Genius Grandson of the Loan Shark King

It was hard to tolerate

The bombing that occurred in the middle of the night shocked the citizens of Pyongyang.

"With all the chaos going on, is it okay for me to come to work?"

"You mean last night? I thought the world was going to change or something."

The bus heading to Nampo City was also noisy.

It was because Pyongyang residents employed in the Nampo City development project were unable to overcome their anxiety and were gossiping about what happened at night.

"But didn't you have anything to say soon?"

The bus was stopped at the checkpoint for quite some time.

The sight of armed soldiers outside the windows made the residents even more terrified.

"There will be a brief security check. Everyone, please take out your ID and show it to me."

All those employed in the development of Nampo City were party members, regardless of gender.

A soldier who knew this well boarded the bus and checked each person's party membership card.

The man sitting at the very back hesitated and handed over his party membership card.

The soldier who checked his party membership card looked at his face and smiled.

"You reactionary bastard! Where are you going?"

The man responded to the soldier's words by raising his voice.

"Wh, what are you talking about?"

"Come down."

"Why are you doing this!"

"You little bastard! If you tell me to get off, I'll get off!"

When the man resisted, the soldier roughly grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and dragged him away.

"Let go! Let go! Do you know who I am?!"

The man resisted desperately, but the soldier simply kicked his shin with his boot and screamed at him.

"Be quiet! Be quiet, you reactionary bastard!"

The man looked around and gave them a look of help, but everyone was busy avoiding his gaze.

Eventually, the man was dragged off the bus.

The man who was knocked to the ground soon crouched, unable to withstand the pouring boots.

The same thing was happening at the checkpoint leading to the Kaesong Industrial Complex.

* * *

A day has passed since Choe Ryong-hae's coup attempt.

Jang Song-taek was working hard to resolve the situation without even sleeping.

He gave orders to arrest anyone who had even the slightest connection to this attempted coup.

Going a step further, he arrested all the people who were running trading companies, who were no different from his close associates.

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"······What is Choe Ryong-hae doing?"

Jang Song-taek asked, holding his throbbing forehead.

Commander of the Escort Command Won Seong-hee answered in a voice that was very disciplined.

"I have him locked up in the secret prison of the Escort Bureau."

"Okay. Tell him not to touch me until I see him in person."

"Yes, Comrade Chairman!"

The loud voice made his bones ache again. Jang Song-taek sighed and took out some headache medicine.

He poured the medicine into his mouth, drank some water, and blinked slowly.

"What about the general?"

"I heard that you were very surprised. Fortunately, you are safe."

"Is it true that the general was involved in this incident?"

"It seems that we already knew. Choe Ryong-hae and the reactionary bastards went to see him. Whether he gave direct orders······."

"I will also go see you in person, General."

"Thank you, Comrade Chairman!"

A color came to Won Seong-hee's face.

It was a completely understandable reaction, as it would be difficult for someone other than oneself to interrogate Kim Jong-il.

"We must take this opportunity to completely overhaul the military so that something like this never happens again."

"······Do you plan on dealing with the general?"

In response to Won Seong-hui's question, Jang Song-taek glared at him fiercely.

"Why? Do you want to tell me to kill you too?"

"Oh, no. How could I have such an impudent mind?"

Even though Won Seong-hui immediately lowered her head, Jang Seong-taek's voice was extremely cold.

"Don't talk nonsense. That bastard Choe Ryong Hae is the one who told me to kill the General several times. He ended up trying to kill me by using the General. Don't make me believe you either."

"······I will correct it."

Even though I took the medicine, my head was still pounding. I couldn't sleep properly and my eyes were hot.

Won Seong-hui, who was checking on Jang Seong-taek's condition, asked with concern.

"Shouldn't you get some sleep first?"

"Alright. This is not the time to sleep. Did President Kim Moo-hyuk cross the Russian border safely?"

"Yes. I received a report that he had made it safely."

"That's fortunate. If by any chance that person had died or been injured······. It's terrifying to even think about it."

If he got it wrong, Russia could go crazy and run wild.

While South Korea cannot move its military at will without the permission of the United States, Russia is a country that can move its military at will according to the will of the Kremlin.

This could be seen by the fact that the Russian army was advanced closer to the border at Kim Mu-hyeok's request.

"Still, fortunately, we were able to successfully contain the rebellion. If this incident had caused President Kim Moo-hyuk to lose faith in North Korea, everything we had planned would have collapsed like a bubble."

Finally, the headache medication took effect and the throbbing pain subsided.

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No, maybe it was because he felt relieved. Jang Song-taek sighed softly and gestured to his gathered subordinates.

"First, let's go meet Choe Ryong-hae."

When Jang Song-taek stood up, everyone gathered there, including Won Song-hui, also stood up.

There were several secret prisons in Pyongyang for the highest echelons.

Jang Song-taek was also detained in a secret prison due to a purge carried out by Kim Jong-il.

"It's been a long time since I've been here."

Jang Song-taek looked around with a bitter smile as he recalled old events.

"I'll go in alone, so don't let anyone else follow you."

At Jang Song-taek's direction, Won Song-hui unlocked the room where Choe Ryong-hae was imprisoned.

"Yes. I will wait outside."

Jang Song-taek entered while receiving salutes from his subordinates.

Soon the heavy iron door closed with a loud slam.

A dark room lit only by dim incandescent light bulbs.

Choe Ryong-hae was seen sitting facing the wall, tightly tied to an iron chair.

"Ryonghae. I didn't know you could see it like this."

Choe Ryong-hae responded to the familiar voice.

It seemed like he wanted to say something, but because he was gagged, all that came out were muffled sounds.

Jang Song-taek slowly walked towards him and turned his chair around.

Choe Ryong Hae was looking up at Jang Song Thaek with pitiful eyes.

"Why did you do that? If you had gone with me, you would have enjoyed power. Were you so greedy for my position that you gave it all up?"

"Eww! Eww!"

Choe Ryong-hae kept shaking his body and struggling to say something.

Jang Song-taek continued speaking while looking at Choe Ryong-hae with complicated eyes.

"Thank you, though. You gave me an excuse to get rid of all the reactionary bastards at once. I won't die nicely."

"Ugh! Ugh!"

Jang Song-taek clicked his tongue at the earnest look in Choe Ryong-hae's eyes, as if asking for his life.

"Why? Do you have something to say?"

Choe Ryong-hae nodded urgently in response to Jang Song-taek's question.

Jang Song-taek, who had been thinking for a moment, took the gag out of his mouth.

"Comrade Chairman! No, Sung-taek! We didn't try to kick you out, Sung-taek! It was just that bastard Kim Moo-hyuk······."

"under······."

The excuses continued in absurd form. Jang Song-taek, who already knew that China was behind the coup forces, could not help but sigh again in disbelief.

"Choi Ryong-hae. You buddy. I thought you didn't know that you were instigated by Jiang Zemin? Tell me again. I wasn't the target?"

When Choe Ryong Hae hesitated, Jang Song Taek met his eyes and asked.

"Yes. Let's say that President Kim Moo-hyeok was your target. What if you kill him? What were you going to do about the aftermath after you kill him? Who would trust and help our republic? You're trying to kill the person who worked harder for our republic than anyone else."

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"Hey, isn't there China? If the Chinese government helps us, it's better than that one bastard, Kim Moo-hyuk······."

"Do you still trust China? How could I have predicted and prepared for your moves?"

Choe Ryong Hae looked up at Jang Song Thaek with a shocked face.

"The Chinese government had already informed me of the danger of a military coup through President Kim Moo-hyeok. That's why I was preparing in advance. But I didn't expect that they would target President Kim Moo-hyeok."

"What does that mean? Are you saying that China has betrayed me?!"

Choe Ryong Hae shook his head. His expression was one of confusion, as if he could not believe Jang Song Taek's words.

"You don't believe me? Otherwise, how could I have responded so quickly? I entrusted the military surveillance to you, Yonghae. But isn't it strange? The security service is waiting at every entrance to Pyongyang······."

As Jang Song-taek continued his words, Choe Ryong-hae finally realized why their plan was strangely off track.

"So, you really knew everything?"

Jang Song-taek nodded, raising the corners of his lips.

"But why didn't you arrest him right away?"

"I was trying to wipe them out all at once by using you, Yonghae. That's why I said thank you, didn't I? For being my pawn."

Choe Ryong Hae opened his eyes wide as he saw Jang Song Taek's face with a bitter smile on it.

"No! That can't be true!"

"Think as you wish. The people's trial awaits you. I intend to show you your true colors to the people of the Republic. So that no one will ever rise up against me again."

Jang Song-taek calmly spoke about Choe Ryong-hae's treatment and then turned away.

"Comrade Chairman of the State Affairs Commission! Song Taek! Jang Song Taek!!"

Choe Ryong Hae suddenly came to his senses and called out to him desperately, but Jang Song Taek opened the iron door and went out.

"I intend to open the military trial to the public. So don't show off your face, and take all the statements."

"Are you saying that you will make the military trials public?"

"Yes. His trial should be made public through Rodong Sinmun and Korean Central Television. So that no one can rise up against me again."

Jang Song-taek had already planned out how to purge Choe Ryong-hae.

"Let's start by arresting him at the expanded meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee next month."

"I will prepare it that way."

"Find out thoroughly. Find out if there are any related individuals who have not yet been arrested and report back."

"Yes, Comrade Chairman."

Jang Song-taek gave the order and left the secret prison.

Then, he went to the villa where Kim Jong-il was staying with his security personnel.

Jang Song-taek, who met Kim Jong-il, had a long conversation with him until late at night.

* * *

I ended the meal with a brief conversation with the Russian President.

Afterwards, we had a serious conversation while drinking in a hidden room attached to the office.

"Moo-hyeok. Why on earth are you so obsessed with China? It's not like your business would fail without China."

The President asked incredulously. He didn't know the future, so he might not understand why I wanted to fight the Chinese government.

I pretended to ponder his question and then answered.

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"Actually, I thought about withdrawing. But you know my personality well, don't you? It was difficult to accept the situation and just retreat."

"Hmm."

"And China's economy is likely to grow several times larger than it is now. It will grow into an economic powerhouse that will follow the United States."

"You're overestimating China. Are you saying that its economy has grown larger than ours, Russia's?"

The President did not hide his discomfort. I could have said sweet words, but I decided to tell the truth.

"To be honest, Russia tends to be too dependent on natural resources. China will start manufacturing and use its huge population to act as the world's factory. If we don't use that, we will be left behind. And······."

The president, who had heard my explanation, continued to ask questions with a suspicious look on his face.

"Russia? What do you think about the future of our Russia?"

"Russia's future is not bad either. I don't know about anything else, but the natural resources on Russian soil won't go anywhere."

The president frowned, taking note of my point.

"It sounds like Russia has no future other than its natural resources."

"To change the constitution, the president needs to make a decision. It will require a huge amount of money, and the relationship with Western Europe is also important. It will require political flexibility."

I told the President several stories.

The future I knew might not come now, because so much has changed.

But I guess I can tell you this much since the big picture won't change.

The will of the president was important for Russia to grow further.

"Western Europe······."

The President took a sip of vodka and reflected on my words.

I made him a tempting suggestion while he was pondering deeply.

"Mr. President, how about joining hands with me to bring down Baltic?"

"What? You want to take down Baltic?"

"Yes. There will be an opportunity soon. But I alone do not have the strength to take them down. I can shake their purse strings, but their influence is too great for me to deal with on my own."

It was a force that had been secretly active for a long time. Their influence was beyond what I could have imagined.

You could tell just by looking at the fact that they replaced the French ambassador in China with someone they wanted.

"That's an interesting proposition. Taking down Baltic? That would be fun."

I knew you'd be interested. I said with a small smile at his positive response.

"The opportunity will come soon. I hope you can help me then. It will be a good opportunity for Russia and for me."

I held out my glass of vodka to him. The President, who was staring at my glass, raised the corners of his mouth.

"I'm looking forward to it. I wonder what kind of fun thing Muhyuk will come up with next."

"Well, China is more important right now."

Our glasses clinked together with a cheerful sound.

< It was hard to tolerate > End

< If that's what you want, I won't stop you >