{······.}
“Be polite when you’re polite. Other hotels are fine, but I won’t go to a membership club. I’ll have a bodyguard with me, and I hope there’s no disagreement on this point.”
A deep breathing sound could be heard over the receiver.
“Do you understand?”
{I’ll tell the congressman.}
“And give me your phone number. I’ll register and receive that number.”
{Didn’t I give you a business card?}
“Aren’t you going to tell me?”
{This is 010-XXXX-XXXX}
“Saved. You can call me directly from now on.”
{Thank you.}
What is there to be thankful for? I just want to hear some stories. However, the meeting with Mt. Yu was not usually tiring.
“Call me when you set up a date.”
{We’ll be in touch soon.}
After a moment of silence, I hung up the phone. It was very strange that my heart was not beating at all even in front of an aide to a member of the National Assembly.
Rather than that, I wanted to go back to the bar and drink the rest of the drink.
‘I’ll have to talk to Dokgo-gap tomorrow.’
At least, there was no other ally who knew about Mt. Yu.
***
The road to Congressman Lee Yu-san’s room. Nam Il-seung felt uncomfortable.
‘What should I do if I complain about not being able to call Dorim?’
However, Kim Jae-gu also seemed to have no intention of giving up. At least, the compromise with the hotel restaurant was an achievement.
‘If it were the other guys, I wouldn’t have been able to contact them.’
he took a deep breath. Confidence was paramount. Rep. Lee Yu-san hates incompetent people, but he is more flexible than he seems, so his reaction could change depending on how he tells the story.
he knocked on the door
“Come in.”
The fact that he came to his door meant that he was a certified person. So, it was my routine to call him without even hearing his name.
“Excuse me.”
Upon entering through the door guarded by two bodyguards, I saw Congresswoman Yu San sitting at a large desk looking at her laptop.
Yu-san Lee had a fairly healthy constitution, but she wore magnifying glasses because she couldn’t lie about her age. He took off his glasses and narrowed his eyes.
“Yes. Ilseung. Is that you?”
“Yes. Senator.”
“When did that guy named Kim Jae-goo decide to come?”
“That is···.”
Lips were dry.
“Let’s talk.”
“Dorim says it’s burdensome.”
“Is Dorim burdensome?”
“They say how to see it in a dream.”
Yu-san’s face twisted. Even though he had quite a bit of money, he was embarrassed that the soon-to-be wealthy boss who hadn’t even entered the chaebol ranking rejected his offer.
‘It means there is a corner to believe in.’
As expected, the probability of being Seol Gyeong-taek’s person increased.
But that’s why I couldn’t give up any more. If Seol Kyung-taek could use it, what reason could he not use it?
Seol Kyung-taek was a startup entrepreneur, so he was only interested in increasing the pie. If it was to split the pie and distribute it to individuals, he would be far superior.
‘I don’t know whose pants boss it is, but it’s probably not your money. If I offered to fill my pockets, they would raise their hands and come under me.’
It was a great opportunity to share the unknown money.
It was regrettable that he would not come to Dorim, but he thought it might be because he was Seol Gyeong-taek’s person.
‘But you can’t make an appointment where the other person wants. I don’t know what kind of equipment he might have…’
Originally, bad guys were more meticulous. Since they installed a wiretap, they assumed that the other party would also install a wiretap.
When Yoo San frowned and didn’t say anything, Nam Il Seung continued with a low voice.
“I didn’t agree to meet you at Yeonmong. It seems like it’s a membership bar, so let’s talk about meeting at the hotel restaurant.”
“You mean the hotel restaurant?”
“Yes. How about the Daejun Hotel? If you tell Chairman Kang Dae-hyeok, he will arrange for you.”
“Yes. Daehyuk will do just fine.”
Lee Yu-san nodded, and Nam Il-seung’s face brightened.
“Then, I’ll make you a table in the best room at the Daejun Hotel restaurant. Which of these dates would be okay?”
He brought the file in which he kept notes of Yoosan’s schedule and had him inspect it.
“Let’s meet as soon as possible.”
With the start of the new year, it was time to confirm the candidates for the general election and present policies. Sponsors had to be found and secured before then.
“all right.”
Nam Il-seung bowed his head and left Yu-san’s room. He took the schedule and hurriedly called Kim Jae-gu.
“President Kim. I’m Nam Il-seung, an aide to Congressman Lee Yu-san. This is the dinner promise I mentioned earlier. I’d like it to be held at the Daejun Hotel restaurant.”
His expression darkened as he picked up the receiver.
“When did I say I would do it in Yeonmong? No. That’s not it… I’m sorry. No. But…”
His back began to bend.
***
The restaurant was moderately compromised.
‘Why do I have to go to a restaurant in a hotel that is related to an alliance member?’
Of course they all declined. I made an appointment to meet at a restaurant in a foreign hotel that has nothing to do with Yonhap or me.
The time was 11:30 on Saturday, December 30th.
‘I should celebrate the New Year with my family.’
After eating with him, I planned to fly to America right away. I wanted to spend the end of the year with my family and welcome the new year.
‘I wish Elisa was with me too, but I’m sure she’ll be with her family, right?’
Still, I thought it would be good to bring out the story. I could see that she was careful with Ha-yeon, so I thought I should propose first.
I briefly heard about Yusan from Dokgogap. I couldn’t get detailed information because I hadn’t met him in person, but according to him, Yusan Lee is ‘a man who is different from the outside. He is the type who looks exciting but conspires behind the scenes.”
Anyway, it was only enough to see through with one eye of trust.
‘I told you to be careful not to get caught by the tail.’
Today, I decided to speak as little as possible.
“I’ll prepare it so you can leave for the airport right away after dinner.”
When I parked my car in the parking lot, Benjamin Chung greeted me. When there was nothing urgent, he acted close to me like a secretary.
“Yes. Then I’ll be back.”
Not everyone had to act together. I headed to the restaurant with Jaffrey and the bodyguards. People stared at me as I walked surrounded by six bodyguards, but I couldn’t see my face anyway because it was covered by their backs.
Finally we arrived at the entrance of the restaurant.
“Welcome. Did you make a reservation?”
“It will be reserved for Nam Il-seung.”
I don’t even think about it
Dokgo-gap was on his way to the hospital where Dokgo-jin was hospitalized. Now, the time to finish it was approaching.
‘I really need to put you in prison before Yusan Lee takes care of your father.’
Dokgo-jin lost to Yoo-san. And he had even the last means of attacking Yusan in his hands. Due to the nature of Dokgo-jin, who has a strong sense of self-respect, there was no way he could fight Yoo-san without evidence.
Because he wasn’t the type to complain in front of the public that his words were right.
The problem was reason acid.
‘He sent a real assassin some time ago.’
When you think of an assassin, you usually imagine people attacking with a knife or gun, but there are far more good ways to kill someone by faking an accident.
With more than 3,000 people dying in traffic accidents each year, anyone could be one of them. In particular, the dump truck running on the highway was a good weapon that anyone could get rid of.
‘There’s also an excuse called drowsy driving.’
It was a tactic that I wouldn’t use if possible, but if I had money, there was nothing I couldn’t use. What his men found was an assassin on a motorcycle, who was seen waiting in an alleyway looking at Dokgojin’s location.
A motorcycle that stepped on the full accelerator was invincible on the sidewalk.
‘Once he starts moving, nowhere is a safe zone. I have no choice but to go to prison and be perceived as a non-threatening opponent.’
Old man in the back room. If he became an opponent he didn’t have to worry about, there would be no more threats.
When Dokgo-jin dies, his property is evenly distributed among the three brothers, so he had to prevent this somehow. I couldn’t let him die before the succession was done.
When Dok-go-gap entered the hospital room, Dok-go-jin bit people.
“Everybody get out except Gap!”
The bodyguards and nurses who were guarding the hospital room noticed and slipped out. It wasn’t a serious injury from the beginning, so it was okay to leave the hospital, but I was watching the situation without going out with an anxious mind.
Dokgo-gap put down the fruit basket.
“Why are you buying useless things and making a fuss?”
“Eat a lot now. If you go inside, you won’t be able to eat often.”
“Going in. What do you mean?”
Dokgojin frowned.
“As you may already know, Yusan Lee is trying to kill my father.”
“Everyone knows. Wasn’t it that you were hospitalized like this because you were attacked not too long ago?”
“Didn’t you live then?”
Dokgojin’s expression hardened at those words.
“You mean to literally kill me?”
“Yes. I caught a man on a motorcycle spying on my father.”
“No. How did you do that…”
“Recently, my father has shown an uneasy appearance unlike usual, so I had to inevitably attach someone.”
Should I be angry that someone was attached to me without permission? Or should I praise him for saving his life thanks to him? It was also true that he survived without being stabbed thanks to the bulletproof vest.
First of all, I decided to accept it gratefully. If even Dokgo-gap had betrayed him, there really was no place to lean on.
“I’m sorry to say this, but I think prison is the safest place.”
“How safe is the prison?”
“Surrender and go inside.”
“surrender?”
“If you officially become a liar and lose public opinion, Yu San will not consider your father an enemy.”
Dokgo-gap put his whole body into facial expressions. It was just a slight biting on his lips and frowning, but since he was usually expressionless, the effect was obvious.
‘This guy is worried about me.’
Dokgo-jin, now an old man in the back room with no place to lean on, was moved. If it wasn’t for him, I would have already lost my life.
“What should I do with that guy named Kim Jae-gu? Our group’s image has been damaged a lot because of him.”
“It looks like he’ll be joining Congressman Lee Yoo-san sooner or later.”
“what?”
“We confirmed that he was meeting with Rep. Gyeong-taek Seol. And I also saw that an aide to Rep. Lee Yu-san visited his house.”
“Then maybe we’re on the same side.”
“The aide of Congressman Yu-san Lee was barred from the door. He tried to enter again, but was blocked by security guards.”
“You mean the enemy?”
The enemy of an enemy is an ally, but Dokgo-jin hated both.
Nevertheless, there were times when a choice had to be made.
Dokgo Gab erased his expression again.
“Who would you like me to side with then?”
“I’ll have to think about that.”
The one who attacked the useless sons and ruined the honor of Dokgo Group, and the one who used himself to his heart’s content and threw it away.
It was clear which of the two to attack.
***
When I called Nam Il-seung’s name, I was guided to a large room at the back. There were bodyguards waiting at the door, but they stopped us.
“From here, only President Kim Jae-gu can enter.”
“I’m thinking of taking two of them with me.”
It wasn’t even an alliance yet, so I had no intention of trusting him and entering. If you put a person at the entrance, wouldn’t it be possible for someone to stay inside?
He wouldn’t intend to harm me in a public place, but he felt comfortable taking at least two people with him.
“It’s not possible.”
“Then let’s do what didn’t happen today.”
Since I had already held Seol Kyung-taek’s hand, there was nothing to regret. Rather, the regretful side would be Mt. Yu, so I decided to get out quickly when there was a justification.
“Let it in.”
Nam Il-seung ran out of the room gasping. He smiled and stepped back.
“Welcome. The Senator is waiting for you.”
I went inside without paying attention to the guards guarding the door. Unexpectedly, Congressman Yoo-san Lee was sitting alone inside.
Even though I came in, he didn’t get up from his seat and just stared at me.
‘Wouldn’t you like to manage the image?’
Then there was no need for image management on this side either.
Nam Il-seung whispered to me.
“As you can see, no bodyguards have been placed. If you want to talk about something sensitive, wouldn’t it be better to bite someone below you?”
“There are two of you, so let’s only have two of us attend.”
“Two people?”
“(Everyone except Mr. Smith, please wait at the entrance.)”
“(All right.)”
The bodyguards rushed away, leaving only Jeffrey Smith by my side. Nam Il-seung glanced at Jaffrey with disapproving eyes, but he only pursed his lips once, as if he had nothing more to say.
“You can sit over here.”
Opposite Congressman Lee Yu-san was my seat.
The other person didn’t say hello, so I didn’t have to say hello either. I stood upright with my back as straight as possible and faced him.
From the time I entered the room, his gaze was fixed on me as if observing. I also had no intention of avoiding his gaze.