Soho

Chapter 16: < Protect – Episode 15 – Lee Hyo Geun [2] >

Daniel Navarros arrived at Daesan Hotel in Seoul at the prearranged time. Seeing how he came with a group of security guards, he must know there’s a reward for him.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“Really?

Ahn Soo Ho responded with a sharp remark instead of a greeting.

“I know... my situation isn’t that great.”

“If we don’t want a war with Agnes, it’d be better to put you out as our scapegoat.”

“Ahem!”

Navarros responded to Ahn Soo Ho’s forthright statement with an uncomfortable sound. As soon as a sensitive topic arose, he made his security guards step back. His initial posture died out, and he loosened his necktie while ordering a strong vodka.

They could see Seoul Plaza from outside of Daesan Hotel, and they covered it in red candles at the moment. The foreign news had spread all over Korea in a matter of seconds, and the evil deeds of the rich flooded out like a dam as if they didn’t know about it before. If there was only one victim, they would have given up to the reality of the situation, but with so many sympathizers, they all gathered at Gwanghwamun Square.

“Reform of the rich... Mr. Guardian, did you cause this mess?”

Ahn Soo Ho shrugged without an answer. Navarros continued to talk as if that didn’t matter.

“Was spreading it in the foreign news just a skill of God? Now, the people would doubt the media neutrality of all countries.”

Not all American journalists believed in journalism. People assume the media is impartial, but since they’re just salaried employees, they had no choice but to listen to the higher-ups. However, there are journalists who feel a sense of duty and principle, but just one journalist’s voice wasn’t loud enough.

“But Koreans have unbelievable acting power.”

It was two days ago when the foreign news came out, but there were at least 100,000 people outside the window. That’s not all. The numbers keep growing as time goes on.

“When will we stop being just spectators of absolute power?”

“One law for the rich, and another for the poor! Is Korea really a democratic country?”

“The rich in their 30s earn more than half of the GDP!”

Who knows which rich person would the investigation authorities pick and attack? That would end up as a targeting controversy.

“Mr. Navarros, I’m a busy man. Let’s get to the point.”

In response to Ahn Soo Ho’s straightforward remark, Daniel Navarros let out a dry chuckle while playing with a glass in his hand.

“You’re as firm as I’ve heard you are.”

“To the point?”

After he finished the rest of his drink, he talked with a stern expression.

“I’m a triple... no, quadruple spy.”

Daniel Navarros was born in Guatemala to an American father and a Mestizo mother. Even though his nationality was American, he was Mestizo due to his upbringing. The problem started when his parents divorced and he followed his father to the States.

“My uncle is from El Salvador. He’s a cruel man. My mother avoided him by going to Guatemala, and that’s where she met my father. But... their relationship ended.”

Even though he followed his father to the States, he loved his mother.

“My uncle held my mother hostage and threated me.”

As the surname “Navarros” suggests, his father wasn’t a pure white man. He has an American father and a Japanese mother. It excellently combined the East and the West.

“I don’t know what they have on him, but my father has something to do with a yakuza. And ironically, I’m a part of MS-13, which is their rival. The ones who butted in are...”

“CIA?”

The world Daniel knew came crashing down overnight.

“They wanted to team up with a criminal organization from the west part of the States. They wanted to reach a cartel after a yakuza and Agnes. I’ve found a lot of information for the last twenty years, but I couldn’t keep it a secret just because I was a part of the CIA.”

Not even the CIA could avoid the congressional information law.

“Empire Konzern might look like a normal company, but there are countless organizations involved. They’re like a grey area.”

If the yakuza, Mexican cartel, and MS-13 were criminal organizations, the CIA and FBI were a state-certified gang.

“So?”

“Ten days ago, they kidnapped one of the national cooperation agencies in Sao Paulo. They think it was the PCC’s doing... but it’s just a struggle for power within the Empire. The problem is that it involves many organizations in Central and South America. That means there’s absolutely no system. The yakuza, cartel, and Agnes, and this took the CIA aback.”

“Then why did Agnes put a price to your head?”

“Because my uncle started all of this. They probably don’t want that embarrassing truth to get out.”

Ahn Soo Ho looked at Danel Navarros with a strange gaze.

“Wouldn’t it be better to ask the CIA for help?”

“They can’t protect me.”

“Why not?”

“Because one of the kidnapped is the president of the United States’ nephew.”

It wasn’t surprising. From what Deputy Director Eaton shared, the kidnapped victims are undoubtedly high-flown people. The point is the real intention of the actors dancing on the game board that the States set up.

“What do you want from me?”

“Guaranteed protection.”

“For what price?”

Daniel Navarros pulled out a USB and put it on the table.

“This is all of me. There’s no other copy.”

“Hm.”

Ahn Soo Ho stroked his chin.

“Sounds good. Let’s sign.”

“Th... thank you!”

He, who was nervously looking at him, sprung up from his seat and shook both hands. As soon as Daniel Navarros stopped his fuss and left, Ahn Soo Ho took the USB and reached out his phone.

“Start on David Navarros.”

“What? Did you sign? Agnes won’t like this.”

“He won’t go around telling anyone. Take my word for it.”

“Well, then... But it’ll cost a lot of money to get rid of the reward, you know.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“Good.”

Oh Joo Kyung approached as soon as he ended the call.

“The vice-chairman is looking for you.”

“Let’s go.”

There was a special VVIP room in Daesan Hotel unavailable for commoners and the like. As soon as Ahn Soo Ho came in, Kim Dae Chan greeted him with a flushed face.

“Soo Ho!”

“Why does it look like you already finished drinking?”

“Haha.”

Kim Dae Chan laughed aloud to Ahn Soo Ho’s criticism. His face was a lot brighter than when he was whining. That was because the demand for the reform of the rich weakened the seize and search of Jinsung Group. The authorities could no longer kick out Jinsung Group alone. If they used Jinsung as their scapegoat, a backlash could have hit them back

“Bringing everyone down! How did I not think of that, but how did you control the foreign press?”

It wasn’t just any foreign press. As soon as England, France, Germany, as well as China, and Japan made their move, Korean media had no choice but to follow their lead.

“All I did was collect the seeds I’ve spread until now.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m impressed.”

Kim Dae Chan patted Ahn Soo Ho on the shoulder in a good mood. No matter how powerful Daesan Group is, it’s tough to influence the foreign press. Public confidence has nothing to do with money.

“If we let time go on, the stock prices will plummet. Then wouldn’t they step back?”

“Maybe... But that’s not a solution. That’s just a temporary fix. They bound the wound to split it open again.”

“Then?”

“Oh! We have to show them we could all die at this rate.”

“How?”

“Where’s the item from China?”

“Hold on. Secretary Kim!”

When Kim Dae Chan cried out, the secretary came in with a locked bag. Inside the bag was another small bag. The bag unlocked to an electronic passcode.

“USB?”

Ahn Soo Ho gestured for Oh Joo Kyung to bring the laptop.

“This is a chance for you to know how scary the Chinese really are.”

The Koreans and Japanese often look down upon the Chinese, but his long experience abroad taught him that none should undermine the power China holds. They never hesitated to sacrifice one for the entire group. That’s different from patriotism.

“Oh, my god!”

There was no state secret or trade secret within the USB, but it had records of the daily lives of the employees that worked for important sectors of the government. It included who and where they met, what they talked about, as well as parking tickets and small crimes, accompanied by video clips or pictures.

Extravagant treatment, taking secret payments, and evidence of affairs followed. The drunk acts they have been doing looked cute in comparison. They often did illegal businesses then got out of it with money and used internal information to ask for more cash. However, there were no state secret or trade secret within it. They were just embarrassing pasts of unsightly people.

“People wrongly think conspiracies come from the top.”

Betrayal always starts from the bottom. Daesan Group isn’t that clean either. They also have an information team, and they had an investigation team that looked into people’s weaknesses, but a finding this extensive was impossible for even large corporations.

“China might have made more of an effort, but they weren’t the only ones that investigated us. The States, Japan, Russia, and even Korea looks into its own country.”

“But still. They look into every single employee?”

“As I said, China’s kind of an exception. They have incredible manpower we can’t beat.”

Is there any country without a Chinese living abroad? The Chinese had infiltrated every place on earth.

“Are you going to reveal this to the media?”

“No.”

Ahn Soo Ho shook his head. That’s the worst plan possible.

“I have to send it to the Korean National Association, or whatever they’re called.”

“Why? If they know, they’ll prepare themselves.”

“Prepare? That doesn’t matter.”

At a time like this, the small land space Korean had was very helpful. It was fascinating how 50 million people could live on such small land. It’s hard to beat China in overall manpower, but the speed of implementing manpower was the fastest in Korea.

“With a hundred million dollars... I can get a million people.”

Public sentiment followed the prize that’s in front of them.

“Once they think we could actually all die together, they’re bound to become traitors.”

< Protect – Episode 15 – Lee Hyo Geun [2] > The end.