Chapter 73: Achilles’ Heel

"Mr. President, Chairman Bongard and Chairman Hudson will be arriving in our country this evening."

Chief of Staff Lee Jihun gave President Cho Seokchin a detailed report on the contents of his phone conversation with Chairman Park Yeongil.

"...He is requesting security protection to ensure the safety of the guests."

"I see. What do you think about this, Chief Lee?"

"I believe that once the joint venture is established, dominating the artificial intelligence market will only be a matter of time."

"I agree with you on that point, Chief Lee, but do you think President Douglas will simply sit back and watch?"

"Chairman Park replied that Chairman Bongard would be able to completely keep him in check."

However, President Cho Seokchin's opinion differed from Chairman Park Yeongil's.

No matter how powerful Chairman Bongard's influence was, it could not surpass the authority of President Douglas, who led the United States, the world's greatest superpower.

Wanting to know what Chief of Staff Lee Jihun thought, the President asked for his opinion.

"I will contact Chairman Park and ask why Chairman Bongard is so confident."

"Call him immediately."

Lee Jihun dialed Chairman Park Yeongil's number and relayed President Cho Seokchin's concerns.

"...What are your thoughts regarding the President's doubts?"

[My successor has quite a close relationship with Chairman Bongard.]

"Oh! So you've finally found a successor? My sincere congratulations."

[Ha-ha-ha. Thank you. As for President Cho's question, I'll answer after I confirm everything with my successor.]

"Why wait? Perhaps I should meet your successor in person."

[That actually sounds like a good idea. When you come here, bring Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong of the National Police Agency with you.]

"Is there a particular reason I should bring Commissioner Choi?"

[We'll need to draw up a security plan for our guests.]

"You're right. That would be best. I'll leave immediately."

Click!

The moment Lee Jihun hung up, President Cho Seokchin impatiently asked,

"Chairman Park said he found a successor?"

"Yes, Mr. President."

"What a relief. Perhaps I should meet Chairman Park's successor as well."

"I'll meet him first."

"That would probably be for the best. Please convey my heartfelt congratulations to Chairman Park."

***

Completely unaware of everything unfolding around me, I was returning to the company with Deputy Manager Woo Changhun.

"Manager Cha, did you know Chairman Park is close to President Cho?"

"If I had known that, I wouldn't have gone to Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong asking for help."

"That's true... Come to think of it, that makes sense. But tell me, do you think Chief Lee will grant Chairman Park's request?"

I believed the chances were extremely high.

After all, establishing a joint venture to manufacture high-bandwidth semiconductors would bring enormous benefits to our country.

Even so, it was necessary to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

"I think it depends less on Chief Lee and more on President Cho's own decision."

"What do you mean?"

"Once the joint venture begins moving forward in earnest, President Douglas will most likely pressure President Cho."

"Are you saying President Cho might yield to President Douglas's pressure?"

"That possibility exists. It's extremely small, but there's no need to worry too much."

"Why do you think that? Explain."

"Because Chairman Bongard is holding President Douglas's Achilles' heel."

"Achilles' heel?"

Bzzz.

At that moment, the phone in my pocket vibrated briefly.

When I took it out, I saw Secretary Kang Inhan's name on the screen.

After sending a brief reply that I understood, I continued speaking with Deputy Manager Woo Changhun.

"Manager Woo, Chairman Park is urgently calling me over."

"What for?"

"I don't know the reason yet."

"I have to head back to the office by subway anyway, so just drop me off at the nearest station."

"I should have driven you all the way to the company. My apologies."

"Even simple words of courtesy are nice to hear."

I pulled over near the subway station that had come into view.

Woo Changhun thoughtfully got out quickly so he wouldn't block the cars behind us.

***

"Chairman, what's happened?" I asked Park Yeongil with obvious curiosity as I sat down on the empty sofa.

"Chief of Staff Lee Jihun is on his way here to meet Division Head Cha."

"...What?!"

Chairman Park Yeongil fully understood why Cha Jiham reacted so strongly.

After all, Lee Jihun was known as President Cho Seokchin's second self.

Anyone would be shocked to hear that someone so influential was personally coming to meet them.

"In any case, since it can't be avoided, it's better to get it over with quickly."

"I'm not quite sure what you mean, Chairman."

"I've been supporting promising young people for a very long time. Chief Lee is one of them."

"If it hadn't been for the Chairman's financial support, Chief Lee would most likely be living a very ordinary life today," Secretary Kang Inhan added, reinforcing Chairman Park's authority.

"I'm curious under what circumstances the Chairman decided to help Chief Lee."

"When Chief Lee was in his third year of middle school, his house caught fire. Unfortunately, he was the only survivor. Feeling pity for the boy who had suddenly become an orphan, the Chairman began supporting him, and that relationship has continued to this day."

"Ah, I see."

"As a matter of fact, among the people the Chairman supported was President Cho Seokchin himself."

"...What?!"

Knock. Knock.

While I was still reeling from another shock, a knock sounded, and the secretary opened the Chairman's office door.

She walked briskly over to Park Yeongil and handed him a note.

After reading it, the Chairman nodded and gave his instructions.

"Invite our guests in and serve tea."

A moment later, the office door opened, and a man in his fifties entered along with Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong and Superintendent Hong Ingi.

We rose from our seats to greet them.

At that moment, Secretary Kang Inhan introduced me to the visitor.

"Chief Lee, this is Division Head Cha Jiham, Chairman Park Yeongil's successor."

"It's a pleasure to meet you. Since fate has brought us together, shall we shake hands?"

"Yes, gladly."

When Lee Jihun took Cha Jiham's outstretched right hand, he was quite surprised.

The reason was the complete absence of nervousness in either the young man's voice or his grip.

Not wanting to let that pass unnoticed, the Chief of Staff decided to test him a little.

"Division Head Cha, you're remarkably composed for someone your age."

Ever since I had taken the unique herbal tranquilizer, my heart had become genuinely strong.

It was a little unfortunate that I couldn't tell Lee Jihun about it.

"I don't know whether you've noticed, but I'm tightening my abdominal muscles with all my strength so I won't start trembling."

"Ha-ha-ha! Is that so?"

Lee Jihun laughed good-naturedly before turning to Park Yeongil.

"Chairman Park, Division Head Cha is clearly no ordinary person."

"If he were an ordinary man, he wouldn't be my successor."

"You're right. It seems I asked a foolish question."

"Ha-ha, it was only a joke. Shall we sit down and talk?"

A short while later, the secretary served tea to everyone present.

After taking a sip and appreciating its flavor, Lee Jihun looked at me with curiosity.

"I heard from Chairman Park that you have close ties with Chairman Bongard. I'm very interested in how the two of you met."

"I accompanied Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun of Hangang Group on a business trip to the United States. That's where we met and greeted each other."

"Division Head Cha is currently working at two places simultaneously—our company and Hangang Group," Secretary Kang Inhan added to clarify the situation.

"Now that it's been decided he'll become Chairman Park's successor, shouldn't he resign from Hangang Group?"

"Our Chairman feels the same way. However, Chairman Yoon is firmly opposed to it."

"And why is he opposed?"

"The idea for the joint venture came from Division Head Cha. Chairman Yoon insists that if Division Head Cha leaves Hangang Group, the joint venture itself could fall apart. Though the real reason is simply his greed for talented people."

Lee Jihun tilted his head in confusion.

Yoon Jongu's obsession with talented people was well known, so there was nothing surprising about that.

But what connection could there possibly be between Cha Jiham resigning and the collapse of the joint venture?

Expressing his doubts, he looked toward Secretary Kang Inhan, expecting an explanation.

"Chairman Yoon claims that Chairman Bongard and Chairman Hudson agreed to invest in the joint venture solely because of Division Head Cha."

Lee Jihun's gaze naturally shifted toward me.

I immediately understood the hidden meaning behind his look and hurried to respond.

"The real reason those two agreed to participate is their own desire for profit."

"Desire for profit?"

"The joint venture will specialize exclusively in manufacturing high-bandwidth semiconductors used for artificial intelligence. If that happens, the artificial intelligence market will inevitably fall completely under its control."

"So Chairman Yoon's claim is incorrect?"

"No. My personal influence did play a part in their decision."

"Would you mind explaining exactly what influence you had over them?"

Through an extraordinary stroke of luck, I had been able to cure Tracy of her incurable disease—retinitis pigmentosa.

Chairman Bongard decided to invest in the joint venture as gratitude for healing his granddaughter.

Chairman Hudson joined the project on Chairman Bongard's recommendation.

The problem was that I couldn't tell the whole truth.

Then he'll definitely start asking how I cured her.

That would inevitably lead to explaining some extremely awkward intimate details, as well as the existence and effects of the unique herbal tranquilizer.

So I decided to give another reason instead.

"I once asked Chairman Bongard why he had decided to invest in the project."

"And what did he say?"

"He said he sensed an incredibly powerful determination in my eyes to make the joint venture a reality. According to him, Chairman Hudson felt exactly the same thing."

But as always, life had a way of springing surprises.

Chairman Park Yeongil suddenly interrupted our conversation.

"Chief Lee, Chairman Bongard's granddaughter and Division Head Cha are extremely close."

"In that case..." Lee Jihun trailed off, as though he had realized something.

Reading his thoughts, Park Yeongil immediately added,

"Ha-ha, you're thinking exactly right, Chief Lee."

"Ah, I see."

Lee Jihun nodded knowingly.

Realizing I couldn't leave things like this, I quickly interrupted.

"Chief Lee, I've only met Chairman Bongard's granddaughter twice."

"Are you saying you're not close?"

There's a saying that even a single night together is enough to build the Great Wall of China.

Tracy and I had spent two passionate nights together, and we still kept in regular contact.

Calling us distant would have been a lie.

However, if I admitted how close we were, there was a risk of being accused of approaching her with ulterior motives.

Besides, now that I had already given another explanation, how could I suddenly confess the truth?

"We just talk from time to time."

"I have no desire whatsoever to interfere in your private life, so let's leave that subject there."

"I'd greatly appreciate that."

"Now, on to the important matter. Once the joint venture begins moving forward in earnest, President Douglas is unlikely to remain idle. Can Chairman Bongard truly keep him in check?"

After briefly considering how to phrase my answer, I replied to Lee Jihun.

"What I'm about to tell you must remain absolutely confidential."

"You have my word. Please continue."

"During the presidential election two years ago, candidate Douglas found himself in an extremely difficult position. Clinging to his last hope, he went to Chairman Bongard and..."

As Lee Jihun listened to Cha Jiham's explanation, every trace of his anxiety and doubt vanished.

Chairman Bongard clearly hadn't helped candidate Douglas out of simple charity.

That meant if the President tried to interfere, Bongard would have no choice but to reveal his greatest hidden trump card.

If it really came to that, Douglas could forget about ever being re-elected.

While the Chief of Staff quietly welcomed that conclusion, Cha Jiham finally finished his explanation.

"...Chairman Bongard will simply cut off President Douglas's Achilles' heel."

"If I were in his place, I'd do exactly the same."

"Even so, just to be safe, we've prepared a Plan B."

"May I ask what it is?"

"Legally speaking, the joint venture is an American company."

"Ah..."

Lee Jihun let out a long sound of understanding, making it clear that he had fully grasped the essence of Plan B.