Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 96

96. Breaking into Park Jung-hwan’s Secret Vault (3)

Song So-ri said,

“I was hiding near the main gate of Geumsan Hotel today. I saw Han Cheong-ho leaving the Geumsan Hotel, looking furious. It was so refreshing. I’ve never seen Han Cheong-ho look like that before.”

Han Cheong-ho looked defeated.

“I was happy. I thought how great it would have been if my dad could have seen this. I was grateful to you for making Han Cheong-ho look like that.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I realized it after seeing that. That you’re really standing up to Han Cheong-ho. Not just approaching us because you were after my dad’s slush fund ledger.”

Song So-ri didn’t raise her head.

“All I can do is thank you. I wanted to help threaten Han Cheong-ho.”

“Thank you. This seems like it will be a big help.”

Song So-ri said, grinding her teeth.

“I hope Han Cheong-ho goes completely bankrupt.”

Tae-soo felt the same way.

So, he was prepared to walk this difficult path alone.

“Only when Han Cheong-ho goes bankrupt can my family come to Korea and live in peace.”

Secretary Song knows too many of Han Cheong-ho’s secrets.

“Thanks to the wad of money you gave me, we’re not struggling for money. But we have to live abroad, moving from place to place. I don’t want to live like that forever.”

If Han Cheong-ho knew that Secretary Song was alive, he wouldn’t leave her alone.

“My mom is homesick. My father secretly wants to return to Korea too.”

The reason she was determined to take revenge was also for her family.

“I will bring down Han Cheong-ho. If you want to see Han Cheong-ho ruined, you can come and watch then. Korea is still dangerous.”

Tae-soo wants Secretary Song’s family to be happy.

He hopes that Secretary Song can spend enjoyable time with her family without worrying about her life.

He hopes that the woman Tae-soo once had feelings for won’t die young this time.

“I heard you did my dad a favor? That you broke the shackles that had bound my dad for 28 years.”

“If you heard, you should know. It was a fair trade.”

“I heard, so I know. It was a one-sided favor.”

Song So-ri looked straight at Tae-soo.

“I heard that you were the reason we were able to come safely to Saudi Arabia.”

She was talking about faking her death in the desert and disguising Secretary Song’s death.

So, instead of holding them hostage, Han Cheong-ho even helped them go to Saudi Arabia.

“You saved a family, three lives. Without any compensation.”

“I received enough compensation. And I’m still getting help like this. So, you don’t have to worry about it.”

Even being prepared to be noticed by Han Cheong-ho.

How could Tae-soo not know that heart, that determination?

“Actually, I was thinking of using an armed group to steal this item.”

“That’s… too dangerous.”

“Park Jung-hwan secretly gave Han Cheong-ho a secret mission. It’s a very important top secret matter. If this document is revealed, Han Cheong-ho and Park Jung-hwan will both be in trouble. I had enough reason to intervene.”

Right now, Tae-soo doesn’t have a suitable weapon to threaten Han Cheong-ho.

He has used up all the weapons he had.

Park Jung-hwan and Han Cheong-ho still haven’t turned their backs on each other.

So, there was a lot to be prepared for.

“But now that I have the password, I don’t have to risk it. Thank you for taking the difficult step of giving this to me in Saudi Arabia.”

Tae-soo smiled.

“Now, go back to Saudi Arabia. I’ll bring you good news this time.”

“Then, I’ll be looking forward to it.”

Song So-ri smiled brightly.

It was a pretty smile.

“I hope everything you wish for goes well.”

She left like that.

‘That man is more impressive than I thought?’

She glanced at Tae-soo’s hotel door.

‘I think I know why my dad told me so earnestly to catch that man.’

She liked Tae-soo.

Tae-soo remained in the room, deep in thought.

‘The weakness that Park Jung-hwan wants to get rid of, even sending Han Cheong-ho, can’t be just what Secretary Song brought.’

If he had that, it would be a great weapon.

‘What kind of secret is hidden there?’

Han Cheong-ho is clearly involved.

He needs more solid evidence.

Song So-ri brought a very good item.

‘If it’s certain that Han Cheong-ho is going to Japan as the person in charge, I should make the first move.’

The deliberation was short.

The action was quick.

Tae-soo first called Jang Mal-dong.

Like an information merchant, Jang Mal-dong readily told him about the related matters.

Jang Mal-dong’s informant was also hiding in Seongbuk-dong’s Yojung [a high-end Korean-style restaurant that often hosts important figures].

Tae-soo chuckled.

“So that’s how it happened.”

Tae-soo packed his luggage to take to Japan.

* * *

Inside the plane heading to Tokyo, Japan.

The man, Han Cheong-ho, and the woman, First Lady Oh Young-soon, sat side by side.

“In this area, it’s just you and me, Oh Young-soon.”

First Lady Oh Young-soon deliberately kept her secretary and bodyguards far away.

No crew members were visible either.

In the luxurious airliners of the 70s, curtains were used to separate areas.

“You keep making excuses and avoiding me. If you keep doing that, it won’t be fun.”

“Why did you pick me? What are you trying to do again?”

Oh Young-soon was trembling.

Park Jung-hwan said he would send his daughter, but Han Cheong-ho worked hard to persuade him.

“It’s about the First Lady’s secret vault. It’s not something a mere 19-year-old girl should be involved in. Why? Would you like me to show that photo to your daughter too?”

Oh Young-soon squeezed her eyes shut.

“Stop threatening me now. I really don’t want to live anymore.”

“Does that make what happened not have happened?”

“It didn’t happen!”

She felt wronged.

“How many times is this? Rather than being dragged around by you like this…”

Oh Young-soon said, sobbing.

“I’m going to honestly confess to my husband and end everything with my life.”

“Do you think you can cover this up with just your life? Don’t you think about your children?”

Oh Young-soon paused.

“Didn’t I say? If you don’t listen to me, I’ll spread the photos all over the country, to newspapers and broadcasters all at once. How about it?”

“No!”

Han Cheong-ho whispered in Oh Young-soon’s ear.

“The First Lady getting pointed at for having an affair with a man. Her husband’s reputation will be completely ruined, and her daughters won’t be able to hold their heads up outside.”

That was the reason why Oh Young-soon had no choice but to be manipulated by Han Cheong-ho until now.

“Those are fabricated photos! I’m innocent!”

“Will the President believe that? Will your daughter believe it? Will the people believe it? Shall we check the results?”

“Stop it!”

Oh Young-soon covered her face with both hands and sobbed.

“I gave you everything you asked for. I don’t have anything more to give.”

“Why don’t you have anything? I know you still have a lot left.”

“I even borrowed my parents’ property and gave it to you. I sold all the stocks and real estate my father left me. I sold all the jewelry my mother left me. Is it still not enough?”

Oh Young-soon pleaded.

“So please, give me back the photos. The photos you took. Give me all the original film. I’m begging you.”

It was a photo taken by Han Cheong-ho’s driver.

Han Cheong-ho had been threatening the First Lady with it all along.

He created a plausible scene with only the man’s face removed.

‘That driver, the bastard, had a photo with my face on it separately.’

Secretary Song stole that photo and gave it to Tae-soo.

Thanks to that, he was able to threaten Han Cheong-ho and gain an advantageous position in the M&A negotiations.

He had already burned all the photos and film, but Han Cheong-ho had no intention of telling Oh Young-soon that.

“Why would I?”

“There’s no end to this.”

Han Cheong-ho sneered.

“Is there a way to end it? Why don’t you tell your husband? Or should I really spread all those photos to newspapers and broadcasters? Why do you keep making me say the same thing?”

“Ah, no! I absolutely can’t do that!”

“Then cooperate obediently with my work. Got it?”

Oh Young-soon bit her lip.

“Oh Young-soon, that’s the only way for you to live. Why do you keep trying to run away?”

“No. It won’t be according to your will anymore.”

It was the first time.

Oh Young-soon glared at Han Cheong-ho while talking back.

She was born as a precious daughter of a wealthy family and grew up like a flower in a greenhouse.

Her husband, who was a soldier, became the most powerful man in the country, and she became the First Lady.

So, no one would trample on her or threaten her.

Until she met Han Cheong-ho.

“I have something my deceased father left me as a last resort. So, if this is revealed, only you will die.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Han Cheong-ho sneered.

“Your father didn’t recognize the President as his son-in-law.”

Oh Young-soon’s father was a man with great pride in himself and his family.

At the time, Park Jung-hwan was a soldier who was the number one target for removal by the North Korean army in the midst of the war.

He also had a divorce record, children, and was even eight years older.

Moreover, his daughter was in talks with a good family that had been eyeing her as a daughter-in-law.

So, there was no way he could look favorably on Park Jung-hwan, who had approached his daughter.

“To think you were cut off from your father for that reason.”

In those days, a wealthy young lady who had even received modern education was going to be the second wife of a mere soldier.

There was no way a proud nobleman could welcome her with a hearty laugh.

“That kind of inheritance from your father? It’s nothing to the President. With just a snap of his fingers, the chaebols [large family-owned business conglomerates] prostrate themselves and offer their wealth. And didn’t you say you sold all the stocks and real estate earlier?”

“My father’s inheritance isn’t money.”

Han Cheong-ho’s ears perked up.

“Then what is it?”

“Why would you want to know?”

Oh Young-soon made up her mind and glared at Han Cheong-ho.

“My father said that if I show that, that person will never abandon me, even if I have an affair in front of his eyes.”

Han Cheong-ho swallowed hard.

This is Park Jung-hwan’s leash.

If he had that…

“What is it?”

“I can’t tell you. So please, give me back the photos and film.”

Oh Young-soon cut him off firmly.

Then she looked straight at Han Cheong-ho.

“I’m going to tell him myself. I’m going to finish things cleanly.”

“You? You’d do that. If you could have, you wouldn’t have come this far. Isn’t that right?”

Oh Young-soon flinched at Han Cheong-ho’s threat.

“Think carefully on the way. Think about how you can shut my mouth. Got it?”

“I really can’t take it anymore. Every day is like hell.”

“Park Jung-hwan’s leash, where is it?”

“Stop it! Please stop it!”

Oh Young-soon covered her face with both hands and shed tears.

‘Please, someone help me… I want to get out of this hell.’

She felt like the short flight to Japan was a long, never-ending time.

* * *

Ttoc, ttoc [sound of knocking].

Jeobeok, jeobeok [sound of footsteps].

The sound of footsteps coming down the stairs.

People arrived inside the silent underground secret vault.

It was Han Cheong-ho and Oh Young-soon.

“This is my first time here too. There was a strange place.”

Compared to Han Cheong-ho, Oh Young-soon had been here a few times.

It wasn’t a place that became familiar just because she came often, but she wasn’t looking around curiously like Han Cheong-ho.

Han Cheong-ho wouldn’t fail to notice that.

“You seem familiar with this place?”

“I’ve been here a few times.”

“Was it your father’s errand, or your husband’s errand?”

“…It was my father’s errand.”

Oh Young-soon trembled, unable to make eye contact.

Han Cheong-ho got a sense of it.

“Park Jung-hwan’s leash that your father left you, it’s here!”

“… !”

Just looking at that startled expression, he knew.

It’s definitely here.

“Hand it over.”

Han Cheong-ho demanded confidently.

Oh Young-soon’s vision went dark.

But unexpectedly, a lifeline of salvation came down to her in an unfamiliar place.

The lifeline that Tae-soo sent.