Chapter 99 — National Power Level (2)
Pyeon Jae-yeong received the report and flew into a rage, browbeating the Ministry of Justice staff.
"Where the hell do these docunts keep coming from?!"
"We're not quite sure……"
"What about Chief Han?"
"She's been detained at the detention center."
"Tell her we'll release her if she agrees to give an interview favorable to our side."
"……"
"What?"
"Jang & Kim has latched on. They're making a scene about unlawful arrest and exceeding the detention period. Apparently, the SNS post from a little while ago was also uploaded by Jang & Kim using Chief Han's account."
"And?"
"It looks like she'll be released in a few hours."
"Damn it all! Get the car ready."
Pyeon Jae-yeong imdiately rushed to the detention center.
From the entrance of the detention center, there were protesters holding placards.
'Release Minister Han!'
'Save the Naless Hero!'
Minister Han and Chief Han were confined in spacious, comfortable private cells.
The mont Pyeon Jae-yeong t the detention center warden, he erupted.
"Why are those people in there? I told you to make their conditions as harsh as possible!"
"Jang & Kim…… Kicked up such a fuss……"
"What?"
"Lawyers are attached around the clock and won't give us an opening. The mont we try anything, they cry regulations and threaten to file suit."
Pyeon Jae-yeong t the attorney in charge, and for a mont he let out a short sigh.
"Senior."
"Oh-oh, Prosecutor Pyeon. It's been a while."
Jang & Kim's representative, Attorney Jang Hyeon-seung, extended his hand to Pyeon Jae-yeong.
He was a great deal more senior than Pyeon Jae-yeong.
Back when Pyeon Jae-yeong was an ordinary prosecutor, Jang Hyeon-seung had been a chief prosecutor.
The man who had taught Pyeon Jae-yeong everything from start to finish as his direct superior—that was none other than Attorney Jang Hyeon-seung.
True to his nickna, the Tiger of the Special Investigations Unit, he was a figure who had beco legend within the prosecution service.
‘He said Jang & Kim, so I half-suspected it—but of all people, it had to be the ‘Jang’ of Jang & Kim.’
Pyeon Jae-yeong frowned and spoke to him.
"I hope you've been well."
"Of course. I've heard about your son, Prosecutor Pyeon. Word is he's at the Western Branch."
"Yes."
"I've put in a good word with the chief prosecutor on his behalf."
Though Pyeon Jae-yeong himself was the Minister of Justice—he nonetheless felt grateful to hear that Jang Hyeon-seung, a re attorney, had put in a good word for his son.
The Tiger of the Special Investigations Unit was a man respected to that degree.
Pyeon Jae-yeong asked briefly after him.
"……Is your daughter doing any better, Senior?"
"She's doing fine."
Attorney Jang smiled.
Attorney Jang Hyeon-seung's daughter—who had been afflicted for 5 years with a rare disease that caused her muscles to waste away.
Unable to bear the enormous dical costs, he had been the man who had shed his prosecutor's robes.
Pyeon Jae-yeong got to the point.
"You shouldn't be doing this, Senior."
"Doing what?"
"Don't ask that!"
"Minister Han and Chief Han are people who have devoted their lives to this nation. They are not people who deserve to be persecuted unjustly like this."
"Those people are criminals."
"I see it differently. Wasn't it an unlawful exercise of official authority to begin with? Minister Han and Chief Han rely resisted."
"In what way was it unlawful?"
"Let's determine that in a court of law, shall we? Until then, they are presud innocent and must be treated accordingly. Naturally—while undetained."
He was a considerably senior figure, but his lecturing tone set Pyeon Jae-yeong's fury rising as well.
"Senior! Stop this before the situation escalates further. This is a directive from His Excellency!"
"Am I permitted to say that in court?"
"Senior!"
"Release them."
Attorney Jang shrugged and said it plainly.
Pyeon Jae-yeong's face turned crimson as his rage exploded.
"Just how much are they paying you to go this far?! 1 billion? 10 billion?"
Pyeon Jae-yeong unloaded on Attorney Jang, who had bowed his head.
"You've changed a great deal, Senior. How did you beco the kind of attorney who does anything for money? Wasn't it you who taught to never lose my original convictions?!"
At that, Attorney Jang slowly raised his head.
His mouth opened, slowly.
"0 won."
"……Pardon?"
"0 won. Retainer fee."
"What do you an……"
"I am repaying a debt right now. A debt I could never repay no matter how long I tried."
"What?"
"Didn't I say it just a mont ago? That my daughter is doing fine now."
"……!"
Pyeon Jae-yeong faltered for a mont.
‘Surely—the Naless Hero cured his daughter's terminal illness?!’
Jang Hyeon-seung spoke calmly.
"Though I am too old to be a Climber myself, I have ears and eyes. How many great things that person—the Naless Hero—has accomplished for this nation."
"Senior! I clearly told you there is an order from His Exc—"
"That makes him just the individual Park Jae-yeol, does it not."
"……The sa could be said of the Naless Hero."
Creak—
Attorney Jang Hyeon-seung pushed his chair back and stood.
The Tiger of the Special Investigations Unit.
Pyeon Jae-yeong felt himself shrink in that instant.
"There are tis when even a single individual can stand as vast as a nation."
"……!"
"Release them. Before things truly spiral out of control."
* * *
Pyeon Jae-yeong headed to the Blue House.
"Your Excellency."
"……"
President Park Jae-yeol watched the news in silence.
[Forr Minister Han Seung-pyo of the National Martial Affairs Headquarters and Chief Han Jang-mi, who had tendered their resignations, have been released. Minister Han Seung-pyo, who had been detained following the standoff at the Climber tournant a few days ago—]
Click—!
Park Jae-yeol switched off the television, apparently unable to bear listening.
Pyeon Jae-yeong kept his mouth shut, and Park Jae-yeol asked heavily.
"Is this why you asked to entrust it to you?"
"I am deeply sorry."
"Not a single matter has been resolved. If anything, things have only gotten worse."
Park Jae-yeol glared at him.
"Why did you release them?"
Pyeon Jae-yeong began to offer his justification.
"I wrapped things up before they could escalate further."
"What was going to escalate?"
"If Minister Han begins disclosing what he knows, things will beco far more difficult."
"That's precisely why we had them locked up."
"Chief Han's account has already had a post go up. It was uploaded by Attorney Jang Hyeon-seung."
"Jang Hyeon-seung?"
Even Park Jae-yeol blinked at that.
"It's a warning. A show of force—that they can detonate it at any mont."
"Damn it!"
"In exchange for releasing them, I've ensured their lips are tightly sealed. They won't speak any further."
Park Jae-yeol listened to Pyeon Jae-yeong's words and let out a long groan.
Pyeon Jae-yeong quickly shifted the subject.
"It's all because of NuTube and SNS. We need to shut those down."
"Didn't I tell you to request it from Arica through the Foreign Minister?"
"Arica's response has co in. They say they will only speak through the Minister of the National Martial Affairs Headquarters."
"Ha……"
"It seems they're intentionally refusing. Probably because Golden Tower threw its weight around too heavily all this ti."
Pyeon Jae-yeong took one step closer to Park Jae-yeol.
"Your Excellency, please give more authority."
"How?"
"Isn't the position of Minister of the National Martial Affairs Headquarters currently vacant? Minister Han did resign after all."
Park Jae-yeol stared at Pyeon Jae-yeong blankly.
"You certainly have a lot of ambition. In a situation where you haven't handled a single thing properly, you want the position of Minister of the National Martial Affairs Headquarters on top of that?"
The National Martial Affairs Headquarters was currently the most powerful ministry among all departnts.
Not only could it mobilize its own agents, but if necessary it could deploy prosecutorial and police authority as well—making it an institution with nearly transcendent powers.
Even the Minister of Justice coveted that seat.
Pyeon Jae-yeong answered with a grave expression.
"Even an acting position would suffice."
"Maintaining the role of Minister of Justice while also acting as head of the National Martial Affairs Headquarters. At this rate you'll have more authority than I do."
"That's not what I an……"
Park Jae-yeol made a face of utter disbelief and asked,
"Do you know what the average term of a Korean cabinet minister is?"
"Around 3 years, I should think."
"13 months. And yet Minister Han held that position for over 10 years. Historically unprecedented."
"……"
"You're not the right person."
Park Jae-yeol looked Pyeon Jae-yeong up and down.
The look in those eyes—as though sizing up prey—made Pyeon Jae-yeong's chest clench for a mont.
"Your Excellency, if you could just give a little more ti—"
"How about this approach?"
Park Jae-yeol narrowed his eyes and looked at Pyeon Jae-yeong.
"Your resignation."
"Y-Your Excellency!"
Cutting off the tail.
He was telling him to resign and take responsibility.
To shoulder the bla for this entire situation.
Given the gravity of the matter, Pyeon Jae-yeong's political career would be finished.
Pyeon Jae-yeong's mind turned at furious speed.
He had to find a way.
In that instant his eyes flashed, and a single answer burst forth.
"Red Dragon Gate!"
"……"
"The Naless Hero has ties to Red Dragon Gate. Red Dragon Gate is nothing more than a gang of thugs in the end. It'll be more than enough to shift the narrative."
"That won't be sufficient."
"Your Excellency!"
"Leave. I'll call you back when the ti is right."
Park Jae-yeol turned his back.
Pyeon Jae-yeong's face went scarlet, then—as though realizing sothing—he spat out a single na like a cry.
"Jang Ae-guk!"
"Hm?"
"There's Jang Ae-guk! I'll persuade him."
Only then did Park Jae-yeol give a nod.
* * *
"How generous of you, the esteed Minister of Justice, to grace with another visit."
Jang Ae-guk tipped his whiskey in his hotel room.
He placed an oddly forceful emphasis on the word ‘another’.
Pyeon Jae-yeong cut straight to the point.
"Skipping the pleasantries—let get to the matter at hand."
"Allow to guess. You want to give an interview saying the outco wasn't rigged, don't you."
At that, Pyeon Jae-yeong gave a thin smile.
"Who would believe you even if you said so."
"……That's rather harsh, sir."
"Kill the Naless Hero for ."
"Ha!"
Jang Ae-guk snorted.
He picked up the whiskey bottle and spoke as though this were absurd.
"You're asking for sothing rather extraordinary……"
"Just kill him. I'll grant whatever you want."
"I don't know where he is or who he is—how am I supposed to do that?"
"He's at Red Dragon Gate. I'll let you know the ti and place."
"……"
"Is it money you want? Your dostic assets—your assets in Japan too—they'll all be seized. I'll start by lifting the dostic seizure. I'll hand over a decent building on top of that."
"Déjà vu, Minister. I feel as though I've heard a similar story before."
Jang Ae-guk set the bottle down and sat across from Pyeon Jae-yeong.
"When I returned to this rotten country, I heard similar promises. That they'd give everything I wanted."
"……"
"And what did they actually give ? Made a laughingstock."
"That was the circumstances of that ti—things are different now."
"I refuse."
Jang Ae-guk declined in a single stroke.
Pyeon Jae-yeong gave a thin sneer and provoked him.
"Why—lacking confidence? The great Jang Ae-guk?"
"Yes."
"……What?"
"I lack confidence. I an it sincerely."
Jang Ae-guk looked directly at Pyeon Jae-yeong.
"And even if I managed to sohow kill the Naless Hero, what cos after is also a problem."
"What do you an?"
"That insane monster called Ghost who built the Golden Tower—won't he co looking for next?"
"We'll protect you."
"And how, exactly. Even in a stadium packed with 100,000 spectators, the Naless Hero walked in and out as though it were his own ho."
Pyeon Jae-yeong bit his lip.
There was no choice.
He would have to begin threatening him.
"This is not a request."
"……"
Jang Ae-guk's eyes wavered.
Pyeon Jae-yeong smiled inwardly and opened his mouth.
"Kill the Naless Hero. That is the only path to your survi—"
At that mont, Jang Ae-guk's hand moved like lightning, producing a portable voice recorder which he played aloud.
'Please lose the final match.'
'Are you telling right now to take a fall on purpose?'
'It's not as though you could win anyway. There's no need to strain yourself pointlessly.'
'And if I say I'm going to strain myself anyway?'
'You'll die. Jang Ae-guk.'
"H-how did you get that—!"
It was a recording of the conversation between Pyeon Jae-yeong and Jang Ae-guk before the tournant finals.
Pyeon Jae-yeong was greatly flustered.
He had clearly ensured beforehand that all voice recorders, wiretap devices, and mobile phones were eliminated.
Jang Ae-guk smiled and said,
"Japan—where smiling faces conceal daggers—was a hell of a place to be. A country where they smile sweetly while hiding a blade inside."
Jang Ae-guk shook the recorder.
"I learned quite a bit there."
"Kugh……"
Pyeon Jae-yeong groaned.
It was he himself who had ended up caught in the net.
No—the net had been too small from the beginning.
You cannot catch a whale with a tiny net.
Jang Ae-guk smiled and spoke,
"Well—if you offer proper compensation, my thinking might change sowhat."
"……Speak."
"The position of Minister of the National Martial Affairs Headquarters, perhaps?"
"Do you think that's sothing you can actually say?!"
At that instant, Jang Ae-guk's hand shot out like lightning and seized Pyeon Jae-yeong by the throat.
Crack!
"The one saying things that can't be said is you!"
"Kk-ack! Ack!"
"You think I'll just die alone? No, Pyeon Jae-yeong. I'm going to drag you and Park Jae-yeol down by the collar of your trousers with ."
"Gkh-ugh!"
"Stop talking nonsense and go back and get ready. I happen to want quite a lot."
* * *
[Cheongdam Apartnt]
I quietly watched the situation as it unfolded.
Dealing with the highest authority in the land is certainly no easy thing.
"Heh heh heh. Still easy though."
Compared to the Murim Alliance Leader of my past life.
Park Jae-yeol and his people were moving quickly.
But every move they made was plain as day to .
In football terms, the score was already 5:0.
‘Probably need to make it sothing like 100:0 before these people co to their senses.’
……I wonder if Min-jeong is doing well with her chocolates. Might as well drop by and check.
And Napoleon Bo-reum-parte, who went off to study abroad—I should see her while I'm at it.
【Happiness Points have exceeded 100,000,000 (100 million).】
【As a reward, a 'Tower Affiliation Transfer Ticket' is granted.】
【Tower Affiliation Transfer Ticket】
① You may change your affiliated tower.
—Current Affiliated Tower: Republic of Korea
② The tower you transfer to may be any tower anywhere in the world; when your affiliated tower changes, your location will also shift to the nation of that affiliated tower.
③ If you change your affiliated tower, you will be moved inside the tower if within the entry period, or to the vicinity of the tower if outside the entry period.
④ To transfer, expend one of the following 2 options:
⑤ Once expended, it cannot be recovered.
⑥ Your affiliated tower may be restored at any ti.
⑦ Restoration likewise requires the sa expenditure.
"Use Tower Affiliation Transfer Ticket."
【Please select the tower you wish to transfer to.】
"France."
【Please select what to expend from the 2 options below.】
Goes without saying which one.
"1 year."
【The remaining ti of the Murim Tower of the Republic of Korea decreases by 1 year.】
6 years → 5 years
【Entering the Murim Tower (France), 34th Floor.】
【This is your first entry.】
"Sweat it out for a while, you lot."
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