บท 244: Chapter 244: I Won’t Kill You
The Japanese ambassador, feeling the chill of Koizumi's gaze, swallowed hard.
"Ambassador Kimura! I'll say this again: Go out and contact the Prime Minister. I will handle the negotiations myself, and I'll take full responsibility. Do you understand?"
"…Understood."
At the firm order, the Japanese ambassador rose from his seat. He bowed to Koizumi and then stepped outside.
In the study, only Koizumi and I remained.
Perhaps feeling parched, Koizumi lifted the teacup before him, took a sip of the cold tea, and began to speak.
"The authority I've been given by the government is limited to passing on information to you and negotiating a cessation of attacks against Japan. Honestly, I don't have much more power than that."
The Japanese Prime Minister did not send Koizumi, a loyal aide, to the negotiations; instead, he sent someone whose political views didn't align with his. It was logical not to grant much authority in such a case.
I nodded, already anticipating this and expecting as much.
"That's not my concern. I've made demands to the Japanese government, and that's all I need. Anything else is their problem to resolve."
When I said this coldly, Koizumi set down his teacup, managing a bitter smile.
"Of course. But if I can't resolve this incident, my political career will be over. Our faction in the Liberal Democratic Party has already become a target of disdain."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Well, that's a consequence of my actions. Anyway, I hope you can give me some leeway, Mr. Kim Mu-hyeok. I promise to repayyou later."
His mention of repayment made me take a moment to gather my thoughts. Yet, I couldn't fully trust Koizumi; he seemed incredibly untrustworthy.
"Repayment? How do you intend to repay me, sir?"
"I can't give you a definitive answer, but I'm sure we could come to an arrangement. It may not be now, but certainly in the future."
Since he wasn't entirely wrong, I fell into a moment of contemplation.
However, after much thought, I arrived at the same conclusion as before.
"It's too big of an issue to pass off merely for some information. If you have nothing else to offer, I can't accept a verbal promise at face value."
Japanese people are simply not trustworthy. Especially Koizumi, whose duplicity I was already well aware of.
"Hmm…"
Faced with my stubbornness, Koizumi awkwardly scratched his face and hesitated.
"You didn't ask me to meet alone just to discuss this, did you? Isn't your political standing already shaky?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Then make sure to bend. Don't foolishly weigh your pride against your life. If I help you, you can tell me what you're willing to offer in return."
A slight flush crept to Koizumi's face. I remained silent, neither pressing him for more nor speaking further.
I simply waited for his response.
"That…"
After a long pause, Koizumi slowly opened his mouth.
Once Koizumi and the Japanese ambassador had left, I was alone in the study.
To gather my thoughts, I left the send-off to Manager Ma and Han Gyeong-yeong.
After bowing their heads respectfully, the two returned to the study.
"First, take a seat."
Once I saw Han Gyeong-yeong and Manager Ma seated, I leaned forward.
"Hyung, stop the attacks on Japan now."
"Did you finally surrender? Are you handing over those involved?"
"No, I can't hand them over."
"Ugh… So you're saying we just let it end here? You know how much money we've spent in the meantime."
Watching the despondency in his voice, I shook my head slightly.
"It can't be helped. Get everything sorted within a week. Once you stop the attacks, other forex dealers will likely withdraw quietly as well."
"That might be true. It was an act contrary to worldly currents."
Han Gyeong-yeong seemed curious, but he didn't press for more details.
"Manager Ma, you need to go get Seo Jae-hoon right now."
When an unexpected name slipped out, shock spread across Han Gyeong-yeong's face.
Even Manager Ma, who rarely expressed his emotions, couldn't hide his surprise.
"You mean Vice President Seo Jae-hoon?"
"Yes. Bring him here, even if you have to kidnap him. Get him in front of me by the end of the day."
"Hey, Mu-hyeok!"
"Yes, Boss?"
Han Gyeong-yeong, startled, opened his mouth to speak, but Manager Ma stood up immediately.
With his head lowered deeply, Manager Ma moved toward the exit.
"Mu-hyeok, if you bring Seo Jae-hoon in, things will get really complicated."
Han Gyeong-yeong said with concern while staring at the door where Manager Ma had just exited.
But I had already made up my mind.
"Why? Are you saying Seo Jae-hoon is behind this incident? In Japan?"
"They say he orchestrated this with Yamaguchi-gumi. And some pro-Japanese members of the Liberal Democratic Party, as well as bureaucrats, were involved in this movement too."
Han Gyeong-yeong sighed deeply, scratching his head as he frowned in disapproval.
"Even so, Seo Jae-hoon is too dangerous. If you kill him, even you won't escape unscathed. You do realize that, right?"
I nodded. I understood well what he was concerned about.
Leaning back on the couch, I mumbled softly.
"I know. I won't kill him. Not yet."
* * *
"What?"
Chairman Seo Yong-geon sprang up from his office chair, his shocked face set in stone.
"What did you just say?"
"Vice President Seo Jae-hoon was attacked and kidnapped by assailants."
"What the hell are you talking about? Where were the bodyguards?!"
"Well…"
As Lee Seok-min hesitated to respond, a loud slap rang out in the office.
Lee Seok-min's head jolted to the side, the sudden blow leaving him dazed.
"You bastard! You said these were capable mercenaries!"
"I'm sorry. It all happened too suddenly, and the assailants were numerous. By the time a conflict broke out, Vice President Seo already disappeared with them…"
"Connect me to the chief immediately! No, call Kim Hak-gwon. If he doesn't answer, tell him I'll spill everything I have and die with him."
Lee Seok-min pulled out his mobile phone and immediately called the Blue House.
In the meantime, Seo Yong-geon tried to calm his excitement and settled back into his chair.
He raked his meticulously arranged hair into a mess, lost in thought.
'What on earth is Kim Mu-hyeok thinking? There's n reason for him to act so recklessly…?'
No matter how much he contemplated, it made no sense.
There was no reason for Kim Mu-hyeok, who was shaking hi foundations, to act so wildly.
"Chairman."
Approaching him in deep thought, Lee Seok-min handed him the phone.
"It's the chief secretary from the Blue House."
Seo Yong-geon snatched the phone as if to take it by force and relayed his remarks.
"I have no business with you; connect me to President Kim Hak-gwon immediately."
Unlike before, Seo Yong-geon spoke casually, without any formality, to the secretary.
"—Chairman! Maintain your decorum, please."
"Hey, are you clueless about the current situation? It's Seo Yong-geon! The Seo Yong-geon of Il-sung! Are you really goiing to let this go to the very end? Connect me to President Kim Hak-gwon immediately, or I'll make sure he's on the evening news in a big way."
Silence fell on the other end of the line. I could hear the secretary swallow hard.
Seo Yong-geon spoke again.
"Change it, now."
"—…The National Security Council is currently in session. I'll get back to you shortly."
"Give me five minutes. Five minutes and I want to hear back."
With that statement, Seo Yong-geon hung up the phone without hearing the secretary's reply.
"Are you okay?"
Lee Seok-min handed the phone back, concern etched on his face.
"Never mind that. So, what about the mercenaries?"
"There was a physical conflict, and the police have been dispatched. They're all at the police station right now."
"What about Jae-hoon's whereabouts?"
"…"
At Lee Seok-min's response, Seo Yong-geon pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed heavily.
"Ugh… I let my guard down."
"It's not your fault, Chairman. No one expected Kim Mu-hyeok to do this. Who woud have thought he'd kidnap the vice president in the middle of Seoul…"
Hearing this, Seo Yong-geon glared sharply at Lee Seok-min. His statement wasn't wrong, but it felt frustrating in the current moment no matter what words were spoken.
As if Kim Hak-gwon had wrapped up the National Security Council meeting, Lee Seok-min's phone rang.
"Yes, this is Lee Seok-min."
Upon receiving the call, Lee Seok-min immediately handed his phone to Seo Yong-geon.
"Mr. President."
"—Chairman Seo, what on earth is going on?"
"My son, the vice president of Il-seong Group, was kidnapped in tthe middle of Seoul. Is this even possible?"
"—What?"
From the other end, Kim Hak-gwon's shocked voice could be heard. However, Seo Yong-geon snapped back immediately.
"The only person who can pull off something like this in Korea is Kim Mu-hyeok. You will send eithr the police or the National Intelligence Service… Or I'll have to bring in the military to ensure my son's safety."
"—…"
Kim Hak-gwon didn't respond. Seo Yong-geon spoke quietly, warning him in a low tone.
"No one knows how a parent who loses a child will act."
"—Chairman Seo, are you threatening me? To Kim Hak-gwon?"
"Mr. President."
Kim Hak-gwon's voice was weak through the phone's speaker.
Yet it was evident to Lee Seok-min, who sensed the unusual conversation, that a cold sweat was trickling down his back.
"All I need is for Jae-hoon to come back safely. If he suffers even a scratch, then…"
"—Chairman, I am still the president of this country. I could arrest you on the spot if I wanted. You hold onto some classified political funding information? Yes, that would hurt me, but it would be a greater disaster for you, believe me."
Kim Hak-gwon's words were undeniably true. Seo Yong-geon was well aware of this fact.
But he was not willing to back down. Instead, he spat out defiantly.
"It'll result in a mudslinging contest."
"—…you."
"Is it a difficult request? Is Kim Mu-hyeok that terrifying, an I'm not? I'm Seo Yong-geon, the one responsible for the Il-seong Group in Korea!""
Everything fell apart due to the sudden emergence of Kim Mu-hyeok, but just give me tn years—or even five—and I could build the empire of my dreams.
"Just ensure Jae-hoon returns safely. If you do, I won't mention anything related to you ever again; I'll keep my mouth shut until the day I die."
"—…All right. Let me see what I can find out."
After finishing the call with Kim Hak-gwon, Seo Yong-geon tossed the phone to Lee Seok-min.
The head lowered as Seo Yong-geon released a deep sigh.
"Contact Kim Mu-hyeok."
"Understood."
As Seo Yong-geon raised his head, his eyes sparked with fierce determination.
* * *
Alone in the study, I gazed out the window, lost in thought.
Watching the sunset from the window, I pondered what my next move should be for a long while.
'I can't kill him.'
As much as I wanted to, killing Seo Jae-hoon right now would only land me in worse trouble.
But that was a bitter pill to swallow.
Moreover, Seo Yong-geon already had the waters rising up to his knees.
Inflicting pain gradually by tightening the noose on him would yield a more satisfying revenge than swift and brutal means.
While I was deep in thought, the phone on the desk rang, echoing through the study.
It was a call from the Blue House.
"Speak."
"Hey, Mr. Kim. This doesn't fit the agreement, does it?"
Kim Hak-gwon bypassed the secretary and called me directly.
An urgent undertone colored his voice, unmistakable.
"What do you mean?"
"Didn't you say you wouldn't use violence? So, what's this all about?"
"…Mr. President, I have my ways of handling this."
It seemed I had pressured Kim Hak-gwon unexpectedly. I hadn't anticipated he would call me first.
"You're not planning to kill him, right? You're different from Cheongpung Group. He's the heir to the Il-seong Group. Think about the reepercussions."
"I'll just have a conversation and send him back."
"Can I trust you on that?"
"Yes, I won't kill him."
Understanding my intentions, Kim Hak-gwon hastily replied.
"Mr. Kim! Just hold on. Whatever happens, just hold on. You could lose everything in an instant."
"I'm going to hang up now."
I saw multiple vehicles entering the estate and ended the call.
After finishing the call with Kim Hak-gwon, I turned around and sat on the sofa.
Soon, the door to the study opened, and Manager Ma entered with Seo Jae-hoon.
"Mr. Kim Mu-hyeok. It's been a while.
Although Seo Jae-hoon was brought here, he showed no signs of panic as he walked in naturally and took his seat.
It was impossible to tell whether he came in under duress or of his own volition; he carried himself with a confidence that made me narrow my eyes.
"You probably would have come just fine if I had asked you, why go to such lengths?"
He didn't appear to have any injuries. Manager Ma reported to me, having read the situation in my eyes.
"As soon as the bodyguards clashed, he recognized me and willingly complied."
I nodded slightly at his words.
If Seo Jae-hoon had been hurt at all, I wouldn't have felt this frustrated.
Unconsciously clicking my tongue, Seo Jae-hoon shot me a teasing smile.
"Mr. Kim Mu-hyeok, doesn't this turn ut badly for you?"
"Hey, do you think this is funny?"
Responding coolly, his smile vanished in an instant.
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