather, I will make this place the apex of Korea, so please watch over me.'
I left the Pyeongchang-dong mansion.
The hearse began its journey toward my grandfather's ancestral grave in Chungcheong-do.
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