Chapter 106
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Influence, Fort Roberts (5)
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The promised evening. Li Chinjen received the unwelcome VIP with barely restrained fury. His gaze was rigid, his lips pressed thin. In his precarious position, any sign of weakness could spell trouble both within his ranks and without, leaving no room to feign a smile. He had lost a good deal of weight since their last meeting. Perched uneasily in the host's chair, he eyed his guest. Winter remained standing until invited to sit.
“Looks like you’re forcing this old man to be rude. Have a seat, sir.”
Li Chinjen gestured with an open hand toward the chair diagonally across from him.
“Thank you, sir.”
Winter bowed politely as before, then sat facing the elderly crime lord at an angle. The man, seasoned by a lifetime of crime, expressed his discomfort in words unbefitting a criminal.
“Don’t blame me for the poor preparations. Things aren’t what they used to be for us.”
“Well. Isn’t that a matter of perspective?”
At Winter’s retort, Li Chinjen shot a sidelong glance at his daughter.
“I heard what you said to her. There was some truth to it. But you can’t deny your own lack of sincerity. We had a clear agreement to help each other, and you didn’t honor it faithfully. That’s not something swayed by mindset.”
Now Li Chinjen’s anger was more overt.
“I had some faint hope when I saw you come alone, but if you think a few clever words will absolve you, you’ve made a grave mistake. I’m not like my daughter. Don’t mistake me for some soft woman. A man’s face is sometimes worth more than his life. My brothers and I, bound by blood, are prepared to hold you accountable.”
“You planning to kill me?”
“If you keep insulting us to the end, something worse might happen.”
The room thickened with dense killing intent. To Winter, it was a vivid warning from all his 「senses」. Don’t blame us for poor preparations, he’d said—yet they’d clearly prepared thoroughly on their end.
As far as Winter knew, Li Chinjen wasn’t the type to lose his reason like this. Which meant his position must be that dire.
‘Whether this way or that, no difference...?’
From Li Airing, who watched on, seeped a gloomy resignation. Like it or not, she too was an executive in a criminal syndicate. Bound by absurd codes of loyalty. She didn’t seem to have the courage to defy her boss and father. A life drifting on inertia? Winter felt a faint sense of déjà vu from her.
‘No, different from me back then.’
Winter had accepted cruel deals in the past because he had people to protect.
“It’s strange. I’m the one who feels ignored.”
“What sophistry is that?”
“It’s no sophistry. Sir, do you remember our conversation from the day we first met?”
“Conversation? What conversation?”
Wary of Winter’s nonchalant demeanor, Li Chinjen racked his memory. But suspicion lingered on his face. No inkling. Winter provided the answer.
“I told you then: if you want to keep cooperating with the Winter Alliance long-term, stop chasing unfair gains. You probably remember. It was in an uncomfortable atmosphere, about the Triads screening support troops.”
“Urgh...!”
Li Chinjen groaned low. Pretending ignorance here would be tantamount to mutual destruction. Even with resolve, it was a conclusion he’d rather avoid.
Hesitating in that lingering attachment was as good as conceding. Winter gave him no time to deliberate.
“You seem upset that I didn’t warn you about the crackdown in advance, but if you’d honored my request from the start, the Triads wouldn’t have suffered any losses. Honestly, I’m disappointed. It wasn’t a joke, yet you ignored it all this time.”
They both knew it wasn’t genuine disappointment. But Li Chinjen had brought up face first. There were many ears listening. Who among them wanted to die? Winter was familiar with Chinese rhetoric and figured the gang boss had no real retort.
Sure enough, Li Chinjen’s response was feeble.
“It wasn’t ignoring you. That was too vague a request. It wasn’t a specific pact, so no need to take offense.”
“Then let me ask: among the specifics we agreed on then, did I neglect any?”
“......”
“The sincerity you demanded of me at first is no different from what I asked of you. At least that’s how I see it. Curious about your view, sir.”
Flawless logic. Li Chinjen was at a loss for words. Furious, yet without justification to vent. No pushing through with bluster here. Facing the flushing criminal struggling to contain his temper, Winter pressed on with his prepared persuasion.
“There were other circumstances too. To deceive the enemy, first deceive your allies, as they say. If I’d told you ahead, could you guarantee the secret would hold?”
“Watch your words! Doubting the brotherhood and unity of my men?”
“Regrettably, yes. At least, I’ve heard rumors that members from Huasheng and Subang factions feel differently deep down. They don’t want to follow you since you’re from Shinui-an, or so it goes. Hearing that made me worry. About leaks.”
Baek Ji-seon’s letter had been embellished with rumors Winter had heard. Li Chinjen’s face soured. It wasn’t outright malice toward Winter.
“......Baseless rumors.”
“There’s a Korean proverb: ‘Where there’s no fire, no smoke rises.’ China has something similar, no? Better avoid risky possibilities. Especially since, as I explained earlier, I expected you to properly heed my request.”
Then Winter approached from another angle.
“One more thing. I don’t know how much the Triads lost in that crackdown. But was it really just that? Your rivals took far worse hits. I personally put away the head of Zhiyi Tang. And when your executives met with ‘accidents,’ I heard Anryang Merchant Guild and Zhiyi Tang were suspected... Am I wrong?”
Airing flinched. She was the one who’d told Winter that story. Li Chinjen noticed his daughter’s reaction and realized denial was futile. Rubbing his forehead, he spoke.
“So, you’re saying we gave flesh to take bone?”
Winter had already 「discerned」 from Li Chinjen’s attitude so far that this would be difficult. Feigning ignorance, he affirmed.
“If you can manage that. I’m willing to help.”
Now came the real purpose. Li Chinjen eyed the Distribution Bureau recommendation letter on the table with suspicion. Moments later, a noticeable change swept his ruddy face. The boss’s sudden shift drew attention from Airing and the executives.
“It’s a recommendation for the Civil Affairs Committee of the soon-to-be-established Central California Refugee Military Administration.”
The elderly criminal stirred.
“I haven’t heard anything about a military administration being set up.”
“It’s probably still classified. Most likely.”
“Classified......”
“They say if I just fill in the name and submit it, the appointment goes through. No review process. You know what that means, right? Since you mentioned it, this time I’ll trust the Triads’ brotherhood and unity. Wouldn’t want word of this special favor getting out.”
Of course, his true thoughts differed. Even if it became an open secret, it wouldn’t matter. As long as he used the recommendation as a bargaining chip to secure influence, the story would leak somewhere.
But Li Chinjen couldn’t read Winter’s mind. To bend the negotiation, Winter returned the gangster’s bravado in full.
In the end, Li Chinjen couldn’t contain his impatient impulse. He swept a sharp gaze over the lined-up executives. Winter felt a small satisfaction at the gesture.
‘They were gathered close enough to threaten me, so his judgment’s clearly off.’
No guarantee they weren’t on drugs either. If someone dulled that quickly, suspect substances first.
As Min Wangi had hoped, a rift might form between father and daughter.
Having lost his composure, Li Chinjen pressed Winter for details.
“Mr. Han, what is this? How did you get hold of such authority? Can I really trust it?”
“No need to doubt. Battalion Commander Laughlin Colonel delegated it to me.”
“Well, you’ve been playing me from the start, sir. Troubling. Very troubling.”
Even as he spoke, the Triad boss couldn’t hide his elation. Before expectations ballooned, Winter added a timely caveat.
“Sorry to disappoint, but it’ll be hard for you to take the position directly, boss.”
“Why’s that?”
“You’re the dragon head of the Triads. The Americans don’t want a criminal as a civil affairs committeeman.”
With the flow here, Li Chinjen asked for alternatives over sulking.
“Fair enough. Even if Americans are selfish, lazy, stupid pigs, they know my face and name. I get it. But what’s your plan? If they reject criminals, which of my brothers can go? Americans treat every Korean mutual aid as crime. You must have something in mind, Mr. Han.”
Winter delivered his prepped excuse with natural acting.
“Hardly anyone in the refugee zone is squeaky clean anyway. Even I’ve dirtied my hands. You’re too well-known, that’s the issue. But someone like your daughter, Airing Pavilion Chief, should be fine. Same for any support staff.”
“You’re vouching for them?”
“Sure. Consider it my sincerity in keeping promises.”
Words that echoed the conversation’s opening. The old gangster finally let out a hollow laugh.
“When we first met, we argued over that girl’s marriage. I think I said your youth was refreshing then... Feels the same today. Like the Yangtze’s waters changing. Fine, fine. Let’s do it.”
“Then pick a bureau. I’ll give your daughter whatever spot you want. Except Inspection Bureau.”
Winter figured the choice was obvious, but offered the formality anyway. So any future regrets over a bad pick would turn inward. Good for claiming credit too.
‘Chinese are overly clannish... To avoid them all dying later, I have to build ties like this.’
Securing influence within an insular ethnic group was tricky.
As he thought, the old gangster, who’d been mulling the administration’s opening, made the expected decision. Material greed. Winter now called for the person in question.
“Alright, Miss Li. Come here a moment? Tell me how to write your name.”
Airing, somewhat shaken, wrote her elegant hanja on spare paper with a pen. Below, she added the English spelling phonetically. Winter copied it in his own hand.
As they hashed out the under-rank-5 staffing, Winter brought up Subang and Huasheng factions again.
Li Chinjen furrowed his brow at the request.
“You want to borrow those guys? What for? You don’t seem short on manpower, sir.”
“Power display. Want to show Koreans I’m not just with them.”
Demanding outright would spark backlash. So Winter had planted the idea earlier that Subang and Huasheng were unstable elements. This was for now.
Importantly, it wasn’t a full transfer. Just a loan—Triads’ nominal size stayed the same. Easing Min Wangi’s concerns.
‘If they don’t fit, I can return them.’
That was Winter’s safety net. Subang and Huasheng were still Triad criminals. Even if family-heavy over action squads, no one knew their true leanings.
With a grace period, he could decide later.
After hesitation, Li Chinjen acceded to Winter’s demand.