Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 166

166. The Most Splendid Wedding in the World (3)

Cha Gi-beom flinched.

He, too, had chosen the wedding day as D-Day.

So, he cautiously asked,

“What do you mean by rushing in to seize an opportunity?”

Park Jeong-hwan stared at Cha Gi-beom.

“Just what I said.”

Cha Gi-beom pressed his lips tightly together.

But his eyes darted around anxiously.

‘Does Park Jeong-hwan know something?’

He felt uneasy.

The coup hadn’t even started yet.

‘How did he find out? I clearly blocked all the information.’

Then, Park Jeong-hwan, who had been watching Cha Gi-beom intently, chuckled.

Pointing behind him with his thumb, he said,

“Take a look at those guys.”

Cha Gi-beom’s head snapped around.

What came into view were politicians giving an interview.

‘Kim Young-sam, Kim Dae-jung. To come all the way here and denounce labor oppression and human rights abuses…’

Park Jeong-hwan’s oppression had been extreme recently.

Especially right after pushing through the Yushin Constitution [a highly authoritarian constitution implemented in South Korea in 1972].

‘Kim Young-sam, it hasn’t been long since he was released from house arrest. Kim Dae-jung’s activities have been a bit subdued since the kidnapping. It seems they’re trying to use this national broadcast as an opportunity to voice their opinions.’

Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung, the two pillars of the opposition party.

After the Dongbang Ilbo advertising suppression incident [a government crackdown on a newspaper], the media had collectively become cautious.

As a result, news articles favorably reporting on the opposition party had vanished in an instant.

Everyone was singing praises of Park Jeong-hwan.

‘And here I was…’

Once he knew the situation, Cha Gi-beom couldn’t help but laugh.

He finally felt a little relieved.

“It’s no use for them to struggle like that. How dare they stand against the President?”

Wasn’t this a world dominated by a military dictatorship?

The politicians who merely formed the facade of an opposition party had less power than the wealthy tycoons holding the purse strings.

“Indeed.”

Park Jeong-hwan stared at Cha Gi-beom as he replied.

“It’s no use struggling against me. Only he doesn’t know it.”

It was a pity.

* * *

The emcee spoke into the microphone.

“Lastly, the President will deliver a congratulatory speech for the bride and groom. Please welcome him with a round of applause.”

The President giving a congratulatory speech?

Han Cheong-ho’s wife was so moved that she covered her mouth with both hands.

“Oh my, oh my goodness! It’s an honor for our family! The President himself is congratulating our daughter’s wedding and giving a speech!”

This would be the talk of the chaebol [South Korean conglomerate] wives for a long time to come.

Even when the youngest son of the Samcheong Group got married, there was no presidential congratulatory speech.

‘Was my husband that important?’

Han Cheong-ho’s wife looked at Han Cheong-ho with new eyes.

But Han Cheong-ho’s reaction was a little different from usual.

Instead of being happy or elated, he looked extremely nervous.

‘A presidential congratulatory speech? This wasn’t requested.’

A congratulatory speech that even the host didn’t know about.

‘What’s wrong with him? He’s gone pale.’

Han Cheong-ho’s wife nudged Han Cheong-ho with her elbow.

But Han Cheong-ho didn’t turn around.

He was just alternating his gaze between Park Jeong-hwan and the emcee.

Step, step.

Park Jeong-hwan ascended the platform.

Then, the broadcasting station cameras, which were broadcasting live nationwide, all focused on Park Jeong-hwan.

“Lights!”

“Turn up the sound!”

“Cameras, go!”

Park Jeong-hwan took out a piece of paper from his pocket and began to read.

“Distinguished guests, and fellow citizens who are watching this scene through the broadcast.”

Everyone paid attention to the President.

“Today, the sister of the Security Commander, who is responsible for the defense and security of the Republic of Korea, and the daughter of Cheongil, a leading conglomerate contributing to the development and economy of the Republic of Korea, are entering into a lifelong union.”

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap.

“Since both of these families are carrying out crucial missions to support the Republic of Korea, numerous guests, including myself, have attended to celebrate this occasion.”

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap.

“On this joyous occasion of marriage, the happiest event in life, I have come here today as a senior in life to say a few words.”

Park Jeong-hwan paused for a moment and looked around carefully.

He could see the 3,000 or so guests filling the spacious hall of the Cheongil Hotel.

Over there were soldiers, over there were people from the business world, and over there were politicians.

People were packed not only on one floor but also on the floor above.

Only then did Park Jeong-hwan open his mouth.

“The beginning may have been forced, but the end is determined by oneself.”

People looked at each other.

‘The beginning was forced? Does that mean it was an arranged marriage?’

‘Surely he’s not going to talk about divorce on the wedding day, is he?’

Park Jeong-hwan’s first marriage was arranged, and it ended in divorce.

Park Jeong-hwan’s second marriage began with love and ended with bereavement.

The guests who knew that fact wondered if that was the story he was referring to.

“Once you’re here, decide your own path and take responsibility for your actions. It’s too late to think after you act.”

Most of the guests were bewildered.

It was a meaningful statement, but it didn’t quite fit as a wedding congratulatory speech.

“High risk, high return? High risk is called high risk because it’s very dangerous.”

Park Jeong-hwan folded the paper in half.

‘Is this a wedding congratulatory speech?’

‘He didn’t say a single word about living well after getting married.’

Most of the guests were puzzled.

But there was only one thing to do.

Clap, clap, clap, clap.

A thunderous applause erupted.

However, surprisingly many people were very nervous and watching each other’s reactions.

‘Did the President notice something?’

‘Is this a warning?’

Anxiety began to sprout.

So they looked at each other.

They all had similar looks in their eyes.

To hide the turmoil in their hearts, they secretly clenched their fists tightly.

‘If the President knows all of this…’

‘What will happen to me if we fail?’

An invisible agitation was spreading.

Cha Gi-beom and Jeon Du-ho made eye contact at the same time.

‘Is this the timing for the assassination?’

‘Is he aiming for an assassination?’

It wasn’t the targeted timing.

Cha Gi-beom’s target was on the way back to the Blue House [the presidential residence] after the wedding reception.

Jeon Du-ho’s target was when the wedding reception was in full swing.

To capture Park Jeong-hwan and the generals, they had to seize the opportunity and strike at once.

‘The Oseong Society hasn’t armed themselves yet.’

‘The security service personnel alone can’t handle the generals here.’

Park Jeong-hwan, who had been watching the two of them quietly.

He smiled into the microphone.

“Let’s continue the rest of the conversation at the reception. Those who came from afar, don’t even think about running away, and stay. It’s been a while, so I should have a drink with you all.”

Park Jeong-hwan stepped down from the platform.

* * *

After the wedding, Park Jeong-hwan headed to the VIP room on the 7th floor of the Cheongil Hotel.

“Your Excellency, how is it? As you requested, our Cheongil built this hotel, aiming to be the finest in the East. It’s much better than the Geumsan Hotel, isn’t it?”

“It’s quite decent.”

Park Jeong-hwan nodded and glanced around.

“Certainly, the scale of the hall is larger than Geumsan, and the interior finish is more refined.”

“Of course. We’re aiming to be the only 5-star hotel in Asia.”

Han Cheong-ho said proudly.

“How about it? Would you like to stay overnight? I’ll offer you the finest suite at the Cheongil Hotel.”

“No, the Blue House is right around the corner. Give the suite to the newlyweds.”

“Hahaha, what should we do? It’s a once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon, isn’t it? They should spend their first night in a foreign hotel.”

It was an era when travel wasn’t free.

Han Cheong-ho’s daughter was thirsty for foreign travel and insisted on going abroad for her honeymoon.

Han Cheong-ho had readily agreed to smuggle his daughter out, hadn’t he?

“The departure flight is tight, so they’ve already left for the airport, skipping the wedding reception greetings.”

“Why so hasty? It would have been enough to thank the guests who graced the wedding, sleep at your father’s hotel for a day, and depart the next day.”

“It’s their honeymoon. Please understand.”

Han Cheong-ho laughed it off.

Park Jeong-hwan nodded and sat on the sofa in the VIP room.

He took out a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth.

As Han Cheong-ho tried to light the cigarette with a lighter, Park Jeong-hwan raised his hand.

“That’s enough.”

It was a clear refusal.

Han Cheong-ho couldn’t move with the lighter in his hand.

“How can the host not go around the wedding reception and thank the guests who attended, and instead light a cigarette here? Go on, get out.”

Park Jeong-hwan waved his hand, and Han Cheong-ho had no choice but to put the lighter back in his pocket.

Han Cheong-ho bowed politely.

“Then I’ll go around and greet everyone.”

“Take your time. I’ll call you separately if there’s anything.”

Click.

Han Cheong-ho came out of the VIP room.

‘It doesn’t seem like Park Jeong-hwan knew something and warned me. What is this unpleasant feeling?’

Then why did he say such meaningful things?

As Han Cheong-ho came out, Cha Gi-beom glanced at him.

“The President told me to greet the guests. I think I should go around the hall now.”

Cha Gi-beom nodded.

“Where’s Jeon Du-ho?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he’s going around the hall greeting the guests? Should I call him if Chief Cha has something to say separately?”

“No, it’s okay.”

It was something Cha Gi-beom didn’t want.

Wasn’t he in a position to actively block the meeting between Jeon Du-ho and Park Jeong-hwan?

He was keeping Jeon Du-ho in check because he would try to show his face to Park Jeong-hwan, taking advantage of this opportunity.

“Tell Jeon Du-ho. Don’t even think about loitering around here and just focus on entertaining the guests.”

It was Cha Gi-beom’s warning.

Han Cheong-ho asked quietly.

“Were you shaken by Park Jeong-hwan’s warning?”

“Not at all.”

Cha Gi-beom replied meaningfully.

“Park Jeong-hwan has become afraid.”

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have uttered such weak words.

Rather, Cha Gi-beom was convinced of the success of the coup.

Han Cheong-ho looked around anxiously.

“The bodyguards are not visible.”

“They’re not allowed on the 7th floor hall, are they?”

The only people who can come to the 7th floor hall are famous figures from the political and business world.

The bodyguards are all waiting on other floors.

“If we send the signal, it will all start at once.”

“I have a bad feeling about this. What do you think about moving the coup forward a bit?”

Cha Gi-beom chuckled.

It was a relaxed laugh.

“No, it’s okay. We have to wait for the final farewell.”

Cha Gi-beom was confident.

Han Cheong-ho turned his eyes to find Jeon Du-ho.

‘I need to find out what Jeon Du-ho is thinking.’

He felt uneasy.

Even more so after meeting Park Jeong-hwan.

* * *

At that moment, Jeon Du-ho was not in the hall but on the terrace.

“Kang Tae-soo.”

Tae-soo turned around.

“It’s been a while.”

“I don’t think we’re in a position to exchange leisurely greetings.”

Jeon Du-ho had already declared war first, hadn’t he?

Jeon Du-ho adjusted his tie.

“Don’t you have any pride?”

Tae-soo nonchalantly swirled the champagne in his hand.

Jeon Du-ho stood crookedly.

“What’s the purpose of finding me?”

He suddenly provoked.

“Do you want to cling to me like a bat and flatter me? Do you want to protect the signboard of the Taeyang Group?”

That couldn’t be.

“Kang Tae-soo, stop acting tough and rather kneel down and beg.”

Jeon Du-ho grinned.

“Please spare me. Who knows? I might take pity on your pathetic begging and spare your life.”

“Beg for my life? That’s what you should be doing, not me.”

The two men’s auras clashed in the air.

Tae-soo had completely abandoned the idea of saying nice things.

‘Well, I like that you’re consistent.’

Tae-soo was smiling.

“Han Cheong-ho is having second thoughts. How much do you trust him? More than the superior who has raised you and supported you so far?”

Jeon Du-ho’s eyebrows twitched.

“If you’re planning to sow discord, give it up.”

“Han Cheong-ho and Cha Gi-beom had a secret meeting. You know what that means, don’t you?”

“What’s so important about that?”

It’s not like Han Cheong-ho has only been bribing people from top to bottom for a day or two.

Considering the power of the Chief of Security, it was only natural for Han Cheong-ho to hand over money bags.

“Cha Gi-beom and Jeon Du-ho, the Security Commanders, are both vying for one position, right?”

Are you talking about Park Jeong-hwan’s closest aide?

That position is no longer on my mind.

Jeon Du-ho’s smile deepened.

“The position of the highest authority in this country.”

Jeon Du-ho’s smile stopped abruptly at Tae-soo’s next words.