Chapter 160

Melissa White Goldstein. There were only four in her family who knew that name. The guys promise that he would soon call her kept ringing in her head. She returned to her hotel room without even attending the seminar with the European members. Her brother, Colton, realized something was wrong as he noticed the tense look on her face.

What happened? he asked.

Ca.s.sandra looked at Colton. There was something going on in Seoul, but it didnt work out well.

Who did you send?

Samuel.

Colton frowned, because Samuel was one of the best agents in their family. If he stepped up, everything should have worked out without problems.

Ca.s.sandra sat on the couch and pointed to the seat in front of her.

Its okay.

She sounded like she was giving him a command. Colton had never gone against his sister, but he was now more cautious than ever. If he got involved in her work, he could be executed after just being used. Ca.s.sandra had won her place by eliminating her brilliant cousins, so to Colton, his only sibling looked like a bloodthirsty vampireeven more so since she didnt seem to age at all..

Its private stuff, so only you and I should know about this, Ca.s.sandra said firmly.

Coltons heart poundedhis instincts were warning him. She had sent Samuel, but it hadnt worked out, and now she was trying to tell him about it. Whatever her intention was, Colton couldnt resist. He sat across from her.

There is someone we need to kill, she said.

...

He had expected this from the moment he had found out that Samuel had gone there. However, it was a totally different story when Ca.s.sandra told him in person. She was about to force her evil ways on him. As he turned ghastly pale, she subtly smiled.

Can I ask you to finish Samuels work? she asked.

What about Samuel?

He disappeared.

But how how could Samuel be

Jeon-il Group.

Colton questioned again in surprise, Ms. Jamie is your target?

Jamie used to be an ordinary employee of Walsher Land, but she was now leading the speculative force that dominated Korea. Although she only stamped a rubber seal on papers, she had gone through the turbulent six year period of the East Asian economy since the end of the IMF crisis. She was a most important figure, and no one could ever talk about the East Asian economic situation without mentioning her.

Oh, gosh This is

not

a private matter. Also, its rather fortunate that Samuel failed. If the president of Jeon-il got murdered, the repercussions would be devastating, Ca.s.sandra, Colton said.

I know how Korea is doing, she replied.

No, you dont. Jeon-il is much more than Carlos Halim in Korea.

Halim was the richest man in Mexico and dominated their economy. Mexico was his empire, and his relations.h.i.+p with Mexico was similar to that of Jeon-il Group and Korea. When both countries were suffering from a currency crisis, they had completed their empires by purchasing stakes from major firms at dirt cheap prices.

Mexicans were born in hospitals that Halim owned and were employed by companies where Halim invested his capital. They ate their food, drove their cars, enjoyed their hobbies, shopped, and ended their lives within the realm of Halim. The Halim Empire took only ten percent of Mexicos GDP and was still praised to that extent, so Jeon-il was basically wors.h.i.+ped in Korea. The twenty major companies in Korea that had Jeon-il Group as the largest shareholder not only made up eighty percent of the countrys GDP, but their domestic market share in their industry had also exceeded seventy percent.

Colton shook his head at Ca.s.sandra because the Halim Empire was limited to the Mexican market, but Koreas Jeon-il Group was intertwined even with the global market. Their directly affiliated companies, like Daehoo Group, Il-sung Groups semiconductors, Daehyun Xia Groups automobiles, and Daehyuns s.h.i.+pbuilding business were pus.h.i.+ng into the world market after Korea had overcome its crisis. They proceeded as if they were trying to regain their reputation as an Asian Tiger.[1]

Why Ms. Jamie? What is the benefit of getting rid of her? Colton asked.

However, he changed his line of thought as he noticed Casandras expression turning cold..

If its not just Jamie, is she targeting the entire Jeon-il Group?

Theres no room for us to squeeze into Korea. This has been concluded after many reviews. During the Asian financial crisis, our predecessors shouldnt have stepped back like that. I cant do anything right now, he said.

Hoho. Why are you misunderstanding and getting so surprised? I told you its private.

Ca.s.sandra told him about Na Seon-Hu, though excluding the information about Awakened and quests.

Why do we have to kill that Korean?

Colton was itching to ask this question, because the whole thing didnt make sense. He couldnt find any connection between Ca.s.sandra and the Korean man named Na Seon-Hu.

Where is her resentment toward him coming from?

Why do we have to have such a conversation? Cant you just leave me alone? There are so many guys besides me. I beg you, Colton said.

Because I can only trust you, my beloved brother, she replied.

Ca.s.sandra.

When are we going to stop talking about the old childhood stories?

Stop. Thats We couldnt do much about it. He lowered his head.

Ca.s.sandra shrugged helplessly.

The job involves a lot of interesting factors. I cant tell you now, but youll find out one day.

But you said its private. Colton looked at her with his eyes wide open.

Oh, did I? Hoho.

Do you really have to do this?

Just get a hold of him. Its the same as back then. If you hold him, Ill push him, she replied.

Colton grimaced. He still had nightmares of his cousin, whom they had killed together when they were young. He dropped his head down with a face drawn with pain.

Ca.s.sandra, Im not a murderer.

Ca.s.sandra got up, pulled Colton close, and whispered in his ear, Youre not, but you are the brother of a murderer. Unfortunately.

***

Colton had planned to enter Korea with utmost secrecy and had gotten confirmation from a Korean VIP. However, there was a problem during his entry procedures. Not only was he unable to go in through the back door, but there were also too many people at Incheon Airport, so police officers had to be called in.

Thank you for coming all the way here.

When Hong Ju-Hwan, the Minister of Economy and Finance, asked Colton for a handshake, camera flashes burst out from every direction. Even a press conference had been prepared for him.

Everything is different from what you told me. Colton looked displeased.

The government tried, but it was difficult to suppress the reporters pa.s.sion. I hope you understand.

This was obviously not a diplomatic event. Colton realized that things had been messed up. When he sat down, reporters poured out torrents of questions.

Would you consider this as an official visit from the European Council?

Did you visit to resolve the problems of the EU's impact on Koreas FTA[2]?

Colton stated that he was here on a personal visit and replied with brief answers. The conference lasted only ten minutes, and he expressed his foul mood toward Hong Ju-Hwan when he got in the escorted car.

Is the VIP aware of this? Colton asked curtly.

I was about to tell him. The VIP is attending an external meeting regarding the dispatch of troops to Iraq. Please be understanding in regards to the change in todays schedule.

Colton stared at Hong Ju-Hwan. Since the official purpose of the visit was personal, he knew other important matters had to be prioritized.

But I cant believe they would treat me like this

Colton gritted teeth inwardly.

Colton couldnt understand, because, on top of his position in the EU, he was a member of the Goldstein family. He changed the topic.

I heard youve been working extremely hard.

Which work are you talking about? Hong Ju-Hwan asked.

Dealing with the speculative force that entered Korea six years ago. They must be troublemakers to you guys since Korea is an economic powerhouse that should develop further. I still remember the day I heard about Koreas situation in detail. We all thought it shouldnt have happened.

Hong Ju-Hwan personally agreed, but he couldnt chime in. The presidential election campaign fund that came into his party and the boxes of money he personally received from the Daehoo Group were still stacked in the bas.e.m.e.nt of his mansion. On top of that, there was a high possibility that the ledgers that Daehoo had managed had fallen into Jeon-il as Daehoo was incorporated. That was a nuclear bomb, and for some reason, the Goldstein family wanted to detonate it.

Hong Ju-Hwan reached out his hand to the pa.s.senger seat, pretending not to know about it.

The VIP is also taking that issue seriously.

His secretary handed him a file of articles he had collected lately. Then, Hong Ju-Hwan said while giving the file to Colton, Since you cant read Korean, Ill explain briefly. This case is called Jeon-il Gate, and the VIP pulled out a knife against the Jeon-il Group three days ago.

Colton slowly turned over the file book, and his gaze was fixed on the article that reported Jamie and Director Park appearing at the prosecutors office. Then, Hong Ju-Hwan said as if he had been waiting, In fact, the VIP is on the hook. As you know, the Jeon-il Group has become the symbol of Koreas business. Going against them practically means baring your fangs against the entire business industry.

Our group will fully support your government, Colton replied.

He had even brought strategies that would help the Korean government. For instance, he had planned to attack Jeon-il by pointing out problems they had caused while taking over the former KEB[3]. Then, he was going to stop Na Seon-Hu from acting further.

Thank you, but itll be contradictory if an issue caused by foreign capital gets resolved with the power of other foreigners. Thats not what Im trying to talk about now. Can I please explain a bit more? Hong Ju-Hwan said, and Colton kept quiet and listened.

As I mentioned previously, the VIP has focused on reforming the business industry. However, thats not the only thing he wants to reform. Before the Goldstein family made this request, he had already pulled out a knife against the prosecution.

Hong Ju-Hwan reached his hand toward the file book while directly referring to the word request. Then, he opened a page that had an article called Conversation with Prosecutors.

The Korean prosecutions opposition is formidable to the point that you might think they are reckless. I wanted to ask the Goldstein Group for their understanding regarding that point. The VIP is having difficulty handling the prosecution and reform at the same time.

Hong Ju-Hwan spoke politely, but he was outraged inwardly. He was upset and depressed that Korea now had to obey these foreigners without a whimper. It was like the end of the Joseon Dynasty[4]. Korea was now helplessly stuck in the middle of the fight between the Jeon-il Group and Goldstein family, similar to how they had been swept away by the war between the Qing and j.a.pan in the past.

Chief Hong.

Yes.

The Goldstein family will fully cooperate with the Korean government.

Colton had changed from support to cooperate. Hong Ju-Hwans face stiffened, as he knew what Colton meant. He hadnt known anything about the Goldstein family before he had started working in his current position, but now he knew that they were the people with fancy masks working from behind the scenes.

Thank you for saying that.

Srrr-

The car slowed down, and when it completely stopped, Hong Ju-Hwan left after a brief nod. The driver and the government secretary in the pa.s.senger seat also hurriedly left the car. This was very unusual behavior, and Coltons eyes widened as he felt danger. He opened the door to get out, but a man pushed him back into the car.

Lets talk for a bit.

1. The Four Asian Tigers are the high-growth economies of Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.

2. Free Trade Agreement.

3. Korean Exchange Bank.

4. In 1910, the Joseon Dynasty fell as j.a.pan occupied the Korean Peninsula.