Soho

Chapter 9: < Protect – Episode 8 – Kim Dae Gil [1] >

The high school students of the 20th century were crazy about a real-time strategy game an American developer released. As a result, their academic performance had a rapid decline and the educational authorities argued that the white people were plotting to bring Korea down.

The truth is much beyond that.

Ahn Soo Ho also fell for the white people’s spell and skipped school every day to spend his time in front of the PC. He even formed a team like The Fellowship of the Ring and went backpacking through all the PC rooms. It’s fascinating how he got into the Naval Academy.

“I hate the lake and I hate the ocean too.”

He hated water, but he couldn’t live without it, which made him conflicted. When did his hate for water start? He thinks it started when he died and came back to life. When he submerged in Styx and time stopped. A glimpse of a dead person blanketed his old memories.

He had memories inside his head.

“Very old memories...”

Inside the museum of those memories, he was the Australopithecus, the Homo Sapien, and the ape-man discovered in eastern Ethiopia, and another primitive person outside of his collection is now in front of him

“Wow!”

Lee So Hye couldn’t close her jaw after looking around the vacation home.

“Close your mouth, or a fly will get in.”

“Hey!”

She listened to Ahn Soo Ho and closed her mouth, but it opened again in less than 10 seconds.

“Can I really use any room I want?”

“Do what you want, younger sister.”

“Wow!”

The shouting primitive girl stomped upstairs. The employees showed straight faces, but his senses told him it all bothered them.

“That’s my little sister. So please treat her as you treat me. Do you understand?”

The employees realized something when Ahn Soo Ho emphasized that request. However, there was no problem with their response. If she disappears, the employees will have to get a scolding from Oh Joo Kyung.

“You can achieve perfection without a little rough treatment.”

That’s how it is in the service industry. Japan is a well-recognized country all around the world for how well they bow down. It feels like you’ve become a king. Japan’s hotels, hot springs, and lodgings elevated their national brands. Then what about Korea? Even though Daesan Group tried their best, they didn’t stand a chance against Japan and China.

“Where’s Mrs. Park?”

“She’s asleep.”

Oh Joo Kyung brought out a whiskey instead of coffee. How did she know he was craving alcohol? Can she look through people too? Ahn Soo Ho held his glass and smirked.

“There’s no way.”

If his abilities were that common, he wouldn’t be here right now.

“Was she hurt anywhere?”

“She has a few bruises, but it’s nothing serious. Should I book her for a thorough examination?”

“I’d appreciate that. Oh yeah! Book one for So Hye too.”

“Sure. I already contacted her school.”

“I’m sorry for the trouble.”

“Not at all. I gave them a reasonable excuse.”

“You’re quick on your feet. Your future boyfriend will definitely love you.”

She was immune to Ahn Soo Ho’s jokes, so she just nodded and dismissed herself.

“Vitali Andropov.”

As a Russian ambassador and former KGB agent, he was a key member in the country’s revolution. Even though he opposed Gorbachev and the reform by forming a revolution and got arrested for treason, they reinstated him after many rotations of those in power.

“This will be fun.”

Vitali’s personality was like a strong vodka. Even though he was a former KGB agent, he didn’t like plots and conspiracies. People thought his big stature meant he was foolish like a bear, but bears were actually the smartest and the most agile predators on land.

“An honest bear.”

The next day, after Ahn Soo Ho sent his mom and So Hye to the hospital, the Russian ambassador visited him. It was an honor for the hotel to have such a guest, and in the business world, entertaining a man of his level was a good way to earn extra points. Regardless of why he was visiting Ahn Soo Ho, the employees responded with a warm reception.

“Long time no see, Mr. Guardian.”

“Stop calling me by that embarrassing nickname.”

“At least I’m not calling you a guardian angel.”

“Ugh!”

He didn’t want to be the potbellied white man’s guardian angel. As Vitali Andropov got older, he fell from a sharp man to a neighborhood man who anyone could find at a bar in Moscow.

“I heard you signed with Daesan Group.”

“I keep telling everyone it’s not a formal contract, but no one will listen.”

“People doubt by nature.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh! Are you testing me?”

Vitali, who drank his vodka as if it was coffee, either smiled or frowned.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Too bad we can’t formally confirm anything with you.”

“What about informally?”

“Hm.”

“I don’t talk easily, my friend.”

“I’ll tell you if you promise not to tell Mr. Kim.”

“Which Mr. Kim? The old one or the young one?”

“Both.”

What was there that Kim Dae San and Kim Dae Chan mustn’t know about? Ahn Soo Ho stroked his chin and shook his head.

“Hm. Even though it’s not a formal contract... I think it’d be better if I didn’t hear it.”

“Don’t be like that. Just hear me out.”

Was his response unexpected? Vitali asked to compromise and talked before Ahn Soo Ho could answer.

“Have you heard about the kidnapping incident? Why am I even asking? You probably know all about it.”

“If you’re talking about Empire, I’ve heard about it.”

“It’s not just them. It involved the United States, Japan, China, France, England, Germany, and pretty much all major countries right now. Do you remember? Three years ago, the Amnesty International made an announcement regarding abuse of power and a survey report on human rights in third world countries including Central and South America.”

“The Orion Report?”

“That’s right. The president of Venezuela insisted the Amnesty International and the International Human Rights Watch, and countless non-government organizations had severe prejudices. So the UN and NATO criticized them for favoring the whites.”

“And?”

“From another perspective, the International Criminal Court wanted funding to maintain prosecutorial power over mass crimes caused by the country... but they didn’t get it.”

The International Criminal Court might sound powerful, but they had no substance. The reason is that the country with the most charges last year was the States. In contrast to the International Criminal Court, which was like a civil court, there wasn’t a single government official or civilian in the States compliant with a criminal summon. The States, which was active on the international stage, opposed the ICC, and no matter how impressive the court of justice and Interpol seems, the number of wanted criminals they caught is low.

The tycoons could do nothing either.

“Ironically, if we apply ICC’s standards, they could assume all high-ranking officials of each country are criminals.”

If an American government official imposed sanctions on a company supplying AIDS medicine, does that made him a mass murderer? Would Iraq and Africa have to arrest that American for making that mistake? The reason the States was against the ICC was that they know they were not perfect. However, the States’ justice had to be perfect.

“It’s not just the States that wants perfection. Us, China, and France want no errors taking place either.”

“But... it’s bound for people to make mistakes.”

If there were no mistakes, then they were dealing a machine.

“To be honest, I want no one finding out about our weaknesses.”

“You want global profits but you also want to handle losses individually? That’s a load of bullshit.”

“Yeah, I know.”

What’s scary was that he knew it was bullshit, but he had to say it, anyway.”

“Why are they pressuring Daesan Group?”

“So they can use the property they spread all over Central and South America and Africa.”

“Now that the person in charge of South America is gone, the under the table stuff must be finished.”

“Yeah.”

Was it too late? All that’s left was for this to spread all over the media.

“That’s what the headlines will say in the media all around the world.”

The leaders of powerful nations were only in office for a limited time, but in Central and South America, Africa, the Middle East, and South-East Asia, dictators called the shots. How should they deal with this? Since the States started multiple wars and pressured their opponents with their leading economy, they had sent assassins over numerous times. The problem was that when one died, another appeared on the throne and ridiculed the leader of the powerful nation.

So the powerful nations agreed to change their method.

“A Korean corporation’s unreasonable business expansion? Daesan Group’s astronomical bribe to the president of Venezuela or a group executive who provided illegal prostitution to the president of Tanzania? Throw in smuggling, illegal weapons trafficking, and money laundering in there too.”

The president of Venezuela and the president of Tanzania committed a tremendous amount of crimes, but there was nothing decisive enough to take them to the International Criminal Court.

“Why Daesan of all companies?”

“Because they’re well-recognized around the world while being easy to manipulate...”

Ahn Soo Ho got angry as soon as Vitali trailed off.

“Easy to manipulate?”

“There’s no country more useful than Korea these days.”

As mentioned earlier, Ahn Soo Ho could not become a patriot ever since he dropped out of the Naval Academy. But such mockery ignited a wave of anger in him nonetheless.

“Vitali.”

He still had no interest in becoming a patriot.

“I want in.”

“Hm. Aren’t you on break?”

He looked at his watch. Has it been around four days since he planned his break? It hasn’t even been 100 hours. But this was the longest break he had since he started this job. Ahn Soo Ho showed a bitter smile.

“Unfortunately, my break just ended.”

The proposition annoyed him yet it amused at the same time.

< Protect – Episode 8 – Kim Dae Gil [1] > The end.

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