Chapter 437: Now It’s Time to Take Care of Our People?

When Russia halted oil and natural gas supplies to Europe, Western European nations were thrown into chaos.

Even during the Cold War, the Soviet Union had once shut off natural gas flowing to Western Europe.

But times were different now.

While they had reserves to manage for now, if supplies remained cut off long-term Western European nations would face severe economic damage.

European governments launched into emergency meetings, reaching out to Russia through both official and unofficial diplomatic channels.

But the Russian government only made absurd excuses without giving any clear answers.

In just one day global oil prices had surged by 30%.

“So you’re telling me this businessman Kim Mu-hyeok is behind all this? And you expect me to believe that?”

Adam Smith, the MI6 Director threw down the report as he asked.

“Yes sir, that’s correct.”

“Are you disrespecting me because I was only recently appointed as Director?”

“Of course not.”

The Foreign Intelligence Team Leader shrugged his shoulders. That casual attitude only served to further irritate Adam.

He tapped the documents with his finger and demanded:

“Look here Team Leader. You’re saying Russia shut off oil and gas pipelines to Western Europe because of one Korean man? Are you being serious right now?”

“Yes. Kim Mu-hyeok contacted Medvedev, after which an emergency cabinet meeting was held. Then the Russian government suddenly notified other countries. Analyzing the sequence of events our intelligence team concludes Kim Mu-hyeok was involved with over 90% certainty.”

The response remained consistent.

Adam looked down at the photo in the scattered report on his desk with disbelief.

“So this young man is the reason Western European nations are all in a state of emergency?”

“That’s correct.”

“How much intelligence do we have on this individual?”

Adam asked while ruffling his hair with a deeply furrowed brow.

“We’ve been tracking him for a while but the American CIA isn’t sharing their intelligence with us.”

“Why not the Americans?”

“There are rumors that Kim Mu-hyeok was behind getting Russia’s abstention vote for the Iraq invasion.”

Adam jumped in surprise and asked:

“What? Is that true?”

“It’s just a rumor but highly probable. Though just a businessman his influence in Russia and Korea is immense. He also has close ties with Korea’s president-elect.”

After hearing the continued report Adam drummed his fingers on the desk lost in thought.

“Alright let’s properly investigate this individual.”

“Understood. I’ll create a dedicated team.”

“Good. I’ll report to the Prime Minister. You may go now.”

The Team Leader bowed and left while Adam muttered to himself:

“Kim Mu-hyeok…”

Back in his office the Team Leader pulled out his phone and made a call.

“Yes I reported to the Director as discussed. Yes yes I’ll handle it that way.”

This wasn’t just happening in Britain. The same scene played out in intelligence agencies across Western Europe.

Governments receiving reports from their intelligence agencies questioned the Korean government but they too couldn’t get any clear answers.

* * *

“Hey what’s going on?”

Myeong-su complained as he entered my study.

I looked up from the documents I was reading and was startled to see his face had become gaunt.

“You must be busy? Your face looks…”

“Like hell? Of course it does. As soon as the transition committee formed everyone’s trying to meet with me. It’s driving me crazy absolutely crazy.”

Myeong-su grumbled as he slumped into a chair.

“That’s not the important part though. The current administration and transition committee are in complete chaos. Britain France Germany and pretty much every Western European nation is demanding to know why Russia’s acting this way.”

“…”

“It’s you right? It has to be you.”

I felt a bit guilty knowing I’d contributed to Myeong-su’s haggard appearance.

When I nodded slightly with an apologetic look Myeong-su smacked his forehead.

“Oh man. We’ve barely formed the transition committee and started working and you create this huge situation.”

I quickly held up three fingers and said:

“Three days. They’ll resume supplies after that. Just play dumb until then.”

“Today’s the second day so… it’ll be resolved tomorrow. Ah what a headache. What’s the reason anyway?”

I briefly explained everything that had happened.

After hearing the full story Myeong-su’s face turned pale as he said:

“Ah okay. This definitely can’t get out. It would be a disaster.”

“It won’t get out. Russia doesn’t like my name being mentioned either. Everyone knows unofficially but it’s the kind of thing that can’t be discussed publicly.”

“Still you never know. I won’t report this to President-elect Yoon Chang-ho either.”

Myeong-su knows better than anyone why I’m trying to bring down Il-seong Group and empathizes with my cause more than anyone.

He looked at me with a fresh perspective.

“So this is really the end now. Getting revenge on those involved in your parents’ death…”

I nodded and spoke:

“I’ve taken the long road to bring down the Il-sung empire. Now they’ve lost all their power and all that’s left is for them to be scorned by the public. And ultimately… death awaits them.”

Myeong-su silently listened to my words.

Just then Manager Ma opened the door and entered.

“The U.S. Embassy has contacted us.”

“What did they say?”

“Nothing specific. They just want to meet today.”

“Is that so?”

I checked my watch. It was almost dinner time.

“Tell them we can have dinner at the Myeong-dong Hotel.”

“Yes I’ll relay that message.”

After Manager Ma left Myeong-su asked with concern on his face:

“It must be about this situation right?”

“Probably? The U.S. must know about it.”

“Will you be okay?”

I shrugged at his cautious question and replied:

“It’s not against American interests so what’s the problem? Don’t worry. But I was planning to have dinner with you and now I suddenly have plans.”

“What are you talking about I’m a busy person too. I have a truckload of people wanting to have dinner with me.”

“I’m sure you do. You’re the power player in this administration after all. Keep an eye on your parents too. Make sure no issues come up.”

Myeong-su’s face stiffened slightly. Seems problems have already started even though I just casually mentioned it.

“Why? Are the vultures already circling?”

“Sigh…”

Instead of answering my worried question Myeong-su let out a deep sigh.

“I hear personnel appointment requests and such are already coming in. Mom says she’s rejecting them all but apparently she’s really stressed. She used to love meeting people but now she barely goes out or makes appointments.”

It was an unavoidable reality.

As Myeong-su’s political influence grew the lobbying directed at his parents would only increase.

They weren’t the type to do anything that would cause problems for their son’s career but even just dealing with the attempts would be stressful.

For now it might just be simple appointment or job requests from acquaintances but who knew what kind of favors would be asked later.

“What about bringing them to Seoul to live together?”

“You know how it is. Both my parents and your grandmother and even Hyeon-seong’s family they don’t want to leave their hometown. I don’t want to force my parents to leave where they’ve lived because of me either.”

After taking a sip of water from the glass in front of him Myeong-su continued:

“Well we’ll figure something out. I’ll handle that issue. More importantly it’s almost time for prosecutor appointments right? The transition committee will review and submit them to the Blue House and they’ve agreed to approve whatever we send.”

Myeong-su started explaining why he’d come. He pulled out a stack of documents from his bag and handed them to me while speaking.

I took them and started reading the first page.

“It’s agreed that Kim Hak-gwon and Yoon Chang-ho will stay as Prosecutor General until their terms end and for the Special Investigation Unit Chief the President-elect’s right hand…”

I flipped through the documents slowly while listening to Myeong-su’s explanation.

This would be the first prosecutor-turned-president and specifically a former Prosecutor General at that.

While many prosecutors had become politicians none had ever reached the presidency.

But Yoon Chang-ho became president just a few years after stepping down as Prosecutor General.

Those who didn’t support him said Korea would become a prosecutor’s republic with prosecutors holding all power.

They were half right and half wrong.

Korea had never not been a prosecutor’s republic.

The first thing those in power did was set up prosecutors as their sword.

Among the four major investigative agencies prosecutors were the most powerful. No person in power would pass up using them.

But this time was different. With me here prosecutors wouldn’t be able to wield any power.

I spotted Jeong Tae-hoon’s name on the list I’d received.

“Jeong Tae-hoon skipped being a deputy chief prosecutor and went straight to chief prosecutor. And he’s heading Seoul District Criminal Division 5 at that.”

“That’s thanks to you. He was still just a prosecutor when others in his class became deputy chiefs. Now he’s the first in his class to become chief prosecutor. Talk about a reversal of fortune.”

Jeong Tae-hoon had handled my instructions well specifically regarding the Heaven Church matter.

He pushed through firmly trusting in me despite pressure from all sides.

He didn’t expand the investigation too broadly either. As agreed with Han Hyun-soo he wrapped things up after dealing with Han Hyun-jin.

There was no reason not to use someone so perceptive and gutsy.

“That’s good. He’ll be a useful blade.”

“Hyeon-woo is also on the promotion list. Though he’s becoming a deputy chief prosecutor since he’s at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office he’s effectively at chief prosecutor level. There will be some breaks in seniority this time but that’s the President-elect’s wish.”

I didn’t get heavily involved in prosecutor appointments. It was Yoon Chang-ho’s home turf and Oh Hyeon-woo was enough to manage things.

I nodded as I closed the documents.

“Quite a few will be leaving their positions.”

“That’s inevitable.”

“What about the Minister of Justice?”

“We’ve agreed on someone from the courts for Minister of Justice and someone from the prosecutors for the Civil Affairs Secretary. Chairman Oh Jeong-seok of the transition committee suggested it. After discussing with the President-elect they decided it wouldn’t look good to fill everything with prosecutor backgrounds and power should be distributed properly.”

It was good we brought in Oh Jeong-seok. He was skillfully resolving politically sensitive issues.

“Then now we need to take care of our people?”

All the economic appointments were filled with people I recommended.

The Mofia officials had already sworn loyalty to me so I needed to take responsibility for their appointments.

While their loyalty was appreciated I couldn’t just embrace the Mofia as is.

I planned to put someone they hated most in charge of them.

I recommended Park Young-geun the current Fair Trade Commission Chairman as Deputy Prime Minister of Economy.

“Thanks to you Park Young-geun is getting to do everything possible in economics. Though Kim Hak-gwon discovered him you later made him Fair Trade Commission Chairman and now Deputy Prime Minister…”

“He does good work. He’s an economic expert too. And Mofia really needs a leash or they’ll cause chaos. There’s no one better suited than Park Young-geun.”

We continued talking for a while longer.

Then Myeong-su glanced at his watch and stood up.

“Heading out? Let’s really have a meal next time. Really sorry about today.”

“Oh shut up what’s there to be sorry about? Just buy me a drink next time.”

I smiled at Myeong-su’s glib response as he waved goodbye.

When I entered the Myeong-dong Hotel restaurant a staff member who recognized me came out.

Following the staff member’s guidance I arrived at the room where the U.S. Ambassador was waiting.

As I entered a man who had been sitting stood up.

The man extended his hand first and I shook it.

“I’m Hamilton. Pleased to meet you.”

“I’m Kim Mu-hyeok.”

He was recently appointed as the U.S. Ambassador. As soon as we sat down Hamilton spoke casually:

“You must be busy with business? I sent an invitation before but you didn’t attend.”

“Did you? I had other matters then so I couldn’t attend.”

“Haha it’s fine. I know you’re a busy person. I was just making conversation.”

The door opened and the pre-ordered food arrived.

“Let’s eat first. We can talk while eating.”

We finished the meal making meaningless small talk. As soon as I put down my fork and knife I got straight to the point:

“Why did you want to meet me today?”

Hamilton wiped his mouth with a napkin and smiled at my question.

“Until I came to Korea I didn’t know about Kim Mu-hyeok. But as soon as I was appointed as Ambassador I started hearing stories about you.”

Hamilton moistened his lips with water and met my eyes.

After putting down his glass he interlocked his fingers and smiled gently.

“About you who’s neither a prominent politician nor a military general.”

I returned a smile at his questioning tone. Hamilton continued undeterred:

“The White House knows you’re involved in Russia’s recent actions. They’re curious about the reason.”