Chapter 793: Reunion and New Beginnings

Hyeon-seong’s couple arrived first, followed by Oh Hyeon-woo and Han Min-kyung, and finally Yoon Jae-ha.

They were all worried about me, and I tried my best to reassure them.

Thanks to my friends’ concern for my well-being, my mood wasn’t bad.

“You crazy bastard!”

I was wondering when he’d show up.

Myeong-su burst into my Myeong-dong office without an appointment, spewing curses.

I closed the laptop displaying the news portal and smiled.

“Oh, hey there.”

“Do you even know how worried I was?!”

“Do you have to curse the moment you arrive? I contacted you didn’t I? That should be enough, isn’t it? I came back safe and sound.”

“Is that all you have to say? Should I tell Grandma exactly what you went through?”

“No, I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”

Because I had asked everyone around me to keep quiet about it, Grandma still didn’t know what had happened to me in North Korea.

“She’s already getting old and frail; if she heard news like that, it’d be a disaster.”

“Do you think I don’t know that? So, take it easy on your body. Why go there alone, of all places?”

“I wasn’t alone. I took bodyguards, and it was a visit authorized by the Korean Government. How was I supposed to know those crazy bastards would do that?”

As I rattled off a string of excuses, Myeong-su let out a deep sigh.

“Haa… Alright. If anything like this happens again, I’m going straight to Grandma, you hear me?”

“Alright, alright. Just stop nagging, my ears are about to fall off. Sit down. Your legs must be tired.”

I walked over to the sofa and sat down and Myeong-su followed me.

Myeong-su, who had been glaring at me with a pout, said in a calmer voice.

“You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”

I nodded and called for someone to bring us two cups of coffee.

“Fortunately, no.”

“Then that’s good enough.”

I knew very well that Myeong-su was worried about me, truly and sincerely.

I could trust Myeong-su more than anyone.

“Are you having any difficulties?”

“No. Well, even if there were any, it wouldn’t be me that’s having a headache, it would be you. China is being like this as well, why the sudden change with the Heavenly Group? I heard there was some trouble in Busan? Hyeon-seong’s father contacted me.”

“Why would a retired man take an interest in something like that?”

“His juniors are all on the front lines, that’s probably why. I told him I don’t know anything. Though even if I knew, I wouldn’t have said anything. But I really don’t know.”

“Didn’t Manager Ma contact you?”

Myeong-su nodded his head, his curiosity obvious.

“No. He hasn’t said a word.”

I could guess why Manager Ma hadn’t told Myeong-su beforehand.

It was probably to avoid getting Myeong-su unnecessarily involved in this mess.

“That’s a good thing. There’s no need for you to know. If I needed your help, I would have contacted you.”

“I guess. Still I talked to the Police Commissioner after everything was over. I don’t know everything but I got the gist of it. …Are you going to be okay?”

“I don’t know. If something like that happens again, I’m going to wipe them all out. I started this whole thing trusting Dong-soo hyung, but he’s gone now.”

Uniting all the gangsters in the nation was something I had started solely trusting in Park Dong-soo.

His legacy which passed to Lee Sang-geun and Yoo Sung-jin was now being reorganized by Im Hwa-soo.

As time passes Park Dong-soo’s influence will fade, and new people will fill the void.

“If the Heavenly Group disappears, won’t the gangsters just run wild?”

“I’ll think about that when the time comes. It’s not like it’s happening right now, and for now, I won’t be thinking about anything reckless. I just hope they’ve all noticed something from this recent mess, how quiet the police and media have been about this whole thing.”

“I hope they get their heads screwed on straight and stay on this path.”

While we were talking, a staff member brought the coffee. I picked up the cup and asked.

“Why did you come here unannounced today?”

“I just came to see your face. Do I need a reason to come?”

“Hyeon-seong, Hyeon-woo and Jae-ha all came. You’re the last one, you know?”

As I spoke as if to scold him for being the last, Myeong-su shouted and became serious.

“Hey! I’m busy!”

“And the other guys aren’t? I heard Hyeon-seong’s been pretty busy lately. Don’t even get me started on Hyeon-woo. Jae-ha’s been even busier preparing to take over his law firm.”

As I rattled off my friend’s situations, Myeong-su furrowed his brow slightly. He was feeling guilty I guess.

“Sorry. I was worried, but I just couldn’t find any time. I had prior engagements. And they weren’t the kind of events I could cancel. Still I did call you the day you got back.”

I chuckled and took a sip of my coffee.

Unlike the taciturn Hyeon-seong, Myeong-su’s reactions were amusing when teased.

“The others got calls too. You’re not the only one. I’m disappointed, Assemblyman.”

“Ah, jeez. Enough already!”

He’s about to explode if I poke him a little more. Maybe I should stop here?

I laughed out loud watching Myeong-su’s face turn bright red.

“You’re making me laugh, seriously. But is that really the only reason you came here?”

Myeong-su nodded, his expression still sullen.

“I really just wanted to see your face and have dinner together.”

“Really? I have plans for dinner. What should I do?”

“Plans? What plans?”

“There’s the Heavenly Group’s new chairman’s inauguration ceremony today. I was going to go there and have a meet-and-greet with the new chairman.”

“Ha. Talk about bad timing. I won’t be able to find time if it’s not today.”

Myeong-su made it clear how disappointed he was. Knowing how busy Myeong-su is, I felt a little bad as well.

“How about coming with me?”

“Are you crazy? Why would I go there of all places? What if I get caught in something later? If a picture gets taken wrong, it’ll be an easy target for attacks.”

Thinking about the worst case scenarios. Myeong-su has really become a politician.

Politicians meet people as part of their job. They can’t possibly remember every person they shake hands with or take pictures with.

However, there were cases when politicians have lost elections because of just one photo they had no memory of taking, and it also becomes a very good attack card to be used by their political opponents.

“Just come with me. What’s the problem? The Heavenly Group is a legitimate company on the surface. We can just meet and have a meal. It’ll be good for you to know them.”

“Hmm…”

Myeong-su hummed and thought for a moment before shaking his head again.

“No, it’s alright. Let’s eat next time.”

“Then I guess I have no choice. Let’s have a meal together next time we find the time.”

Myeong-su, as well as myself, were busy. It had become difficult to even have dinner together without making plans.

“Then I should get going. I should go find someone to eat dinner with.”

Myeong-su stood up and took out his phone.

“You’re leaving already? We still have about an hour, why don’t we talk more?”

“No. All I ever hear is trouble when I talk to you. I saw your face, and I’ve made sure you’re safe. I’m leaving. I’ll make an appointment next time.”

Myeong-su waved his hand and left the office without any regrets.

I let out a hollow laugh while staring at the closed door.

It really did seem like he just came by to see my face.

* * *

I arrived at the Heavenly Group headquarters ten minutes before the inauguration ceremony.

As I got out of the car, I laughed while looking at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office buildings in the distance.

“What kind of confidence did they have to make their headquarters here?”

Seocho-gu, where the Heavenly Group’s headquarters was located, was the mecca of the Korean legal world.

For a company run by gangsters to have its headquarters in Seocho-gu, it was utter madness.

“It meant that they were going to forget the days they had to run away from the law.”

“I know, but I didn’t think they would actually do it.”

I led Manager Ma and the bodyguards into the Heavenly Group’s headquarters.

“Welcome, Kim Mu-hyeok, President.”

Waiting for me in the lobby was Vice Chairman Chu Dong-bin.

“Ah, Vice Chairman. It’s been a while.”

“Yes, it has been. I’ll escort you.”

“Is it alright for the Vice Chairman to escort me personally?”

“Of course. You are the real owner of the Heavenly Group, aren’t you?”

Chu Dong-bin answered as if it was the most natural thing, he then took the lead, and we followed him into the conference hall.

“I will make the Heavenly Group take another leap forward. To do so, we must forget the past and move towards the future…”

Im Hwa-soo was already giving his inauguration speech in front of a bunch of large men dressed in black suits.

“We are family. Families can have different opinions. However, that doesn’t mean that we can point knives at each other. Everyone who left the group this time, including Director Yang Woo-guk, forgot that rule.”

I asked Chu Dong-bin beside me in a low voice.

“Have you made everything public?”

“Yes. The new chairman’s intention was that this would prevent something like that from happening again.”

Not everyone in the Heavenly Group was aware of this incident.

Yet, he readily made everything public. What kind of decision did Im Hwa-soo make?

“That’s quite bold. There will surely be some who will oppose this. Weren’t there many employees who supported Yang Woo-guk?”

“However, the new chairman believes that they must be brought along with us. If the Heavenly Group weakens, the smaller organizations in the regions may think of doing other things.”

There was a reason why Yoo Sung-jin put Im Hwa-soo as a candidate for the chairman.

He was quite clever and could read the flow of things.

“You said Im Hwa-soo rose from the bottom?”

“Yes. That’s right. Which is why he has the full support of the regular employees.”

“I see. By the way, you’re saying you’re going to retire after the new chairman is settled?”

“Yes. I’m planning on going to China. I will take care of Yoo Sung-jin near where he is.”

I turned my gaze away from Im Hwa-soo and looked at Chu Dong-bin.

“You’re going to take care of Yoo Sung-jin in China? Are you serious?”

Even if he went to China, it was uncertain whether he could meet Yoo Sung-jin.

“It’s going to be hard. China is different from Korea. They don’t easily allow simple visits. Especially a big shot like Yoo Sung-jin.”

“Still, I plan to be by his side. So…”

Chu Dong-bin met my eyes and trailed off.

I could easily guess the words that would follow.

“I hope you can give us your help. You’re the only one who can make that possible.”

“Hmm.”

I stared straight into Chu Dong-bin’s eyes. His eyes didn’t waver.

“Interesting. Yoo Sung-jin must be envious. He had someone like you by his side. Would you like to come to my side?”

“Thank you for your kind words. However, I intend to serve Yoo Sung-jin till the very end.”

Chu Dong-bin was firm. There was no point in asking again, I’d only be rejected.

I slowly nodded and opened my mouth.

“Understood. I will do my best to help you with whatever I can. But perhaps it will be faster for Yoo Sung-jin to be released and return to Korea than for you to go to China.”

At my words Chu Dong-bin looked shocked and tried to say something.

However, he was interrupted by Im Hwa-soo calling my name.

“Kim Mu-hyeok who has been helping the Heavenly Group since the time of President Park Dong-soo is here today. I wanted to take this chance to thank him. Kim Mu-hyeok!”

I looked at Manager Ma.

“Was this arranged?”

“No. We can go up now…”

I shook my head. If I refused now, it would become poison for Im Hwa-soo who was just starting out.

Besides, the way he was doing it was to lower himself and bring me into the public eye.

“Let’s talk again later. Vice Chairman.”

“Yes, President. I will escort you.”

I went up to the platform being escorted by Chu Dong-bin.

Sturdy men were looking up at me.

There might be some who know me but most of them must be seeing me for the first time.

“Kim Mu-hyeok, President. Thank you for gracing this place with your presence.”

Im Hwa-soo bowed to me. The people below started whispering to each other.

I spoke in a low voice so that only Im Hwa-soo could hear.

“This is too much, Chairman Im Hwa-soo.”

“No. You are someone who built the Heavenly Group with President Park Dong-soo, and you are the one who helped this group get to where it is now. I think everyone should know that now. Who the real owner of the Heavenly Group is.”

My whisper was for nothing. Im Hwa-soo spoke out loud.

It seemed as though he was completely surrendering himself.

“Alright. I look forward to working with you.”

Only after I accepted his greeting, did Im Hwa-soo’s face lighten up.

“I would like to ask you to say a word of congratulations.”

I nodded and moved forward. Standing where Im Hwa-soo was just standing, I looked down at everyone.

Most of the people were scanning the situation trying to understand what was happening.

“Hello everyone. I am Kim Mu-hyeok. It seems as if it is the first time I am introducing myself to you all. Some of you might know me and some of you might not.”

The hall was silent. Just looking at their eyes it was clear that they were curious about who I was and what was happening.

“I won’t make this long. If you all do your best in your respective roles, I will do my best to protect the Heavenly Group from all attacks. However, if you fail to do that, I will personally disband the Heavenly Group.”

I threw a bomb at the inauguration ceremony.