Chapter 52: I Can’t Believe This!

I sat with my mother in the garden of the Hyeonmu Hotel, waiting for the fireworks to begin.

My mother murmured in admiration.

“Look at this garden. They must’ve put so much care into it. The twinkling colors are just beautiful.”

In the center of the garden stood a massive Christmas tree, wrapped in multicolored lights and sparkling brightly.

Big and small lights illuminated the garden trees.

Walking along the well-paved paths felt rather charming.

“Wow, something smells delicious! Jeonghyeok, should we go over there?”

“The chefs are grilling skewers.”

In one corner of the garden, the hotel’s head chef had fired up a barbecue grill, enthusiastically grilling skewers to serve to the guests.

There was quite a variety: chicken skewers, heart skewers, beef cube skewers—even marshmallow skewers.

Pop!

A firework soared into the dark night sky, leaving a long tail before bursting with a bang.

The fireworks had started.

My mother gazed up at the sky in a daze.

Pop! Pop-pop-pop! Pop!

Colorful fireworks filled the sky with their hues.

This was the pride of Hyeonmu Chemicals’ pyrotechnic technology.

‘Hyeonmu Chemicals’ fireworks really are a sight. No wonder they’re Korea’s number one defense company.’

Hyeonmu Chemicals was the second in Asia—after Japan—to successfully extract glycerin on its own.

Before that, Korea had to rely entirely on imported explosives.

But thanks to Hyeonmu Chemicals, explosives could now be produced domestically.

Their explosives were used widely in tunnel construction and civil engineering, and were set to play a key role in the subway Line 2 project as well.

“Wow, it’s so pretty.”

My mother smiled brightly, as delighted as a young girl.

The colorful fireworks reflected in her eyes looked like jewels stitched onto a tapestry.

So I held my mother’s hand and smiled too.

“Yes, it’s really beautiful.”

I don’t have any memories of watching fireworks with my mother as a child.

To me, fireworks weren’t a festival’s celebratory explosion to be shared with family, friends, or a lover.

Having grown up wandering the back alleys, such moments were never allowed to me—they were like the sparklers that the Little Match Girl would light with her unsold matches on Christmas Eve.

At firework festivals, I’d sell food or clean up the trash people left behind for money.

Too busy eyeing people’s wallets, picking up garbage, keeping my eyes on the ground.

Not once had I ever stood up straight and watched the fireworks, lost in the moment.

“I really like this. Watching fireworks with you, Mom. I hope we can do this again.”

Oh no.

Joy and bitterness mixed in my voice and slipped out before I realized it.

My mother wrapped her arms around me.

“Jeonghyeok, are you upset because your father isn’t here?”

“No.”

“He was too busy to join us today, but next time, let’s nag him to come with us and watch the fireworks together. How about it?”

“Okay.”

“Then, no sulking. Promise~”

My mother smiled and held out her pinky finger to me.

I stared at her pinky for a moment, then let out a small laugh.

“Promise.”

Honestly, I trust documents more than words, and a stamped thumbprint more than a pinky swear.

But there’s no refusing my mother’s pinky promise.

I linked my pinky with hers and pressed my thumb down firmly.

“It’s a secret, but… I also hoped we could watch the fireworks with your father. I really wanted that too. Did you feel the same, Jeonghyeok?”

She gently patted my head.

“But you saw it too, didn’t you? Earlier, your grandpa and dad both worked so hard for us.”

“Yes.”

“That’s why your dad is so busy. So let’s just understand, just for today. Okay?”

“Yes.”

I know.

Father must be extremely busy right now.

In fact, I’d sent Secretary Kim to bring Father to Gu the Mayor.

“Mom, let’s stay overnight at the Hyeonmu Hotel today.”

“Huh?”

“Dad gave me this earlier. He said he booked a room for us so we could rest comfortably.”

I handed her the slip of paper Father had given me with our room number on it.

“Dad said he’d be really busy tonight.”

He might have to stay up all night working.

Depending on how fired up Gu the Mayor gets after seeing the subway map Father brought, Father’s plans for the night will be decided.

“Let’s not worry while we wait for Dad—let’s just go to sleep first.”

“Alright. My legs are tired anyway, and I’m exhausted. Thanks to your dad, I get to sleep in such a nice hotel. This is wonderful~”

Mother beamed.

Pop! Pop-pop-pop! Pop!

The fireworks bursting in the night sky were truly spectacular.

‘Hey, Guardian Spirit.’

[Hmm, truly beautiful.]

The Grim Reaper stood beside me, hands behind his back, gazing up at the night sky.

He murmured softly in admiration.

[To think mortal pyrotechnics have advanced this much. How do they launch such vibrant and dazzling fireworks? I can sense the lingering sorrow of the bereaved.]

He turned his back to me and asked,

[So, where am I to go?]

How beautiful is the back of someone who knows precisely when it’s time to leave?

‘Gu the Mayor.’

[Be right back.]

---

Gu the Mayor remained in the hall where the year-end party was taking place, chatting with ruling and opposition lawmakers.

“Mayor Gu, let’s step out for a bit and catch the fireworks.”

“Chairman Oh of Hyeonmu Hotel went all out to prepare this show. It’d be a shame to leave without seeing it.”

The ruling party lawmakers left the hall with champagne glasses in hand.

Now, only Gu the Mayor and Chairman Oh of Hyeonmu Construction were left.

They clinked their champagne glasses lightly.

Chairman Oh spoke.

“Now that it’s just the two of us, why don’t you show me?”

“Show you what?”

“Oh, come now. The subway Line 2 map you brought. Let me take a little peek.”

“Tsk, that won’t do. You know it’s strictly confidential.”

“You sure made it look like you’d show us earlier. Was all that just for show?”

“Well, it wasn’t a lie.”

Gu the Mayor turned his head.

Since he was near the terrace, he could see the garden through the glass.

“Chairman Oh, what do you think? About the Line 2 subway construction. Between U-Gwang and Taeseong, who do you think is better equipped for the job?”

“Taeseong, of course. In every way, Taeseong is far ahead of U-Gwang. What’s there to ask?”

Chairman Oh laughed.

“The bidding was neck-and-neck, but lately the scales tipped sharply toward Taeseong.”

“Ever since Cha Seongjun returned from abroad, you mean. Hm.”

“Why the dissatisfied look, Mayor?”

“The company is too big for such a young president to run. Especially a massive project like Line 2.”

Gu the Mayor said flatly,

“I heard Chairman Cha purged almost all the executives at Taeseong Construction.”

“So I heard. It was recent.”

“And the Line 2 bid is less than a month away.”

That was why Gu the Mayor looked displeased.

“If they’d appointed even a president from another affiliate, I could understand. But to put such a green kid in charge of a construction company—doesn’t that just mean they’re giving up on the project? Chairman Cha is being too arrogant.”

“You don’t know Chairman Cha. He wouldn’t give up the Line 2 project so easily.”

Chairman Oh shook his head.

“Frankly, I think purging the former president Cha Yunseong and all those incompetent executives was a masterstroke. That young man is a lot more capable than he looks.”

“Capable? What’s a youngster like him going to pull off?”

“Did I ever tell you how I got the Suseo District apartment land? Or why underworld financiers started showing up here?”

“Wait, where? Suseo District?”

Gu the Mayor turned in surprise.

Chairman Oh blinked at his uncharacteristic reaction.

“What’s wrong all of a sudden?”

“What a coincidence. I just came from stamping the paperwork to put the Suseo District development on hold indefinitely.”

“What?”

“Expansion of development-restricted and permit trading zones. You know? That means no construction permits will be issued for Suseo District for several years.”

“H-how could that happen…!”

Chairman Oh looked like he’d been struck by lightning out of a clear blue sky.

“You never said anything! The land’s already been approved for apartment construction—!”

“Zoning and building permits are different things. Unfortunate, isn’t it?”

“No!”

Chairman Oh staggered.

“How… how did this suddenly happen…!”

“You must’ve known. The real estate market’s been overheated, and there’s been a lot of talk at the top. You really didn’t know real estate restrictions were coming?”

“I knew! But I didn’t expect Suseo District to be hit!”

Chairman Oh trembled with rage.

“Don’t tell me Taeseong knew about this and set me up on purpose…”

“No, I don’t think so.”

Gu the Mayor cut him off.

“The paperwork that came in for approval today was originally for Sindorim District. But the Line 2 subway is going through there.”

“What?”

Gu the Mayor tapped the breast of his jacket where the map was tucked away.

“With less than a month until the Line 2 bid and a project worth 180 billion won on the line, it’s easier to change a development-restricted zone than to change the entire subway route. Don’t you think?”

“T-this can’t be!”

“Even the city planning chief was clutching his neck in shock—just like you are now.”

Gu the Mayor patted Chairman Oh’s shoulder.

“Nothing to be done. The paperwork is stamped and it’s final. So give up this time.”

“No! Can’t you rescind the approval somehow? Stamp it again? Just this once, please!”

At that moment—

“Mayor Gu.”

Secretary Kim and my father strode over.

Gu the Mayor turned away from Chairman Oh to face my father.

“So, what is it? Is there something else you’re curious about?”

“No, sir. I’ve brought the Line 2 subway map.”

Gu the Mayor’s eyes went wide.

“What? Are you playing games with me?”

“Not at all.”

Gu the Mayor checked his watch.

“It’s not even thirty minutes since you accepted my proposal. And what? You already drew up a map for Line 2?”

His displeasure was plain as day.

“I told you to decide carefully. I gave you a week. If you squander this opportunity in haste, you’ll regret it later.”

His eyes were cold.

“Even if I promised bonus points and no penalty, you can’t just throw something together like this. Is this Taeseong’s attitude?”

He even snorted openly.

“Sounds to me like you don’t want the hassle and are just giving up the bonus points early.”

“That’s not it. I came all this way just to make an impression, Mayor Gu. How could I waste such a golden opportunity?”

At my father’s signal, Secretary Kim presented a neatly folded, high-end gift map.

“Please, take a look at this before you say anything more.”

“Alright.”

Gu the Mayor took the map without complaint.

“Looks like a brand new, high-end gift map. Well, let’s see… Gasp!”

Upon unfolding the map, Gu the Mayor couldn’t hide his shock.

His stunned expression was unmistakable.

For someone as seasoned as Gu the Mayor, who’d played politics for years and learned to hide his thoughts and feelings, it was an uncharacteristic reaction.

“T-this can’t be!”

He fumbled in panic, searching his coat.

What he produced was another neatly folded map.

“Taeseong drew this? In less than thirty minutes?”

His hands trembled as he held the map.

“This is Taeseong’s vision for subway Line 2…!”

He spread both maps out.

The two maps were different in size, but the station locations matched.

On Taeseong’s map, the Line 2 route was marked in red pen; on Gu the Mayor’s, it was in black pencil.

“How is this possible?”

Is there truly another who dreams the same dream as me under this sky?

Gu the Mayor’s eyes darted rapidly between the two maps.

“Taeseong identified almost all forty-three stations I planned for the line! This is unbelievable…!”

Since the station locations were nearly identical, the Line 2 routes were bound to look similar as well.

“Wait! No, there’s one thing—one major difference from my plan!”

Gu the Mayor focused on a location marked with a star.

“Why did Taeseong choose Sindorim, not Yeongdeungpo, as the Line 1 transfer station? I think Yeongdeungpo would be better.”

“Yeongdeungpo Station already has Line 1 running beneath it. With Korea’s current civil engineering technology, tunneling through the underground of an existing station is nearly impossible.”

“Oh!”

Gu the Mayor’s eyes widened.

But it was too soon for him to be surprised.

The map I’d delivered to Father through Secretary Kim wasn’t the only gift for Gu the Mayor.

There were more maps to hand over yet.