Chapter 26: A New Order

The next morning.

Lee Jun-hyuk woke earlier than usual.

The cold air of dawn brushed against his cheeks.

Outside the window, the world was still shrouded in a faint blue glow.

‘Today is when it really begins.’

He plunged his face directly into cold water.

Splaaash!

A sharp chill, as if it could crack his consciousness.

He stood in front of the mirror.

Lee Jun-hyuk stared straight at himself, organizing his thoughts.

The acquisition of Escobar’s shares. This wasn’t just about a few sugar plantations or a handful of money.

This was about overturning the entire landscape of Cuba’s Sugar Industry—no, rewriting its very history.

The weight that had settled on his shoulders was now a reality.

Knock, knock.

“Mister Lee.”

With the sound of a knock, Jose entered.

Even before he spoke, the rich scent of coffee filled the room—a robust, slightly sharp aroma that awakened tension.

“You’re already up and about, I see.”

“Yes. Leonardo… he’s already here and waiting.”

“Already?”

He glanced at the wall clock.

Tick… tick…

The second hand sounded unusually loud.

It had just struck seven.

Their appointment was for eight. Leonardo really is an impatient man.

“Yes. He looked… like he had something very urgent.”

Lee Jun-hyuk quickly buttoned up his shirt.

His fingertips grew restless.

The sitting room.

Leonardo sat stiffly on the sofa, his face hard as stone.

His hands, clasped tightly on his knees, gripped each other with force. The clever and relaxed businessman from yesterday was nowhere to be seen.

“What’s going on, Leonardo?”

Lee Jun-hyuk spoke first.

His voice was as calm and cool as the dawn air.

“Delgado… has made a move.”

Leonardo spoke bluntly.

His tongue was dry and stuck to the roof of his mouth.

“Last night, he called together all the major members of Escobar’s Organization.”

“It was the sequence we expected.”

Lee Jun-hyuk lifted the coffee cup Jose had brought.

The hot liquid slid down his throat.

He forced himself to look nonchalant, but it felt as if his heart had dropped with a thud to the floor. His hand trembled, so he gripped the cup tighter.

“What exactly does he intend to do?”

“He wants to block the share acquisition. Legally, it will be difficult—Escobar’s will is firm. But…”

Leonardo lowered his voice.

His pupils wavered with unease.

“Delgado… he’s never been a man to follow common sense.”

“…He might use violence?”

“The possibility is very, very high.”

Damn.

So it’s come to this after all.

Leonardo pulled a stack of documents from inside his coat.

His fingertips were faintly trembling.

“That’s why I’ve prepared this. A list of Delgado and his faction, and… their weaknesses.”

Lee Jun-hyuk took the documents.

He felt the rustle of the paper at his fingertips. A musty ink scent rose from them.

No, the scent wasn’t important.

The contents were beyond imagination.

Smuggling, embezzlement, assault, intimidation…

These were the fatal Achilles’ heels of Delgado’s group, secrets known only to someone who’d worked as Escobar’s shadow for a decade.

How much would this stack of paper be worth?

Probably enough to buy a building in downtown Havana.

“How did you…?”

“Yesterday, there were several boxes of documents Escobar ordered to be burned.”

Leonardo gave a bitter smile.

“All the papers were destroyed. But I can’t burn what’s in my head.”

A clever man.

Truly.

“What’s Delgado’s most fatal weakness?”

“Tax evasion.”

The answer came without hesitation.

“Taxes were reported under Escobar’s name, but Delgado siphoned off a significant portion for himself. I personally kept the double ledgers.”

“Proof?”

“It’s all in my head.”

Leonardo’s eyes were burning.

“If necessary, I’ll testify in court. Even if it means risking everything.”

At that moment—

A heavy cane thudded against the floor as the door swung open and Judge Mendoza entered.

“Hoho, it seems important matters are being discussed so early in the morning.”

“Judge, you came at just the right time.”

Lee Jun-hyuk handed him the documents and quickly summarized what had happened.

The judge’s face grew increasingly stern. Deep wrinkles etched into his brow.

“Delgado… that snake of a man is certainly dangerous.”

The judge warned in a low voice.

“Five years ago, he attacked his rival Lopez. He was released due to lack of evidence, but anyone in Havana knows it was his doing.”

“We’ll have to be prepared.”

“Measures have already been taken.”

Leonardo said.

“I’ve hired every reliable bodyguard I know in Havana. Starting today, they’ll protect Mister Lee.”

“…Bodyguards, huh.”

Lee Jun-hyuk hesitated for a moment.

A life where guns and violence were commonplace—in 2020, for a Securities Firm Manager like Lee Jun-hyuk, it was just a story from the movies.

But—

“It’s necessary.”

The judge said firmly, leaving no room for argument.

“At least until the acquisition is fully completed. Until Delgado gives up.”

Just then.

“Mister Lee! Mister Lee!”

Carlos burst into the sitting room, panting for breath.

His face was flushed with excitement and alarm.

“A telegram from New York just arrived!”

“What does it say?”

“George Howard—George Howard of Standard Oil himself is coming here!”

In that instant, the atmosphere of the sitting room changed.

The true power behind the Rockefeller Group. A living legend of Wall Street.

He’s coming to Cuba himself?

“When is he arriving?”

“Tomorrow! He’ll arrive tomorrow! He says he wants to check the Escobar situation in person…”

A small smile crept onto Lee Jun-hyuk’s lips.

Not a big smile—just the slightest curl at the corner of his mouth.

But that smile carried a force that overwhelmed everything in the room.

“What timing. It’s almost uncanny.”

Lee Jun-hyuk said quietly.

“If George Howard is coming, Delgado won’t dare act recklessly.”

This is the power of American capital.

The weight of the name Rockefeller—more terrifying than any gun or blade.

“George Howard himself… coming to Cuba…”

Judge Mendoza murmured low.

Awe tinged his voice.

“This shows just how seriously Rockefeller is taking this matter.”

“That means the stakes are enormous.”

Lee Jun-hyuk explained calmly.

“Escobar’s shares amount to 35% in total. To acquire them all, we’ll need at least five million dollars.”

“Oh… five million dollars…”

Leonardo unconsciously swallowed.

Five million dollars.

An amount equal to a national annual budget—an unimaginable fortune.

What would that be worth in 2020?

Considering inflation, easily more than ten million dollars. Nearly 120 billion won.

Insane.

Truly insane.

“Do we really have that kind of capital…?”

“The investors in New York are preparing it.”

Lee Jun-hyuk replied with confidence.

In fact, five million dollars was just the minimum. Rockefeller’s financial power was beyond imagination.

“Then… how do we deal with the Delgado problem?”

Carlos still looked worried as he asked.

“For today, we must be cautious.”

Leonardo looked out the window, his eyes narrowing with vigilance.

“The bodyguards will be arriving soon. Until then—”

Bang!

Before he could finish, a heavy crash sounded outside.

It wasn’t just noise.

A violent, intimidating roar, as if the entire front gate of the plantation had been smashed down.

Everyone sprang to their feet.

“What was that?”

At that moment, Jose burst through the sitting room door, his face pale as a sheet.

“Mister Lee! Delgado! Delgado has come with his men!”

“How many?”

Lee Jun-hyuk’s question was short and sharp.

“At least ten. All of them are armed…”

Leonardo’s face turned ashen.

“Damn. Much faster than I thought.”

“Did they come through the front gate?”

“Yes! Our guards are holding them off, but they’re trying to force their way in!”

Judge Mendoza gripped his cane and stood up.

“I’ll go out and see for myself.”

“It’s dangerous, Judge!”

“I am the Chief Justice of Cuba. No matter who Delgado is, he wouldn’t dare lay a hand on me.”

His voice carried the strength of steel.

The group hurried outside.

In front of the main gate.

The air was thick with murderous intent. It felt as if the temperature had dropped several degrees.

Delgado, cigar crooked between his lips, stood with his thuggish men, facing off against the plantation guards.

“Delgado!”

Judge Mendoza called out with commanding authority.

“What is the meaning of this rude and illegal behavior!”

Delgado hesitated when he saw the judge.

But soon he plucked the cigar from his mouth and smirked arrogantly.

“Oh my, Judge—what brings you to such a shabby place?”

“It’s none of your concern where I am,”

The judge replied, his voice icy cold.

“Take your mongrel dogs and get out at once. Before I have you all arrested for unlawful entry.”

“Whoa, whoa, calm down. I’m here as President Escobar’s representative.”

Delgado pulled a crumpled document from his coat and waved it.

“I have perfectly legitimate business.”

“What business?”

Lee Jun-hyuk stepped forward.

Delgado’s snake-like eyes fixed on him.

“So you’re the one—Lee Jun-hyuk, the Oriental.”

“That’s right.”

“I hear you’re trying to snatch the president’s shares for nothing.”

Delgado said with mocking disdain.

“But it’s not going to happen.”

“Why not?”

“Because President Escobar was not in his right mind when he made that decision.”

Delgado thrust the document arrogantly in Lee Jun-hyuk’s face.

“This is the Death Certificate. It clearly states that, due to complications after a heart attack, he’s in no condition for rational judgment.”

“Lies!”

Leonardo shouted, his voice trembling with fury.

“Escobar was completely lucid yesterday!”

“And you’d know, would you?”

Delgado glared at Leonardo with contempt.

“A traitor who stabbed his master in the back.”

Tension shot up to the brink of explosion.

Delgado’s men quietly reached for the grips of their pistols.

At that moment—

Whiiit!

A sharp whistle sliced through the air.

At the same time, from beyond the wall, robust men silently surrounded Delgado’s group from behind.

Like shadows. Without a sound.

Ten men—no, twenty at least.

In an instant, the hunters had become the hunted.

Leonardo’s hired bodyguards.

“You made it just in time.”

Leonardo breathed a sigh of relief.

Delgado’s face twisted in ugliness.

The overwhelming numerical advantage vanished in the blink of an eye.

“For today… we’ll withdraw.”

Delgado ground his teeth as he spoke.

“But don’t think this is over. See you in court, Lee Jun-hyuk.”

After Delgado and his group vanished in a flurry, the taut tension began to ease.

“Thank you.”

Lee Jun-hyuk approached the man who appeared to be the leader of the bodyguards.

The man bowed.

“I am Miguel Santos. Sent at Mr. Leonardo’s request.”

“Miguel Santos?”

It was a name Lee Jun-hyuk had heard somewhere.

He searched his memory.

…Ah.

“Are you, by any chance, related to Government Special Investigator Santos who searched the plantation recently…?”

“We’re cousins.”

Miguel smiled wryly.

“But I’m not like him. I do the job I’m paid for—honestly and thoroughly.”

His eyes weren’t lying.

Back in the office, the group discussed their next steps.

Outside, the sky had turned an ominous shade of red.

“If Delgado takes this to court, things will get very complicated.”

Judge Mendoza’s voice was filled with concern.

“The Death Certificate—that’s what bothers me the most.”

“You think it’s been forged?”

Carlos asked.

“It’s very possible.”

Leonardo agreed.

“Delgado is the kind of man who can buy doctors, judges, anyone he wants.”

Lee Jun-hyuk fell into thought.

Knowing the future and solving the problem right in front of you were two very different things.

Unexpected situations. Filthy variables like these.

“I’ll have to meet with Escobar again.”

Lee Jun-hyuk made up his mind.

“If he states his intentions personally, Delgado will have nothing more to say.”

“I’ll contact him immediately.”

Leonardo stood up.

An hour later, Leonardo returned.

“He’s available for a visit—at three o’clock this afternoon. But… they say his condition is much worse than yesterday.”

“Then we’d better hurry.”

Judge Mendoza gathered the documents.

“Let’s take the Succession Agreement with us. It’s best to get his signature today, right there on the spot.”

The road to the hospital was one long stretch of tension.

The carriage took a different route than usual, and Miguel and the bodyguards kept vigilant eyes on their surroundings at all times.

Lee Jun-hyuk gazed out the window, thinking.

This was the calm before a great storm.

The moment they entered the hospital room, the smell of antiseptic hit their noses.

The bed by the window.

Escobar, lying there, looked much smaller and frailer than two days before.

A mighty tree withering away.

“You’ve come…”

Escobar opened his eyes with difficulty.

“Delgado… came this morning and caused a commotion… That bastard…”

“We don’t have much time, so let’s get to the point.”

Judge Mendoza pulled out the Succession Agreement.

“Hand me… the pen.”

With trembling hands, Escobar took the pen.

In the dim light of his eyes, the last spark of pride flared up.

“With my own hand… I’ll sign it myself. This… is the last great decision of my life.”

Scratch, scratch.

The sound of the pen moving across paper filled the room.

At last, the signature was complete.

“It’s… truly over now.”

Escobar let the pen fall from his hand.

With a small thud, a strange peace settled over his face.

“I have… one last request for you.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“Don’t come to my funeral. People will misunderstand. If they know former enemies made peace, you’ll have trouble too.”

Lee Jun-hyuk left the hospital room with a heavy heart.

A giant of an era fading away. A strange reconciliation with a former foe.

The cold calculations of business, and the tangled warmth of human emotion, mingled in his mind.

By the time they arrived safely back at the plantation, night had already fallen.

Then, Carlos burst into the office more excited than ever before.

“Mister Lee! Just now! Another telegram from New York!”

“From George?”

“Yes! He’s arriving at Havana Port tomorrow at 11 a.m.! And…”

Carlos scanned the telegram again, his eyes growing wide.

His voice trembled with awe.

“There’s someone coming with him… The name is William! William Vanderbilt!”

Vanderbilt.

The king of American shipping.

The stakes were about to rise once again.