“President Kim Muhyuk.”
Kimura Shinjiro, the Japanese Ambassador, who had been biting his lips for a long ti, finally spoke in a stiff voice.
“Do you think Japan is doing this because we are afraid of you?”
At his question, I simply crossed my legs and smiled without replying.
Perhaps he sensed the ridicule behind my smile, for Ambassador Kimura’s face flushed red.
“Even the governnt of the Republic of Korea does not treat this way. Yet you, just a re businessman, treat —who has co representing Japan—like this?”
“I do not have the leisure to entertain uninvited guests. So then, what is the reason for barging in like this?”
Ambassador Kimura clenched his fist, his hand trembling violently, before opening his mouth.
“······Please honor the terms of the negotiation you held with Representative Eva.”
I burst into loud laughter. Of course, the Japanese Cabinet must be getting desperate by now.
After laughing for a long while, I wiped away the smile and spoke sternly.
“The negotiation is broken. The negotiator was attacked in Japan, and yet you shalessly make such demands?”
“If you do not comply, we will hand over NEC’s semiconductor division to Ilseong.”
At such a pathetic threat, I snorted and raised a finger.
“Do as you like. I will also do exactly as I please. My condition is only one. The Japanese governnt itself must find the culprits behind the attack on Eva and hand them over to .”
It was worth so praise that they figured out the person who used the link between Eva and to forge the contract.
But trying to stop with nothing more than a threat to transfer NEC’s semiconductor unit to Ilseong was impossible.
“Even if you hide the culprits, I will still find them. No matter how much you cover up information or cut off the tails.”
The sight of my opponent, frightened before the battle had even begun, throwing out empty threats, was nothing but laughable.
“Keep pretending ignorance. Japan’s Lost Decade will beco the Lost Twenty Years.”
Perhaps feeling insulted, Ambassador Kimura bit down on his lips once more.
“Mark my words. You will pay the price for scorning Japan.”
His broken Korean, spoken in warning, was nothing but a cody.
It seed that in the minds of the Japanese, the idea that Korea was beneath them still lingered.
And yet, to dare give such a trivial warning to the one who had shattered Cheongpunghoe, the group that gnawed at Korea, and who could shake Japan’s economy.
I glared at him with cold eyes and spoke in a low voice.
“One week. Within one week, bring the force behind Eva’s attack before . If you cannot bring the culprit, then at least provide information. Otherwise, I will destroy Japan’s economy, no matter the cost. Deliver my words to your Pri Minister without missing a single syllable.”
From between Ambassador Kimura’s lips ca the grinding of teeth. eting his eyes, filled with hostility, I spoke one last ti.
“If you have nothing more to say, then leave.”
As I gave him an outright order of expulsion, Ambassador Kimura bit his lips so hard that blood burst forth. Spitting out each word like he was chewing them, he rose from his seat.
“I will never forget this humiliation.”
At the sight of him clinging to his pride until the end, I slowly shook my head.
I did not feel like giving him any answer, so I leaned back against the sofa and closed my eyes.
Soon after, the office door slamd shut.
“Will this be okay? Did you not provoke them too much?”
Han Kyungyeong, who had only listened to the conversation between and Ambassador Kimura, asked while glancing at the door.
Opening my eyes, I shrugged. I had indeed provoked more than necessary.
“Japan will never listen to re words. During World War II, even as their citizens were burning alive, they still cried for desperate resistance.”
“Still, this way it is like giving them ti to prepare.”
At Han Kyungyeong’s worried tone, I smirked and replied.
“Do you think the Japanese governnt can control the foreign exchange and derivatives markets, which are now nothing but greed?”
The derivatives market was a place where people blinded by greed from all over the world gathered. Even if the United States went all in, controlling such a market was absolutely impossible.
It was a place filled with people who did not care even if a nation collapsed, as long as they could secure their own profits. I planned to use my money as bait and throw Japan into their midst.
“If I were aiming for profit, I could never make this decision. But if my goal is to shake the market, even at the cost of losses, then with just half of my assets I can drag Japan’s economy into ruin.”
Japan had already declared surrender under Wall Street’s invasion and rely a few billions of dollars’ worth of foreign exchange attacks.
Of course, the biggest factor was that the U.S. governnt turned its back. But even for the Japanese governnt, interfering with the market recklessly was never easy.
Even if they intervened, fully prepared for bleeding, their international credit rating would inevitably fall. When that happened, it was only natural for foreign capital to flow out like a receding tide.
“Hyung, prepare to strike imdiately. While I stay in Pyeongchang-dong, you can control Dreamhigh’s headquarters, right?”
“Got it. I will finish all preparations and wait.”
With Han Kyungyeong in charge, I could feel at ease. After the incident in China, he no longer hesitated to use my money as a weapon.
All preparations were complete to drop a weapon more terrifying than a nuclear bomb onto Japan.
Ti flew by, and before I knew it, a week had passed. Sitting in the study at Pyeongchang-dong, I waited for contact from Japan.
But instead of the Japanese governnt, a call ca from Eva.
— Boss.
“Eva, are you ready to co back to Korea?”
— Yes. Everything is prepared.
Eva had wanted to finish matters in Japan to the very end, but with the Korean shareholders’ eting just ahead, she had no choice but to return. Since it was sothing she had prepared for a long ti, she had to lead the shareholders’ eting herself.
“Then co back imdiately. Move with the security team as well.”
— Understood. But Boss, more than that, the Japanese governnt ca to the Russian Embassy.
Since they had barged in at Myeongdong as well, it was easy to guess they would also go to the Russian Embassy. They must have surely brought up Eva.
“Really? What did they say?”
— They asked the Russian Ambassador to hand over.
Asking the Russian Embassy to hand Eva over. As expected, their actions did not stray from prediction.
“Did they say why?”
— They said I had to appear at the police station as a reference for the previous attack. They requested my attendance, but the Russian Ambassador refused.
They were clearly planning to summon Eva, imprison her, and then use for negotiations. Clicking my tongue at such a disgraceful ploy, I muttered.
“Then you cannot even go to the airport.”
— That is why I called, Boss. Even if I take the Russian Ambassador’s car to the airport, I doubt they will grant departure clearance······.
This had beco troubleso. Massaging my temple against the throbbing ache, I said:
“Understood. For now, wait. I will find a way.”
— Okay, Boss.
Ending the call with Eva, I summoned Han Kyungyeong.
“Hyung, let us begin right away.”
Han Kyungyeong nodded slightly and asked carefully.
“Preparations are finished. But were you not just speaking with Eva? What did she say, is she safe?”
“Those crazy bastards asked the Russian Ambassador to hand Eva over. State power acting like street thugs.”
“Ha······. Are they out of their minds?”
The curse slipped out naturally. While finding a way to extract Eva from Japan, it was also ti to launch the attack against them.
Over the course of a week, Han Kyungyeong had prepared everything step by step and reported that the chances of victory were sufficient.
He also said that achieving the goal would require being ready to throw away astronomical sums of money.
But for the safety of and the people around , that much was nothing. I would mobilize all possible ans—force included—if I had to.
Through this strike against Japan, I planned to etch into everyone’s mory what would happen if they dared touch .
“Money can always be earned again. So Hyung, proceed as planned.”
“Understood. We will attack not only the bond and foreign exchange markets, but also the spot and derivatives markets simultaneously. Taesan Finance will move with us this ti as well.”
This would be the first overseas market debut of Taesan Finance, made possible through Han Kyungyeong’s proposal.
“I suggested to Chairman Ha Myeonghun that we attack together. There could not be a better event for a first world-stage debut.”
It seed Taesan Finance readily accepted the opportunity. I nodded in satisfaction.
“Instead, I have arranged the plan so that Taesan Finance only gains substantial profit.”
“Since you are the one leading, I trust you will do well. Crush Japan’s economy—thoroughly, and in the shortest ti possible.”
“Okay. Then we will begin as soon as we head out.”
After Han Kyungyeong left, I was alone, pondering how to get Eva out of Japan. Tapping the table with my fingers, I sank into deep thought for a long while.
Soon, one thod ca to mind, and I placed a call sowhere.
The dial tone rang, and then a voice ca through the receiver.
“Chairman dvedev.”
— President Kim, it has been a while. I heard about what happened in Japan.
It was Dmitry Anatolyevich dvedev who answered. I had thought of him because earlier I had asked Russia’s side to investigate the culprits.
“You have not managed to find anything on the Russian mafia yet, have you?”
— Not easy. It is complete chaos.
“You still have not cleaned it up?”
— It was literally a battlefield. There were even jokes that you could buy nuclear weapons on the black market.
After the Soviet Union collapsed and Yeltsin ca to power, all kinds of Soviet military weapons began circulating on the black market.
Even though so many soldiers and mafia were involved, and even after Putin rose to power and rooted many of them out, Soviet-made weapons still circulated illegally.
Because of that, it seed it would take quite so ti before aningful results could be achieved.
— Still, there should be good news soon.
“Thank you for that, Chairman. The reason I am calling today is to tell you that I plan to strike at Japan.”
— Hm······.
A muffled groan ca over the line.
“That is why I am thinking of bringing Eva back to Korea. Today, the Japanese governnt requested the Russian Embassy to hand her over.”
— I already received that report. Do not worry, I already ordered them never to hand her over. We do not hand over a friend’s friend.
It had paid off that I had hidden Eva in the Russian Embassy instead of the Korean one. I let out a small laugh at dvedev’s firm tone.
“Of course. I was never worried about that.”
— As long as she is under our embassy’s protection, Japan will not dare act recklessly.
Confidence was thick in his voice.
“dvedev, it is a difficult request, but could you personally escort Eva out of Japan to Russia? If you are with her, Japan would not dare block you.”
— Are you asking to go to Japan myself right now?
“Yes. You are the only one I can trust with this.”
In truth, I wanted to ask Putin, but it would require too much preparation for a head of state to move personally.
On the line, silence lingered as he asked to wait. I calmly awaited his answer.
— Sorry for the delay. I was checking my schedule······. I also reported this to Putin. If his approval cos, I will enter Japan tomorrow and bring Representative Eva out.
“Thank you. I will not forget this favor.”
— Between us, this much is nothing.
dvedev spoke as though it were nothing, but for Putin’s closest ally to move personally was no small matter.
Naturally, I would have to repay him handsoly later, but right now bringing Eva out was more urgent.
“No, I will definitely repay you.”
Recently I had received too much help from Putin and dvedev.
If one side only kept receiving, that was bad manners. In the end, if the scales tipped too far, the relationship would collapse.
— Now I am curious what you will give since you said that.
Even though I had made such a difficult request, dvedev laughed for a long ti. Relieved, I too let out a laugh.
* * *
“Damn it! How dare a worthless Joseon bastard threaten us? Kim Muhyuk, that bastard!”
Japanese Pri Minister Masado Hasaki sat in the Pri Minister’s Office, receiving the report from the Japanese Ambassador to Korea.
After venting his anger for quite a while, he summoned the Chief Cabinet Secretary, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“Foreign Minister! What did the Russian Ambassador say?”
“He said absolutely no.”
“Why on earth is Russia shielding Representative Eva like that?”
The Pri Minister slamd his desk as he asked, and the Foreign Minister hesitated before answering.
“······It is said President Putin is very close with Kim Muhyuk. He even entrusted all Russian investnts by Korean companies to him.”
“There are no friends in international relations! What nonsense!”
The Pri Minister’s furious shout shook the office.
“Is Wall Street moving with him again? Like before?”
“No. The United States advised Japan to quietly let it go this ti. It seems Dreamhigh is moving alone.”
“We cannot surrender to so Joseon bastard. This ti, whatever it takes, we must stop him.”
It had been a huge shock when they learned Dreamhigh was behind Wall Street’s previous assault.
The fact that Dreamhigh—a re company, and one led by a Korean—had shaken Japan’s economy left a scar on their pride.
“Finance Minister, if Japan’s banks clear their contracts with them, how much will the losses be?”
“······Without governnt support, they will go bankrupt without question. That is ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) why we negotiated with Representative Eva. We agreed to hand over NFC’s semiconductor division to Joongwoo Group in exchange for clearing the contracts and repaying in installnts.”
The Finance Minister answered calmly.
“Are you saying the governnt must inject public funds now?”
“Yes, without fail.”
At that answer, the Pri Minister furrowed his brows.
“If we let them go bankrupt?”
“If we leave them to collapse, the crisis will be worse than what Korea suffered in 1997.”
The Pri Minister fell into deep concern. He recalled Kim Muhyuk’s words about Japan’s Lost Decade.
“If we inject public funds and save them, do we have counterasures prepared?”
“We will proceed with the bank rgers as originally planned······.”
Hearing the Finance Minister’s words, the Pri Minister gave a small nod. Putting out the imdiate fire was the priority.
“Then begin preparations in the Ministry of Finance.”
“Public fund injections? That will be a huge burden on the national budget.”
“But we cannot just hand Japanese companies over to a Joseon man, can we?”
Even if they resolved it with public funds, since Japan had already been shaken once, international trust would surely fall.
The Pri Minister jerked his chin at the hesitant Finance Minister.
“Whatever happens, let us think after we get through this crisis. As for the ministry officials, manage them yourself. Once this crisis is over, we will dismantle the Ministry of Finance······.”
Before he could even finish his words, the door of the Pri Minister’s Office burst open, and the Chief Secretary ran in.
“Pri Minister! A massive amount of yen has just been dumped on the foreign exchange market. Both the spot and forward markets are flooded!”
At the Chief Secretary’s bombshell report, the Pri Minister’s Office was instantly thrown into shock.
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