100 Billion Won (1)
"Ah……." N understood what Yoon-gi was trying to say. Even though he had handed over a weakness to Yoon-gi for the sake of the presidency, if the person himself had been a fool, JD wouldn't have called him in, even as a last resort.
"P thought that the entire nation, excluding Busan, supported him, so he tried to wipe out Busan entirely. But that was P's delusion."
"And then he died."
Yoon-gi and N nodded simultaneously.
'History isn't made by someone's hand; it's that someone is made by history. Even if there hadn't been a Jaguar at that time, a figure similar to him would have inevitably appeared.'
Recalling everything he had experienced so far, Yoon-gi continued.
"That's why His Excellency really did his best to gain the popularity of the people. The 3S policy is a prime example. Because of this policy, His Excellency has been able to maintain his regime until now. It's not for nothing that he poured all his energy into hosting the Olympics."
"But the Olympics will be held in '88. JD must be feeling stifled."
"That's why he'll pay even more attention to '87. If he can just seize the presidency and open the Olympics in '88, he thinks the 'masses he considers fools' will support him again. That's why……."
"That's why?"
"He said His Excellency would become the spokesperson for the people this time. He thinks this will help with the next presidential election. Though, he will do some weighing of options."
"Weighing options?"
Yoon-gi nodded.
"Since he has to make a decision between YK and the other chaebols, he'll try to extract as much profit as possible in the process."
"Damn it……. I don't like that very much."
N clicked his tongue bitterly, and Yoon-gi smiled brightly at him.
"Why are you worried?"
"Huh……?"
"You just need to get rid of JD after you take power, sir. I believe you said as much just a moment ago; surely that wasn't just talk?"
In an instant, N's bitter smile turned into a sinister one.
"Ah……! That's right, that's right. That was the way to do it. Even if that guy takes the slush funds, I can just confiscate them, right?"
"Exactly. Furthermore, punishing JD severely will be a huge plus for Your Excellency. Because……."
"Because?"
"As you know, sir, there is a very high possibility that '87 will be a year of intense election battles. One candidate will come from the ruling party, and one each from the opposition parties."
"That's true."
"In fact, it will be the first democratic vote in South Korea. When Lee was elected in the '50s, people didn't know much about voting. Moreover, it was a time of handing out rubber shoes, bread, and makgeolli. Do you remember?"
"I remember. I certainly do. Back then, I used to run around with my friends and drink makgeolli to my heart's content."
Reminiscing is always a pleasure. Yoon-gi waited a moment for N before opening his mouth again.
"But this time is different. The people have become very smart. Winning that election means gaining the support of the people, and to maintain that support, you must never betray the people's wishes."
"And that means the punishment of JD?"
"Why would there be an election instead of His Excellency's consecutive term? Although it's an uncertain future, we are all certain that His Excellency will not be able to run in the next election."
N nodded as if he understood perfectly.
"In that case, I should be very careful about my conduct from now on."
Yoon-gi drove the point home regarding N's resolution.
"If it's money, I will provide it. Not just for you, sir, but I will provide enough support so that your entire direct lineage can live without working for the rest of their lives. So, please, be very careful with your conduct."
"Otherwise, I'll end up like JD, too."
N's words were highly ambiguous. Punishing JD was clearly the people's wish. However, it was practically something that would happen because Yoon-gi manipulated it, and N had grasped that. To the unspoken message of 'If I betray you, will I also become JD?', Yoon-gi smiled again instead of answering.
'Well, if it is history's decision that N becomes president in one way or another, the same goes for YS and DJ. But what happens after? Even though I've seen with my own eyes what the flow of history is, I'm still curious. I wonder what the true mainstream of history is.'
Even after experiencing so many things, Yoon-gi had not lost interest in his life at all. Even though it was a predetermined history, the way that history unfolded was truly different from what he had known. And the one who made the process different was none other than himself. That was why Yoon-gi could hone himself without a moment's rest. Because without ability, one cannot create the process.
"Then, what should I be doing?"
Yoon-gi spoke to N, who had finally admitted he would accept the role of the shadow power.
'In two years, will I be a "Sun-power" instead of a "Shadow-power"? No, is it correct to just call it a shadow power then?'
Yoon-gi, who chuckled inwardly at the trivial thought, hid his emotions on the outside and replied.
"Tell your closest aides, the assemblymen you truly cherish, never to fall for the influence of the chaebols."
"Only my closest aides?"
Yoon-gi nodded.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because His Excellency will send them to Namyeong-dong on his own."
Terrible words coming from a soft smile. However, Yoon-gi had no intention of feeling sorry for assemblymen who deceived the people and took the side of the chaebols. Yoon-gi picked up a jujube placed on the table.
N, who had confirmed his presidency. Yoon-gi, who had confirmed N's favor. Choi Deok-bae, who had barely been pardoned from the jujube punishment. The afternoon at the villa, where all three were happy, passed like this.
Jung Woo-ho, Chairman of the Haeshin Group, the 8th largest in the country. He was in his early 50s, so he was actually the youngest compared to the three he had met last time. However, the youngest, Jung Woo-ho, had to take on the most difficult task: a private meeting with JD.
'How can it be that group projects are all the same, whether in college or now?'
Jung Woo-ho, recalling his college days, entered JD's office with a bitter smile.
"Your Excellency, how are you? Have you been well?"
"Ah, Chairman Jung. Thanks to your concern, I've been doing well. Let's take a seat."
As a light tea set was placed in front of the two sitting on the reception sofa in the office, JD raised his cup first.
"Hmm, ever since I became president, I feel like I drink an enormous amount of tea. Chairman Jung, please have some as well."
"Thank you."
Jung Woo-ho also picked up the teacup and savored the aroma of the tea. It wasn't a regular tea bag, but tea brewed from real tea leaves. Therefore, if one thought of it simply as a tea party, the atmosphere of this place was good. Of course, the superficial atmosphere and the underlying atmosphere were completely different.
"Your Excellency, there is something I would like to say."
"Please, go ahead."
JD already knew why Jung Woo-ho had come. However, he pretended not to know and was testing Jung Woo-ho.
"It's nothing else, but didn't you receive a proposal for an amendment related to the foundation this time, Your Excellency?"
"That is correct."
"Could I perhaps hear your wise opinion on what you are thinking?"
Jung Woo-ho wanted a probing battle. However, JD ended the probing battle quickly.
"Well……. I haven't made a decision yet. I have to listen to the opinions of the chaebols, and I have to listen to Chairman Choi's opinion again, so……."
When JD spoke, he classified them into 'chaebols' and 'Chairman Choi'. In fact, Chairman Choi was also a chaebol, but there was a reason he classified the two separately.
Therefore, Jung Woo-ho judged that there was no point in a probing battle and decided to throw a straight ball.
"Your Excellency, how much do you want?"
"Haha, if someone heard that, they would think I'm a guy crazy about money."
"Would 10 billion won suffice?"
"I am not moved by money."
"How about 20 billion won?"
"Well. I don't know why you keep mentioning money."
If it were the usual JD, he would have been 100 percent enraged by this form of conversation. However, since JD's desire was indeed money, JD was not angry at all.
'How much profit can I get if I become president one more time?'
The reason dictators dictate is not for the peace of the country, but for their own peace. JD did not deviate from this category either.
"How about 30 billion won?"
Jung Woo-ho continued to raise the amount. In any case, since JD had to show interest for the conversation to work, Jung Woo-ho had no other sharp solution.
"Haha, my goodness."
JD just sipped his tea and did not answer. In the process, the amount continued to rise. Finally, the amount reached 50 billion won.
"It must be difficult to keep stating the amount like that."
It was a hint to stop raising it by 10 billion won at a time and raise it all at once. JD was keeping in mind the worst-case scenario where he couldn't be president after '87, so he wanted to utilize this matter as much as possible.
"I understand. Then, how about 70 billion won?"
Jung Woo-ho also met JD's expectations and raised it by 20 billion won at once, not 10 billion as before. However.
"Ahem!"
JD was not satisfied even with 70 billion won. JD's greed was endless. Based on original history, the amount JD was sentenced to forfeit after his term ended was over 200 billion won. Considering that the profit Yoon-gi gained from discovering an oil field was 1 trillion won, JD had embezzled a truly enormous amount through dictatorship. For such a JD, this matter was an opportunity among opportunities. He was never going to nod his head for a mediocre amount.
"I understand. Then, I will make it 100 billion won! Anything more than this is absolutely impossible. I also have limits in persuading other chaebols. Because we have limits to the cash we can mobilize."
Finally, the call sign dropped from JD's lips.
"I have concluded at this very moment that I must think about this amendment once again."
"Thank you, Your Excellency."
In fact, he didn't feel a shred of gratitude, but Jung Woo-ho maintained his manners, and JD saw such a Jung Woo-ho off. A whopping 100 billion won. It was an unimaginable fortune, but only a fortune of this magnitude could satisfy JD's greed.
"Now. Then, shall I pull the string attached to YK again?"
JD planned to take 100 billion won in cash from Jung Woo-ho first and not keep his promise if YK promised to guarantee more than 100 billion won. Then he would gain a profit of at least 200 billion won or more.
"200 billion won……. Hehehehe……."
Choi Deok-bae, who was watching JD laughing sinisterly, let out a sigh.