Episode 34: Don't I Have the Right, Too? 4.
I got off in the Prince Hotel’s underground parking lot and walked with I Minju and Gim Byeongjun.
“Do you know what my dad’s personality is like?”
Assemblyman I Haeseong, as seen on broadcasts, had an image of being somewhat radical, hot-tempered, and tenacious.
“He’s got a quick temper, doesn’t he?”
“That’s right. He’s got a lot of pride, is stubborn as a mule, and when he’s angry, no one can stop him, so you’ll have to watch what you say. But on the other hand, once he gives his heart to someone, he gives them everything. Anyway, since I’m here, if things get weird, I’ll step in.”
“Got it. Thank you, Minju.”
“And also······.”
“······.”
“Dad likes people who are good to me.”
“Huh?”
“I said he likes people who treat me well.”
[I’m saying boost me up in front of Dad. You really have no tact. Do you know how much I bragged to him about how well you’re doing at work?]
“Ah, yes. I’ll do my best.”
Perhaps because the nuance of his reply was strange, I Minju stared blankly before turning her head again.
Well, anyway, it was the answer she had wanted, so she must have been satisfied.
Guided by a staff member, they stood before a room with a sliding door.
Gim Byeongjun’s face was completely stiff.
He seemed very nervous at the prospect of facing a big shot he had never met before.
By nature, a prince would have grown up around such people from childhood and would never dream of cowering before anyone.
But he was not an ordinary prince.
Though a son of the king, he was someone raised among commoners.
He was aware of his status, yet he had not shed the skin of Deputy Gim.
Just as a prince raised among commoners, even after ascending to the throne and entering the palace, could not shake the habit of eating rice mixed with water.
Hyeonu was thinking that if Gim Byeongjun grew too nervous, he would have to step in appropriately.
I Minju opened the sliding door.
“Dad~”
“Oh my, our princess, to think you’d ask Dad out for a meal. What a surprise.”
“Hehe, I just suddenly thought of you.”
“Really? Hahaha, for our daughter to say she thought of Dad, I’m touched.”
“But Dad.”
“Hmm?”
“I brought some company colleagues with me.”
“What?”
“They’re colleagues close to me; I wanted to introduce them to you.”
Through the open sliding door, Gim Byeongjun and Hyeonu appeared before the eyes of the bewildered I Haeseong.
“It is an honor to meet you. I am Gim Byeongjun.”
“I am Gim Hyeonu.”
“Come in, Deputy, Hyeonu.”
Perhaps because they were his daughter’s coworkers, I Haeseong’s expression did not look bad despite them being uninvited guests.
No, he seemed to welcome them.
He must have had plenty to ask about his daughter’s work life.
“Ah, yes. Come on in.”
Gim Byeongjun and Hyeonu, having entered the room, bowed again.
“Yes, sit down.”
Once Gim Byeongjun and Hyeonu were seated, I Haeseong said a word to I Minju.
“You rascal, if you’re bringing work colleagues, you should say so beforehand.”
“Sorry, Dad. These people said they had something to tell you. We’ll just say what we need to and leave.”
I Haeseong’s brows furrowed slightly.
Politicians of this caliber received an enormous number of requests and solicitations.
But they firmly refused such solicitations.
Because it was all too common to have one’s ankle grabbed at the most critical moment due to a single ill-advised favor.
It was best not to create such situations in the first place.
“Why are you doing something so unnecessary?”
“They’re my close colleagues; just hear them out. You don’t know what they want to say.”
“Goodness······ you rascal······.”
[Obvious. What could they possibly say to me? They must want something.]
I Haeseong turned his head toward Hyeonu and Gim Byeongjun.
“I’m sorry, but let’s keep this to a simple greeting to your coworker’s father. If things get strange for no reason, it might affect your relationship with Minju, wouldn’t it?”
He had already concluded that they wanted something.
At this point, Gim Byeongjun had to respond immediately.
Even the same words could change each other’s positions and future relationships depending on the nuance.
Today’s meeting must absolutely not carry the nuance of asking I Haeseong to handle Ma Gyeongtaek and protect thousands of travelers.
Rather, it had to be framed as them giving something—or bestowing a favor.
Just like tossing a ball and having a hunting dog fetch it on its own.
But Gim Byeongjun was too nervous.
His thoughts were probably very complicated.
Because he had staked too much on this matter.
Moreover, he had never faced such a big shot before.
This meant he wasn’t in the right mental state.
For now, to get the matter accomplished, he had to step forward.
“We did not come here to put you in a difficult position, Assemblyman.”
All three gazes snapped to Hyeonu at his quiet, calm voice, which seemed to blend in from the surroundings.
“We came to offer bait to you, Assemblyman.”
Not only Gim Byeongjun, but even I Minju flinched.
Their eyes seemed to say what I Minju had said before.
“He’s got a lot of pride, is stubborn as a mule, and when he’s angry, no one can stop him, so you’ll have to watch what you say.”
If that was his personality, one should not say such things in front of him.
One had to be more careful.
But Hyeonu had no intention of doing so.
Through this matter, they were in a relationship that needed to maintain a partnership.
They had to be equals.
Perhaps because the atmosphere seemed precarious, I Minju tried to intervene.
“Dad, that’s not it······.”
I Haeseong’s low, thick voice drowned out I Minju’s words.
“What did you just say?”
“I said we came to offer bait to you, Assemblyman.”
“······What bait?”
“Your most hated opponent······. If your political enemy becomes bait, wouldn’t that be delicious?”
Silence fell.
Gim Byeongjun still seemed out of it, and I Minju maintained her surprised expression.
“My most hated opponent······. A political enemy, you say······. Who is that? I have more than one or two of those.”
As befitting a seasoned politician, he was trying not to say who his political enemy was with his own mouth.
Well, if that was the case, he just had to be told.
There was no need to waste time on such things.
“It would be someone trying to climb up by stepping on you, Assemblyman. Someone like Assemblyman Ma Gyeongtaek······. Isn’t that right?”
A sharp smile settled at the corners of I Haeseong’s eyes.
“You’re saying you’ll throw Ma Gyeongtaek as bait?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know what you’re going to say, but politicians aren’t easy opponents. They’re not prey that gets caught so easily.”
“I am merely throwing it for you. You must be the one to catch it, Assemblyman.”
“······The price?”
“There is none. When we meet again someday, simply remember us. The name Gim Byeongjun.”
From his mouth, which had been glaring for a moment, a low, heavy laugh trickled out.
“Hehehehe······ I really don’t know what to say about this. Bewildering······. Well, anyway, Ma Gyeongtaek—I have grown curious about the taste of that bait. Let’s hear it.”
[Gim Byeongjun, was it? I’ll remember that name. If it’s nonsense, you’ll learn just how terrifying the price for running your mouth so arrogantly can be.]
“Understood. Then allow me to explain.”
Having listened to all of Hyeonu’s story, I Haeseong’s expression did not change.
He did not touch the food that had been brought out while he listened.
He took his first sip of alcohol only now.
“Keuh······ is that really true?”
“Assemblyman Ma Gyeongtaek must have started rising to prominence from that point. From when he received funding from Black Eagle.”
I Haeseong’s mouth twitched.
“Damn it······. No wonder······.”
Hyeonu did not know exactly how this matter ought to be handled politically or legally.
But through common sense and a bit of searching, he had thought it through to some extent.
“First, you should bring this issue into the public sphere, and since there are clear circumstances, start with a search and seizure of Black Eagle······.”
“Enough. Stop. As long as what you’ve said is true, snapping that bastard’s neck will be nothing.”
“As for whether what I said is true or not, if you just look into the owners of the passenger transport companies that were sold······.”
Once again, Lee Haeseong waved his hand.
“I said that’s enough.”
He picked up the liquor bottle and held it out to Hyeonu.
“Here, take a drink.”
“Thank you.”
This time, he held it out to Kim Byeongjun.
“You too.”
When Kim Byeongjun accepted the drink with both hands, he poured one for himself as well.
“Let’s have a drink.”
After emptying his glass in one go, he set it down with a fairly loud clack.
“Khaa, the liquor tastes damn good today.”
“······.”
“······.”
“I think I’m going to be a bit busy from now on, so I’d like to end the meal here. That won’t be rude, will it?”
“Not at all, Assemblyman.”
Lee Haeseong took something out of his wallet and held it out.
It was a business card.
They said a National Assembly member would hand his business card even to a dog, but that was during election season.
A business card given in this setting carried a different weight.
“Take this.”
When Hyeonu and Kim Byeongjun accepted the cards, he said,
“Give me yours too.”
“Here you are.”
“Mm······. Then you may go.”
Hyeonu and Kim Byeongjun rose from their seats and bowed.
They were about to turn away when Lee Haeseong’s voice came from behind them.
“Once this matter is over, I’ll make sure to seek you out again. And if you run into any problems, look at my card and contact me anytime. Don’t hesitate.”
He gave a brief laugh.
“Heh, though you don’t seem like the type to hesitate.”
“Thank you. I sincerely hope things go well for you, Assemblyman. Ah, and······.”
“······.”
“Lee Minju is doing extremely well at the company, and she’s a great help to her superiors and colleagues.”
“Is that so?”
Lee Haeseong grinned from ear to ear.
“Hahahahaha, so you’re doing that well at work? To be honest, I was worried because I raised you too indulgently. I was afraid you might slip up and say something wrong. I suppose I don’t need to worry about that anymore. You have such a dependable colleague too.”
“······.”
Lee Minju’s face flushed red, and she glanced at Hyeonu.
“Minju.”
“Yeah?”
“Dad’s going to be a bit busy today. Can we eat together another time?”
“Yeah, okay. Even listening to it, it sounds important. Take care of your work, Dad.”
[Good. I wanted to go with Hyeonu too.]
“Let’s go together, Hyeonu.”
“Then I’ll be going.”
“All right. Get home safely.”
After seeing his daughter off with a benevolent smile, Lee Haeseong’s gaze changed completely, as if it had never been that way.
Then he took out his phone and made a call.
“Yeah, right. Listen carefully, Chief Park. From now on, this is an emergency. (······) I’ll explain the reason later, so identify the owners of every passenger transport company in the country. (······) Yes. And look more closely at the companies sold within the last three years and sort them separately. I want to see it tomorrow morning. Even if you have to stay up all night. (······) I said I’ll explain the reason later. I’m hanging up.”
After ending the call, he immediately made another.
“Hey, Prosecutor General Jo.”
It was the Prosecutor General.
“What are you doing right now? (······) You don’t have any plans after stepping down as Prosecutor General, do you? (······) A law office? Come on, that’s a side job. (······) Chairmanships of various committees? Huh······ With ambitions that small, honestly. If you’ve served as Prosecutor General, you ought to be aiming for Minister of Justice or Prime Minister at least. What are you going to do with such a lack of vision? (······) I’ll make it happen for you. Minister of Justice, Prime Minister. Those are appointed positions, aren’t they? (······) If you want them, don’t loiter around in such trivial places. Come here right now. There’s some food here that’s gone cold without anyone touching it. Let’s eat together and draw up a picture. (······) Yes. (······) The Japanese restaurant at the Prince Hotel.”
After ending the call, a smile filled with many thoughts was etched on Lee Haeseong’s face, and he was slightly flushed with excitement.
It was because the events to come were flashing before his eyes like a panorama.
The picture was too good.
He still could not be certain that the bastard’s words were true.
One was never supposed to trust a person’s words to begin with.
But if he investigated the passenger transport companies, he would quickly know whether it was true, and if he shook Black Eagle down to the last speck of dust, Ma Gyeongtaek would be dragged up along with them.
Well, even if that sly bastard Ma Gyeongtaek had not left a tail leading to him, reasonable suspicion alone would be enough. This was not a fight in a courtroom, but in the political arena.
A hot sigh mixed with alcohol escaped him.
“Haa······ To think a day like this would come in my life······.”
If that bastard’s words truly were true, then he was a precious benefactor sent from the heavens.
It was a revelation telling him to become president.
He picked up the business cards on the table and looked at them.
Mancheon Trading, Sales Team 9, Assistant Manager Kim Byeongjun, Staff Kim Hyeonu.
Lee Haeseong etched the name Kim Byeongjun into his mind once more.
However, he thought Hyeonu was Kim Byeongjun.
Because Hyeonu had done all the talking, he had mistaken him.
He let a sip of liquor flow into his mouth.
He was drinking on an empty stomach, but the liquor tasted exceedingly good.
* * *
Kim Byeongjun seemed somewhat dispirited.
The meal had practically been set before him, yet he had not even managed to spoon it up; Hyeonu had done everything.
It seemed he was feeling inferior.
Rather unlike a chaebol heir······.
As they walked toward the elevator, Lee Minju said,
“We didn’t even get to eat, so let’s have a meal before we go.”
“I’m sorry, but could you give us a moment?”
“Pardon?”
“There’s something I need to talk about.”
She glanced at the dispirited Kim Byeongjun, then smiled softly.
“All right. Go ahead and talk. I’ll be sitting over there.”
[Kim Hyeonu is somehow kind of cool, isn’t he? He has drive, and he’s considerate too.]
“Um, Assistant Manager.”
“Yeah?”
“Today was such an important occasion that I ended up stepping forward.”
“Yeah. It’s fine. You did well.”
“Um······ Assistant Manager.”
“······.”
“You don’t have to be like that with me.”
“What?”
“If you act that way, I won’t be able to move freely.”
“······.”
Kim Byeongjun’s eyes wavered as he looked at Hyeonu.
Because he understood what he meant.
No king blamed himself, wondering why he could not do the same, just because a general displayed valor and cut down an enemy commander.
All he had to do was praise him.
Kim Byeongjun gave a small laugh and lightly patted Hyeonu on the shoulder.
“You did well today······. Thank you.”
“You worked hard too, Assistant Manager.”
Hyeonu turned his head and called Lee Minju.
“Let’s go eat now.”
She, who had been touching up her makeup, hurriedly finished and walked over.
She was a woman who might very well be commuting to work from the Blue House.