Chapter 188
Chapter 188
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: Jun-sama (2)
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In the car heading to the airport.
As we arrived at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, what caught my eye were the rows of Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force band members lined up along the road.
"Everyone! Present arms!"
"Arms!"
They were dressed in colorful uniforms, putting on a flashy performance.
Hell, I wasn't even a head of state, and the car itself had its roof completely open, like something designed for standing and reviewing the troops.
This was... the feeling of supreme dignity?
How the hell did that pig from North Korea, Kim Jong-un, manage to enjoy this overwhelming pomp every time?
-Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!
Hearing the percussion and brass instruments blaring right up close was enough to make my ears hurt.
And Kim Won-cheol, sitting next to me, seemed to find the whole spectacle hilarious, chuckling nonstop.
"Kekeke, there's no place in the world where a foreigner leaving home gets a send-off from the local military band like this."
"...You're telling me. It's a bit overwhelming, honestly."
Even during the Saudi coup, I hadn't gotten treatment this lavish. Of course, they made up for it by waving thick stacks of crisp cash instead of a formal review like this, so I was satisfied.
"Waaaaah! Jun-sama! Jun-sama!"
We'd barely passed the band area when this happened.
Countless Japanese women rushing toward me.
In their hands were picket signs with a slightly idealized drawing of my face.
"Wait, hold on. What's this 'Jun-sama' crap?"
"Ah, you've been stuck in the hospital, so you wouldn't know. Chairman, you're currently number one in Japan's women's popularity poll. That's why—y'know."
That expression on his face, like he was dying of amusement.
Referencing the drama that first brought the Korean Wave to Japan, Kim Won-cheol continued his commentary on this adorable commotion.
"Jun-sama after Yon-sama. With luck like this with the ladies, there won't be any worries about the Ammunition Group succession at all."
"...I'm going insane, in all sorts of ways."
Yeah. It was enough to drive anyone mad. Seriously.
Even getting out of the car and into the airport was a hassle, with hundreds of people following me like iron filings drawn to a magnet.
"Jun-sama! Jun-sama! I love you, Jun-sama! Have a beautiful romance with Princess Hina!"
They said they loved me, but why were they telling me to have a beautiful romance with Princess Hina?
No, I didn't get any of this situation, so all I could do was flash a practiced smile and wave.
"Haha... Th-thank you, Japanese people."
"Waaaaah! Jun-sama smiled at me! Kyaaaa! Wave over here too!"
Big mistake. Regret hit me in one second as the crowd surged even closer with their heat.
This pseudo-superstar experience didn't end until I passed through the gate and boarded the private jet.
"Whew, this isn't easy. Me, a Hallyu star out of nowhere."
"Heh heh heh. From what I see, this seems firmly in your fate? Your track record so far has been so flashy, after all, whoop."
Kim Won-cheol spouting nonsense.
Before I could retort, he downed a glass of whiskey and changed the subject.
"By the way, that Deputy Prime Minister guy loaded you up with a ton of gifts?"
"Yeah, he did. In terms of scale... we'd need to spin off a whole affiliate just to handle Japan for the Ammunition Group for a while."
Back in the hospital VIP room, the Deputy Prime Minister had passed something over with a solemn expression, like he'd made a firm decision.
Feeling the plane take off, I mulled over his words that still lingered in my mind.
'The Government of Japan expresses its deepest gratitude to Chairman Han Seo-jun. No, beyond you personally—to the entire Ammunition Group.'
* * * *
And after a long pause at his words, I finally spoke.
'First off, I'm truly grateful for what feels like excessive praise.'
Staring steadily at the Deputy Prime Minister's face, I tried my best to read the intentions hidden behind his expression.
To see beyond the facade of simple goodwill.
'I doubt it's purely personal sentiment. It's because of the position you're in right now, not just you as an individual.'
'I'm glad we can get straight to the point. I like that about you—no unnecessary fluff.'
He shrugged both shoulders like he couldn't help it.
Raising his voice toward the hallway outside the room, he gave some order to his aides.
'Hey! Bring that in here.'
'Yes, Your Excellency, Deputy Prime Minister.'
A thick document, elegantly covered in fine silk to the Deputy Prime Minister's taste.
The title on the front cover—in both Japanese and Korean—was enough to make my eyes widen.
-Next-Generation Nuclear Power Plant Safety Management Comprehensive Project
'This is...!'
'Better to unwrap the pleasant gift basket first than to show the bill right away, right?'
Bill or no bill, the gift basket came first. It was gleaming so alluringly golden.
Japan's next-generation nuclear power plant construction plan. A massive project to build over 20 new plants and replace all aging reactors.
Calming my pounding heart for a moment, I flipped straight to the final page filled with numbers.
'A 25-year long-term project, and just the safety management portion is 1 trillion yen...?'
'30% prepaid, the rest in stages. Not a bad deal.'
1 trillion yen.
At 2011 exchange rates, that was 12 to 13 trillion won—a colossal sum.
Any businessman would lose their mind over a scale like that.
However.
'First... just one question.'
Of course, they wouldn't hand over a mega-deal like this for free.
With a calm gaze restored, I posed the question to the Deputy Prime Minister.
'A project this size—entrusting it to a foreign company instead of your own must be extremely awkward.'
The Deputy Prime Minister smiled faintly.
Instead of answering directly, he just gestured for me to continue.
Fine, then. As you wish.
'Losing out on tech development opportunities, potential security risks, and on top of that.'
No, those were issues for the bureaucrats.
For a Deputy Prime Minister—a near head of state, and leader in a democratic system—what he'd care most about was.
'Issues with approval ratings, the lifeblood of any politician.'
I had nailed it.
Only then did he nod in satisfaction.
'You see right through it. Of course, we'll handle the first two points with additional measures on our side.'
'I understand that.'
'And the last one... well, that's not something for you to worry about, Chairman Han.'
This guy trying to gloss over it.
But it was obvious. Politicians make irrational decisions like this usually because.
'...the opposing faction makes its living off the nuclear business.'
'As expected of Japan's hero—sharp and astute. Excellent judgment.'
Good. That was enough. I had no intention of getting deeper into Japanese politics. It wasn't even my country.
Since I'd stumbled into this massive project anyway, they could sort out their family drama themselves.
'Oh, one more thing.'
'Yes?'
'A gift. Please open it on the plane ride home.'
He had his aides bring in a rather antique-looking scroll.
Wrapped tightly in pink silk embroidered with gold leaf, the rolled scroll emanated some strange aura.
'This is...?'
'I hear you're dipping into the entertainment business because of Princess Hina? This falls under entertainment too, in a way. Passed down through generations since ancient times.'
And the scroll I opened after the flight to Korea took off.
Inside was... something utterly unimaginable.
It made me want to dissect the Deputy Prime Minister's brain.
* * * *
"Eheheh, this guy's tastes are seriously wild. As expected of a cultural powerhouse's top leader."
"Quiet down, please. If Princess Hina hears, it'll cause another pointless uproar."
Shunga.
I knew the Deputy Prime Minister had a huge interest in calligraphy and painting—ink stains were permanent on his right hand.
But I never imagined he'd draw old-style pictures like this.
Pictures of me and Princess Hina as the stars—definitely not R-rated, more like a solid 17+ in the lewd department.
"You can tell some lecherous old geezer's telling the young folks to have a steamy romance. Heh heh heh."
'...I don't know if it's steamy romance, but the Deputy Prime Minister already knows it's a cover romance.'
This was getting sealed forever. Locked in the family vault and erased from memory.
Kim Won-cheol humming contentedly as the whiskey hit him, wrapping ham in melon for snacks. The bald drunkard steered the conversation back to business.
"Well, we scored big anyway. The next-gen nuclear power plant safety project—who'd have thought they'd hand that over."
'He seems to be using this disaster as a chance to wipe out his party rivals. We lucked into it while cutting off their funding. And on top of that.'
There was one extra lump attached.
Not related to the Japanese business. Specifically, something on the Korean side.
The business that seemed like it'd never cross paths with the Ammunition Group in a lifetime was.
'The entertainment business too, out of nowhere.'
"Heh heh heh. Looks like the Little Madam's got some work cut out for her."
"I heard she's been cooped up at home too long and feels sluggish. Plus, sticking around with Grandma all the time... their vibes just don't mesh?"
Mom and Grandma.
Even if they'd gotten closer lately, they were both strong-willed, so clashes happened occasionally.
Especially after Grandma stepped back from operations and fully retired—the frequency had ticked up a bit.
Kim Won-cheol nodding like he got it all.
'No matter how much they've warmed up, dealing with that witch granny's temper ain't easy. Look at me.'
'That's because you keep picking fights with her on purpose. Anyway.'
Tokyo to Incheon: two hours.
Chatting about this and that, time flew by like an arrow loosed from a bow.
"Almost there. Not thrilled about it, but there's a place I have to hit before home."
"Ah, that sly fox uncle?"
'Gotta give the final report. I was part of the Japanese envoy delegation, after all.'
The sly fox hunkered down in the Blue House. The president was already over the moon, nagging me to hurry back.
Seemed like he had something else to say too.
I'd find out what once I got there.