CH52 | MCT

Invitation from the Saudi Royal Family (4)

Rahman smirked.

[Since we are now in the same boat, we must strengthen our resolve by sharing something good. Guards.]
Snap.

At the snap of Rahman's fingers, a bodyguard approached him.

[Bring back the red wine I had earlier. This time, I must share another glass with my ally in good spirits.]

I know full well he's forcing himself.

Drinking red wine openly in Saudi Arabia? That might fly in Dubai, but here?

[Isn't alcohol prohibited in Saudi Arabia?]
[But you are a foreigner. It’s for hosting guests.]
[I saw you take a sip earlier. Are you using me as an excuse to have another glass?]
[Then you must have also seen me spit it out. You saw me pour out the wine in the glass, and of course, you saw me discard the entire bottle.]

Rahman chuckled mischievously and whispered.

[Everyone sneaks a drink or two. I might as well take this chance to taste a $40,000 bottle of wine. Can’t always be doing favours for others.]

So that’s why he smashed the bottle earlier.

It wasn’t just to intimidate me—it was also out of sheer spite, as if to say, If I can't drink it, neither can you.

[What are you waiting for? Bring it, now.]

The bodyguard quickly went into the cabin and returned with the $40,000 bottle of wine.

Unbelievable.

Tae-soo picked up the wine decanter.

Then, he personally poured the wine into it.

[To properly savour a fine wine, you need time to separate the sediment. Rahman, I’m sure you’ve learned exactly what sediment is through this ordeal.]

Rahman flinched.

Something came to mind.

[No way...]
[Discard the sediment.]

Sediment.

Yes, the dregs must be thrown away.

[And drink only the clear, refined wine above it. That is how you enjoy the finest wine.]

Rahman's eyes widened.

Indeed, as this man says, this might be a blessing in disguise.

This incident had allowed him to compile a list of those who needed to be purged.

Rahman spent a long while mentally drafting his kill list.

A moment later, his gaze toward Tae-soo was filled with admiration.

[Setting the bet aside, it seems I owe you another debt.]

Rahman chuckled leisurely.

[How should I repay this? Must I settle it with oil again?]

Now that was an excellent attitude.

If he was offering oil, there was nothing more I could ask for.

[Well, if oil is convenient, then by all means, pay with oil.]
[How much do you need this time?]
[The more, the better. Ah, one more thing.]

We should invest some surplus funds to prepare for an oil shock.

[I’d like to purchase oil at the current market price, with delivery set for December.]

Rahman gave Tae-soo a probing look.

[Not now, but specifically in December, after the road construction—there must be a reason for these conditions, no?]

But Tae-soo wasn’t the kind of person to be swayed by such a shallow ploy.

[Because the road construction is not yet complete, I have not fully earned your trust, Rahman. I want to finish the project swiftly so that I can receive the oil with a clear conscience.]

Rahman, delighted, slammed the armrest of his chair.

[Good! Very good! Just make sure you complete the construction properly with that determination! If you do, I’ll find a way to secure the oil for you—no matter what it takes! I have that much influence.]

Of course.

His father was the Minister of Defense, after all.

It would make no sense for the grandson of the founding king to be powerless.

Besides, wasn’t he the very man overseeing the development of Saudi Arabia’s western cities in his early thirties?

By now, he was already proving his abilities and making a name for himself.

Will Rahman become renowned as the builder of Saudi Arabia’s western cities in this life? Or, like in his past life, will he make his name as a city developer in Dubai?

Tae-soo studied the man before him.

He was ambitious, calculating, and highly perceptive.

Even Han Cheong-ho, known for his keen eye for assessing people, had tried to lobby him.

The fact that Samwon Construction won the road construction contract in 1972 was erased from history. It seems Rahman had something to do with that.

Tae-soo’s eyes gleamed as he observed Rahman.

In my past life, Samwon Construction failed in the 1972 road project. Rahman, who was responsible for it, seemed to have faced serious consequences. But why? Who was behind it? Why did Han Cheong-ho sever ties with him?

Rahman always had a lonely, melancholic gaze.

He loved standing by the glass windows of Dubai’s most luxurious hotels, holding a glass of red wine, and looking down at the towering skyline.

There are places I can never return to, and people I long to see but never can, he had once said.

And now, Tae-soo realized—the direction he had been gazing at with such sorrow was toward Saudi Arabia.

Only now did Tae-soo understand the meaning behind Rahman’s offhand remarks from before.

If I successfully complete the road construction on time, many things will change. First and foremost, Rahman may not have to leave Saudi Arabia for Dubai at all.

Tae-soo hesitated for a moment.

Let’s take another gamble. Since we’re on the same boat, I can’t let him be cast out of the Saudi royal family. I should help him put down solid roots.

His mind was set.

It was a timely decision—after all, Rahman’s father was the Minister of Defense.

Tae-soo leaned in and whispered to Rahman.

[I have something to relay. This is not for you, but for your father, Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.]

Rahman immediately raised his guard.

[If you’re trying to use me to make a request to my father, forget it. I’m the 12th son, and I was sent to the west because I was out of favour. I don’t have that kind of influence.]

[It’s not that kind of request. Just hear me out first.]

This wasn’t a plea—it was something far more important.

Tae-soo had called it information.

And for a Minister of Defense, it would be information too enticing to ignore.

[Go ahead, speak.]

[Are you aware of the moves made by Anwar Sadat, who succeeded Gamal Abdel Nasser as Egypt’s president after Nasser’s sudden death from a heart attack a few years ago?]

[Sadat?]

Rahman waved his hand, signalling his guards to step back.

Then, leaning in closely, he focused on Tae-soo’s words.

Tae-soo lowered his voice.

[While he is making overtures of goodwill toward Western nations, he is also striving for Arab unity. At the same time, he is reforming Egypt’s outdated internal structures. Unlike his predecessor, Nasser, he is highly determined to reclaim the Sinai Peninsula.]

[I know that much. My father told me that Sadat has been inviting Soviet advisors to reshape the military and intensify training.]

Tae-soo nodded.

[Exactly. You’re also aware that he frequently threatens Israel, aren’t you? Every few months, he declares that he’s going to start a war.]

[He even goes as far as issuing military mobilization orders as a bluff.]

It was a well-known story.

Unlike his predecessor, Nasser, who had concealed his intentions and kept Israel on edge, Egyptian President Sadat openly hurled threats and bluffs.

Israel, alarmed, remained in a constant state of high alert. Yet, in reality, Egypt showed no immediate military action.

As the son of Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense, Rahman was certainly familiar with these events.

[Isn’t that just a political maneuver? On the international stage, Anwar Sadat is widely regarded as nothing more than a loud-mouthed braggart who does nothing but make threats.]

That was precisely the deception Sadat had intended.

Even when he issued an actual declaration of war right before launching the Yom Kippur War, the world dismissed it as just another bluff.

But then, just days after his declaration, Sadat truly did launch the war.

And Israel, completely caught off guard, scrambled to defend itself in panic.

Sadat’s deception worked brilliantly. The combined forces of Syria and Egypt launched a full-scale surprise attack while Israeli soldiers were away on holiday, and their defences relaxed.

Tae-soo leaned in closer to Rahman and whispered.

[There are reports that Egypt and Syria have been secretly purchasing massive amounts of weapons from arms dealers.]

That was also why a man in a hanbok had been busily travelling abroad these days.

Tae-soo smirked to himself.

How much is this information worth in oil?

If Rahman used it wisely, it could be worth billions.

But if he failed to act on it, it would be nothing more than passing chatter.

[Why not discreetly suggest to your father that he investigate the secret dealings between arms dealers and Egypt?]

Rahman’s expression changed instantly.

[Nonsense! It’s just Egypt’s usual bluff. Your country is no different, is it? You're a nation divided between North and South, technically at ceasefire, yet constantly provoking and threatening each other.]

[It’s not the same. Empty threats and performative military mobilizations are one thing, but arms smuggling carries an entirely different weight.]

[What do you mean?]

[Think about the weight of money. This is about pouring funds into military preparations.]

It was a simple truth.

[Forget words—follow the money.]

People lie, but money does not.

If you trace where the money flows, you can see a person’s true intentions.

[People don’t spend money carelessly.]

That statement hit Rahman like an arrow to the heart.

Forget words—follow the money? People don’t spend money carelessly?

Tae-soo simply smiled.

Rahman, on the other hand, looked increasingly conflicted.

But what if... What if, by some chance, this really happens? What if the Sinai Peninsula becomes a battlefield?

He shot up from his seat.

[I think I should take my leave now. I’m glad you accepted my last-minute invitation to the yacht. Let’s end things here for today and meet again next time.]

He turned sharply to leave—then as if suddenly remembering something, he turned back to Tae-soo.

[I will repay this debt heavily. This is a matter of national survival.]

Rahman had moved faster than Tae-soo.

[Of course, I’ll repay you with oil. Since your information plays a crucial role, I’ll make sure you’re compensated properly—so don’t worry about that. Even if it’s not me, my father will handle it.]

Tae-soo casually waved the contract in his hand.

[As I said earlier, forget words—follow the money. And what better foundation for trust than a contract?]

[You’re relentless.]

With a sigh, Rahman hastily scrawled his signature on the contract before rushing off into the cabin.

Tae-soo watched his retreating figure and smirked.

Rahman was quite naïve in his younger years. He wasn’t this easy to handle in Dubai.

His abilities were unquestionably exceptional.

And then there was his father—Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

A man who had surpassed his older brothers to become none other than the Minister of Defense.

Saudi Arabia ranks among the top in the world for arms purchases, so naturally, the Defense Ministry wields immense power. He has quite a formidable father.

Khalid was, quite literally, a power among powers.

I wonder how he’ll react to this information.

That was precisely why Tae-soo had chosen to deliver it through his son, Rahman.

With that, I’ve done everything I can here.

Now, all that remained was to focus on the construction.

He had to complete the project on time—no matter what.

I’ll be heading back soon.

But before returning to Korea, there was one last matter to take care of.

The higher-ups at Samwon Construction.

All that was left was to hand them over to the special agents.

Cha Ki-beom, let’s see what kind of men you send my way.

It didn’t matter who they were.

Tae-soo had already prepared for everything.

Once that’s handled, I’ll go home.

He could already picture their surprised faces.

They’ll be shocked to see me back so soon.

Thinking of those familiar faces made him smile.

Having a place to return to… That’s a nice feeling.