Chapter 765: But Why Are You Telling Me to Abandon Him?

I didn’t say a word from the moment I left the Chinese Embassy in Korea until I arrived in Pyeongchang-dong.

Since starting my new life this was the first time I’d faced such a difficult problem.

It seemed that my intervention had changed so much that unexpected things kept happening.

‘And it ended up like this.’

No matter how much I thought about it, it was strange.

Even if I was caught up in the political struggle between Chinese politicians, things felt way too big.

Even if they were trying to kick me out of China because they didn’t like me, they wouldn’t go this far.

Especially when considering the world’s attention and the diplomatic dispute with Korea.

My head was a mess but I had no choice but to put those thoughts aside and move. I had finished all the preparations I could make.

‘…What should I do about Yoo Sung-jin?’

The moment I gave in to Jiang Zemin’s demands to save Yoo Sung-jin, I would be constantly dragged around by him.

“Boss we’ve arrived.”

I arrived in Pyeongchang-dong while lost in thought.

Manager Ma opened the back door. The moment I stepped out he held up an umbrella.

Only then could I hear the sound of raindrops falling on the thin fabric.

“I didn’t even realize it was raining.”

“Let’s go inside. It’s gotten quite chilly.”

As soon as I entered the house, I headed straight for the study.

After taking off my coat and asking Manager Ma to bring me a warm cup of coffee, I sat on the sofa.

The folder the Chinese Ambassador had given me was still sitting on the table.

‘I wonder what’s inside that folder.’

I picked up the folder and broke the seal.

Inside there were papers or rather, a list of charges designed to ensnare Yoo Sung-jin.

My face stiffened as I read through the evidence.

“…There’s no way he can escape this.”

I understood why Jiang Zemin had given this to me. It was a warning not to try anything.

Shanghai was where Hu Jintao’s influence was weakest.

You could tell just by the fact that the faction was called the Shanghai faction. Jiang Zemin’s influence was at its highest there.

In other words, no one but Jiang Zemin could cover this up.

And there was no reason for Hu Jintao to step in for Yoo Sung-jin instead of Hao Xun.

“Boss.”

Manager Ma placed the coffee down, waiting for my instructions.

I handed the paper in my hand to Manager Ma.

“Read this too Manager Ma.”

While Manager Ma reviewed the contents I considered the options available to me.

‘Should I give up on Yoo Sung-jin, join forces with Hu Jintao, and then try to depose Jiang Zemin?’

No matter how I thought about it that was impossible. The Shanghai faction depended on Jiang Zemin the head of the group.

Directly attacking Jiang Zemin was not a good idea.

The Shanghai faction would have no choice but to defend their leader with everything they had.

In my past life, Hu Jintao didn’t directly attack Jiang Zemin, instead he negotiated by taking out his successors.

Neither Hu Jintao nor Jiang Zemin had the full power of Deng Xiaoping so they had to be careful.

‘Or should I join hands with Jiang Zemin?’

That was the best option but I didn’t want to.

I didn’t want to join hands with someone who would pull such tricks on me.

“Boss.”

Just then, Manager Ma called to me. I came out of my thoughts and looked at Manager Ma.

“What do you think? Is there any way to save Chairman Yoo Sung-jin?”

“We must abandon Yoo Sung-jin.”

Manager Ma said firmly. Abandon Yoo Sung-jin.

“Abandon him huh….”

That was a rational decision.

Yoo Sung-jin was someone who could be replaced.

Of course, he was also someone under my protection but his importance was not as high as Han Gyeong-yeong or Eva.

“If we respond to Chairman Jiang’s request this time, someone else will try to use the same method to shake you up at any time. This time it’s Yoo Sung-jin, but next time, they might target someone who is truly precious to you.”

The part I was worried about was the same as what Manager Ma had pointed out.

It wasn’t difficult to make concessions.

However, if they thought that this would work, they would use the same method again.

Then, it would be no different from putting a leash around my own neck.

“I’ve never abandoned anyone who’s come under my protection. But why are you telling me to abandon him?”

“I know better than anyone how well you take care of your people. But Yoo Sung-jin also wouldn’t want you to try to save him.”

“Yoo Sung-jin wouldn’t want that?”

I mumbled blankly and Manager Ma nodded.

“The Yoo Sung-jin I know is the kind of person who would go find a place to die if he thought he was being a burden instead of helping you.”

He was the chairman of Heavenly Group now but Yoo Sung-jin was originally a typical gangster who was loyal to Park Dong-su.

He was someone I had chosen but I didn’t know how loyal he was to me.

No I didn’t even try to find out.

I entrusted most of Heavenly Group’s affairs to Manager Ma and told him to handle everything.

“I see.”

After hearing Manager Ma’s words my head felt clearer.

As he said it would be easier to give up but to be afraid and give up wasn’t my way.

“I need to contact Hao Xun to meet with Hu Jintao.”

“Boss you can’t go to China directly.”

Manager Ma quickly stopped me.

Of course, it would be insane for me to go to China right now.

If that was the case there was no other choice but to use another method.

“I’ll use the method of inviting them to Russia.”

“That will take months.”

“Even so I have no choice. This is an issue I need to discuss in person. I’ll take care of things with Russia.”

I would save Yoo Sung-jin and suppress Jiang Zemin’s forces.

To do that I needed a definite response from Hu Jintao.

“If they refuse this meeting proposal I’ll abandon Hu Jintao.”

I made up my mind.

If that happened I would make the next leader of China with my own hands.

“I’ll pass that on.”

“More importantly…”

Since meeting Hu Jintao would probably take months, I needed to think of a way to help Yoo Sung-jin immediately.

“Would it be impossible to use Black Bear to rescue him?”

“It’s possible, but if that happens, we can’t live in the open anymore.”

It was something I said just in case and I had no intention of actually doing it.

I might try that in the Middle East or Africa but using mercenaries to rescue him in China was out of the question.

“I guess that’s right. It was just something I said out of frustration. Don’t worry about it Manager Ma.”

The snare that Jiang Zemin had prepared was too strong.

He knew my methods and approaches too well. That made it even harder to find a way out.

“First, I need to meet with Yoo Sung-jin to understand his thoughts…”

“I’ll have them keep trying to make contact.”

“Okay. Let’s rest for now and talk again tomorrow. I’m tired.”

Manager Ma, reading the fatigue on my face, immediately left the room.

Left alone, I looked out the window absentmindedly. Heavy rain was falling outside.

* * *

Yoo Sung-jin didn’t open his mouth despite Shi Xin’s continuous persuasion.

He had arranged two meetings with Kim Hyun-jung to shake Yoo Sung-jin, but both of them kept their mouths shut.

Then, an order came down to allow a meeting with a lawyer.

“Chairman Yoo Sung-jin, I’m Lee Hyun-gi from Korea.”

Although the lawyer’s meeting should have been done in secret, the Shanghai Public Security Bureau didn’t seem to want to leave it alone.

Shi Xin and public security officers were watching their meeting from behind a one-way mirror, and CCTV was filming them.

Yoo Sung-jin glanced at the one-way mirror and opened his mouth.

“You’re from Korea?”

“Don’t worry. I also have a Chinese lawyer’s license.”

Yoo Sung-jin didn’t say anything and just nodded.

“We have come in place of Chairman Yoo Sung-jin’s lawyer.”

“Which law firm are you with in Korea?”

“I’m working as a partner lawyer at Yun & Jang Law Firm.”

At the mention of Yun & Jang Law Firm, Yoo Sung-jin’s expression changed slightly.

Yun & Jang Law Firm was a law firm with a deep relationship with Boss.

In other words, this lawyer was someone Boss had sent.

“I see. Is there a way to save me?”

At Yoo Sung-jin’s question, lawyer Lee Hyun-gi glanced at the one-way mirror and narrowed his brows.

“…Based on the evidence and witnesses prepared by the Public Security Bureau, a guilty verdict is certain.”

“I didn’t do it. That’s fabricated evidence.”

“I know that as well. But the biggest problem is there’s no way to prove that.”

Both Yoo Sung-jin and lawyer Lee Hyun-gi knew it. That the evidence was fabricated.

“Didn’t the Public Security Bureau ask for a plea bargain?”

Yoo Sung-jin pondered for a moment before nodding.

“Can you tell me what they asked for?”

“They asked for evidence of Hao Xun’s crimes. And…”

After hearing everything Yoo Sung-jin had to say, lawyer Lee Hyun-gi nodded as if he had expected it.

“The client told me to do as Chairman Yoo Sung-jin wishes.”

“…”

“We will do our best to defend you, but if it goes to trial, a guilty verdict is certain.”

At those words, Yoo Sung-jin closed his eyes and sighed before asking in a low voice.

“What about Kim Hyun-jung?”

“Another lawyer is meeting her separately.”

“Is there no way to save her?”

“First of all, there was no evidence that Kim Hyun-jung was involved in drug smuggling and distribution among the evidence presented by the Public Security Bureau. If she claims she doesn’t know anything about drug smuggling, we can get her out of this case. The problem is tax evasion and bribery… There’s no way to deal with that.”

Yoo Sung-jin inwardly let out a deep sigh of relief.

“If it’s bribery and tax evasion, isn’t it possible to get probation?”

“That’s definitely possible in Korea. But this is China. I’ll do my best.”

Although lawyer Lee Hyun-gi gave a negative answer, Yoo Sung-jin knew the lawyers of Yun & Jang better than anyone else.

They were lawyers who would sell their souls to the devil to get satisfactory results if that’s what their client wanted.

“I’m counting on you.”

“Hmm. Chairman Yoo Sung-jin, you’re an interesting person. I’m a little surprised because you’re different from the image I had.”

To think that Yoo Sung-jin, who controlled the Korean underworld, would bow his head for his lover.

Lawyer Lee Hyun-gi put aside his thoughts about Yoo Sung-jin for a moment and got down to business.

“Chairman Yoo Sung-jin is a bigger problem than Kim Hyun-jung. If things go badly, you could even get the death penalty.”

“I heard you were told to let me do as I wish.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Then please pass on my words.”

Yoo Sung-jin talked for a long time about what he wanted to pass on to Kim Mu-hyeok.

After hearing everything he had to say, lawyer Lee Hyun-gi asked with a surprised look.

“Are you really sure about that?”

“Yes. Just pass that on.”

“Okay. If that’s what you want. But I will keep visiting you until the trial ends.”

“Thank you.”

Lawyer Lee Hyun-gi got up from his seat.

He quickly left the Shanghai Public Security Bureau to convey the words that Yoo Sung-jin had asked him to deliver to Korea.

“Hey, lawyer.”

Shi Xin called to lawyer Lee Hyun-gi at the entrance of the Public Security Bureau.

“What is it?”

“Pass on my words too. If Yoo Sung-jin continues like this, he will definitely get the death penalty.”

“…I will.”

“Goodbye lawyer!”

Shi Xin waved his hand cheerfully, but lawyer Lee Hyun-gi felt a chill run down his arm.

* * *

“Boss, they finally had a meeting with Yoo Sung-jin.”

“Really?”

Manager Ma came into the study and reported immediately.

Already half of the week that Jiang Zemin had given me had passed.

“Is Chairman Yoo Sung-jin okay?”

I closed the laptop I was working on and asked.

“Yes. There seemed to be no signs of torture at all.”

“That’s a relief. No matter how crazy they are, they wouldn’t go that far.”

Whatever the circumstances, Yoo Sung-jin was a reputable businessman on the surface.

Torturing him would be an act that would instill fear in businessmen operating in China, so they wouldn’t dare do that.

“What did Yoo Sung-jin say?”

I asked for Yoo Sung-jin’s opinion through the lawyer.

“First, the Public Security Bureau offered Yoo Sung-jin a plea bargain. It seems that the target is…”

The Shanghai Public Security Bureau was demanding evidence to prove Hao Xun’s crimes, and evidence to prove the connection with Hu Jintao.

“So, from the start, they intended to use Hao Xun to control Hu Jintao’s neck.”

The Shanghai faction led by Jiang Zemin and the Communist Youth League led by Hu Jintao were completely different in nature.

If Jiang Zemin was the boss of the Shanghai faction, Hu Jintao was just the head of the Communist Youth League. His thoughts did not completely represent the opinion of the Communist Youth League.

If Hu Jintao had complete control of the Communist Youth League, the Shanghai faction would not have been able to act this brazenly.

In any case the Communist Youth League was the largest faction within the Chinese Communist Party.

“So, what does Chairman Yoo Sung-jin want to do?”

“Yoo Sung-jin has three things he wanted to tell you.”

The words that Yoo Sung-jin was passing on to me were three.

He said not to bow to anyone to save him, to consider the candidates he’d organized for the next chairman of Heavenly Group, and lastly…

“He wants me to save Kim Hyun-jung at all costs huh. Manager Ma, you were right. He’s given up on himself.”