Chapter 18: An Unexpected Alliance

The next day at dawn.

Lee Jun-hyuk stayed up almost sleepless through the night.

On the desk lay the inspection results from the previous night.

Fortunately, no suspicious items had been found.

But it was too early to feel relieved.

Knock knock.

“Come in.”

It was an unexpected visitor.

Sanchez.

He seemed to have arrived earlier than usual.

“I need to talk to you for a moment.”

His expression was grave.

“I managed to make contact last night. One of the secretary officials at the Governor-General’s Office says he can provide some information.”

“Can we trust them?”

“I helped him ten years ago. He still remembers the debt.”

Sanchez handed over a sheet of paper.

“What’s this?”

“It’s the list the Governor-General’s Office is preparing. The list of people to be arrested.”

Lee Jun-hyuk examined the list carefully.

Surprisingly, his own name was not on it.

Instead, the names of key figures like Miguel, Pablo, and Ramon were there.

“So, they’re trying to bypass me and go after those around me first.”

“That’s right. And,”

Sanchez lowered his voice.

“Escobar is also making a move. They gave us five days, but they’re applying pressure behind the scenes.”

“What kind of pressure?”

“They’re putting pressure on the sugarcane buyers. Telling them not to do business with you.”

It was the last straw.

Both the Governor-General’s Office and Escobar were squeezing from different directions.

The noose was tightening by the day.

“Sanchez.”

“Yes?”

“Why are you helping me so much?”

Sanchez was silent for a moment.

He looked out the window and then spoke slowly.

“When I went home yesterday, my daughter was crying. At school, her friends called her father a traitor.”

He sighed deeply.

“That’s when I realized. The bridge back is already cut off. So then…”

Sanchez looked Lee Jun-hyuk in the eye.

“Why not take this new bridge and go all the way? If you win, I live. If you lose, I’m finished too.”

A heavy confession.

“Don’t you regret it?”

“It’s a decision I made when I sold the farm.”

At that moment, hurried footsteps sounded outside.

“Mister Lee!”

Carlos rushed in.

“It’s a telegram! An urgent telegram from New York!”

Lee Jun-hyuk took the telegram and read it.

The message was brief.

The timing was perfect.

“When did it arrive?”

“Just now.”

Lee Jun-hyuk quickly calculated.

Three days by ship to New York.

Six days round trip — that would be past Escobar’s deadline.

But there was no other choice.

“I’ll pack.”

“Leaving now?”

Sanchez was surprised.

“Yes. I have to catch the afternoon ship.”

“But then the farm will—”

“I’ll entrust it.”

Lee Jun-hyuk looked at the two men in turn.

“Sanchez, Jose, manage the farm together.”

Sanchez’s eyes widened.

He couldn’t believe Lee Jun-hyuk was entrusting him with everything.

“You trust me?”

“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t hand it over.”

Lee Jun-hyuk pulled out a seal from his sleeve.

“Use this if necessary. But only in an emergency.”

Two hours later, Lee Jun-hyuk boarded the carriage.

It was the way to Havana Port.

Jose, Miguel, and Ramon came to see him off.

“Please be careful.”

Jose said with a worried expression.

“We will take good care of the farm.”

“I trust you.”

Lee Jun-hyuk looked at Sanchez.

“Please, Sanchez.”

Sanchez nodded silently.

Leaving everything to a former enemy felt strange.

But sometimes dangerous gambles are necessary.

And there was no other option.

The carriage set off.

Watching the farm grow smaller in the distance, Lee Jun-hyuk lost himself in thought.

“Who is the person James Morgan said I would meet?”

***

Havana Port was bustling.

The passenger ship to New York, the Santa Maria, was docked.

It was a large steamship.

A massive vessel that could carry over 500 passengers.

“I need to buy a ticket.”

Lee Jun-hyuk headed to the ticket office.

“One first-class ticket to New York, please.”

“Sorry, first class is fully booked.”

The clerk wore an apologetic expression.

“Second class has very few seats left.”

At that moment, a familiar voice called from behind.

“This man is coming with me.”

Turning around, it was Leonardo.

Escobar’s secretary smiled as he stood there.

“So we meet again, Mister Lee.”

“Leonardo…”

“Too dramatic to call it coincidence, right?”

He showed something to the clerk.

“Please give us a special room key.”

“Understood, sir.”

The clerk hurriedly handed over the key.

Leonardo looked at Lee Jun-hyuk.

“Come along. We’ll be at sea for three days. It’ll get boring if you’re alone.”

It was a situation difficult to refuse.

Besides, Leonardo’s intentions were curious.

“Thank you.”

Once on board, the special room was on a different level from the regular cabins.

It was like a hotel suite with a private balcony.

“Make yourself comfortable.”

Leonardo sat on the sofa.

“It was empty anyway.”

“Why are you going to New York?”

“It’s Escobar’s orders. To check where you are and who you meet.”

A frank answer.

“Are you sure you can say that so openly?”

“There’s no reason to hide it. You’d find out anyway.”

Leonardo pulled out a cigarette.

“I have a question. Are you really planning to reject Escobar’s proposal?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“That’s a lie.”

Leonardo exhaled smoke.

“I think you’ve already decided. Going to New York itself is a risk, isn’t it?”

A sharp observation.

“Then why help me?”

“I’m not helping. I’m watching.”

Leonardo stood and went out to the balcony.

“I want to know what kind of person you are. A 25-year-old young Asian man daring to stand against Escobar.”

The ship sailed on.

The port grew smaller.

The blue sea stretched endlessly.

“Three days until New York.”

Leonardo gazed at the horizon.

“I’ll be a good travel companion until then.”

A strange companionship.

Traveling with the enemy’s subordinate.

But maybe this too was an opportunity.

A chance to understand Leonardo.

And to grasp Escobar’s true intentions.

***

The first night.

They dined at the ship’s onboard restaurant.

Leonardo ordered wine.

A fine French wine.

“To our health.”

“For what reason?”

“For an uncertain future.”

The clink of glasses echoed.

Lee Jun-hyuk took a sip.

A bitter and sharp taste spread in his mouth.

“Why did Mister Lee come to Cuba?”

Leonardo asked.

“To make money.”

“Is that all?”

“Isn’t that enough reason?”

Leonardo laughed.

“For ordinary people, maybe. But you’re not ordinary.”

“Flattering me.”

“Am I?”

Leonardo slowly swirled the wine in his glass.

The red liquid danced within.

“Someone who acquires three plantations in just three months, while standing against the Governor-General’s Office and Escobar simultaneously—are they ordinary?”

“Just lucky.”

“Again with that.”

Leonardo sighed shortly.

“Escobar was the same at first. Thirty years ago, when he came to Cuba from Spain, all he had was a fishing bag.”

An intriguing story.

“So how…?”

“Principle. And timing.”

Leonardo looked out the window.

Moonlight bathed the sea.

“He acted as if he already knew the sugar price would rise. Bought land in advance, gathered people, prepared.”

Lee Jun-hyuk’s heart raced.

Sugar price.

Leonardo mentioned it.

“Do you still think the price will rise?”

“Yes.”

Leonardo shrugged.

“There are opinions that demand will decrease now that the war is over. But…”

He looked at Lee Jun-hyuk.

“You seem to think differently?”

It might have been a bluff.

But Lee Jun-hyuk instinctively felt Leonardo knew something.

“Europe’s reconstruction will begin.”

Lee Jun-hyuk spoke cautiously.

“Then sugar demand will explode.”

“Interesting point.”

Leonardo drank his wine.

“But that alone isn’t enough. Even if demand exists, prices won’t rise if supply keeps up.”

“What if there’s a supply problem?”

“What problem?”

Lee Jun-hyuk hesitated briefly.

Then made up his mind.

Sometimes you have to take risks.

“Sugar production in Java will sharply decline.”

Leonardo’s hand froze.

He stiffened, holding his wine glass.

“Go on.”

“The political situation in the Netherlands East Indies is unstable. There are also reports of pests and diseases.”

“Where did you get that information…?”

“That’s not important right now.”

Lee Jun-hyuk looked Leonardo squarely in the eyes.

“The real point is that Cuba will become the center of the world sugar supply.”

A long silence followed.

Leonardo slowly put down his glass.

“Mister Lee.”

His voice changed.

The playfulness vanished, leaving only seriousness.

“If you’re right… and if that really happens… Cuba will be like mining gold.”

“And Escobar will be the king of that gold.”

Leonardo leaned back in his chair.

“But why tell me all this? I’m Escobar’s man.”

“I know.”

Lee Jun-hyuk smiled.

“But there are no eternal enemies or allies.”

Leonardo’s eyes shifted.

“That’s a dangerous thing to say.”

“If you wanted to avoid danger, you’d just keep farming.”

Lee Jun-hyuk put down his glass.

“Leonardo, you’re smart. You’re Escobar’s loyal subordinate, but at the same time, you’re thinking about your own future.”

“So?”

“I want to give you a choice.”

Leonardo smirked.

“Do you think I’d betray the man I’ve served for ten years?”

“It’s not betrayal. It’s insurance.”

Lee Jun-hyuk leaned forward.

“What happens if Escobar monopolizes everything? Manipulating prices, squeezing producers, and eventually the market collapses.”

“That can’t happen!”

“On the other hand, if there’s competition, the market stays healthy. Escobar profits more too.”

Leonardo fell silent.

Lee Jun-hyuk could see calculations running through his mind.

“Interesting logic. But Escobar doesn’t tolerate competitors.”

“That’s why he needs someone like you.”

Lee Jun-hyuk whispered.

“Someone who can maintain just enough tension to prevent disaster.”

Traditional Cuban music played in the restaurant.

The lively rhythm softened the heavy atmosphere.

“Let’s continue this tomorrow.”

Leonardo stood.

“You’ve told me too much today. We need time to process it.”

Lee Jun-hyuk stood with him.

“Good night.”

After Leonardo left, Lee Jun-hyuk slowly went out onto the deck.

The night sea was calm.

Stars filled the sky.

“The seed is sown.”

Now all that remained was to wait.

Having someone like Leonardo could be a great help.

If they could create a crack inside Escobar’s organization.

“Won’t you dance?”

A voice came from behind.

Turning around, a young woman stood there.

She looked to be in her early twenties, dressed in an elegant dress.

“I’m fine.”

“You’re Asian. That’s rare.”

The woman came to his side.

“I’m Katherine Morgan.”

Lee Jun-hyuk’s eyes widened for a moment.

Morgan?

“Could it be…”

“Yes. I’m James Morgan’s granddaughter.”

Katherine smiled.

“My grandfather is waiting in New York. He sent me as a surprise gift.”

Lee Jun-hyuk was speechless.

James Morgan sent his granddaughter?

In this way?

“Surprised?”

“Honestly, yes.”

“That’s how grandfather is. He says you’re always tense and that you need someone to make you comfortable.”

Katherine looked out at the sea.

“So I volunteered. Honestly, I wanted to see Cuba too, and I was curious about the person grandfather trusts so much.”

It felt like a twist of fate.

Escobar’s subordinate and Morgan’s granddaughter.

Enemy and ally aboard the same ship.

“Please take good care of me, Mister Lee.”

Katherine held out her hand.

“And don’t worry. I’m not the only one grandfather prepared.”

“What do you mean…?”

“You’ll see when we arrive in New York.”

Katherine winked and returned to her cabin.

Lee Jun-hyuk was alone again.

A lonely ship at sea.

But now, he was no longer alone.

Many people moved behind the scenes.

And in three days, everything would be decided.