Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 176

New Era’s Protagonist (1)

Kim Jae-guk fumbles in his pocket for a lighter.

Finding none, he reluctantly borrows Park Jeong-hwan’s to light his cigarette.

A thick plume of smoke escapes his lips, like a sigh.

“Chief Kim, why are you doing this?”

Park Jeong-hwan was supposed to be Kim Gwang-rok’s responsibility.

But Kim Jae-guk intervened.

“The reason? I told you.”

Hadn’t he explained it clearly enough while shooting Park Jeong-hwan? Kim Jae-guk chuckles softly.

“Leave. The Capital Defense Command will be here soon. National Intelligence Agency agents have secured an escape route; follow them.”

“What about you, Chief Kim?”

“It’s pointless if I run too.”

Kim Jae-guk takes a long drag from his cigarette.

“I’m counting on you to cover our backs.”

Kim Jae-guk turns away.

Tae-soo reaches out to stop him, but Kim Jae-guk raises a hand.

“Go. A man shouldn’t look back. He must move forward.”

“Chief Kim.”

“I’ll be watching to see how Taeyang Group nullifies the Korea-Japan agreement and extracts oil, turning this country into an oil-producing nation.”

Tae-soo clenches his fist.

“It will happen. South Korea will obtain one of the world’s leading oil resources.”

“Good. Couldn’t be better.”

Kim Jae-guk smiles faintly and waves his hand, still not turning around.

He’s staring at the First Lady’s photo on the floor.

Kim Gwang-rok urges him, “Let’s hurry. It’ll get messy if the soldiers arrive.”

“Let’s go.”

Taeyang Group’s bodyguards clear a path.

Kim Gwang-rok stays close to Tae-soo, focused on protecting him.

“Break through!”

The bodyguards surge forward like a human wave, easily pushing through any resistance.

Soon after, the Capital Defense Command unit, spearheaded by tanks, arrives at the Cheongil Hotel.

“The rebels must lay down their weapons and surrender!”

Chief of Staff Jang Tae-won of the Capital Defense Command, commanding the tank unit, shouts through a megaphone.

“Rescue the army generals held by the rebels! Protect His Excellency!”

The Capital Defense Command soldiers arriving at the Cheongil Hotel are met with a shocking sight.

“What?”

The Cheongil Hotel is ablaze.

Red flames erupt from the windows of the first, second, and third floors, which had just been opened to the public today.

Someone deliberately spread flammable material to start the fire.

Watching the inferno, the Capital Defense Commander shouts, “Call the fire trucks!”

How can the soldiers advance in this situation?

The Capital Defense Command unit can only stand by and watch the flames consume the building.

Even after the fire trucks arrive, the fire rages for a long time.

In the end, the Cheongil Hotel, with its 34 floors and 1,300 rooms, is forced to close its doors once again.

* * *

May 18, 1975.

All the newspapers and broadcasts talked about the Cheongil Hotel all day long.

From morning to evening, television and radio focused solely on the glamorous wedding.

The newspapers were the same.

-The Cheongil Group, ranked 13th in the Korean business world, is united with the family of the Army Security Commander!

-A feast for generals from all over the country!

-The place is crowded with famous figures from the political and business world!

-The Cheongil Hotel, dreaming of becoming the best hotel in the East, reveals its appearance for the first time!

Splendid and luxurious Cheongil Hotel!

That’s how the image of the Cheongil Hotel was strongly imprinted on the public consciousness.

To achieve this, Han Cheong-ho mobilized all his resources to decorate the hotel as lavishly as possible.

He invited all the reporters and broadcast the incredibly grand wedding live across the country.

Monday, May 19, 1975.

The next day, newspapers and broadcasts were in an uproar over the Cheongil Hotel story, but for a different reason.

-Cheongil Hotel closes due to fire on its opening day!

-Does the dream of the best hotel in the East burn down in just one day?

That wasn’t all.

A series of tragedies related to the Cheongil Hotel were reported.

-President Park Jeong-hwan assassinated at the Cheongil Hotel!

-The assassin of President Park Jeong-hwan is Kim Jae-guk, Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Agency!

-Kim Jae-guk surrenders! The National Intelligence Agency is in great chaos!

It was even a presidential assassination case.

Moreover, it happened less than a year after the attempted assassination of the President and the shooting death of the First Lady on August 15, 1974.

-Security Commander Jeon Doo-ho and Chief of the Presidential Security Service Cha Gi-beom also died at the Cheongil Hotel!

-The Cheongil Hotel, where army generals were all kidnapped, detained, and held! It almost became a graveyard for stars!

The newspapers published follow-up articles detailing the events.

-Cheongil Hotel stained with blood, with over 200 casualties as soon as it opened!

-Safety was neglected in the rush to decorate splendidly! The lack of escape routes increased the damage!

It was the Cheongil Hotel that Han Cheong-ho had poured so much effort into.

That’s how unwanted nicknames kept being attached to the Cheongil Hotel, which had dreamed of becoming the best in the East.

-Execution site of the dictator.

-Crematorium for soldiers.

-Symbol of the old era.

The drop in the Cheongil Hotel’s image was enough to shake the stock price of the entire Cheongil Group.

And there were two newspapers that delivered the fastest and most detailed news.

It was Dongbang Ilbo, which had been splendidly revived, and Jirasi [a type of underground or unofficial publication], which had risen from the shadows to the light.

The two newspapers began to exclusively report on what happened at the Cheongil Hotel.

“Give me the newspaper!”

“One copy of Jirasi!”

“One copy of Dongbang Ilbo!”

People were desperate to buy the two newspapers that delivered the news so quickly.

It was common for other newspapers and broadcasters to write articles only after reading the reports in Dongbang Ilbo and Jirasi.

Everyone eagerly awaited news from Dongbang Ilbo and Jirasi.

In an instant, the subscription rate and sales of the two newspapers soared.

“At this rate, we’ll make a fortune, just like you said.”

An Jeong-woo folds the newspaper in half and places it on the table.

“The two newspapers ranked first and second, surpassing a combined market share of 50%. In just ten days.”

This could be fleeting popularity.

However, if it’s strongly imprinted in the minds of the people, the newspaper becomes a brand.

When a brand newspaper dominates the market and begins to raise its voice, it becomes another power.

That was the reason Tae-soo acquired Dongbang Ilbo.

“The president of Dongbang Ilbo is grinning from ear to ear. He’s so happy to be making a fortune.”

“How much money can you make by selling newspapers?”

Isn’t a newspaper company primarily supported by advertising revenue because subscription fees are insufficient?

“Advertising requests are flooding into the newspaper company. So much so that the president of Dongbang Ilbo is screaming with happiness.”

“That’s good news.”

“We’ll even get rid of the deficit from publishing Jirasi, which had been distributed for free, this time.”

Tae-soo puts down his teacup and smiles.

An Jeong-woo shakes the newspaper.

“The power of the press is really amazing. Starting with this, the whole society is starting to raise its voice.”

“That’s a good thing.”

Citizens must be able to voice their opinions.

Park Jeong-hwan’s dictatorial regime has suppressed the press for far too long.

“But are you really going to announce that to the world?”

“Yes. That’s what I’m going to do.”

“The country will be turned upside down. Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

“I’m prepared.”

Park Jeong-hwan will get the blame if anyone does.

Why would Tae-soo get blamed?

“The document you’re holding will be a powerful weapon that will change the landscape of this country’s regime.”

“It will be.”

The secret agreement regarding the 7th mining sector that Tae-soo is holding in his hand.

It was a weapon powerful enough to bring Park Jeong-hwan to his knees.

It was also a highly impactful issue that would bring a new wave to the new regime.

“It seems like a new president will be born depending on who you hand it over to.”

“Weapons depend on who uses them and how they are used.”

But An Jeong-woo and Tae-soo both know.

A weapon with tremendous destructive power that can turn this country upside down.

Just holding it is enough of a threat.

That alone was power and strength.

An Jeong-woo smiles.

“Who are you going to give it to?”

“Well, I haven’t thought about it yet.”

“If you combine it with the records of the VIP room you have… the game will be over.”

That might be true.

As Tae-soo said, Park Jeong-hwan will become a traitor who will be remembered in history, and the person who buries that traitor will emerge like a rising star.

“How about you becoming president?”

“President?”

Tae-soo taps the newspaper.

It was the advertisement section with the Taeyang Ilbo apartment advertisement.

“I’m not a politician. I haven’t even properly established myself as a *chaebol* [a large South Korean business conglomerate] yet. I have a lot to do.”

“Isn’t it a shame to give away such a valuable opportunity?”

“Are you tempted?”

“Of course.”

“Do you want to grab it and shake it, sir?”

An Jeong-woo doesn’t answer.

After hesitating for a moment, he changes the subject.

“Presidential Acting President Kim Jong-pyo declared a state of emergency across the country at 4 a.m. on May 19.”

Kim Jong-pyo, who was serving as Prime Minister, became the Acting President.

‘Unlike in my past life, Choi Gyu-hyuk hasn’t taken over as Prime Minister yet, so that’s how it happened.’

In his past life, Choi Gyu-hyuk was the Prime Minister when Park Jeong-hwan died in ’79.

He was known as a puppet president who led the turbulent times.

This is because Jeon Doo-ho, the Martial Law Commander and head of the Joint Investigation Headquarters for the Park Jeong-hwan assassination case, seized all power.

However, as Park Jeong-hwan’s death was brought forward compared to his past life, the Prime Minister changed.

Unlike Choi Gyu-hyuk, Kim Jong-pyo was not an easy person.

‘Kim Jong-pyo was an ambitious man. He was also considered Park Jeong-hwan’s bagman [someone who collects or distributes illicit funds].’

He was deeply involved in planning and executing the May 16 military coup.

He was also related to and a close aide to Park Jeong-hwan, but he was also checked by Park Jeong-hwan for his long-term rule.

In addition, after the end of the Yushin era [a period of authoritarian rule in South Korea], he was a prominent politician represented by the three Kims.

‘He’s not the type to be called a puppet president like Choi Gyu-hyuk.’

Isn’t Kim Jong-pyo called a skilled strategist and a master of scheming?

Moreover, he was a figure who moved between the ruling and opposition parties, pulling the strings behind the scenes.

“Based on the Martial Law Act, the Martial Law Commander was automatically appointed as the head of the Joint Investigation Headquarters.”

“Who is the head of the investigation headquarters?”

“Army Chief of Staff Lee Se-hoo.”

It was unexpected.

‘In my past life, the Army Chief of Staff was Jeong Seung-hwan. Things have changed so much.’

In his past life, Park Jeong-hwan directly appointed Jeon Doo-ho as the Martial Law Commander in March ’79.

Therefore, Jeon Doo-ho led the investigation headquarters as the Martial Law Commander instead of the Army Chief of Staff.

At the time, Kim Jae-guk, the director of the National Intelligence Agency, was framed as the assassin of the president, and the National Intelligence Agency was virtually shut down.

This is the reason why Jeon Doo-ho seized all power under the pretext of investigating the presidential assassination case and caused the December 12th Incident [a military coup led by Chun Doo-hwan].

‘Lee Se-hoo is not an easy person either. He skillfully walked the line between Park Jeong-hwan and Jeon Doo-ho to the point where he even retired at his retirement age.’

He was different from Jeong Seung-hwan, who was the Army Chief of Staff but was kidnapped and humiliated by Jeon Doo-ho.

At that time, Secretary Song Chang-joon rushed in and reported urgently.

“Acting President Kim Jong-pyo has come to see you.”

At this hour?

Tae-soo and An Jeong-woo exchanged glances.

“Tell him to come in.”

* * *

Kim Jong-pyo extends his hand.

“Is this our first time meeting? I’m Kim Jong-pyo.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you like this.”

Tae-soo and Kim Jong-pyo shake hands.

Kim Jong-pyo goes straight to the point without even sitting down.

“I know you were at the scene of the presidential assassination.”

“Did you come to interrogate me?”

Tae-soo has the records obtained through the National Intelligence Agency’s wiretapping.

But Kim Jong-pyo shakes his head.

“No, we roughly know how things are going. Of course, we also know that you are innocent.”

Kim Jong-pyo brings up something else.

“But since you’ve become deeply involved in this, it’ll be troublesome in many ways. It’ll be noisy for quite a while.”

“What do you want to say?”

“I’ll completely remove you from this. So I’d like you to help me a little.”

Just because you’re innocent doesn’t mean it won’t be tiring to go back and forth between the police, the prosecution, and the National Intelligence Agency.

Moreover, it becomes a very annoying thing for a *chaebol* company president like Tae-soo.

It was a bonus that people’s eyes became fierce.

That’s why Kim Jong-pyo’s offer was interesting.

“If you help me, I will repay you with a great gift.”

“A gift?”

“I heard that Cheongil’s Han Cheong-ho was caught by the National Intelligence Agency? I heard he’s claiming innocence.”

Kim Jong-pyo was confident.

“But I can make Han Cheong-ho rot in prison. How about it?”

What is the reason why Kim Jong-pyo is making such a sweet offer?

Tae-soo saw through his intentions at once.