[Retirement Is Too Early?]
Kim Ju-ho, sensing a strangely convincing tone on the other end of the line, judged that his ploy was working and pushed forward with his scheme. “That is correct. As you can see if you check the public sentiment these days, your popularity is rising, Commissioner. The eradication of corruption immediately upon the inauguration of a new commissioner—isn't this exactly what the people wanted?”
"Is public sentiment really improving that much?"
“Yes, it is. It’s been a long time since the public has seen a politician like you, hasn't it? Because of that, the people are truly moved by you, Commissioner.”
"Ho-ho..."
His tone sounded even more intrigued. Kim Ju-ho, not wanting to miss the opportunity, continued. “In my judgment, there are three people who could be your rivals, Commissioner.”
"And who would those be?"
“Isn't it said that the ‘Three Heos’ include you, Commissioner? Aside from you, there are the other two Heos, and the Director of the ANSP.”
"The ANSP Director is my rival?"
At the slightly sullen tone, Kim Ju-ho hurriedly added, “Of course, he is several notches below you, Commissioner. However, in the public eye, the ANSP Director has the image of being the President’s direct subordinate. Therefore, when the President eventually hands over the reins of power, the public might think of the ANSP Director.”
"Well, if you think of it that way, I suppose that’s possible."
Kim Ju-ho breathed a sigh of relief inwardly at Heo Cheong-won’s acquiescence. “That is why I am telling you this. We have decided to attack the ANSP Director now. This attack will likely drag his public popularity into the dirt. If that happens, only the other two Heos remain. Why not take this opportunity to deal with one of them in advance?”
"Why leave one of them alone?"
Heo Cheong-won’s counter-question was unexpectedly sharp. But Kim Ju-ho, whose family’s lives were on the line, offered a plausible answer. “Because if you attack both of the remaining Heos, you will have no allies left, Commissioner.”
"No allies?"
“Yes. You should pull the remaining one, Aide Heo Do-il, to your side. If you use a smokescreen tactic by telling the aide, ‘I will support you,’ he will at the very least not intervene in this matter, or he might even take your side.”
"Ho-ho, since I am attacking the ANSP Director to the point of retiring from politics, Do-il will judge that he can seize power if I attack Seong-su, so he will stay still?"
“Exactly. If that happens, the popularity of the ANSP Director and the Minister of Government Administration will automatically plummet. If you continue your political activities without retiring after that? Considering the public popularity you’ve gained from this incident, you could seize the presidency in three years!” Kim Ju-ho deliberately paused and shouted loudly.
"Hmm!"
A single sound of extreme satisfaction came through the receiver. In truth, Heo Cheong-won had been constantly thinking it was a waste to retire. He had thrown everything away for revenge, but now an opportunity to seize the presidency had emerged while pursuing that revenge. Why would he throw that away? However, one must look before they leap. Heo Cheong-won brought up the issue that absolutely had to be resolved first.
"Will the President accept such a thing?"
“I am certain he will.”
"Certain?"
In fact, he had no certainty at all, but Kim Ju-ho poured all his conviction into his voice to save his family. “Yes. If the President intended to take issue with this, he would have put on the brakes from the moment you started attacking the ANSP Director.”
"Well, that is true."
Heo Cheong-won had intended to stop immediately if JD had put on the brakes while attacking JSD. But JD hadn't moved, which led to Heo Cheong-won acting aggressively. “You told me last time, didn't you? That the President is extremely sensitive about the presidency.”
"That’s right, that’s right."
Heo Cheong-won’s voice, repeating the same thing twice, was tinged with a slight sense of dread. “The President might actually like it.”
"He might like it?"
“Yes. The ANSP Director, the Minister of Government Administration, and the aide’s recognition all drop, and even you retire from politics? In that case, the President might think he could seize the presidency once more. He can handle the opposition party somehow, after all. Doesn't it sound like he might say, ‘There is no talent, so I have no choice but to do it once more’? Even if it’s just a situation where he runs as a candidate, the possibility is high.”
As Kim Ju-ho’s desperate words flowed through the receiver, a moment later, a hearty laugh erupted from the other side.
"Hahahaha! Good, proceed as planned. Should I return to the office?"
“No. For this matter, you must continue your retreat in case of any failure. I will report to you consistently via phone, so please rest comfortably until the meal is ready. Your job is to eat heartily once the meal is served. As I just said, it must appear to the President that you have decided to retire from politics.”
"Good! I will do that. If this goes well, I will never treat you poorly. I will grant you any position you desire."
“Thank you!”
Click-click. The two sounds of the phone hanging up. Kim Ju-ho, who had answered vigorously, slumped onto the sofa as if all his strength had drained away the moment the call ended. ‘Phew, the Three Heos can kill me socially, but the ANSP Director can kill me physically. Now that I realize the reality, it’s terrifying. I’ve touched the ANSP Director’s reverse scale too severely...’ Kim Ju-ho deeply regretted his choice, but the regret came far too late.
On the evening of the day Choi Chul-kyu visited Kim Ju-ho, the evening newspapers began to carry stories exposing Heo Seong-su’s corruption. Before long, the phones at the National Tax Service began to ring, but how could they find a commissioner who wasn't there? In the end, the employees of the National Tax Service had no choice but to suffer through the incessantly ringing phones. Usually, they could use leaving work as an excuse not to answer, but everyone knew the National Tax Service was working overtime. Therefore, the employees had to endure the pressure of countless calls from Heo Seong-su and his associates. It wasn't just Heo Seong-su, either. Heo Do-il was also hounding the National Tax Service. Or rather, he was visiting Kim Ju-ho to reprimand him.
“I don't recall ever telling you to attack the Minister of Government Administration, did I?”
In the Investigation Bureau Chief’s office, Kim Ju-ho was sitting, having yielded the seat of honor to Heo Do-il.
“That is correct. You never gave such an order.”
“And yet, you did it anyway?”
“Yes, but there is a reason.”
Despite Heo Do-il sitting in the seat of honor with an ominous atmosphere, Kim Ju-ho did not look cowed. Of course, it was an act. ‘Absolutely, absolutely my true intentions must not be discovered. If they are, my family will die.’ Kim Ju-ho was already driven into a situation where he had to betray Heo Do-il. Therefore, unlike his burning inner thoughts, Kim Ju-ho continued his explanation to Heo Do-il with a confident expression.
“You shared with me the top-secret goal that the presidency is your target, Aide.”
“Yes. Because I trust you that much.”
Words of trust. To the listener, this lays the foundation of ‘If something happens to you, I will help you.’ However, in the political world, the word ‘trust’ is easier to interpret as ‘I consider you a useful pawn.’ Kim Ju-ho knew this well, and he knew better than anyone how Heo Do-il would treat him once he became useless. Therefore, to survive, Kim Ju-ho began to lie to Heo Do-il without showing a hint of it.
“In a situation where I didn't have the luxury of asking you, Aide, I was faced with a choice. It was whether or not to attack Heo Seong-su, the Minister of Government Administration.”
“Right, that’s why I’m here. I didn't intend to attack Heo Seong-su ‘now’.”
While he had pretended not to be interested in the presidency in front of Heo Cheong-won at the gisaeng house, Heo Do-il was also interested in the presidency. Even if JSD took the next presidency, he would eventually have to step down, and at the earliest, the next turn would come to him. That was why he had instructed Kim Ju-ho to attack JSD. He had intended for Heo Cheong-won to lead the attack on JSD, while he and Heo Seong-su protected Heo Cheong-won. After all, Heo Cheong-won had asserted that he would retire from politics.
“I say this with all due respect, but now was actually the perfect time to attack Minister Heo Seong-su.”
“The perfect time?”
Kim Ju-ho nodded with a confident expression.
“The ANSP Director has suffered a bigger blow to his already poor image due to this incident, and Commissioner Heo Cheong-won will retire once this is over.”
“Yes, I already know that.”
“Then the only one left is Minister Heo Seong-su. But, once this is over, what will happen to Minister Heo Seong-su’s power?”
“Hmm...!” Watching Heo Do-il groan, Kim Ju-ho quickly pulled the fishing line.
“As your brain, Aide, I say this: if only two people are left, it will eventually become a battle between a dragon and a tiger. If that happens, a ‘what if’ situation could arise later.”
“Phew, I can't deny that. So you decided to attack Heo Seong-su even while taking the risk?”
Kim Ju-ho breathed a huge sigh of relief inwardly, but hid his true feelings. “Yes. Everything regarding this incident will fall on the responsibility of Commissioner Heo Cheong-won and the Corporate Tax Bureau Chief. Therefore, you only need to appeal to Minister Heo Seong-su that you have no connection to this incident, Aide.”
“Certainly... since there is no evidence that I did such a thing.”
“Exactly. Do not worry at all. You will not suffer any harm, Aide.”
Finally, Heo Do-il nodded vigorously with a look of relief.
“Good, that’s a strategy I like very much. Make sure it succeeds no matter what. If I succeed, the position of National Tax Service Commissioner will be yours.”
“Thank you!”
A strategy that certainly looked plausible. However, this strategy had the greatest challenge of all. The challenge of absolutely protecting the existence of Kim Ju-ho and those around him. But Heo Do-il had forgotten the fact that the ANSP Director might go rogue because he overestimated his own power.
Heo Do-il belonged to the group with quite excellent political skills. That was why he could plant a confidant named Kim Ju-ho in the National Tax Service, and the same was true for other government agencies. Even among the Three Heos, JSD, or just those below them, there are those who offer loyalty on their own, and among them, there are bound to be those who offer exceptional loyalty. But this situation began to flow quite strangely. It was Kim Ju-ho. The person who was thought to have built a close relationship with Heo Cheong-won turned out to be Heo Do-il’s confidant. A double agent, indeed. But Kim Ju-ho had surrendered to JSD due to the danger to his personal safety, which made him a triple agent. However, neither Heo Cheong-won nor Heo Do-il knew this fact at all. Therefore, Heo Do-il began to search Heo Cheong-won’s retreat to lay his own groundwork. Was it a blessing in disguise? One of Heo Do-il’s relatives was an in-law of Heo Cheong-won’s relative. Because of that, Heo Do-il was able to find Heo Cheong-won, who was enjoying a utopia at his retreat.
“Wait, how did you get here?” Heo Cheong-won deliberately acted nonchalant.
“Hey, are you crazy?!” Heo Do-il pretended not to know what he already knew. The fox and the crane had met.