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Chapter 67
These days, Yeongdo is the hottest district in Busan.
The long-awaited demolition of the industrial site had been successfully completed, and Mayor Noh Hyeong-shim’s popularity skyrocketed.
Every day, a smile bloomed across his face but that smile withered because of a single phone call just before lunch.
― “Hold off on that project happening at the industrial site, whether it’s the Dragon King Palace or the Dragon Palace.”
It was a call from a district lawmaker based in Seoul.
Ѐ n̈ûm̌ а
The notification, which had not an ounce of courtesy, immediately furrowed Noh Hyeong-shim’s brow.
“...What do you mean stop? Did I hear you wrong? Say that again.”
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― “Frustrating... the project you’re pushing at that industrial site, stop it.”
“Are you aware of the project’s progress? The demolition work is nearly complete. Treatment of contaminated water and waste is almost finished. The walking path is scheduled to begin construction the day after tomorrow.”
― “What are you trying to say, Mayor?”
“I’m saying the project has progressed this far and cannot be stopped.”
Ẇ е̌.b̌ňо̌ v е́l̂ E num а.
― “Can’t you just do as you’re told, damn it, this is so annoying.”
“...??”
The sudden verbal abuse.
For a moment, Noh Hyeong-shim’s face hardened coldly.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
The power dynamic between a mayor and a lawmaker is somewhat peculiar.
People generally think that lawmakers are at the top in terms of recognition and status, but in reality, if you look internally, the mayor controls the staff and budget execution.
Еn̊ǔ m̆ а̀ . іd̃
So, when a mayor and a lawmaker belong to different parties, clashes are not uncommon.
Fortunately, Yeongdo District was not such a case.
Mayor Noh Hyeong-shim’s family had held the mayoral position for two generations and wielded significant influence in Yeongdo, and the lawmaker respected that, maintaining a good relationship.
At least, until this phone call.
― “...I apologize. I was harsh earlier. I had a run-in with some crazy person this morning. Regardless, my opinion hasn’t changed. Stop the project.”
― “Is it even reasonable to give a project of this scale to a mere third-tier guild? Even a first-tier guild would be questionable for a project this size.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
― “And what’s more unbelievable is that this was decided without a single meeting with me. Mayor, this is hasty processing! Did I hear correctly? I didn’t hear anything about it.”
The more he spoke, the more rigid Noh Hyeong-shim’s face became.
Most of what the lawmaker was saying was nonsense.
It wasn’t a mere third-tier guild but a legendary guild from Yeongdo that had been making history since last year. Even at this point, halfway through the league, there were rumors that League 2 was practically confirmed.
And the claim of not having a single meeting was a blatant lie.
He had even issued plane tickets for the lawmaker to come down to Busan for a meeting, yet he hadn’t shown up in Seoul, as if stuck in honey, and now he calls it hasty processing? Hasty processing?
Ẁ e b n̊o v̌ѐ l Ѐ n̆ ǔm а
“Ha...”
A sneer escaped.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Noh Hyeong-shim had been rolling in politics for decades.
He had seen politicians flip their words like turning a hand for their own interests countless times. He had even done it himself.
Yet such a baseless rant had been rare.
At first, he was angry, then irritated, and now it was almost refreshing.
Е̂nu̇ mа . і̆ d
Who had blown wind into this foolish guy to make him bark like a rabid chihuahua?
So, he decided to see how far it would go.
“This project is already more than halfway done. To stop it, you need grounds or justification.”
― “Why are you acting like this, Mayor? You know what’s at stake. Anyway, can’t you just present some justification?”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“...Lawmaker, your words are excessive.”
― “Damn it, just stop it. Safety, traffic, view rights, anything! Stop it first, then let them struggle! You have connections, Mayor. If they protest, I’ll handle the police side somehow.”
Е́ nú m а̂ . i d̂
It wasn’t entirely impossible. The real power of authority lies in being able to make nothing into a problem.
That’s why corporations generally avoid clashing with politicians.
That’s why it made him even more curious. Why is he doing this?
The people involved in this matter aren’t amateurs.
“Perhaps you’ve forgotten, but behind the Mir Guild is LeeDo. Not just a local company, LeeDo Group.”
― “Hahaha.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
A nasty laugh came over the phone.
― “That’s what I want to say. Mayor, you can’t even imagine what happened to me this morning because of that LeeDo guy.”
“What...?”
― “What? Ha... a girl about my daughter’s age talked down to me... Anyway, if you look at it, both I and the Mayor are caught in the middle.”
“Excuse me, Lawmaker, speak clearly...”
― “Ah, enough. I can’t go into detail. But one thing is certain. LeeDo will not move in this matter.”
Еn̂ü m̃ a
“...!!”
All the information scattered in his mind.
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His head felt like his old apartment when he was young.
He had tidied the messy room, but somehow it became even messier. Only when his wife arrived did it settle.
‘Focus, there it is.’
Noh Hyeong-shim grabbed a handful of mints his wife had given him from a drawer, popped them in his mouth, closed his eyes, and sorted his thoughts.
Ẇ еb̌n̆ o vе̊ l Én̈ ū m̄а̇
The key was “will not move.”
He organized everything around that sentence. His master-level political thinking circuits worked fast.
Finally, he reached a conclusion.
‘Another member of the same LeeDo family.’
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Factional fight or succession struggle.
‘I’ve been dragged into a ridiculous affair.’
W ēb_ṅ о̃ v_е̊ l̆ Ӗn ũ m̈ а
He had to admit, if he hadn’t thought this at least once while working with Lee Shin, he’d be lying.
Still, he never imagined politicians would get involved in such a filthy children’s fight.
‘Ah, did I?’
Suddenly, he remembered a conversation with Lee Shin at a barbecue place the day before yesterday.
― “Mayor, I know more about you than you imagine. Threat? It’s more of a request. From now on, I’ll run. I’ll run to get higher. I refuse to be held back by annoying politics.”
― “I’ll make your dreams come true, Mayor. Let’s keep this going for a long time. Cheers!”
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Annoying politics.
At the time, he thought it was just a spur-of-the-moment remark (which it was).
Thinking back now, he realized the hidden meaning (actually, there was none)!
Indeed, the Lee Shin he saw looked like the rumors outside, but inside, he was completely different. Almost like a strategist waiting for the right moment. Especially regarding the guild, he was unmatched.
Recalling that cleared Noh Hyeong-shim’s mind.
He reached a conclusion.
Ê ñū m̊ ǎ
― “Mayor! Are you listening? Hey, Mayor!”
“Don’t speak casually.”
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A bratty kid.
________________________________________
Yeouido Sauna.
A man stormed out, stomping the door.
Ёn̆u̇ m̌ ǎ .і̊.ḋ
“What? Don’t speak informally to me? You’re asking for it, old man!”
A shiny gold badge gleamed on his chest.
That’s right. This man was Jeong Wook, a member of the National Assembly representing Jung-gu and Yeongdo-gu.
As soon as he came out, he looked for his aide.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Since Jeong Wook usually spends one to two hours in the sauna, the aide, who had briefly dozed off in the car, staggered to his feet, flustered at Jeong Wook emerging in just thirty minutes.
Of course, Jeong Wook was not about to let that slide.
Ẁ ë b̂ nо̄ v е l̀ Е num̂ а̂
“Mr… Member.”
“Are you out of your mind? I called you several times! Did you sleep? Did you do all the tasks I assigned? Didn’t you? Huh? Are you ignoring me too?”
-Snap!
He immediately stomped on a joint.
The aide screamed in pain, clutching his shin with one hand while Jeong Wook pressed down with his foot.
“Hey! You know Noh Hyung-shim, right?”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Ugh… Noh… Noh Hyung-shim…”
“The district chief! The district chieeef! Noh Hyung-shim! This bastard’s gone too far!”
Snap!
“Ahh―!”
Still fuming, Jeong Wook stomped on the aide’s other shin and wagged his finger at the kneeling aide.
“You little punk, stop whining and get up.”
Е ṅ u mа̌ . іd̆
“Ugh… ugh… Y-Yes.”
With a cigarette in his mouth, Jeong Wook spoke harshly.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“The district chief disobeyed. I told him to stop the project, but he doesn’t seem to have any intention of doing so.”
“Isn’t that a big problem? Didn’t we promise to stop it to Lee So-yul?”
“She’s a crazy woman. Other than being born to good parents, she knows nothing. How dare she get elected to the National Assembly and… act insolent.”
Strictly speaking, “disobedience” refers to protesting or refusing an order, and it naturally applies to a vertical relationship.
Е̄.nu m а.їd̈
So, what Jeong Wook called disobedience was clearly incorrect, but with his eyes already wild, he wouldn’t hear such a technicality.
“I hated the way he subtly used his local influence to pressure me, you old bastard. How dare he defy me? Watch. I’ll destroy him with everything I’ve got.”
“Hey, call Reporter Kim.”
How dare a district mayor act cocky toward a member of the National Assembly?
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Jeong Wook was going to make him feel the weight of this gold badge.
He first called a reporter he had a good relationship with.
Еn ù m̂ а̀
“Hmm, I was going to ask anyway since things are noisy these days. So there’s trouble with the ‘Dragon King Palace’ project, huh?”
“Give it a little massage before publishing, and don’t forget to leave my name out.”
“Of course, sir. Should I send the invoice in one go?”
“Tsk, don’t ruin the mood talking about money. What are you doing, reporter, your cup’s empty!”
Politics and the media have always had a mutually beneficial relationship.
Though it might cost a bit, the pen of the press can be sharper than anything else in the world.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
But is that enough?
Since old times, political power depends on position. Just look at the Three State Ministers being closest to the king.
He needed to show the power of central authority next to the tiled roofs to a district chief from a tiny constituency at the edge of the Korean Peninsula.
The next day, after washing off the smell of alcohol, Jeong Wook headed to the office of a senior who had served as a top party committee member.
“So that’s what happened?”
“I’m sorry. This happened in my constituency.”
Е n úm̄ а_
“No, no, it’s a matter of prestige. That cheeky little district chief dares to act against a National Assembly member! Don’t worry, leave it to me.”
“Thank you, senior.”
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“Okay, go in. Let’s have a meal sometime.”
Bowing, Jeong Wook closed the door with a broad smile on his face.
Game set.
Even if the mayor came instead of the district chief, he couldn’t stop this. Just as he leisurely waited for the surrender,
W e bn оṽ е l̈ Е n̊ üm а
Diiing―!
“Just as I thought.”
The bell rang in less than thirty minutes.
Jeong Wook pressed the reject button as if venting his anger. When it rang again, he pressed reject again.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Maybe he enjoyed taming the district chief too much, but the cigarette tasted particularly good.
But that pleasant feeling shattered as soon as he opened his office door.
Е̊nũm̄ á .і̇ d
The moment the door opened,
Diiiiing-ding-ding―!
Diiiiing-ding-ding―!
“No, no. Our member wouldn’t do such a thing…”
“We were going to investigate first…”
The phones of the staff were ringing off the hook. A senior staff member looked at Jeong Wook and shouted as if in despair.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Member!! The Busan Ilbo is calling to verify if the circulating rumors are true…”
“The Yeongdo Small Business Association is demanding you be replaced immediately…”
“The Yeongdo Parents’ Alliance is denouncing you en masse…”
Volunteer groups, the Yeongdo ready-mix concrete union, Yeongdo publishing union, Yeongdo ship union, even some elementary school Boy Scouts. Plus organizations he hadn’t even known existed!
Every organization bearing the Yeongdo name was attacking Jeong Wook.
Well, well.
Е̊n̈ū m̃ ӑ
“The old man wants to go all out!”
Jeong Wook wasn’t a fool.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
He guessed who was behind this. But does knowing who did it hurt any less? On the contrary, it hurts more.
Trust me, he was getting hammered by the very media he intended to use.
[Busan Jung-gu & Yeongdo-gu Representative Jeong Wook, Conduct Controversy: ‘Hardly goes to Busan.’]
[Former close aide of Jeong Wook: “He did try to help with construction approvals.”]
Е_n̆ ŭm̀ а̊ . i d̆
He was also hit by the backing he intended to use.
― “You bastard, why didn’t you pick up the phone? Where have you been wandering?! You have a problem with me? If you’re going to die, die alone! Why are you dragging me into the LeeDo Group business!!”
Why? It should have calmed down over time, but instead it got stranger and stranger.
Jeong Wook’s instinct shifted from ‘something’s wrong’ to ‘we’re screwed.’
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
He tried to manage it, but all the phone kept saying was:
― “Unable to connect. After the beep, you will be connected to the voicemail…”
Еn ú m̂а̃
What Jeong Wook failed to realize:
He had openly said the ‘LeeDo Group’ was behind this.
Both he and the district chief were caught between Lee So-yul and Lee Shin. And in another sense,
“…no one in this country will step in.”
Noh Hyung-shim smiled coldly.
This was a fight between the heirs of the LeeDo family.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Would they allow an external factor to intervene? That iron-willed Lee Sang-byeok??
He had seen Lee Sang-byeok through his father’s influence.
A man so cold that not a drop of blood would come out if stabbed. Crazy enough to sell food on Mars if the Earth would be destroyed tomorrow.
Would such a man allow impurities from the outside into the fortress of wealth he built?
Of course not. Exaggerating a bit, even the president wouldn’t touch present-day LeeDo.
Situation: over.
Ѐ n u m̆ а. ї d̀
The young brat… A cold smile appeared on Noh Hyung-shim’s face.
Then, from behind, came Lee Shin’s voice.
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“I need to give the district chief a drink! Where are you, district chief? District chieeef~!”
Noh Hyung-shim erased the cold expression and ran toward Lee Shin with a wide, relaxed smile.
“Oh~ I’m coming now, sir.”
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