Chapter 436: Three Days Will Do

Patrick’s face hardened to stone while a smile crept across mine.

“If you want war let’s do it right. Think you can handle it Patrick? I know I can even if you can’t. Let’s settle this properly shall we? We could create a derivative product and play chicken until one of us goes under.”

“……”

“I wonder what gives you the confidence to play word games with me. You must feel you have some solid backing. Be careful though – you and your entire family might disappear without a trace.”

Thanks to the intel from Black Bear’s headquarters I knew everything about him.

And that included all his weaknesses.

“…What?”

“What’s wrong? Was all that talk about knowing me just a bluff? Why so surprised? Do you think the people behind you would even blink if you died? They toss aside big shots like Ivanov without a second thought.”

“……”

At the mention of Ivanov Patrick’s eyes flickered with uncertainty.

I grabbed the glass in front of me downed it in one go and continued.

“I hear you met Seo Jae-hoon? Planning to use him to keep me in check? But will things really go as you expect? Do you really think Seo Jae-hoon can restrain me? Why do you think I’ve let that bastard live all this time?”

“President Kim please calm down for a moment…”

“I left those people alive because I can kill them anytime. If you want to interfere with my revenge then be prepared to stake your lives. Only then will I take you seriously as opponents.”

To them Seo Jae-hoon was just some wild heir to Il-seong Group’s founder.

Yet they chose to support him and oppose me just to gauge my reaction.

That’s why they sought out Seo Jae-hoon as soon as they arrived in Korea waiting for me to make contact.

They must think holding Il-seong Group shares would make me cautious.

“Make your choice. Fight me or back down now. Apple is absolutely off limits. I won’t do anything that could harm my friend Jobs. Besides investor trust is everything. As for Yahoo… I’ll think about it.”

“…I’ll need to discuss this with others.”

“Don’t try anything foolish. Deliver my message clearly to whoever’s behind you – I won’t back down. I never run from a fight. Il-seong Group and Korea are my territory. Drop any expectations that I’ll yield.”

Rising from my seat I delivered one final warning.

“You have three days. Contact James with your decision before then. If I don’t hear back or don’t get the answer I want… well use your imagination. Though the reality will be far worse than anything you can dream up. Don’t take my words lightly and relay this warning exactly to your boss. Tell them to expect my message.”

Patrick looked up at me his face rigid as I spoke in chilling tones.

Ignoring him I left the hotel room with Han Gyeong-yeong.

We took the elevator down and headed to Pyeongchang-dong in the car I’d arranged.

“Mu-hyeok are you sure about this? Seems like you came on pretty strong.”

Han Gyeong-yeong who’d been quiet until now voiced his concern.

True I’d been harsh but I had the confidence to back it up.

“It’s fine. Fighting us would only hurt them. They probably just wanted to test me.”

“What if they really want to fight?”

“Well then we’ll battle until one side goes under.”

“…You know this will be a tough fight right?”

I couldn’t face them all alone. Their decades of connections and influence far exceeded mine.

But I couldn’t back down either. Show even a moment of weakness and they’d pounce like a pack of wolves to strip away all my influence.

“We should help them make their decision quickly.”

After those words silence fell in the speeding car.

Arriving at Pyeongchang-dong I went straight to my study and picked up the phone.

“President Kim.”

“Chairman Medvedev.”

“Congratulations. I heard the presidential election concluded successfully. I’ll be attending the inauguration ceremony.”

“Is that so? It’ll be good to see you after so long.”

“Indeed. But why haven’t you been visiting Russia lately? I’m quite hurt you know.”

Thanks to Medvedev’s playful tone the atmosphere lightened considerably.

After exchanging some pleasantries about recent events I got to the point.

“Chairman I’ll tell you why I called today.”

“Ah yes what is it?”

“Could you cut off natural gas and oil supplies to Europe for just three days?”

“……”

Silence fell across the line. When no quick answer came I gently pressed him.

“Is it impossible even when I’m the one asking?”

“President Kim.”

Medvedev’s previously smooth voice had turned rigid.

“Do you understand the repercussions this would cause?”

“Yes I do.”

“Then you know it would impact Russia’s economy as well.”

Russia’s economy was heavily dependent on natural gas and oil.

But I had enough wealth to compensate for any losses from cutting off the gas.

“Of course I know.”

“Yet you make such an unreasonable request? This would be burdensome both diplomatically and economically.”

“That’s precisely why I’m asking. Because I know it’s difficult. But this matter is important to me. It must be done. Just three days no more no less.”

I could hear Medvedev sigh through the phone. But I didn’t press further just waiting for his answer.

After a long pause Medvedev replied in a quiet voice.

“Even for you I can’t give you a definite answer on this. I’ll discuss it and get back to you.”

“I understand. I’ll wait for your call.”

After ending the call with Medvedev I sipped my coffee and reflected on my meeting with Patrick.

Now that I knew Patrick was Valtiche’s eyes in Wall Street I needed to monitor and watch his movements.

There must be more than just Patrick. Most owners of major Wall Street banks were connected to them.

Some time passed.

As I pondered my next moves and sorted through my complicated thoughts my phone on the table rang.

That was faster than expected. I answered immediately after checking the caller.

“Yes Mr. President.”

“What’s this about? I hear you asked to shut off natural gas and oil supplies to Europe?”

“Yes that’s correct. Please.”

“You know how dangerous that is.”

“I do. Three days should be enough to make them surrender. So please.”

“…Is this about Valtiche?”

Even without lengthy explanation he’d already grasped my intention.

I briefly explained my plans in Korea Wall Street’s interference and Patrick being Valtiche’s agent.

“Hmm…”

He let out a thoughtful sound after hearing my explanation.

Shutting off gas and oil pipelines to Europe wasn’t a simple decision. Even for Putin the dictator.

“Three days. Just three days. Any longer would be difficult even for me. I’ll handle the explanation to their government. This is a good opportunity… though quite reckless.”

His decision came surprisingly easily. He seemed to have already worked out how to use this politically.

Yet he still didn’t forget to make it sound like he was doing me a favor which was somewhat amusing.

“Thank you. I’ll send a gift regarding this matter soon.”

“Very well.”

I’d achieved what I wanted. But things seemed to be going too smoothly which made me uneasy.

To ease my discomfort I decided to offer a small piece of information as a gift.

“Ah one more thing. Don’t let Moscow’s security get lax.”

“I’ll take that to heart. Following your advice has never led me wrong. I have other appointments so I’ll hang up now. We’ll cut off natural gas and oil supplies today. Let’s talk again soon.”

“Thank you.”

The call ended. My neck felt stiff from tension but I was in a great mood.

“This should do it. Europe will be thrown into chaos when gas and oil supplies suddenly stop. They’ll know it’s my warning. And if they don’t well… that’s all they amount to.”

I curled my lips into a smile while fiddling with my phone that had grown hot from the long call.

* * *

“Hahaha!”

Patrick’s grip tightened on his phone.

The owner of that loud laughter through the receiver seemed to act as if the current situation had nothing to do with him.

The laughter cut off abruptly.

“Patrick. You got played my friend played indeed.”

Patrick responded with an angry voice.

“Grand Duke. He threatened my family. This is a challenge against us. To think an Asian would dare…”

“Patrick.”

“…Yes Grand Duke.”

“Since when did you become part of ‘us’? Without my knowledge no less.”

Patrick unconsciously drew a sharp breath at the chilling voice.

“Just do your job from where you stand.”

“But but my family’s safety…”

Patrick’s face flushed at the dismissive response. This was about his family’s safety.

“Patrick that won’t happen. No matter how reckless he is he can’t wage all-out war against us. No he doesn’t have the capability.”

“I know. But considering what he’s done so far terrorist attacks on my family are entirely possible.”

Patrick’s anxiety stemmed entirely from concern for his family.

“I told you not to worry too much. If anything happens I’ll make sure to exact revenge.”

The man on the line never promised protection till the end.

Patrick bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.

“Grand Duke. I’ll do anything you order. I’ll die if you command it. But my family… please protect them.”

“Trust me Patrick. Keep proceeding as planned.”

“…I told him we’d take it as a declaration of war. Then he might really target my family…”

“If he wants war we’ll give it to him… Oh hold on a moment.”

Grand Duke Xavier who’d been giving instructions to Patrick paused and told him to wait.

Through the receiver Patrick could hear faint voices conversing.

“What? Is this true?”

“Yes Grand Duke. Russia has just shut off all gas and oil pipelines to Europe.”

“The reason?”

“The Russian government claims it’s due to commission fees. They say they closed the lines because fee negotiations failed.”

“And you expect me to believe that?”

“That’s the government’s official stance.”

“Tsk fine. Look into it thoroughly and report back.”

After a moment Xavier’s voice returned.

“Patrick.”

“Yes Grand Duke.”

“Did that Kim Mu-hyeok tell you to expect his warning?”

“Yes. Is something wrong?”

Xavier didn’t answer Patrick’s question.

After a long pause he suddenly burst into loud laughter.

“Hahaha!”

“Grand Duke.”

“This is interesting very interesting. He knew of our close ties with EU countries and moved Russia to strike at our weakness. Incredible. What should we do with this one.”

Though his voice suggested he could barely contain his amusement there was a subtle anger beneath.

“Patrick this round is your loss. But we can’t just back down. Exchange Dream High’s Yahoo shares for stakes in Il-seong Group affiliates.”

“I already proposed that. But they rejected it. Based on current stock prices we’re offering roughly triple the premium.”

“Make the offer again. He’ll probably accept it. He likely invested in Apple because of Jobs but Yahoo was purely for profit with no other restrictions. If he doesn’t accept don’t back down either.”

Patrick nodded remembering how Kim Mu-hyeok had said he’d think about Yahoo.

“Understood.”

“Before returning to America after finishing in Korea stop by here first. Let’s meet face to face it’s been a while.”

“I’ll do that.”

“Then I’ll hang up now. Things are about to get busy I think.”

With those words the call ended. Patrick could only stare helplessly at his disconnected phone.