Chapitre 645: Chapter 645: I Don’t Mean to Lend It
Kim Seok-jin, leading the largest faction of the Progressive Party, resigned from his presidency, taking responsibility for the party's defeat in the recent elections.
Even so, he remained the undisputed leader of Honam.
After President Kim Hak-gwon retired and stepped down from the party, Kim Seok-jin absorbed those left without a home who belonged to his faction.
There was no other politician in the Progressive Party who could stand up to his stature.
Sure, Hong Jin-woo, Lee Mi-yeon, and a few others existed, but even if they banded together, they couldn't compare to Kim Seok-jin.
Of course, politics didn't solely hinge on power and influence.
It was just like how he eventually supported the emergency committee that appointed Kim Sung-keun as the chairperson after a consensus with Hong Jin-woo.
"Why? Is it not delicious? It suits my tastes perfectly, you know."
He shrugged off my question, instead focusing intently on the sundae soup in front of him.
I thought he'd feel the burning urgency of the situation, but he seemed to be quite relaxed.
"Chairman. If you have nothing to say, I'll take my leave now."
I had no intention of waiting for him to finish his meal.
This meeting hadn't been my idea; it was Kim Seok-jin who suggested it, so why waste my time?
"Hmm…"
With an annoyed air, Kim Seok-jin loudly set down his spoon.
"You know, young friend, you're quite hasty in your temperament, aren't you?"
He scolded me with that remark before rinsing his mouth with the cup of water before him.
"You've got some interesting information, huh? That's why I wanted to see you."
"Information?"
Kim Seok-jin nodded. His face was full of confidence, perhaps suggesting it was valuable info.
I wondered, 'What secrets could possibly be unknown to me? My informant embedded within the Progressive Party has said nothing.'
Then again, it wasn't like I'd planted anyone in the leadership's inner circle.
"What is it? What kind of information are we talking about?"
"If you find it appealing, will you pay for it?"
"If it's information I want, I'm ready to pay whatever it takes—whether with my own knowledge or with money. Well, I suppose it depends on how appealing it is to me."
Kim Seok-jin's eyes gleamed; he understood the value of the currency I was referring to.
He opened his mouth without hesitation.
"Kim Sung-keun has targeted you as a political pawn."
Is that all he brought as 'information'? Noticing the disappointment on my face, Kim Seok-jin hastily continued.
"Hong Jin-woo, Lee Mi-yeon, and Yoo Chang-soo have agreed to support Kim Sung-keun. If they all join forces, even I can't guarantee victory. It seems the Progressive Party is keen on devouring you."
Lee Mi-yeon and Yoo Chang-soo, huh? I raised my eyebrows, crossing my arms.
I had expected Hong Jin-woo to confront me but was blindsided by those who'd taken bribes to side with Kim Sung-keun.
"No matter how powerful you are, in Korea, public sentiment can change in an instant. Attacking those in wealth is our Progressive Party's forte. Plus, you've amassed an impressive fortune at such a young age."
Is that what it meant to be sacrificed for the Progressive Party's renewal?
Kim Sung-keun certainly made a rather interesting choice.
"This happened yesterday. What do you think—good intel, or something you already knew?"
I'd anticipated that the emergency committee would move, but I had no idea who'd be involved.
Just hearing the names of Lee Mi-yeon and Yoo Chang-soo alone brought enough value to this information.
"You've indeed brought some quality intel. I never expected those two to side with the committee."
While they weren't from the same faction, I couldn't help but chuckle at the idea of party members not hesitating to turn on each other.
Given more time, I would have eventually learned of this through the usual channels.
But Kim Seok-jin had swiftly moved, selling me the data I needed.
"You're quite candid."
"I prioritize trust above all. Who would fear the words of someone who abandoned their integrity?"
"Trust, huh…"
"Well, being a businessman, I think it's the most crucial. Politicians should be no different. Anyway, what do you want from me?"
"I want weaknesses on Hong Jin-woo. That's what I'm after."
Weaknesses on Hong Jin-woo, huh?
This implied that he considered Hong Jin-woo a threat.
Unfortunately, though, I hadn't yet pinpointed any significant weakness of Hong Jin-woo myself.
Of course, I had identified minor flaws in him as a person, but he didn't have any huge flaws that could unravel his political career.
If I couldn't determine them, it highlighted that he was a rather cunning individual.
"I don't have anything on Hong Jin-woo either."
"…Are you telling me to believe that?"
Kim Seok-jin seemed skeptical; perhaps he had doubts about a politician without any weaknesses.
"Surely the chairman has tried looking? You didn't come to me for negotiation without trying or finding anything first, right?"
"That's right. I thought you may possess some insight."
"Most politicians do desire money, but that's not the case with Hong Jin-woo. Though he distanced himself from his family, he is the son of a successful construction company in Honam, thus having everything he needs inherited and fully paid up on gift taxes. He's not exactly a man in need of financing."
Usually, money is the easiest way to catch a politician off guard.
Hong Jin-woo belonged to the owner family of Hongseok Construction, which was based in Honam.
The firm was known for tackling national projects, being unlisted and rather strong compared to mid-sized companies.
If only it were possible to exploit his business ties, but alas…
Unfortunately, Hong Jin-woo had largely severed ties with his family after entering politics and sometimes openly criticized Hongseok Construction.
"So he's the son of Hongseok Construction. But you're telling me he's completely clean? How is that even possible?"
"Apparently, it is. Seems our country is still livable. Who would've thought there were still politicians who could maintain integrity?"
I spoke with sincere admiration.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say more than half of the current lawmakers have taken bribes from me.
If they hadn't received any money, they likely harbored massive weaknesses that could shatter their political lives. As time passes, those weaknesses only grow, so that's nothing new.
However, Hong Jin-woo was different.
He had never taken money from anyone and was more vocal than anyone else when criticizing Hongseok Construction.
It would have been impossible to make such criticisms without aiming for the presidency right from the start.
"Are you kidding with me right now?"
Angered by my genuine disbelief, Kim Seok-jin raised his voice.
"Kidding?"
"Exactly! If I can't break Hong Jin-woo's political career, neither will you! We shouldn't be praising him right now!"
Should Hong Jin-woo become president, my troubles would amplify tenfold.
Yet for now, he was no threat to me at all.
The one in imminent danger here is you, Kim Seok-jin, not me.
"Well… I don't see him as a threat just yet."
"…"
"Didn't you think your position is more precarious? I would be thinking about throwing you under the bus instead. If it was Kim Sung-keun as the chair, he might just go for it. Rather than trying to uphold the illusion of a capitalist on top of a worker, he would aim to cleanse the party of remnants of the past. Let's get straight to the point—did you come looking for me out of concern for me, or simply out of need?"
Seeing the blunt mockery on Kim Seok-jin's face, he bit his lip in frustration.
Was he genuinely worried about me? Possibly not.
He was a man far more afraid of losing his position.
If he just stayed idle, his power would dwindle, and he might face exile under the guise of studying abroad.
That's usually how a failed candidate gets dealt with.
"I haven't found Hong Jin-woo's weaknesses yet, so I can't provide you with any. But I can suggest ways for you to secure your position."
"…Ways to secure my position?"
"Yes. Gather your supporters and break away from the party to form a new one."
"Huh…"
At the mention of forming a new party, Kim Seok-jin stared at me, baffled.
"Form a party? Do you realize how tough that is? I mean, creating a party itself isn't too tricky, but nurturing it is a different story. You seem to know what you're talking about; why the sudden mindlessness?"
As he pointed out, establishing a political party isn't the hard part—growing it is.
Yet he was indeed the leader of Honam.
"With your capabilities, you could at least secure significant support in Honam."
If he didn't aim for national recognition, his party could wield considerable influence where it mattered: Honam.
Once he firmly established himself there, it would stifle the Progressive Party's power in the region.
There couldn't have been a better outcome for me.
The more smaller parties emerge, the weaker the larger parties become.
"…That could be a possibility. However, I understand how much money is required to establish and maintain a party."
I nodded along to his words. Even attempting to create a party revolves around money.
Politics is intertwined with reality, and without funds, it's impossible to keep things afloat.
The funding for the party officials' wages, welfare, and the control of the far-reaching networks would demand astronomical resources.
The main reason the Conservative Party held on rather than dissolving was the party's considerable assets.
The assets accumulated over decades were sturdier than many mid-sized companies.
Letting go of that wealth wasn't easy, hence why the Conservative Party opted to merge with the Moderate Party rather than disband.
"First, let's get you started on that new party. I can help with the funding required in the initial stages and the support needed after the formation. It'll soon qualify for congressional funding, making it easier to maintain operations."
"Hmm…"
Kim Seok-jin coughed lightly, looking at me.
I chuckled softly; I sensed his expectations.
"I did say I'd provide the funds. I'm not lending them. The source of that money would be a mystery to everyone. You can simply tell everyone that it's your own personal fund used to create the new party. I have no reason to interfere with the party you're forming. I'll just make sure not to hinder your plans, whether it's clashing with the Moderate Party or facing off against conglomerates. That's not my business."
His face showed a flicker of hope as he nodded earnestly, encouraged by my unwavering tone.
"Can you really pull that off?"
"When have I ever lied? Like I said before, I rank trust above all else, and I make no promises I can't keep."
This was likely a surprising offer for both Kim Seok-jin and Kim Sung-keun.
I could easily imagine the look of bewilderment on Kim Sung-keun's face.
"Divide the Progressive Party. Later, during the presidential election season, the Progressive Party and the new party will have no choice but to unite out of necessity. You can achieve whatever goals you have at that point."
The endless cycle of creation and merger. The history of the Progressive Party had always been one of fractures.
They had always pushed through intense conflicts and reconciliations.
Even if Kim Seok-jin founded a new party, it wouldn't be a new concept.
"I'll do just that. By the way, what about Hong Jin-woo? Are you planning to let him be?"
"Hmm… I can't just do something to someone without weaknesses."
Of course, I had devised several plans in my mind.
Currently, the scheme I favored most was a traffic accident.
Though, that might not be the best approach to eliminate someone in his political stature, so I had set it aside for now…
"One day, he'll become a thorn in both our sides."
"For now, if the Progressive Party weakens, Hong Jin-woo will focus purely on stabilizing the party. So you should focus on preparing to form the new party. Good days will eventually await us."
I chuckled warmly, seeing through his facade of concern.
He could spare me his worry; all he needed to do was execute his role.
Thinking that internally, I glanced at my wristwatch.
"Shall we take our leave? I think I have to go due to another appointment."
"Sure. Make sure to keep your promises."
As I stood up, I laughed at the irony of hearing the word 'promise' from the most untrustworthy person.
"I've recently come across some delightful apples. Your wife will surely enjoy them if you take them home. I had two boxes placed in the trunk for you, so go ahead and share them. I'll be heading off now. I'll contact you later."
I nodded and bid Kim Seok-jin farewell before stepping out of the restaurant.
While getting ready to head to another location to fulfill my appointments, I instructed Manager Ma.
"Manager Ma, contact the U.S. and proceed with our planned actions."
"Got it, Boss."
Hong Jin-woo has no weaknesses, huh? If not, we can just create one.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone