[Empty Promises]
It was a bombshell announcement that would have caused anyone drinking juice to choke on the spot. However, Jeong Dong-yoon, who had served Park Ki-soo for a long time, was not surprised by such a thing. Instead, he maintained a surprising level of composure and offered a reaction that would please Park Ki-soo.
"When considering the long-term prospects, I believe that could actually bring about advantages."
"You think so too, don't you?"
"Yes. Once the heir to the Yasuda family is out of favor, if the son-in-law demonstrates superior ability—given the nature of Japan where adopted sons-in-law are common—you could even become the boss of the Umiguchi-gumi."
"I have no intention of becoming a boss. I’m trying to run a business, not become some gangster."
"Of course, I am well aware of that. That is precisely why it is important for you, sir, to embrace the heir of the Yasuda family."
Jeong Dong-yoon was a man who said exactly what Park Ki-soo wanted to hear. In truth, Jeong hadn't always been a "yes-man" from the start. However, after suffering bitter consequences for offering "loyal, heartfelt advice" on several occasions, the current Jeong Dong-yoon simply performed the role of a close aide with absolute, unquestioning fidelity.
"However, there are two prerequisites that must be met to execute this plan."
At the mention of prerequisites, Park Ki-soo listened intently to Jeong’s opinion.
"What are they?"
"First, you must get a divorce. I believe you have already thought about this, sir, am I correct?"
"Of course. What’s so special about a divorce?"
Park Ki-soo’s character was laid bare in an instant. Since the marriage had been a political arrangement from the start, Park had absolutely no affection for his current wife. Furthermore, because his in-laws' influence fell short of his expectations, he had moved past mere lack of affection to active resentment, making it easy for him to view divorce as a trivial matter.
"And the second is that you must capture the heart of the Watanabe family's daughter. This depends entirely on your own ability, sir."
"That’s not very difficult. It’s a political marriage anyway, isn't it? If the family demands it, they have to do it. Once I show them how incredible my capabilities are, they will judge that choosing me over my son is the right decision."
"Then everything should unfold smoothly."
He was a sycophant, a parrot who didn't offer strategies or schemes, but merely echoed the words of his superior. Before long, only such people remained around Park Ki-soo. In fact, one couldn't say this move by Park Ki-soo was entirely strategically flawed. To exert real influence over the Watanabe family, it was indeed more certain for him to become the son-in-law himself rather than his son. However, this required the absolute condition that he *would* become the son-in-law. Furthermore, it required a calculation of *why* the Watanabe family would want him as a son-in-law. The Watanabe family was looking to form a blood tie with Park’s family to maintain long-term exchanges with brokers of the U.S. Forces in Japan. Yet, Park Ki-soo knew nothing of this, nor did he make any effort to find out.
Had he continued to live in Korea, his blade would have remained sharp through constant competition with his younger brother, Park Ki-ho. But by advancing to Japan and playing around in Seth Holdings—a company less than one-twentieth the size of Seth—his once-honed blade had become so dull that even calling it "blunt" felt like an understatement. This situation was only accelerated because even Jeong Dong-yoon, who had been a long-time aide and was once quite capable, had turned into a mere parrot due to the change in Park Ki-soo’s temperament. While one might learn by seeing and hearing just by being around talented people, Park Ki-soo currently had no mentor left to teach him anything. And this situation acted as a massive boon for Yoon-gi’s side.
***
"Father, I heard that my brother is getting a divorce. Is that true?"
At Park Ki-soo’s words, Park Do-chul, the Chairman of Seth, nodded.
"Yes. I didn't see any reason to stop him since that’s what he wanted to do anyway. It wasn't a marriage he wanted in the first place, was it?"
Perhaps due to age, or perhaps genetics, Park Do-chul had a smooth, balding head. Behind his round, rimless glasses, his small eyes still held a sharp, piercing light.
"I know that, but wouldn't it have a negative impact on our image?"
Park Ki-ho was also a thorough businessman. He wasn't speaking to his father out of pity for his sister-in-law, but rather advising him out of fear that it would tarnish the Seth brand.
"Hahaha! Yes, that’s the kind of question my son should ask. His divorce will be of great help to you later."
It was a statement laden with very, very significant meaning. Park Ki-ho sensed intuitively that he had become the undisputed successor to Seth and smiled broadly.
"You rascal. Are you now showing your true feelings openly in front of me?"
"I apologize. However, I never forget the fact that all of this is thanks to you, Father."
At the sight of his son, Park Ki-ho, speaking without losing his smile, Park Do-chul felt reassured and nodded.
"Yes, you certainly should know that. And I trust you. Not being greedy for useless things and knowing exactly what you need to do—these are the virtues of a successor."
"I will keep that in mind."
Knowing he had to follow in his father’s footsteps, Park Ki-ho calculated and executed the image he would project in public through thorough self-management. Thanks to this, Park Do-chul’s image inevitably improved, which helped enhance the brand image of Seth in Korea. Park Ki-ho, who made such thorough calculations, could not help but be favored by Park Do-chul, and Park Ki-soo, living in the distant land of Japan, inevitably drifted further and further from his father’s heart.
However, something Park Do-chul had never imagined was happening in Japan.
***
"The guy from Seth Holdings said he wants to marry Hiroko himself, not his son?"
After the arms trade agreement with the U.S. Forces in Japan was finalized, Yasuda "finally" forgave his son, Masao. Of course, he didn't treat him with affection, but at least they could have daily conversations. Masao had knelt before his father, banging his forehead against the floor in gratitude, and Yasuda, feeling proud that his son had accomplished such a massive feat, began to show his own version of love.
"That is correct."
"But didn't you tell me before that the guy was already married...?"
"Yes, his ex-wife is the daughter of a wealthy family in the Chugoku region."
The Chugoku region was a Japanese province quite far to the west of Tokyo, located not too far from Busan if one were to take a boat to Fukuoka. However, Yasuda was more interested in a different word than the region of Chugoku.
"Ex-wife, you say?"
"Yes. He even sent word that there is no problem since they are already divorced."
"Puhaha! You mean he went as far as to divorce just to have a direct connection with us? Even before it was decided?"
"That is correct. How do you intend to proceed?"
"A guy who won't even stop at immoral acts if it serves his purpose. He’s a guy I quite like."
"Father...?"
"Hahahaha, don't worry. That’s only if he were my own flesh and blood. But he is a stranger. It’s hard to trust a guy like that."
Masao opened his mouth again with a look of relief.
"Then should I convey that it will be difficult?"
"Did the message come from the guy himself, or from that young kid?"
"Yoon delivered it to us."
Yasuda shook his head.
"Then it’s not a proposal we can refuse. If we refuse, all arms trade will fall through immediately. We have no choice."
"Hmm..."
At Masao’s groan, Yasuda struck the table with the *harisen* he was holding. As the paper fan, often seen in Japanese comedy, made a *thwack* sound against the table, Masao immediately snapped to attention and looked at his father.
"Don't worry. Have you forgotten what kind of person Hiroko is?"
"Ah..."
It was true that Hiroko had studied abroad in France for six years. However, Hiroko had a severe flaw: her extravagance was beyond imagination. It was so bad that Yasuda had personally forced Hiroko to return because he couldn't handle the money she was spending in France. Thanks to this, Hiroko was currently half-confined to the mansion, throwing all sorts of hysterics at Yasuda’s subordinates.
'If she marries the son of that Park Ki-soo guy, it will be hard to handle Hiroko’s extravagance, but if she marries Park Ki-soo himself, I can keep Hiroko quiet for a while. Hiroko is my reckless daughter who cares for nothing else as long as her material desires are met.'
Having finished his calculations, Yasuda opened his mouth with a serious expression.
"Masao."
"Yes, Father."
"I will give you a second task. Grow the business of the new son-in-law who will enter our family as much as possible. And then..."
As Yasuda deliberately left his sentence unfinished, Masao opened his mouth cautiously.
"Should I... take him out?"
"Yes. In a yakuza family, it’s common for one person to die. Make Hiroko inherit his business. Is this a difficult task for you?"
Masao shook his head hurriedly.
"No. I can do it. No, I will definitely accomplish it. I will prove that I am your son, Father."
Yasuda approached Masao, who was banging his head on the floor again, and personally helped him up.
"Yes. You have been forgiven, but Mitsuko has not yet been forgiven. Do your best for Mitsuko’s sake as well. So that I can love my daughter again as a father."
It was the first warm smile he had seen from his father in 20 years. Masao shed tears and nodded repeatedly.
***
"Whoa, 'hush money' is incredibly expensive. And that’s even with the condition of a bundle deal."
Yoon-gi, who had received the bill for the promotion costs of this operation from Guster, clicked his tongue.
"The weapons themselves are expensive, but it’s even pricier because all of this has to be done through smuggling. There are more than one or two people whose mouths need to be shut. You know as well as I do that in a capitalist society, loyalty cannot be bought with character alone. I could see financial gain from it if I wanted to, but the risks would be too great later on. It’s unavoidable because we have to go with the approach of 'just trade with those guys'."
"That’s true. They say Liu Bei of the *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* had generals who looked only at him and lived in foreign lands for decades, but it’s hard to do that these days. Even Secretary Ryu or my uncle didn't find me attractive because of who I am, but because of 'what I have.' I don't flatter myself."
Guster smiled, seemingly pleased by Yoon-gi’s words, which pierced through the reality of the situation.
"*Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, a novel I found quite impressive as well. By the way, are you going to keep Seth Holdings as an ally until the end?"
"No, of course not. I’ll side with Seth Holdings for now, but once Seth’s power in Korea is weakened as much as possible, I’ll have to let go."
"Let go, rather than discard?"
"Yes. Because me letting go will effectively be the same as discarding them."
"You mean there’s no need for the arms trade to continue from that point on, either?"
"Exactly."
Yoon-gi smiled meaningfully, as if reading Guster’s thoughts.
"Good. Then, when that point is decided, let me know. I’ll raid the Umiguchi-gumi on charges of weapon theft."
"You really know my heart well."
"This is the most certain method. Usually, such deals leave a paper trail so that neither side can betray the other, but this time, it’s possible because there’s nothing left in writing."
As Guster said, this deal had no evidence left in writing. The moment the arms trade stopped, support for Seth Holdings would also stop. That was the reason they hadn't put it in writing, but who would know that Yoon-gi was letting go of Seth Holdings?
"This is why empty promises are so scary."
"Hmm, should I have made it a *fait accompli*..."
Realizing he was talking about himself and Merrill, Yoon-gi gave a wry smile.
"Don't worry. And I know full well that if it turns out I lied, not only me but my entire family will be riddled with bullet holes, right? I know the weight of the sin that lies bring, so don't worry."
"No, it’s not necessarily that, it’s just that I want to see my grandchildren soon..."
Embarrassed that his true feelings had been exposed, Guster blushed, and Yoon-gi looked at him with a smile that carried the meaning of 'Really?' It was a truly heartwarming situation. However, Park Ki-soo of Seth Holdings was meeting with Ryu Geun-tae after having made a hideous choice, even though his son had tried to stop the divorce between his father and stepmother until the very end.