Chapter 439: Make It Certain

Thinking of Seo Jae-hoon I immediately asked Manager Ma.

“Can you confirm Seo Jae-hoon’s current location?”

“I’ll check right away.”

If Seo Jae-hoon was involved there would certainly be traces left behind. If he had kidnapped Patrick this situation would become serious.

“No way… even Vice Chairman Seo Jae-hoon wouldn’t kidnap Vice President Patrick. That’s impossible.”

“If he was a normal person I wouldn’t worry but Seo Jae-hoon is unpredictable.”

Han Gyeong-yeong furrowed his brow. Rubbing his chin thoughtfully he spoke in a grave voice.

“This could end badly. I might become a suspect.”

Han Gyeong-yeong had been the last person seen with Patrick.

And if they tracked Han Gyeong-yeong they would discover my meeting with Patrick too.

“Don’t worry about that. We have no reason to kill Patrick right now. Even if we wanted to kill him we definitely wouldn’t do it in Korea.”

“Still…”

Anxiety flickered across Han Gyeong-yeong’s face. To reassure him I spoke firmly.

“Don’t worry hyung. You won’t have any problems.”

Finally Han Gyeong-yeong’s expression relaxed slightly as he gave a small nod.

Just then Manager Ma entered and bowed his head while reporting.

“I apologize Boss. We cannot confirm his location.”

My suspicions turned to certainty. Patrick’s location couldn’t be confirmed the day before the shareholders’ meeting?

Seo Jae-hoon was definitely up to something.

I knew he was crazy but kidnapping an American vice president of a major investment bank?

“Contact him. That person would know where that bastard is and where he went. Make the call from here.”

Following my instructions Manager Ma immediately made a call.

“This is Ma Seok-dae.”

Shortly after Manager Ma began speaking indicating the other party had picked up.

“Please put him through Director.”

When I reached out Manager Ma handed me the phone.

“Director Lee Seok-min this is Kim Mu-hyeok.”

– Yes Boss.

The man who knew everything about Il-seong Group.

The hands and feet of Seo Yong-geon who executed all his orders.

That was Lee Seok-min.

I had tried to recruit him several times but nothing worked while Seo Yong-geon was still active.

However after Seo Yong-geon collapsed and Seo Jae-hoon took control of the group he contacted us first.

I promised him Ilseong Electronics in exchange for information.

Lee Seok-min was the source of the documents submitted to the Fair Trade Commission.

The knife he handed over was perfect and now it was at Seo Jae-hoon’s throat.

“Come over to our side now Director. It seems dangerous to stay longer. Who knows what cornered Seo Jae-hoon might do.”

– So suddenly?

“Starting tomorrow within a month all management rights of Il-seong Group will transfer to our side.”

– I understand.

Lee Seok-min responded quietly. I could sense various emotions in his answer.

“I know Vice President Patrick recently visited Il-seong Group. Do you know what was discussed?”

– No. He spoke privately with Vice Chairman Seo Jae-hoon. We were just instructed not to worry about it as it was nothing significant.

So Seo Jae-hoon doesn’t trust Lee Seok-min.

As expected if left like this this man would surely be in danger too.

“Director Vice President Patrick has disappeared.”

– What? What do you mean?

“I think Seo Jae-hoon kidnapped him.”

Instead of answering Lee Seok-min let out a deep sigh.

“You know too don’t you Director? What kind of person Seo Jae-hoon is. You handled all the cleanup so you must know.”

– …

“Where is he? Where would Seo Jae-hoon likely be?”

Until now Lee Seok-min had covered up all of Seo Jae-hoon’s crimes under Seo Yong-geon’s orders.

So of course he would know.

– I don’t know the details either. The Vice Chairman has his own people. They handle everything.

“You’re telling me you don’t know what happens in Il-seong Group? Do you expect me to believe that?”

– I know what was done since I handled covering up public issues. But I didn’t handle the detailed cleanup. The Chairman didn’t like that I might have leverage over Seo Jae-hoon when he stepped down.

Lee Seok-min’s words made sense. But I was certain he knew something.

Besides Seo Yong-geon and his son he had been Il-seong Group’s true power.

“Still as Director wouldn’t you have figured out the location at least?”

– …

“Director be certain about this. You need to give me trust. If you approach me like this I cannot work with you.”

– Sigh there’s a villa in Gyeonggi Province. Probably…

Lee Seok-min suddenly stopped speaking. Then he shouted.

– Hey! Who let you in here without my permission!

“Director?”

I called out at his sudden outburst but received no response.

Instead another voice came through the receiver.

– Director you’ll need to come with us. Vice Chairman’s orders.

– What? The Vice Chairman?

– Yes. You’ll get hurt if you resist.

– Fine. Get out. I’ll come out soon.

– We thought you’d say that. Restrain him!

Soon sounds of a struggle could be heard.

The call ended with the sound of the phone hitting the floor.

As soon as the call disconnected I spoke to Manager Ma.

“Manager Ma. It seems Director Lee Seok-min is in trouble. Find out where they’re taking him. Patrick is likely there too.”

“Yes I’ll give the order right away.”

After Manager Ma left Han Gyeong-yeong asked urgently.

“What’s going on? What’s this about Director Lee Seok-min being in trouble?”

“I’m not entirely sure but it seems Seo Jae-hoon’s men took him away.”

“What? Can they do that at headquarters?”

“It’s Il-seong Group. Even though Lee Seok-min was influential he couldn’t defy Seo Jae-hoon.”

“That’s true.”

My mind became complicated.

Why is Seo Jae-hoon suddenly acting like this? He’d been patient until now.

This seemed like…

It looked like he was trying to wrap everything up before the shareholders’ meeting.

* * *

A dark basement.

Only dim light shone from a single incandescent bulb.

Patrick who had been motionless in the chair for a long time slowly opened his eyes.

“Ugh…”

Groaning from the pain in the back of his head Patrick looked around with bleary eyes.

“Wh-where am I…”

Patrick tried to move but stopped when he realized he was tied to something.

Kim Mu-hyeok crossed his mind but he quickly shook his head.

“That person has no reason to kidnap me.”

Before agreeing to the share exchange maybe but now after signing the memorandum there was no reason to kidnap him.

Patrick tried to piece together his memories. The last thing he could remember from his fragmented memory was the underground parking lot.

“Right. I was walking to my lodgings from the underground parking lot when…”

As Patrick traced his memories he recalled collapsing from a sudden impact.

But he had no idea who had brought him here.

Creak.

Just then the thick iron door opened and bright fluorescent light flooded the dark basement.

Patrick winced at the sudden brightness and a strange voice reached his ears.

“Oh? You’re awake.”

“Wh-who are you!”

“What? What are you babbling about? I don’t speak English. You’re talking but I can’t understand so shut up. You’re noisy.”

“What are you saying? Where is this! Why did you…”

The situation quickly became chaotic with mixed Korean and English.

With both sides speaking languages the other couldn’t understand the conversation went nowhere.

The man was the first to stop talking.

The man approached Patrick tilted his head left and right while muttering.

“Well you won’t die right away at least.”

After checking his wounds the man turned away.

“Hey! Tell me where this is!”

“What are you saying? So annoying.”

Grumbling the man began laying large sheets of plastic on the floor pulled from a cabinet in the corner.

As if he’d done this many times before the man finished preparations smoothly.

The still-open cabinet was filled with weapons.

Patrick who had turned his head toward the man saw this and began shaking violently.

“Un-untie me now! You think you’ll be safe after doing this?”

“Ah! Why do you keep speaking words I can’t understand? Kid you’re so noisy. Just shut up and wait. They said they’ll arrive soon.”

The man who had finished laying plastic on the basement floor and walls stretched cracking his neck side to side.

Just then Han Ji-ho who had come down to the basement looked around and spoke.

“That bastard’s awake too… and all the setup is done. Good work.”

As another stranger appeared Patrick raised his voice in fear.

“Wh-who are you!”

“Vice President Patrick. Nice to meet you. I’m Han Ji-ho.”

“…You know me?”

When Han Ji-ho spoke in fluent English Patrick’s eyes widened.

“Of course. I’m the one who ordered you to be brought here.”

Patrick’s eyes trembled at his answer.

“Just why did you come to Korea.”

“Who do you people think you are! Do you know who I am? You think you’ll all be safe after this?”

“Sigh… You still don’t understand the situation.”

Han Ji-ho shook his head with a deep sigh.

People brought here always acted like this.

“You shouldn’t have upset the person we serve. They said they’ll arrive soon. Have your conversation with them.”

“Let me go. I’ll pretend this never happened. Do you need money? I’ll give you as much as you want. Just let me go!”

At the mention of money Han Ji-ho’s lips curled up.

“Money… Sure. Someone of your status could give quite a lot.”

“Ye-yes. Money I’ll give you money. How much? A million dollars?”

“Is your life worth only a million dollars? How disappointing.”

Patrick shouted desperately.

“Ten million dollars!”

Ten million dollars. Over a hundred billion won at current exchange rates.

Yet Han Ji-ho only smiled showing no other reaction.

“Wow. Ten million dollars. I almost fell for it.”

Realizing the man was playing with him Patrick screamed.

“You bastard!”

Just then a man rushed down to the basement and spoke.

“Manager they say they’ve entered the mountain road.”

Hearing his subordinate’s report Han Ji-ho nodded with a sinister smile.

“The person who holds your life in their hands will arrive soon. Let me give you some advice? Just beg. Beg for your life.”

With those final words Han Ji-ho and his subordinates all left the basement.

The heavy iron door closed with a thud.

“Hey! Hey!!”

Only Patrick’s hollow cries echoed through the basement.

A car entered the villa. The person who stepped out from the driver’s seat was Seo Jae-hoon.

He had driven here himself without any attendants.

Han Ji-ho who stood at the front bowed his head.

“Vice Chairman you’ve arrived?”

“Vice Chairman has arrived!”

The men standing behind Han Ji-ho also bowed simultaneously.

“It’s been a while Manager Han. Have you been well?”

“Yes thanks to you Vice Chairman.”

“Good if you ever need anything just let me know.”

Seo Jae-hoon lightly patted Han Ji-ho’s shoulder and spoke looking toward the basement.

“Have you treated Vice President Patrick well?”

“Yes. He’s in the basement.”

“Well done. Director Lee Seok-min should arrive soon too bring him to the basement.”

“Understood.”

“Only Manager Han follow me the rest stand by.”

Seo Jae-hoon walked toward the basement first. Han Ji-ho signaled to his subordinates with his eyes and followed alone behind him.

The firmly closed basement door opened and Seo Jae-hoon’s eyes fell on Patrick tied to a chair fixed to the floor.

Seo Jae-hoon pulled up the corners of his mouth.

“Wh-what? Vice Chairman Seo Jae-hoon. It was you?”

Patrick who had been hanging his head raised it at the sound of the door opening.

He was shocked to see Seo Jae-hoon enter through the door.

“Chair.”

At Seo Jae-hoon’s word Han Ji-ho brought a chair from against the wall and placed it in front of Patrick.

Seo Jae-hoon sat down and casually crossed his legs.

“We meet again Vice President Patrick.”

A cold smile hung on Seo Jae-hoon’s lips.