Chapter 188: I’ll Do It in the Afterlife

At that moment, Kim Mu-hyeok was meeting with Ki Jong-il in Pyongyang.

“Has Chairman Cheon arrived?”

“Chief Ha, you’ve been working hard.”

Ha Myung-hoon greeted Cheon Su-man, who was entering the VIP ward.

For some reason, Cheon Su-man’s face appeared somewhat grim.

“Can I see him?”

“Yes, please go in.”

The door to the hospital room opened.

Cheon Su-man patted his shoulder and stepped inside.

Whether he was tired, sad, or simply lost in thought, Cheon Su-man’s usually fierce expression was devoid of any indication.

Finding it odd, Ha Myung-hoon closed the door.

Even after the door closed, Cheon Su-man stood at a distance, staring at Cheon Tae-san, who lay motionless on the hospital bed.

“Father…”

After a long pause, Cheon Su-man approached Cheon Tae-san’s side.

“What in the world… why did you do this? What has that Kim Mu-hyeok kid done?”

Cheon Su-man’s gaze trembled.

Biting his lip as if emotions were overwhelming him, he finally shook his head as though to dispel the thoughts.

Then, he slipped his hand into his inner pocket.

“…This is all your doing, Father. You brought this upon me.”

What he pulled out was a small vial and a syringe. He inserted the syringe into the vial with trembling hands and drew the liquid into it.

“I’ll apologize later… in the afterlife.”

Cheon Su-man clenched his teeth and grabbed the IV drip connected to Cheon Tae-san’s arm.

The needle punctured and the medication began to seep in slowly.

He squeezed his eyes shut.

Cheon Su-man recalled Gong Seung-yeon’s words as she handed him the drug.

“Once injected, he will naturally die within a day or two. His heart will stop functioning. Don’t worry, it won’t be detectable. Once Chairman Cheon dies, the inheritance lawsuit will commence immediately. Everything has been prepared.”

The drug was fully administered.

‘…Right, it’s over now.’

Cheon Su-man opened his eyes, startled, and took a step back.

Cheon Tae-san’s eyes were looking at him.

“Father?”

There was no response.

The silent gaze seemed to convey that it knew everything.

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s already too late.”

Was it an illusion?

Turning back, he saw that Cheon Tae-san’s eyes were closed.

Cheon Su-man, biting his lip, turned and walked away.

When he opened the hospital room door, Ha Myung-hoon approached.

“Are you leaving now?”

He nodded, forcing a composed expression.

“Taesan Financial? I heard you’re taking over as chairman. Congratulations. You’ve done well after all that hardship under your father.”

“…”

“I’ll be visiting someday. Keep it safe. With your skills, it shouldn’t go to waste.”

Cheon Su-man thought that Taesan Financial belonged to Cheon Tae-san and would soon come back to him.

He had no intention of correcting that notion.

“That’s too much praise.”

“Well, just remember what you’re doing. We’ll meet again.”

Ha Myung-hoon watched his back until he disappeared beyond the corridor.

The next evening.

Ha Myung-hoon opened the hospital room door silently and stepped inside to check on Cheon Tae-san’s nearly unresponsive state.

Just as he was about to approach the bed, he suddenly froze in shock.

Cheon Tae-san’s eyes were staring at him.

It was the same face he had seen every day of his life.

“Myung-hoon…”

After several months, he heard Cheon Tae-san’s voice again.

Although it trembled with effort, it was quite clear.

“C-Chairman!”

The startled response from Ha Myung-hoon made the staff members outside rush in.

“Quick! Get the director! Right now!”

“Yes!”

The staff members bowed their heads and hurried out.

“Chairman, do you recognize me? It’s Myung-hoon. The one you took care of since I was a child.”

A faint smile crept to the corners of Cheon Tae-san’s lips.

“Of course… how could I not recognize you? By the way… what date is it today?”

“It’s June 3rd.”

“Where’s Mu-hyeok?”

As he spoke more, Cheon Tae-san’s voice grew clearer.

“He went to Pyongyang at the government’s request. He’s expected back tomorrow.”

“Pyongyang?”

“The South and North leaders are having a meeting, and for some reason, he went along.”

“Huh… the inter-Korean summit?”

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside, and the door opened.

The director and doctors rushed toward the bed.

“Chairman!”

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”

The director’s jaw dropped in shock after seeing Cheon Tae-san’s condition.

“Excuse me.”

The director’s face stiffened as he checked the monitor and ECG readings.

“Are you feeling any discomfort?”

“No. Why? Your face looks tense.”

“Well…”

“Just tell me. It’s okay. I know my body well. Can I hold on until tomorrow?”

The calm tone of Cheon Tae-san made the director bite his lip.

“…I can’t guarantee that. Your heart function has critically diminished. It’s a miracle you’re able to speak at all.”

“…I see.”

Cheon Tae-san didn’t seem surprised, as if he had anticipated it, but Ha Myung-hoon’s face twisted in shock as he pressed the director for answers.

“What do you mean by that? What exactly is the chairman’s condition? He’s speaking so well!”

“…This is unprecedented for me as well. Most of his heart function is lost. In my whole career, I’ve never seen anyone regain lost brain function due to dementia and speak like this. If I hadn’t witnessed it myself, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

“So, are you saying he’s dying?”

“…”

Unable to answer, the director’s silence twisted Ha Myung-hoon’s expression into one of fury.

“Myung-hoon, enough. Stop it. The director isn’t to blame for this.”

“But, Chairman…”

“I said enough.”

“Understood.”

Ha Myung-hoon lowered his head sadly, his eyes filled with sorrow.

Ironically, Cheon Tae-san seemed to regard this as expected, speaking calmly.

“I can’t guarantee I’ll be alive until tomorrow, yes, understood. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Chairman!”

“No, please ensure that it doesn’t leak out to others.”

“…Understood.”

Ultimately, the hesitant director led the doctors out of the hospital room.

There was nothing more that could be done.

“Myung-hoon, do you have a way to contact Mu-hyeok?”

“If we go through the Blue House, we can reach him.”

“…Alright, give it a try. I need to hear his voice before I go.”

“Chairman.”

Ha Myung-hoon’s eyes were reddening.

“If there is a deity, and he has granted me this moment of clarity, perhaps it has given me time to settle everything and depart.”

“…”

Unable to speak, Cheon Tae-san didn’t say that while his mind was clear, he couldn’t move a finger.

All he wished for was one last glimpse of Kim Mu-hyeok, his grandson.

“I’ll make contact.”

“Yes, please.”

Ha Myung-hoon left the room to contact the Blue House.

Alone, Cheon Tae-san gazed at the ceiling, lost in thought.

‘Yesterday, Su-man came to see me…’

To his surprise, he remembered clearly the brief encounter with Cheon Su-man from yesterday.

His heart ached. The reason Cheon Su-man made such choices was all his fault.

‘Is this a message to take responsibility for the sins I’ve committed?’

He heard the sound of the door opening.

“The Blue House has contacted Pyongyang and will let us know when they get a reply.”

“Pyongyang… the world has changed so much. I never thought I would see this day.”

With a hollow expression, Cheon Tae-san slowly closed and opened his eyes.

“Yes, while I’m lying here, tell me everything you know about what happened.”

“…”

Cheon Tae-san listened quietly for a while to Ha Myung-hoon’s words.

* * *

The table I was at, as well as the people who were watching with interest, all froze in shock.

“…”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Hey, Chief Pyo, tell me more. What happened to that Cheon freak?”

In the moment no one could respond, Chairman Song asked with a look of astonishment on his face.

“I’m not sure of the details either. I just received a message through the Blue House hotline. They asked to connect me with Kim Mu-hyeok. It seemed urgent.”

“…”

Even Chairman Song, who was a longtime friend of my grandfather, was speechless from the shock.

I managed to regain my composure.

“Let’s go. Where can we reach Seoul?”

“Follow me.”

As I stood up, Pyong Min-guk hurried ahead.

Baek Cheol-soo approached quickly from the side.

“Where are you going?”

“Baek Cheol-soo, it’s urgent, so let’s talk later.”

“I’ll accompany you.”

Baek Cheol-soo drove around to follow the vehicle carrying Pyong Min-guk and myself.

Only upon arriving at the guesthouse where Kim Hak-gwon was staying could we connect with Seoul.

“Director, what on earth is going on?”

The subdued voice of Ha Myung-hoon came through the receiver.

“—Boss. The chairman is asking for you.”

“What?”

My grandfather is requesting me?

“Just a moment…”

I was petrified, holding the receiver tightly.

After a moment.

“—Is that you, Mu-hyeok?”

A voice I hadn’t heard in ages came through the receiver.

“Grandfather?”

“Ha ha. Have you forgotten my voice?”

“…Are you okay?”

I wanted to say more, but an overwhelming surge of emotion made me choke on my words, forcing me to hold my tongue.

My vision blurred.

“—So, you’re in Pyongyang?”

“They say you’re in critical condition.”

“—No, I just wanted to hear your voice after so long.”

“…You’re really okay, right?”

“—These past few years, I’ve not been as clear-headed as I am today. There’s nothing to worry about.”

His tone suggested it was no big deal.

I bit my lip with anxiety.

“I’m coming to Seoul tomorrow to see you right away.”

“Yes, I’ll see you then. It’s been so nice to hear from you.”

“I was worried! Really…”

I could hear my grandfather’s low laughter through the receiver, just like I remembered it.

That laughter somehow felt tragically sad.

I couldn’t talk for long.

After hanging up, a tightness settled in my chest like something I had swallowed wrong.

‘Is it truly possible for someone who has lost most brain function to speak like that?’

There was no reason to state his critical condition when contacting Pyongyang so urgently.

“Director, what exactly was conveyed from the Blue House?”

When I asked with insistence, Pyong Min-guk answered with a grim expression.

“I was informed that Chairman Cheon might not survive until morning.”

“…”

As I lost my words, Pyong Min-guk looked at me with concern.

I couldn’t tell which of my grandfather’s or Chief Ha’s words were the truth.

“Is there any way to return early?”

“Huh?”

A look of disbelief appeared on Pyong Min-guk’s face.

“I must return to Seoul immediately.”

“That’s not possible.”

“If it’s impossible, I’ll go anyway.”

“Boss Kim!”

“Please contact Seoul right away.”

With a frustrated expression, Pyong Min-guk sighed heavily.

“The North Korean government won’t allow it.”

“I’ll handle that myself.”

I turned to Baek Cheol-soo.

“I need to return to Seoul. Can you call the chairman and explain the situation?”

“Understood. I’ll reach out right away.”

Pyong Min-guk gazed at me and Baek Cheol-soo, stunned.

But it wasn’t the time to concern myself with his feelings. Reaching Seoul was the priority.

“If it doesn’t work, I’ll find a way through China.”

“Please wait.”

Whether through China or Russia, I had to find some way to go without fail.

The heavy atmosphere between Pyong Min-guk and me lightened for a moment when Baek Cheol-soo returned quickly.

“The General Secretary has agreed. You can cross over to South Korea through Panmunjom.”

“What?”

Pyong Min-guk paled with disbelief.

“Please contact the South to ensure a smooth crossing. There may be military action. We will handle everything on our end.”

“Are you serious?”

Baek Cheol-soo’s indifferent gaze fell upon him.

“This is also something President Kim Hak-gwon approved. You are aware that the two of them are currently in talks, right?”

“…Understood.”

“We’ll escort Manager Kim Mu-hyeok to Panmunjom. It wil take about three hours. Please ensure all necessary arrangements are made before then.”

Pyong Min-guk looked astonished but Baek Cheol-soo spoke to me with decisiveness.

“You can leave now.”

When I stepped out with Baek Cheol-soo, the sun had already set, and darkness had enveloped everything.

“This is the General Secretary’s consideration. He also sent his regards to you for managing this task well.”

“Please tell him thank you. Also reassure him that I’ll take responsibility for the task assigned.”

I climbed into the waiting car behind Baek Cheol-soo.

The car carrying me sped down the unpaved road towards Panmunjom, moving southward into the night.