Chapter 113.1: Absurd Events Unfold (2)

Kang Chan and Lanok headed to another place, and as soon as they got seated, the employees served their meal. The employees left right after.

During French meal courses, food had to be served continuously, so they usually didn’t excuse themselves after serving all of the food on the table. If they weren't saying that they should mix the salad and steak together, someone had clearly ordered them to leave.

“Mr. Kang Chan, China and Japan will attack us using any means necessary,” Lanok sliced the steak. “Please pay special attention to Japan. Unlike China, they don’t have anyone to depend on or anywhere to retreat to.”

“Rather than me, that seems like something that the government should interfere with.”

“That’s true.”

Lanok wiped his mouth with a napkin, then had a sip of the wine. “We’re about to engage in a desperate espionage warfare. It would be best for you to keep this in mind as well.”

“Mr. Ambassador, is there anything else you want to tell me?”

“Not right now, no.”

Smiling meaningfully, Lanok held up his knife and fork again.

Why did he take a break in the middle of their meal? A meal should be eaten in one go, but they spent 2 hours alternating between eating and taking a break

***

On the second floor of a luxurious mansion in Las Vegas…

Ondol was laid out under the hanji paper door, which was unusual in the United States. A luxurious table was in the middle of the room.

Yang Jin-Woo was sitting across from a man.

“Chairman Yang, we’re planning on continuing the construction of the suspended underwater tunnel project,” the man said.

“No wonder. I thought it was strange for Japan to say they’re building a highway and a railroad under the sea. It seems like Japan has been aware that the Eurasian Rail would be established since then.” Yang Jin-Woo didn’t appear to be particularly interested.

“The underwater tunnel will cost a hundred trillion won. Japan will bear the full amount.”

“Hmph, so now you’re saying that you’ll take the transported goods that will be flocking to South Korea to Japan? If that’s the case, then South Korea will just become a transit stop that the goods will just pass through. Yang Jin-Woo exhaled loudly while pursinghis lips…

“We’ll entrust all of the construction of the underwater tunnel to you, Chairman Yang.”

“Will the South Korean government accept that?”

The proposal was amazing enough to make people go crazy, but Yang Jin-Woo just seemed to snort at it.

“They naturally wouldn’t approve of it easily. However, doesn’t the opposition party have the majority?”

“That’s not true, Mr. Kanemaru. Even though the opposition party has the majority, Moon Jae-Hyun is receiving an enormous amount of support from the citizens.”

“There’s no future for the Eurasian Rail right now. Meanwhile, the underwater tunnel is something that all South Korean construction companies can immediately work on. We just have to make the South Korean public demand for the tunnel to be constructed.”

Looking as if he was pacifying Yang Jin-Woo, Kanemaru continued, “Japan will internationally and extensively announce that they have become South Korea’s economic subordinate country through my country’s broadcasts and press. They will then criticize all of the economic effects that the underwater tunnel could cause for being taken away by South Korea. Japan will be able to fully satisfy and excite South Korea by doing all of that.”

Kanemaru didn’t miss Yang Jin-Woo’s small smile.

“We’ll say that you obtained the rights to construct the tunnel. If a first-class construction company from South Korea forms the consortium, then even better. Moreover, if the majority of the Assembly members demand for the construction to push through, then even the current regime won’t be able to stop it. We’ll provide ten trillion won for the groundwork.”

“Ahem.”

“Chairman Yang, the Prime Minister has also put out an extreme proposal to deposit two trillion won to the Bahamas as a way of recognizing your hard work.”

Yang Jin-Woo looked outside the window as if he wasn’t interested.

A moment of silence passed…

“This matter will let you turn the tables around in South Korea. Moreover, Japan’s Intelligence Bureau will take care of everything that would block your way, regardless of what they are,” Kanemaru continued.

Yang Jin-Woo inhaled softly. “I have always felt that South Korea would have difficulties matching Japan’s comprehensive plans and decisions, no matter how much it tries.”

“But at least you’re part of South Korea, right?Japan still finds it unfortunate that you weren’t born in Japan.”

Kanemaru lightly smiled. He then clapped once as he turned around.

Rattle.

The door opened, and ten men in suits entered. Assuming a triangle formation, they bowed.

“Kotaro,” Kanemaru called.

“Yes!” The man at the very front answered as he lowered his head to the ground.

“This is your new owner. You’ll be serving him from now on.”

“Yes! Pleased to meet you!”

“He’s the best agent Japan’s Intelligence Bureau has ever seen in the past hundred years. He’ll accomplish everything that you want, no matter what it is,” Kanemaru explained.

Yang Jin-Woo nodded as he looked at the man bowing to them. Yang Jin-Woo seemed satisfied.

***

After parting ways with Lanok, Kang Chan called Oh Gwang-Taek.

- Hello? Kang Chan! Where are you?

“I’m at the Seodaemun. I lost my phone and just found it recently.”

- Anyway! Hey! Don’t go home yet—let’s meet up!

“Sure. Where do you want to meet?”

- The Namsan Hotel?

“Going there is currently uncomfortable for me. Can’t we go somewhere quiet?”

- Somewhere quiet? Let’s just get a room in the hotel instead. There’s hardly any other place where we can quietly drink coffee nowadays.

Strangely, Kang Chan couldn’t escape from the Namsan Hotel.

“Fine. I’m leaving right now, so I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”

- Alright, alright. For as long as you get here.

Kang Chan laughed quietly. Oh Gwang-Taek laughed with him, then hung up.

Kang Chan hailed a taxi and soon reached the hotel. Joo Chul-Bum, who had been waiting at the entrance, bowed deeply toward Kang Chan.

“What are you doing? Get inside quickly,” Kang Chan said.

“Yes, hyung-nim.”

Kang Chan hurriedly entered the hotel. However, he couldn’t help but stop walking for a bit in front of the lobby when he saw a new employee busily working.

“Would you like to have a cup of tea before going up to the room?” Joo Chul-Bum asked.

“It’s fine, let’s go.”

“Alright, Hyung-nim.”

Joo Chul-Bum headed to the elevator, his expression showing deep respect for Kang Chan.

Upon reaching room 1701, Joo Chul-Bum took out a card key and opened the door.

“Hey!” Oh Gwang-Taek stood up from the sofa and approached Kang Chan. “How are you doing? You’re fine, right?”

Oh Gwang-Taek appeared to be sincerely worried, which Kang Chan found burdensome.

“Son of a bitch! If you were going to appear on TV, you should’ve taken me with you.”

The two sat on the sofa, and Joo Chul-Bum courteously poured them coffee.

Meanwhile, Kang Chan bit on a cigarette.

“I’ll be downstairs,” Joo Chul-Bum said.

“Okay, sure,” Oh Gwang-Taek answered. Joo Chul-Bum courteously said his goodbyes and left the room.

“We still haven’t figured out who caused the fight in Bundang,” Kang Chan said.

“I know! Did you even have the time for that, considering how busy you were? Either way, it’s fine. All that matters is you survived that mess.”

Strangely, Oh Gwang-Taek seemed to be having a hard time.

“What’s going on?” Kang Chan asked.

“About what?”

Kang Chan noticedGwang-Taek's eyes widening in shock.

When Kang Chan extinguished the cigarette and stared at him, Oh Gwang-Taek rubbed his face first in frustration. “I couldn’t say this to my subordinates, but…”

Oh Gwang-Taek stopped mid-sentence, then took out and bit on a cigarette again. “I’ve been feeling strangely anxious. It’s as if every person I run into on the street is hiding a knife. I’m anxious even when I’m at home and at the hotel. Phew! I can’t talk to my people, though, since I feel embarrassed about it.”

Kang Chan didn’t think a gangster would have such a side. This gang leader was feeling the same fear that captains felt whenever they lost crew members in combat.

“Why are you looking at me like that? I told you this because of who you are. Even if I’m like this, I’m still confident that I won’t lose to anyone,” Oh Gwang-Taek added.

Kang Chan smirked.

𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Getting results from things like this was only a matter of time. Oh Gwang-Taek would either overcome this and rise above the situation or collapse.

Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—. Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—. Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—.?

Amid their conversation, Kang Chan’s phone rang. The call was from an unknown number.

“Hello?”

- It’s Xavier.

Did this fucker call because he knew that Kang Chan had met Lanok? Kang Chan instinctively frowned, thinking they were following him.

- I have something to tell you. We have taken care of the three family members of Yang Jin-Woo’s son, who’s in France.

They did what to whom? The family of Yang Jin-Woo’s son?

“Didn’t you say that Yang Jin-Woo’s son had a child? Who ordered you to do that?”

- The leader did. It’s his way of showing his sincerity. We beheaded all of them.

“Hey! You son of a bitch!”

Oh Gwang-Taek suddenly raised his head. Xavier grew silent.

“You said that they’re still kids! Their old man and the father had committed crimes and sins, but what did the kid do wrong, you son of a bitch?!”

- Although we did ask you to arbitrate this issue, it still isn’t right for you to talk in that manner.

Was this fucker really an agent of the United States’ Intelligence Bureau?

Oh Gwang-Taek looked strangely at Kang Chan, who was exhaling deeply.

- We already gave the order to our people that are in the United States as well. They will be cutting their necks by now.

Kang Chan laughed feebly. Why was Lanok trying to make this kind of fucker the leader of the Serpent Venimeux?

“Xavier, call them right now and tell them to stop. I’ll arbitrate this matter then.”

- I’ll do that now.

Kang Chan’s energy drained out of him when he heard Xavier’s cold voice.

1. This was written as ??!, which is a transliteration of ‘Yes!’ in Japanese.

2. This was written as “??! ??? ???! ??? ???? ???????!”, which is a transliteration of ‘Yes! Pleased to meet you!’ in Japanese.

3. The Seodaemun District is one of the 25 districts of Seoul, South Korea.