Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 182

182. Kneel (1)

‘Kang Tae-soo is right. I see no way out. This is a checkmate like no other. I’m truly at a crossroads of life and death.’

Being dragged into the Central Intelligence Agency meant the end was determined.

Han Cheong-ho clenched his fist tightly.

A gut feeling that he could only survive by clinging to Kang Tae-soo.

To do that, wouldn’t he have to give Kang Tae-soo what he wanted?

“If it’s not the affiliates, why did you come to me? What do you want from me? Could it be…”

Was it that after all?

The treasure that created today’s Cheongil and Han Cheong-ho.

“Do you want the secret ledger?”

Han Cheong-ho’s secret ledger.

The biggest thing Han Cheong-ho could offer.

Han Cheong-ho’s eyes flashed as he watched Tae-soo’s reaction.

‘The key to a deal is to increase the value of what I have to stimulate the other party’s desires. I need to shake Kang Tae-soo to find a way out.’

That’s why he revealed the existence of the secret ledger, which he had kept hidden until now.

He wanted to live.

Very desperately.

‘But if I reveal my true feelings, I’ll only be admitting weakness in this negotiation.’

Han Cheong-ho deliberately feigned composure.

“You know what field I’m more recognized in than running a conglomerate.”

“Politics, lobbying, bribery, discord, conspiracy, traps, incitement, schemes. All cowardly and dirty.”

“Knowing that makes the conversation easier.”

But inside, he was burning up.

He was truly on the edge of a cliff.

Standing on a cliff where he would fall if Kang Tae-soo didn’t open a path for him.

So, with tears in his eyes, he revealed the existence of the secret ledger.

It was a card he never wanted to play unless he was in a life-or-death situation.

He was confident that Kang Tae-soo would be tempted by this.

“The secret ledger I have isn’t just a list of bribes or dirt on powerful people. It’s called a secret ledger, but the contents are completely different. It’s the foundation of today’s Cheongil.”

Secret Ledger (恥部冊) [A book containing shameful secrets or wrongdoings you don’t want others to know].

But if the contents are completely different, what kind of book is it?

‘Han Cheong-ho’s secret ledger. The top secret that I couldn’t see in my past life has finally surfaced.’

Tae-soo knew it wasn’t an ordinary item.

Even Han Il-kwon, who had no talent for management, managed to keep his position as chairman with the help of the secret ledger.

Han Cheong-ho said subtly.

“This isn’t something to target politicians. This is…”

“Why would I need weaknesses or bribe lists to target politicians? It’s not like I’m going into politics.”

Tae-soo didn’t get involved.

“And I have enough skills for that without your secret ledger. I have more than enough skills.”

When it came to skills, Tae-soo was a step above Han Cheong-ho.

Han Cheong-ho tried to persuade Tae-soo once again.

To fuel Tae-soo’s desires.

But he stopped.

‘He’s smiling?’

Quick-witted Han Cheong-ho noticed the difference in Tae-soo’s reaction.

Han Cheong-ho was shocked.

He barely managed to hold back a scream.

But he couldn’t hide the slight tremor in his voice, as he was too agitated.

“I suspected it, but you really know about my secret ledger?”

In his past life, Secretary Song had told him.

With a warning never to covet the secrets of the Han Cheong-ho family.

That extended Tae-soo’s life and usefulness.

‘But that was it. In the end, the end was determined.’

Like a hunting dog that is boiled after the hunt, Tae-soo had to die when Cheongil became the number one conglomerate in Korea.

“Unbelievable! That secret that no one in this world knows? How?”

“There’s something more important than how I found out.”

Tae-soo tapped the table with his fingertips.

Han Cheong-ho finally regained his composure.

“Your life. Isn’t that your biggest concern?”

Han Cheong-ho’s eyes fluttered.

He tried to shake Tae-soo, but only ended up agitating himself.

Tae-soo was as relaxed and composed as ever.

“Secret ledger? That’s not what you brought up to make a deal with me. You brought it up to test me.”

Han Cheong-ho’s eyes shook incessantly.

The secret ledger was Han Cheong-ho’s desire, not Tae-soo’s.

“You’re telling me you’d willingly hand over something you didn’t even breathe a word of to your wife and son until you were about to die? You expect me to believe that?”

Tae-soo scoffed.

“Stop with the nonsense about things you have no intention of giving. It won’t give you an advantage in this negotiation.”

Han Cheong-ho bit his lip.

“You really know all my cards. Then what’s the reason you came to me?”

“You still don’t know? The reason I came to you. You know, don’t you?”

“You’re here to open a path for me to live?”

To open a path to live, a price is required.

But what Tae-soo wants is neither Cheongil affiliates nor the secret ledger.

Tae-soo’s cold eyes bore into Han Cheong-ho.

How could Han Cheong-ho not know that blatant demand?

“You’re demanding… submission?”

“Your end was already determined a long time ago. The only variable is my decision.”

Kang Tae-soo’s real reason for coming here was this.

Han Cheong-ho closed his eyes tightly.

“If you want to live.”

Tae-soo said sharply.

“Kneel.”

Kang Tae-soo’s cold words fueled Han Cheong-ho’s humiliation.

“And beg.”

Han Cheong-ho’s hands trembled.

Han Cheong-ho looked down at his hands.

“Is there any other way to survive?”

No.

Regardless of evidence, he was already implicated as the mastermind behind the attempted assassination of the president and the shooting death of the First Lady, and dragged into the Central Intelligence Agency.

That meant treason.

Moreover, all of this had been exposed to the public, so there was no way out.

As Kang Tae-soo said, Shin Ji-soo, the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, would use him as a sacrifice to escape the crisis.

‘Checkmate. And a really dirty one at that.’

Han Cheong-ho already knew when he faced Park Jung-hwan in the VIP room of the Cheongil Hotel.

That it was over.

When he learned that Park Jung-hwan was dead, he dreamed.

A hope that he could now live.

But Kang Tae-soo appeared and shattered even that small hope.

“What do you gain by making me submit?”

It was an incomprehensible demand.

Especially for a businessman and the head of a conglomerate.

“The price for my life is my submission? That doesn’t add up?”

Han Cheong-ho has a lot right now.

Cheongil, the 13th largest company in Korea.

Money, jewels, real estate, stocks, connections, and even a secret ledger.

Not only what is visible, but also what is invisible, he could extract as much as he wanted if he set his mind to it.

A tempting prey, that was Han Cheong-ho’s position now.

“Kang Tae-soo, why are you demanding my submission? What do you gain by making me kneel…”

Han Cheong-ho clenched his fist tightly.

“It’s an unacceptable decision. If we’re going to talk about gains and losses, I’ll also…”

Tae-soo cut off Han Cheong-ho’s words.

“You’re mistaken. I’m exercising my right as the victor of this war to dispose of your life.”

Han Cheong-ho closed his mouth.

“So you have no right to argue with my decision. Of course, you don’t need to understand.”

Tae-soo was smiling.

“Submission or resistance. Life or death. There’s no gain or loss in this matter.”

Revenge is something you can’t do if you consider the gains and losses.

My determination to walk a difficult path is now bearing fruit one by one.

I’m finally returning the pain and humiliation I received.

How can I put a price on that pleasure? Don’t you agree?

“It’s easy, me kneeling and begging for my life. Does a loser facing death have any other choice?”

Han Cheong-ho stood at the crossroads of life and death, so he thought it was a dead end.

But he realized that there was even more to fall from a dead end.

“Kang Tae-soo, are you demanding that I show you the bottom?”

“Why? Is there something you need to protect even in this situation? Is it more important than your life?”

“Kang Tae-soo! You want me to give up my pride…!”

“You gave up your pride first when you decided to bribe and flatter the higher-ups. Would I ask for that now?”

He’s not easy to deal with.

He doesn’t fall for it.

He brings the deliberately diverted topic back to the front.

Han Cheong-ho sighed.

“Yes, what you’re demanding that I break isn’t my pride. You’re telling me to break my beliefs.”

“Beliefs. They’re the first to break in the face of the world’s storms, right? That’s why they shine brilliantly only when you protect them to the end, right?”

That’s what Park Jung-hwan said.

Park Jung-hwan was so impressed and acknowledged him when Tae-soo finally protected his knees.

“Bribing and flattering politicians? You wouldn’t be ashamed of that even if others pointed fingers. Because that’s an action based on your beliefs.”

-I am not ashamed of abandoning my pride to gain power and interests.

-That is my, Han Cheong-ho’s, belief.

There was a clear purpose in flattery and lobbying.

To extract hypocrisy with sweet words and solidify the collusive relationship by feeding them plenty of bribes.

It was Han Cheong-ho’s belief to survive in this era where politics and economy start as one.

“To protect Cheongil, to grow Cheongil, to solidify your power. That’s why you threw away your pride a long time ago. Would I ask for something like that now?”

After abandoning his pride, it was even easier to cater to people like a tongue in the mouth.

The power and interests that followed were sweeter than pride.

“Kneel before me and beg. Then the victor will show mercy and spare your life. That’s the last chance I’m giving you.”

In the end, what he’s saying is one thing.

“Your beliefs.”

So Tae-soo demands Han Cheong-ho’s beliefs.

“Break them.”

What to protect until the end.

Something more fundamental to Han Cheong-ho than human dignity.

What makes Han Cheong-ho endure now.

It was faith in himself.

It was a cruel demand.

“You’re not kneeling to beg for your life. You’re prolonging your life at the cost of breaking your beliefs.”

Han Cheong-ho trembled with humiliation.

‘He’s completely blocking my escape route. My life in exchange for breaking my beliefs.’

A hollow laugh escaped.

It was the result of a miserable defeat.

‘Once a belief is broken, it can never be rebuilt. If I kneel to Kang Tae-soo this time, it means I can never recover. That cruel bastard.’

Han Cheong-ho realized.

“I see why I haven’t been tortured once since I was dragged into the Central Intelligence Agency. Kang Tae-soo, did you have a hand in this?”

“Of course.”

Otherwise, how could he have been so unharmed until now?

“Does that mean you won’t even allow me to escape under the guise of torture?”

“Yes.”

“You were planning to break me with a perfectly healthy body, a perfectly healthy mind, and perfectly healthy beliefs?”

“Of course.”

Han Cheong-ho’s vision darkened.

Tae-soo’s words were like a confirmation kill.

“In the same perfect condition, with the same arrogant pride and the same dog-like temper. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be satisfied.”

Han Cheong-ho felt like his mind was fading.

Because he realized another fact.

“You brought in and killed Park Jung-hwan, Jeon Doo-ho, and Cha Ki-beom with the sole intention of destroying me to the bottom. In case they might protect me and save me. You eliminated the variables.”

“You know it well.”

Shiver.

Han Cheong-ho couldn’t help but tremble with goosebumps.

‘Unbelievable! You brought down the absolute power of Park Jung-hwan just to target me?’

It’s unbelievable even after saying it.

‘What grudge does this guy have against me…!’

Did trying to bring down the Taeyang Group come back like this?

I don’t know where or how things went wrong.

But I know one thing.

“I was curious. Why you were demanding my submission, why you were doing this to make me kneel, I couldn’t understand the reason.”

Now I think I know.

“You’re not trying to get anything from me. You’re doing this to destroy what I have.”