Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 38

38. Laying the Groundwork Using the President (6)

Tae-soo nodded.

“Regarding administrative procedures, diplomatic procedures, and special operatives.”

“Hmm?”

“This concerns the construction project that Samwon Construction won the bid for. If I arbitrarily resume the construction, issues could arise from various places. The Saudi royal family might also object.”

“That’s true.”

“Therefore, I’d like the President to send an official document to the Saudi government. It could state that Taeyang Construction is a partner company of Samwon Construction, or that it’s a construction company that has taken over Samwon Construction’s project.”

Tae-soo glanced at the company heads present and said,

“This applies even if a different company, not me, goes to the Middle East. Since there’s no way to find the missing executives of Samwon Construction right now, how can we properly handle the handover?”

“Alright, I’ll send an official document to the Saudi government stating that Taeyang Construction has taken over Samwon Construction.”

“Thank you.”

Suddenly, Taeyang Construction was positioned to take over Samwon Construction with the government’s approval.

It seemed like a temporary justification, but there was nothing Park Jung-hwan couldn’t do when he set his mind to it.

‘This is an unexpected gain? If I play my cards right, I might be able to swallow Samwon Construction whole.’

It wouldn’t be easy, but it wasn’t impossible.

Park Jung-hwan smirked.

“Then, is the diplomatic issue resolved?”

“I’m planning to send a large number of workers from Korea to the Middle East all at once. But as the President knows, there’s a high possibility of delays regarding visas, passports, and exit permits.”

In the 21st century, there were no major problems with traveling abroad due to the liberalization of travel, but the situation was different in the 1970s.

There were strict procedures for overseas travel.

Park Jung-hwan readily nodded.

“They’re going to resolve the construction issue right away, so I’ll provide convenience. Secretary Kim.”

“Yes.”

As Kim Jung-rim responded, Park Jung-hwan nodded.

“You will personally handle the official documents and matters related to departure.”

“Understood.”

Park Jung-hwan looked at Tae-soo and smiled.

“But what’s with the special operatives? Why do you need special operatives at the construction site?”

“To find the missing executives of Samwon Construction.”

“It’s just finding a few people who are scared and hiding. It’s excessive to deploy special operatives.”

Tae-soo chuckled.

“The executives of Samwon Construction, you see… If they’ve been missing for months without any contact, isn’t it obvious they’ve been captured by Bedouin tribes [nomadic Arab peoples]? So, someone needs to get them out.”

Park Jung-hwan’s expression changed slightly for a moment.

He rubbed his eyebrows and said,

“So? What are you going to do?”

“I think we need to negotiate properly with the Bedouin tribes.”

“What?”

Park Jung-hwan laughed in disbelief.

“Negotiate? I sent you to resolve a diplomatic dispute, and now you’re declaring war first?”

Tae-soo shook his head.

“A declaration of war? Absolutely not.”

“Then? Is the negotiation you’re talking about, taking special operatives, a peace talk?”

“Of course, I will request a peace talk. But…”

The unspoken words were clear.

-Do the Bedouin tribes, the warriors of the desert, love peace?

-Will the Bedouin tribes easily hand over the executives of Samwon Construction?

-Then, should we give up on the executives of Samwon Construction?

Tae-soo smirked.

“We need to find them before the Saudi royal family does, so the President can save face.”

That was true.

Whether to hand them over to the Saudi royal family or deal with them as a form of revenge for all their misdeeds.

Having them in our possession would allow us to speak with a louder voice.

“Also, if this is successful, the media will report it as ‘Heroic President Sends Special Operatives to Rescue Nationals Kidnapped Abroad’.”

“Heroic President?”

“It will definitely be a great help in improving your image.”

Park Jung-hwan already had a bad image due to the Yushin Constitution [a series of South Korean self-coup d’état in 1972] and military dictatorship.

The words ‘image improvement’ and ‘heroic president’ were very pleasing to Park Jung-hwan.

Park Jung-hwan propped his chin with one hand and looked at Tae-soo with interest.

“Are you saying you’re giving me the credit for this?”

“No.”

Tae-soo smirked.

“It’s not my credit to begin with. It’s an operation to rescue hostages by dispatching special operatives. If it succeeds, doesn’t the credit naturally go to the person who sent them?”

“Hahaha.”

Park Jung-hwan couldn’t help but laugh.

“So, I can’t help but dispatch special operatives because I’m greedy for the credit. Hahaha.”

Park Jung-hwan was very pleased and slammed the armrest of the sofa, laughing loudly.

“Hahaha, solving the Saudi royal family’s problem and giving the people a good image? Killing two birds with one stone. It’ll cleanly eliminate my worries at once! Hahaha!”

Park Jung-hwan was so pleased that his laughter continued for a long time.

Finally, Park Jung-hwan shouted heartily.

“Alright, take as many special operatives as you need! Solve the problem in the Middle East and return triumphantly! Then I won’t forget the credit! Hahaha.”

Everyone’s expression hardened at Park Jung-hwan’s last words.

‘President Park Jung-hwan is promising not to forget the credit?’

‘Amazing. To make Park Jung-hwan say such a thing in just 10 minutes.’

‘If that guy succeeds and comes back, he won’t have to worry about anything. If Park Jung-hwan guaranteed it, there’s nothing he can’t achieve.’

As Park Jung-hwan was greatly pleased, Chief of Security Cha Ki-beom, who had been quietly keeping his place, subtly interjected.

“Your Excellency, may I select the special operatives?”

“Your Excellency!”

Park Tae-jong hurriedly tried to speak, but he was a step too late.

Park Jung-hwan nodded.

“Ki-beom, you take care of it.”

“Understood. I will select and send some capable guys.”

Park Tae-jong said urgently.

“Your Excellency!”

“That’s enough. I won’t listen to anything else.”

Park Jung-hwan raised his hand and firmly stopped Park Tae-jong from speaking.

Park Tae-jong had no choice but to shut his mouth and glanced at Tae-soo.

Tae-soo subtly shook his head.

It meant that was enough.

‘Han Cheong-ho, Jang Jun-yong, Park Tae-jong, Park Jung-hwan, Kim Jung-rim, and even Cha Ki-beom. I’ve received everything I could from everyone here.’

Tae-soo stood up from his seat and bowed 90 degrees.

“Then, I’ll be on my way.”

It was a clean finish.

Then, Jang Jun-yong of Geumsan couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“Secretary Kim reported that you were an extraordinary person, and indeed.”

Regardless of anything else, it was certain that his skills were extraordinary.

‘He won over President Park Jung-hwan’s favor after Park Tae-jong. Without any flattery or bribes. This is something that neither I nor Han Cheong-ho can do. He’s truly amazing.’

Jang Jun-yong’s eyes couldn’t leave Tae-soo.

* * *

After sending off the President’s party.

Only Tae-soo and Park Tae-jong’s son, Park Cheol-wan, remained in Park Tae-jong’s office.

Park Tae-jong excitedly opened a bottle of whiskey.

“Hahaha, to think I’d see Han Cheong-ho flustered like that. Hahaha, it’s so refreshing!”

Park Tae-jong happily drank the whiskey.

The alcohol flushed his face red.

“How did you predict that Han Cheong-ho would act like that? You’re like a shaman. Hahaha, it’s exactly as you predicted.”

Park Tae-jong gave a thumbs up in his drunken state.

He was staggering, quite drunk.

He had drunk more than usual because he was in such a good mood.

As a result, Park Tae-jong’s usually stern and serious tone was also very relaxed.

“You even saw through the reason why His Excellency came down to Pohang. And you guessed that Han Cheong-ho would stir up His Excellency to target the mine. How did you know all that?”

Tae-soo smiled and brought the whiskey glass to his lips.

“I was lucky.”

Park Tae-jong shook his head vigorously.

His body swayed with the headshake.

“No, it wasn’t luck. You told me in advance. That you didn’t have the power to protect the mine.”

Park Tae-jong clearly remembered what Tae-soo had said.

-I lack the power to protect the mine.

-There will be those who try to take advantage of the molybdenum [a mineral used in steel alloys] by using the excuse of it being a national strategic mineral.

“As you said, those who were targeting the mine really appeared. For the very reason you were wary of.”

Park Tae-jong nodded greatly.

“You’re really very smart. Knowing this would happen, you asked His Excellency to guarantee the mining rights in advance. Knowing that Han Cheong-ho would make a move. I only realized that now, hahaha.”

Park Tae-jong was as happy as someone who had gotten rid of a 10-year-old indigestion.

He had seen his old nemesis get thoroughly defeated today.

“Hahaha, Han Cheong-ho, who was targeting your mine, was instead properly fleeced by you. Among those who have dealt with Han Cheong-ho so far, no one has stripped him so easily like you.”

Hearing those words, Park Tae-jong’s son, Park Cheol-wan, widened his eyes.

“Did that really happen?”

“Of course, His Excellency directly put his foot down. Han Cheong-ho couldn’t dare to disobey His Excellency’s orders. Isn’t that why he offers so much money from time to time, fearing to be out of favor?”

Park Tae-jong was truly enjoying himself.

He had clashed with Han Cheong-ho so many times over the past years.

“Cheol-wan, do you know about seesaws?”

“Seesaws? Are you talking about the one in the playground?”

“Yes, a seesaw with both feet off the ground ends when one side touches the ground.”

“Yes? Why are you suddenly jumping to that topic?”

Park Cheol-wan was bewildered by the sudden talk about seesaws.

But he didn’t explain further.

Park Tae-jong looked at Tae-soo and smiled meaningfully.

“I’m curious to see how that friend will see the end of the seesaw.”

“…?”

Tae-soo silently tilted his whiskey glass.

The strong whiskey was very bitter.

‘Han Cheong-ho. Now that I see it, he’s especially close to the President’s Chief Secretary, Kim Jung-rim. He’s managed to win Kim Jung-rim over to the point where he can be called Cheongil’s dog.’

Tae-soo didn’t know exactly who Han Cheong-ho of the 70s had connections with or how far they reached.

Because it didn’t coincide with the time when Tae-soo joined Cheongil Group as a secretary and started working.

‘Kim Jung-rim is someone who fell out of favor with President Park Jung-hwan at the end of 1978. And disappeared into the annals of history like that. Hmm.’

That’s why Tae-soo doesn’t know well either.

He had already lost power when Tae-soo was working hard.

‘In other words, he was someone who wielded power until he fell out of favor with President Park Jung-hwan at the end of 1978.’

So that’s why Han Cheong-ho is putting in so much effort.

‘What kind of connection does Han Cheong-ho have with Kim Jung-rim? How deep, how wide?’

He was curious.

Tae-soo joined Cheongil Group in 1978.

There were many restrictions on information for a new secretary.

It was after the mid-80s that he was able to access quite a bit of information as his position rose.

It was only after Han Cheong-ho died and Han Il-kwon took over as chairman that he was able to view the information of Cheongil Group.

‘But Han Cheong-ho’s secret ledger was never passed on to me. Perhaps Han Il-kwon is the only one who knows all of that.’

But it doesn’t matter.

Even without that, there’s no problem in devouring Cheongil Group.

‘The flies that stick around because of money and power are the first to turn their backs when the food disappears.’

Tae-soo had dealt with those kinds of people endlessly.

Tae-soo smiled.

‘Cha Ki-beom ultimately didn’t take sides and kept his mouth shut. Whose man is he? If not Cheongil or Geumsan? Could it be another company?’

Knowing whose side Cha Ki-beom is on is important.

‘Cha Ki-beom directly volunteered to select the special operatives. If he’s an enemy, he’ll plant an assassin among the special operatives. If he’s on our side…’

Tae-soo smiled with an interesting expression.

‘This is going to be fun.’