novelraw Chapter 116 : I’ll Be Holding It
Chapter 116 : I’ll Be Holding It
Chapter 116: I’ll Be Holding It
When I barely managed to sit down with Yang Sobo’s support, I finally sensed that the long, drawn-out fight had truly ended.
The weight of the silence that settled over the open ground felt different from before.
Yang Sobo opened his mouth in a low but powerful voice.
“Everyone, return to your places. The meeting will continue.”
At his command, the spectators who had gathered to witness the honorable duel began murmuring as they filed out.
Unlike when they had entered, their expressions were flat and empty. Their pride must have been shattered to pieces by Noh Deok-soo’s ugly machinations.
Once everyone had left and only the heads of each region and the elders remained, Zhang Wei roughly dragged Noh Deok-soo, who was kneeling on the floor, out of the hall.
Only the soaked bloodstains proved that the fight from moments ago had been real.
Yang Sobo spoke once more.
His gaze swept over the elders and the other leaders in turn.
“I hope you will forget the unpleasant incident from earlier. One who abandoned honor merely paid a fitting price. Now, let us discuss the second agenda, the true purpose of this meeting.”
He wrapped an arm around Wang Xiaolong’s shoulder.
“After I leave this land, I will introduce the man who will inherit everything I own.”
Everyone’s eyes focused on Wang Xiaolong.
“My younger brother, Wang So-gun’s only bloodline—Wang Xiaolong.”
When the brief introduction ended, Wang Xiaolong stood up and bowed deeply to them.
After he sat back down, Yang Sobo’s gaze turned toward me. I forced my eyes open, clinging to my fading consciousness.
“And Baek Min-woo will take over my business enterprises.”
It was an official declaration.
Unlike before, not a single voice of objection arose.
Yang Sobo glanced around the room and continued.
“Of course, I will not be handing everything over to just the two of them. I am willing to share my enterprises with those who need my power. However, it should only be given to those who are worthy.”
His words were cunning. Using his legacy as bait, he placed everyone present onto a testing ground.
That was when Jin Tae-gang rose from his seat, came over, and plopped down beside me.
He filled the glass in front of him and downed it in one go.
“This is the first time in my life I’ve ever lost. It doesn’t feel all that bad.”
He was talking about the fight with me.
His tone was more refreshing than I had expected.
“When I thought about standing in your position up there…… I couldn’t even imagine pulling it off the way you did.”
Jin Tae-gang leaned in close and whispered in a low voice meant only for me.
“Baek Min-woo……. That was impressive skill. I acknowledge it.”
I looked at him in silence.
“Noh Deok-soo, that old bastard, is gone now, so Incheon is practically ownerless. But you know as well as I do that there won’t be just one or two guys aiming for that seat.”
Jin Tae-gang revealed his greed without reservation.
“I told you I’m not your enemy, right? And you know I want Incheon.”
Clicking his tongue softly, he looked toward the door Noh Deok-soo had disappeared through with open contempt.
He wasn’t even trying to hide the fact that he had no connection to Noh Deok-soo.
“If you help me take Incheon, I’ll become your loyal blade for life. What do you say? It’s not a losing deal.”
It was a covert proposal. Admitting defeat and bowing first to the victor to secure practical gains.
I met his eyes head-on. They were filled with nothing but ambition and the instinct to survive.
With a faint smile on my lips, I poured alcohol into the glass he had emptied.
“A blade, huh. I don’t need a blade I can’t trust.”
“What more could I possibly do as a Chinese Korean? Unless the government changes its policies, I can’t even threaten you.”
His words were true. Jin Tae-gang was the right man to serve as a watchdog over Wang Xiaolong. I gave a small nod.
“The more blades, the better. I’ll talk it over with sir.”
Jin Tae-gang’s face brightened. Looking satisfied, he patted my shoulder lightly as he spoke. The impact sent a dizzying pain surging up my side again, but I didn’t show it until the end.
“Once you’re better, let’s have a drink.”
When Jin Tae-gang returned to his seat, Yang Sobo was watching me with a meaningful look. I met his gaze with a smile of my own.
After that, the meeting continued, and everything proceeded according to Yang Sobo’s plan.
His successor became Wang Xiaolong, and it was decided that I would take over the enterprises he could no longer operate as a Chinese Korean.
“Lastly…….”
Yang Sobo addressed all the leaders.
“The place I’m leaving for is Singapore.”
“My lord. Singapore, you say?”
Son Gye-san immediately asked back. When Yang Sobo nodded calmly, Son Gye-san pushed up his glasses and asked cautiously.
“Th-then…… are you saying you’re going to Singapore, not Taiwan? As far as I know, Singapore is…….”
“A politically very unstable country. No, it’s a place barely worthy of being called a country.”
“And yet you’re going there? Not Taiwan or Hong Kong?”
“Those places already have other powers firmly established. If I went there, it could spark another blood-soaked war. But Singapore is dominated by Chinese. Even the head of state is of Chinese descent.”
It seemed he had looked into Singapore quite thoroughly after I told him about it.
“For the sake of the future, I need to go there and establish myself. Those who wish to follow me can come find me then.”
Yang Sobo said to the elders.
“Incheon’s new head will be decided after some thought. Wouldn’t it be cleaner if I personally wrapped things up until then?”
Jin Jung-san answered as the representative.
“Do as you wish, Lord Yang.”
Yang Sobo declared the end of the meeting.
“Let us end the meeting here. Everyone, you’ve worked hard.”
The long, drawn-out meeting came to a close.
When I came to my senses, the unfamiliar scent of medicinal herbs pricked my nose.
It was better than the stench of blood, but awkward all the same, and I frowned without realizing it.
I carefully lifted my body and tried moving.
The pain in my side hadn’t completely faded yet, but it didn’t seem severe enough to stop me from moving.
Seeing me like that, the startled physician grabbed me and earnestly warned me.
“You mustn’t overexert yourself. If you’d moved just a little more, the broken rib could’ve pierced your lung.”
“Yes. Thank you for treating me.”
As the physician gathered his tools and stood up, he cautioned me once more.
“Absolutely no overdoing it. I’d like to tell you to stay hospitalized, but if that were the case, my lord would’ve taken you to a hospital already.”
“Haha, thank you for your concern. I feel much better thanks to you.”
“The human body isn’t made of steel. If you keep pushing it just because you feel fine now, you’ll pay for it when you’re older. Chronic problems. Chronic.”
He nagged me until the very end before leaving. After he left, I moved my body to check my condition.
My eyes landed on a newspaper placed in one corner of the room. When I checked the date, I was startled.
“What? Three whole days have passed?”
The sun had already set. Perhaps even more than three days had gone by.
That was when the door opened and Zhang Wei came in.
“You’re awake.”
“Yes. Where is sir?”
“He’s waiting for you in his office. Can you move?”
I was still a bit dazed, but since Yang Sobo was calling for me, I had no choice but to get up.
I brushed myself off and stood.
“There’s still some pain, but I think I can move without any issues.”
“Shall we go see my lord?”
“Yes. We should.”
Dragging my heavy body, I headed to Yang Sobo’s office with Zhang Wei. He was seated, waiting for me.
Only two teacups sat before him. After greeting Yang Sobo, Zhang Wei closed the door and left.
“Sit.”
I sat across from him. He personally lifted the teapot and filled my cup.
“How’s your body?”
“Thanks to you, it’s much better. I didn’t expect to be bedridden for three days, though.”
“Heh heh. Your body isn’t steel. When it’s time to rest, you need to rest.”
Yang Sobo said with a laugh. It was a smile like that of a well-fed tiger.
“Thanks to you, the meeting ended safely.”
“Not safely, sir. It ended exactly as you intended.”
At my reply, his eyebrow twitched slightly.
“I was nothing more than a clown dancing with blades on a stage you’d already set.”
“Why do you think that?”
“When you leave Korea, the person who would pose the greatest threat to the remaining Xiaolong would’ve been Noh Deok-soo. That’s why you used me to remove him, wasn’t it?”
Yang Sobo didn’t deny it. His smile deepened.
“You volunteered to become the bait and even caught the tiger cleanly. You were more outstanding than any clown I’ve ever seen.”
“If you’d told me in advance, things could’ve been handled more cleanly.”
Yang Sobo shook his head.
“Wouldn’t that have been too obvious? Sometimes, raw and unpolished works better.”
He had tested me, and I had passed that test.
So now, it was time to negotiate on equal footing.
“Sir. You’ll give me what I asked for, right?”
“Yes. If it’s to be handed over to someone, it should be you.”
Yang Sobo spoke as if it were only natural.
From the start, there had been no other choice besides me.
“And about Incheon.”
I got to the point. As if he’d been waiting for this topic, Yang Sobo gave a small nod, urging me to continue.
“Now that Noh Deok-soo is gone, there’ll be a shadow war over that seat. Who do you have in mind, sir?”
Yang Sobo lifted his teacup and savored the aroma. Instead of answering, he voiced his concerns.
“Incheon can’t be left empty. After I leave, that child Xiaolong will have to bear it. But there’s no suitable person. Jin Tae-gang has ambition that’s far too great, and Son Gye-san is nothing more than a merchant. And handing it over to one of Noh Deok-soo’s former subordinates would…… make eliminating him meaningless.”
His words were filled with worry about his young successor being shaken after his departure.
‘As expected, Jin Tae-gang is the one he’s most wary of.’
This was the moment. As if I’d been waiting for it, I presented an answer to his dilemma.
“That’s why I’d like to recommend Jin Tae-gang.”
“What?”
Yang Sobo’s eyebrow twitched.
“What are you thinking right now? Entrusting Incheon to that man is like releasing a winged tiger into a tiger’s den.”
I met his gaze head-on without avoiding it.
“Sir, you should personally seat him as the master of Incheon. Lend him your power, and help him grasp everything he desires.”
“Hah……. Are you telling me to raise an enemy for Xiaolong right now?”
“No, sir. That would be a favor. And Jin Tae-gang will pay the price for that favor. For his entire life, he will be unable to threaten your successor, Xiaolong. No—he will become the most loyal guard dog protecting him. And that leash…….”
I paused briefly and pointed at myself.
“I’ll be the one holding it.”
At that moment, Yang Sobo’s eyes shook violently, as if an earthquake had struck.
In exchange for making Jin Tae-gang the master of Incheon, I would extract his loyalty. And by becoming Jin Tae-gang’s master, I would turn him into a loyal hound.
After a long silence, Yang Sobo lifted his teacup.
“You are…… truly a frightening man.”
“Xiaolong doesn’t have a foundation yet. But leaving while keeping all of your closest aides behind would worry you endlessly as well, wouldn’t it? It would be fortunate if Xiaolong didn’t get swallowed up by them and turned into a puppet.”
“…….”
“In the end, without Incheon’s support, it will be difficult for Xiaolong to hold that position after you leave.”
“So you’ll become Xiaolong’s guardian?”
“Yes. At the very least, I’ll make sure your successor isn’t driven out by other Chinese Koreans.”
Yang Sobo held his teacup and pondered for a moment before letting out a low hum and speaking.
“And the price?”
“Besides the enterprises I’m set to receive, please hand over to me part of the distribution networks you have in Taiwan and Hong Kong. That is the price for Jin Tae-gang taking control of Incheon and remaining Xiaolong’s loyal hound.”
Yang Sobo’s eyes gleamed coldly.
“That’s excessive greed. I could simply seat my own hands and feet as the head of Incheon.”
“Do you really think Jin Tae-gang would willingly give up that seat while fully aware? Even I, meeting him for the first time, could read the ambition in his eyes. There’s no way you wouldn’t know that, sir.”
Once again, a taut tension filled the office.