[095] A Difficult Battle 3
“Me?”
“Yes, Mr. Go Kyung-yeol has no intention of meeting you, nor does he have any reason to in the future.”
Kim Kwan-hyuk’s lips curled slightly, and his gaze on me grew sharper.
“Submitting requests through me is enough? For a foreign investment firm, you seem to know quite well how Korean politicians operate. The key to lobbying is not meeting the person directly.”
A person who easily conveys what they want to those in power. That’s how power brokers come to be.
A power broker takes on requests and resolves them. Of course, only those with power can resolve these requests, but those in power often follow the broker’s advice.
The one on the throne and the trusted right-hand man. The line between who truly holds the power is blurred.
“You’re mistaken. I have no reason to submit any requests to Mr. Go Kyung-yeol.”
“Does a businessman have any reason to meet me if not to submit a request? Or are you just being cautious because I was too blunt?”
“No, as I mentioned earlier, my purpose is to meet you, Director Kim.”
Kim Kwan-hyuk resisted the urge to have a drink and instead picked up a glass of water.
“Let’s hear what that purpose is. For the price of an expensive meal, I can at least do that.”
“Thank you, Director. I’m still inexperienced, so I have a question. Has there ever been a case where a second-in-command succeeded the first?”
His eyebrow twitched again, realizing I was referring to him.
“Second-in-commands usually end their lives as second-in-commands. Of course, Roh Tae-woo, a friend of Chun Doo-hwan, became president, but it wasn’t because Chun made it happen. The shift to direct elections and the split between the two Kims made it possible.”
“And so?”
His tone was getting rougher. I was prepared for some harsh words.
“The right-hand man of a power holder gradually descends until they become the tail. In the end, they’re destined to be cut off from the body of power.”
“Go on.”
Kim Kwan-hyuk’s expression grew more severe.
“Where do you think terms like second-in-command or right-hand man come from? It’s not the public elevating such figures. It’s rhetoric created by the first-in-command or the body to use subordinates like limbs and extract loyalty. It’s designed to flatter them, use them to the fullest, and discard them without resentment.”
I tried not to get emotionally involved.
You’re the only one I trust, let’s go together, let’s move forward together…
How sweet it sounds.
Seduced by such sweetness, one volunteers to be a servant, taking the blame for crimes they didn’t commit as part of loyalty, considering it natural.
Sitting stiffly in front of me, Kim Kwan-hyuk was clearly still trapped in that delusion. I just needed to wake him up.
Awakening someone isn’t done with words, but you have to start with them.
“In truth, Director, you hold Mr. Go Kyung-yeol’s life in your hands. His political future hinges on your actions, doesn’t it?”
“You young folks are sly. Enough for the person who arranged this meeting to introduce you.”
He had started speaking informally. Since this wasn’t a meeting on behalf of Go Kyung-yeol, he saw no need for formalities.
“Stop beating around the bush. If I’m your target, just get to the point. I have enough sense to understand.”
“I want to buy the rest of your life, Director Kim Kwan-hyuk.”
“What did you say?”
His expression was a mix of disbelief and feeling insulted.
“Oh, and I’ll take care of your children too. I’ll support whatever they want to do. If they wish to lead a life of leisure, I’ll ensure that as well.”
Isn’t it true that parents are endlessly vulnerable when it comes to their children? The fact that Kim Kwan-hyuk didn’t storm out was already a success.
“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not asking for anything grand. Just one word from you.”
“That one word will make me part ways with Mr. Go Kyung-yeol?”
“Yes. But if Mr. Go truly considers you his right-hand man, he won’t discard you over a single slip of the tongue. It might even be a chance to test whether you’re a true right-hand man or just a servant.”
If a seed of doubt and distrust was lurking in his heart, it would bloom. If not, it would start to sprout now.
“Just let slip a word that could cause Mr. Go Kyung-yeol to lose the mayoral election, as if it were a mistake. In return, I’ll give you 20 billion won. The money will be cleanly laundered and placed wherever you wish. Switzerland or the Virgin Islands, perhaps.”
Before Kim Kwan-hyuk could speak, I continued my proposal.
“Additionally, I’ll appoint you as an executive at our Miracle company. If you wish to live abroad, just name the country, and we’ll establish a branch there for you. Of course, you’ll enjoy all the benefits of an executive.”
In any deal, the price is always the issue.
You have to throw out an unexpected amount to shake them.
I heard the easiest way to connect with a power holder is to give a 100 million won gift at their family events. That’s what Jin Young-jun said.
He claimed that whether they return it out of obligation or express gratitude, they always end up meeting.
The price for betraying Go Kyung-yeol: 20 billion won.
With that money, you could pay tens of billions in special party fees and even aim for a proportional representative seat in the National Assembly.
It’s a chance to go from being someone’s right-hand man to making someone else your right-hand man.
I didn’t miss the flicker in Kim Kwan-hyuk’s eyes.
I didn’t expect an answer right there. He needed time to think.
“I don’t know who arranged this meeting, but trust them. I’m not spouting nonsense, and whatever you say won’t leak out.”
I slowly rose from my seat.
“I’ll give you ample time to consider. If I don’t hear from you by this time tomorrow, I’ll look for someone else. Sooner or later, someone will expose Mr. Go Kyung-yeol’s vulnerabilities. In an era where people are pulling out gold from their closets to join gold collection campaigns, there are plenty who’d sell their souls for 20 billion won.”
Whether it was shock or contemplation, Kim Kwan-hyuk remained seated.
I bowed to him and left the sushi restaurant.
“By the way, who introduced you to Kim Kwan-hyuk? He didn’t seem like someone Grandpa would have sent.”
“Kim Kwan-hyuk…?”
Grandpa didn’t know either.
“How would I know who he is? I just asked someone I know to send Go Kyung-yeol’s closest aide. I told them not to mention my name. That way, there’d be no misunderstanding.”
It was a way to avoid being mistaken as a special envoy from the chairman of Sunyang Group.
Thanks to that, they wouldn’t connect me, Jin-ga, with Sunyang.
“So, what did you talk about? Did you hint that he could switch sides? Did you offer election support as bait?”
“No. I told him to betray Go Kyung-yeol. I proposed that if he did, I’d have his back and change the course of his life.”
I recounted the conversation with Kim Kwan-hyuk to Grandpa in detail.
How would he evaluate it?
After I finished, he studied me for a while before letting out a long sigh.
“Whew—I still thought of you only as my grandson. I never imagined you’d surpass my expectations. I thought you’d use that Kim fellow to meet Go Kyung-yeol directly… but you went and raised the stakes with him instead.”
“When a servant betrays, it’s terrifying. When a close aide turns their back, it crumbles for sure.”
“You could have just manipulated Go Kyung-yeol as you pleased. Why stir up his subordinate?”
It seemed he was no longer questioning my choice but was curious about my reasoning.
“Mr. Go Kyung-yeol is someone who fits with your generation, Grandpa. Even if he accepted my proposal and joined hands with me, even if I provided election funds, he wouldn’t be grateful. If I pushed the DMC project, he’d think he was doing me a favor. The positions are different.”
A relationship where the one receiving money looks down from above is a rejection.
“But people like Uncle or Kim Kwan-hyuk would work with the mindset of repaying the favor I’ve done for them. Those who move at a single call from you, Grandpa… they bow before you, don’t they?”
“You rascal. Are you trying to discriminate against the older generation while buying people? Haha.”
Grandpa burst into laughter, looking quite satisfied.
“What do you think will happen? Will Mr. Kim Kwan-hyuk accept my proposal today? Or will he just be content as a right-hand man and ignore it?”
“Well, the 20 billion won bait you threw is too tempting, so he’ll probably wrestle with it until the end. He might even take some other action to steady himself.”
“What do you mean by other action?”
Grandpa evaded my question with a gentle smile.
What could he mean?
Today was a struggle to focus. Even though I was in a position to lead meetings at the election strategy headquarters, I skimmed through everything.
“Let’s call it a day. My condition is a mess today. Keep an eye on the media trends and run a poll. See which is more negative: being a chaebol’s son-in-law or military exemption.”
Election Director Kim Kwan-hyuk realized he couldn’t accomplish anything in his current state. The only person who could steady his wavering heart was, of course, that person.
“By the way, where is the candidate right now?”
“He’s on his way here after finishing a meeting with the floor leader.”
“Let me know as soon as he arrives. I have something to report.”
Alone in the meeting room, Kim Kwan-hyuk leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
All of this turmoil was caused by that young upstart who had shaken him up yesterday. Or, to be more precise, it was the proposal from that upstart.
In short, the offer was to restart his life with 20 billion won, promising a position as an executive at the investment firm, even if his political career was beyond saving.
This temptation was no idle talk. The former minister wouldn’t introduce him to someone who spouts nonsense.
“Director, the candidate has arrived.”
Kim Gwan-hyeok shook off his stray thoughts and left the meeting room. He lightly knocked on Go’s office door before entering.
“Did everything go well?”
“Damn it, they call me when they need me, and now they’re playing games to try and tame me.”
Go Kyung-yeol threw his jacket onto the sofa in frustration.
“Why the floor leader…?”
“The Seoul district representatives said they need funds to mobilize their local networks, so they ‘informed’ me they’d be taking some of the campaign funds. Damn it.”
His expression and tone made it clear just how angry he was.
Though he knew it wasn’t the time to add fuel to the fire, he changed his mind.
Sometimes, you need to pour gasoline to see the truth and reveal one’s true colors.
“Uh, candidate.”
“Yeah, what is it?”
“I hesitate to bring this up, but… I might need to take a week off. It’s a family matter…”
“What are you talking about? Don’t you realize how critical this time is? No way! If it’s a family issue, it can wait.”
Go Kyung-yeol’s face twisted with irritation as he shouted.