[The Source of Funds (1)]
It goes without saying that the CIA maintained branches in every country. Therefore, it wasn't strictly necessary for the station chief to attend to Yoon-gi’s call in person. However, Mason had personally entered South Korea and visited Yoon-gi’s mansion.
"It’s been a while."
Perhaps because of the previous incident, Mason was looking at Yoon-gi with a remarkably favorable expression. It was a situation where Mason could have easily received a thunderous reprimand from Guster. Instead, Yoon-gi had shielded him, and to repay that debt, Mason sat on the edge of Yoon-gi’s bed with a reverent posture.
"Indeed. You’re such a busy man, I expected you to send someone else. I honestly didn't think you’d come yourself. Should I be a little touched by this?"
"If you think of it that way, I could ask for nothing more."
Mason grinned. There were a few stray whiskers on his chin, as if he hadn't shaved in a while, but Yoon-gi actually valued that detail. It meant he had come here as quickly as possible.
"The reason I called you, as I mentioned over the wire, is because there is an individual using funds of unknown origin."
"Yes, I remember. But I have one question. Wouldn't it have been faster and more certain to contact the ANSP instead of us? I hate to say this, but the current Korean ANSP is less scrupulous about their methods than the CIA, so the results would be even more effective."
Yoon-gi nodded.
"I thought about that, too. But I had a feeling that the funds of unknown origin weren't Korean in nature."
"Are you saying it’s foreign capital?"
Yoon-gi nodded again.
"Yes. If it were Korean capital, the ANSP would have caught the scent 100 percent. Because, frankly, opposing YK these days requires a lot of courage. At the very least, JSD would have given me a heads-up like, 'Someone is opposing YK these days,' but this time, there was nothing."
Mason nodded as Yoon-gi recalled the incident with Daehan Group.
"Hmm... I suppose that’s certainly possible. In that case, how exactly would you like us to help?"
Finally hearing the words he wanted, Yoon-gi curled the corners of his mouth into a smile.
"Could you find out the source of the funds that Geumsan Steel or Chairman Oh Jeongsu is currently using?"
Yoon-gi’s hunch was correct. The funding source for Chairman Oh Jeongsu of Geumsan Steel—or rather, the funding source for 'Oh Jeongsu, stripped of his social status'—was not Korean capital. If companies that were clearly ahead of YK had wanted to oppose YK, they would have either done it themselves or used someone much sharper; there would have been no reason to use Oh Jeongsu.
"Please, just a little more support. There is potential."
Inside a somewhat dark van, where only the ceiling light spread a faint glow, Oh Jeongsu was bowing repeatedly to the man sitting across from him. He looked to be in his early 60s. At a glance, he appeared to be Korean, but it was an atmosphere that made it impossible to be certain. The man in his 60s, with his hair parted 5:5, frowned at Oh Jeongsu, who was pleading with him.
"I believe we have already provided sufficient support? We clearly supported you heavily so that you could dominate the steel sector. But looking at how you’re spending money now... what on earth are you trying to do?"
His voice was husky, not matching his age. However, because Oh Jeongsu had met the man several times already, he didn't react much to the man's appearance or voice.
"I told you, that is all for the sake of dominating the steel industry."
"I’m saying I don't understand how that helps the steel business."
The act of pouring money into the Korean film industry and theaters to obstruct MEV. The man was genuinely puzzled as to how that act provided any help. Until now, he had given Oh Jeongsu autonomy, but he was now seriously considering whether he should discard the card that was Oh Jeongsu.
"YK is a very smart bunch. The fact that they took 10 subsidiaries means they have a great interest in businesses related to those 10. Based on that, I can infer that even if I were to take over a steel company next, YK would just snatch it away again."
It was wrong, but because it was an inference with a certain degree of rationality, the man showed a little more interest in Oh Jeongsu’s words.
"So, what action do you intend to take in the end?"
"At first, I tried to tarnish YK’s brand value so that YK wouldn't be able to receive additional disposals during the later 'distressed company management' phase. If a company has such a poor public image, even JD wouldn't be able to easily dispose of companies to them."
"But it seems that first phase has passed, hasn't it?"
Oh Jeongsu nodded with a heavy expression.
"Yes, that’s correct. I didn't know the Korean film industry was this incompetent... So, I’m going to make a gamble on a foreign film that will be released soon. I’ll use the foreign film to turn public attention back this way and engage in smear tactics again."
"Again?"
"It only has meaning if we do it again."
Oh Jeongsu nodded vigorously and continued.
"We’re going to bite at their heels and drag them down. We’ll bite and drag like a mad dog, telling them to just leave what we want alone. If that happens, even YK will eventually give up on at least one steel sector."
There was rationality, but the density was low. However, the man sighed at the reality that he had to trust even an Oh Jeongsu like this.
"Whew, that is a truly optimistic idea. It certainly doesn't have a high probability, but I suppose it isn't low either..."
If this were the man’s home ground, he wouldn't have bet on such an ambiguous hand. But this was perfect away ground from the man’s perspective. Therefore, the man had no choice but to bet on Oh Jeongsu once more. Regardless of the reason, re-recruiting someone like Oh Jeongsu was a task that required more time and money than what had been spent so far.
"I will give you two months. If there is no visible result within those two months..."
Oh Jeongsu felt goosebumps and nodded hastily at the man’s gaze, which had turned savage.
"O-of course. I am absolutely not wasting money in vain."
His voice was even trembling slightly. Oh Jeongsu also knew who these people were, so he was working while putting his life on the line in his own way. He had simply set the wrong strategy.
"Good. Then, let’s do well again."
The man reached out his hand toward Oh Jeongsu, and Oh Jeongsu grasped the man’s hand.
"I will work hard."
Having heard Oh Jeongsu’s answer, the man lifted the seat next to him. Then, the bundles of cash packed tightly inside the seat surprised Oh Jeongsu. A modified vehicle with the interior remodeled to be filled with money. Considering the size of the car, the amount of money was clearly beyond imagination.
'Yes, if I just work hard on the tasks they give me, I can live a life that makes billionaires envious...!'
The money handed over to JD alone was in the billions, and if you added the money spent on foreign film imports and the Korean film industry, it easily exceeded tens of billions, but their capital power still felt not just sufficient, but leisurely.
"Remember. Two months."
The man got out of the car after finishing his words, and Oh Jeongsu took the wheel himself. However, they did not know. The fact that when they were in the car, a strange 'click' sound had been heard nearby.
"No, what?!"
JD stood up abruptly in his office. He was so startled that his chair fell backward, but he couldn't even pay attention to that.
"It’s shocking, but it’s true. It has been identified that Chairman Oh Jeongsu of Geumsan Steel is in contact with 'Liu Chen,' the director of China’s Department of Social Affairs."
"Where did you hear that information? Tell me quickly!"
Some people think that China before the 2000s lived quietly internationally. However, that is not the case at all. You shouldn't judge activity levels based solely on outward, international statements. Was China’s poaching of Korean shipyard talent something that really happened suddenly in the 2010s? No. From the beginning, the country called China had been exerting or attempting to exert tremendous influence on the Korean Peninsula even before it went by the name China. You can tell just by looking at the participation of the Chinese Communist forces in the 1950s. As such, even during this period, spy activities were very active, it’s just that they were 'not caught' or 'it was a state secret and not disclosed to the public.'
Is there any reason why Korea wouldn't send spies to other countries, too?
"It is information I received directly from the CIA through the ANSP. The CIA was tracking the flow of funds related to Chinese spies and captured a massive amount of money flowing into Korea, and they said they sensed something from Chairman Oh Jeongsu and Geumsan Steel’s recent expenditure of assets. Considering the existing scale of Geumsan Steel, the relationship between the two, and the reliability of the information are estimated to be quite high. The CIA would have no reason to frame Chairman Oh Jeongsu."
Recently, JD had been favoring Chairman Oh Jeongsu simply because he donated a lot to charity. And yet, he was a fixed spy for China. JD’s face turned beet red, and he was literally on the verge of exploding. His reddened head had even become shaped like a cocktail sausage.
"What do you think, not the CIA?"
"We haven't conducted a search and seizure yet, but considering the money Chairman Oh Jeongsu has spent so far, there are many suspicious aspects. Donating to your Excellency’s foundation is still within a category I can understand, but he has spent a tremendous amount of money recently."
"Where?"
JD was speaking as simply as possible to suppress his anger. In addition, because JSD also knew this well, he continued speaking while maintaining his volume so that JD could receive the report in a normal situation.
"It is information from the CIA that the total amount spent on the domestic film industry, theaters, and foreign film imports easily exceeds tens of billions. Just in case, I instructed ANSP agents stationed in the US to check, and it turned out to be true. Oh Jeongsu was involved in many distribution contracts related to Hollywood films."
"How dare these damn bastards set foot here? And that son of a bitch from Geumsan Steel, he dared to stick with the Chinese and try to sell out the country?"
"Unfortunately... that is the case."
"Damn it!"
The enraged JD slammed his fist onto the office table. Then, a fairly loud noise and vibration dominated the office, and starting with this, JD barely managed to vent his anger by kicking or throwing everything in the office.
"Hey!"
However, since it wasn't completely vented, the first word directed at JSD was none other than a single syllable.
"Yes!"
JSD’s appearance as he prostrated himself without any concern. Fittingly, JD gave the most certain order.
"Take care of it!"
"Understood!"
How to handle the wealthy class that had colluded with foreign powers was left in JSD’s hands.
'Finally, the start of the counterattack!'
Oh Jeongsu was wearing a triumphant smile as he looked at the theater with the foreign film sign hanging on it. As a result of visiting all 10 theaters during the dawn, the conditions were all good. Oh Jeongsu had no doubt that if all 10 theaters started releasing this foreign film from 10 o'clock, it would be enough to threaten MEV.
"Chairman, you are truly amazing. To think you’d bring a movie like this."
Kim Pan-seok’s attitude of rubbing his hands next to him was truly that of a sycophant, but Oh Jeongsu put his arm around Kim Pan-seok’s shoulder and nodded.
"That’s all thanks to the cooperation of you, President Kim, and others. I’ll only supply decent foreign films from now on, so just trust me and screen them!"
Oh Jeongsu was speaking informally before he knew it, but Kim Pan-seok didn't care at all and rubbed his hands even more.
"Oh, of course. Not just me, we will all follow you, Chairman. Korean films are all trash."
Until a while ago, they had used expressions like 'Shintoburi' (body and soil are one), but such things were not important to them. Because they could screen movies that made money, flowers had simply started to bloom in Kim Pan-seok’s mental garden. In addition, it was the same for Oh Jeongsu, whose mental garden had also bloomed with flowers.
'To think they didn't reinvest in such good movies. I told you YK’s investment power seems strange, didn't I?'
As a result of the theater owners watching the imported foreign film among themselves first, it was truly awesome. A movie where a former US special forces soldier coolly suppresses terrorists. It was fun even for him, an older man, so how much more so for young people? Therefore, Oh Jeongsu became even more confident.
'Based on the performance of this foreign film, I should request more operating funds. Now that it’s come to this, wouldn't it be fine to harass MEV a bit more surely?'
Oh Jeongsu, who was dreaming of a rosy future, heard something strange in his ears. It was a sound like dragging a piece of iron on the floor. Therefore, Oh Jeongsu turned his head toward the source of the sound.
"Huh...? Uh...? W-what is this?"
At Oh Jeongsu’s bewildered words, Kim Pan-seok also turned his head toward where the sound was coming from.
"Eek!"
Kim Pan-seok screamed in tandem. What appeared in their eyes was none other than...