The Genius Grandson of the Loan Shark King - Chapter 65 (65/840)
< Please, please... kill me. >
#65
Please, please... kill me.
Even though he had seen Oh Gil-seok and Shin Sung-il being dragged away, Moon Tae-beom's eyes did not show any sign of fear.
I don't know if he trusted the Cheongpung-hoe behind him or if he believed that they wouldn't kill him because he was a Japanese citizen.
"Moon Tae-beom, Fune Toshiro."
But when I mentioned Moon Tae-beom's Japanese name, his eyes began to waver sharply.
"Yamaguchi-gumi's second-level organization, Hiraguri-gumi's action leader. The adopted son of the leader, Choi Jae-soo."
"...How did you know that?"
That's all I managed to find out in my previous life.
It was just personal information, but it was certainly not something a mere college student could have discovered.
Moon Tae-beom must have thought the same.
I looked at him with a face that said I knew everything and smiled.
"Who are you, really?"
Moon Tae-beom's voice was trembling.
"Kim Mu-hyuk. You know, right? Wasn't my elimination your goal?"
By completely eliminating the Cheon brothers and standing firm as the successor, I changed this guy's fate.
Originally, Moon Tae-beom was supposed to come to Korea in 1997 and, starting from 1998 when the interest rate cap was abolished, gradually take over Myeongdong Market while waiting for the main force from Japan.
"...What do you know?"
"You're not in a position to ask. Tell me everything you know. Then I might only take one arm."
"Stop talking nonsense and just kill me. I choose honor."
"Hahaha."
I laughed for a long time at that.
"Honor?"
"As a subject of the Great Japanese Empire, if I can die with honor... ."
"You were treated so poorly in Japan, and yet you talk about being a subject. No, don't speak. I'm going to let you go as is."
"What?"
Moon Tae-beom looked at me with a bewildered face.
A cold smile appeared on my face.
"And I'll spread a rumor secretly. That you told me everything and begged for your life. There's no need to dirty my hands, since you want to die honorably."
Moon Tae-beom's face lost all color.
"Go back to Japan and die there. Manager Ma, don't touch him and take him back to Myeongdong."
"Understood."
I got up from the chair without hesitation and turned around.
Moon Tae-beom, who had been in a daze, suddenly came to his senses. He tried to crawl towards me on the floor, still bound.
"Please, please... kill me."
I turned around again at the sound of his desperate voice.
I looked at him with a contemptuous gaze, but Moon Tae-beom couldn't say anything, even looking into my eyes.
His earlier arrogance was gone, and his eyes were filled with sheer terror.
"Tell me everything. Then I'll kill you. An honorable death? A subject of the Great Japanese Empire? Sure, I can do that."
"...Alright. I'll tell you everything."
One of Manager Ma's subordinates dragged him to a chair and sat him down.
I turned around again and walked out of the factory.
The rain that had been falling when we arrived had turned to snow.
"The weather, huh."
I extended my hand, and the snowflakes that were gently falling landed on my palm.
The cold of the snow brought me back to my senses.
"Find out everything you can from Shin Sung-il and Moon Tae-beom and report. If there's nothing more to find out, deal with them as you see fit. Leave Oh Gil-seok alive; we might need him later."
"Understood."
"Let's go, it's cold."
Manager Ma held an umbrella over my head and walked slowly, matching my pace.
When I arrived at Pyeongchang-dong, I went straight to my grandfather's study.
"Grandfather, it's Mu-hyuk."
"Come in."
When I opened the door and entered, my grandfather's face was full of curiosity, like a child.
"Thank you for your hard work. Sit down first."
"Yes."
I sat on the sofa with my grandfather.
It seems he had high expectations.
"Tell me."
"Mr. Shin approached Grandfather intentionally from the beginning."
"Hmm... ."
My grandfather swallowed at my words.
"Manager Ma will provide the details. For now, Mr. Shin and the Japanese yakuza, Moon Tae-beom, and the Baekho faction in Gangnam were involved."
"Baekho? Baek Jeong?"
"Yes. When we went to suppress them, Baek Jeong-gi's right-hand man came to Myeongdong to save Mr. Shin. Or rather, he was waiting around from the beginning."
My grandfather's expression became a bit more serious.
"Hmm... . Does this mean they no longer care about the unwritten rule of not touching each other's territories?"
"One of the three major organizations in Gangnam broke the agreement first, so I plan to increase Park Dong-su's power and attack."
"There was a news report about a fight between gangsters in Myeongdong. There will need to be some sacrifices."
"Park Dong-su is preparing for that. The Baekho faction will likely prepare their own sacrifices. Please make sure it ends at that level."
My grandfather nodded at my words.
"Avoid a full-scale war for now. The president is unpredictable, so we don't know what he might do."
"I'll gradually tighten the noose. A full-scale war would mean both sides are ready to die. The Cheongpung-hoe won't have anything to say about this."
"Do as you see fit. But don't put yourself in the front. Use Myeun's power if you need it."
"I'll talk to Director Ha if necessary."
My grandfather's expression seemed to ease a bit at my firm words.
"By the way, Shin Sung-il approached me intentionally. When did he start? I chose him at the wrestling match."
"He said he served someone from birth, passing it down through generations."
"So he quit wrestling and came to me. No matter how much we investigated, there was nothing suspicious... . A Cheongpung-hoe spy."
A sound of frustration or a sigh echoed in the study.
"I'll report the details later. We didn't find any connection to the Cheongpung-hoe during our investigation. If it weren't for Moon Tae-beom, I wouldn't have noticed either."
At the mention of Moon Tae-beom's name, my grandfather looked at me with interest and asked for an explanation.
"So, how did you find out about him?"
I couldn't tell the truth, so I made up an excuse.
"Mr. Park had connections in Busan, so I found out through him."
"Ha... . People are really unpredictable. Getting help from a gangster."
"He's a good person. I've known him since I was young, and he's never made a mistake. He's too kind for a gangster, but in a way, that's a strength."
My grandfather, who had been nodding, leaned back on the sofa.
"Is there something wrong with you?"
"My body... ."
"Go to the hospital."
"Sure. I already have an appointment next week."
"Rest. I'll leave now."
I bowed and left.
Director Ha, who was waiting outside the door, bowed to me.
"Grandfather doesn't look well. Please take care of him."
"Understood."
A few days passed.
In the end, one of Park Dong-su's action leaders and ten members turned themselves in.
The Baekho faction was similar. With too many witnesses, they couldn't cover it up.
"Everything is taken care of."
I was sitting on the bed as usual, listening to Manager Ma's report.
"Mr. Shin knew almost nothing. He said they always contacted him, and he didn't know what to do. For this incident, he only received an order to connect Moon Tae-beom with the boss."
"Hmm... ."
"I think this was probably in preparation for after the chairman's passing. No matter how close Shin Sung-il got to the chairman, he couldn't act without Director Ha."
I thought the same.
No matter how close Shin Sung-il got, it was a well-known fact that my grandfather didn't trust people easily.
The Cheongpung-hoe couldn't have been unaware of this.
"Mr. Oh was Moon Tae-beom's bodyguard. He was always nearby, but when we suddenly appeared, he rushed in without hesitation."
"To think the right-hand man of the largest organization in Gangnam was just guarding a Japanese yakuza action leader."
I clicked my tongue in disbelief.
Not the boss of the Yamaguchi-gumi, but the action leader of a subordinate organization, breaking the agreement with Myeongdong.
This clearly showed who was in the dominant position in their relationship.
"Is there anything else?"
"Yes, he was only told to guard Moon Tae-beom."
"Throw him in front of a big nightclub in Gangnam, well-packaged. The Baekho faction will pick him up."
"Understood."
The conversation about Moon Tae-beom continued.
This is the important part.
"He talked freely, as if the boss's words had a strong effect."
Yes, it would have been better for Moon Tae-beom to die by my hand.
At least his family in Japan would be safe.
But if I let him go and spread the information I knew, not only Moon Tae-beom but his family would suffer.
"He said they were trying to work on the Korean loan market but couldn't gain much power due to the chairman. Recently, Moon Tae-beom came in first and was slowly preparing to establish a foothold."
I already knew this.
"But then they suddenly received a call from Japan, ordering them to approach the boss through Mr. Shin. They said they would give further instructions after the approach."
This is the changed future.
Their actions changed due to my actions.
"The boss said to gain his trust at all costs, and if the order to kill came, to kill."
So, they must have been frustrated that things didn't go as planned.
I smiled slightly.
This could be an opportunity.
An opportunity to create a connection with the Cheongpung-hoe, which was hard to find.
"After Mr. Cheon was chased out of the country, the plan changed hastily. He doesn't seem to know much about the plan after the boss's elimination."
A slight mistake could have led to another futile collapse.
I wouldn't have kept Moon Tae-beom around, but I didn't suspect Mr. Shin, who remained loyal to my grandfather.
"Phew... ."
Manager Ma bowed at the sound of my sigh.
"We need to increase the security detail for the boss."
"...It's inconvenient."
"Even if we move in a different car, we need to increase the number of people."
Manager Ma said firmly.
"I can handle myself. Manager Ma is enough."
"Please, boss."
I sighed and nodded.
"In that case, only Manager Ma will be close, and others will provide support from the outside."
"Thank you, boss."
"What about the injuries to the subordinates?"
"None were seriously injured, so it's fine."
I nodded slightly.
"Understood. You can go now. Oh, and please inform Director Ha. He needs to report to the chairman."
"Understood."
Manager Ma left, and I was left to my thoughts.
'To already be making moves to eliminate me.'
I needed to investigate the situation in Japan more.
If there were any forces that could oppose the Yamaguchi-gumi, I planned to use them.
I wasn't going to sit idly by.
If they attack, I'll counter.
Ultimately, Oh Gil-seok was thrown into the Baekho faction's territory with one arm and one leg in a state that couldn't be recovered.
Shin Sung-il and Moon Tae-beom, though not reported to me, were likely somewhere in the waters off Incheon.
The cold winter was coming to an end.
In Japan, the Great Hanshin Earthquake occurred, and insurance companies that had invested in dollars recalled their funds to pay out claims, causing the yen to strengthen.
"Bro, let's settle the yen. Liquidate everything by the end of March and bet on a decline in September."
β Okay. This time, the profit is good.
"After this investment, there won't be any major investments for a while. Leave half to Dream and split the other half into a few paper companies."
β What? Paper companies? You want to create ghost companies?
"Yes. Make it as complex as possible so no one knows who the owner is. There are professionals who specialize in this. No matter the cost, make sure it's done properly and distribute it among several companies in tax havens."
β ...Do you know this is a crime? If I get caught, I'll be in an American prison for life.
A firm voice came from the other end of the line.
I chuckled.
"Then don't worry about the fees and use multiple companies. That way, the owner can never be traced."
β Okay. I understand. I'll start the distribution process as soon as the Japan situation is over. Oh, I found the people you mentioned. Should I recruit them?
"Wait for now."
β Phew... . Working with you is like a roller coaster every day, really.
"Hahaha. It's going to be even more exciting. Look forward to it."
After hanging up, Ma Seokdae, as if waiting, stopped the car.
"We've arrived, boss."
I opened the car door and got out, feeling the still cold wind.
Myeong-su was going to enter the Judicial Research and Training Institute next week. Today, we had planned to have dinner before that.
When I went inside, there was someone I didn't expect.