Chapter 78: The Weight of Choices

While sharing a meal, Eric and Han Gyeong-yeong seemed to hit it off, deciding to head to the hotel bar for drinks.

“You two look great together!”

“Eric’s got a real knack for making friends,”

“For now, let’s leave it to Eric.”

“He’s reliable. Even when I was at EO, he was popular among the staff. A mercenary’s survival chances are always higher with a competent boss.”

“Please keep an eye on the PMC matter, Manager Ma. I don’t know enough about it to handle it myself.”

“Understood.”

It seemed best to leave the PMC establishment to Manager Ma.

The real issue lay with the management of ghost companies in tax havens… I also needed someone to infiltrate Korea as an invading force.

I already had someone in mind.

Currently working at an investment bank in Hong Kong, he thrived during the IMF crisis, aided by the Wall Street sharks.

Han Gyeong-yeong’s role would be the good cop.

The other would be the bad cop.

Their harmony needed to be just right.

I planned to go directly to Hong Kong to recruit him.

“I think I need to go to Hong Kong in January. Please book my flight and arrange the schedule.”

“Got it.”

I had to make the most money I could during this opportunity.

A few days later, Han Gyeong-yeong and Eric departed for the U.S.

“Hey, this is just the beginning. Manage the staff well and stay alert. Leave the stocks we’ve invested in alone and hold onto the rest.”

“Okay.”

The plane took off for the U.S.

The long contrail left in the sky signaled the end of my rest.

* * *

1996 turned out to be a disastrous year.

Politics regressed, and the current account posted the highest deficit ever.

Above all, small businesses faced continuous bankruptcies.

Yet, the public didn’t feel a significant sense of crisis.

However, large corporations had already sensed Hyeonbo’s impending crisis.

They were merely watching, thinking, ‘If Hyeonbo collapses, will there be nothing left for us?’

Neither Daehyeon nor Il-sung, nor any major corpporation could escape this reality.

“Chairman Cheon, please help me just this once.”

In Chairman Cheon’s study in Pyeongchang-dong.

Jang, the head of Hyeonbo Group, was kneeling before Chairman Cheon.

“Come on…”

“There’s no one else who can help. The banks have stopped giving loans. I’m planning to issue convertible bonds worth about 45 billion won in January—please take them on.”

Desperately clinging to Hyeonbo Steel, Jang was short on funds to build a steel mill. He tried to secure money through bond issuance, promissory notes, and selling subsidiaries. The banks had deferred debts and provided emergency funds, but by the end of 1996, all financial resources had dried up.

He decided to issue convertible bonds, but no one was willing to buy them.

Cornered, Jang had no choice but to visit Pyeongchang-dong.

“Why are you looking into steel when you could stick with what you know?”

“If you could help me just this once, I won’t forget your kindness. Please, think of our past connections and help me one more time.”

“It’s already out of my hands. Mu-hyeok will talk to that kid and get back to me.”

“Chairman!”

“Fine, just go for now. Instead of begging me, get some of your own money and extinguish the fire first.”

Jang gritted his teeth at Chairman Cheon’s admonishment.

“I’ll contact you as soon as possible.”

Getting up, Jang bowed his head.

“I’m counting on you.”

After confirming Jang’s departure through the window, Chairman Cheon spoke to Chief Ha.

“Huh… Mu-hyeok must have predicted this years ago. That kid…”

“It seems so.”

“When is Mu-hyeok coming to Seoul?”

“I’ll contact him and ask him to come up.”

After a moment of thought, Chairman Cheon shook his head.

“No, he’ll come on his own when he’s ready. Let it be.”

“But Jang seemed quite urgent.”

“If it’s Mu-hyeok, he’s probably not going to help. He won’t board a sinking ship.”

“Understood.”

“Still, let’s keep in touch.”

“Yes.”

Chief Ha left the room.

Sitting quietly, Chairman Cheon tapped his fingers on the table.

‘There will be a day when the chairmen of major corporations will kneel before my grandfather, begging to borrow money.’

What Mu-hyeok had said was becoming a reality.

“I’ll get to see something interesting before I die.”

A big smile spread across Chairman Cheon’s face.

* * *

“I just got a call from Pyeongchang-dong. Jang from Hyeonbo Group came to ask for help.”

“Hahaha, he acted like he wouldn’t show his face again, but here he is. What did grandfather say?”

“He said he would talk to the boss and then sent him away. Since there was no request for him to come to Seoul, it seems he has no intention of helping.”

“Hahaha!”

Of course.

Grandfather must have assessed the situation already.

He was always the quickest to act.

“I need to go to Seoul. Let’s head up the day after tomorrow.”

“Yes, I’ll prepare it.”

Manager Ma, who had answered, remained seated.

“Is there something you want to say?”

“It’s about the previous instructions you gave.”

“Which one?”

“The one about keeping an eye on the suspicious person around the boss. We caught him, but… he won’t talk.”

“Where is he now?”

“We’ve detained him at Park Dong-su’s office in Busan. There are eight of them, and it took a while to monitor them as they were rotating shifts. I apologize for the delay.”

“No need to apologize. It’s usually harder to catch a rat. You did well. Let’s go for now.”

I arrived at the department where Park Dong-su’s office was located.

Park Dong-su’s men recognized me and greeted me.

Inside the office, eight men were kneeling, with Manager Ma’s subordinates keeping watch over them.

“Have you learned anything yet?”

“No, sorry.”

Manager Ma’s subordinates apologized.

“What’s the deal? Why are you watching me?”

Despite my question, they remained silent.

“Huh…”

Why is it that when I treat people politely, I always get this in return?

“Manager, contact Park Dong-su and find a quiet place on the outskirts of Busan. By tomorrow, I want to know everything these guys know. You figure out how to do it.”

“Understood.”

“They’re going to regret not talking soon enough.”

I didn’t know who was watching me, but I wouldn’t forgive them.

To me, Busan was that significant.

On the way home.

“I think I need to protect my grandmother. Please keep a trustworthy person on standby at all times.”

“Understood.”

As if sensing my mood, the driver increased the car’s speed.

That evening, with Park Dong-su’s help, we moved all eight men to an abandoned factory in Gimhae on the outskirts of Busan.

The next day, Manager Ma reported back.

“They were from the Japanese Yakuza.”

“All of them?”

“Two were Japanese who came directly from Japan, and the others were drug dealers taking orders from them.”

“No connection to Park Dong-su’s side?”

“No, it was a small organization with no territory. They were intermediaries receiving drugs from China to pass on to Japan. They handled drug distribution in Busan, and it seems they managed to stay under Park Dong-su’s radar.”

“What was their purpose?”

“Their main objective was to investigate and monitor the boss’s activities in Busan, and if possible, to eliminate him. This was direct orders from Japan.”

“How did they know I was in Busan?”

“They claimed they only received orders from Japan. They seemed to know nothing about that. During the investigation, one of the Japanese died. He was the mastermind behind it all but never spoke before dying. He probably knew everything.”

“Seems like they were tougher to crack than I thought.”

He was truly ruthless. As the pressure increased…

It’s fine.

I expected the Yakuza wouldn’t back down easily.

I never thought they would reach out to my family in Busan, but perhaps staying here for too long was the issue.

I have to bring Grandma to Seoul.

That seems like the best solution, but it’s going to be tough.

I’ve tried talking to her several times, but she always refuses.

“For now, let’s send four employees down to Busan. We need to avoid interfering with Grandma’s movements.”

“Understood.”

“Let’s buy the house next door. If our staff stays there, they can communicate well with Park Dong-su’s men and respond quickly if there’s an emergency. Grandma’s safety comes first. Once the PMC is established, we can leave the proper security arrangements to them.”

“Got it.”

After receiving Manager Ma’s report and giving instructions, it was time for the dinner I promised Myeong-su and Hyeon-seong’s families.

“It’s been a while, Mu-hyeok.”

“Hello, Father.”

Myeong-su’s parents greeted me warmly.

“I wonder if Myeong-su will have time next year. He hasn’t even come home for the holidays.”

“This is the last year, you know. He’ll complete his training at the Judicial Research and Training Institute next year. It’s an important time, so please understand, Father.”

“That’s true. Who would have thought he’d become a judge? By the way, Mu-hyeok…”

Myeong-su’s father was already beaming at the thought of his son becoming a prosecutor.

Hyeon-seong’s parents looked a bit worried about him.

“Father, I hope Hyeon-seong can help out in Seoul this time. Is that alright?”

“What? Illegal work?”

“I would never assign Hyeon-seong to anything illegal. I just want him to work on something normal.”

I pondered what task to assign Hyeon-seong.

Since he was the one I trusted most, I considered having him oversee the lending business. Even if someone else handles the practical work, it must be someone I can trust.

While the families chatted, Hyeon-seong’s father stepped aside with me.

“Father, please keep an eye on Grandma. I’m worried about those targeting me and whether they might harm her.”

“Understood. I’ll increase patrols in that area, and I’ll ask Hyeon-seong’s mom to visit more often.”

“Thank you.”

“But what work are you planning for Hyeon-seong?”

His father showed interest in Hyeon-seong’s tasks.

“If Hyeon-seong is willing, I plan to assign him to the lending business.”

“Lending? You mean loan sharking?”

“It’s loan sharking, but it will likely fall under regulation soon. I want him to manage legitimate operations. Since it’s related to money, Hyeon-seong is the best choice for this task.”

“Hmm… do you think he can handle it?”

“He’ll have to learn. Even if others do the work, he needs to understand the flow of money and how to manage the ledger.”

“Looks like he’s going to study something he never expected at this age.”

“He’s smart, so I’m sure he’ll do well. The real challenge is getting him to want to do it.”

“Ha, what kind of responsibilities does he have right now?”

“Hahaha…”

I needed to hear Hyeon-seong’s thoughts as well.

The meal ended on a warm note.

With that, all my plans in Busan came to an end.

I asked Grandma if she was considering coming to Seoul, but her response was the same as before.

I could force her to come, but… that wouldn’t be in her best interest.

It would only serve my own satisfaction.

“Next year is going to be incredibly busy.”

“I know. Don’t overdo it just because you’re worried about me. Stay safe down there.”

“I’ll call often.”

“Come here and give me a hug, my child.”

I embraced Grandma before getting into the car with Hyeon-seong.

“Go inside, Grandma. It’s cold.”

“I’ll wait until I see you leave.”

Leaving behind Grandma, who stubbornly refused, the car slowly pulled away.

Looking back, I saw her watching the car as it drove away.

As we turned the corner and she disappeared from view, I spoke to Hyeon-seong.

“Hey, let’s learn how to do this properly in Seoul, okay?”

“…”

“Are you going to keep silent? I need someone I can trust, so help me out here.”

“Alright, what do you need me to do?”

“Start by going to the Myeong-dong loan market and learn how to handle the ledger.”

“Got it.”

If I could entrust Myeong-dong to Hyeon-seong, I could work with peace of mind.

I should probably assign it to Kim Ho-sik in Myeong-dong.

He needs proper training.

The car carrying Hyeon-seong and me sped towards Seoul.

This is where it all begins; even a small mistake could derail our plans.

The new year of 1997 was dawning.