Chapter 157: Morning in Philadelphia (1)

Early dawn the next day.

A hazy fog had settled over the streets of Washington, where the darkness had not yet completely lifted.

The snow that fell a while ago still made the whole world white.

I opened my eyes out of habit.

The clock hands had not even reached six yet.

After organizing my thoughts while staring at the ceiling for a while, I chewed over the conversation I had with Hye-seon last night.

‘Hyunjun, I must protect Taeseong. No matter what happens.’

That firm voice still remained clearly in my ears.

Hye-seon said she would finish her schedule in the US quickly and return to South Korea.

I also nodded at those words.

I, too, would not be able to stay here for long.

It would be difficult to wrap up everything quickly, but still, I must return to South Korea as soon as possible.

I pushed back the blanket and stood up.

The room was very warm with heat circulating.

I wanted to at least open a window to breathe in the cold air and wake up my mind, but it was impossible because it was a hotel.

Feeling regretful, I walked to the window and pulled back the curtains.

The world was silent as if it had not yet woken up.

I moved my body here and there simply and muttered quietly.

“Today will be another long day.”

It was quiet, perhaps because Choi Seo-jun and Hong Jang-gun were still asleep.

I moved my steps quietly.

Today was not much different from any other morning.

I started the day in a neat suit after finishing my shower.

After skillfully brewing coffee, I opened my laptop and checked the business report emails sent from South Korea.

After reviewing the approval documents and leaving a few instructions, I glanced at the clock.

It was not even 8:00 AM yet.

Since Joanne Madison was scheduled to come at 10:00, there was plenty of time.

A short while later, Secretary Cho's voice was heard along with the sound of the doorbell.

“Representative, it is Cho Hana.”

“Come in.”

I opened the door.

Appearing in clean attire and holding a tablet in her hand, she bowed her head lightly and asked.

“Did you sleep well overnight?”

“Yes. I slept well. How about you, Secretary Cho?”

“I also slept comfortably. I will report today's schedule first. At 10:00 AM, Senior official Joanne Madison of the Defense Procurement Bureau of the Department of Commerce will visit. After having a meeting at 2:00 PM, you have a meeting scheduled with FMS (Philadelphia Marine Systems).”

Originally, the acronym should have been ‘PMS,’ but the company intentionally changed those letters.

This is because ‘PMS’ is used too widely for another meaning in the US.

Therefore, to avoid confusion, the company created a new abbreviation called ‘FMS.’

Although it is a company located in Philadelphia, people now remembered that name as a brand before the city.

I lifted my head and asked.

“What time did the FMS representative say they would come?”

Secretary Cho checked her tablet for a moment and answered.

“It is expected to be around 4:00 PM. I heard the meeting schedule is being pushed back a bit.”

“Good. Then we will start the meeting right after lunch once the meeting with Senior official Joanne Madison ends.”

“Yes, I will do so.”

Secretary Cho quietly asked after organizing the schedule for a moment.

In the meantime, I took a sip of water.

“What shall I prepare for breakfast?”

I looked out the window after thinking for a moment.

The whole world became bright as the sunlight seeped in.

“I do want to eat Korean food but….”

I trailed off and smiled.

“It would be too much here. Please get something that can be eaten simply.”

Secretary Cho nodded and left a note on her tablet.

“Then I will order on my own.”

“Good. Do that.”

“Yes, Representative.”

Secretary Cho checked the organized schedule meticulously once more and quietly left the spot.

As the door closed, silence settled over the room again.

I finished the remaining water and checked the watch on my wrist.

Rather than worrying about whether it was too late, I judged it would be better to contact him before more time passed.

I took out my phone and pressed the number.

After several rings, a familiar voice was heard.

“Representative.”

Relief flashed across my face.

“Manager Jeong, how is your body?”

“I am almost all healed now. The doctor in charge said I could be discharged soon.”

“But isn't that too early? You probably haven't fully recovered yet.”

A short laugh flowed from the other side.

“This much is fine. Things like this are daily life for us... honestly, a wound of this level is a piece of cake for me.”

I smiled, but concern was still contained in my gaze.

I continued speaking while keeping my gaze out the window.

“Actually, I met the US President yesterday.”

“…….”

“I came to know who the person was that commissioned Onyx Crow to try and kill us in Iraq.”

I stopped speaking for a moment and added quietly.

“That person is none other than my uncle, President Lim Do-hyun.”

A short silence flowed.

The voice of Jeong Jin-woo, who finally spoke, became even lower.

“…I understand.”

That one sentence was enough.

I nodded and answered quietly.

“Do not move for now and fully recover your body first. I am also continuously checking with the hospital.”

“Assistant Manager Moon Jong-beom is suffering because of rehabilitation, but I am fine.”

No one could stop Manager Jeong Jin-woo's stubbornness.

If he said he was fine, then he was fine.

I said what needed to be said.

“I intend to move up the schedule for returning to South Korea from the US a bit. I suppose I must return to South Korea quickly.”

“Yes, I understand.”

As time passed like that and it became exactly ten o'clock, the sound of the doorbell was heard.

Cho Hana, who was waiting in advance, opened the door.

“Representative, Senior official Joanne Madison and Dr. Alan Park have arrived.”

I stood up and straightened my tie.

As I headed toward the entrance with calm steps, Joanne Madison entered wearing a neat suit.

Her expression looked haughty as always.

Behind her, Dr. Alan Park, wearing a thick jumper, was also visible.

He belonged to the Navy Technical Evaluation Committee and I had met him at the Department of Commerce yesterday.

They sat down after exchanging short greetings with me.

In the room's conference room where I was staying, Director Choi Seo-jun, General Manager Han Seung-woo, Legal Advisor Baek Yu-jin, Advisor Hong Jang-gun, Secretary Cho Hana, and President Yu Hyeon-seok of HJ Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering were already sitting in order.

When Joanne Madison and Alan Park entered, everyone stood up and welcomed them.

First, I smiled at Joanne and reached out my hand.

“It is a pleasure to meet you.”

“Thank you for inviting me, Representative Lim. It is even better to see you again.”

After shaking hands with me, I introduced Choi Seo-jun, Han Seung-woo, and Yu Hyeon-seok in turn.

“This is our Director Choi Seo-jun of HJ Partners, and this is General Manager Han Seung-woo. This person is President Yu Hyeon-seok of HJ Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.”

Joanne nodded while shaking hands.

Her gaze naturally moved toward Baek Yu-jin and Hong Jang-gun.

Baek Yu-jin reached out her hand while introducing herself.

“I am Legal Advisor Baek Yu-jin.”

“Pleased to meet you.”

It was the same for Hong Jang-gun.

While those short greetings were exchanged, Cho Hana quietly prepared tea.

The warm scent of tea spread into the air and softened the tense atmosphere.

I looked at Joanne once everyone was seated.

Then Joanne lifted her teacup, took a sip, and opened her mouth.

“Representative Lim, I heard you are interested in the US Navy MRO business.”

I looked down and then lifted my head with a nonchalant face.

“Is that so?”

No emotion was attached to my expression as I smiled quietly.

It was a tone that lightly brushed it off as if it were the first time I had heard the story.

Joanne took another sip of tea and then slowly smiled.

“I will be honest with you. I was surprised at first too. I didn't know Alexander Rockefeller would ask about MRO to the point of being so annoying. He was a person who previously had no interest in such things at all.”

I still did not lose my smile.

“Is that so? It is very interesting that Mr. Rockefeller is showing interest.”

Joanne looked straight at me and wrapped her teacup with her hands without a word.

The warm heat was transmitted directly to her hands.

I watched that appearance and lifted my glass to slowly smell the scent.

“I did not know he was so passionate. I should ask him if I will meet him again someday.”

Alan Park, who had been listening silently until then, spoke.

“Representative Lim, we know for a fact that you also met Alexander Rockefeller recently.”

The gazes in the conference room momentarily focused on me.

I put down the glass I was holding and tilted my head slightly.

“That's right. We met recently. Rockefeller came to see me personally and said he wanted to invite me to his villa.”

While saying that, I lightly shrugged my shoulders.

“He liked me quite a lot. There is no reason for us to avoid someone who comes to visit.” ℯℯ𝑙.

That appearance meant ‘what is the problem with meeting.’

Meanwhile, I added as I spun the coffee cup as if playing with my fingertips.

“Isn't meeting people in the business world a daily occurrence?”

Joanne Madison looked at me for a moment and let out a sigh.

After that, she spoke.

“Fine, Representative Lim. Let’s stop and speak honestly to each other now. I want to stop being tormented by Alexander Rockefeller.”

The people sitting in the conference room laughed out loud together.

She also spoke while wearing a smile.

“Actually, the reason I didn't see Representative Lim in a good light at first was because of that person. Every time he brought you up, he made me very annoyed. He was so persistent it gave me the shivers.”

Her gaze turned toward me.

“That's why I also acted sharply unknowingly when I first faced you at the Department of Commerce meeting yesterday. If your feelings were hurt by any chance, I am sorry.”

“It is fine.”

Joanne lifted the glass wrapped in her hands again.

Steam rose above the glass.

“I know you are interested in the MRO business. To be honest, now I am curious too.”

She continued her words after putting down the glass after taking a sip.

“With what kind of thought are you trying to jump into this business? Is it simple technological power, or are you looking beyond that?”

A bit of wariness was attached to the end of her words.

“Of course, that doesn't mean I intend to leave this business to your side. Let’s make that clear.”

I laughed briefly.

“Of course. We also intend to win the business rights by competing according to proper procedures. There is no reason to use expedients or pressure. The process must be fair for everyone to willingly accept the result.”

Joanne’s gaze wavered for a moment.

She opened her mouth while resting her chin on her hand for a moment.

“It is truly strange. Even while having such a conversation, my heart somehow becomes comfortable.”

“I am glad you think so.”

My answer was very plain.

Joanne looked at me for a moment and spoke.

“Actually, the vision you presented at the Department of Commerce meeting was very impressive. The idea of building a system beyond technology and infrastructure.”

Her eyes sparkled and the gaze looking at me had changed.

The appearance of being wary had disappeared before I knew it and was replaced by a gaze where interest had seeped in.

I enjoyed that gaze and drank my coffee.

“I always think about the future. I believe that is the only way not only South Korea but also the entire world can move forward.”