Chapter 120

Chapter 120

Blue House Luncheon (2)

At the sudden unexpected action, the seats froze coldly.

The Blue House security chief shouted with a burst toward the reporters who came to cover.

“Turn off the cameras! Turn off the recorders too! The bastard playing tricks will be dragged to the central intelligence!”

“Tu, turned off!”

“Know what will happen if writing articles recklessly. Better to listen carefully to my words.”

“Of, of course! Didn’t write articles! Didn’t take photos!”

“Withdraw until called! Not disappearing right away?”

“Going! Will go out right away!”

The reporters who tried to report a harmonious scene were scared a lot and went out in a rush.

Bang!

As soon as the banquet hall door closed, U-gwang’s Kim Dae-sik shouted loudly prostrating.

“His Excellency, please save U-gwang!”

The president’s gaze looking down at him was cold.

Even in the silence that settled heavily on the seats, only Kim Dae-sik shouted desperately.

“U-gwang is a large company of business world ranking 9th. If U-gwang collapses like this, the Republic of Korea’s economy will stagger.”

“Threatening me now?”

“Will become His Excellency’s dog!”

White flag surrender.

“If telling to bark, will bark, if telling to bite, will bite! Please just save!”

Kim Dae-sik raised his head and met eyes with the president.

“Shall I bark?”

“Ha······?”

“Woof woof! Bark bark bark!”

In the heavy silence, astonished breath sounds mixed occasionally.

The chaebol group heads looked down at U-gwang’s Kim Dae-sik with expressions hard to describe.

The military leadership with contemptuous gazes, the administrative high-ranking officials let out low sneers.

“If what His Excellency wants, will accomplish anything! Just give orders!”

Kim Dae-sik didn’t care.

“Want to promote a proud Republic of Korea, an excellent leader, a developing advanced country? Please entrust to U-gwang! Will package public opinion more splendidly than anyone!”

Opinion war was U-gwang’s specialty.

“Need export performance? That also U-gwang will roll up both sleeves and follow! If His Excellency wants, U-gwang will give up domestic demand and put all effort only for export!”

The president valued visible performance and outwardly visible image.

Because a military coup origin with insufficient legitimacy.

Domestically of course overseas, dictatorship regimes were often pointed at with fingers.

“Want to achieve independent national defense? Need stronger firepower? Then U-gwang will transform into a defense industry specialized company!”

U-gwang’s Kim Dae-sik faced the cold and humiliating gazes pouring on himself.

Yet he smiled.

“Please use U-gwang as a place to procure election funds, political funds. Can money launder cleaner without aftermath than anyone!”

The military leadership and administrative high-ranking officials let out awkward hollow coughs.

Just yesterday thoroughly beaten because of the bribes received from U-gwang Construction.

Because didn’t know would be shameless enough to openly appeal that, they couldn’t help but be flustered looking at Kim Dae-sik.

The president who was looking down at Kim Dae-sik coldly pulled up one mouth corner.

“That is interesting.”

As the president lightly gestured with the chin, the Blue House security chief stepped forward watching eyes and shouted with a burst.

“What are you guys doing in front of His Excellency? Is this a market street floor? Became a spectacle? All sit in the seats!”

The president walked with big strides and sat at the uppermost seat of the round table.

The Blue House security chief sat on the president’s right side as if showing, and the Blue House secretary chief sat on the left side.

Next to that the central intelligence director, and next to that the army security commander sat.

“Let’s eat.”

The chaebol group heads invited to the luncheon reluctantly sat in the seats.

Designated seats according to the names written on the nameplates.

But no matter how looking around, there were no seats for the military leadership and administrative high-ranking officials.

They stood surrounding the round table like circling.

“Ahem, His Excellency. Seems the seats are insufficient somehow······.”

“No way.”

The president didn’t even pretend to see the standing ones.

“Because committed sins, just didn’t receive permission to sit.”

The chaebol group heads rubbed the numb back of the neck.

From all sides, heavy gazes were pouring circling.

Having to sit in such a seat and eat.

“Remove the U-gwang nameplate.”

U-gwang’s Kim Dae-sik also was stopped from sitting in the seat.

“What use a dog trying to share a table with people.”

“······Right words.”

U-gwang’s Kim Dae-sik looked at the food placed as his share and smiled bitterly.

“When did a dog do spoon work? Will eat gratefully like this.”

U-gwang’s Kim Dae-sik stuck his nose in the bowl and ate the food with a wag wag.

Rice grains flew, soup flew.

In an instant, the mouth area of course even the clothes became dirty.

The chaebol group heads who directly witnessed the appearance of a person prostrating on the floor and eating like a dog couldn’t hide astonishment.

The Blue House security chief didn’t hide a fishy smile.

Crash! Roll roll.

The Blue House security chief kicked Kim Dae-sik’s tray with a foot.

The brass bowl was fine, but the rice and side dishes inside spilled.

“Why? Can’t eat? When did a dog pick and eat food?”

“······Right words.”

U-gwang’s Kim Dae-sik smiled and began licking prostrating.

The president looked down at such Kim Dae-sik with an indifferent gaze.

“The dog has many words from earlier.”

“Woof woof!”

Kim Dae-sik stopped even eating and sat on the floor kneeling.

The president frowned looking around the astonished group heads.

“Not eating?”

“Do, doing.”

“Will eat well gratefully.”

Blue House luncheon gathering.

Literally a gathering made with the intention of lightly sharing talk while having lunch together.

But the chaebol group heads couldn’t know if the rice grains were going down the throat or the nostrils.

Behind the military leadership and administrative high-ranking officials standing circling in attention posture watching, on the floor U-gwang’s Kim Dae-sik eating like a dog.

The president even picked up a napkin and threw with a cold expression.

“A mess.”

No one dared to express agreement in front of the president.

But everyone was recalling the same thought.

* * *

Until the luncheon ended, U-gwang’s Kim Dae-sik of course couldn’t get up from the floor and even didn’t receive permission to speak.

All this was a matter he volunteered.

“······For such reasons, reported worrying that a second oil shock might burst soon. That is all.”

The person who received permission to speak last was Taeseong Construction Cha Seong-jun sitting at the lowest seat.

A hint regarding the possibility of an oil shock occurring.

That was precisely the reason a mere young construction company president was invited to the Blue House luncheon.

“The occurrence possibility?”

“Not that large. Brought related experts’ opinions, please refer.”

“The reason mentioning particularly?”

“Because there are matters I directly went to the Middle East and saw and heard and experienced. Because the atmosphere that comes to the skin is not ordinary.”

“In one word intuition this?”

“Yes.”

Taeseong Construction Cha Seong-jun nodded obediently.

“Believing or not believing depends on His Excellency. I just reported as felt.”

The president looked around the chaebol group heads invited to the luncheon.

“Everyone with eyes of not believing at all.”

The chaebol group heads were making unsatisfactory expressions.

“Ahem, His Excellency. We also in the position of going overseas several times a year so there are things seen and heard.”

“Even Europe or America are in a situation of not worrying about another oil shock.”

“Since a young friend, understanding even doing so. There is the words of a frog in a well.”

Jeongjeojiwa (well bottom frog).

The meaning of a frog in a well.

Refers to narrow insight thinking what oneself saw and heard is all.

“Well, if really an oil shock bursts, the national economy staggering greatly is a clear matter though.”

“Not the time to shrink and be cautious with groundless worry but the time to push business more aggressively.”

“Right. Anyway just barely recovering the blow received during the last oil shock.”

“If hesitating here, the Republic of Korea will be difficult to grow into an advanced country.”

Until the mid-60s, the Republic of Korea belonged to the poorest countries.

In a state of barely entering a developing country thanks to government-led industrialization.

“Just refer. Don’t cry later.”

“Yes, His Excellency.”

Still a tone of not believing.

The president stroked his chin.

“Only Taeseong seeing the same era same situation differently.”

“Ahem!”

“Will know if watching. Whose words were right.”

Before the chaebol heads opened their mouths, the president threw a gaze at the figure kneeling on the banquet hall floor.

“How to dispose of U-gwang.”

“Please just save!”

“U-gwang covered my eyes, blocked my ears, and lost face.”

“Committed a crime to die! Since committed a sin, will bear compensation!”

U-gwang’s Kim Dae-sik was desperate.

Threw away pride of course even face long ago.

“Want to be a help for His Excellency and the motherland! Will patriotically offer all loyalty!”

“Export, defense industry, fund procurement, public opinion manipulation.”

The content U-gwang appealed.

Will become a useful dog so just save.

Choose survival instead of pride.

This was the meaning of the next generation U-gwang.

“Not bad.”

As the president showed interest, of course the 4 real powers sitting next to the president, the leadership standing circling the round table stiffened their bodies.

“If received bribes, have to do the money’s worth. No words to help?”

Words with bones.

The ones who suffered because of the U-gwang Construction bribe ledger twitched.

“Shouldn’t you guys also kneel and shout together? Wasn’t the money received with such thought?”

“Did wrong, His Excellency!”

“Thought would cling even to my pant leg saying save U-gwang?”

“His Excellency, committed a crime to die!”

“Won’t cause such dirty matters again!”

“Please forgive, His Excellency!”

The president slightly looked at Taeseong Group Chairman Cha.

“Heard Taeseong gave up chemicals and handed to U-gwang.”

“Yes, saw agreeing to fold the joint business because the marriage fell through.”

“Those words mean Taeseong completely withdrawing hands from defense industry?”

“No. Thanks to the country could grow up to here, naturally the meaning of repaying with patriotism to the motherland and His Excellency.”

“Hmm?”

At the unexpected words, the president stopped.

“A gentleman who was stiff like an iron core saying sounds not done.”

“Taeseong may be stiff but never turned away from His Excellency’s meaning. What would be the reason Taeseong risked life on technology development until now?”

The president looked at Chairman Cha with an openly interesting expression.

“His Excellency is trying to put effort into strengthening military power, naturally Taeseong also has to lend one hand. Will follow.”

In the willing gaze, the mouth corner was slightly raised.

Anyway received a report that Taeseong first offered election funds thickly.

The Blue House security chief laughed heartily and took that side.

Rarely praised saying Taeseong is handling unlike itself.

“From this year, will produce parts of tanks and armored vehicles, military vehicles.”

Chairman Cha said emphasizing.

“Will acquire U-gwang Shipbuilding. Then warships and missiles, torpedoes and communication equipment also Taeseong can take charge.”

Hyunmu Group’s Chairman Oh opened his mouth quickly as if competing.

“U-gwang Chemicals our Hyunmu will acquire. Guns, cannons, bombs and missiles Hyunmu is the best.”

“Our Samhwang hopes to acquire U-gwang Oil Refining. Will produce aviation fuel for fighters and bombers etc. Samhwang.”

As even Samhwang Group joined, Geumjo, Cheonma, Ilseong, Noksan, Sanguk rushed in.

Literally jumped into the mud to tear U-gwang.

The president frowned at the company heads’ quarrel.

“His Excellency, since Taeseong sent the intention of actively participating in defense industry, please lend strength.”

The Blue House security chief opened his mouth without hesitation.

“If Taeseong, technology. If Taeseong actively produces defense supplies, will be a great help to enriching the country and strengthening the military. A very desirable decision.”

Even the Blue House secretary chief joined.

“Heard Taeseong made a technology agreement with Japan’s Toyoto so heavy equipment and automobiles are also quite excellent.”

“If upgrading even shipbuilding technology here, can improve warships and naval exploration ships much more superior than now.”

The army security commander who was quiet opened his mouth for the first time.

“Military weapons supplied with Taeseong’s technology. That is expected.”

The central intelligence director also nodded.

“Certainly not bad.”

Just added two subtle words.

As there was no opposing opinion among the closest aides, the president looked back at Chairman Cha again.

“So many people placing expectations on Taeseong.”

The president’s mouth corner rose much higher than just before.

The fact that the president made a smile-like expression in the banquet hall was only twice.

Both only related to Taeseong.

“Quiet.”

The president raised a hand.

The figures chattering the acquisition of U-gwang greedily closed mouths all at once.

“Except Chairman Cha. Everyone go out.”

The sound of having a private meeting with Chairman Cha.

As U-gwang’s Kim Dae-sik also got up dusting his pants, the president gestured like handling a dog.

“Sit.”