Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 181

Life’s a Gamble (3)

The press conference hall was in complete chaos.

It was because they were being shown an edited recording of what happened in the VIP room of the Cheongil Hotel.

The sounds of rebel gunfire echoed through the hall.

As Park Jeong-hwan’s voice boomed from the speakers, everyone held their breath, riveted.

-Who started this? Was it Doo-ho? Or Gi-beom?

-Listen to that gunfire. Where did they smuggle the weapons from? They shot a general in my presence, the president’s. How am I supposed to interpret this?

Jeon Doo-ho’s voice followed.

-What are you doing! Shoot! We can only survive if we kill that bastard first!

Bang- Bang-

-Armed members of the Oseonghoe [a private military organization] are coming this way. I’ll make you a top contributor. I, Jeon Doo-ho, am a generous man.

-You’re the one who killed Cha Gi-beom in the end. The traitor isn’t Cha Gi-beom, it’s Park Jeong-hwan. I’m going to end up the same way, so what do I have to lose?

-The Oseonghoe is coming! No matter what, you’re dead! Even if I die, you’re dead! Let’s die together, you son of a bitch!

The raw, unfiltered urgency of that day was laid bare.

The announcers and radio DJs of the broadcasting stations, which were broadcasting live nationwide, were speechless, afraid to even gasp.

However, they couldn’t silence the excited shouts of the reporters.

“It’s a rebellion! The military and the Presidential Security Service led it!”

“President Park Jeong-hwan killed Chief of Staff Cha Gi-beom!”

“Security Commander Jeon Doo-ho tried to assassinate the president with the Oseonghoe!”

The press conference hall was thrown into utter pandemonium.

The sound director at the scene was in a daze.

“We’re having a broadcasting accident! Someone get the microphones!”

“If we turn off the microphones, we won’t be able to broadcast the sound coming from the speakers.”

“Damn it! Just put the microphone close to the speaker! Reduce the noise, even a little!”

The entire chaotic scene was being broadcast live, unedited.

Chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa.

Lee Se-hoo held the microphone steady.

“As you’ve heard, Cha Gi-beom, Jeon Doo-ho, and military officers of the Oseonghoe initiated a rebellion that day.”

Chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa.

“The final moments of the late President Park Jeong-hwan are also recorded.”

-Kim Jae-guk, are you a traitor too?

-Traitor? It’s patriotism to punish a traitor who sold out the country.

Kim Jae-guk’s words as he assassinated Park Jeong-hwan, along with the sound of the fatal gunfire, were played in their entirety.

This time, the broadcasting stations and newspaper reporters were beyond screaming.

The revelation was too shocking.

‘A traitor?’

‘Park Jeong-hwan sold out the country?’

‘The Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency [KCIA], Kim Jae-guk, killed Park Jeong-hwan for the sake of the country?’

A suffocating silence descended upon the press conference hall.

Lee Se-hoo waited for the shock to subside.

Someone, barely regaining their composure, raised their hand and asked a question.

“The late President Park Jeong-hwan sold out the country… what’s the story behind that?”

“Let’s hear about that part now.”

As soon as Lee Se-hoo finished speaking, the story of the 7th mining zone was revealed.

-If you die, the secret agreement conditions won’t be met, right? Japan has agreed to claim ownership of the 7th mining zone in exchange for paying 5 billion dollars to Park Jeong-hwan personally, not to the Republic of Korea.

The people gathered at the press conference hall exchanged bewildered glances.

“A secret agreement? What is all this?”

“Why is Japan giving 5 billion dollars to Park Jeong-hwan personally?”

“We have the rights to the 7th mining zone, don’t we?”

The press conference hall erupted in a cacophony of noise.

Camera flashes exploded incessantly, and reporters furiously scribbled in their notebooks.

Reporters raised their voices, firing off questions.

Broadcasting station personnel frantically adjusted the live broadcast sound.

Lee Se-hoo surveyed the scene and smiled.

“There is a democratic activist who risked his life to reveal Park Jeong-hwan’s act of treason. He is the president of the newspaper company who acquired the Dongbang Ilbo and distributed leaflets.”

Chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa.

“It’s Ahn Jeong-woo.”

Ahn Jeong-woo walked confidently onto the platform.

He held the documents about the 7th mining zone that Tae-soo had given him.

He also carried a list of pro-Japanese assets that had been recovered from Park Jeong-hwan’s vault.

His appearance ignited a fresh wave of excitement, and everyone raised their cameras.

“Take a picture!”

“Take a picture of the documents he’s holding!”

“Turn on the recorder! Write down every single word!”

Chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa.

Ahn Jeong-woo raised the documents high, bathed in the blinding flashes of light.

“From now on, I will reveal Park Jeong-hwan’s acts of treason in detail.”

Chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa.

It was the moment a huge superstar was born in the political arena.

* * *

Lee Se-hoo led the joint investigation headquarters’ press conference.

It was broadcast live across the nation.

People walking down the street stopped in front of televisions in electronics stores.

Everyone was stunned by the shocking revelations unfolding on the screen.

“This is crazy!”

“It was a complete mess!”

“Son of a bitch! Those sons of bitches!”

Drivers listening to the radio also pulled their cars to the side of the road and cranked up the volume.

Only curses filled the air.

“This damn traitor!”

“Park Jeong-hwan or Jeon Doo-ho! They’re all the same bastards!”

The public’s anger was directed at Park Jeong-hwan, and their interest was intensely focused on Ahn Jeong-woo.

“Who is Ahn Jeong-woo? How did he dig this up?”

“He acquired the newspaper company and published leaflets during the Dongbang Ilbo advertising suppression!”

“Dongbang Ilbo is making a comeback as soon as Park Jeong-hwan died.”

“His family has been a deeply rooted independence activist family for generations.”

Wherever people gathered, this was the topic of conversation.

“Now that the dictatorial military regime has been overthrown, a new person should become president.”

“New wine should be put in new bottles. We can’t let the remnants of the dictatorial regime, like shit, seize power.”

“Who will be the next president?”

“How about Ahn Jeong-woo? He’s said to have done a great job in eradicating pro-Japanese factions.”

The name Ahn Jeong-woo was etched into the minds of the entire nation.

-A hunter who catches traitors!

-A democratic activist who exposes pro-Japanese factions!

-The new president of Dongbang Ilbo!

The story of Ahn Jeong-woo was splashed across newspapers and broadcast on television every day.

It was the work of the chaebols [large family-owned conglomerates] who owned the broadcasting stations and newspaper companies.

It was the result of Tae-soo wielding his influence and Samcheong pulling strings behind the scenes.

* * *

There was also a television in the basement of the Central Intelligence Agency.

At the Geumsan Hotel press conference hall, Lee Se-hoo was giving an interim report on the investigation results.

The joint investigation headquarters’ press conference was incredibly popular these days.

It was breaking viewership records every day.

The moment’s ratings reached as high as 81%.

The secrets of the VIP room kept coming, no matter how much they dug.

Every time Lee Se-hoo held a press conference, he revealed new issues and ignited the passions of the public.

Today’s issue was Park Jeong-hwan and Han Cheong-ho.

-Did you not only take my wife’s property but also steal my vault and sell it off? What did you use it for?

-We have also confirmed where the money was used: interior decoration for the wedding and the Oseonghoe military fund. That’s all.

-Han Cheong-ho! What business do you have meeting with the assassin!

-Han Cheong-ho has been plotting to assassinate Your Excellency for a long time.

-Drag that bastard out. Take him to the Central Intelligence Agency interrogation room.

-Your Excellency! Your Excellency!

-Shut his mouth and drag him away.

Han Cheong-ho nervously slammed the table.

Thump. Thump thump. Thump.

The large interrogation table shook.

Han Cheong-ho couldn’t contain his anger and was panting.

“Why are you showing me this? Kang Tae-soo!”

Han Cheong-ho glared fiercely at the man sitting across the table.

Tae-soo sat calmly in his chair, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“I want you to understand the situation properly.”

Tae-soo looked down at Han Cheong-ho.

“It seems that the Central Intelligence Agency is treating you too kindly.”

“Kang Tae-soo!”

“I guess you gave a lot of bribes to the Central Intelligence Agency.”

Han Cheong-ho’s specialty was lobbying by scattering bribes far and wide.

There was no way he wouldn’t have bribed the Central Intelligence Agency, with its immense power.

“It seems that you haven’t been tortured even once yet. Your complexion is very good.”

“Who dares to torture me?”

“Does the Central Intelligence Agency hesitate to use force?”

“I’m Han Cheong-ho of Cheongil! Just you wait. I’ll get out of here and kill you!”

“You?”

“Yes, now you won’t be able to guarantee the safety of your family. You’re the one who untied my leash!”

He had released the evidence related to Park Jeong-hwan’s assassination, so Han Cheong-ho had nothing left to fear.

Tae-soo smirked.

“That’s what you think. Is the world as simple as you believe?”

Tae-soo tapped the table with his finger.

“You can’t get out of the Central Intelligence Agency. That’s why we’re meeting here like this, isn’t it?”

Han Cheong-ho gritted his teeth.

“Who is this all because of?”

“It’s your own fault, isn’t it?”

The reason Han Cheong-ho had been dragged here was for ‘masterminding the attempted assassination of the president and the shooting death of the First Lady’.

“Moon Se-gi is already dead. You can’t do anything to me with a closed case. Do you have any evidence?”

“Since when has the Central Intelligence Agency cared about evidence?”

Tae-soo knew that, and Han Cheong-ho knew it too.

It was common knowledge that if you were dragged to the Central Intelligence Agency, you shouldn’t expect to come back alive.

“The head of the Central Intelligence Agency, Shin Ji-soo, has been taking care of me for a long time. Do you know how he got to that position?”

Han Cheong-ho slammed the table with his fist.

“It wouldn’t have been possible without me! Do you know how hard it is to get the position of head of the Central Intelligence Agency?”

“Can’t you see the situation? You’re trapped in the Central Intelligence Agency, and he’s holding your leash.”

Tae-soo smiled annoyingly.

“If the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, Shin Ji-soo, had decided to get you out, you would have been released a long time ago.”

Han Cheong-ho bit his lip.

Because it was true.

“Who cares about a kite with a broken string? Just admit it now. You’re finished.”

“No!”

“The fact that Park Jeong-hwan directly pointed you out as the mastermind behind the assassination and ordered you to be taken to the Central Intelligence Agency has been revealed.”

That’s why Tae-soo had shown Han Cheong-ho the television.

“Will the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, Shin Ji-soo, take the risk and let you go? Not a chance.”

Shin Ji-soo was already distancing himself from Han Cheong-ho.

“Since public opinion has turned against you, Shin Ji-soo will sacrifice you to appease the public’s anger. It’s a natural course.”

He would release the results before the criticism of the Central Intelligence Agency intensified.

It was already a headache that the Central Intelligence Agency was involved in the presidential assassination case.

Shin Ji-soo would gladly cut Han Cheong-ho into pieces.

Han Cheong-ho closed his eyes tightly.

“Why are you telling me this?”

His voice was low.

“You didn’t come here to criticize and mock me. Kang Tae-soo, you’re not someone who moves without a purpose.”

Han Cheong-ho was right.

“What do you want?”

Han Cheong-ho was certain.

“You took Cheongil Oil and Cheongil Heavy Industries from me. Which affiliate are you going to take this time?”

Han Cheong-ho had been humiliatingly forced to hand over Cheongil Oil and Cheongil Heavy Industries at the Geumsan Hotel.

The humiliation he felt at that time was immense.

Even when he was sleeping, he would kick the blanket when he thought about it.

“You cornered me back then too, so that I couldn’t see a way to live unless I held your hand. You completely blocked my breath, just like now.”

He used the relationship between Park Jeong-hwan and Han Cheong-ho to put him in checkmate.

He lost Cheongil Heavy Industries with his eyes wide open because of the photos and films involving the First Lady.

He received all the loss-making affiliates.

“Choose. I’ll give it to you. I’ll buy my life with that.”

But Tae-soo didn’t budge.

Han Cheong-ho had no choice but to raise the stakes.

“Cheongil Ilbo, Cheongil Shoes, Cheongil Textile, Cheongil Food.”

There was no response.

“Or should I increase the size of the affiliates you have? Cheongil Lumber, Cheongil Window, Cheongil Tungsten. How about it? Or Cheongil Cement?”

He still didn’t answer.

“Well, a guy who has tasted Cheongil Oil and Cheongil Heavy Industries wouldn’t covet these trivial affiliates.”

Han Cheong-ho said as if he was doing a great favor.

“Cheongil Trading, Cheongil Distribution, Cheongil Chemical. Choose from these. No more.”

Han Cheong-ho said firmly.

Tae-soo smirked.

“Do you think I came because of those affiliates?”

“Huh, you’re so greedy. You’re saying that one isn’t enough. Okay, two.”

“I’ll take your affiliates on my own, even if you don’t offer them.”

It starts with Cheongil Motors.

Next, he’s trying to take Cheongil Shipping.

“Don’t be ridiculous! Do you know how difficult that is? If I don’t give it to you…….”

“Should I just declare bankruptcy for everything? The entire Cheongil Group.”

“Kang Tae-soo!”

“Do you think I can’t do it? Or do you think I’m bluffing?”

It was scary that those words sounded so sincere.

Han Cheong-ho swallowed hard.