Chapter 314: I Want to See That Person’s Face

While checking the crude oil prices on the computer in my study, I heard a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Manager Ma opened the door and stepped inside.

"They have entered through Incheon Airport."

"How many are there?"

I tore my gaze from the monitor and stood up to ask.

"There are a total of five of them."

"The National Intelligence Service must be keeping an eye on them too."

The Vice Chairman of the Black Dragon Society had arrived in the country.

Before Heavenly Group reached into the drug trade, the Black Dragon Society supplied over half of the domestic drug distribution.

Thanks to that, both the National Intelligence Service and the police were aware of the Black Dragon Society's existence.

When the Chinese organizations in the country and Heavenly Group were rumored to be going to war, it was enough for the police, the prosecutors' office, and even the NIS to provide significant assistance from the shadows.

"Have a seat."

I sat down on the sofa and extended my hand to Manager Ma.

"Hand over the documents regarding the Vice Chairman."

Manager Ma, sitting beside me, handed over a folder.

Inside was a wealth of detailed information including an organizational chart of the Black Dragon Society and photos.

"Hmm… Hao Xun? He looks young."

"That person is the Vice Chairman. Detailed personal information is on the back. He's thirty-seven years old—a young man who rose to the position of Vice Chairman at such an age."

"Seems like he's quite capable."

"They say he has exceptional intelligence. Over half of the Black Dragon Society's profits reportedly pass through him. He's involved in drugs, prostitution, gambling, and even organ trafficking."

As I turned the page as Manager Ma said, everything about him was detailed.

It seemed he had discovered more than I would have expected thanks to his extensive public activities.

"He's a member of the Communist Party? Also, from the Communist Youth League?"

"Yes. It appears that even though he's entered the country, the NIS hasn't been able to capture him. Nothing has been proven criminally, just mere suspicions, and there's not a shred of evidence linking him to any crime."

The Chinese Communist Youth League. Often abbreviated as 'CYL.'

It was one of the three major factions within the Communist Party of China. Hu Jintao, the next expected chairman, is a notable member of the CYL.

Because of this, the CYL is one of the closest groups to power.

"A Vice Chairman of the Black Dragon Society from the CYL…"

"Is it possible that funds from the Black Dragon Society are flowing into the CYL? I instructed to investigate further."

"That might be the case. However, accurately tracking the flow of funds requires precision, and given China's secrecy, I doubt it will be easy."

After that remark, I quietly read the investigative materials on the Black Dragon Society for a while.

Suddenly sensing something strange, I looked up.

"What kind of person is the Chairman? There's hardly any information here."

"There's hardly any information available. What's here is what the NIS has managed to gather. Most of the organization's operations are handled directly by Hao Xun, so no one knows the Chairman's face."

"So, Hao Xun is practically the boss, then."

"That's the impression you can obtain."

I tossed the stack of documents onto the table, feeling a bit unsettled.

"A person like that just enters Korea without any preparation? Only bringing four others with him? Is he fearless, or just overly confident?"

"He seems to have some trust in something or someone."

"Or perhaps this meeting is a trap as expected. Are we keeping watch?"

Just as Manager Ma nodded, the sound of a phone ringing echoed from his inner pocket.

"I'm sorry."

"No worries. Go ahead and answer it."

Manager Ma turned away to take the call.

"…Got it. Report back."

After listening for some time, he furrowed his brow slightly.

"Really? Understood. Don't lose sight of the destination and report whenever they move."

After hanging up, Manager Ma turned back to me.

"It seems we have a team tailing the Chinese guys?"

"That's correct. However, their actions are strange. They've gone to the Chinese embassy instead of heading to a hotel."

"The embassy?"

"Yes. Since it's a place where listening devices cannot be installed, I told them to wait outside for now."

The first step of the Vice Chairman of the Black Dragon Society in Korea is to visit the Chinese embassy… It certainly reeks of something fishy.

"Isn't the Chinese embassy located in Myeong-dong?"

The thought of the Chinese embassy being in my area, Myeong-dong, came to mind.

"So, the meeting place with Chairman Yoo and the Chinese is now switched to the Myeong-dong Hotel?"

"Yes. The boss ordered it. When I notified them about the change of venue, they accepted it."

I stroked my chin, lost in thought for a moment.

"A young Vice Chairman of the Black Dragon Society who's seized Tianjin. I really want to see what kind of person he is."

Setting everything else aside, the most intriguing part was that he's effectively running a criminal organization at not even forty years old.

"Contact Chairman Yoo."

"Understood."

Manager Ma picked up the phone next to him. The call connected quickly.

"This is Pyeongchang-dong. The boss wants to speak to you. …Please hold."

Taking the receiver handed to me, I heard Yoo Sung-jin's voice coming through, which was calm.

― Did you call for me, boss?

"How is the operation to identify the traitor going?"

― …I'm sorry.

"I wasn't asking for an apology to Chairman Yoo, just curious about how it's progressing. There seem to be many apologies lately."

― Huh… I thought that if I turned my gaze outward, I could suppress the discontent internally. But that war only sowed larger discontent.

It was natural that creating an external enemy would ease internal dissatisfaction.

But it appeared that the prolonged conflict was increasing the organization members' grievances.

"Sounds like you're getting complacent."

― Embarrassingly, that's correct. It seems that the better treatment given to you and Dong-soo may have backfired.

"Does that mean it'll take longer to finalize?"

As I asked casually, Yoo Sung-jin's voice dropped even lower.

― No. We've identified three directors. We plan to clean up everything after this meeting with the Black Dragon Society.

"What will you do with Director Kang Jun-woo when you meet at the Myeong-dong Hotel?"

― If I immediately exclude him from everything, it seems he'll attack directly, so we're letting him continue to fulfill his duties for now. However, he has been excluded from this meeting. Instead, he will focus on monitoring activity in Chinatown.

Excluding him just for this event? I couldn't help but voice my dissatisfaction with Yoon Chang-ho's handling.

"Why not just eliminate him right away? This is all getting too complicated."

― I intend to weed out every last vestige of internal dissatisfaction with this opportunity. I'm waiting to do just that. I will wrap things up soon and contact you.

Yoo Sung-jin's voice carried a dangerous undertone over the receiver. That was exactly the attitude I wanted from him.

"Understood. I'll keep an eye on things."

― Thank you. I won't disappoint you again.

"That's the right mindset. Oh, Chairman Yoo. I plan to attend tomorrow's meeting with the Black Dragon Society in Myeong-dong as well."

― You'll be there in person? Boss?

"Yes. I want to see that person's face."

― …It might be dangerous, boss. We still don't know what kind of thoughts he has or what schemes may lie behind it.

I found it somewhat amusing how concerned he sounded.

It's been a while since someone worried about me to this extent.

"Chairman Yoo, you're worrying too much. There's no need to be so cautious. It's Myeong-dong Hotel. Do you really think anyone would dare harm me there?"

― That's true, but…

"I'll lock down the hotel myself, so don't you fret. I'm just planning to observe from the shadows. Treat me like just another attendant who's with you. I'll see you tomorrow."

After wrapping up the call with Yoo Sung-jin, I placed the receiver back.

"Might it be dangerous?"

Today, I was getting a lot of worry. I smiled broadly at Manager Ma's concerned question.

"Am I going to get myself in trouble?"

"No."

When I jokingly asked back, Manager Ma shook his head with a stiff expression.

In any case, he was too serious to tease. I shrugged and continued speaking.

"That's fine. Starting now, clear out all the guests at the Myeong-dong Hotel, and have Manager Ma's staff fill the place entirely. The moment Hao Xun arrives at the hotel, Myeong-dong Hotel will be sealed off. Make sure to notify the central police station in advance, instructing them not to dispatch under any circumstances. If they receive a report, just have them fake an arrival."

"Yes, I will do that."

"Go prepare."

Manager Ma, with his head bowed, closed the study door as he left.

I took time to slowly sort through my thoughts in the quiet study.

* * *

"Boss, Chairman Yoo has arrived."

"Really? Then it's about time we head out."

The next day, Yoo Sung-jin visited the Myeong-dong office to head to Myeong-dong Hotel together.

He stepped out of the building and walked towards the vehicle he was in.

I stopped him as he was about to open the car door.

"Be cautious from here on out."

"Understood. Please get in."

Nodding, I climbed into Yoo Sung-jin's car.

Our car slowly made its way towards Myeong-dong Hotel.

"There are fewer personnel than expected."

"Most of them are stationed around Myeong-dong Hotel, ready to deploy at a moment's notice. I've prepared them with the organization members I've been with since the old days, not the ones from Director Kang Jun-woo's side. I've already discussed everything with Manager Ma."

Manager Ma sat in the passenger seat, nodding slightly in acknowledgment.

"Then I can relax. I just need to trust Chairman Yoo."

"Sure, boss."

I smiled, giving Yoo Sung-jin a light pat on the shoulder. His shoulders had tensed up.

"By the way, did you meet a person named Wang Wei yesterday?"

"Yes, I met him last night."

"What were their demands? They wouldn't try to mediate without knowing anything, would they?"

Someone trying to mediate a war between criminal organizations wouldn't be ignorant of the situation.

After pondering for a moment, Yoo Sung-jin promptly replied.

"They said they would cease domestic drug distribution. Instead, they're asking for the rights to circulate drugs that enter Korea and make their way to Japan. In return, they said they'd pay us a certain sum of money."

"That's surprisingly humble."

"Right, he told Wang Wei that, but I'm not sure if that's the truth. Currently, it seems other criminal groups are eyeing Korea, besides the Black Dragon Society."

It seems Yoo Sung-jin thinks of Wang Wei as a friend and trusts him deeply.

Hopefully, Wang Wei sees Yoo Sung-jin as a friend too.

"Is Wang Wei reliable?"

"I consider him a friend. He probably thinks of me as a friend too."

"I hope that's the case."

"Yeah?"

"Nothing. We should be arriving soon."

As we conversed, we arrived at Myeong-dong Hotel.

"From now on, I'm Yoo Sung-jin's attendant. I will get out first. Please take your time getting out."

Manager Ma and I got out of the car first. Manager Ma opened the car door for Yoo Sung-jin.

Yoo Sung-jin stepped out, entering Myeong-dong Hotel with his subordinates who came in another vehicle.

Manager Ma and I followed closely behind, entering the hotel as well.

We reached the hotel restaurant, the agreed meeting place, and took our seats.

Manager Ma and I chose a spot behind the table where Chairman Yoo would sit.

I leaned over and quietly asked Manager Ma beside me.

"You said they stayed at this hotel yesterday, right?"

"Yes, they booked a suite."

Nodding slightly, I turned my attention back to the restaurant door.

Before long, the door to the restaurant opened and five men walked in.

The first man walking toward us was Hao Xun, the one I had seen in the photo.

Yoo Sung-jin rose from his seat and walked over to him.

In the tense atmosphere, the two faced each other. The restaurant was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The first to speak between Yoo Sung-jin and Hao Xun was Hao Xun.

"Nice to meet you, Chairman Yoo Sung-jin. I am Hao Xun."

Hao Xun greeted first in Chinese, as if it were only natural.

"I'm Yoo Sung-jin, Vice Chairman of the Black Dragon Society. Welcome to Korea."

Yoo Sung-jin extended his hand as he spoke.

To my surprise, despite not being fluent, Yoo Sung-jin managed to speak comprehensible Chinese, surprising Hao Xun slightly.