Capítulo 354: Chapter 354: A Simple Curiosity
To be honest, I was more curious about why Huh Tae-min had partnered with Former President Choi Seon-man than about the issue of the arrest warrant for Representative Jeong Chan-seong.
That's why I pushed myself to create this meeting.
""Are you… what are you talking about?"
"You must already know I'm asking because I already have the answer. It's best not to play dumb about it, Representative."
"…"
As I spoke firmly, Huh Tae-min glared at me, seemingly at a loss for words.
"No matter how I think about it, there's no reason for you to team up with that person. Surely, you're not thinking the Conservative Party can genuinely merge and beat the Moderate Party? It must be politically advantageous for you, or perhaps you've been caught in some big weakness? It's one of those two…"
I trailed off as I scrutinized Huh Tae-min's eyes.
He seemed even more rattled now than when he saw Oh Cheol's bribery and the corruption of other aides.
"You can't claim that your relationship with Former President Choi was all an act, given how much damage you've sustained. Did you have a hand in the pardons for the two former presidents?"
Although he said nothing, the anxiety in Huh Tae-min's shaky gaze answered my question.
'Involved in the pardons? There's clearly something I don't know.'
I thought the Cheongpung Group had collapsed, and Choi Seon-man's power had ended.
I felt indifferent to the pardons for the former presidents.
What if their trials had been meticulously planned from the start to grant them immunity?
That thought refused to leave my mind.
"This isn't something to discuss anywhere publicly. It's just simple curiosity. So, Representative, will you satisfy my curiosity?"
Huh Tae-min remained silent.
I took a sip of makgeolli, giving him time to gather his thoughts.
"…There's nothing I can say. I can only give you one warning."
Seemingly gathering his thoughts, Huh Tae-min spoke. But the response wasn't what I hoped for; it felt oddly deflating.
"Your arrogance, believing you know everything, will one day bind you and drag you to the bottom."
Arrogance… Anyone who told me that rarely ended well.
I lowered my glass, gazing intently at Huh Tae-min.
"It seems your bond with Chairman Yoon is deeper than known. That you would share such with you is surprising. But there's something even Chairman Yoon doesn't know."
Huh Tae-min gulped down his makgeolli as if his throat was dry and continued speaking.
"Choi Seon-man isn't a toothless tiger. While many might think he's lost all his power, they say that because they don't really know him. You would likely understand what I mean. I sincerely hope you don't plunge this country into chaos."
Fear flashed in Huh Tae-min's eyes as he finished speaking.
I couldn't tell who his fear was directed at, but it was evident he felt a deep sense of dread.
Huh Tae-min stood up as if he had said everything he could and walked past me, opening the door to leave.
Left alone, I sat in silence, reflecting on his words.
'Don't plunge this country into chaos…'
Huh Tae-min's final words lingered in my mind.
Choi Seon-man had lived smoothly in his past life, yet with the dissolution of the Cheongpung Group, I pondered what had really changed…
There was no answer to be found here. Shaking my head slightly, I rose from my seat.
As I opened the door to step outside, I saw Oh Cheol kneeling before Huh Tae-min.
Manager Ma approached me, wearing shoes.
"The atmosphere is quite tense here."
"Did your discussion go well?"
I nodded in response to Manager Ma's question.
Standing up to walk in my shoes, Huh Tae-min glanced at me, knitting his brow.
"Get up. Let's go talk."
"Yes, Representative."
Oh Cheol quietly followed Huh Tae-min in front. He looked like a rat caught in the rain; still, it was all self-inflicted.
I was somewhat curious how someone who'd fattened his belly by riding on Huh Tae-min's coattails would end.
Huh Tae-min left first and got into the car. I stood for a while, watching the direction his car took before turning away.
"Let's get going too."
We departed from the Baeksuk house and set off for Pyeongchang-dong. It was time to sort out these tangled thoughts.
I shared the events of the day with Manager Ma in the study at Pyeongchang-dong.
"I saw Huh Tae-min fearfully conveying that message. The person currently most likely to become the Progressive Party's presidential candidate, no less. I thought Choi Seon-man was already out of the picture…"
"Boss, there must be something hidden. When I instructed our intelligence team, there were constant complications, suggesting it might be a considerable force."
Even if he's a toothless tiger, his claws are still sharp.
I nodded and gave directions.
"Let's figure out the move of Former President Choi. If there's still something we don't know, it could be a variable in making Yoon Chang-ho president. It already is quite the variable."
Before the elections fully kicked off after the World Cup, all variables had to be eliminated.
"Let's focus on Choi Seon-man until we depart for Afghanistan."
"Yes, Boss."
"You can go now."
After sending Manager Ma off, I called Yoon Chang-ho and Myeong-su.
I briefly explained the day's events and ended the call.
Finally, I called Oh Hyeon-woo.
"Hyeon-woo, apply for the warrant."
― Can you get it passed?
"It should go through smoothly. But just in case, talk to the Goryeo Daily about spinning the public opinion too."
― Thanks. I'll definitely get that bastard locked up.
"Hang in there. Let me know if you need anything."
After finishing my call with Oh Hyeon-woo, I looked out the study window.
Before I knew it, the sun had set and darkness enveloped the world.
* * *
Inside a room devoid of light.
An elderly man rose from a vast bed.
Cautiously, he stood up, wary not to wake the woman beside him. Upon stepping into the living room, the butler greeted him.
"Master."
The old man looked at the butler with a puzzled expression.
"What's going on this morning?"
"We've received interesting information."
The old man nodded, intrigued. The butler's face lit up with a positive response.
"Let's discuss it over a cup of coffee."
The man headed to his office with the butler.
A maid soon entered the office with coffee.
Taking the coffee from the maid, the man savored the aroma while gazing at the garden outside the window.
After admiring the garden for a while, he turned without hesitation and asked the butler a question.
"Spill it now."
"Yes, Master. It's about Kim Mu-hyeok, the owner of Futur Investment."
"Kim Mu-hyeok? Who is that… Oh!That Oriental man."
"That's correct. He's scheduled to enter Afghanistan next week to meet Ahmad Shah Masoud in secret."
"Ahmad Shah Masoud?"
"Yes. The current leader of Afghanistan. After the Taliban fell, Ahmad was appointed as a representative of the transitional government."
Only then did the man turn his body.
"So, Hamid was finally ousted."
"The U.S. attempted to support Hamid but in Afghanistan, Ahmad and Hamid's influences cannot be compared. With the U.S. gearing up for war in Iraq, they have no choice but to pursue stability in Afghanistan."
The old man's expression hardened, displeased.
"It's odd. I've never seen anything like this in my decades of life… Whenever I get involved with that Kim Mu-hyeok, things always turnout tangled. This latest passing of the UN resolution was due to that man persuading Russia to abstain."
The old man's calm words left the butler at a loss for response.
"So what's the reason behind the two of them meeting?"
"I'm sorry. I couldn't uncover that."
"Hmm…"
The old man slowly walked to a chair, setting the cup down, and inquired of the butler.
"What about the movements of the Medici family?"
"There hasn't been any movement yet. They haven't even managed to recover from past damages."
"How old is the son of the Medici?"
"He is thirty-seven this year."
The old man, seemingly lost in thought while rolling his eyes, nodded and asked,
"Do we have someone in the Medici family?"
"Yes, the family's butler is one of our people."
The old man drummed his fingers on the table, lost in contemplation. He seemed to ponder where to use this card, and the silence stretched for a considerable time.
The butler waited patiently with his head lowered, awaiting the man's words.
"Pass this information to the Taliban. Regarding Kim Mu-hyeok's moves. Just lettig them know it's owned by the Black Bear should be enough for them to manage something."
"Understood, Master."
The butler bowed once more and retreated towards the door when the old man called him back.
"I must have a drink with the heads of the families after a long time. The day before Kim Mu-hyeok arrives in Afghanisan, gather all the heads of the families together."
"I will convey that."
The butler respectfully lowered his head before leaving the room.
Left alone in the office, the old man frowned and muttered.
"This isn't pleasing me."
The head of the noble family, Xavier von Habsburg-Lothringen, began to take a serious interest in Kim Mu-hyeok.
It all started with the East Asian financial crisis. Back then, it was just an annoying gnat.
At first, he wasn't concerned, but as time passed, the clashes with Kim Mu-hyeok became increasinglybothersome.
"Let's see how you get out of this one."
A chilling smile played on Xavier's face.
* * *
After receiving my message, Oh Hyeon-woo promptly applied for an arrest warrant at the court.
Since we already secured all evidence against Jeong Chan-seong, the court's issuance of the warrant was merely a matter of time.
The court held an internal meeting and quickly submitted a request for approval of the arrest to the government.
The government promptly processed the request and forwarded it to the National Assembly for approval.
Today, one week after Oh Hyeon-woo applied for the arrest warrant.
Finally, the National Assembly passed the arrest approval request with more than half in favor, and the court issued the arrest warrant.
All the media turned their focus to the issuance of the warrant against Representative Jeong Chan-seong as the headline.
"This is political maneuvering!"
Shackled and tied with transport ropes, Jeong Chan-seong shouted at the reporters who had come to cover him, but no one responded; they only snapped photos.
At the very moment Jeong Chan-seong boarded the transport bus, I arrived at Kabul Airport.
Once ablaze due to the U.S. invasion, the first task upon reaching Kabul was to reconstruct the airport.
Perhaps that was why the airport was still undergoing extensive renovations.
"It's quite chaotic."
Kabul Airport was still functioning as a military airport for the U.S. Armed Forces.
Although civilian airlines could not land, I received permission from the U.S. to head straight to Kabul Airport.
Waiting for me in the airport lobby were Igor and mercenaries from the Russian branch.
"Boss."
Igor spotted me and hurried over.
"Igor, it's been a while. I heard you were being assigned to Afghanistan."
"You knew? It must have been quite a journey for you."
Due to the lack of direct routes from Korea to Afghanistan, I arrived in Kabul via Russia.
Consequently, I had to endure a long flight.
"You took on more labor than me, Igor and the mercenaries."
"It's nothing. It's our job."
I surveyed the chaotic airport lobby.
"How's security in Kabul?"
"Surprisingly stable. Perhaps because there are two U.S. military bases nearby, there's no sign of the Taliban or Al-Qaeda."
Thank goodness. Security seemed more solid than I anticipated.
Nodding and smiling, I returned Igor's smile.
"That's good for you, Igor."
"Not at all. Let me show you, Boss."
Igor led me out of the airport. The area around the airport also resembled a construction site.
Looking around the disarray, I asked Igor,
"Kabul's city center was heavily damaged, right?"
"Yes. Although the U.S. bombings played a part, the Taliban destroyed most major facilities before retreating."
I clicked my tongue, shaking my head. Truly, they were vicious bastards.
"For now, let's get moving."
"Sure, Boss."
The vehicle I was boarding was an SUV.
Igor opened the car door for me and said,
"Please bear with any inconvenience."
His earnest and sincere demeanor remained unchanged. I patted Igor's shoulder before getting in the car.
I sat in the middle, with Igor on my left and Manager Ma on my right.
It was a precaution to protect myself from any unforeseen attack.
"It'll take about thirty minutes to reach a safe area."
Unfortunately, Igor's estimate of thirty minutes would not be kept.
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