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I accept your apology.

Wen Jiabao took a deep breath and said nothing.

There was only silence on the other end of the phone, and I opened my mouth to break the silence.

"Isn't the relationship between the two brothers no different?"

- President Kim Moo-hyuk.

Wen Jiabao was about to say something, but I cut him off mercilessly.

"If not, I will treat you the same way."

This was a notice.

If you won't treat me like a brother, I won't treat you like one.

When dealing with China, it was clear that if the string called Wen Jiabao were to break, I too would be uncomfortable in future work.

Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao are running mates and will lead China for the next eight years.

So I made a friendship with Wen Jiabao, and I helped him a lot, both financially and politically.

But I couldn't just sit by and watch them use me as a long-term tool because of that.

- Mr. Kim Moo-hyuk, are you saying that you will cut ties with me?

"You should speak precisely. It was the Prime Minister who cut you off, not me."

Wen Jiabao asked coldly, but I answered sharply.

At the sharp reaction, Wen Jiabao paused and then said.

―······Isn't President Kim Moo-hyeok a businessman? Why is President Kim Moo-hyeok trying to get involved in something he doesn't need to get involved in and suffer losses? The Korean and Chinese governments should resolve their own affairs. If this incident had anything to do with President Kim Moo-hyeok's personal safety, I would have helped him without any hesitation. I'm a shill. But this isn't the case, is it?

"It is true that it happened because of me. I did not expect that the Joseonjok would come in and do that in Seoul, but it happened because of what I planned. Because of that, the Chinese government started to pressure the Korean government, and if I did not intervene, the Chinese government would put even more pressure on the Korean government."

At my words, Wen Jiabao spoke in a voice that seemed puzzled.

- As far as I know, it happened because of internal strife within the Church of Heaven.

"I was the one who started that fight. It happened because Han Hyun-soo returned to Korea alive. If Han Hyun-soo had died, there would have been no bloodshed in Seoul."

- Han Hyun-soo? Who is that person? This situation happened because of someone I don't even know?

"The two leaders of the Heavenly Church. The ones who called the Joseonjok were Han Hyun-jin and Han Hyun-woo. They are Han Hyun-soo's older brothers. And the ones who stopped them were the thugs hired by Han Hyun-soo."

Wen Jiabao didn't say anything and just listened to what I had to say.

Judging from the reaction, it seemed like they only knew the superficial part of what they had seen.

Well, even in China or Korea, it was something that was difficult to know the details of.

Although the Joseonjok claimed that they were on their way to kill Han Hyeon-su, they probably did not know that Han Hyeon-jin had instigated the act.

Because Kim Min-woo would have coordinated and gathered people in the middle.

"I didn't mean to, but that's how it turned out. So, morally speaking, I have to clean it up."

The small stone I threw created a big ripple.

In the previous life, this kind of thing did not happen. Han Seong-jin was not captured, and after his death, the Church of Heaven split into several parts without any major incidents.

However, since I intervened, the Church of Heaven that fell into the hands of Han Hyun-soo had no time to be quiet.

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― I understand what President Kim Mu-hyeok said. However, this is not something I can stop by stepping in.

"I understand. If Chairman Jiang Zemin had made a move, it would have been difficult for Premier Wen Jiabao to stop it. However, you have crossed the line by talking about it as if it were someone else's business. We are Xiongti."

In fact, what I was doing now was no different from gambling.

Because it was a threat to Wen Jiabao, who was trying to pressure me.

But this was the only way to stop the Joseonjok who had already entered.

The bloodshed will be resolved by Cheonha Group, but if President Yoon Chang-ho suffers any great damage from this incident, I will be responsible.

- That······. I'm sorry.

In the end, Wen Jiabao apologized.

"If we had a business relationship, I wouldn't be this upset. When Premier Wen Jiabao was in danger, I helped him by any means necessary. That's why I'm here now. If I hadn't stepped forward, would President Hu Jintao have saved Premier Wen Jiabao? But what you just said was an act of drawing a line between us."

When Wen Jiabao was detained by Jiang Zemin, he met Hu Jintao and revealed the corruption of Jiang Zemin's Shanghai faction.

As a result, a political agreement was reached that allowed Hu Jintao to be released and take up his current position as premier.

That's why I was able to pressure Wen Jiabao like this.

― Yes······. That's right. That's right. I made a big mistake. I apologize once again.

A Chinese person, Wen Jiabao, the third-ranking official in the Chinese Communist Party, was making a sincere apology.

The Chinese rarely apologized. It meant that they valued their relationship with me.

It would have been stupid to press any further here.

"I accept the apology."

After barely finishing the fight, we returned to the main topic.

"If Luo Gan had made a move, it would not have been possible for Premier Wen Jiabao to stop it. It was a matter decided by the Standing Committee."

- Yes.

"How do you apply pressure?"

-First, it seems like they will try to repatriate our people to China. After that······.

As if my squeak had worked, Wen Jiabao started spitting out high-level information.

― I think so. Only Luo Gan knows the details of the plan. President Hu Jintao has given Luo Gan full authority.

"Does Hu Jintao think the same way?"

If Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao think the same way, it is absolutely unstoppable.

Even if it wasn't Wen Jiabao, but Wen Jiabao's grandfather, he couldn't stop it.

Well, maybe if the dead Deng Xiaoping came back.

- No. President Hu Jintao did not stop their actions because he did not want to bear the political burden. I have already reported to you that it seems to be related to President Kim Moo-hyuk.

Look at this? I can sense what Hu Jintao is thinking.

"Is it enough to just block Luogan?"

― I don't know how far Chairman Jiang Zemin intervened, but I don't think he intervened that deeply. Since Luo Gan is leading the way, if he just stops it, there won't be a big problem.

"But how did Luo Gan end up becoming Jiang Zemin's closest associate?"

― Well······. As you know, he was originally on Li Peng's side. However, when Li Peng lost the power struggle, Jiang Zemin took power, and after that he became Jiang Zemin's person. So he is a pro-Jiang Zemin faction, even though he is not from Shanghai.

I thought of Li Peng's face that I had met in China.

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He was once closer to power than Jiang Zemin, but he fell out of favor with Deng Xiaoping and was pushed out by Jiang Zemin.

― Still, he was a man of loyalty. He remained a member of the Li Peng faction until the end, before Premier Li Peng retired. After he retired, he became Jiang Zemin's dog.

"Aren't there any weaknesses?"

― He is the secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee. He is in charge of the judiciary and public security. He is the lowest in rank among the standing committee members, but he has considerable power. It is burdensome for us to dig into it.

"Isn't the Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Committee one of President Hu Jintao's men?"

― It's still difficult. If we were to attack Luogan, we would also shed a lot of blood. He also has many of our weak points. It's difficult for us to move on our own.

Although Hu Jintao took control of the Discipline Commission, which was the most feared position among the high-ranking officials of the Chinese Communist Party, he could not just arbitrarily seize the secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission.

If the Discipline Commission moves, the Political and Legal Affairs Commission will also move, and if they point guns at each other, even if they win, it is not a victory.

Knowing that, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao did not point their guns at each other.

Even if a monster that ignores it comes out a decade later, at least Chinese politics has kept the line.

"It seems that what President Hu Jintao wants is for me to move and attack."

―······.

Wen Jiabao neither confirmed nor denied.

"President Hu Jintao is also a very interesting person."

―······.

When criticizing Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao kept his mouth shut.

Even if we talked more, it seemed like there was nothing Wen Jiabao could do.

"First of all, I understand what you are saying. But please exert some effort. I will also try to contact Luo Gan separately, but if Premier Wen Jiabao takes action, wouldn't the pressure level be reduced a little?"

- I'll try.

The usual answer came back, but I couldn't force Wen Jiabao to do something he couldn't do.

"I will contact you again."

- Let's do that.

The long, drawn-out phone call with Wen Jiabao has ended.

I frowned as I handed the phone over to Manager Ma.

"That's why you can't like China no matter how hard you try. People are so different on the outside and inside, huh?"

Director Ma asked while holding the cell phone.

"Did the conversation not go well, boss?"

"It seems that Jiang Zemin is the one who is making the move. Hu Jintao doesn't seem to have any intention of blocking it due to political burden, and he may have the same idea. Wen Jiabao… seems to be unable to do anything."

I also considered moving the Crown Prince's Party, but its power was weak compared to the Shanghai faction and the Communist Youth League.

Moreover, it was obvious that the elders who held real power would sympathize with the pressure on Korea.

"The victim is Korea, but it doesn't make sense for China to protest and pretend to be the victim······."

"Isn't that the true face of China, boss?"

Although I was hurt, I couldn't withdraw all my business from China because of a momentary emotion.

It was stupid not to invest when we knew full well that the Chinese economy would closely follow the US.

"I feel sorry for President Yoon Chang-ho for no reason."

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Internal backlash can be resolved to some extent through public statements, but if China goes that way, it is bound to be a headache.

"At times like this, the Kremlin looks like an angel."

When I was in danger in Japan, it was Russia that sent troops without hesitation.

It was a reckless request that could have led to war, but the master of the Kremlin granted my request.

"First, we need to find out more about Luo Gan, the Secretary of the Chinese Political and Legal Affairs Commission."

"I'll contact Black Bear."

"Ask them to hand over the information they have now. Then ask them to find out more details. Everything from his family to his weaknesses."

"All right."

After Director Ma left, I had some time alone.

No matter how much I think about it, the issue has gotten too big. The three Northeast Asian countries of Korea, China, and Japan have all been entangled in this matter.

"Was it really going to get this big?"

I couldn't help but laugh. But I couldn't just let it go.

After organizing my complicated thoughts, I got up.

* * *

I kept in touch with Myeongsu to check on the domestic situation and the level of pressure from China.

After some fact-checking was completed, President Yoon Chang-ho gave a speech to the nation.

He said that he would conduct a thorough investigation to bring all those involved to justice, and expressed his intention to investigate the Church of Heaven as well.

Although the followers of the Church of Heaven strongly opposed it, no one took their side.

The media also began publishing articles about the Church of Heaven, as if they were tailored to Yoon Chang-ho's actions.

Although the domestic situation has improved somewhat, the level of pressure from China is increasing day by day.

The Chinese government has demanded that all ethnic Koreans be handed over to the Chinese government, and a Chinese government spokesperson has openly criticized South Korea in meetings with the press.

The day Han Hyun-soo contacted me was the day the Heavenly Church was raided and searched.

He contacted Chief Ma through the mercenary captain.

- Please save me.

I couldn't help but chuckle at Han Hyun-soo's sudden request to save me.

"Just bear with it. Things have gotten too big."

- If this continues, the Church of Heaven will collapse.

"It wouldn't be a bad idea to be reborn this time."

- President Kim Mu-hyeok······.

If the state power decides to crack down, no religious group can be safe.

Moreover, Yoon Chang-ho was determined to change public opinion in the country.

It was natural to destroy the Church of Heaven, which was the cause of this bloodshed.

― If this continues, we'll all die. Most of the cleanup has already been completed. But······.

"Is it okay if I don't get in trouble with you?"

- Yes? Yes, that's right.

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"Then please accept some sacrifices. I will try my best."

- Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

Han Hyun-soo repeatedly expressed his thanks in a cowardly voice.

"For now, please comply with the search and seizure. I will handle the rest. Do not resist under any circumstances. And do not mobilize your followers to stop me."

- ······All right.

After finishing the call with Han Hyun-soo, I dialed the familiar number again.

- Oh, Muhyuk.

"Hyunwoo. You're in charge of the Heavenly Church case this time, right?"

- What? How did you know that? No, that's not it. You passed this on to me.

I made Oh Hyun-woo take charge of the Cheon-Gyeong-Cho incident.

< I accept your apology > End