Chapter 1513 Uncovering (3)

“They will take care of it now, sir.”

Lee Hyeon-Su sounded nonchalant while making his report.

Maybe that was why? Kang Jin-Ho couldn’t help but stare at Lee Hyeon-Su weirdly.

“Really? That’s it?”

“Yes, sir,” Lee Hyeon-Su replied with a casual shrug.

“But I’m still kinda worried...?”

“Sir, I assure you, there’s nothing to worry about. I didn’t task the NIS with this matter, after all.”

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

“That’s how the command structure in our government works, you see? Since the deputy director of the NIS got the message, it’d get passed on to the director of the NIS. And the director would report it to the Prime Minister. When that happens, the Prime Minister will deliver the report to his boss. Of course, the Prime Minister might not even enter the picture this time, but that is what happens, most of the time.”

“Mm...!”

“It’s up to the government now, sir. If they wish to work together with us again, they will leave no stone unturned. And with enough force and intensity to utterly crush our enemies.”

“...”

Kang Jin-Ho and Lee Hyeon-Ju stared dazedly at Lee Hyeon-Su. What a good thing it was that Hwang Min-Su wasn’t present to listen to this!

Lee Hyeon-Su continued to explain. “Sir, please remember that in matters like this, it’s always better to employ the specialists.”

Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow. “...Like you?”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk...” Lee Hyeon-Su theatrically wagged his finger. “I’ll have you know that I’m nowhere near good enough to call myself a specialist. Since time immemorial, cops and prosecutors have been the best at catching someone, investigating them thoroughly, then finding every single person involved before making utter mincemeat out of them.”

“...?” Lee Hyeon-Ju tilted her head in confusion. “Hang on. Are you sure they are good at such things?”

“It seems you don’t know anything. My advice? Don’t underestimate the enforcers of the law like that. Because they are incredibly great at their jobs, you see? It’s just that they can’t be arsed into action, that’s all. However, when incentives like promotions are on offer? You will never find more driven and obsessive people than our peace officers.”

“That sounds problematic, don’t you think?”

“You can’t blame them, though. They can work their butts off all they want, but no one’s gonna acknowledge their hard work, anyway. And it’s not like they’ll get paid extra, either. Who’s gonna try their best when that’s the situation? But that’s not important here...”

Lee Hyeon-Su casually shrugged again.

“Just sit back and enjoy the show, everyone. We’ve given them enough information to kick-start everything, you see? I’m certain that they will stop at nothing to find the culprit responsible and drag them out into the open. To start off, digging into the suspects’ bank accounts and phone records alone should be enough to find what they are looking for.”

Lee Hyeon-Ju furrowed her brow. “But people use that American messaging app these days.”

“So what? They can ask the Americans to hand the data over, anyway.”

“...? Eh?”

Lee Hyeon-Ju’s jaw dazedly fell. That... made sense?

Lee Hyeon-Su chuckled softly. “That’s why I keep telling everyone here that they need to stop underestimating our government. Because the power the government wields can be unimaginably terrifying, you see? When it’s not targeting you, you inevitably make light of it, but once Big Brother has set its sights on you? You’ll realize how stupid you’ve been.

“And you’ll also realize why people with too much money rotting in their bank accounts want to become politicians and go around local produce markets to introduce themselves to the masses. And people who have everything they could ask for still go around kissing babies in the street just for a chance to earn one extra vote come next election cycle.”

At times, political power could overwhelm and even surpass financial and physical power. Its wielder could easily do things that would’ve usually required money and violence. And that was why so many wealthy businessmen and gangsters with nationwide reach continuously tried to enter politics.

“In any case... All we have to do is sit back and enjoy the show,” said Lee Hyeon-Su confidently.

Kang Jin-Ho could only shake his head. Well, I’m sure he knows what he’s doing.

Lee Hyeon-Su was handling it personally, after all. Even though Kang Jin-Ho wasn’t convinced by the methods employed, he still believed Lee Hyeon-Su was a better fit than him in matters like this.

Lee Hyeon-Su chuckled in amusement after noticing the look on Kang Jin-Ho’s face. I’m telling you, my boss can be such a weirdo sometimes.

Kang Jin-Ho still hadn’t realized how terrifying political power could be because he had never wielded it before. Which was bizarre, considering how much power he wielded right now.

The funny thing is, I don’t think he’s aware of how much power he actually holds in this country.

What could Lee Hyeon-Su do about it, though? Since that was what Kang Jin-Ho was like, after all?

“By the way...?” Lee Hyeon-Ju suddenly sharpened her glare while staring at Lee Hyeon-Su. “It sounds like you’ve overstepped your authority?”

Lee Hyeon-Su tilted his head. “Huh?”

“You can’t unilaterally decide on whether we should fix our relationship with the NIS and the Korean government, after all.”

“T-that’s... uh?”

How perceptive of her! Lee Hyeon-Su’s back was soaked in cold sweat. Because Kang Jin-Ho was now looking at him with an unimpressed expression on his face!

“W-wait, sir. Please hear me out,” Lee Hyeon-Su urgently replied, his expression stiffening. “If I’m being honest... I believe not fixing our strained relationship with the Korean government will pose a significant problem later.”

“Mm?”

Lee Hyeon-Su scratched the back of his head. “Regardless of what has transpired so far, this is our country, sir. Even if we can independently sign deals with governments of other nations, there’s a significant difference between having a country to shield us and not having one. If it’s possible, I’d like us to maintain a cordial-enough relationship with the government.”

“Hmm...” Kang Jin-Ho slightly furrowed his brow. “Do we really have to?”

“The advantages of doing so are far too numerous to mention, sir. Besides, didn’t we try so hard to maintain a good working relationship with the government by humoring their favors in the past?”

“Well... I guess we did.”

Unfortunately, all that hard work went down the drain because of Kim Myeong-Chan’s insanity.

“Please forgive me this once, sir. But I believed it was necessary.”

Lee Hyeon-Su was trying to say he had targeted two birds with one stone. As in, while mending the relationship with the government, he could just sit back and watch the situation resolve itself, too. At least that was his intention, but...

Lee Hyeon-Ju smirked softly. “But that wasn’t the answer, though?”

Lee Hyeon-Su glanced at her. “Huh?”

“You just told us the reason for doing it, not why you overstepped your authority without reporting to the Assembly Master first.”

“...!”

Was she trying to get even here?

Before Lee Hyeon-Su could defend himself, Lee Hyeon-Ju quickly turned toward Kang Jin-Ho. “Sir! You mustn’t brush this matter aside. Honestly, Chief Lee Hyeon-Su has been overstepping his authority far too often lately.”

“...!”

“It seems you have forgotten about it, but the truth is? Chief Lee Hyeon-Su is neither a director nor the president of the operations. Yes, he’s just a chief of a department! However, just how often did he not even bother to ask for your permission while handling important matters recently?”

Lee Hyeon-Su nearly fell off his couch. “W-wait! That’s because the Assembly Master has...”

Too bad, it seemed she was not even remotely interested in listening to his excuses. “Chief Lee! I’m talking about sticking to the rules here! Rules!”

“...”

“Even if the Assembly Master has granted you the authority to make decisions independently, you are not supposed to abuse it willy-nilly. Besides, that authority is meant to be used when the situation is too urgent for you to report to the Assembly Master. I’m not sure if this situation qualifies as ‘too urgent to make a report’, Chief Lee.”

“...!”

Lee Hyeon-Su was rendered completely speechless just then. But that only made Lee Hyeon-Ju’s lips curl up even more.

She addressed Kang Jin-Ho again. “Sir?”

“Mm?”

“An unmoving body of water is bound to stagnate. And a subordinate who is too beloved and trusted by the higher-ups will overstep their authority sooner rather than later.”

“...”

“As someone who wishes for nothing but the prosperity of the Martial Assembly, and as your loyal subordinate who carries no malicious intent or ulterior motives, I strongly recommend that you ask Chief Lee Hyeon-Su to take responsibility for this incident.”

Kang Jin-Ho was quick to make his call.

“Lee Hyeon-Su. Your head. On the floor.”

Lee Hyeon-Su didn’t say anything else and assumed a splendid Wonsanbombing raid position. Kang Jin-Ho still didn’t seem too impressed, however.

“Well, you heard her. So?”

Lee Hyeon-Su inwardly cried out, What the?! You could’ve asked me that before telling me to plant my head on the floor, you know!

“So? What do you say?”

“I, well...” Lee Hyeon-Su gave up and sighed deeply. “I believe Miss Lee’s criticism is justified, sir.”

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled. “Since you know that, I’m sure you also know what to do about it.”

“Yes, sir! I’ll fix the error of my ways immediately!”

“Stand up.”

“Sir!”

Lee Hyeon-Su hurriedly stood upright. Kang Jin-Ho stared at him for a while before resuming his lecture.

“I know I can’t do everything by myself.”

“...”

“I’ve learned that lesson already. So, yeah, I know it’s impossible to do everything on my own. I need people who can help me.”

“...Of course.”

“But that goes for you, too, Chief Lee.”

Lee Hyeon-Su’s eyes quaked ever so slightly just then.

“Once upon a time, I thought everyone was fragile, like glass. It felt like they would simply shatter if I touched them. For a while there, I thought everyone was frail, didn’t have enough willpower, and not driven enough.”

But sir, I think you’ve got it spot-on.

Actually, no. If Kang Jin-Ho was used as a yardstick, calling others fragile like glass seemed too excessive. Because, Lee Hyeon-Su would be more like a toothpick made out of starch or something!

“If you can’t trust others, you’d inevitably start to think that your choices are always correct. You stop listening to other people’s opinions and don’t discuss what worries you with anyone else. You simply charge forward like a runaway train, only to crash and burn.”

...Just like what Kang Jin-Ho’s second life was like back then.

“I’m trying my best not to repeat my past mistakes. I hope you can do the same, Chief Lee.”

Lee Hyeon-Su quietly nodded. Sometimes, he struggled to understand Kang Jin-Ho’s profound insight on life. And it’d remind him that his boss had lived an incomparably longer life than most people, including himself.

“I’m sorry for making you worry, sir.”

“Nah, no need to apologize. If you did something wrong, it’s only obvious that you’d get punished. As for you, a reduction in your wages. For three months.”

“...?!”

What the?! Sir! Since when did you learn to hand out punishment so deeply rooted in the corrupt ways of Capitalism?!

Didn’t you beat people up in the past as punishment? What happened to that? Why are you reducing my pay instead!

Nooo! Beat me up instead! Please!

Kang Jin-Ho noticed the tearful expression on Lee Hyeon-Su’s face and chuckled softly.

“Okay, so. You say the government will take care of this on their own?”

“Yes, sir! This is a great opportunity to exploit the government’s power for ourselves. However, let’s not stop there. We should put a leash on...”

“Lee Hyeon-Su.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Do it in moderation, okay? Moderation.”

“...”

Lee Hyeon-Su ruefully smacked his lips.

While looking at that rueful expression on Lee Hyeon-Su’s face, Kang Jin-Ho began wondering about something.

If Lee Hyeon-Su was talented in martial arts, what kind of man would he have turned into?

Obviously, no one would know that. However, at least Kang Jin-Ho was certain of one thing. He wouldn’t have earned the nickname of the “Demon King.”

Why? Simple. Because no one on the face of this Earth would be as vile and evil as Lee Hyeon-Su with power, after all!

“Oh, and...” Lee Hyeon-Su suddenly grew somber. “I’d like to get your permission on something, sir.”

“Mm?”

“Even if the government makes its position clear and mobilizes the police and the prosecutors, I’m certain that they won’t be able to punish the ones behind this situation. Because those bastards would’ve already protected themselves legally.”

“...”

“That’s how these people do things. I’m guessing that all the evidence of their bosses making the call to attack us has already been destroyed by now. They will probably select a sacrificial pawn or two and say they had acted independently.”

“But what about the funds for an operation like this?”

“Oh, that’s easy enough to explain away, sir. They’ll probably say the pawn somehow came up with the funds on their own.”

“Mm...!”

“That was why I was wondering...” Lee Hyeon-Su quietly asked, his eyes gleaming dangerously. “Caffe Luogo will get to clear its name. And our sales will get a healthy boost, as well. That’s where your decision comes in, sir. Will you stop there? Or will we go after their leadership?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“...”

Kang Jin-Ho mouthed a cigarette. Soon, a lazy cloud of smoke wafted out from his lips and nostrils.

“I’ve never let those who dare provoke me walk away in one piece.”

That was Kang Jin-Ho’s number one rule. An ironclad rule that would never change.

“If the law isn’t enough to punish them, we’ll resort to extralegal means to do so.”

Lee Hyeon-Su firmly nodded. “Understood. Then I’ll proceed with that outcome in mind.”

Kang Jin-Ho saw the determined look on Lee Hyeon-Su’s face, then closed his eyes briefly.

It’s all the same, isn’t it?

Whether it was the martial world or the surface world... Where people lived, it’d always be a jungle.

Kang Jin-Ho had to remind himself of that fact once more.