Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 184

184. Kneel (3)

Knowing Kim Jae-guk’s personality, Tae-soo had been preparing meticulously for a long time.

He had contacted Kim Jae-guk in advance and showed him the documents related to ‘Sector 7’.

He stirred up Kim Jae-guk’s patriotism, planting the seeds of betrayal in his mind.

Tae-soo was certain that Kim Jae-guk would turn against Park Jung-hwan.

‘It seems the second matter will be resolved without any issues as well. There are only two things I need to obtain from the National Intelligence Service (NIS).’ [The NIS is South Korea’s primary intelligence agency.]

Shin Ji-soo lowered his head.

Tae-soo stared at him silently.

“You must know that I am not someone who acts for the sake of a grand cause.”

Shin Ji-soo, not Tae-soo, had to do the persuading.

The balance of power had already tilted to one side.

Here, the strong one was Tae-soo, not Shin Ji-soo.

“Nevertheless, I have no choice but to speak of a grand cause. Because I have nothing to offer you.”

“Why do you have nothing to offer?”

“The National Intelligence Service is on the verge of collapse. What can I promise?”

“That’s true.”

Any promise would be meaningless if he were not the head of the National Intelligence Service.

‘He calculates gains and losses better than I thought. That’s probably how he surpassed his senior, who advocated for a grand cause like Kim Jae-guk, and rose to this position.’

I like it.

That’s why he would have abandoned Han Cheong-ho, with whom he had maintained a relationship for so long, without hesitation.

A man who can turn his back on the past for the sake of the present and future.

The head of the National Intelligence Service, a powerful organization, should be closer to power than to a grand cause.

Shin Ji-soo was already half a politician.

‘You can’t discuss trust with a power-hungry person who calculates gains and losses, but they make excellent business partners.’

Wasn’t that the reason Shin Ji-soo came out like this from the beginning?

-I ask that the National Intelligence Service not be caught up and dismantled.

A moment of silence passed.

Finally, Tae-soo opened his mouth.

“What can you offer me as the head of the National Intelligence Service?”

Shin Ji-soo finally raised his head.

His face was bright.

“What do you want?”

“I want to be your priority. As long as you are in that position.”

This meant that he wanted to be prioritized over the solicitations of other conglomerates and the influence of politicians.

“I can’t guarantee the highest priority. As you know, I can’t ignore the President’s words.”

“What about the Acting President’s words?”

Shin Ji-soo was momentarily speechless at the blatant question.

But the answer was already decided.

“I will ignore them.”

This meant that he would put Tae-soo above Acting President Kim Jong-pyo.

The reason was very simple.

Kim Jong-pyo, the Prime Minister, had been stripped of all power by Park Jung-hwan and was in charge of the administration.

Although he was in charge of the actual administration, there was not much he could do under the state of emergency.

It was no exaggeration to say that his authority had been reduced compared to when Park Jung-hwan was alive.

“The Acting President can only buy time for the administration to survive until the next regime comes in. He has no authority to push forward with other matters. He’s just a figurehead.”

It was a satisfactory answer.

“What do you intend to do with the National Intelligence Service agents involved in this matter?”

“For now, I plan to hide their identities as much as possible. If that’s not possible…”

Shin Ji-soo’s eyes gleamed sharply.

“As long as they are part of the National Intelligence Service, they must be prepared to sacrifice themselves for the sake of the cause.”

Did he mean to kill them to silence them?

Tae-soo nodded.

“Tae Yang Group will take over all the National Intelligence Service agents involved in this matter.”

Shin Ji-soo’s eyes widened.

“What do you mean by Tae Yang Group will take over…”

“If they come under my wing, won’t they be unrelated to the National Intelligence Service?”

It was an excellent offer.

Shin Ji-soo smiled brightly and was very pleased.

“Good, those guys are already anxious and worried about their future. If Tae Yang Group takes responsibility for them, many will go.”

“Please tell them that their salaries will be taken care of.”

“We’ll see each other more often through them. Good, very good.”

Shin Ji-soo was satisfied.

It was Kang Tae-soo, no less.

‘Kang Tae-soo is someone who takes care of his people no matter what, so I don’t have to worry anymore.’

They were national assets that had been cultivated for a long time.

But it was a situation where they had to be silenced even if it meant killing them.

If they were handed over to Tae Yang Group, the National Intelligence Service would not be affected.

‘In the process, I’ve created a solid connection with Kang Tae-soo, the backing that connects Ahn Jung-woo, a political superstar who is considered a leading presidential candidate, and Lee Se-hoo, the Army Chief of Staff.’

The gains were quite substantial for dealing with Han Cheong-ho alone.

Shin Ji-soo extended his hand.

“Let’s overcome this difficulty together.”

“Let’s do that.”

Tae-soo shook his hand.

A satisfied smile also appeared on Tae-soo’s face.

‘With this, the two matters are over.’

The benefits gained from this visit were threefold.

‘First, to thoroughly crush Han Cheong-ho.’

The head of the National Intelligence Service, Shin Ji-soo, was originally a man of Cheongil Han Cheong-ho [likely refers to being aligned with or supporting Han Cheong-ho].

He had been backing him for a long time, and their relationship was quite close.

It would have been quite troublesome if Shin Ji-soo had protected Han Cheong-ho.

Turning him away from Han Cheong-ho was reason enough to make the move.

‘Second, to create a new connection with the National Intelligence Service.’

The National Intelligence Service is a powerful agency with immense authority.

It is called the sword of the regime and has become synonymous with fear.

With this incident, Shin Ji-soo owed Tae-soo a debt.

‘Third, to improve the level of intelligence under my command.’

The National Intelligence Service agents are those who have received high-level training as intelligence officers for a long time.

What was the part that Tae-soo had been constantly regretting?

That Tae Yang Group’s intelligence capabilities were too lacking compared to other conglomerates.

‘Unlike Han Cheong-ho, Han Il-kwon is a guy who might do anything.’

He is a genius when it comes to bad deeds.

Therefore, he needed competent intelligence officers who could monitor and check Han Il-kwon’s every move.

‘Obtaining National Intelligence Service agents is the biggest gain.’

For that reason, he entrusted the National Intelligence Service with wiretapping under the guise of protecting the President and monitoring agents.

So that Tae Yang Group could naturally absorb them after being caught up in the presidential assassination.

‘Very good.’

Tae-soo was able to shake hands with Shin Ji-soo happily.

Tae Yang Group is still quietly strengthening its foundation and growing.

‘Now, for the last, third matter.’

Tae-soo casually said to Shin Ji-soo.

“There is one thing I would like to ask of you.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about Kim Jong-pyo, the Acting President.”

“Kim Jong-pyo?”

Shin Ji-soo’s expression hardened.

“There is already a matter involving Kim Jong-pyo and our National Intelligence Service.”

I know without being told.

He was referring to the so-called ‘Walkerhill Scandal’ among the four major corruption cases of the Park Jung-hwan regime.

“If that breaks out, our National Intelligence Service will be in trouble.”

That would be the case.

It was Kim Jong-pyo who came up with the idea, and the National Intelligence Service acted as his hands and feet to embezzle national funds.

“There’s the financial crisis, isn’t there?”

Shin Ji-soo smiled.

That has nothing to do with the National Intelligence Service.

“If it’s that, anytime.”

He already had quite a bit of data.

Shin Ji-soo nodded confidently.

He was very reliable.

* * *

Tae-soo came out of the National Intelligence Service.

He walks towards the parked car.

Kim Kwang-rok was next to Tae-soo, and Tae Yang Group security guards followed behind him.

But there was a car waiting in the parking lot.

“Chairman Kang.”

A man opens the back door of the car.

‘Speak of the devil.’

It was Acting President Kim Jong-pyo.

“What brings the young chairman of a conglomerate to the National Intelligence Service?”

“What brings the Acting President all the way here?”

“I came to see you.”

As soon as he heard that Tae-soo was heading to the National Intelligence Service, he set off.

On the way, he listened to the press conference of Park Jung-hwan and Han Cheong-ho and was convinced.

Kang Tae-soo would settle his long-standing feud with Han Cheong-ho.

“Do you have time to talk for a moment?”

“If you can get straight to the point.”

“It won’t take much time.”

Kim Jong-pyo gestures.

Then the bodyguards who had followed Kim Jong-pyo step back.

Tae-soo also raised his hand.

Kim Kwang-rok and the Tae Yang Group security guards step back.

It became a confrontation with Tae-soo and Kim Jong-pyo in between.

“It’s a shame. I kept my promise and rushed the completion of the Tae Yang Apartments. But all I got back was dust.”

“Is there dust worth 100 million won?”

Tae-soo laughed.

“I guess the Acting President doesn’t remember.”

That day, when Kim Jong-pyo came to see him, Tae-soo had said.

“You asked for 100 million won in political funds. I gave you 30 million won after emptying my pockets. I said I would give you the balance after the sale of the Tae Yang Apartments was over.”

The sale of Tae Yang Apartments was just about to begin.

“I said from the beginning that what I wanted was Park Jung-hwan’s accusation of treason.”

Kim Jong-pyo puts his hands in his suit pants and glares at Tae-soo askew.

“You put that in someone else’s hands and now you’re saying that?”

“I clearly said that day. That I don’t have it in my hands right now.”

When Tae-soo said that, Kim Jong-pyo finally remembered what Tae-soo had said.

-What should I do? I don’t have it right now. Didn’t the National Intelligence Service agents say that?-

-If that’s the matter, I’m sorry.

He made a mistake.

Kim Jong-pyo was trying to figure out the meaning of the words at that time.

However, he was *넘어갔다* [tricked or misled] by Tae-soo’s pace and moved on to the issue of political funds.

Kim Jong-pyo’s eyes become even sharper.

‘You mean you never intended to give it to me from the beginning?’

Of course, Tae-soo didn’t look good.

He glares at Tae-soo as if he were a thief who stole and sold his *맡겨 놓은 물건* [entrusted item or something left in someone’s care].

“I was going to completely *빼 주려고* [help you out or remove you] you from the troublesome work.”

Lee Se-hoo is already handling it well.

It is Lee Se-hoo who is investigating the presidential assassination, not Kim Jong-pyo.

Kim Jong-pyo currently holds power over the administration.

‘But the Tae Yang Apartments have already been completed.’

So what is there for Tae-soo to be afraid of?

Kim Jong-pyo said, twitching his cheek.

“I was going to have Han Cheong-ho *푹 썩게* [rot or languish] in the National Intelligence Service as a gift to show my goodwill.”

He is coming out of the National Intelligence Service after meeting Shin Ji-soo.

It is Shin Ji-soo, not Kim Jong-pyo, who decides the fate of Han Cheong-ho, who was caught by the National Intelligence Service.

Kim Jong-pyo leans his body in front of Tae-soo and growls.

“You insulted me.”

Tae-soo looked down at Kim Jong-pyo and said coldly.

“Do you think the world is in your hands because you are the Acting President? I think you’re *착각하고* [mistaken or deluded].”

The *선전 포고* [declaration of war] is not only Kim Jong-pyo can do.

“You are not Park Jung-hwan. You are only an Acting President, and a temporary one at that.”

It is not Tae-soo who is not seeing reality properly.

It was Kim Jong-pyo.

“You already had the authority to move the administration. A *허수아비* [scarecrow or figurehead] Prime Minister who only took on work and responsibility without power. Isn’t it no different from now?”

But that’s all.

It was a power that was not as good as Lee Se-hoo, who was *틀어쥐고* [holding tightly or controlling] the military, and Shin Ji-soo, who was *틀어쥐고* [holding tightly or controlling] the National Intelligence Service.

Isn’t it a *허수아비* [scarecrow or figurehead] Acting President position that only has to *버티기* [endure or hold out] until the next regime comes in?

It is the very position that Choi Gyu-hyuk held in his previous life.

“Why do you think I came to the National Intelligence Service?”

“It must be because of Han Cheong-ho.”

“You’re wrong. It’s because of you.”

Only then did Kim Jong-pyo harden his expression.

He steps back from Tae-soo.

“The four major corruption cases that you *싸지른* [made a mess of or caused] with Park Jung-hwan, especially the *증권 파동* [stock market crash or turmoil] that is counted as the first. How are you going to *빠져나갈* [get out of or escape]?”

Kim Jong-pyo’s complexion changes.