Chapter 170: If It’s Difficult, Speak Up

Jang Dae-ho and I exchanged silent glances for a long time.

“If I could just meet them, I’d happily give up everything I have.”

“As I mentioned before, I’m not interested in your wealth, Elder.”

It wasn’t out of some noble sentiment that I was helping Jang Dae-ho reunite with his family; I was doing it for his stocks.

“What I’m aiming to do is betray Chairman Seo Il-sung’s children. I know how difficult that is for you, Elder.”

“… I can give up everything if it means meeting my family.”

I gently patted Jang Dae-ho’s shoulder, which remained set in a stern expression.

“Elder, just help me out. It would be better for you to hold on to your stocks, rather than transferring them to me. It’d be safer if you just raise your hand in support. If you hand over all your shares, Il-sung will catch on for ssure.”

Originally, I intended to take over the shares, but Eva suggested that securing the voting rights would be better for maintaining security.

Il-sung would never expect Jang Dae-ho to raise his hand for me.

“What’s your deal? Why go so far against Il-sung?””

“There’s personal reasons, but Seo Yong-geon is an obstacle in my future plans.”

Jang Dae-ho shook his head slowly at my cold response.

“You’re taking a completely different path than Chairman Cheon. Now I understand why he chose you as the successor instead of his own son.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment, Elder.”

“I promised you, and no matter what happens, I will raise my hand for you.”

Jang Dae-ho’s expression was filled with emotion as he said those words.

After fifty years, to finally learn about his family’s fate was bound to stir deep feelings.

“I’m grateful just for the photos and the news of their well-being. The chance to meet them is something I never even hoped for.”

“I’ll do my best to make it happen.”

“Thank you, thank you very much.”

It seemed that Jang Dae-ho was getting emotional again.

He needed a moment alone to collect himself.

“I’ll take my leave now. I will come back with good news, Elder.”

I gently stopped Jang Dae-ho, who tried to rise to see me off, and stepped outside alone.

“Let’s head to Seoul.”

“Yes, Boss.”

The preparations to wrest control of Il-sung Industrial were proogressing smoothly.

Just a few days after returning from China, I received a call from Han Gyeong-yeong.

— Mu-hyeok, did everything go well in China?

“Yeah, it went alright. How about you?”

— I’m doing the same as always. But listen, I called about something important.

I recalled that Han Gyeong-yeong had said he wanted to talk before I headed to China.

“Oh right, you mentioned you had something to say back then.”

— Do you have time to talk?

“Sure. Go ahead.”

Han Gyeong-yeong hardly ever regarded anything as ‘important’.

Even when it was my assignment, he usually started off with objections, but once a decision was made, he would tackle it head-on, no matter what it was.

— Remember what you mentioned last time?

“The bet on Nasdaq’s decline?”

— Most banks and insurance companies in New York aren’t betting much just in case.

I could hear a hint of awkwardness in Han Gyeong-yeong’s voice.

He probably ran around trying not to disappoint me, and now, with fewer contracts than he had hoped, it was understandable.

— But a U.T. investment bank with its headquarters in Italy said they could connect you.

“Italy?”

— Yeah. They say they have someone who can finalize as many contracts as you want; is that even possible in Italy?

To get the profits I wanted, I would have to offer a considerably larger deposit.

That’s why both Han Gyeong-yeong and Eva were worried.

“Have you met with them yet?”

— No, not yet. But it seems odd that banks in New York are only doing minor contracts, yet coincidentally decided to reach out at this moment.

“Meet with them. Just meet and hear their conditions first.”

Was there still a wealthy family in Italy?

Like Han Gyeong-yeong, I had my doubts, but I couldn’t pass up this opportunity.

— Okay, I’ll meet them and decide.

“What else is on your mind?”

— The support for the Republican Party in the upcoming election; that hasn’t changed, right?

“Yes.”

— But in the U.S., everyone expects the Democratic Party to win. The Al Gore syndrome is sweeping across the nation, while the Republican candidate, Bush, has too many weaknesses.

From Han Gyeong-yeong’s view, putting support behind the much-rumored Bush must feel quite unnerving.

“U.S. elections aren’t just about popularity. A candidate can lose even with the highest vote counts. Plus, the Democrats have started to keep an eye on Dream High.”

Feeling frustrated as I spoke, I realized how annoying the situation was.

The Democratic Party wanting to keep tabs on me as well as the U.S. government.

“We’re not saints; we don’t need to support them. We just need to maintain appearances and focus all support on the Republican side. We need to donate more than anyone else. If we aren’t number one, it means nothing.”

Despite being considered the world’s leading democracy, the irony was that the U.S. was a stronghold of money politics.

Big corporations and the financial powers of Wall Street were pouring huge donations into ensuring their chosen candidates reached the presidency.

In the U.S., effectively controlling the money was key to winning elections.

For every dollar received, they adopted policies favoring those donors and supported their businesses.

To facilitate this, numerous lobbyists in Washington worked in collusion with the political sphere.

— I understand. The Republican Party reached out to me for a separate meeting as well.

“Still need to maintain some appearance with the Democrats, so let’s offer about ten million dollars in donations.”

— Seriously, in America, it all comes down to money. The political scene in Korea seems almost principled by comparison.

Han Gyeong-yeong’s complaining tone resonated with me, making me chuckle.

“It’s rather better to be open about receiving donations and using them transparently. Here, it’s all done behind the scenes.”

While both countries had presidential systems, their political structures were considerably different.

In the U.S., the separation of powers was clearly established, favoring Congress over the presidency considerably.

Yet in our country, the legislature failed to check presidential power effectively.

“Who’s lobbying for the Republican Party?”

— They hired a bureaucrat who worked during Bush’s presidency. After all, he had a strong relationship with Bush. It’s quite a spectacle to have both a father and a son run for presidency.

“With that, we can adequately convey our opinions. But remember, we must prioritize giving the most significant donations possible.”

— Don’t worry.

With the U.S. political issues somewhat settled, it was time to address the more pressing matter.

The shares linked to Il-sung’s affiliates and JCC Holdings held by foreign banks were problematic.

“How’s the acquisition of shares from Il-sung’s affiliates and JCC Holdings coming along?”

— Wall Street seems to have started distancing itself from us lately. They had recovered all losses incurred during our foreign exchange crisis for Japan, yet they act this way.

It wasn’t unusual for them to be ungrateful, but Han Gyeong-yeong’s voice was unusually heavy with disappointment.

— Well, most of it has been secured. It cost a lot, but we managed.

“It’s understandable considering that you haven’t gained anything significant from Korea.”

— The atmosphere has abruptly shifted.

“The Jews are starting to keep their distance, right? The majority of capital on Wall Street comes from Jewish investors. It’s unavoidable. Nonetheless, do your best to secure as much as possible.”

This matter needed to be resolved, even if it cost a fortune.

I didn’t want to add to the pressure but felt compelled to emphasize it.

“This is more important than money. Money can be made anytime. If I can remove Chairman Seo Il-sung, there won’t be anyy forces left to oppose me in Korea.”

— Huh… I’ll try harder.

Han Gyeong-yeong let out a deep sigh.

He must have been feeling the strain of the changing political landscape in America firsthand.

“If it’s tough, just speak up, brother.”

— It’s okay. I’m fine. I can handle it.

“Once this is over, let’s buy a small island in Europe and create a paradise where we can all unwind anytime we want.”

Pushing people too hard will inevitably lead to burnout.

Not just for me, but the people around me needed some motivation too.

— Oh, what’s this? Have you made a promise?

“Of course. We need to rest when we can.”

— Suddenly, I feel invigorated. Let’s catch up again later, Mu-hyeok.

“Take care.”

The call with Han Gyeong-yeong ended, but my head felt even more cluttered.

This year was packed with significant political events worldwide.

From the Russian presidential elections to South Korea’s general elections, the inter-Korean summit, and the U.S. elections, it was a time of tumultuous international relations in the year 2000.

In my previous life, I had been unable to keep my head straight amidst Cheongpung Group’s ongoing attacks, but this time was different.

It could finally be the year where all my relentless efforts bore fruit.

“Boss, I’ve received a call from the Blue House.”

Just as I was sorting through my tangled thoughts, Manager Ma reported back.

“They want you to visit North Korea in June.”

“Did they say anything else?”

“No, that was all. The request was made directly by the Chief Secretary to the President.”

“From Kim Hak-gwon’s perspective, I doubt this is a welcomed request. It seems he can’t refuse requests from North Korea.”

The Kim Hak-gwon administration had exerted every possible effort they could for inter-Korean normalization.

They sought understanding from the U.S., requesting mediation from China, and even providing financial aid to North Korea.

“Isn’t this a major accomplishment for the current government? The Chief Secretary seemed quite cautious about the North’s request.”

“But they haven’t received a reply, right?”

“No, I only said I’d relay the message to you, Boss.”

The request was one I had to accept, but it was apparent the government had a limited grasp of the situation.

I’d accept their request but would play hard to get.

“Delay your response as much as possible. Let the Blue House fret over making multiple calls.”

“Understood.”

Time passed relentlessly.

Contrary to my expectations, the Nasdaq and Kosdaq continued to rise consistently.

Perhaps due to that, the banks and financial sectors, initially uninterested, began actively reaching out to Eva and Han Gyeong-yeong.

If this upward trend persists, both Dream High and Future could suffer severe financial blows.

Though Han Gyeong-yeong and Eva suggested reevaluating the situation with concern, I didn’t change my mind.

* * *

Finally, the election season for the National Assembly began.

The Conservative Party, Progressive Party, and the Moderate Party completed their nominations and kicked off their official campaigns.

Lee Myeong-su ran in the Gangnam Gap district while Yoon Chang-ho contested in Jongno.

“Candidate Lee, your role is crucial.”

A day before the campaign started, Yoon Chang-ho had a private meeting with Lee Myeong-su.

“Yes, Chairman.”

The two continued their discussion over a sober meal, avoiding any alcohol due to the impending election the next day.

“By the way, are you thinking of expanding your faction?”

“Rather than forming a faction, I intend to support novice politicians like myself.”

“That’s pretty much the same thing, isn’t it?”

Yoon Chang-ho continued to eat, casually dismissing the topic, but Lee Myeong-su could feel the gravity in his words.

“Did I come across as uncomfortable?”

“What’s uncomfortable about it? If you’re trying to build your own influence, why would I be uncomfortable? I just feel a bit disappointed.”

Yoon Chang-ho might find it displeasing that Lee Myeong-su was attempting to forge a faction in a party he founded.

Lee Myeong-su’s expression hardened slightly at the remark of disappointment.

“If Candidate Lee had run for proportional representation, you could have secured a lot more seats. Well, that’s already in the past.”

“You aren’t just planning to use me for this election and then throw me aside, right?”

“Ha ha, it’s just my disappointment showing. There’s no need to take it so seriously.”

Yoon Chang-ho chuckled, putting down his chopsticks to raise a glass of water.

Lee Myeong-su followed suit and also set down his chopsticks.

He tried to ease his stern expression.

“To aim for over a hundred seats in this election is necessary if we want to have a shot at the next presidential election. Given the current atmosphere, that seems tough, so I was just lamenting it; don’t take it too seriously.”

There hadn’t been any significant change in approval ratings since the last poll.

The Progressive Party had its power base in Honam, while the Conservative Party maintained its presence in Yeongnam.

However, the Moderate Party lacked an established stronghold.

Although they were strong in Seoul and Gyeonggi areas, Yoon Chang-ho still hoped to secure meaningful seats in Honam and Yeongnam.

As the long-held dream of holding the presidency became tangible, Yoon Chang-ho couldn’t help but feel greedy.

“When President Kim first suggested we start a party, I didn’t expect much. I just aimed to meet the criteria for a negotiating party.”

Recalling Kim Mu-hyeok’s proposal, Yoon Chng-ho narrowed his eyes.

“But the game Kim set up shattered my expectations.”

“I entered politics because of Mu-hyeok too, but it’s harder than I imagined. Constantly worrying about people’s opinions and facing criticism…”

“You just have to endure. Am I wrong?”

Since he was capable of enduring as he mentioned, Lee Myeong-su quietly nodded instead of responding.

“You can build your own influence if you feel you should. That’s what Chairman Kim would desire too.”

Yoon Chang-ho, who seemed like a sharp politician, returned to his easy-going demeanor.

The rookie politician Lee Myeong-su before him was part of Kim Mu-hyeok’s plans.

“But don’t go making it too small. Even when you refuse support for campaigns, try to decline as gently as possible.”

There were already people coming to complain to Yoon Chang-ho about Lee Myeong-su.

If it was like this now, how many would blame Lee Myeong-su once the real campaigning started?

Unlike Yoon Chang-ho, who had already established himself, Lee Myeong-su was a political novice, making him an easier target for blame.

“It’d be more beneficial for you to avoid creating an enemy than to include two allies in your camp.”

Yoon Chang-ho set his water glass down on the table, interrupting the conversation.