Chapter 73
Chapter 73: < Protect – Episode 72 – Show Me the Money [5] >
The reason why the Americans preferred democracy and a law-governed system wasn’t because they all had strong wills and ideals. It was just a great example of how an evil authority could make people into malicious beings. The States was a country where most tax evasions took place, it had the most gun-related accidents compared to the country’s population itself, and it was a country full of kidnapping, theft, rape, and murder.
It was a battlefield that was contrasting of its freedom image.
However, the States made themselves look like a bright and happy place. But was this problem only happened with the States? Not at all. All developed countries suffered due to power corruption and the cruelest crime of democratic countries were tax exclusion and evasion. There was so much tax money leaking out to those in power.
Last year, the States evaded 300 million US dollars in taxes. That was 35 trillion won. However, as far as Ahn Soo Ho knew, the tax evasion market combined with the black market was twice the size at 70 trillion won. Followed by the States were Brazil, Italy, Russia, Germany, France, Japan, China, and England, so it was difficult to know the exact scale of it.
When someone in power was punished, gathering evidence was difficult too, but the process of proving it wasn’t easy at all. Since it took months or years in court, the prosecution was at a disadvantage. That was because the prosecution was limited in terms of talented men as opposed to their opposition who could always employ an army of lawyers.
As a result of the media, countless corrupt politicians and government workers were prosecuted, and many were continuing to get raked in with intense investigations. However, the fight was only beginning. Even if the nation caused them to get convicted, they were bound to appeal, and as the process went on, they believed that the media would slowly start to lose interest.
Just like how the two former Korean presidents who received the death penalty for anti-democratic acts were eventually pardoned, there was always an opportunity. The elites that led the Korean society had a common belief beyond what was good or bad.
‘Large groups of stones are seldom captured.’
By large, it didn’t mean much but that saying was directed to the elites. They might get fingers pointed at them from the public, but that was about it. The law? Even if they get imprisoned, it was obvious that they would be in a cell isolated from all the other prisoners with unlimited access to the reception room.
If that was the result of just judgment, those who run around without rest were working hard in vain. Who were the law and justice for? The Korean society was currently going through a serious conflict. They asked for a reformation of the rich, but they also didn’t want to go into another recession. In the same way, they wanted the top officials replaced while wanting the government administration unshaken.
‘Should I kill that Lee Joong Hyun, son of a bitch?’
Ahn Soo Ho knit his brows. The reason why he kept getting him involved was probably because he didn’t think he could kill the president of his own country. On the other hand, he also saw it as an opportunity.
‘If I use the special inspector team, I’ll be able to get the secret funds easily.’
Once a criminal charge was made, a screening of the wealth they accumulated with corrupt methods would take place. That was why money laundering exists. With the normal process, not even 1 won could be hidden.
“There won’t be a confirmation hearing, will there?”
“No…no, Sir.”
Ahn Soo Ho’s smooth way of speaking caught the senior secretary off guard.
“It’s not like there’s only one inspector general. Do they have to all gather in one place?”
“That’s not true. The special inspector generals are specialists from all walks of life, and beyond the party’s interests…”
“I don’t need a detailed explanation. Okay, I accept.”
“Pardon?”
“I accept your appointment.”
“Oh, okay. The president will be pleased.”
Seeing how Park Young Hwan was taken aback, he must have expected a rejection. He handed the phone over to Han Joo Young and smiled.
“You look like you ate crap, Mr. Han.”
“What made you accept?”
“For justice?”
Han Joo Young frowned even more at Ahn Soo Ho’s joking-like expression and way of speaking, but he had no choice but to accept his handshake.
“You must have picked the senior secretary as your connection. I’m impressed. I hope it works out for you, Mr. Han.”
His words of blessing sounded more like criticism to Han Joo Young’s ears. As soon as Han Joo Young returned, Kosino came in with a bugging device.
“Nothing.”
“Did you look everywhere?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Find the building map and check the insides of the walls.”
“Yes, Sir.”
As soon as Kosino left, Ahn Soo Ho picked up the phone.
“Alexa, look into the special inspector team. Find out who the members are and what they’re up to without leaving anything out.”
“Why?”
“I’ve been appointed as special inspector general.”
“Pardon? Wait.”
He heard objects getting rummaged before he heard Alexa’s voice.
“Oh! Civil Participation in Criminal Trials and the National Inspection System, right? That sounds like a scheme to build popularity.”
“I don’t know if the president cleverly used his head or if the National Assembly failed to act first. What do you think?”
“Hm. Kosino is the best with messy things like politics.”
“Kosino is busy.”
“I’m busy too because of Ms. Kim.”
Alexa was helping Kim Soo Jung.
“But this is connected to what you’re doing.”
Kim Soo Jung’s in-depth coverage of the chairman of the National Assembly and party delegate were related to politics. She tried to pull out to prevent more work on her plate, but she had no choice but to work late. What Ahn Soo Ho could do for Alexa was to pay her appropriately and a gave her a vacation.
‘I’ll take what I can get…and then I’ll take care of Lee Joong Hyun.’
He didn’t feel threatened by losing face.
The president had a lot of tenacity for starting a fight with the Korea National Association and the Comradery Association. He would have applauded him if he didn’t drag him into it too, but he already took it too far. The elite had a strange belief that they wouldn’t die or get hurt on their own. That might be because guns haven’t been legalized.
If one throws eggs, one could just dirty clothes, and it was difficult to get through guards just by getting close with a knife. If anyone could get their hands on guns in Korea, the ones in power wouldn’t underestimate others either. That was because congressmen and heirs didn’t have the superpower of dodging bullets.
“CEO Ahn, you got a call from Daesan.”
“Okay.”
In response to the secretary’s message, Ahn Soo Ho halted his thoughts and went to Daesan Hotel for dinner with Kim Dae San. When he arrived, he was greeted with a big welcome at the entrance of the building. Daesan Hotel was now known as the Korean hotel that gets the most foreign guests out of all luxury hotels.
Ahn Soo Ho smirked.
In the lobby were many white agents disguised as guests. After the Indonesian incident, he put people on especially high alert. With J-Law and Angola’s all-out-war, they were already running low on agents, so even with their reorganization, it was difficult for their team to function properly.
The foreign woman Ahn Soo Ho met eyes with immediately looked away. She looked like someone from Europe, but her features didn’t look like that of Eastern Europe. Her skin was darker as if she was Spanish or Arabian. When Ahn Soo Ho met eyes with all of the agents, they were all busy looking away.
Kim Dae San considered security and rented out the entire floor of the royal suite room. The guards of Daesan Group were quite skilled. However, there were no guards brave enough to search Ahn Soo Ho’s body. Once he entered the room, Kim Dae San came out.
“You’re here early.”
“The only job I have is to sign papers.”
“That’s not an easy job, you know.”
“Is there a machine that can do it for me?”
“Haha. You must be getting sick of it.”
Ahn Soo Ho shook his head and Kim Dae San headed toward the table.
“Long time no see, old man.”
“Come.”
He listened to the old man’s sturdy voice as he sat down. The table looked like it was at a restaurant, but the food that came in were all traditional foods.
“You got into a big accident out there.”
“No, I didn’t…I really held back, you know.”
“I didn’t know you had such a humanitarian side to you.”
“No matter how horrible mercenaries are, they should never touch children. I don’t know about when it’s a matter of life or death, but they shouldn’t do things that bother your conscience.”
Since there were so many crazy lunatics out there, one couldn’t guarantee that there were no pedophiles among them.
“Doesn’t murder bother your conscience?”
“Well, dying and living is a matter of luck.”
Ahn Soo Ho shrugged.
“Are you stepping down as the chairman now?”
“That’s right.”
“Dae Chan sure is in for a ride.”
Kim Dae San was a respected owner who was acknowledged by leaders and businessmen, and once he steps down, the stock market would become frantic. There were no investors who would want to see the stock market became unstable.
“I know you’re a major shareholder with a large share of Daesan Electronic stocks.”
Ahn Soo Ho just shrugged in response to Kim Dae San’s criticism.
“It’s only three percent.”
“You still have a lot of influence over the group with that.”
“I have no interest in doing that.”
“No, I want you to.”
“Pardon?”
Ahn Soo Ho, who was eating smelly soybean paste stew, had a confused look on his face.
“I know Dae Chan will do a good job, but I want a backup plan just in case something happens.”
“Am I a babysitter? Dae Chan isn’t a little kid.”
“A director should do that much.”
“Okay, fine. I’ll return them.”
“No.”
The reason why people were suspicious of Daesan and Hosoo Entertainment’s relations was because Ahn Soo Ho had the title of director at Daesan Group. In the middle of their argument, it was Kim Dae San who ran out of energy first. He sighed deeply and then changed the subject.
“Did you hear about Na Hee?”
“Yes.”
“What’s your answer?”
“I’ll decline.”
“Okay.”
Ahn Soo Ho’s answer was simple and Kim Dae San’s response was clean, too. But it was Kim Dae Chan who was startled.
“Father?”
“There’s no use forcing someone who doesn’t want to do it.”
“But Aunt…”
“Hey!”
He yelled at him to stop talking back and then looked at Ahn Soo Ho.
“I’m sure if something dangerous happens, he’ll step up without being asked. Right, you punk?”
“You use more tricks as you get older, old man. Are you secretly eating really nice foods without us?”
“You bastard! Are you making fun of an elder?”
He didn’t plan on sitting back and watching if something dangerous happened to Kim Na Hee.
“What do you think will happen?”
“If she was caught at the scene, doesn’t she have no other choice?”
“She’s not the type to kill anyone though…Tsk, tsk. How unfortunate.”
The Italian prosecution prosecuted Han Chae Kyung for murder, and the first trial was set to begin soon. The entire country was being perceived as corrupt, but Italy was just as confident in their judicial system as the States. In the fashion world, Kim Na Hee was a reputable businesswoman, and she had quite a network in Italy as well.
If she used those connections, she could have lessened the charge, but not even bribes worked for this case. That was because the man who was murdered was a pro soccer player of Italy’s first division league. The media had their focus on this case, and even Korea would come to know about it.
“Oh yeah! I’ve been appointed as special inspector general.”
“Who? You?”
“Yes.”
The two Kim’s dropped their jaws to Ahn Soo Ho’s shocking news.
“The president must have gone mad.”
“That’s right Father. Being humiliated in Shanghai must have done something to his head.”
Ahn Soo Ho continued to smile despite the negative response.
“Why is everyone so negative? Think about it in a positive way. Positive.”
“It’s true that Lee Joong Hyun overestimated you…but he must have no idea how irrational, unprincipled, and abnormal you are.”
“That’s true, Father. If Soo Ho enters the public office, the country could go down overnight.”
“What? What are you talking about? I have such integrity!”
“Tsk, tsk!”
“Ha!”
Kim Dae San clicked his tongue and Kim Dae Chan scoffed.
“You must know that Lee Joong Hyun is trying to use you. Why did you accept?”
“If I say it’s for justice…would you believe it?”
The two Kim’s responded with faces that didn’t believe it. Ahn Soo Ho told the truth.
“Do you know that I’m poor now?”
“Yeah. I’ve heard. But you still have stocks.”
Kim Dae San had also heard that he used tricks in order to retire.
“It’s difficult to manage capital that’s out wide in the open. It can be easily traced, too.”
“So?”
Ahn Soo Ho shook his index finger. The rules that existed in the black market wasn’t set in a piece of paper. In the black market, power was trust. Even though he was bankrupt, there was a clear reason why no one came to collect.
“Let me show you how the black market operates.”
He got to build his image with what big-mouthed punks call justice while making some money. Wasn’t this what people call killing two birds with one stone?
< Protect – Episode 72 – Show Me the Money [5] > The end.