Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator : M.N 1391
Chapter: 43
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Here is the translation following all your rules:
break lines preserved exactly, paragraph grouping preserved, all punctuation intact, sound effects translated into English words, same format, no confirmation needed.
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043-06-Do You Know Gangwan Lee?
“When is that VIP from the U.S. supposed to arrive?”
“In the afternoon two days from now. Anyone else have questions?”
Director Hong looked left and right, but everyone had run out of things to ask.
“Then get back to work. Oh, right! Security Chief, bring that bastard Lee Gangwan.”
“You said you didn’t even want to see his face for a while. Why the sudden change?”
“If the VIP arrives and meets him, and that brat suddenly decides to get stubborn and refuse to cooperate, how am I supposed to face the Minister?”
Everyone who had been on their way out rolled their eyes in disbelief.
The prison warden? Isn’t that a position that basically never gets to see the minister anyway?
In other words, the attitude Director Hong was showing right now was pure overreaction, and everyone who saw it felt secondhand embarrassment. Why am I the one feeling ashamed?
“What?”
“Nothing. I’ll bring him right away.”
The security chief, who had been maintaining a straight face, snapped back to attention at Hong’s tone. A moment later, Gangwan entered the warden’s office.
Gangwan bowed his head politely as he made eye contact with the warden.
“Hello, Director. Have you been well?”
No, I fucking haven’t! Do you have any idea how much hell I went through because of you, you bastard?!
That’s what Director Hong wanted to scream, but he exercised superhuman restraint and forced a smile.
Let’s start with the prison break. If it had just been a normal escape, he might have been able to smooth things over somehow, but turning a sitting member of parliament into a cripple?!
His own neck had almost flown off his shoulders. If the political world hadn’t preferred to avoid expanding the Yang Seungtae incident into another Creative Capital Gate scandal, he would’ve already been transferred out thanks to vengeful lawmakers.
And after barely managing to keep his position, he now had to sweat bullets dealing with rallies by women’s groups. He had to decide whether to respond firmly to some women screaming “Reinstate Lee Gangwan!” while charging toward the prison.
Of course, by principle, trespassing into a prison should absolutely be punished harshly.
But these days, since certain crazy bitches call everything sexual harassment if a man so much as brushes against them, he had no choice but to think carefully at least once.
It wasn’t that he avoided shit because he feared it; it was simply that, as a person in society with a reputation to maintain, if shit sprouted legs and charged at you, you couldn’t help but wonder whether to stomp on it or dodge it first.
But Hong swallowed all those petty complaints and offered Gangwan a seat with a smiling face. If he blew up whenever he felt irritated, could he really call himself a civilized adult?
To start the conversation, Director Hong opened with small talk.
“I’m always the same. How about you?”
“I’m always the same too.”
Seeing how comfortably he seemed to be living, Hong felt his guts twist, but he couldn’t block the conversation he’d just started.
“Aren’t you curious why I called you here like this?”
“Not really, but let’s hear it.”
You arrogant little…
Hong swallowed his anger and explained the reason.
“.. Someone from America is coming to meet you.”
“Why?”
“In my opinion, it seems they want your cooperation.”
“I have no connection whatsoever with America, though?”
“It appears they need your… ability.”
“So is it something like the CIA or FBI coming over?”
“I’m not exactly sure which. Anyway… you can do it, right?”
“Do what?”
“Cooperate! Cooperation!”
Hong’s voice rose slightly in frustration at Gangwan pretending not to understand. Then he startled himself, he’d almost run out of patience.
Meanwhile, Gangwan thought for a moment, then shook his head. Hong’s voice rose again.
“Why?!”
“Why should I help people who’ve never put a single coin in my mouth?”
“You helped with the police investigation last time, didn’t you?”
“Well, they’re the people’s shields, right? Helping them is something I can do out of gratitude for the taxpayers who pay for my daily bread.”
Is that so? Hong’s eyes lit up. This was the point to persuade him.
“This is also national work.”
“Whose nation?”
“It relates to national interest.”
“Right, so who’s involved? How many people babble about ‘national interest’ just to leech off tax money?”
“···.”
Hong fell silent. All he knew was that he’d received a call from the Minister of Justice.
Gangwan continued.
“Are you sure there aren’t more people like Yang Seungtae?”
His eyes clearly said: If you really believe that, you’re a certified idiot.
Hong felt offended and raised his voice.
“So you’re saying you can’t cooperate?”
“That depends on the terms the U.S. proposes.”
“What? You’re saying you’re going to dictate conditions to America?”
“You don’t have to worry so much. Have I ever made unreasonable demands?”
“Hm…”
It was true. Gangwan had never asked for plea bargains in exchange for helping prosecutors or police. Instead of sentence reductions or temporary leave, all he’d ever asked for was… fried chicken.
That eased Hong’s nerves. But he still asked, out of caution:
“Alright, so you’re agreeing to cooperate under light conditions, right? You promise?”
“It’s not like I’m holding any grudges against America…”
“Yes, yes. Please, just try living normally.”
“I’d love to, but the world won’t let me.”
Stop forcing your version of ‘normal’ onto society!
Hong screamed inside.
= = = = =
Two days later, an Asian-looking young man and a blond white man visited Director Hong.
“Hello. I’m Kim Joon from the FBI. This is Tom.”
“Hahn-nyonghaseyo.”
Hong smiled at Tom’s clumsy pronunciation as he welcomed them.
“Welcome! We’ve been expecting you.”
“Our schedule is tight, could we meet the man named Lee Gangwan?”
“I’ve already arranged it. Follow me.”
Hong personally escorted them to the visitation room. After placing extra chairs, he sent someone to bring Gangwan.
“Hi~. Helloo~.”
Gangwan entered and cheerfully greeted them, but their expressions didn’t change.
When he sat down, the one named Kim Joon spoke.
“You are Lee Gangwan, correct?”
“I am not correct.”
“???”
Before Kim could process the nonsense, Gangwan shamelessly added:
“You’re American, I assume.”
Given the matching suits and how clearly the two men looked like partners, it wasn’t hard to guess, even without his outrageous joke, that they were from the U.S.
Kim nodded.
“Yes. I’m a third-generation Korean American.”
“I see.”
Gangwan nodded and glanced between Kim and Tom, prompting Kim to introduce them.
“I’m Kim Joon, and this is Tom.”
“That’s it? Even the reporters who come to see me state their affiliations…”
Even if he didn’t understand the jab, the meaning was clear: state your affiliation.
A simple request, after all, unlike certain reporters who were too ashamed of their employers to mention them, these guys had no such issue.
“FBI.”
Gangwan pretended to be surprised.
“Impressive. So why would people from such a big place want anything from me?”
“Unfortunately, there’s something that requires your ability.”
“Then before any negotiation regarding that, I have something to ask for.”
Kim’s brows tightened. It wasn’t just that the word “negotiation” came out of nowhere, he was FBI, and yet this foreign criminal spoke so boldly. It bruised his pride a little.
“What is it?”
“Chicken. Let’s talk while eating chicken. You’ve tried Korean fried chicken, right?”
Kim looked slightly startled but nodded.
“Korean chicken really is good. Don’t you think negotiations go smoother when something delicious slides down your throat?”
It was unexpectedly persuasive.
But unwilling to lose control of the conversation so early, Kim pressed back.
“We’ve already coordinated with the Korean authorities.”
But of course, it didn’t work.
“Do I look like I belong to the police or prosecution?”
Kim studied his face for a moment, then whispered to Tom in English. Finally, he asked the guard:
“Could we order some chicken?”
Then Gangwan cut in.
“Just in case, order Korean fried ʧicken, not Kentucky fried ʧicken.”
His exaggerated rolled-tongue pronunciation made even the guard look at him with a deadpan expression.
But Gangwan’s face was as thick as the Earth’s crust.
“What? When you say chicken, it has to be Korean chicken.”
Same brand, same name, but absolutely different value.
Yes, the price difference was small, but that wasn’t the point.
If you put Kentucky and Korean fried chicken in front of Korean people, ninety-nine out of a hundred would choose the Korean one, and would probably complain they didn’t get both.
Then he pushed even further.
“A chilled tall can of beer too. Oh, and skip that Korean domestic beer that tastes like water and still dares call itself beer. Import beer. European.”
A truly thick face.
After ordering the chicken, Kim sat down and tried to continue.
“Since the chicken is on the way, let’s start the negotiation.”
“You’re pretty impatient, huh? Haven’t you considered that negotiations would go far better once my stomach is full and I’m mildly buzzed?”
“.. Then let’s chat a bit to get to know each other first.”
With his attempt at controlling the conversation crushed, Kim accepted that Gangwan was not normal.
“You’ve stirred up Korean society quite a bit. Any thoughts on that?”
“No thoughts.”
“Why no, ”
“Ah, now let me ask something. I’m not the one being interrogated, am I?”
Kim nodded. Then Gangwan’s question came, sharp and direct.
“Did your government promise something to this country in exchange for my cooperation?”
“.. That’s not something Mr. Lee needs to know.”
“Really?”
With an unreadable smile, Gangwan continued:
“For cooperation, there needs to be some basic trust, right? Without any attempt to build trust, how are you supposed to believe anything I say? What if I lie?”
Kim’s expression hardened. Gangwan clearly understood his own value, and that the reason for this meeting was entirely due to his ability.
Twenty Questions of Truth.
He was right.
To use his ability, a foundation of trust was absolutely necessary.