Chapter 98: The Gifted Blade

[Wow!]

The grim reaper clasped his hands together and shouted.

[I can actually watch past dramas again! This is a miracle!]

The Grim Reaper’s eyes sparkled.

[It’s just like the Great King turning back time!]

The grim reaper hugged the television in excitement.

Even so, the television screen was still visible beyond the transparent body.

[From now on, you are my treasure number 1, you are my treasure number 2!]

The grim reaper caressed the Philips VCR.

It was to wipe away every speck of dust with a black robe.

Even so, the transparent sleeves just passed through.

‘What are all these daily soap operas?’

I shook my head.

‘Is it that good?’

[Of course. It’s so good!]

The grim reaper burst into laughter again and again.

[Is there anything special about life? The best thing is to accumulate small happiness.]

Is laughter contagious?

I found myself smiling without realizing it.

‘Small happiness.’

[For example, you meet your parents again after losing them at a young age, and you sit in a corner of the room with your back to them and pick bean sprouts?]

‘······.’

[Looking back, you’ve truly enjoyed peaceful and luxurious days. Unlike the past.]

Yeah, you said it well!

‘Who was it that made me look like a traitor in the past?’

[······.]

‘I lost my parents at an early age, had an accident, and was abandoned in a back alley from the age of seven. I lived a miserable and hard life!’

[······.]

‘scourge?’

The Grim Reaper, who was already on his knees, spoke while trembling and pointing to the VCR.

[Hey, I’ll offer this up, so can you please look after it?]

Are you going to give up Treasure #2?

[If that’s not enough, I can offer this······.]

The grim reaper even pointed at the television, which was said to be treasure number one, with an expression on his face that looked like he was about to cry.

I chuckled.

‘I took care of it. Put the treasures away. They’re yours.’

[What a great man!]

The grim reaper clasped his hands together with a moved expression.

[That is why the King said that he had a soul that shined like a jewel. A person who received divine punishment but still managed to buy a ticket to heaven with his own strength. Indeed······!]

The grim reaper suddenly stood up.

[Even so, when I went to the underworld to investigate the crime of the gasoline in Bulkwang-dong this time, I obtained some very important information! This person must······!]

Ding dong. Ding dong ding dong.

It was the doorbell of our house.

Yoo Jong-tae, my quick-witted bodyguard and self-appointed right-hand man, ran over and reported.

“Secretary Kim has arrived.”

I was waiting anyway.

But I was also curious about what the Grim Reaper said.

[Don’t worry about the affairs of the underworld, I will take care of them. Then I will finish the drama······.]

Yoo Jong-tae reported.

“But something seems a bit strange.”

“What’s strange?”

“He said he came not to offer bribes as usual, but to gratefully accept gifts.”

Yoo Jong-tae came closer and whispered softly.

“Secretary Kim is not the type of person to come running like this for just any gift. May I ask what kind of gift it is? Of course, I, Yoo Jong-tae, am a man who prioritizes trust over curiosity······.”

“Is this a death list to be sent to the Blue House?”

“Have a nice time.”

Yoo Jong-tae bowed and ran away without looking back.

As expected, you’re quick-witted.

If someone as incompetent as Yoo Jong-tae had volunteered to be an errand boy, the chief of security at the Blue House might have been captured and buried in a mountain somewhere, leaving only his head exposed.

I like a guy who takes care of his own life!

* * *

Secretary Kim went straight to my room.

“Your Majesty, have you seen the breaking news?”

It was a breaking news story showing the presidents of Woo Kwang affiliates being dragged out of Chairman Woo Kwang Kim’s residence.

“It seems that Chairman Kim of Wookwang has taken this opportunity to start a large-scale purge.”

Secretary Kim’s expression was quite serious.

“It was an exquisite move. He intended to divert public attention by sacrificing the heads of affiliated companies and then get out.”

“Would you be happy if I just did that?”

“Yes? But, Master, right now, there is no other way for Woo-Gwang to escape······.”

“No matter how much you point the finger at the presidents of Wookwang affiliates, the fact that Wookwang is the problem won’t change.”

“······you’re right.”

“Since he has already been stamped out by the Blue House, Chairman Kim of Woo Kwang will want to put up a more solid shield.”

“The only thing that the Blue House fears is public sentiment. If the public has turned its back on Woo Kwang, what reliable shield can Woo Kwang put up?”

“It’s Taesung.”

Secretary Kim’s expression hardened for a moment.

“Woo-kwang believes in the saying, ‘Tae-sung is 5th in the business world, and Woo-kwang is 9th.’”

“Our Taesung and Wookwang’s engagement has already been broken. Why should Taesung stand with Wookwang and receive the glares? There is no need for that.”

“So Woo-kwang will probably hang on and bite me until he dies. What else can he do to survive?”

“no way······!”

As expected from Secretary Kim!

He was a man who could get to the heart of something with just one word.

“Are you saying that you will use the string called Taesung Chemical?”

“There is a contract, right? What if Taesung accuses Grandpa of plotting this to steal Wookwang Chemical and Wookwang Securities?”

“Are you saying that you intend to drag the Chairman into the gutter of Woo-kwang?”

“If Woo-kwang were alone, it would be fine, but if Tae-seong is tied up as well, one axis of the national economy would collapse. The Blue House would have no choice but to turn a blind eye.”

“Tae-sung has nothing to do with the Woo-kwang fire. We cannot tolerate even a single suspicion. He has no reason to fall out of favor with the Blue House when he has committed no crime, and he has no reason to be beaten up along with Woo-kwang!”

“When did the Blue House ever consider whether someone was guilty or not? From the moment you start to be suspected, from the moment you start to offend, you fall out of favor with the Blue House.”

That’s the picture Chairman Kim is aiming for.

Secretary Kim’s eyes became cold and heavy.

“I think I now understand why you decided to use the bribery ledger of Woo Kwang Construction.”

To prevent the light from hanging on, we need to cut it off from this side first.

Instead of taking off his coat, Secretary Kim handed over an envelope of documents.


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“These are copies. This one is a compilation of the political enemies of the Chief of Staff to the President, and the other one is a compilation of the political enemies of the Chief of Security to the President.”

I took the documents out of the envelope.

It was a pile of papers the color of shit.

Among them, one name in particular stood out.

‘Seomun Market!’

Seo Moon-cheol, an agent of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Inspector General’s Office.

He was the one who took Mr. Cheol-gu to the torture room in the glimpsed future and tortured him, and he was the one who tried to get the gasoline from Bulkwang-dong at Woo-kwang’s instigation.

‘Yeah, if you’re that loyal to Woo-kwang, how much would you have received in return? It’s even stranger that you’re not on the list of bribe recipients at Woo-kwang Construction.’

Now that I look at it, it seems like they were trying to murder Mr. Cheol-gu because my name was on the bribery ledger of Woo Kwang Construction!

The director of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Inspectorate, Seo Moon-cheol’s superior, was also there.

This is really great.

“Secretary Kim, these guys should both be put in.”

“Yes. They are the ones who have already been involved in both sides. We are going to use this opportunity to blow away Woo Kwang’s lackeys with the sword of the Blue House.”

“Very good.”

Murder by borrowing a knife

I’m telling you, this is a saying that I really like.

I couldn’t hide my pleased smile as I moved on to the next list.

‘uh?’

I was surprised.

I found something golden among the murky, shit-colored documents.

‘It’s not just gold… It’s the first time I’ve seen such an ominous, rippling red.’

The colors were mixed.

‘Whose document is this? ······This.’

I never thought that Lee Ja would be among the people who took bribes from Woo Kwang Construction.

‘Army Security Command Commander.’

A man who is the closest aide of the current president who took power through a military coup to keep the army in check, and who holds information about the military in his hands.

An ambitious man who took advantage of the paralysis of the Central Intelligence Agency due to the fact that the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency was identified as the culprit in the assassination of the President, and used that as a basis to successfully stage another military coup.

“He is the fourth most powerful person in the current administration. He is one of the four pillars that support the owner of the Blue House, and his influence and trust are also great.”

I never thought this name would pop up on the list of political enemies of the Chief of Security at the Blue House.

‘Well, it would have taken a lot of bribes to line the pockets of the Army Ilsimhoe’s subordinates. There would have been no need to refuse Woo Gwang’s support.’

It’s a golden document.

I just took out the Army Security Commander’s documents.

‘Let’s put this on hold for now.’

The following documents have been verified.

‘her······!’

This one too had a golden hue mixed with a pitch-black hue that was beyond compare.

‘The colors are mixed here too. Who is this?’

I took out the documents and checked the name.

This time, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency suddenly appeared.

“He is also a real power among the real powers. The current rank of the Central Command Chief is third. It is one level higher than the Commander of the Army Security Command.”

I also took out the documents of the Central Government and looked through them.

“Hmm.”

I placed two documents side by side on the floor.

One side is gold with red, the other side is gold with black.

‘Considering his power and influence, he is truly a giant among giants who should never be touched.’

If they are the political enemies of the Chief of Security Service of the Blue House, who is the number two in command, they cannot be petty people.

The Army Security Commander, ranked 4th in the hierarchy, and the Central Intelligence Agency Commander, ranked 3rd in the hierarchy.

That was the reason why I kept thinking hard, even crossing my arms.

“If all of these are taken out, there will be nothing left. The head of the Blue House security service will not be interested in a bribe ledger that only catches a few small things.”

“you’re right.”

I had to make a decision.

Who should be put under the blade of purge?

“Secretary Kim, if this bribery ledger were to enter the Blue House, would you purge him just because his aides received a few pennies?”

I don’t know who owns this Blue House because I have no previous contact with them.

I died when I was young, so how could I have gotten involved?

What I read about him were just stories told in history, and even those were probably anecdotes or achievements selected to suit the regime’s taste.

I would rather hear the opinion of Secretary Kim, who actually saw and experienced him.

“Are you a great man who would make the bold decision to cut off a hand and foot without even a hint of betrayal or a plot to commit treason?”

“Well, how could I possibly guess what the owner of the Blue House is thinking?”

I can’t imagine how deep the emotional rift is between them, how tangled the grudges are.

“He is a man who is best left untouched. His obsession with hierarchy and power is terrifying.”

He was the kind of person who would make ministers stand up against a wall and prove their qualifications even when they were just having a drink in private.

“For that reason, I compiled the list by paying attention to the interests of the Chief of Security and the Chief of Staff of the Blue House.”

Secretary Kim’s words became more subtle.

“No matter how great a person is, not all of their ears are open.”

That was a valid point.

The arms are bent inward, and the eyes and ears are covered by the entourage. For the sake of personal desires.

So I became more worried.

Tick ​​tock, time has passed so quickly.

“If you look good to those in power, you will gain a lot, but if you look bad, you can fall into the abyss in an instant.”

Like a halo.

“The list of bribe recipients from Wookwang Construction will be transformed into a list of political opponents to be purged.”

Because it’s a gift sent that way.

“If the Chief of Security at the Blue House doesn’t move the owner of the Blue House to get rid of them right away, Taesung may have to bear the consequences.”

Secretary Kim opened her mouth to ease my worries.

“Your Majesty, every New Year, the Blue House invites key figures from all walks of life to report to and discuss with them.”

“Are you talking about the New Year’s luncheon?”

“If the New Year’s luncheon is what politicians attend, then for key figures in the military and the central government, there is a New Year’s report meeting.”

oh!

“The Army Security Commander will also head to the Blue House soon to report the Army’s information. Maybe tomorrow or the day after.”

Secretary Kim added.

“The director of the Central Intelligence Agency, who controls domestic and foreign information, is also scheduled to attend the same event.”

As expected from Secretary Kim!

Secretary Kim’s words brought an end to my long and heavy worries.

Secretary Kim quietly exclaimed in admiration.

“As expected. You came to the same conclusion as the Chairman.”

Grandpa too?

* * *

Thanks to Secretary Kim, finding out the meeting place and time was a piece of cake.

The grim reaper took a look around the Japanese restaurant in Taesung Hotel.

“It is an honor to serve you, Chief of Security.”

In the room used by the guests, the grandfather tilted a ceramic teapot filled with warm rice cakes.

One by one.

A cup of warm rice wine was poured into a white porcelain cup with a picture of a person.

The chief of security at the Blue House drank the entire cup in one gulp.

“You said you prepared a lot of sincerity?”