Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 217

217. The Goal is Cheongil Construction (5)

Lee Mun-bok hunched over, his eyes darting around, constantly scanning his surroundings.

Clutching heavy bags in both hands, he strained his neck, trying to see.

‘I’m supposed to meet the broker here.’

This was the broker who arranged passage to Japan.

And one who operated through a very reliable channel.

‘Wasn’t this a smuggling ship run by the Japanese smuggling organization Park Jeong-hwan created? Who would dare rob *his* ship? There’s no safer way to travel.’

Lee Mun-bok glanced down at the bags in his arms, a satisfied smirk spreading across his face.

‘With this, I can settle down in Japan and live like a king.’

It was all procured by selling everything he could get his hands on in Cheongil.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he’d sold off Cheongil Group’s very foundation.

‘Let’s buy real estate. I hear Japanese real estate prices are skyrocketing every day.’

The Japanese economy was booming.

Whispers of a potential bubble were drowned out by the roar of progress.

Everyone dreamed of a bright future, and real estate prices broke records daily.

‘And I’ll start my own business with the rest. More than enough for initial capital.’

Back at Geumsan Construction, he’d been the chairman’s favorite, rising through the ranks at breakneck speed.

He enjoyed the expectations of those around him, commanding the respect of people older than himself.

He always walked tall, chest out, head held high.

There was nothing to fear.

His only regret was that his salary never matched the immense profits Geumsan Construction raked in.

‘Never again will I be a salaried CEO.’

After joining Cheongil Group, he learned the bitter truth of being a salaried CEO.

Even though he was essentially doing the group chairman’s job, his CEO salary remained stagnant.

He worked himself to the bone, only to be met with criticism instead of recognition.

‘Han Il-kwon is the group chairman, for crying out loud! With my abilities, I could build the best company in Japan.’

After Han Il-kwon took over as chairman, the gates of hell swung wide open.

He was incompetent, yet insatiably greedy.

Everything he touched turned to dust, and Lee Mun-bok was left to clean up the mess.

He often resorted to threats and intimidation to make Lee Mun-bok cover his losses.

It was infuriating.

‘I’m too good for this. I won’t even spare Cheongil a second glance. Ptooey!’

Lee Mun-bok spat a thick wad of phlegm towards the general direction of Cheongil.

It was a satisfying expulsion of all the frustration that had been building up inside.

‘It would be nice to see Han Il-kwon lose his mind when he finds out I’m gone. A bit of a shame I won’t be there to witness it.’

Just as Lee Mun-bok was basking in his triumphant thoughts, a large figure clad in black ambled toward him.

At first glance, he was a mountain of muscle, easily over two meters tall.

‘That can’t be… the head of security for the Taeyang Group, right?’

Why would the Taeyang Group’s security chief be wandering around here at this hour?

It couldn’t be.

But then he spotted a small, middle-aged man leading the way, and Lee Mun-bok recognized the familiar face.

Smuggling broker Ushiroda wore a strange expression.

“You’re here. Let’s go quickly. Where’s the ship?”

“Ah, yes… but are you traveling alone?”

“Yes. Is there a problem…?”

“No, no problem at all. That’s great.”

Lee Mun-bok’s family had already left by plane.

Under the guise of a family vacation, they’d flown to Japan ahead of him.

Only Lee Mun-bok remained in Korea to liquidate his assets and slip across the sea without a trace.

Taking a plane would leave a paper trail, which was undesirable.

“But what’s that?” Ushiroda asked, pointing to something Lee Mun-bok was carrying.

“Oh, this?” Lee Mun-bok replied.

“A pineapple? Carrying expensive fruit. You must be making a killing. Hehehe.”

“…Want some?”

“Ooh, yes. Excellent service.”

As expected, Park Jeong-hwan’s favorite smuggling route for high-ranking officials was top-notch.

The hospitality was impressive.

People will eat even poison if it’s free, he thought.

Moreover, pineapple was a rare, imported tropical fruit.

‘I can eat it on the ship when I get hungry.’

Lee Mun-bok carefully took the pineapple and placed it in his luggage.

Suddenly, Lee Mun-bok began to sniff the air.

“Doesn’t it smell strange? Like urine.”

“Urine…”

Ushiroda’s face turned sour.

“You should probably use the restroom before we go. It’s a long trip by sea. It’s difficult to ask to use the bathroom once we’re out there.”

“Good idea.”

“The bathroom is over there.”

As Lee Mun-bok turned in the direction Ushiroda indicated, *thud*.

He collided with the muscular giant.

Lee Mun-bok’s shoulder bumped against the giant’s chest, barely making contact.

“Did you just hit me?” the giant asked.

Lee Mun-bok was dumbfounded.

“Let’s get the facts straight. You suddenly turned and blocked my path.”

“Anyway…”

The muscular giant grinned, revealing his gums.

“It’s self-defense.”

Bang.

Lee Mun-bok’s memory ended there.

* * *

Lee Mun-bok woke up on the deck.

The night was still dark.

A brightly lit and chaotic-looking port could be seen in the distance.

The ship was heading towards it.

“A port?”

When did the ship depart and get all the way here?

“Crazy! Are we already in Japan?”

Lee Mun-bok jumped to his feet.

The luggage he’d been hugging in his sleep fell to the ground.

“Where’s my money bag?”

The bag containing everything he’d liquidated from Cheongil.

The money bag had vanished.

He felt a wave of panic.

Then Lee Mun-bok spotted a piece of paper.

Lee Mun-bok’s face began to turn blue.

“N-no way… No! It can’t be! Noooo!”

Lee Mun-bok frantically rummaged through his luggage.

All that remained were a few changes of clothes and a pineapple.

“It’s not here! There’s really nothing! What kind of money is that!”

It was the foundation for his new life in Japan.

The seed money to strike it rich with Japanese real estate.

The business capital to build a company far surpassing Cheongil or Geumsan.

“It’s the money I prepared by selling all my assets! My youth, my passion, all poured into that money! My mooooney!”

It was money that should never have been lost like this.

Tear, tear, tear, tear.

Lee Mun-bok, consumed by rage, tore the paper to shreds.

“Uaaaaa!”

He searched every corner of the cabin, running around frantically like a madman, wailing.

Thud.

The ship had already docked at the port.

“We have arrived at the port.”

“My bag! Have you seen my bag? It’s this big, with a sturdy leather handle, a black travel bag!”

“I don’t know. Get off. Quickly.”

“Please find my bag. I really can’t do without it. You have to search the whole ship and find it!”

Lee Mun-bok was half out of his mind, rambling incoherently.

Kim Mu-hyeok, who had rushed onto the ship, flashed his ID.

“Prosecution. We’ll be conducting a brief inspection.”

People followed Kim Mu-hyeok onto the ship.

Lee Mun-bok asked with a blank expression, “You speak Korean pretty well… for a Japanese person.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? This is Korea.”

“Huh?”

“Please cooperate with the investigation.”

Lee Mun-bok’s judgment was clouded by shock.

His eyes darted around wildly.

‘What is this? How is this happening?’

Kim Mu-hyeok picked up Lee Mun-bok’s luggage.

“Is this your bag?”

“Yes, it is.”

“And whose pineapple is this?”

“It’s mine. Is there a problem…?”

Suddenly, Kim Mu-hyeok pulled out a knife and sliced open the pineapple.

“My, my, you’ve been quite bold.”

He pulled something out of the pineapple.

Plastic bags filled with white drugs began to emerge.

“One, two, three, four, five bags.”

Lee Mun-bok’s jaw dropped.

He began to shake his head violently.

“I don’t know anything! I really don’t know anything!”

“This pineapple is yours, right? Surely the owner knows what’s inside?”

“I picked it up.”

“…A pineapple?”

Kim Mu-hyeok’s eyes narrowed.

Even Lee Mun-bok realized how ridiculous that sounded.

So he quickly changed his story.

“No, actually, I received it as a service. They asked if I wanted to eat it, so I just took it. It’s true!”

“…A pineapple?”

Did it even make sense to offer such an expensive imported fruit as a service?

Lee Mun-bok felt wronged.

“It’s true! Call them and ask them directly.”

“Who are you talking about?”

“…The smuggling broker heading to Japan.”

“…This guy is even involved in smuggling?”

The situation worsened with every word he spoke.

Kim Mu-hyeok’s eyes turned fierce.

“You keep changing your story.”

“…I will exercise my right to remain silent. Call my lawyer. Cheongil…”

He couldn’t very well call Cheongil Group’s legal team.

Lee Mun-bok abruptly shut his mouth.

“Do you realize how suspicious you look right now?”

Kim Mu-hyeok shook the bag of drugs found inside the pineapple.

“The evidence is pretty clear. I’m arresting you on the spot.”

Behind Kim Mu-hyeok, officers in police uniforms produced handcuffs.

‘Damn it! I’m screwed!’

Lee Mun-bok’s mind went blank.

He shoved people aside and bolted.

“Catch him! A drug offender is running away!”

“Catch him! Get that bastard!”

But something felt off.

‘Why are there so many police officers at the port?’

Why were there so many police officers at the port at this hour?

Moreover, what were the pineapples packed in wooden crates that the police were surrounding?

‘Daaaaamn!’

The only thought that crossed his mind as the police officers swarmed him was a string of curses.

* * *

Cheongil Group headquarters.

Han Il-kwon was receiving a report from Secretary Jang.

“This morning, prosecutors arrested Lee Mun-bok at Incheon Port on charges of drug smuggling.”

“Drug smuggling?”

Han Il-kwon’s expression hardened.

‘Lee Mun-bok isn’t the type to do drugs. What’s going on?’

Han Il-kwon had seen his fair share of drug addicts.

Hanging out with low-level gangsters, you often encounter them.

They exude a certain aura, different from ordinary people.

Lee Mun-bok definitely wasn’t a drug addict.

He was even less likely to be a smuggler bringing in drugs.

“It’s said that members of the Japanese yakuza organization Sumiyoshikai [one of Japan’s largest organized crime syndicates] were attempting to smuggle drugs into Korea at Incheon Port when they were caught and wiped out by a new prosecutor.”

Sumiyoshikai (住吉會, Sumiyoshi Association).

One of Japan’s three major yakuza organizations, known as the most modern form of yakuza in the 21st century.

As of 2020, it was a massive organization with approximately 4,500 members.

“Could it be…”

Han Il-kwon couldn’t help but jump to his feet.

Why wouldn’t Han Il-kwon know who they were?

He had even been trading with them until recently.

Even giving them the 100 million won he had squeezed from Chomyung Bank.

“That’s not an organization that would collapse at the hands of a mere new prosecutor. That’s the Japanese route that Park Jeong-hwan and my father created. Who would dare touch it?”

It was the hidden power that Han Il-kwon had invested so much effort into cultivating.

“High-ranking officials and politicians are heavily involved. There are a truckload of guys who won’t stand still. Contact them immediately.”

“Who are you referring to?”

“Starting with the Prosecutor General.”

“The Prosecutor General is said to be taking the lead. The new prosecutor who wiped out the yakuza is the son of Prosecutor General Kim Cha-yeol.”

“What?”

The Prosecutor General was trying to destroy the Japanese route.

“Kim Cha-yeol? That can’t be. I know that bastard used to use the Japanese route. Why would he dig his own grave?”

“Please watch the news flash first.”

Secretary Jang turned on the television.

The prosecution was holding a press conference and giving a news briefing.

-Our prosecution will never overlook this matter. I promise here that we will strictly investigate everyone involved, regardless of their position.

-Japanese yakuza organizations will never take root in Korea, as long as I am in this position!

-A joint investigation team between the prosecution and the police will be launched as of today. We will start a war on crime.

Han Il-kwon’s expression grew even stiffer.

‘Not good. Very bad. All the organizations that were supposed to protect me in the future will be playing it safe.’

Secretary Jang continued the report.

“There is something bigger.”

“Is there something bigger than this?”

“Lee Mun-bok sold off all of Cheongil Group’s assets and stocks at bargain prices…”

“I know that.”

It was something Han Il-kwon had reluctantly allowed.

It was also something he had to do to get the money to the president within a month.

Han Il-kwon’s plan was to have Lee Mun-bok take all the blame, then get rid of him and take all the profits.

But Secretary Jang shook his head.

“Lee Mun-bok was caught trying to smuggle all of that to Japan. But he lost all the money in his possession.”

Bang.

Han Il-kwon slammed his fist on the desk.

“Lee Mun-bok, that bastard, daring to forget his place!”

The back of his head was throbbing.

His blood pressure soared.

* * *

Seongbuk-dong Daewoon Pavilion.

A secret meeting was being held at the luxury restaurant.

It was a place that usually lit up the night, but today it opened its doors especially for lunch.

Tae-soo, who had arrived first, was sipping tea.

Creak. Clack.

“I didn’t expect you to ask to see me. We’re not exactly close enough to have lunch together with smiles, are we? So, what’s the matter?”

It was Kim Bong-nam, the president of Cheongil Chemical.

Kim Bong-nam grumbled even before fully entering the room.

Tae-soo smiled.

“Isn’t it about time to change the chairman of Cheongil Group?”