Chapter 73: The Unfolding Crisis

I finished all my schedules in the U.S. and returned to Korea.

As soon as I arrived, I headed to Seocho-dong to meet Chief Prosecutor Yoon after a long time.

“It’s been a while, Chief Prosecutor!”

I arrived earlier than our appointment, but Chief Prosecutor Yoon was already seated.

“Welcome back! It’s been too long,” he said, greeting me warmly.

I took my seat and exchanged pleasantries.

“I hear rumors that you’ll be the next Prosecutor General next year. Congratulations in advance!”

“Ha ha, thank you!”

Although the current Prosecutor General still had a long term ahead, he had made no significant achievements despite being aligned with the President.

He merely followed the Blue House’s orders; that was the extent of his role.

Despite this, Chief Prosecutor Yoon faced constant scrutiny, but the major cases resolved by the Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office had provided him with enough backing.

“You must be getting a lot of attention from the political world, right?”

“Ha ha! Whether from the ruling or opposition party, they all poke around me, trying to get my ear,” he chuckled.

“Don’t waver. You can reach the pinnacle of the prosecution and transition to politics. I’ll generously support your campaign funds, so just focus on maintaining your image!”

His expression brightened at my words, as if I had struck a chord.

“You want me to go into politics after I retire?”

“Of course! With the current public support, you could win no matter where you run. After becoming the Prosecutor General, a fast track to Yeouido awaits!”

Just imagining it made Chief Prosecutor Yoon’s face light up with a broad smile.

“Understood!”

As our meal neared its end, I brought up the reason for our meeting.

“When do you think the historical rectification will wrap up? The ultimate goal is the two former presidents, right?”

Chief Prosecutor Yoon looked startled, dropping his spoon.

“How do you know about that? It’s under a confidential investigation!”

“Come on, you know I have my sources!”

Ultimately, the conclusion of the historical rectification would be the arrest of the two former presidents.

The Cheongpung Group, weakened under the ongoing scrutiny from the presidents, had managed to regain power during the foreign exchange crisis with Japan’s support.

With the Cheongpung Group weakened, taking control of Gangnam was crucial; missing this opportunity would lead to severe consequences.

“Isn’t that prosecutor who investigated the slot machine case still at the Jeju District Prosecutors’ Office?”

“Who? That idiot?”

“Yeah, is he still a prosecutor?”

“He seems attached to the job. He’s getting tired, though; I told him I’d promote him to the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office next year, but who knows?”

“Please promote him to the Violent Crimes Department at the Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office. Let’s clean up the Gangnam thugs while we’re at it!”

Chief Prosecutor Yoon nearly choked on his sujeonggwa, coughing several times.

“What? Gangnam? That’s tough. They have too many connections in politics; the pressure will be immense. These guys survived the war on crime and even disguised themselves as legitimate businesses!”

“The moment the two former presidents are arrested, the politicians will be on high alert. We could catch them all under Article 4 of the Anti-Organized Crime Law.”

“Hmm…”

Chief Prosecutor Yoon pondered for a moment, then asked with concern.

“But there’s not enough evidence to charge them as a criminal organization. Even if the Violent Crimes Department gets involved, they aren’t just regular thugs; they’re three major national organizations. They’ll be looking to cut ties to protect themselves!”

“We’ll create the justification. In return, our people should receive lenient sentences!”

I laid out the plan I had in mind.

Listening intently, Chief Prosecutor Yoon revised several aspects of my plan right then and there, seeming to appreciate the effort.

“Alright, this looks good. We should send that guy back to the field; he’ll love it!”

“The D-Day will be the day the two former presidents are arrested. While everyone is distracted, Park Dong-su will launch a surprise attack! Be ready to catch them all!”

“A knife fight right in the heart of Gangnam… It’s bound to be noisy,” he remarked with slight concern, though the corners of his mouth lifted.

After all, capturing the national thugs would be a source of pride.

After finishing our meal, I got back into Manager Ma’s car.

“Take me to Geukseong Construction.”

After a long drive, we arrived at Geukseong Construction.

Following the staff’s guidance, we reached the president’s office.

“Welcome, sir!”

Park Dong-su was nowhere to be seen; Lee Sang-geun was buried under a pile of documents.

“Where’s Mr. Park?”

“He should be here soon. He mostly works near the construction sites.”

I had heard that after entering Daechi-dong without a fight, he was laying a solid foundation. It felt like Lee Sang-geun had completely taken over Geukseong Construction.

Once seated, Lee Sang-geun took the spot next to me.

“Busy, I see?”

“It’s interesting!”

“How’s the orphanage? Any lack of support?”

“Thanks to you, we’re running without any issues!”

Since Lee Sang-geun had fully become Park Dong-su’s man, he was now providing proper support to the orphanage he had come from.

The cost of winning a person’s heart was remarkably low.

Just then, the office door swung open, and Park Dong-su walked in.

“Hey, little bro!”

With a smile, Park Dong-su took the seat opposite Lee Sang-geun.

“You should’ve contacted me; I’m late!”

“How’s Daechi-dong?”

“What’s there for guys like us to mess with?”

“That’s exactly it. It’s a bridge to get into Gangnam, so just be prepared!”

“Going head-to-head with Gangnam is risky for us. How can we face the Baekho faction? If we take on the Shin Gangnam faction and the Honam PK faction too, we’ll all end up dead!”

No matter how much Park Dong-su had taken over areas like Busan and Yeongdeungpo in the southwest of Seoul, he couldn’t take on all of Gangnam alone.

Not without the support of the prosecution.

“If you divide your men to raid their key operations, the prosecutors will swoop in at the same time!”

“What? Then our guys will all get caught!”

“Most will be released from the police station, except for a few who will take responsibility. If things escalate, be ready to name some responsible figures. What was your younger brother’s name in Busan again?”

“Who? Suhyeong?”

“Yes, make him the one to take responsibility!”

Park Dong-su’s smile vanished instantly at my words.

“Suhyeong is like my own brother; how can I make him a scapegoat?”

“Don’t worry; I’ll make sure he gets the lightest sentence possible. The other side will be charged with organized crime under Article 4 of the Anti-Organized Crime Law, so they’re looking at a minimum of five years.”

“Still…”

“Mr. Park, we’re talking about taking over Gangnam, not just a single area. If we can’t bear this level of loss, how can we proceed?”

“Huh…”

Frustrated, Park Dong-su loosened his tie, which had been tight around his neck.

“Just make sure the sentences are as short as possible, alright?”

“I’ll handle it; it’s just a precaution for when things blow up. A knife fight between gangsters in the heart of Gangnam won’t just end quietly!”

No matter how hard Chief Prosecutor Yoon and I worked, we couldn’t cover up everything from the media and the public. Both Gangnam’s organization and Park Dong-su’s faction needed to see major figures taken down.

If Yang Suhyeong, who managed Busan, got caught, it would be a story the media would love.

They could sensationalize it as a shocking gang war between Busan and Seoul.

“There’s still plenty of time left, so make sure to clean up Yeongdeungpo thoroughly. I’ll let you know when the schedule is set!”

“Got it! How about we grab a drink tonight?”

“I just got back from the U.S. I’m tired. Let’s do it another time.”

I left Geukseong Construction, leaving Park Dong-su, who looked disappointed behind.

Returning from the U.S. without a moment to rest was exhausting.

When I arrived in Pyeongchang-dong, Cheon Ji-young was conversing with my grandfather in the living room.

“I’m back!”

“Why are you so busy right after coming back?”

I smiled at my grandfather’s scolding.

“Ha ha, you’re right!”

“Big brother!”

“Is Ji-young here?”

“I kept coming by for a few days since I was worried you’d feel lonely without your brother, Grandpa.”

“Thanks for dropping by so often.”

“Sure!”

Cheon Ji-young was gradually returning to her vibrant self.

“I’ll head up and rest now.”

“Alright, we’ll talk tomorrow then.”

“Yes, Ji-young, see you next time!”

After saying her goodbyes, she headed up to the second floor.

“You should rest too, Manager Ma. You’ve worked hard. Take your time preparing for the PMC establishment.”

Manager Ma, who had been waiting until I entered my room, nodded and quietly left.

Now alone, I finally relaxed and let go of my tension.

I spent some time focused on recovering the bonds my grandfather held.

Time flew by, and on November 1st, a historic event occurred: a former president was arrested for the first time in history.

History remained unchanged.

The Cheongpung Group was likely preparing to form a new party in anticipation of the 1996 elections, believing they had little chance to exert their influence within the ruling party dominated by the current president. They were likely working to unite the factions from the 5th and 6th republics.

However, due to the opposition party’s exposure of slush funds, the president was eventually arrested. The Cheongpung Group mobilized all their resources for a rescue operation.

But the 518 Special Law passed through the National Assembly, leading to the unprecedented execution of an arrest warrant at the former president’s residence.

I instructed Park Dong-su to be on standby, ready with all preparations complete.

“It’s moving; you should act accordingly, too.”

After receiving a call from Chief Prosecutor Yoon, I immediately gave instructions to Park Dong-su.

“Let’s raid Gangnam. Execute the plan now!”

“Okay.”

Park Dong-su mobilized his men to simultaneously raid the major operations of the Gangnam gang, a massive coordinated operation involving everyone from Busan and Yeongdeungpo.

As dawn broke and the morning sun rose, I received a call from Park Dong-su.

“Everyone’s been captured.”

“Thank you for your hard work. Stay at Geukseong Construction until I contact you; Yang Suhyeong will surrender soon.”

“Understood.”

After finishing my call with Park Dong-su, I received a call from Chief Prosecutor Yoon shortly after.

“We’ve captured all the key leaders. We need to tie them properly as a criminal organization. Today will be quiet due to the president’s arrest, and we’ll leak information to the media, so tell Dong-su’s lieutenant to prepare for surrender.”

“I’ve already hinted at it. Thank you for your hard work. How’s that prosecutor?”

“Hahaha, it’s his world now. He thinks the field is the most fun, so it’s perfect for him.”

The next day,

Due to the unprecedented event of the former president’s arrest, all daily newspapers and news outlets couldn’t report on the incidents in Gangnam.

However, Chief Prosecutor Yoon utilized all his resources to leak his achievements to the news and newspapers.

The fact that a major gang leader had been captured during the war on crime was enough to grab public attention.

The public was shocked to learn of a large-scale brawl in the heart of Gangnam, with dozens injured.

The president demanded strict enforcement of the law, and Chief Prosecutor Yoon, in response, arrested and indicted all the Gangnam gang leaders as a criminal organization.

Of course, Park Dong-su could not escape unscathed.

Several action leaders, including Yang Suhyeong, were arrested, and numerous members of the organization were also apprehended.

Since this was all part of the plan to take control of Gangnam, it was an unavoidable choice.

Park Dong-su mobilized all remaining personnel to eliminate any remaining forces in Gangnam and took control of all operations.

The Cheongpung Group wouldn’t be able to move for the time being.

This was a decision born from confidence.

* * *

“Mu-hyeok attacked Gangnam?”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Chairman Cheon stood up after a moment of contemplation with his eyes closed.

“Myung-hoon, it looks like it’s time for me to step out. Contact Yong-hyun; tell him I’m coming over.”

“Yes.”

With only Chief Ha as his attendant, Chairman Cheon made the journey without speaking a word until they reached Lee Yong-hyun’s mansion in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.

“It’s been a while here,” he muttered to himself as he got out of the car.

The mansion appeared to be a traditional hanok at first glance, but in reality, its windows were glass instead of paper, the floors were covered with tatami mats, and the hallway had sliding doors with glass panels in a Japanese style.

In the yard stood a sharp-looking elderly man with white hair, who had come out to greet Chairman Cheon. He was none other than Lee Yong-hyun, the head of the Cheongpung Group.

“Chairman Cheon, it’s been a long time.”

“Yong-hyun, you’ve aged quite a bit, haven’t you?”

The two spoke like old friends.