Chapter 739: You Would Have Been a Better Politician

I headed straight to the room where Kim Gab-soo was.

He was sitting on the edge of the bed. As soon as I entered, he stood up as if he had been waiting for me.

“President Kim Mu-hyeok.”

His face looked drastically different after just one day.

“Everything the Chief Secretary said has been confirmed.”

The dates of entry for the Chinese high-ranking officials’ children that Kim Gab-soo had mentioned all matched, and the investigations into the clubs and hotels where they caused trouble had also been completed.

“Of course. I only spoke the truth. I’m not a spy.”

“But pressuring them to release those people wasn’t the right thing to do, was it? And neither was taking benefits for helping them.”

“Th-that’s…”

There was no way he would do something that could cause problems later without getting paid.

Perhaps that’s why Kim Gab-soo’s eyes wavered.

“I can turn a blind eye to this. I can also put in a good word with the President.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Do you have any proof that you were asked to do this? If you have any evidence or testimony about the crimes committed by those Chinese high-ranking officials’ children, please hand it over. While I can’t guarantee that you’ll keep your position, I’ll do my best to make sure you avoid legal consequences.”

Kim Gab-soo pondered my offer before nodding.

“There are videos and recordings. Evidence I received from the police. But…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep Kim Chief Secretary’s involvement a secret.”

“Yes, then I’ll hand them over.”

The evidence Kim Gab-soo handed over could be used to pressure them.

Drugs are a major crime in China after all.

“Then go with our staff member and hand over the documents and go home. After that, wait at the Blue House. The President will take care of everything.”

I gestured to Manager Ma to send a staff member to Kim Gab-soo to collect the evidence and take him home.

Then I left Kim Gab-soo’s room and went to Woo Young-shik’s room.

Unlike Kim Gab-soo, Woo Young-shik smiled as soon as he saw me.

“So, was there any lie in what I said?”

“Everything was true. Though I haven’t confirmed whether Ye Xiaotong is indeed Senior Secretary Woo’s daughter.”

Even Black Bear said that they weren’t sure if Ye Xiaotong was Woo Young-shik’s daughter.

Nothing was known about Ye Xiaotong’s father.

However it was confirmed that Woo Young-shik and Ye Xiaotong’s mother, Ye Jue’er, overlapped in their study abroad period and that Ye Jue’er had given birth to Ye Xiaotong after returning to China.

There was no reason for Woo Young-shik to lie so I believed his story to be true.

“It would be a problem if you found out in just one day. The fewer people who know a secret the better. Even the President doesn’t know about this.”

“Is that so?”

“I want my daughter to live well even though I haven’t done anything for her. And I hope that China, where my daughter lives, and Korea, where I live, have a good relationship. As I said before, that’s my true intention.”

I didn’t think Woo Young-shik was lying either.

“Do you want a good relationship? Or do you want a relationship where we submit to China?”

Woo Young-shik narrowed his brows.

“Submit? If we make concessions to each other we can maintain a good relationship. That’s why I’m on the side of resolving this matter amicably.”

“Once you give in, you will have to give in even more the next time. And after that you will have no choice but to submit completely. Is that what you want?”

“Diplomatic relations don’t always work like that. There’s no reason to engage in unnecessary conflicts. You haven’t experienced the Cold War so you don’t know how useless it is to fight each other.”

Woo Young-shik’s story sounded good but was unrealistic. It was essentially a pipe dream.

As their national power grew, China expanded its influence using economic, military, diplomatic, and various other methods.

The Belt and Road Initiative is a perfect example. China imposed massive debts on various countries and used that to weaken their national power.

“I won’t back down this time. I plan to use every method at my disposal. But if you in the Blue House don’t align with me and act independently everything I do won’t work properly.”

“We can’t infringe upon the nation’s interest for individual gain. I don’t want to change my mind.”

“Even if it means you might die because of that choice?”

Woo Young-shik didn’t avoid my cold gaze.

“Die, you say. Yes, I won’t change my mind even if it means death.”

“Is it because of your daughter? Isn’t that also something you’re doing because of a personal reason?”

“…I won’t deny it. But China will continue to grow. And as China grows, Korea will also grow with it.”

“You would have been a better politician.”

“Hahahaha. I’ll take that as a compliment.”

I just laughed at Woo Young-shik’s relaxed response.

He was an interesting person the more I talked to him. In my previous life I never knew of Woo Young-shik’s existence.

‘It’s more surprising that someone like this didn’t accomplish anything.’

Even if Woo Young-shik opposed me Yoon Chang-ho would agree with me so I wasn’t too worried.

“I’ll take care of the China issue myself. You do as you see fit Senior Secretary Woo. But the President won’t accept your opinion. Especially now that we know there’s a Chinese spy.”

“…I know.”

Woo Young-shik wasn’t a fool. He knew that this wasn’t a situation that could be covered up.

“How about stepping down as Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs and getting into politics? There is a by-election for a National Assembly seat isn’t there.”

“Politics… Is it something I can do just because I want to?”

“You could if the President wanted it. Or I can help you too.”

He didn’t answer, but it looked like he was considering it. The power of the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs was limited but as a politician he could do much more.

“Do you know what Ye Xiaotong does?”

Woo Young-shik asked back with a puzzled voice at my sudden question.

“What Xiaotong does?”

“You don’t know.”

I asked again at Woo Young-shik’s uncomfortable expression.

“What does she do that’s causing that reaction?”

“She’s a lobbyist.”

“What?”

Woo Young-shik got out of bed.

“A lobbyist? No, why would Xiaotong do something like that?”

Lobbyists are not welcomed in Korea but it’s different in China.

As long as the Guanxi culture exists such people are needed and Ye Xiaotong would continue to grow.

“Ye Xiaotong is the actual owner of the secret bar used by high-ranking Chinese officials. Many things are being discussed there. And the economic and diplomatic pressure on Korea probably came from there as well.”

“…I don’t understand.”

Woo Young-shik sat back down.

“There still aren’t many things a woman can do in China. But she found the best possible method she could use. I plan on approaching her.”

“…You.”

Woo Young-shik glared at me.

“If necessary I will reveal the existence of her biological father.”

“What?”

“What if she’s hostile to Korea?”

“…”

“What will change if she knows her biological father? Do you think she’d miss a father she’s never met? She’s a cold-blooded woman who doesn’t care about the methods as long as they achieve their goal. She’d probably even use her father.”

“…”

Woo Young-shik just stared at me, unable to say anything.

“Thanks to you I’ve got a good card.”

“President Kim Mu-hyeok. If you use my daughter…”

Finally a fire lit up in Woo Young-shik’s eyes.

I smiled leisurely.

“We’re helping each other. It’s not just me unilaterally using her.”

“…You sure talk a good game.”

“Ye Xiaotong is going down that path even if we leave her alone. If I help her that path can become easier, and if I interfere it can become more difficult.”

“…”

“Think carefully about what path is best for your daughter.”

I got up from my seat.

I had already thrown all the bait so now it was time to wait for his decision.

“Our staff will escort you. Please keep quiet about what happened today. If you tell anyone then we won’t be able to have such a pleasant meeting again.”

Woo Young-shik nodded with a thoughtful expression.

“Oh, fighting with Minister of Justice Choi Tae-min is fine but… leave Oh Hyeon-woo alone. This is a warning.”

I left Woo Young-shik’s room after saying that.

A few hours after Kim Gab-soo and Woo Young-shik left, several black vans entered the villa.

“We’re from the National Intelligence Service.”

Manager Ma brought Ban Jang-woo and handed him over to the people from the National Intelligence Service.

President Yoon Chang-ho had no intention of leaving Ban Jang-woo alone.

His plan was to blow this matter up and use it to pressure China.

While Ban Jang-woo was getting into the van, a man wearing square glasses spoke to me.

“I’m Lee Tae-hyuk, the Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service.”

“I’m Kim Mu-hyeok.”

“Thank you for stepping forward for the country.”

I smiled and said at Lee Tae-hyuk’s words.

“It’s just something someone had to do.”

Lee Tae-hyuk nodded and said.

“Let’s have a meal together sometime.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

I glanced at Manager Ma behind me.

Manager Ma handed a briefcase to Lee Tae-hyuk.

“This contains Senior Secretary Ban Jang-woo’s statements and the data we investigated separately.”

Lee Tae-hyuk laughed in a hollow way after receiving it.

“This will reduce some of our workload. Thank you.”

Lee Tae-hyuk bowed slightly before getting into the van.

As the van carrying Ban Jang-woo disappeared from sight, I erased the smile I had on my face.

“This villa is now being discarded. Get rid of it without leaving any traces behind.”

“Yes, Boss.”

* * *

Several days passed after Ban Jang-woo was taken to the National Intelligence Service.

Kim Gab-soo, the Senior Secretary for Public Relations, left the Blue House, having resigned, while Woo Young-shik, the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, kept his position.

It was President Yoon Chang-ho’s choice so I didn’t bother to talk about it.

It seemed that Woo Young-shik was needed to keep Minister of Justice Choi Tae-min in check.

And news broke out from the media that Ban Jang-woo, the Senior Secretary for Public Relations, had been arrested by the National Intelligence Service for leaking state secrets.

“Hey! Is this for real? How could a Senior Secretary at the Blue House be a mole!”

Myeong-su showed up at the Myeong-dong office without notice.

I laughed at Myeong-su who was getting worked up.

“How can you laugh? I was doubtful even after the President said that there might be a Chinese spy among the Senior Secretaries at the Blue House… how can this be true!”

Myeong-su continued to rant and rave on his own for a while.

“The Senior Secretary for National Security is supposed to advise the President on national security policies. How can someone like that be a mole? Why did you just leave them alone? You should have killed him.”

“Killing him isn’t going to solve anything.”

“Still…”

“Did you hear about the Senior Secretary for Public Relations?”

Myeong-su, who was slowly calming down, nodded.

“They said he used his influence on the police to erase the records of the Chinese high-ranking officials’ children. He really did it all. I heard that the President is going to let the Senior Secretary for Public Relations leave with a voluntary resignation.”

I nodded and opened the drawer beside me and slid the folder that I received from Kim Gab-soo in front of Myeong-su.

“What’s this?”

“It’s the evidence of Kim Gab-soo releasing them and erasing their records. Who asked him to do it, who he pressured, and everything is neatly organized by date. He was quite meticulous, huh?”

“Really?”

Myeong-su picked up the folder.

“Check it out later. There’s no one from the top, just some mid-level people. Still, it’s up to us how we use it.”

“I guess so. I’ll make good use of it.”

Myeong-su put the folder down again and asked me.

“So what are you going to do? The President doesn’t seem like he’s going to back down. I guess you think the same?”

At Myeong-su’s question, I replied with a chilling smile.

“We’ll keep going until one of us backs down.”

Even if the Korean Government backs down, I have no intention of backing down first.