CH413 | Heir

The weather in 2015 was strange.

Even though it was already November, the temperature wasn’t dropping—it was actually rising.

And as if that weren’t odd enough, rain kept falling almost every other day.

But the weather wasn’t the only unusual thing.

Like sudden rain without warning, an unexpected and very important guest arrived in Korea.

“Showing up without notice—what brings you here?”

“I came because I wanted to see you. With the presidential primaries just around the corner, I haven’t been sleeping well.”

The guest was none other than Trump.

The man who would become the 45th President of the United States the following year had flown all the way to Korea simply because he wanted to see me.

“The primaries haven’t even started yet. If you’re already restless, how will you manage the rest?”

“My lack of political experience keeps stirring up all sorts of worries.”

“You’ve been doing well so far. Just look at the polling numbers—there’s nothing to worry about. If you continue as you are, you’ll not only secure the Republican nomination but also win the presidency.”

Trump was uneasy.

But his unease wasn’t because of his limited political experience.

Even Representative Choi Jaeseok, with his long political career, had needed sleeping pills to cope with the anxiety before his presidential race.

It was a kind of nervousness every politician faced.

Trump had come to me seeking relief from that anxiety.

“I wanted to hear your certainty—as my biggest supporter.”

“Then let me say it once more. You will be elected the 45th President of the United States.”

“Hahaha, when a staffer or some politician says that, it only makes me more uneasy. But when you say it, I feel at peace.”

Naturally so.

Up to this point, I had backed three presidential candidates in a row.

Every one of them had gone on to win.

That’s why my words carried a weight that no other supporter or politician could match.

“The path from the Republican primaries to the presidential election will be grueling.”

“I can endure physical hardship as much as needed.”

“Then rally your base even tighter. America today is yearning for a strong leader. Be the candidate the times demand.”

“A strong leader… I like the sound of that. I’ll keep your words in mind.”

There was never any doubt Trump would become a strong leader.

The problem was that he wouldn’t stop at strong—he would be domineering.

Through his unilateral decisions and choices, Trump would shake not only the United States but also Korea.

Even before my regression, the world had been in turmoil throughout Trump’s presidency.

But this time would be different.

I had built a close relationship with him over the years, and now, right before the primaries, he was leaning on me enough to fly across the ocean just to see me.

“I’ll make sure you’re never short of funds during the primaries.”

“I’m already receiving more than enough support.”

“I don’t ever want to hear you lost because you lacked money. Better to have too much than too little.”

“Hahaha, then do as you wish. As long as I win the presidency, I’ll repay you in full.”

“I’m not doing this for repayment. In fact, though I’ve supported many presidents before, I’ve never once asked for anything in return.”

I didn’t need tangible rewards.

All I needed was silence—or the slightest nod of agreement—when the time came.

Taewoo Group had long since moved past the stage of needing support to grow; now it only needed to be free of interference.

“Coming all the way to Korea was worth it. Seeing your face and talking with you has lifted a great weight off my chest.”

“These moments won’t last much longer. Once you’re elected, it won’t be easy to meet in person.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll find some excuse—any excuse—to create an opportunity to see you.”

It didn’t sound like empty words.

If it was Trump, he really would find a way to arrange a meeting and call me over.

“Since you’ve come all the way to Korea, allow me to host you.”

“Then I’ll trouble you just for a day. I’m flying back to the States tomorrow morning, so I’d like to spend the time talking with you.”

“I’ll take you to a restaurant right away.”

It was a meeting with the next President of the United States.

For the sake of the next four years, a single day of effort was nothing at all.

***

The next day.

I didn’t make it to the office until nearly lunchtime, still reeking of alcohol as I received Vice Chairman Han’s report.

“What on earth did you drink so much for?”

“When the man who’s about to be the next President of the United States comes, how could I refuse? I just kept downing every glass that was handed to me.”

“Do you really think Trump will win the presidency? He has no political experience at all—he’s closer to a TV personality than a politician.”

“The times are calling for a leader like Trump. And there’s no wind stronger than the tide of the times.”

The fact that America wanted someone like Trump carried dangerous implications.

It was practically a signal that multiple countries would be heading toward trade disputes.

“The way the times are shifting is very strange. Even the atmosphere in China and Korea has been taking a strange turn.”

“Because of THAAD, right?”

“That’s right. The Korean government has officially declared its plan to deploy the THAAD system. The Chinese government is furious.”

And that was just the reaction to the announcement.

Once the deployment actually happened, China’s backlash would be far more severe.

“The THAAD deployment starts next year, correct?”

“Yes, it looks like it will be stationed next year on the site provided by the Charlotte Group.”

“Then starting next year, China will begin sanctioning Korea.”

“Many experts are already raising concerns about the relationship with China. Given Korea’s economic structure, trade with China is absolutely crucial.”

Taewoo Group was a prime example.

Cars, electronics, and countless other products were being exported to China.

But if Chinese consumers began boycotting Korean goods because of THAAD, even Taewoo Group would suffer serious blows to its sales.

"It’s time we start gradually pulling out of the Chinese market. We’ve made enough profit there—now it’s time to withdraw."

"We’ve already cut back on investments in China recently."

"For joint ventures with Chinese companies, change the names completely to minimize exposure. For projects where Taewoo Group has entered directly, start preparing for withdrawal."

"As for electric vehicles, the damage won’t be significant. Apple Car is seen as an American brand, and even if Taewoo and Kia Motors pull out, GM can easily take our place."

Taewoo Group was already prepared.

Even if a boycott of Korean products broke out in China, the impact would be minimal.

"Since China is openly pressuring Korea, we no longer need to tiptoe around. Time to move."

"Shall we begin short-selling?"

"Start moving gradually from now. If we want to strike hard and exit in January, we’ll need to build up short positions in advance."

"I’ll coordinate with all the financial firms in Finance Tower. If this is our last big score, we might as well go all in."

"Act coldly—like you’ll never see them again."

"I’ll keep that in mind."

Vice Chairman Han returned to Finance Tower.

Meanwhile, I was still struggling with the remnants of a hangover.

So, I decided to head home early and make my way to Captain Kang’s office instead.

Sometimes his office felt more comfortable than my own house, and besides, I had instructions for him.

"Chairman, here’s your hangover ramen!"

"Ramen never tastes quite like this anywhere else."

Slurp!

The spicy, savory broth soothed my stomach.

Only then did the hangover seem to lift. After rinsing my mouth with a cool cup of barley tea, I called Captain Kang over.

"Are you still keeping up with domestic intel these days?"

"A flood of information is pouring in from all sorts of places. In the past, we relied only on informants, but now intel comes from taxis, restaurants, even high-end bars in Gangnam."

It wouldn’t be wrong to say Captain Kang stood at the very center of Taewoo Group’s vast intelligence network.

David handled overseas intelligence, but for domestic matters, I relied entirely on Captain Kang.

He maintained close ties with Myeong-dong, gathering information ranging from idle rumors to details of highly sensitive incidents.

"With so much miscellaneous info coming in, it must be hard to sort through."

"Director Chun Minjeong created a data management program for us. All I need to do is input what we collect, and the system organizes everything neatly."

"Director Chun? I wonder when she found the time to develop something like that."

"You’ll see once you use it—it’s incredible. The program automatically distinguishes false information from the truth and even cross-analyzes data to uncover new facts."

Considering she had already developed the SNS monitoring program, it was no surprise Chun had built such a tool for Kang.

"Are you also gathering intel on crime syndicates?"

"Yes. We’re tracking gangs nationwide—Seoul, Busan, everywhere. We’ve mapped their organizational charts, activity ranges, and even individual members. I daresay we have more complete data than the police."

Captain Kang, who co-managed Gangnam’s upscale bars along with Myeong-dong operations, naturally had frequent clashes with organized crime, which made him particularly meticulous in collecting such intel.

"You must have data on the Beomseobuk faction as well."

"Yes. They run illegal gambling dens and are large enough to be considered a national-level syndicate. Their boss, Kang Daechun, even dabbled in political thuggery at one point."

"Sounds like a sizable organization. Dig deeper into Beomseobuk’s activities."

"We’ve already picked up intel that they’re operating junket rooms in Southeast Asia. I’ll send a few men to the region to gather more detailed information."

The company Captain Kang ran had long surpassed the level of a small business.

Its profits rivaled those of mid-sized enterprises, with most of the earnings reinvested into staff training.

He actively recruited former special forces soldiers and athletes, then trained them into highly skilled professionals under his employ.

From security detail to intelligence gathering, Kang commanded the largest and most capable private organization of its kind in Korea.

"If we dig into the Beomseobuk faction, we’ll be able to reel in people from all walks of life."

"By all walks of life, do you mean politicians?"

"From athletes to political figures, even chaebol executives. Gather every scrap of information you can."

There was a reason for my interest in the Beomseobuk faction.

Absurd as it sounded, they had been the spark that ignited the president’s impeachment.

That alone made it necessary to keep tabs on them.

I had no intention of leaking the intel to the press or leading an impeachment myself.

But the information could prove useful to the National Economy Party, so I intended to keep it on hand.

"I’ll collect all intel on the Beomseobuk faction and compile a report."

"You don’t need to report it to me. Just keep it secured, under wraps."

"Understood."

"And can you run the same operation we did during the last general election?"

"Already election season again? Of course. It’s even easier now—there are more PC cafés than four years ago, with branches in every region nationwide. We can run a much more detailed and precise operation than before."

Social media and video platforms—practically every Korean used them.

If leveraged properly, they could amplify the misdeeds of the two major parties while promoting the National Economy Party more effectively than traditional media ever could.

"Make sure we drive the issues ourselves, without relying on the press. But don’t fabricate fake news. Just one fake report could discredit all of our online operations."

"I’ll never create fake news. We’ve been steadily training experts in exaggeration techniques. These are the same people who once ran information warfare against North Korea—you can trust their skills."

This was a covert operation the National Economy Party itself had no knowledge of.

But it would be the invisible hand ensuring their victory in the general election—and later, the presidency.