CH74 | MCT

Master and Disciple (2)

Secretary Song flinched in surprise and quickly bowed his head.

[Yes, Khalid-nim.]

[You just escaped death thanks to Kang Tae-soo. I also acknowledge his will and will graciously let you go.]

[T-Thank you! Truly, thank you for sparing my life!]

Secretary Song bent deeply at the waist in gratitude.

Tae-soo also bowed.

[Thank you, Khalid-nim. However, I don’t think simply letting him go would be the right choice.]

[What?]

Secretary Song was startled.

However, Khalid smirked.

[Fine. If you need my help with this act, I’ll gladly oblige.]

Khalid readily agreed to Tae-soo’s request.

[I’ll send my men to retrieve the trunk from the hotel. Ah, but leave the items at the hotel once they’re brought back. We don’t want to attract unnecessary suspicion.]

They were perfectly in sync.

Khalid spoke, and Tae-soo followed.

[Shouldn’t the Minister of Construction personally deliver the box of money?]

[Most likely, he’ll be turned away at the door if the cash inside isn’t impressive enough. But if the box is handed to the gatekeeper, that should be enough.]

[Even better. We should send a telegram as well, right?]

[Of course. Something like: ‘Delivery to both ministers has been completed safely. I will return on the next flight.’ That should suffice.]

Khalid turned to Secretary Song.

[And what about him?]

[What else? As you suggested, we should send him to the desert. But first, we take a photo.]

[Hahaha, you never let my words go to waste, do you? Very well.]

That night, in Khalid’s basement, a gruesome photograph was taken.

The brutally staged image of Secretary Song would soon be sent to Han Cheong-ho, along with his remaining belongings—accompanied by Khalid’s warning letter.

“Secretary Song, is there anything in particular you’d like to send as a keepsake?”

“My watch would be best.”

Secretary Song removed the watch from his wrist.

“Han Cheong-ho gave it to me himself, so he’ll recognize it.”

“That’s an expensive luxury watch. Won’t you regret parting with it? It’ll be inconvenient without one.”

“This must go back. That way, my family will understand my message.”

It seemed Secretary Song had made his own arrangements.

They placed the watch on the floor, smashed it with a hammer, and deliberately stained it with blood.

They even adjusted the stopped clock hands to a specific time.

‘A hidden message, it seems. You’re as meticulous as ever. Some things never change.’

Secretary Song moved quickly.

After being turned away by the Minister of Construction and leaving the gift box with the gatekeeper, he returned to find two large trunks waiting for him.

Then, Khalid turned to him and asked,

[If you wish, I can provide you with a car and a desert guide. You can send them back once you reach your destination.]

Secretary Song cautiously looked at Tae-soo and asked,

“I know nothing about Saudi Arabia. Do you have any recommendations? I’ll need a place to hide until my family comes for me.”

Fortunately, there was a Bedouin village deep in the desert.

The harsh terrain would serve as a natural barrier against intruders.

Moreover, the villagers were all renowned desert warriors.

There was no safer place.

“There’s a village near my construction site. It’s the perfect hiding spot.”

“I feel like I’m causing you too much trouble. Are you sure this is okay?”

“It’s fine. It’s better than letting a foreigner wander around alone and end up in serious trouble.”

“Thank you. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay this kindness…”

Tae-soo smiled at Secretary Song.

“Don’t dwell on it. After all, you were the first to show me kindness.”

“Pardon?”

Secretary Song looked confused.

No matter how much he searched his memory, he couldn’t recall any connection to Kang Tae-soo.

‘I still remember the lessons you taught me, sir.’

Back when Tae-soo had nothing, he had received kindness without expecting anything in return.

That kindness became a debt of gratitude—one that shaped him into who he was today.

Tae-soo, Rahman, and Secretary Song.

The royal private jet departing from Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, landed at the airport.

At the airport, a royal attendant awaited Rahman’s arrival, while Second Secretary Song Chang-jun was there to greet Tae-soo.

[It’s time to part ways.]

[Thanks to you, Rahman-nim, I’ve enjoyed a life of luxury.]

Visiting a wealthy friend’s house had allowed him to indulge in comfort and rest for a few days.

Every night, he and Khalid had stayed up late discussing countermeasures.

[With your father sending a special engineering unit, the construction of the supply base should speed up considerably.]

[I’ll gladly lend a hand.]

The Bedouins, having received the telegram, were already working at an accelerated pace.

[Kang Tae-soo, I truly owe you a lot.]

[Aren’t we allies? We’re supposed to help each other.]

[I know well that you played a crucial role in my father’s political decision. I won’t forget this debt.]

[Then I’ll graciously accept your gratitude.]

[Good. I’ll be off first, then.]

Rahman got into the car and left first.

Only then did Second Secretary Song Chang-jun cautiously approach.

“It seems you’ve grown quite close. That notoriously difficult royal didn’t even frown.”

“You know him?”

“Of course. His father is none other than the Minister of Defense. The Foreign Minister and the Defense Minister are close, so our ambassador is always on edge around them.”

The three departments that showed goodwill toward South Korea were the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Construction.

Song Chang-jun turned to Secretary Song.

“By any chance, are you Korean?”

"Yes, nice to meet you."

He had just returned from the Saudi capital, but how had he managed to bring a Korean along?

Song Chang-jun tilted his head in curiosity.

Tae-soo made it clear.

"He will be a guest of the Bedouins. And my guest as well."

"Ah… If he arrived on the Saudi royal private jet, then his status must be far from ordinary."

"As you can see, he is very cautious about revealing his identity. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must never mention him. Unless, of course, you're willing to deal with the consequences."

"Dealing with consequences is always frightening. I'll keep it a secret."

Song Chang-jun made a motion as if zipping his lips.

Secretary Song carefully observed him from head to toe before speaking cautiously.

"For someone from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you seem to have the mannerisms of a secretary ingrained in you."

"I'm still too junior for that."

"Even for someone with little experience, you're unusually adept at serving a superior. You don't question orders, but you subtly ask about what piques your curiosity. You anticipate needs and prepare in advance."

It came with the job.

Taking photos for the ambassador, sending telegrams, adjusting schedules, answering calls, and following the itinerary.

"You have a natural talent for being a secretary. Have you ever considered seriously learning this field?"

"……"

Caught off guard by the sudden recruitment attempt, Song Chang-jun sighed.

"Are you saying that just by looking at me, you can tell I've been molded by menial tasks?"

"At this level, it's a talent. No matter how I look at it, this job seems like your true calling."

"This is not what I joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for."

Glancing at Tae-soo, Song Chang-jun whispered quietly into Secretary Song’s ear.

"If I learn properly, do you think I could become his secretary?"

His long-hidden ambition surfaced once more.

Secretary Song grinned.

"If that’s the case, I can help you with that."

Another way to repay his debt to Tae-soo had appeared.

"Please teach me well. I’ll work hard."

"Good. Then next time we meet, I’ll speak informally. As your mentor. Understood?"

"……"

Song Chang-jun glanced at Tae-soo.

Secretary Song treated Tae-soo with the utmost respect, using only formal honorifics—never once speaking casually.

He was the type of man who always knew how to position himself.

They arrived at the Bedouin village.

The villagers all greeted Tae-soo warmly.

[You’ve returned sooner than expected. Welcome back! Stay for dinner.]

[What did you bring this time? Oh my! School supplies and toys for the children?]

[Chieftain! Come out quickly! An honored guest has returned!]

The women gathered, eagerly taking the gift bundles Tae-soo had brought.

Tae-soo subtly looked around for the dancer.

She was nowhere to be seen.

‘Just like last time. She didn’t show up for days.’

She was an intriguing woman.

At night, she would suddenly appear, almost like a mythical guardian spirit.

Then, a thin man waved at him.

"Tae-soo!"

"Oh, Holjook. You’ve worked hard."

"What do you mean, worked hard? How’s everyone doing?"

"Of course. I even met your grandma. Read this later."

Tae-soo handed Holjook a letter.

He had also taken plenty of photos of his grandmother and enclosed the film in the envelope before giving it to him.

"She’s really worried about her grandson. She told me to remind you to cut down on drinking and take care of your health."

"Grandma, really… She shouldn't be worrying about me, a young guy. It’s her health we should be worried about."

Thinking of the grandmother he had left behind in Korea, Holjook felt a wave of homesickness.

Meanwhile, the chieftain and the elders came forward to greet Tae-soo.

[Welcome back. We’ve been waiting for you.]

[I heard the construction is going well even without me. You’ve all worked hard.]

[That skinny one is surprisingly good at his job. Plus, since we discussed most of the details before you left, the work has been progressing smoothly.]

[I’d like a full update on the progress.]

[Come inside. We’ll report everything to you.]

Tae-soo followed them into the large tent they used for meetings.

Meanwhile, Secretary Song greeted Holjook.

"Hello."

"Oh? You’re Korean? Did you come with Tae-soo?"

"That’s how it turned out. You must be pretty close with Kang Tae-soo."

"I’m Tae-soo’s friend. You can speak casually with me. You look like you could be my father’s age, anyway."

His easygoing remark made Secretary Song chuckle.

"Should I? But still, you followed your friend all the way to the Saudi desert? That’s some serious friendship."

"If I had to put it in words, I’d say I’m the guy who has Tae-soo’s back."

Secretary Song hummed thoughtfully as he looked Holjook up and down.

"You don’t exactly look like a bodyguard…"

"Tae-soo once said that while there are plenty of people he can assign work to, there aren’t many he can trust to watch his back."

"Ah, now that changes things."

That meant Tae-soo truly trusted him.

Secretary Song smiled as he studied Holjook’s face.

"Judging by the laugh lines and crow’s feet around your eyes, you must laugh a lot, play around often, and get along well with others. And you must joke around quite a bit."

"I do laugh a lot, play around, and get along well, but I don’t joke meaninglessly."

Secretary Song’s gaze dropped to Holjook’s stomach.

"A skinny young guy like you already has a beer belly?"

"You wouldn’t know this, but there’s a hidden 王 (king) character here."

"That’s just your ribs. Besides, there’s no way to get alcohol in Saudi, and with all the construction work, you’ve been moving your body a lot. But normally, you’d be drinking all the time, wouldn’t you? Do you like alcohol?"

"Like it? I’m obsessed with it."

Secretary Song took a closer look at Holjook’s face.

"Your eyes move quickly, which means you’re pretty sharp. You don’t make it obvious when you’re wary of strangers, meaning you’ve got a thick skin, too."

"I do hear a lot that I’m smart and that I have good skin."

"You sure know how to filter out what you want to hear. Even when people say unpleasant things, you respond with a smile—that’s a talent for business. You’d make the perfect sales rep over drinks."

Holjook leaned in and whispered into Secretary Song’s ear, mimicking him.

"Now that I think about it, did Tae-soo bring a fortune teller with him? Do you read people’s faces and fortunes?"

"What nonsense? I’m just pointing out what I see, with clear reasoning."

That was true.

"It’s part of my job. A quick glance is enough to make a fair estimate."

"And what exactly do you do?"

"Secretary. And not just any secretary—a fixer who gets treated like dirt under a boss with a nasty temper."

"..."

Secretary Song grinned.

"They say even a dog can recite poetry after three years at a Confucian school. Well, I’ve been stuck under that bastard for twenty-eight years. Twenty-eight years, and I’m still alive."

And that wasn’t all.

"I’ve cleaned up after that man and his son, taken care of all sorts of people, and dealt with the messes they made. I’ve met some truly awful people because of them."

The more he thought about it, the more his teeth clenched.

"Sigh—when the boss says jump, you jump. He just gives the orders, but I actually have to make it happen. So, of course, I have to find people who will work like their life depends on it."

The exhaustion of all those years nearly brought tears to his eyes.

"I handpicked every person from top to bottom. If they had even the tiniest bit of talent, I coaxed them, fixed their bad habits, and taught them what they needed to know."

That’s why he could say this with confidence:

"You’ve got a talent for business. I’m serious. If you hone that skill properly, you could really become something."

Talent and experience shape a person.

He had learned a lot under Han Chung-ho and had met even more people than Han himself.

Before he knew it, he had developed an eye for people.

"Have you ever felt frustrated, thinking you fall short compared to your friend? You have, haven’t you?"

Holjook, almost hypnotized, nodded.

"Of course. While my friend is soaring, I can only stand behind and watch."

"I think I can help fill in some of those gaps for you."

"Really?"

"What do you say? Want to learn?"

Holjook glanced at the tent where Tae-soo had gone inside.

"If I learn, can I become like Tae-soo?"

"Do you really think that’s possible? You’ve got big dreams, don’t you?"

"..."

Holjook shook his head and quickly regained his composure.

"Is it really impossible for me to become like Tae-soo?"

"Isn’t that guy practically a finished product? I mean, I saw him wrap the Saudi Minister of Defense around his finger like it was nothing. You do realize how powerful that man is, right?"

Holjook nodded.

"Kang Tae-soo is a big deal, no doubt about it. Even among corporate giants, he wouldn’t be out of place. The way he handles things—it’s meticulous and downright masterful. I was honestly in awe."

Even Secretary Song, who had worked under Han Chung-ho for years, couldn’t help but admire Tae-soo.

"That’s not something you can just aspire to. You’re either born with it or you’re not."

"Ugh, yeah, I know Tae-soo is on another level."

"That’s just how it is. But that doesn’t mean you should give up."

Holjook’s eyes sparkled.

"So, you’re saying I have potential?"

"Of course. But you need to become his hands and feet. And not just any assistant—a damn good, extraordinary one."

"‘Talented and extraordinary’… I really like the sound of that."

"Keeping up with him isn’t easy. You need to aim high."

Holjook suddenly grabbed Secretary Song’s hands tightly.

"Sir! Please teach me! Help me grow!"

Holjook had just appointed himself as Song’s student.

Secretary Song smirked.

"That attitude—I like it. You’ve got the right mindset."

Once again, Secretary Song found another way to repay his debt to Tae-soo.

And this was something he was really good at.

***

Late into the Night

The long and exhausting meeting had finally ended.

Stepping out of the tent, Tae-soo looked around for Holjook and Secretary Song.

But they were already gone.

"Those two got along fast. Holjook really does love people, doesn’t he?"

Just then, the chieftain’s wife approached him.

She was one of the tribe’s elites and spoke fluent English.

"I’ve been waiting because I have a favor to ask."

"What is it?"

"Could you stop the dancer from leaving?"

"The dancer?"

"She’s packing her things. She says she’s leaving early tomorrow morning."

She gently tugged on Tae-soo’s sleeve.

"Why is she leaving?"

"She wants to return to her homeland. She says she has no reason to stay here anymore."

"Her homeland? Isn’t she from this tribe?"

"You didn’t know? She was never one of us to begin with."

That caught Tae-soo off guard.

"Then why was she staying in a Bedouin village? And in the middle of a drought-driven tribal war, no less?"