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With everyone in agreement with Kang Chan’s condition, Kang Chan began to explain what happened again, starting with his business with Huh Geuk and Yang Bum, so that Kim Tae-Jin could properly understand. Afterward, he told them about his meeting with Yang Bum and Lanok at the embassy, then about Xavier’s death.
Kim Tae-Jin just listened intently.
“I have two cards up my sleeve—one of them is an announcement that Russia will make about having decided to collaborate with South Korea for the development of their oil fields. I was told that they will be announcing it along the lines of, ‘it’s a shame that the Prime Minister has decided to resign, considering he has been collaborating with us in the development of our oil fields,’” Kang Chan said.
“Can we really have that announced whenever just because we asked Russia to?” Kim Hyung-Jung asked, his eyes sparkling. “I can report this directly to the director. If you’re uncomfortable with that, then I’ll report it to the Prime Minister instead.”
“Listen to the rest of what I have to say first, Manager Kim,” Kang Chan responded. He felt as if he had just made a mistake, but even if he really did, he couldn’t tell Kim Hyung-Jung to leave now.
“The second card that I have is to make North Korea launch missiles at the Yellow Sea to provoke the special forces team over there and the DMZ,” Kang Chan continued.
Kim Tae-Jin, who was leaning forward as he listened to Kang Chan, slowly sat up straight. He seemed quite shocked.
“We have also received intel that Wui Min-Gook is coming to South Korea with North Korea’s special forces team. Their goal is the President,” Kang Chan added.
“Wui Min-Gook? The Neck Ghost?” Kim Tae-Jin asked.
“Yes. I also heard that he’s waiting for a chance to kill me.”
“Hmm, that’s certainly something that man would do.”
“Mr. Kang Chan, a potential assassination attempt on the President isn’t something that we should be discussing among ourselves!” Kim Hyung-Jung exclaimed.
“Mr. Manager,” Kang Chan decided to calm Kim Hyung-Jung down first. “Everything will be ruined if we act carelessly right now. If even a single word of what I just said reaches Huh Ha-Soo, there will be dire consequences. I’m sure you’re already well aware of that, though.”
“Mr. Kang Chan, we also have Section Chief Jeon. Moreover, like I told you a moment ago, I can also directly report to the Director.”
“Can you tell me with utmost confidence that the director isn’t the one leaking our intel to Huh Ha-Soo?”
“Pardon?”
Kang Chan just blurted out the question. He knew how deep Kim Hyung-Jung’s sense of duty was, but he had to say it anyway to emphasize that now was not the time to act like this.
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However, when he noticed Kim Hyung-Jung’s astonishment, Kang Chan couldn’t help but wonder if the director was actually doing that.
“Now, now! Let’s not go that far. Let’s discuss this after we listen to everything Kang Chan has to say. So, what are you thinking?” Kim Tae-Jin asked Kang Chan, finally making him feel as if time was passing again.
“With this opportunity, I want to get rid of Huh Ha-Soo, Huh Sang-Soo, and everyone working for them.”
Kim Tae-Jin sighed deeply, and Kim Hyung-Jung shook his head.
“How are you going to do that?” Kim Tae-Jin asked.
“That’s what I’m planning for right now.”
“And that plan includes using Russia’s announcement and North Korea’s provocation?”
“Yes. However, I wanted to decide after discussing it among ourselves. Once Russia makes the announcement or North Korea starts its provocation, you have to tell anyone who asks that you didn’t receive any information about it. That includes you, Manager Kim. That way, we can catch Huh Ha-Soo off guard,” Kang Chan continued.
“What about the Neck Ghost and the North Korean special forces team[1]?” Kim Tae-Jin asked again.
“We have Section Chief Jeon in the Presidential Security Service. If our special forces team is needed, then we can also meet General Choi Seong-Geon to ask for help.”
Kim Tae-Jin draped his left hand over his head. “Hmm, if that’s the case, then I think we should talk to Section Chief Jeon about this. General Choi Seong-Geon is a soldier—he takes action only when commanded, no matter how good the intentions are.”
Shoot! I can’t believe I actually thought that man would deploy their soldiers without first being commanded to.
Kang Chan had no choice but to agree with Kim Tae-Jin.
“Mr. Kang Chan, at least tell the director about this,” Kim Hyung-Jung said.
“No—that can’t happen yet.”
“What? Why? How come Section Chief Jeon is allowed to know about this but not the director?”
“I’m not sure about that man.”
Kim Hyung-Jung looked at Kim Tae-Jin as if he was asking for help, but Kim Tae-Jin unexpectedly said something irrelevant instead. “I want to hear your plan for now.”
“I don’t have anything else planned yet, but I’m going to tell North Korea to provoke the soldiers over at the DMZ as soon as possible.”
“Today’s Friday, so if you do that, we’ll at least have the weekend. And then?”
“I’ll have Russia make the announcement about the oil field development.”
“That will probably be enough to temporarily dodge the bullet. What do you think?” Kim Tae-Jin asked Kim Hyung-Jung.
“I don’t know what kind of variable the weekend can bring, but since the President hasn’t accepted the prime minister’s resignation yet, you might just be right,” Kim Hyung-Jung replied, then immediately turned to Kang Chan. “However, this is nothing more than a stopgap measure. China still won’t lift their economic sanctions on us.”
“We can think of something better during the weekend.”
Kim Hyung-Jung expressed his frustrations with a sigh.
“Mr. Manager, why are you clinging so hard to China?” Kang Chan asked.
Kim Hyung-Jung looked as if he didn’t understand what Kang Chan meant.
“Whenever we get attacked, you always wait for our assailant to forgive us. You don’t even consider retaliating. I don’t know how much losses South Korea will suffer if we stop trading with China, but can’t we just make up for it with another country?”
“Mr. Kang Chan, Our exports to China have already earned us over ninety billion dollars this year. Our trades with Shanghai alone have brought us more profits than the trades we’ve made with any one country. Simple calculations tell us that we have to trade with more than twenty countries to match the earnings we get from trading with China. We can’t sell the products that were tailored for China to other countries either.”
The only thing that Kang Chan understood about everything that Kim Hyung-Jung said was ninety billion dollars.
Damn it. That’s an insane amount of money.
“If we stop trading with China, business after business will swiftly go bankrupt, which will ultimately result in a rise in unemployment,” Kim Hyung-Jung added.
Kang Chan smacked his lips. He never thought that he would be fighting this kind of battle.
It wasn’t like they could just approach some other country and borrow a hundred billion dollars every year from then. Even if they could do that, they wouldn’t have any means to pay them back.
Kang Chan only didn’t have money to buy pork cutlets in his previous life. Now, he was having trouble because he didn’t have a hundred billion dollars. All of this happened in a year.
“Manager Kim, please answer my next question under the assumption that I’m simply curious. What would happen if I killed Huh Ha-Soo?” Kang Chan asked.
Kim Hyung-Jung stiffened.
“If there’s no evidence, and if I’m not caught, what will happen in the aftermath?”
“China will just put someone else in his seat,” Kim Hyung-Jung responded.
“What if I kill that person as well?”
“China will have lots of volunteers regardless. A lot of people want the country to pick them, after all. As of right now, anyone who sides with China or Japan will at least be well off in South Korea. Considering they believe that it would be an opportunity to enjoy generational wealth and power, China will have an endless number of people to choose from,” Kim Hyung-Jung explained.
“They’re like fucking cockroaches,” Kang Chan commented as he leaned back against his chair and relaxed. He had a drink in his hand, but he still felt frustrated.
“Open the window, Seok Kang-Ho. Do you mind if we smoke here, Mr. President?” Kang Chan asked.
“Not at all. Don’t worry about me and smoke.”
Excluding Kim Tae-Jin, the group bit on the cigarettes that Seok Kang-Ho took out and handed over.
“Whoo!” Kang Chan felt much better.
Kim Hyung-Jung looked as if he also felt the same way.
“Can’t we borrow money with the development rights to oil reserves?” Kang Chan asked lowly, making it seem as if he was just muttering to himself.
“Pardon?” Kim Hyung-Jung replied.
“You said that the inflation will drop by thirty percent the moment we start collaborating with Russia on the development of their oil fields. Combined with our contract with Russia, wouldn’t that be enough for us to borrow money from some another country?” Kang Chan wondered.
“Let’s say we do manage to get ourselves a loan. What do you plan to do then?”
“We’ll use it to support the companies that will be going through difficulties. We can also use it to make sure we endure, of course. Anyway, after I kill Huh Ha-Soo, we will provide support to our people so that we can seize the powers in China. Wouldn’t that lead to China’s eventual surrender?”
Kim Hyung-Jung looked at Kang Chan with a confused expression.
Be-be-beep. Be-be-beep. Be-be-beep.
As he did, a sharp ringtone rang from his inner chest pocket.
“It’s Kim Hyung-Jung. Yes, yes. I’m with him right now.” Kim Hyung-Jung glanced at Kang Chan, then focused on the call again.
“Ahem.” Kim Hyung-Jung showed his talent for changing a groan into a sigh.
“Alright. I’ll tell him about this. I’ll contact you afterward.” After hanging up, he inhaled loudly.
“What’s wrong? If that call is related to Kang Chan, then it’s only proper that you quickly tell him what it was about,” Kim Tae-Jin insisted.
Only then did Kim Hyung-Jung turn his head to look at Kang Chan. “I was told that Chairman Huh Ha-Soo has expressed his desire to meet you. He specifically requested that we bring you, regardless of whether you’re planning to apologize or not.”
“Phuhu.” Seok Kang-Ho laughed as if he found it funny. Kim Tae-Jin looked dumbfounded.
“It seems that fucker really wants to die. Alright—why is he looking for me?” Kang Chan asked.
“They didn’t tell me anything about that.”
“That motherfucking traitor is kicking up a fucking fuss!” Seok Kang-Ho yelled.
Kang Chan laughed out loud. “What’s going to happen if I don’t go?”
“I only heard that they were asking for cooperation. They didn’t say anything else.”
“Hmm! He probably threatened people with the motion to impeach the President again or told everyone that he’ll impose new economic sanctions,” Kim Tae-Jin commented.
Silence enveloped the room.
When Kang Chan picked up a cigarette…
Be-be-beep. Be-be-beep. Be-be-beep.
“Yes, it’s Kim Hyung-Jung. No, I haven’t heard an answer yet, but Mr. Kang Chan probably isn’t going.”
Kim Hyung-Jung listened to what the person on the other end was saying for a little while, then answered, “Yes. I understand.”
After putting down the phone, Kim Hyung-Jung sighed loudly.
“Will South Korea really be able to rise up properly?” he muttered to himself.
1. Previously specialized teams, but we’ll be going with special forces from here on out. ☜