Patrick’s face froze.
In contrast, a smile spread across mine.
“If you’re going to start a war, do it properly. Can you handle it, Patrick? Maybe you can’t—but I can. If you want, let’s have a real match. We could even make a derivative product and play a ga of chicken until one side goes bankrupt.”
“......”
“I don’t know what gives you the confidence to play word gas with . You must feel pretty secure with your backers. But keep this in mind—your entire family could end up dead without a trace before you even realize it.”
Thanks to the information sent from Black Bear headquarters, I knew everything about him.
Including all his weaknesses.
“W-what?”
“What, was that lie about knowing well? Why the surprise? You think the people behind you would even blink if you died? They used soone like Ivanov as a disposable card, rember?”
“......”
At the ntion of Ivanov’s na, Patrick’s eyes wavered.
I picked up the glass of liquor before and downed it in one gulp, then continued.
“I heard you t Seo Jaehun. Planning to use him to check , are you? You really think that’ll work? Do you honestly believe Seo Jaehun can stand against ? Why do you think I haven’t killed him yet?”
“President Kim, please—try to calm down for a mont—”
“I left him alive because I can kill him anyti I want. If you interfere with my revenge, be ready to risk your life too. Because if you do, I’ll fight you with everything I have.”
To these people, Seo Jaehun was just a spoiled bastard carrying the founder’s blood of Ilseong Group.
Even so, they supported him against only to test my reaction.
They’d sought him out as soon as they arrived in Korea—waiting for to make contact first.
They must’ve thought that holding Ilseong Group shares would make hesitate.
“Choose. Are you going to wage war against , or step back here and now? Apple is off-limits. I won’t do anything that harms my friend Jobs. Besides, for an investor, trust is everything. As for Yahoo... hmm. Think about it.”
“......I’ll discuss it with others.”
“Don’t try anything stupid. Tell your people this exactly: I don’t back down. I don’t avoid a fight that’s brought to . Ilseong Group—and Korea—are my territory. Don’t expect to yield.”
I stood up and delivered my final warning.
“I’ll give you three days. Decide and contact Jas before then. If I don’t hear from you—or if your answer isn’t what I want... well, imagine whatever you like. You’ll see an ending far worse than anything you can picture. Don’t take my words lightly. Tell your boss to expect my warning.”
My voice turned icy. Patrick stared up at , his face stiff.
Ignoring him, I left the hotel room with Han Kyungyeong.
We took the elevator down and got into the car waiting for us, heading toward Pyeongchang-dong.
“Muhyuk, are you sure about this? You went in pretty hard.”
After a long silence, Han finally spoke with concern.
I had deliberately gone in hard—but I wouldn’t have said it if I weren’t confident.
“It’s fine. Fighting us will only hurt them. They probably just wanted to test .”
“And if they actually decide to fight for real?”
“Well, then we fight for real—until one side collapses.”
“......You do know it’ll be a difficult fight.”
I couldn’t take on all of them alone. The network and influence they’d built over decades far surpassed mine.
But retreat wasn’t an option either. The mont I faltered, they’d pounce like wolves and strip away everything I had.
“I’ll just give them a little push to make their choice faster.”
At that, silence fell again inside the speeding car.
Once I arrived at Pyeongchang-dong, I sat in my study and picked up the phone.
— President Kim.
“Chairman dvedev.”
— Congratulations. I heard the election concluded successfully. I’ll probably be attending the inauguration myself.
“Really? Then it’s been too long since we’ve t.”
— Indeed. But why haven’t you visited Russia lately? I’m starting to feel neglected, you know.
His good-natured tone softened the atmosphere.
After so small talk about recent events, I brought up the real reason for my call.
“Chairman, I’ll get straight to the point.”
— Go ahead. What is it?
“I’d like you to cut off all natural gas and crude oil supply to Europe for exactly three days.”
— ......
Silence ca over the line.
When he didn’t answer right away, I pressed him gently.
“I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important. Can’t you do it?”
— President Kim.
The smooth tone in dvedev’s voice hardened.
— Do you understand the repercussions of that request?
“Yes. I do.”
— You realize it would hurt the Russian economy too, don’t you?
Russia relied heavily on gas and oil exports.
But I had the financial power to cover any losses that might occur from the temporary shutdown.
“Of course I do.”
— Then why make such an unreasonable request? Diplomatically and economically, it’s risky.
“That’s exactly why I’m asking. Because I know it’s hard. But this matter is critical to . Please, I need this done. No more, no less—just three days.”
I heard dvedev exhale quietly, deep in thought.
I didn’t rush him. I waited.
After a long pause, he finally answered in a subdued voice.
— Even for you, President Kim, I can’t promise that right now. I’ll discuss it and get back to you.
“Understood. I’ll wait for your call.”
After hanging up, I sipped my coffee and replayed my eting with Patrick in my head.
Now that I knew Patrick was Valletze’s planted eye on Wall Street, he needed to be watched. Closely.
And he wouldn’t be the only one. Most of the major banks on Wall Street were owned or influenced by Valletze’s circle.
So ti passed as I tried to organize my thoughts and decide my next move.
Then, the phone on my table rang.
Faster than expected. I checked the caller ID and answered.
“Yes, Mr. President.”
— Is it true? You asked them to cut off natural gas and oil to Europe?
“Yes, sir. I did. Please grant this request.”
— You know how dangerous that is.
“I do. But within three days, they’ll surrender. Please, just three days.”
— ......This is because of Valletze, isn’t it?
He understood my intent without having to say more.
I briefly explained what I was planning in Korea, how Wall Street was interfering, and that Patrick was Valletze’s pawn.
— Hmm......
He humd thoughtfully.
Cutting off Europe’s gas and oil supply wasn’t a decision to make lightly—even for a dictator like Putin.
— Three days. No more. I can’t go beyond that. I’ll handle the diplomatic ss myself. It’s a good opportunity anyway—but you’re still pushing it, my friend.
He decided faster than I expected. Clearly, he already had a plan to use this politically.
Of course, he didn’t forget to make it sound like a favor.
“Thank you. I’ll send a gift soon for your help.”
— I’ll look forward to it.
I’d gotten what I wanted. Yet it felt a bit too easy—sothing about it bothered .
To clear that uneasy feeling, I decided to give him a small tip.
“Oh, and one more thing. Don’t neglect security in Moscow.”
— I’ll rember that. Your advice has never failed yet. I’ve got another appointnt, so I’ll hang up now. The cutoff will begin today. We’ll talk again soon.
“Thank you.”
The line went dead.
My neck ached from the tension, but my mood was excellent.
“This should do it. Once Europe suddenly loses its gas and oil supply, chaos will break out. They’ll know it’s my warning. And if they don’t... well, that just ans they weren’t worth the effort.”
I turned the still-warm phone in my hand and smiled faintly.
* * *
— Hahaha!
Patrick’s grip tightened around his phone.
The laughter on the other end ca from soone who clearly didn’t think the situation concerned him at all.
Before long, the laughter stopped.
— Patrick. You’ve been outplayed.
Patrick’s voice turned harsh.
“Your Grace, he threatened my family. This is a direct challenge to us. That damned Oriental—”
— Patrick.
“......Yes, Your Grace.”
— Since when were you part of ‘us’? Did I miss sothing?
The chill in the man’s tone made Patrick involuntarily suck in a breath.
— You just do your job where you are.
“But, sir, my family’s safety—”
Patrick’s face flushed red at the indifference in the response. His family’s lives were at stake.
— Patrick, there’s nothing to worry about. No matter how reckless he gets, he won’t start an all-out war with us. He doesn’t have the capability.
“I know that, but considering what he’s done so far, an attack on my family isn’t impossible.”
Patrick’s anxiety all stemd from his family.
— I told you not to worry. If sothing happens, I’ll make sure to avenge you.
The man on the line never said he would protect them.
Patrick bit his lip so hard that blood trickled down his chin.
“Your Grace, I’ll do whatever you order. If you tell to die, I will. But my family... please protect them.”
— Trust , Patrick. Continue as planned.
“He said he’d take it as a declaration of war. If that’s true, he might really go after my family—”
— If he wants war, then we’ll give it to him... Wait a mont.
Grand Duke Xavier, who had been giving orders, suddenly paused.
Patrick heard muffled voices through the line.
— What? Is that true?
— Yes, Your Grace. Russia just shut down every pipeline supplying gas and oil to Europe.
— Why?
— According to the Russian governnt, it’s over a transit fee dispute. They say negotiations failed, so they cut the flow.
— And I’m supposed to believe that?
— That’s their official statent, sir.
— Tsk. Fine. Find out more and report back.
Monts later, Xavier’s voice returned.
— Patrick.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
— You said Kim Muhyuk told you to expect his warning, right?
“Yes. But... did sothing happen?”
Xavier didn’t answer imdiately.
Then, after a pause, he suddenly burst into laughter.
— Kahahaha!
“Your Grace?”
— Amusing. Very amusing. He found our weak point and shook it—using Russia, of all things. Brilliant. Infuriating, but brilliant. What should I do with this man...
Though his tone sounded entertained, a quiet rage simred beneath it.
— Patrick, this one’s your loss. But we can’t just back down. Offer him another deal—exchange Dreamhigh’s Yahoo shares for the Ilseong affiliate shares.
“I already proposed that, but he refused. Based on the current price, it would’ve been like giving him a triple premium.”
— Offer again. He’ll take it. He may have invested in Apple for emotional reasons—Jobs and all that—but Yahoo’s purely business. If he still refuses, ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) then don’t retreat.
Patrick recalled how Kim Muhyuk had said he’d think about Yahoo, and he nodded slowly.
“Understood.”
— When things are settled in Korea, stop by here before you return to the States. It’s been too long since I’ve seen you.
“I will, Your Grace.”
— Good. Then that’s all. It looks like we’re about to get busy.
The call ended there.
Patrick could only stare blankly at the dead phone in his hand.
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