Chapter 363: What’s With These Rumors?

Click.

As soon as Chief Secretary Song Dosok hung up the phone, Chairman Yoon Jongu asked with a curious expression,

"Secretary Song, what on earth is going on?"

"I'm not entirely sure of the situation myself yet. I'll speak with Secretary Lee and report everything to you immediately afterward."

After answering, Chief Secretary Song Dosok promptly dialed Presidential Chief of Staff Lee Jihun.

As though he had been expecting the call, Lee answered on the very first ring, and his voice came through the speaker.

[Secretary Song, have you spoken with Director Cha already?]

"I just finished talking to him. What's going on over there?"

[Tell me exactly what Director Cha told you.]

"He said the Czech government had approved the construction of four nuclear power plant units and that a high-ranking official was planning to visit our country. He also asked us to send our private jet to the Czech Republic to pick him up."

[It seems Director Cha skipped all the details and gave you only the essentials.]

"Ah, so that's what happened. Could you explain in more detail?"

[The Czech government decided to build two additional nuclear power plant units, but they don't have the budget for it. President Jan Koller asked our country to provide $15 billion in financial assistance to cover the construction costs.]

"Are you saying the Korean government has decided to provide the Czech Republic with those $15 billion?"

[We decided against providing the funds because the press might stir up a hornet's nest.]

Chief Secretary Song Dosok tilted his head in confusion.

The Korean government must already have officially informed the Czech side of its decision.

In that case, the Czechs should have approached France or China for a loan, since both countries had long been eyeing the nuclear power plant construction project.

Naturally, whichever country provided the money would secure the right to build the reactors.

And yet, a high-ranking Czech official was on his way to Korea.

Apparently, the Czech Republic had failed to borrow money from other countries after all.

He decided to share his suspicions with Lee Jihun and asked what he thought.

[I'm sorry, Secretary Song, but you get a failing grade for that guess.]

"Haha. Is that so?"

[The Czech government did indeed approach our country first for financial assistance.]

"But didn't you just say our government refused?"

[It was decided that Director Cha would personally lend them the $15 billion from his own funds.]

Only now did Chief Secretary Song Dosok begin to understand the whole picture.

Cha Jiham had decided to provide the loan himself to prevent the nuclear power plant construction project announced by the Czech government from falling into the hands of other countries.

And to formalize the loan, a promissory note would have to be signed, which was why a high-ranking Czech official had been invited to Korea.

Judging by the fact that Hangang Group's private jet was being sent to pick him up, there was clearly an intention to grant their company the right to construct the nuclear power plant.

Song Dosok explained his thoughts to Lee Jihun and asked for his opinion.

[You're absolutely right, Secretary Song.]

"Haha. Well, at least I've managed to restore my honor. So what would be the best course of action for our company?"

[I'll clarify that with the Czech side and get back to you.]

"Understood. I'll be waiting for good news."

Click.

After hanging up, Chief Secretary Song Dosok reported the contents of his conversations with Cha Jiham and Lee Jihun to Chairman Yoon Jongu without concealing anything.

"...He'll contact us within an hour or two."

"We don't have much time. Hurry up and get ready. We're leaving."

"All of a sudden? What do you mean?"

"Director Cha has given our company such a magnificent gift that I simply have to treat him to dinner."

Chairman Park Yeongil frowned and asked Chairman Yoon Jongu,

***

"What the hell are you doing here at this hour?"

"I'm not here to see you, so mind your own business," Yoon Jongu replied indifferently before turning to Chief Secretary Kang Inhan. "Secretary Kang knows why I'm here, doesn't he?"

"I assume you've come to see Director Cha."

"You really do know everything. So where is he?"

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan smiled politely, rose briskly from the sofa, opened the chairman's office door, and stepped outside.

The moment he left, Chairman Park Yeongil asked Yoon Jongu with intense curiosity,

"So why have you come to see Director Cha?"

"Do I need a special reason to visit my granddaughter's fiancé?"

"Tch, there you go again. The bride hasn't even said a word yet, and you're already celebrating the wedding."

"Hehehe. Do you really think so?"

While Chairman Yoon Jongu grinned mysteriously, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan returned with Cha Jiham.

I bowed politely to Chairman Park and the others before taking a seat on an empty sofa.

Chairman Yoon Jongu looked at me in puzzlement and spoke.

"Director Cha, did you know I was coming?"

"Team Leader Woo Changhun met you in the lobby and immediately reported your arrival to me."

"Ah, so that's why you look so calm."

"That's right."

"Then I suppose you can guess why I've come?"

Before I could answer Chairman Yoon Jongu's question, Chief Secretary Song Dosok's phone began ringing.

Quickly checking the caller's name, he informed Yoon Jongu that it was Presidential Chief of Staff Lee Jihun and answered.

"Secretary Lee, I'm listening."

[Secretary Song, I just spoke with Senior Secretary Tomas Holes, President Jan Koller's closest confidant. He asked me to convey his sincere gratitude for Hangang Group's assistance.]

"Hahaha. Is that so?"

[As soon as we finish this conversation, I'll send you his contact information in a message.]

"Understood. I'll get in touch with him."

[Please pass this news along to Director Cha as well.]

"Chairman Yoon and I are actually with Director Cha right now."

[Haha. I see. We'll talk later.]

Bzzzz.

The moment Chief Secretary Song Dosok hung up, a message arrived from Lee Jihun.

Song Dosok briefly reported the conversation to Chairman Yoon Jongu and everyone present. After that, he called Chief of Staff Holes and, following a warm and friendly conversation, ended the call.

As though he had been waiting for that very moment, Chairman Yoon Jongu immediately leaned forward and asked,

"What did you discuss with Secretary Holes?"

"He said he's planning to depart for our country tomorrow afternoon."

"Then our private jet needs to be in Prague by tomorrow morning at the latest."

"It would seem so."

I instinctively sensed that it was time to join the conversation.

"Chairman Yoon, how about sending Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun to meet Secretary Holes?"

"And what would be the reason for that?"

"It certainly wouldn't hurt for Vice Chairman Yoon to establish a connection with Secretary Holes."

Only then did Chairman Yoon Jongu grasp Cha Jiham's intention.

There were countless companies eager to get their hands on the nuclear power plant construction project announced by the Czech government.

And to participate in that project, obtaining the Czech government's approval was essential.

Jiham was advising him to send Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun to the Czech Republic so that he could make an impression on Secretary Holes before any of their competitors.

Understanding the intention and pretending not to notice it would be an outright dereliction of duty.

"Secretary Song, send Vice Chairman Yoon and Hangang Engineering President Ahn Jeongguk to the Czech Republic."

"Chairman, shouldn't we also send KBH Investment Vice President Jeong Sunho?"

"That's not a bad idea either."

Having received Chairman Yoon Jongu's approval, Chief Secretary Song Dosok opened the door and left the office.

Watching him leave, Chairman Yoon Jongu turned toward me, burning with curiosity.

"Why did you decide to lend the Czech government $15 billion?"

"What on earth is this about?"

But Chairman Park Yeongil spoke up before I could answer.

"You didn't know?"

"If I knew, would I be asking you?"

Chairman Yoon Jongu ignored Park Yeongil's sarcastic remark and turned back to me.

I understood perfectly well what was behind his question, so I answered without hesitation.

"The Czech Republic concluded that even after constructing two reactors, they still wouldn't have enough electricity. So they decided to take this opportunity to build two additional ones."

I openly shared with Chairman Park and Chairman Yoon the information I had received from Vice President Jeong Sunho and Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Hong Seonggeun.

"...That's why I asked you to send the private jet there—to give Hangang Group priority."

"But isn't Team Korea managing the nuclear power plant construction project announced by the Czech government?"

"Team Korea is involved only with the first two units."

"What makes you say that?"

"If the government had decided to provide the funds for constructing the two additional units, they would have had the rights to them. But I'm the one who decided to provide the $15 billion in construction financing. That means the decision-making authority rests with me."

"Hmm... That makes sense."

Just as Chairman Park Yeongil nodded, Chief Secretary Song Dosok returned.

He gave Chairman Yoon Jongu a detailed report of his conversation with Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun.

"...He said he'll fly to the Czech Republic as soon as he finishes making preparations."

"Excellent work. Director Cha, when are you going to answer my question?"

"...Huh?"

"I asked why you decided to lend the Czech government $15 billion."

"Ah, that? So our country can take complete control of the entire nuclear power plant construction project."

"I understand your intention, but what's the likelihood that those $15 billion will simply go up in smoke?"

"That probability is zero, so put those worries out of your mind."

Chairman Yoon Jongu finally brushed away the last traces of anxiety weighing on his heart.

And it was hardly surprising. After all, there had never been a single thing Cha Jiham had said that hadn't eventually come true.

"In that case, that's a weight off my mind. But how are you planning to resolve the friction between the KBH Investment consortium and Team Korea?"

"KBH Investment plans to absorb Team Korea completely."

"Is that true?"

"Director Om was the first to suggest that our company absorb Team Korea."

I recounted my conversation with National Intelligence Service Director Om Giyeon to Chairman Yoon Jongu in full detail.

"...Director Om promised to personally resolve any dissatisfaction on Team Korea's part."

"Does Om really have enough influence to pull that off?"

"Vice President Jeong was concerned about that as well, so he contacted the companies belonging to Team Korea."

"And? What were the results?"

"With the exception of D&H Construction and D&H Engineering, all the other companies supported the initiative."

Chairman Yoon Jongu immediately understood why D&H Group Chairman Jeong Hongjin was opposed.

He believed that his subsidiaries, D&H Construction and D&H Engineering, were simply having their livelihood taken away from them.

"Director Cha, how do you plan to deal with resistance from those two companies?"

"If the government can't handle it, I'll crush them by force."

"If it comes to using force, our company will throw its full weight behind you too."

"Haha. Thank you."

"By the way, you don't have any plans for this evening, do you?"

"Actually, no, but..."

I deliberately left my sentence unfinished, trying to figure out what Chairman Yoon Jongu had in mind.

"I'd like to treat Director Cha to dinner."

At that moment, Chairman Park Yeongil interjected with a sour expression.

"Chairman Yoon, what am I, invisible?"

"You'd tag along even without an invitation."

Ring!

As if on cue, the phone lying on the table began vibrating.

Glancing at the screen, I saw Zhen Weiliang's name.

After informing Chairman Park and the others who was calling, I pressed the answer button.

"Chairman Zhen, I'm listening."

[Director Cha, why have the rumors I spread suddenly died down so sharply?]

Tang Guochang, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, was secretly preparing a coup d'état.

For the coup to succeed, protests against Chairman Xi Jinping needed to erupt throughout the country.

And to provoke those protests, Chairman Zhen Weiliang had mobilized the Triads and spread the appropriate rumors.

Upon learning of this, the Ministry of State Security and the public security authorities had taken extreme measures, completely shutting down the internet throughout China.

As a result, the rumors could no longer spread.

I explained all the information I had to Zhen Weiliang in detail.

[Hmm... So that's what happened.]

"The rumors you spread, Chairman Zhen, will soon flare up again with renewed intensity, so there's no need to lose heart."

[But you just said the Ministry of State Security and the public security authorities are keeping their eyes wide open and watching everything.]

"There's a saying in our country: 'Ten guards can't catch a single thief.'"

[Are you saying something is happening behind my back that I don't know about?]

"I won't deny it."

After exchanging a few more words with Chairman Zhen Weiliang, I ended the call.

As though he had been waiting for that very moment, Chairman Yoon Jongu asked with his eyes gleaming,

"Director Cha, what exactly are these rumors Chairman Zhen has been spreading?"