Chapter 247: Let’s Discuss Measures Now

An unprecedented event has occurred: a plane collided with the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, located in the heart of New York, a global financial hub and a superpower known as the U.S.

Maybe everyone still thinks it's just an accident.

Does President Bush think so too? He has yet to leave the inauguration venue.

"Let's head to the hotel for now."

Gathering his scattered thoughts, he rose from his seat, acknowledging that tonight's inauguration celebration party was officially canceled.

What started as a light snow began falling heavily, turning into a full-blown snowstorm.

On the ride back to the hotel in the limousine, everyone in the car sat in tense silence.

"Boss."

Manager Ma broke the silence, cautiously calling my name.

"It's a call from your grandmother in Busan."

Why did Grandma call? I quickly answered the phone.

— Oh my, Mu-hyeok.

"Oh, hey Grandma. What's going on?"

Grandma's voice over the receiver was filled with worry. It was almost palpable.

— Are you okay? The news says there's chaos in the U.S…

"I'm fine. There's nothing wrong here."

— Oh, is that so? That's a relief. Huh? Oh my…!

A sigh of relief escaped Grandma's lips, quickly followed by an exclamation. I abruptly asked, startled.

"Grandma? What's going on?"

— Oh my, what should I do…? What am I supposed to do, Mu-hyeok?

"What happened?"

— Another plane collided with a building.

It seems a plane crashed into another of the Twin Towers. That footage must be broadcasting live all over the world…

"I'm fine, so don't worry too much."

— Well, I was worried, so I called. I'm sorry to bother you while you're busy. Just continue your work.

Reassuring Grandma that I was safe, I shared a brief update about myself before hanging up.

I handed my phone back to Manager Ma and turned to Eric and Han Gyeong-yeong.

"Another plane crashed into a different building. It seems it's being broadcasted live around the globe."

"Yes?"

Eric's face turned pale. Han Gyeong-yeong looked shocked but less so than Eric.

"I don't think this is over."

"What do you mean?"

Eric's voice trembled. As an American, he probably couldn't imagine that the U.S. was under attack.

"This isn't just a simple plane accident. This is just the beginning."

"Boss, do you know anything?"

I did know something, but I couldn't spill it. I shook my head slightly.

"No, it's just a guess. But think about it. How coincidental is it that two planes crashed into the Twin Towers, a symbol of New York, on the day the new president takes office? In a country like the U.S. where air traffic control is so tight, can this really be a coincidence?"

I didn't know why the attacks had happened eight months prior, but their intentions were clear.

To instill fear that the U.S. mainland could be attacked at any moment.

But that was a grave miscalculation. America would never succumb.

A war on terror. This was the signal marking the start of a war that wouldn't end until I was dead.

"Then…"

"Someone has launched an attack right in the heart of America. They hijacked perfectly normal airplanes."

"No way! Who dares to challenge us? There's no country that can."

Typical American pride. Eric's voice was filled with anger.

I returned a small knowing smile; it was the expected reaction.

"I didn't say it was a nation."

"Huh?"

"It seems a new era is unfolding."

I said it vaguely, knowing they wouldn't grasp it just yet, loaded with many implications but not realizing it now.

Soon, we arrived at the hotel we had booked and turned on the TV.

The broadcast showed the Twin Towers crumbling in real-time.

"Uh… uh?"

Han Gyeong-yeong's jaw dropped. The tall buildings collapsing happened in an instant.

The anchors on TV were so shocked by the unbelievable scene that they were left speechless, staring blankly at the screen.

The room was filled with shock and silence.

"Now, let's discuss measures."

I clapped my hands lightly to lighten the atmosphere.

"You send every staff member in New York on leave. Only the managers will come in, and the rest of the traders should all take time off."

"Huh? What?"

"I'm saying to send everyone on leave so they don't get in the way."

Han Gyeong-yeong, filled with questions, looked confused and asked again.

"Why do you keep saying this? There won't be a chance like this again! A plane crash happened right in the middle of New York! The stock and bond markets are bound to fluctuate, and that's when we can make money! Sure, there's a risk, but…"

Han Gyeong-yeong's words were valid. It was a tremendous opportunity to make lots of money.

But once it became clear that this was a terrorist act and a full-scale investigation into the perpetrators began, investors who profited from this incident in the stock market would face scrutiny.

Those targeted investors would have their accounts, and their personal lives, thoroughly examined.

"Hyung, this can't happen. America is under attack. Don't think too simplistically."

"Then explain it to me. Only then would I understand. When have we ever cared about appearances in our investments?"

True, all this time we had pursued only profit without looking at anyone else, including the eyes of the U.S., Japan, or Russia.

I could thoroughly understand why he couldn't accept it.

"Once this becomes recognized as an attack against the U.S., a thorough investigation into those who profited will begin. No matter how cleanly they covered their tracks, we wouldn't be innocent. Don't stir up unnecessary trouble."

"The U.S. government has already scrutinized our company. Nothing came out of that."

"No, no. This is different. This time it won't be at that level. They will spare no effort, not only surveilling our private lives but also wiretapping. There will be illegal actions taken that go beyond legality. And in the midst of controversy, they will say, 'Security takes precedence over freedom.'"

Han Gyeong-yeong, along with Eric, wore faces of disbelief. Regardless of their doubts, the worst was about to unfold.

Instead of convincing them again, I stated firmly.

"It's going to happen. This isn't something that can simply be brushed aside, so brace yourselves. Anyway, contact them right now and send everyone on leave. Have the managers standby."

Reluctantly nodding, Han Gyeong-yeong picked up the phone and stepped into the other room.

"Eric, what do you think?"

"What are you talking about, Boss?"

"If this is terrorism, who do you think is behind it?"

Eric let out a pained groan, organizing his thoughts over a long time, finally responding.

"Maybe it's Russia, Iran, or perhaps North Korea."

"Would they really dare attack America directly? Currently, no nation can defeat the U.S. in war."

"But I can't think of anyone else. Only a nation capable of such actions…could…"

Eric chewed his lip while he pondered and then shook his head. I gently tapped his shoulder to continue.

"As I mentioned earlier, what if it's not a nation?"

"Huh? You mean a force that isn't a nation carries out terrorist acts against the U.S.? That's impossible. I can't even imagine a single small terrorist organization threatening the U.S."

Eric's thoughts were aligned with those of the U.S. government, intelligence agencies, and military generals.

Their rigid mindset led to many signs being overlooked, which was how this disaster occurred.

"Recently, reports from Congress and the government have been repeatedly made to the White House. The essence of those reports was to enhance air security by addressing vulnerabilities. Yet, the White House focused on the Kosovo issue. Eric was also involved, as you know?"

All U.S. attention was focused on the Kosovo war.

The terrorist organization Al-Qaeda had already been identified by the Clinton administration, and assassination plans against Osama bin Laden were underway.

Yet today, amid this transition of power, such a terror act was sure to cause unprecedented chaos.

Clearly, someone was behind this…

"That being said…"

"Eric, Islamic terrorist groups could be the culprits."

"But they…"

"You remember the World Trade Center bombing in 1993, right?"

In 1993, Al-Qaeda committed its first terror act against the U.S. No, it was the first attack on U.S. soil by an Islamic terrorist group.

"The Kenya U.S. Embassy bombing and the terrorist attack last year on the U.S. Navy destroyer. Do you really think they wouldn't do this?"

The origins of these Islamic terrorist groups paradoxically stemmed from the guerrilla fighters opposing the Soviet Union during the Soviet-Afghan war.

They received funding and weapons from the U.S. during the Cold War to oppose the Soviet Union. However, they did not relent in strength even after the Soviets retreated.

Ultimately, after a prolonged civil war, the Taliban emerged as the ruling force in Afghanistan.

The Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and other armed groups were all nurtured with U.S. support.

All of this ultimately became a backlash against the U.S.

"The terrorist organizations have become increasingly bold. It started with the World Trade Center, a symbol of global capitalism and democracy. Next was the U.S. Embassy, followed by attacks on American warships. But no one paid any attention to them."

"They wouldn't dare do such a thing…"

Eric refused to believe it. Being a soldier to the core, he couldn't acknowledge the reality of a terrorist organization.

"Look over there."

I pointed at the TV. Eric's gaze finally shifted to the screen.

News subtitles read about an attack on the Pentagon.

"Do you see? An airplane has crashed into the Pentagon, the core of U.S. security. Does it seem real now?"

Eric's eyes wavered. The U.S. Department of Defense was akin to a holy ground for soldiers.

Never before had the Pentagon suffered a direct attack from an outside force.

And now it had been struck.

"Eric, do you realize what you must do? Remember that you are not just a soldier but a key figure in Black Bear. Now, what do you think will happen next?"

I asked Eric with a smile. He flinched at my chilling grin.

"Let's think clearly. America has been attacked, and they will search for the culprits meticulously. They need a target for revenge."

"Yes, that's right. America won't just sit back."

"Bush and the White House must have realized that this isn't just an accident. So Eric, what do you need to do?"

"I need to work with the U.S. government to prepare for war."

"This is an opportunity. A golden chance to increase Black Bear's renown and worth."

It might seem like a ruthless and cold judgment.

But I wasn't an American politician; I was merely an investor. My goal was simply to seek my own profit.

As long as my interests did not conflict with the national interest of the U.S., they wouldn't interfere.

"If war breaks out, make sure to take every commission from the U.S. government. But ensure that permissions for operational use of various new weapons are mandatory."

"Understood."

"I know Eric is patriotic. But in business, sentiment towards your country comes second to loyalty to your company. I trust you, and that's why I put you there in the first place. Do you understand what I mean, Eric?"

Eric nodded with a resolute gaze. That was the reassurance I needed.

"Of course, everything is just speculation. But with the Pentagon attacked, it's hard to believe things will just go quiet."

On TV, they simultaneously showed the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Just then, Han Gyeong-yeong returned after finishing his phone call.

"What's going on? Why is it like that?"

Han Gyeong-yeong gasped at the sight of the burning Pentagon. I lightly tapped his jaw, which had dropped.

"Did you give the orders?"

"Yes, everyone except for the managers has been sent on leave. They're all evacuating New York."

"Good job."

Han Gyeong-yeong rubbed his chin while still staring at the screen.

"Wow… We were going to move into that building, but you told me to buy a different one. Did you know this was going to happen?"

"What am I, a god? Stop spouting nonsense and sit down."

Han Gyeong-yeong complied without a word. On TV, the anchor was reporting with a trembled voice.

"So why is that happening over there?"

"Another plane has crashed into the Pentagon. By now, do you think you understand the situation?"

But this was not the end.

Originally, this should have concluded here, but a much bigger shock was waiting.