Chapter 283: I’ll Leave It to Your Imagination

I knew that The Sun was owned by Murdoch. However, as the business expanded, it was reported that The Sun had completely distanced itself from him.

“Did my presence surprise you?”

“A little.”

So, it was entirely unexpected. But without showing it, I exchanged a glance with Manager Ma beside me.

He seemed to understand my silent message, immediately lowering his head and stepping outside.

“Let’s sit down for now. The food here is surprisingly delicious for British cuisine, I assure you.”

Following Murdoch’s lead, I took a seat at the table. The table near the window provided an unobstructed view of the vibrant London skyline, thanks to the large glass panes.

“Isn’t it lovely? I truly enjoy this place.”

“Indeed. I had no idea such a location existed.”

“I’m glad to hear you like it, Mr. Kim. Now, let’s have some wine.”

With a chuckle, Murdoch gestured to the sommelier of the restaurant, who promptly poured wine into our glasses.

I followed Murdoch’s lead, swirling my wine glass to savor its aroma.

“What do you think? This is a special wine prepared for today’s important guest.”

“It’s good. Though I’m not a wine expert, I can tell this is a fine vintage.”

After that remark, I took a sip of the wine, letting its rich grape flavor linger in my mouth.

As I set the glass down, Manager Ma returned to the restaurant. He approached me and whispered softly.

“I conveyed your message to Alex.”

I nodded. Once he finished his report, Manager Ma took his place behind me again.

“I apologize. I’m a bit preoccupied with the acquisition of a football club now that I’m in the UK.”

“Oh? You’re planning to acquire a football club?”

“Yes, but it’s more of a passing interest than anything else.”

“That sounds promising. Football is a way of life in the UK.”

Murdoch, a football fan perhaps, wore a genuinely warm smile for the first time.

Soon, the dishes that Murdoch had ordered were placed in front of me.

“Let’s enjoy our meal as we chat.”

They called it British cuisine, but what lay before me was indistinguishable from French fare.

As we finished our meals chatting about football, dessert arrived: black tea.

Having eased the atmosphere, it was time to get to the main topic.

“Mr. Murdoch, I would like you to cease the coverage on me.”

“Hmm. The aroma of the black tea is delightful.”

He didn’t respond to my request, focusing instead on the tea’s scent. I waited patiently for a moment.

“I truly love black tea. You can’t find this taste in America. So, every time I come to the UK, I always enjoy my tea here.”

While he rambled on about off-topic subjects, I wasn’t about to back down.

Once again, I stated my desire directly and firmly.

“Please stop your coverage on me. There’s really no reason for us to have an uncomfortable relationship, is there?”

I raised my tea glass to my lips, meeting his gaze directly.

“I came to meet the chairman of The Sun today. I had no idea the head of News Corporation would personally be here. Can I take it that coverage is your order?”

His eyes, meeting mine directly without flinching, resembled those of a snake.

Only cold stares exchanged between us, while silence enveloped the table. We both took sips of tea, evaluating each other.

The first to break the silence was Murdoch.

“Do you know how I made it to this position? People often say it’s luck. Others claim it’s by exploiting the weaknesses of others to climb the ranks.”

He set his tea down, gesturing exaggeratedly as he continued.

“But I don’t agree with that. I established principles and adhered to them. I always believed that the public’s right to know comes first, even in the face of pressure from politicians, businessmen, or the British royal family. That’s the first reason I’m here.”

Media tycoon? In front of me sat a lunatic, full of himself, rambling nonsensically.

After dominating the Australian media, Murdoch manipulated the Australian political landscape at his will.

And he claims it’s for the public’s right to know? I clicked my tongue inwardly.

“The second reason is I know how to spot a profitable story. The first article initiated by The Sun was about James Han. He was a sudden anomaly, you see. But midway through the investigation, someone tipped us off. James was merely a face, and there was a person pulling the strings behind him. When I looked into it, it turned out to be someone already well-known in American politics.”

While he spoke, he continuously scrutinized my face.

Whether he was seeking out small bits of information or trying to unsettle me, I listened with a calm expression as I took sips of tea.

“So, I delved deeper. Even with all my connections in American politics, it seemed like a fog clouded the information surrounding Mr. Kim.”

“………..”

“This piqued my interest further, and upon hearing that I could come directly to the UK, I rushed over.”

I smiled at his claim that he flew all the way to the UK just to see me.

“Now that you see me, what do you think?”

“You seem like an average young man. I’m curious how you’ve accumulated such great wealth. Not to mention, it’s fascinating how you wield considerable influence not just in the light but also in the shadows.”

It appears that reporters are quite capable after all. Or perhaps they had gleaned enough through their extensive network built through gossip.

“You seem to know quite a bit. I, on the other hand, know little about you. So, would you be willing to cease your coverage?”

“The answer is a firm ‘NO’. I merely came here to see your face. The investigations will continue, and articles will be published. I can already hear the sales figures rising.”

His playful gesture of waving his finger was repulsive. I felt an urge to spit in Murdoch’s face as he openly mocked me.

With a light sigh, I called to Manager Ma, who had been waiting behind me.

“Manager.”

“Yes?”

“Contact Alex for me.”

“Understood, Boss.”

While he stepped away from the table, I interlocked my fingers and leaned slightly toward Murdoch.

“Murdoch. I’m not interested in how you’ve ascended to your current position. I don’t want to know. I simply ask you to stop your intrusive coverage on me. I don’t mind you publishing articles as long as it’s within the boundaries I permit, but beyond that…”

I trailed off and pierced him with a chilling gaze. Murdoch remained unfazed.

“Beyond that?”

“I’ll leave it to your imagination.”

As I calmly spoke, Murdoch erupted into a loud laugh.

“Mr. Kim, you’re an interesting person. Do you really think threats will work against me? Against me, Rupert Murdoch?”

Murdoch’s confidence was firmly backed by substantial evidence.

With ownership of newspapers and broadcasting stations in the U.S., UK, and Australia, he commanded enough power to sway public opinion globally.

“Well, whether it’s a threat or not, you’ll find out with time.”

The fact was that even American politicians kept an eye on Murdoch. He played a crucial role in Bush’s election win.

“You can’t threaten me. Right now, I could instantly publish everything I’ve investigated as feature articles in the newspaper. Everything about your life thereby will be exposed to the public.”

“That’s true. But how much do you think you really know about me? You don’t honestly believe that what you uncovered so far is everything, do you?”

You can’t fully grasp my existence in such a short time. All you might have is just a cursory glimpse.

While the article would reduce my mobility, I could easily navigate deeper into the shadows and continue to act discreetly.

“For today, it’s a request, but next time it may not be.”

With that, I raised my hand to call over a waiter. I quickly asked for a strong whiskey from the rapidly approaching staff.

Shortly after, the waiter returned with a glass of potent whiskey.

“This suits my taste. I can’t enjoy wine; it teases my palate too much.”

I pushed aside the fine wine that Murdoch had specially prepared, filling the under-rock glass and a smaller whiskey glass with the whiskey.

“What will you drink? American-style under rock? Or English-style straight?”

I forced him to choose. Though the glass was laden with metaphors, it seemed Murdoch understood my implication.

He raised the straight glass and replied quietly.

“I prefer strong flavors.”

Murdoch chose the straight glass. Strong flavors, huh…

“We have the same taste then. Very well. If that’s what you want.”

I poured whiskey into my own straight glass, raising it slightly towards Murdoch.

“Let’s agree there won’t be any further negotiations.”

With that, I downed the strong whiskey in one go, swirling it slightly in my mouth.

The intense scent of alcohol prickled my nostrils as it slid down my throat.

As I set down the whiskey glass on the table, Manager Ma returned.

“Boss.”

He handed over a folder containing documents. I took it and checked its contents.

Inside were a few photographs.

Placing them on the table, I slid them toward Murdoch.

“Here’s a gift. Your grandson bears a striking resemblance to you.”

In the photos was Lachlan Murdoch’s eldest son, Charles Murdoch, playing joyfully with friends.

As Murdoch picked up the photo, his expression turned noticeably stiff. I raised one corner of my mouth with a feigned casualness.

“I failed to prepare this today.”

“…Hey, Mr. Kim.”

Quickly running through Rupert Murdoch’s family tree, I scrutinized Lachlan Murdoch, the only one residing in the UK.

Though I had only captured Charles Murdoch’s photo from a distance due to time constraints, it would likely feel like significant pressure for him.

“Next time, I’ll prepare a bigger gift.”

I shook off the crumbs from my seat and stood up first. Since he preferred intense flavors, I should match that with appropriate treatment.

“The moment my name appears in an article, something interesting will transpire.”

As Murdoch alternated his gaze between the photo of his smiling grandson and my face, he spoke slowly.

“Daring to pull such a childish stunt against me…”

The skin on Murdoch’s cheeks trembled, his voice quivering with rage.

“What a shame. I never expected our first encounter to be like this.”

“Mr. Kim, I’ll use all my power to bring you to ruin…”

I interrupted his rant filled with anger.

“Stop. If you say any more, it will really be the end.”

“…”

“I am not the same as anyone you’ve met before, Mr. Murdoch. I take action. I won’t let it end merely with words. Every word bears consequences. Those you previously faced were perhaps trying to maneuver within the legal boundaries.”

“I’ve faced threats from mobsters too. But I didn’t flinch under their intimidations. And yet you…”

Rupert Murdoch was closely associated with Tony Blair, the current Prime Minister of the UK.

After seizing control over Australian politics, Murdoch struggled to acquire his first newspaper in the UK and gradually came to dominate British media.

He utilized his media outlets to tarnish and incite against politicians who dared to contest him.

Eventually, he rose to become a heavyweight who manipulated the political landscape in both Australia and the UK.

Thus, he had a tendency to be overconfident in his own power.

“Overconfidence, huh… The world has changed into a place where nothing surprises anyone anymore. With terror attacks occurring right in the heart of the U.S., who would care about a traffic accident anywhere?”

“Ha! Go ahead, try it.”

Having gone this far, he seemed to interpret my words merely as threats. I needed to deliver a proper warning.

“Tell Alex to proceed with the plan involving someone…”

“Yes, Boss.”

As Manager Ma left once again, I settled back in my chair, sipping the whiskey from the under-rock glass I had poured earlier while awaiting his return.

My demeanor was one of amusement, clashing with Murdoch’s glare, which seemed ready to kill.

Just before Manager Ma returned, Murdoch’s phone rang.

“Answer it.”

I gestured for him to pick up the call. He continued glaring at me, speaking with an impatient tone.

“I don’t take calls during business.”

His tone lost all pretense of composure.

“But you should answer. It’s likely important.”