Chapter 52

Chapter 52

How Can This Be! (1)

I took a seat in the Hyunmu Hotel garden with Mother while waiting for the fireworks.

Mother exclaimed lowly.

“This garden seems really carefully decorated. The colorful sparkling is too pretty.”

In the middle of the garden, even a large Christmas tree was wrapped with five-colored bulbs and sparkling.

Large and small lights lit up wrapping the garden trees.

Walking along the well-laid promenade, there was quite a charm.

“Wow, delicious smell! Jeong-hyeok, shall we go over there?”

“The cook uncles are grilling skewers.”

In one corner of the garden, the hotel chef had lit charcoal on the barbecue grill and was diligently grilling skewers and treating the guests.

The types of skewers were also diverse.

There were chicken skewers, gizzard skewers, beef cube skewers, of course, even marshmallow skewers.

Bang!

A firework that soared drawing a long tail in the black night sky burst with a bang.

It was fireworks.

Mother blankly looked up at the sky losing her soul.

Bang! Bang bang bang! Bang!

Colorful five-colored fireworks dyed the sky.

This was exactly the gunpowder technical power that Hyunmu Chemicals boasted.

‘Certainly, Hyunmu Chemicals’ fireworks are worth seeing. Fitting for a company that stood tall in the best position in South Korea with defense industry.’

Hyunmu Chemicals succeeded in extracting glycerin on its own, second in Asia, that is, next to Japan.

Until then, Korea had to depend only on foreign-made explosives.

But thanks to Hyunmu Chemicals, they were able to achieve the localization of explosives.

Hyunmu Chemicals’ explosives were largely used in tunnel and civil engineering construction etc., so they were scheduled to be heavily used even in the Subway Line 2 construction.

“Wow, really pretty.”

Mother liked it like a girl and smiled brightly.

The colorful fireworks reflected in Mother’s pupils seemed embroidered like jewels.

So I also held Mother’s hand and smiled brightly.

“Yes, really pretty.”

There’s no memory of watching fireworks with Mother in childhood.

For me, fireworks weren’t a festival’s salute done with family or friends, lovers.

For me who wandered the back alleys from a young age, it was not permitted, similar to the fire that the little match girl lit with the matches she couldn’t sell on Christmas Eve.

I sold food at the fireworks festival, and earned money cleaning the trash that people left and left.

Busy looking only at people’s wallets, busy picking up trash, busy looking only at the floor.

I never straightened my waist and blankly watched fireworks even once.

“Really good. Watching fireworks with Mom. I wish we could watch together again next time too.”

Darn.

A complaint mixed with joy and bitterness popped out without realizing.

Mother hugged me.

“Jeong-hyeok, are you upset because you couldn’t do it with Dad?”

“No.”

“Today Dad was too busy so we couldn’t do it together, but next time let’s pester to watch fireworks with Dad for sure. How about it?”

“Yes.”

“Then don’t be upset. Promise~”

Mother smiled brightly and held out her pinky to me.

I blankly looked at the pinky and ended up snickering.

“Promise.”

I like documents more than words, promises with thumbprints stamped more than pinky promises.

But if it’s Mother’s pinky promise, there’s no way to refuse.

I hooked the pinky and even pressed the thumb firmly.

“Actually, it’s a secret, but Mom also thought it would be good to watch fireworks with Dad. Mom is also very regretful. Was Jeong-hyeok like that too?”

Mother gently stroked my head.

“But Jeong-hyeok also saw, right? Earlier Grandfather and Dad working hard for Mom and Jeong-hyeok.”

“Yes.”

“So Dad is very busy. So let’s understand only today. Okay?”

“Yes.”

I know.

That Father will be very busy now.

Actually, I sent Father to Mayor Gu by using Secretary Kim.

“Mom, today let’s sleep at the Hyunmu Hotel.”

“Yes?”

“Dad gave this earlier. He said he reserved a room so rest comfortably.”

I handed the note with the room number written that I received from Father to Mother.

“Dad said tonight he’ll be very busy.”

Perhaps he might have to work staying up all night.

Depending on how much enthusiasm and will Mayor Gu burns after seeing the subway route map that Father brought, Father’s whereabouts tonight will be decided.

“Don’t boil our insides waiting for Dad and let’s sleep first.”

“Let’s do so. Anyway, Mom’s legs also hurt, and I was tired. Thanks to Dad, sleeping even at this pretty hotel. Too good~”

Mother smiled gently.

Bang! Bang bang bang! Bang!

The fireworks bursting in the night sky were a great spectacle.

‘Hey, guardian deity.’

[Hmm, really beautiful.]

The underworld messenger who was looking up at the night sky with hands behind his back next to me.

It was a complexion of lowly exclaiming.

[To think the fireworks technology of the human world developed this much in the meantime. How can they shoot up such colorful and diverse fireworks. The lingering of the unperished is felt.]

The underworld messenger turned his back as is and asked.

[So where to go?]

How beautiful is the back of the one who clearly knows when the time to go is and goes.

‘Mayor Gu.’

[I’ll go and come.]

* * *

Mayor Gu was still remaining in the hall where the year-end night event was held and exchanging stories with ruling and opposition assemblymen.

“Mayor Gu, let’s also go out for a bit and watch the fireworks and come.”

“Since it’s a spectacle that President Oh of Hyunmu Hotel ambitiously prepared, not watching and going would also be a regrettable matter.”

The ruling party assemblymen came out of the hall holding champagne glasses.

Thanks to that, only Mayor Gu and President Oh of Hyunmu Construction remained here.

The two lightly clinked the champagne.

President Oh of Hyunmu Construction said.

“Now that only the two of us remain, show that a bit.”

“What?”

“What else. The Subway Line 2 route table route map. You brought it, right? Let’s take a peek.”

“Ahem, it’s a matter that won’t do. You also know well that it’s a top-secret matter.”

“Earlier you made a form as if you’d show it. That was all a political show?”

“Hmm, it’s not a lie.”

Mayor Gu turned his head.

Since it was near the terrace, the garden was looked down beyond the glass window.

“President Oh, what do you think? The Line 2 subway construction. Between U-gwang and Taeseong, who do you think can construct more properly?”

“Of course Taeseong. No matter which aspect, Taeseong was definitely ahead of U-gwang, why ask again?”

President Oh of Hyunmu Construction smiled.

“The bidding competition that was continuing tightly suddenly tilted recently. Toward Taeseong.”

“After that friend Cha Seong-jun recently returned. Hmm.”

“Mayor Gu, why is the expression so unsatisfactory?”

“To take charge of and lead a large company called Taeseong Construction, the president is too young. Even to entrust a great construction called Subway Line 2.”

Mayor Gu said cutting it off.

“I hear the sound that Chairman Cha purged most of the Taeseong Construction executives and employees.”

“It seems so. Not long ago.”

“It’s a point where less than a month is left until the Subway Line 2 construction bidding.”

That was the reason Mayor Gu showed an unsatisfactory complexion.

“Even if he had internally decided on a president of another affiliate, that might be different. Putting a green rookie in the construction company president position means just giving up on the construction? Chairman Cha made too arrogant a decision.”

“Don’t you know Chairman Cha? He’s not a person who will easily give up on the Subway Line 2 construction.”

President Oh of Hyunmu Construction shook his head.

“Rather, I think purging former Taeseong Construction deputy director Cha Yun-seong and the incompetent executives and employees was a godsend. That friend is a great skilled person more than he looks.”

“Skilled person? How much can such a young friend show skill.”

“How I obtained the Suseo district apartment site, why underground finance figures appeared here, haven’t I said yet?”

“Wait. Where? Suseo district?”

Mayor Gu looked back startled.

At the reaction unfitting for Mayor Gu, President Oh of Hyunmu Construction blinked his eyes.

“Why are you suddenly like that?”

“This turned out quite coincidentally. I’m on the way after stamping the seal on the approval document to completely postpone the Suseo district housing site development.”

“What?”

“Expansion of development restriction zones and permitted transaction zones. You know? For that reason, for the next few years, construction permits won’t come out at all on the Suseo district side.”

“H, how could such a matter······!”

President Oh of Hyunmu Construction ended up becoming an expression as if hit by a lightning bolt from the dry sky.

“There were no such words! It’s land that already got permission as an apartment site in the Suseo district······.”

“Land category and construction permit are different words. This turned out regrettably.”

“No!”

President Oh of Hyunmu Construction staggered.

“Why······, how did it suddenly become like this······!”

“You would have known too. These days the real estate market is showing a too overheated aspect so there are many words from above. The fact that real estate regulations will start soon, really didn’t know?”

“I know! But I didn’t know it was the Suseo district!”

President Oh of Hyunmu Construction trembled.

“Surely Taeseong Construction knew this fact in advance and deliberately to screw me······.”

“No, that wouldn’t be.”

Mayor Gu said cutting it off.

“Originally, what came up for approval today was the Sindorim district. But because Subway Line 2 is scheduled to pass that side.”

“What?”

Mayor Gu tapped the bosom where the route map was said to be.

“It’s a situation where less than a month is left until the Subway Line 2 construction bidding. Changing the development restriction zone is better than changing the 180 billion Subway Line 2 route. Isn’t that so?”

“H, how can this be!”

“Earlier the urban development plan director also was shocked and grabbed the back of his neck. Exactly like you now.”

Mayor Gu patted President Oh of Hyunmu Construction’s shoulder.

“What can I do. It’s a matter that already ended after stamping the seal on the approval document. So this time you give up.”

“No! Can’t that approval document be withdrawn somehow? Can’t stamp the seal again? Please just this once!”

It was then.

“Mayor Gu.”

Secretary Kim and Father walked over with large strides.

Mayor Gu turned his eyes from President Oh of Hyunmu Construction and looked at Father.

“Yes, what’s the matter? Perhaps is there something else you’re curious about?”

“No. I brought the Subway Line 2 route map.”

Mayor Gu opened his eyes round.

“What? Are you joking with me now?”

“No way.”

Mayor Gu checked his wristwatch.

“Not even 30 minutes have passed since receiving my proposal. And what? Already drew the Subway Line 2 route map and came?”

Mayor Gu blatantly revealed an unsatisfactory complexion.

“Decide carefully. The deadline I gave is one week. If you waste the opportunity carelessly like this and later regret hitting the ground, it’s useless.”

Mayor Gu’s gaze was cold.

“Even if I said I’d only give bonus points without disadvantage, bringing it roughly without sincerity like this is not it. Is this Taeseong’s attitude?”

He even snorted openly.

“It only sounds like the sound of giving up on the bonus points early because you don’t want to take on the bothersome matter.”

“No way. I came all the way here wanting to stamp an eye stamp on Mayor Gu somehow, how could I waste that golden opportunity in vain?”

When Father gestured, Secretary Kim held out the neatly folded high-quality gift map.

“First look at this and speak again.”

“Good.”

Mayor Gu obediently accepted the map.

“At a glance, it’s a high-quality gift map that was just newly bought. Yes, let’s see once······ Huff!”

Mayor Gu unfolded the map and couldn’t help but be shocked.

The shocked expression was revealed as is.

It was a reaction unfitting for Mayor Gu who was familiar with hiding expressions and thoughts because he rolled in the political world for a long time.

“H, how can this be!”

Mayor Gu groped his bosom greatly flustered.

What he urgently took out was one neatly folded map.

“Taeseong drew this and came? In not even 30 minutes!”

The hand of Mayor Gu holding the map was trembling very finely.

“This is the Subway Line 2 that Taeseong was dreaming of······!”

Mayor Gu unfolded two maps.

The two maps were different in size but the stations marked were the same.

The difference was that on the map Taeseong brought, it was drawn with a red sign pen, and on the map Mayor Gu prepared, the Subway Line 2 route map was drawn with a black pencil.

“Is this a possible matter?”

That there exists someone dreaming the same dream as me under the same sky?

Mayor Gu’s eyes went busily alternating between both maps.

“To think Taeseong also pointed out the 43 subway stations I decided almost similarly! This nonsense······!”

Since the marked subway station positions are similar, the Subway Line 2 route map connecting the stations couldn’t help but be similar.

“Wait! No! Just one, there’s a point completely different from my conception!”

Mayor Gu paid attention to the place where a star was marked.

“Why did Taeseong decide the Line 1 transfer station as Sindorim instead of Yeongdeungpo? I think Yeongdeungpo Station is better.”

“Yeongdeungpo Station already has the underground Line 1 track passing. With the current Korean civil engineering technical power, excavating by penetrating under an already built station is close to impossible.”

“Oh!”

Mayor Gu opened his eyes wide.

It’s still early to be surprised.

The gift I conveyed to Father through Secretary Kim isn’t only that one.

There are still more maps to hand to Mayor Gu.