After Yoon Changho left with the Chief of Staff, I fell into thought for a mont.
A spy from China among the senior secretaries? This is getting more interesting than I expected.
Just then, cheers and applause erupted from outside. It seed the President had begun his entrance.
“Chief Ma, we should head out as well.”
“Yes, Boss.”
We left the room and entered the convention hall.
By the ti I stepped inside, the President was already seated, and voting had begun.
I sat down silently and closed my eyes, organizing my thoughts again.
As soon as voting concluded, a congratulatory performance followed. With the President’s closing remarks, the prepared program ca to an end.
Finally, it was ti to announce the leadership.
There were no surprises. The pro-Yoon faction secured most of the Supre Council seats, including the top Supre Council position.
As promised, one seat was given to Han Jiho’s faction, but it had no effect on the overall power balance.
After the rger between the Centrist Party and the Conservative Party, party control that had shifted toward the Conservatives returned to Yoon Changho.
However, since Yoon Changho could not exert direct influence over the party, Lee Myungsoo’s importance inevitably grew even greater.
Perhaps that was why people flocked not to the President, who was difficult to approach, but to Myungsoo instead.
“They’re already swarming like ants.”
A dry chuckle escaped .
I watched the scene briefly, then stood.
“Let’s go back. We have a lot to handle.”
“You won’t et the Secretary-General?”
At Chief Ma’s question, I glanced toward where Myungsoo stood and shook my head.
“There’s probably no one in Korea busier than him right now.”
The convention ending didn’t an everything was over.
Now ca the selection of key party positions—and those seats were limited.
Even if the new leadership exercised most of the appointnt power, several major posts would still be allocated to Myungsoo.
Until those appointnts were finalized, he would have to et people every single day.
“We’ll see him next ti. I already know why he called today. The President probably thought it was safest to ask Myungsoo.”
I watched Myungsoo scanning the crowd as if searching for soone, then turned and left the convention hall.
* * *
We arrived at the Myeongdong office. As soon as I sat down, I gave Chief Ma an order.
“Bring the full list of senior secretaries and their aides.”
If a senior secretary was a Chinese spy, it was only natural that there would be collaborators among their aides.
If they deliberately filtered information, the President would be left blind and deaf, receiving only curated reports.
The Blue House was a place where the President’s trust equaled power.
Naturally, “gatekeeper power” existed.
During the military regi era, aides trusted by the President could even scold cabinet ministers.
Although their stature had diminished after the dictatorship collapsed, senior secretaries still held considerable authority because they could speak directly to the President.
Which was why Presidents appointed people they trusted to those roles.
But the re assumption that one of them was a spy would be deeply unsettling for Yoon Changho.
“Boss, here are the docunts.”
Chief Ma placed a stack of neatly organized files before . It contained profiles of the senior secretaries and their aides, including the Chief of Staff.
After reviewing the list, I gave instructions.
“Put all of them under surveillance. Start with those who previously held China-related positions. Filter out anyone with direct connections to China. Beginning today, initiate special monitoring. I want to know who they et and who they call.”
“Top-tier surveillance?”
“Yes. Anything less won’t catch them. They won’t act carelessly or leave evidence. But no matter how careful soone is, they’ll eventually slip. Find that opening.”
Chief Ma bowed in acknowledgnt.
“To draw a governnt salary while spying for China... Whoever it is, they’ve got nerve.”
If Yoon Changho chose to et outside the Blue House, that ant there were likely more than one spy.
We had to identify and eliminate them.
“By the way, what’s the status of acquiring the companies we’re taking from Heaven’s Church?”
“I received word that the process begins today.”
I thought briefly, then said,
“We left it to Yoon & Jang. They’ll handle it properly. They’re more specialized in acquisitions than we are.”
I could et Han Hyunsoo and deal with it directly, but I had no intention of seeing him again.
So I handed the list of companies to Yoon & Jang.
The work was done.
Now it was ti to harvest.
* * *
At the main headquarters of Heaven’s Church, Yoon & Jang’s partner attorney Min Seongho arrived with senior lawyers.
“Hello. I’m Min Seongho.”
“Han Hyunsoo.”
They shook hands and sat.
“This is the list of companies to be transferred.”
Han Hyunsoo accepted the docunt and began reading.
His face changed by the second.
Soon it flushed red. He slamd the papers onto the table.
“Isn’t this excessive? You’re asking for all the core assets. Are you trying to bankrupt us?”
Min Seongho responded in a monotonous, almost chanical tone.
“We simply carry out the procedure after receiving the mandate. We neither know nor wish to know the details. Please execute the contract as agreed.”
“Listen here. You’re Attorney Min Seongho, right? If we hand over all this, our group will be reduced to a mid-sized company.”
“The VIP instructed us to obtain everything. There is nothing we can do. We rely convey the VIP’s position.”
Min Seongho showed no reaction.
He pulled out additional docunts.
“These are the acquisition contracts. Review and sign.”
Han Hyunsoo frowned at the thick contract.
“Contact President Kim Muhyuk.”
He spoke to the rcenary captain behind him.
The man did nothing.
“Are you deaf? I said contact him.”
“He said there’s no reason to contact him anymore. Sign the contract.”
“What?”
Han Hyunsoo blinked stupidly. The rcenary captain twisted his lips into a cold smirk.
“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not your subordinate. Orders ca from above. I was assigned to protect you for mission purposes. Our mission was to protect you and confirm your signature. The job’s done. It’s ti for us to return.”
“Why don’t you work under instead? We seem to work well together.”
“Enough nonsense. Finish this. There were orders to kill you if you broke the agreent. I’d rather not go that far. So wrap this up cleanly and let’s go our separate ways.”
Han Hyunsoo flinched.
“I’ll sign! I will. I just wanted to talk first...”
“Stop it. After all the help we gave you, you’d have no grounds to complain even if you handed over every asset you own. Otherwise, you’d already be dead.”
“I know! That’s enough!”
Under pressure, Han Hyunsoo began reviewing the contract.
After a long ti, he sighed.
“I’ll review it once more with my lawyer before signing. But why are all the acquirers listed under different nas?”
“That’s not for you to worry about. Just sign. The price isn’t unfair.”
When he hesitated, Min Seongho spoke coldly.
“Do you think Yoon & Jang would play gas? There will be no mistakes in matters involving the VIP. Sign, and the money will be transferred imdiately. We were instructed to finish today. If we leave without completing this, we cannot guarantee your safety.”
“You’re threatening ? I’m Han Hyunsoo!”
“We are aware. Please sign.”
Min Seongho placed a fountain pen before him.
“Sign.”
Han Hyunsoo looked around. No one was on his side.
The rcenary captain stared down at him without emotion. Min Seongho’s sharp gaze pressed in.
Behind him, senior lawyers smiled faintly.
With no choice, Han Hyunsoo signed.
Min Seongho carefully reviewed the docunts and made a call.
“Representative. The contract is complete.”
— Good. Have them transfer it imdiately.
“Yes.”
Monts later, a notification sounded.
[Deposit complete.]
“It’s been transferred,” Min Seongho said flatly.
He stood without hesitation.
“Also, in exchange for not taking over your dia outlet, the condition is that you publish the article the VIP requests. You are aware of that.”
“I know. Just leave.”
Min Seongho smiled faintly and placed his business card on the table.
“Contact us anyti. We will assist you wholeheartedly.”
He exited with the lawyers.
The rcenary captain spoke.
“We’re leaving too.”
“Now?”
“There’s no reason to protect you anymore.”
The ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ rcenaries left.
Han Hyunsoo remained alone.
* * *
Several days later, Kim Byungwoo, Chairman of Joongwoo Group, visited Pyeongchang-dong.
“Chairman Kim. It’s been a while.”
I welcod him in my study.
“Yes, President Kim. It’s been so ti.”
He began with a gloomy expression.
“The reason I asked to et today is...”
After listening to everything, I frowned.
“So you’re saying all business in China has been suspended?”
“Yes.”
“The reason?”
“They’re citing absurd excuses. At the construction site, they claid violations of safety regulations and ordered a halt.”
“That’s ridiculous. Did you actually violate them?”
“No. We applied stricter standards than in Korea. Not a single accident occurred. We maintained lobbying with upper-level officials. But suddenly they stord in and ordered everything stopped.”
I called Chief Ma.
“Joongwoo’s China operations have all been suspended. Find out imdiately what happened. And contact Wen Jiabao. Tell him I want to speak with him.”
“Yes.”
Chief Ma left.
“What about other companies?” I asked.
“None of the other major corporations are facing issues.”
“So they’re targeting only Joongwoo.”
“Yes.”
Sanctions only on companies tied to .
It felt like retaliation for the warning I had given Li Feng.
“So they want to test . What’s the damage?”
“All exports are blocked. Even ships that already arrived can’t unload containers. The longer this continues, the larger the losses.”
“If you withdraw from China?”
Kim Byungwoo shook his head imdiately.
“China is a massive market. Withdrawal alone would damage our growth engine.”
“What about North Korea and Russia?”
“Short-term, maybe. Long-term, it’s not optimal.”
He understood the potential of China.
“Have you contacted your high-level connections?”
Every group had them.
“Everyone is avoiding us. Those who answer tell us not to contact them again. They say the directive ca from the highest level.”
The highest level.
So even the elders are cooperating.
“I’ll resolve it. Strengthen your North Korea and Russia operations and wait.”
“Yes.”
Apart from China, Joongwoo’s progress was smooth sailing.
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