Chapter 414: Then Let’s Meet Face to Face Next Time

I spent several days in Busan resting and organizing my thoughts.

While I was down here I took Grandma to the university hospital despite her adamant refusals.

“There are no major issues. However given her age minor ailments are unavoidable.”

I felt relieved hearing there were no health concerns. I’d been worried about how much more she’d been sleeping lately.

The doctor’s assurance that this was a natural part of aging helped put my mind at ease.

“However once heart problems occur there’s always a chance of recurrence. She’ll need continued monitoring like she’s getting now.”

That made me consider bringing her to live with me in Seoul but I quickly dismissed the idea.

I’d suggested it several times before but Grandma was adamant about never leaving Busan.

If I kept pushing she would only feel burdened.

“Hah…”

Ever since taking that walk with Grandma my thoughts wouldn’t stop churning.

Finally I had no choice but to let out a deep sigh from my core.

After spending a long while sorting through my troubled thoughts I checked the clock on the wall.

‘They should be gathering by now.’

Though I’d left things to Yoo Sung-jin I felt uneasy about not showing my face. I should at least let them hear my voice.

I called Manager Ma who was chatting with Grandma.

“Manager call Chairman Yoo. He’s probably in a meeting right now. Contact someone else.”

“Yes Boss.”

Of course Yoo Sung-jin would handle things well but Ussoyan was such a slippery bastard.

I needed to show I was backing this just to warn that guy.

Shortly after Manager Ma handed me the phone.

“Boss this is Yoo Sung-jin.”

His voice came through the receiver.

“How’s the meeting going? I hope I’m not interrupting?”

“Not at all. We were just about to begin.”

I nodded at hearing they were just starting.

Quite some time had passed yet they hadn’t even begun. Seems my predictions were right.

“Is that so? Perfect timing then. Could you put me on speaker?”

“Boss you’re on speaker now.”

I cleared my throat before speaking.

“Hello everyone this is Kim Mu-hyeok.”

Though no one responded I continued speaking.

“I’ve gathered everyone but couldn’t attend myself. Still I’m at ease since Chairman Yoo is there. I know he’ll execute my instructions well. This meeting will be a good opportunity for everyone. Make some compromises and achieve good results.”

There was no benefit in making a long speech.

I just needed to remind them I was watching and would know the outcome.

I called out to Yoo Sung-jin once more. He’d show good results with how much I trusted him.

“Chairman Yoo.”

“Yes Boss.”

“I’m trusting you with this. Coordinate well and produce good results. I’ll wait for your report.”

“Understood. I’ll report back immediately.”

“Then let’s meet face to face next time.”

I hung up and passed the phone back to Manager Ma.

Though I said that I was still somewhat worried. Hao Xun and Yamamoto were fine but Ussoyan had caused quite a bit of trouble before.

“Chairman Yoo will do well right?”

Manager Ma who’d taken back the phone replied.

“Yes. He’s a capable man. And with you laying the groundwork Boss if he can’t even handle this much he doesn’t deserve his position.”

I couldn’t help but smile at Manager Ma’s matter-of-fact statement.

“You’re right about that. Let’s wait and see.”

Now all that remained was waiting to see what results Yoo Sung-jin would bring.

* * *

Everyone tensed when Kim Mu-hyeok’s voice came through.

Only after the call ended did they finally relax and let out their held breaths.

Even Ussoyan who’d been hostile until just now froze stiff and just rolled his eyes.

“Since Boss Kim couldn’t make it he called to let us know. I’d appreciate everyone’s understanding.”

Yoo Sung-jin stood and gave a slight bow.

Ussoyan swallowed hard seeing him firmly establish himself as Kim Mu-hyeok’s representative.

Sitting back down Yoo Sung-jin curved his lips into a slight smirk.

“Now shall we return to the agenda? What were you saying earlier?”

“…Nothing important. Just tell us what needs to be conveyed.”

Showing nerves from just a phone call yet still trying to act tough. Yoo Sung-jin let out a sardonic smile and began speaking.

“Then I’ll explain. If anyone has objections please wait until I’m finished.”

As soon as Yoo Sung-jin finished speaking his subordinate placed a binder in front of each person.

“We’ve translated everything for your convenience but the content is all the same. Let’s continue our discussion while you look it over.”

At Yoo Sung-jin’s words everyone opened their binders.

“Let’s start with Japan. Currently after the Self-Defense Forces’ attempted coup the Koizumi administration police force and Self-Defense Forces are mobilizing all public authority to clean up the yakuza and criminal organizations. In this situation continuing the war would be unreasonable for all of you.”

The first page of everyone’s documents summarized the current situation in Japan.

They all stared at Yoo Sung-jin briefly surprised by how detailed the internal affairs were documented beyond what was publicly known.

“Fortunately we managed to extract Yamamoto Ken here to Korea before the intensive arrest operations began. Most yakuza bosses are dead and their successors are either detained or wanted.”

Yamamoto nodded grimly. Japan’s underworld built over centuries was crumbling in an instant.

Even the largest criminal organizations would dissolve instantly without the protection of those in power.

For politicians in power cleaning up criminal organizations was more attractive than any other prey.

This was true for both Japan and Korea.

The gangster cleanup operation when the first military regime took power.

The Samcheong Plan 5 also known as the Samcheong Education Camp created under the second military regime in the name of social purification.

Finally the War on Crime launched by the Sixth Republic to divert from political crisis.

Beyond these cleaning up gangsters became a kind of business whenever regimes changed.

That’s why Korea couldn’t establish large criminal organizations and small groups proliferated instead.

But the tide changed after Kim Mu-hyeok appeared.

He unified Korea’s underworld with Park Dong-su and countered law enforcement with massive money and influence.

As a result the Heavenly Group managed to transform into an ostensibly legitimate business group.

“Continuing to press the war in Japan now would be suicide. Think of it as taking one step back to move two steps forward. Sometimes retreat is an option. They’ll realize that completely destroying the yakuza isn’t good for them either.”

If the yakuza collapsed other organizations would inevitably spring up in their place like mushrooms after rain.

As long as humanity existed there would always be people living off the underworld and crime.

“That’s why we chose Yamamoto Ken of the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi.”

Yoo Sung-jin glanced at Yamamoto before continuing.

“The Russian Mafia Black Dragon Society and Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi. These three organizations will divide Japan’s underworld. This is the core agenda of this meeting.”

Yoo Sung-jin finished speaking but the others continued reading the documents.

After some time Ussoyan spoke first.

“Why specifically the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi? There’s the Yamaguchi-gumi and many other large yakuza organizations.”

“You all know the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi split from the Yamaguchi-gumi right? Our Heavenly Group was involved in that. More precisely Boss Kim was involved. That brief connection is why Yamamoto is here today.”

“Brief connection…”

Ussoyan mulled over Yoo Sung-jin’s words.

“With your support I don’t see any major issues with Yamamoto taking control of Japan. Though legitimacy is still a concern…”

Yamamoto picked up where Yoo Sung-jin left off.

“That won’t be a problem. I was previously designated as the Yamaguchi-gumi’s successor. After this war ends the Kobe and Yamaguchi-gumi will reunite and I’m set to take over the merged organization. That resolves any legitimacy issues.”

Though Yoo Sung-jin already knew this he nodded along as if hearing it for the first time not interrupting.

“Then the legitimacy issue is resolved. Does anyone else know about this?”

“…Everyone else who was there is dead except me. Ah there is one person – Araki who was chosen as the next chairman of the Dae Dong-hui. Though his fate is uncertain now… Anyway if we catch him he can testify.”

Araki who should have died there had vanished.

No body was found and though authorities kept tracking him they still hadn’t located him.

“Araki. If he survived what are the chances of the Dae Dong-hui being revived?”

After pondering briefly Yamamoto answered.

“Can’t be certain about that. Even though Araki was designated as successor he wouldn’t have fully inherited the authority. Plus now the Prime Minister has publicly exposed the Dae Dong-hui’s existence. It’s unlikely they could wield the same influence as before.”

Listening to Yoo Sung-jin and Yamamoto’s conversation Ussoyan cut in.

“What is this Dae Dong-hui organization? I’ve heard bits and pieces but I don’t understand what all the fuss is about.”

Yoo Sung-jin wore a faint smile.

Full of greed but lacking knowledge. He could see why Kim Mu-hyeok had chosen this man.

“They were like the shadow power behind Japanese yakuza or you could say their godfather… That kind of organization.”

“Huh. First time I’ve heard of such an organization. So that’s why all the yakuza bosses were gathered in one place.”

“Correct. Thanks to the Dae Dong-hui’s chairman our job became easier. The bosses of all the major yakuza organizations were gathered in one place and died together.”

Ussoyan swallowed hard. Yoo Sung-jin who knew everything he didn’t appeared in a different light.

Hao Xun who’d been quietly looking through the documents spoke up.

“It all sounds good. All good but… There’s nothing in these documents showing what the Heavenly Group gains.”

Yoo Sung-jin asked with a puzzled expression.

“That’s right. Is that a problem?”

“As the Russian side said earlier an alliance where one side takes losses can’t last. While I don’t entirely agree with Boss Ussoyan’s words I share that same thought. If Korea gains nothing from Japan it seems like it could cause problems later.”

Ussoyan nodded in agreement as that point had bothered him too.

“When one side takes losses it can’t last long. Even the receiving side feels burdened.”

Yoo Sung-jin inwardly laughed at how Ussoyan was still taking shots at Yamamoto even now.

“I understand what you’re saying. But this is Boss Kim’s will. He said the Heavenly Group shouldn’t get involved in any Japanese interests at all. In exchange none of you three can conduct business in Korea. Do you understand now?”

Finally all three representatives nodded.

“Then let’s work out the details.”

As the discussions continued the night grew deeper.

Though the moon was hidden behind clouds casting dark shadows the meeting showed no signs of ending.

* * *

Two weeks had passed since I came down to Busan.

Unless urgent I postponed most matters and spent time with Grandma.

She was delighted and I too could step back from complicated affairs and rest.

But even this sweet respite was coming to an end.

The time to settle matters with the Il-seong Group was approaching.

As summer faded and the weather began cooling I left Busan and arrived in Seoul.