Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 204

Two days later.

“Have a good trip, honey.”

Standing in front of the door from early dawn, Jang Ha-yeon held Hyun-bin, who was deep in dreamland, and looked at me with worried eyes.

“Don’t worry, honey. It’s not like I’m going to die.”

Today is the day I go to Kaesong with Myung Sun-woo, Henry, Eisenberg, and Wilson. Jang Ha-yeon seems quite worried about me going to North Korea, but I have something to rely on.

After reassuring Jang Ha-yeon, I got in the car and arrived at Taehyun Group’s Gyedong headquarters with Park Tae-jin.

“Did you sleep well, Chairman Myung?”

“Welcome, Director Lee, Executive Director Park. I was so excited about going to Pyongyang that I couldn’t sleep all night, haha.”

Park Tae-jin and I got out of the car and laughed, facing Myung Sun-woo, who was standing at the main gate. As the laughter subsided, Myung Sun-woo carefully opened his mouth.

“I heard that the U.S. military in South Korea is on high alert. From Osan Air Defense Control Center to Pyeongtaek and Gunsan Air Force Base, the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Ministry of National Defense are in chaos. Why is that?”

Myung Sun-woo’s eyes were filled with worry, but Park Tae-jin and I knew from Henry why the U.S. military had its hand on the sword.

[Isaac and I mobilized families that have connections with us to pressure Washington D.C. If something happens to us, Pyongyang will be a sea of fire.]

The power of influential families in the United States, led by Henry and Isaac, was enormous. Politicians in Washington D.C., unable to withstand their pressure, squeezed the U.S. Department of Defense and the State Department, putting the U.S. military in South Korea and even the U.S. military in Japan on high alert. They said they had to guarantee the safety of influential figures in the United States.

‘Don’t play tricks, Kim Jong-il. Unless you want to die together.’

For just $3 billion, the U.S. military from the land of a trillion dollars is guaranteeing the safety of the six of us, so it’s a very cheap insurance policy. I smiled at Myung Sun-woo.

“People at the heart of the American economy are visiting North Korea with us. We need to show them that if they play any tricks, they can turn Pyongyang into a sea of fire, haha.”

“Huh, haha, ha…”.

Myung Sun-woo only let out a hollow laugh, but the United States is a country that prioritizes the safety of its citizens above all else. Especially when the safety of those who hold the reins of Wall Street, the heart of the American economy, is at stake, how sensitive would they be?

The Democratic Party received an additional $1 billion despite a losing election and has a great responsibility as the ruling party, and the Republican Party has to earn the value of the $2 billion more they received, twice as much as the Democratic Party. The money came from my pocket, but Henry and Isaac, influential figures in the American business world, handed it over, so they have no choice but to do their best.

“Anyway, we won’t be able to have a meeting right away when we get to Pyongyang. You know the stalling strategy, right?”

Myung Sun-woo glanced at me, but I readily nodded.

“I know. But they’re the ones who will be desperate, not us.”

Suppressing petty pretenses is a cheap price to pay if it saves the person in front of me. People come before money, not the other way around.

While Myung Sun-woo and I went into the lobby to talk, Henry, Eisenberg, and Wilson, who had departed from the Korea Hotel main branch, arrived at the Gyedong headquarters.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Myung.”

Myung Sun-woo, momentarily startled by Henry’s natural Korean greeting, quickly took Henry’s outstretched hand.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Royce.”

After the two exchanged greetings, Eisenberg and Wilson, who were behind Henry, stepped forward.

“I’m Keeler Eisenberg, President of Chase Manhattan.”

“I’m Ronald Wilson, Vice President.”

Myung Sun-woo, who exchanged greetings with the two, told them about the precautions to take in North Korea.

“Hmm… it’s fortunate that we’re all gathered together to negotiate.”

Henry, who was stroking the frame of his monocle with his fingertips while making a humming sound, smiled, and Myung Sun-woo also gave an awkward smile.

“The proposal that you all made with Director Lee is no ordinary proposal. As I mentioned earlier, I would appreciate it if you could bear with us and wait even if the meeting falls through for a few days.”

Myung Sun-woo bowed his head, asking for understanding, and we all nodded.

***

It was not until the fourth day after arriving at the Baekhwawon Guest House in Pyongyang that we were able to see Kim Jong-il’s face. After three requests for an interview, at this late hour.

“Welcome, comrades. Welcome to our great republic.”

Kim Jong-il tried to strike a pose by spreading his arms to greet us, but his greeting was absurd from the start.

‘Great republic, my ass. Not even close, you bastard.’

North Korea declared the end of the ‘Arduous March’ [a period of intense famine and economic crisis in North Korea in the 1990s] in 1999 after years of suffering, but hundreds of thousands of people had already died from starvation and disease. And yet, ‘great republic’? We forced a smile, exchanged greetings with Kim Jong-il, and sat down at the table.

“I’ve been busy traveling to local areas for on-the-spot guidance. I hope the comrades understand.”

Kim Jong-il was trying to make us anxious, but it’s my nature to counter strong tactics with even stronger ones. I gritted my teeth and said to Kim Jong-il.

“The initial investment alone is $1.5 billion, including automobile and semiconductor factories! This is a project that involves tens of thousands of jobs. Does the great leader of the great Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the father of the people have more important business than taking care of the people’s livelihoods?”

The *Chosun Ilbo* [a major South Korean newspaper] and other conservative media outlets would call me a commie if they saw me, but since this is a business meeting, I have to suck up when I need to and be sharp when I need to. As I spewed out insults wrapped in honorifics like a machine gun, the lieutenant colonel-ranked escort officer standing next to Kim Jong-il glared at me.

“What are you saying!”

I also glared back at the officer without backing down.

“Can’t you see the adults are talking? Know your place.”

“Know my place?”

I smirked at the young officer who looked bewildered for a moment.

“It means know when to jump in and when to back off. If a lieutenant colonel like you can create ten thousand jobs for the comrades of the republic, then keep shouting.”

Since the end of the Cold War, the world has become a place where money comes before guns and swords. Even if Kim Jong-il’s escort officer, a mere lieutenant colonel, snarls, it’s nothing more than a stray dog barking in front of me.

The officer’s eyes blazed as he looked at me, who had raised one corner of my mouth.

“You son of a bitch!”

What’s the point of just shouting? I glanced at Kim Jong-il, who was watching this scene with a stern expression, got up from my seat, and approached the officer. I looked down at the holster on his waist and smirked at the officer’s distorted eyes.

“If I were you, I would have at least pretended to draw that pistol. If you actually shoot, hundreds of fighter jets from the U.S. military and U.S. Air Force bases in Japan will fly to Pyongyang, so be prepared?”

I looked at the officer with wide eyes, raised my hand with only my index finger extended, and let out a short exclamation.

“Ah! B-52s will be coming from Guam and Saipan. You know the strategic bombers that turned Vietnam into a wasteland, right? Hehe.”

‘The brinkmanship tactic isn’t just for you guys. I’m also the kind of guy who goes crazy without end if I get pissed off.’

As I was teasing him like a madman, Kim Jong-il raised his hand.

“Stop it, Comrade Ri Seong-min. Comrade, stop it too.”

“Comrade Chairman, but this son of a bitch dares to…”

When the young officer retorted, Kim Jong-il 벌떡 [suddenly] stood up and strode towards him. Kim Jong-il, who raised his hand high, slapped the officer’s cheek hard enough to make a sound.

“Get out!”

Kim Jong-il shouted and chased away the escort officer, then sat down and stared at me intently.

“Comrade Ri must have three or four lives.”

“I’m sorry, Comrade Chairman. But this matter is not for such a nobody to interfere, so I acted out of line.”

To make a proper deal, only the parties involved should be present. How embarrassing would it be for Kim Jong-il if a third party was watching? Kim Jong-il’s laughter was heard as I bowed my head with a polite apology.

“Hahaha! Comrade Myung has brought a very witty comrade!”

Kim Jong-il, who laughed heartily, stopped laughing and asked me.

“I’ve read Comrade Ri’s business plan that Comrade Myung submitted. Comrade Ri’s biggest wish is for the safety of the South Korean and American comrades who will be dispatched to the Kaesong Industrial Complex [a special economic zone in North Korea], and the factories in the Kaesong Industrial Complex?”

“Yes. It’s just a basic condition, but I want to hear the confirmation directly from the great Chairman.”

I can’t trust the North Korean bastards at all. As someone who knows about the atrocities of the Kim dynasty, including Kim Jong-il, who commits national-level fraud called Pigsy diplomacy [a term referring to North Korea’s practice of extracting aid and concessions through provocative actions], his father Kim Il-sung, and his son Kim Jong-un, I had to get a firm guarantee to feel at ease.

“Of course, we must guarantee it. And what does it mean to keep the Kaesong Industrial Complex from being caught up in politics?”

At Kim Jong-il’s question, which he said as if it were nothing, I said with a stern expression.

“I hope you will stop your provocations against the South and your nuclear development.”

Kim Jong-il’s expression hardened as if what was coming had come, but I continued to speak.

“I am grateful that you refused the current opposition party in South Korea’s request to provoke the South during the last presidential election, but unless that opposition party changes, the Kaesong Industrial Complex is like a lamp in the wind in the face of politics. Comrade Chairman, you know that, don’t you?”

“I know. Of course, I know. I’ve already purged all those who were bribed by those reactionary bastards at that time, so don’t worry, Comrade Ri.”

Myung Sun-woo, Park Tae-jin, and Henry’s eyes widened at the word purge, but North Korea’s purge has several stages, starting with self-criticism in front of the public. The bastards involved in the ‘Wind North Incident’ [likely a reference to a political scandal involving North Korea] may have been dragged to Yodok or Aoji [infamous North Korean prison camps].

“Thank you, Comrade Chairman. I would also be grateful if you would crack down on the ‘excessive loyalty’ of the frontline commanders along the armistice line. I would be even more grateful if you would stop launching missiles from the rear.”

As businessmen, there is nothing more important to us than eliminating risk factors, but the more detailed the demands, the more annoying it is. Even with annoying demands, Kim Jong-il nodded without showing any signs of annoyance.

“Our commanders are all frozen because the American Air Force is on emergency standby with the American comrades here. Isn’t that enough of an answer? Hehe.”

Kim Jong-il, who burst into a hearty laugh, stopped laughing.

“But why is Comrade Ri’s family trying to invest a large sum of money in our republic?”

“Yes?”

“I heard that the U.S. military in South Korea is on high alert.”

“What are you talking about, Chairman Myung?”

“From Osan Air Defense Control Center to Pyeongtaek and Gunsan Air Force Base, and even the U.S. Air Force in Japan is on scramble standby, causing chaos at the Ministry of National Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and even the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. Why is that?”

Looking at Kim Jong-il’s eyes filled with suspicion, I opened my mouth with a stern expression.

“It is to delay the period when China, the enemy of a thousand years that the late great Chairman spoke of, begins to emerge in earnest. Isn’t that right, Lord Royce?”

I answered Kim Jong-il, who was trying to figure out my intentions by trailing off, and passed the baton to Henry.

“Mr. Lee is right, Comrade Chairman. The living conditions of ordinary people in our United States have become difficult due to the aftermath of the IT bubble burst. Because of that, ordinary people will use cheap Chinese consumer goods.”

Kim Jong-il was also startled by Henry’s Korean, which is now as natural as a Korean’s. Henry smiled at Kim Jong-il and continued.

“The money that flows from the United States to China will develop China’s heavy and chemical industries and high-tech industries, and of course, the Chinese economy will also grow. Based on that economy, China, which will have military power, will try to make the East Asian region its sphere of influence.”

Perhaps because I had coordinated with him in advance before coming to Pyongyang, Henry said, looking at Kim Jong-il beyond his monocle with a sly look.

“Hmm…”

Kim Jong-il, who was humming, slammed the table with his palm.

“I understand. I will make sure that the Kaesong Industrial Complex is not caught up in politics no matter what. But.”

There is no such thing as a smooth deal. Kim Jong-il continued the words he had stopped and set a condition.

“Please send the $500 million deposit to guarantee the safety of the personnel and facilities to be dispatched to the Kaesong Industrial Complex as soon as possible.”

Whether it’s communism or Juche ideology [North Korea’s state ideology], money seems to be the best after all. We had to try to suppress our hollow laughter at the greed reflected in Kim Jong-il’s eyes.

###

After that, we reached a broad agreement with Kim Jong-il on various aspects, including the wage payment method for the Kaesong Industrial Complex workers, and the working-level staff who came in later coordinated the details of the creation and operation of the Kaesong Industrial Complex.

As the all-night marathon negotiations came to an end and dawn broke, Kim Jong-il, who was watching the negotiations while drinking Hennessy cognac, clapped his hands.

“You’ve worked hard. Comrades, take a good rest today and come to work tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Comrade Chairman!”

It’s only natural to have a day off if you work all night, but to have to do that much… Seeing the working-level staff bowing 90 degrees to Kim Jong-il, I thought that North Korea still has a long way to go.

“How about the comrades take a good rest today and go back? I can tell the guest house to throw a banquet.”

Myung Sun-woo, who glanced at us, gave Kim Jong-il an awkward smile.

“No, Comrade Chairman. Isn’t it the job of capitalists like us to promote national projects as soon as possible? There are many pending issues, such as coordination with the government, agreement from the ruling and opposition political circles, and communication with the American political and business circles, haha.”

Myung Sun-woo gave a good excuse. I wanted to get out of this terrible luxury prison as soon as possible.

Park Tae-jin, Henry, Eisenberg, and Wilson also nodded slightly, and Kim Jong-il looked inwardly disappointed at the sight.

“I see… I guess you don’t like our pleasure squad?”

At that moment, my eyes widened.

‘A pleasure squad? A pleasure squad! I’m a married man, you human!’

It seems like Kim Jong-il is determined to break up someone’s family. I’m dying to go back and see my fox-like wife, my rabbit-like Hyun-bin, and the second child my wife is carrying.

***

As soon as the negotiations were over, we returned to Seoul and reported the results of the negotiations to the Blue House [the executive office and official residence of the South Korean president].

“You’ve worked hard, Chairman Myung, Director Lee, Executive Director Park.”

“No, Mr. President. We just did what we had to do.”

President Kim, who shook our hands and praised our hard work, approached Henry, Eisenberg, and Wilson.

“Your decision has been a great help to the peace on this Korean Peninsula. I sincerely thank you, haha.”

“No, Mr. President. North Korea is a land worth investing in, so businessmen should seize the opportunity, haha.”

After Henry spoke in Korean, he translated it for Eisenberg and Wilson. The two, who heard Henry’s translation, also smiled and shook hands with President Kim.

After that, as we shared refreshments and told them about what happened in Pyongyang, President Kim laughed heartily.

“Haha! Director Lee’s guts are extraordinary?”

“I just bluffed a little more after hearing Chairman Myung’s story. There’s also the saying ‘strong vs. strong,’ haha.”

The reason I made the bombing threat in Pyongyang was because I knew how much Kim Jong-il feared the U.S. Air Force.

Moreover, Kim Jong-il is no different from the politicians in Yeouido [the political and financial center of Seoul, South Korea]. The $500 million that Henry and Isaac’s agent, Eisenberg and Wilson, were willing to put out was money that Kim Jong-il himself could operate as he pleased, but he couldn’t reveal it in front of a mere officer.

President Kim, who was laughing heartily, took a sip of tea and composed himself.

“It would be great if someone like our Director Lee went to Pyongyang. How about going to Pyongyang for this inter-Korean summit? Along with Vice Chairman Lee Myung-jin and Chairman Lee Dae-soo.”

I wondered if I had misheard President Kim’s proposal. Not only me, but he’s going to drag my uncle and grandfather to Pyongyang?