Chapter 106
Chapter 106. France's Black Market (2)
There are many ways to bring down an enemy.
"One of them is to strike the head."
It's also written in the Thirty-Six Stratagems.
Borrowing A Knife To Kill.
To topple your enemy, target the king first.
I mixed this stratagem with a chaos stratagem.
The enemy must not face me directly.
The enemy must be made to fight other enemies.
This works especially well against groups where greed runs rampant.
Wound the powerful leader, and the hearts of the second and third-in-commands—who had long been suppressed—begin to race.
‘Because it feels like the throne could be theirs with just a little effort.’
In the end, once the infighting tears them apart—
They'll all be finished off by the claws of a tiger that had been strolling over, unhurried.
***
Park Je-hwang was recovering in a hospital room.
The wound on his shoulder, which looked worse, was slowly healing.
But the gash running across his face refused to mend properly.
The doctors administered medication and sutured the wound, yet they couldn't understand why recovery was so slow.
They didn't know that the sword of the Iron Instrument God, stained with the Poison Demon's blood, had sliced through him—and that the poison energy running through the blood of the Heavenly Poison Blood Divine Art kept the wound rotting continuously.
In this current life, the Poison Demon could control poison and medicine using the Reversal Secret Arts, so it had been a deliberate arrangement—prepared in advance to ensure the wound would fester.
The doctor said to Park Je-hwang.
"We've stopped it from worsening, but……."
"Stopped it, but?"
"I'm afraid it's likely to leave a significant scar."
"Damn it!"
Park Je-hwang hurled his IV drip in irritation at the doctor's words.
Then the hospital room door swung open and Cheon Sa-in walked in wearing a white coat.
"Hey now, why is the patient so irritable? Rest is the most important thing."
"Cheon Sa-in. Are there nothing but quacks in your hospital? Is it really that hard to heal a wound this small without leaving a scar?"
"……."
Cheon Sa-in shoved both hands into his coat pockets and approached him without a word.
"I'm a resident. Why are you asking me something even the specialists don't know?"
"For crying out loud."
"Still, there's one thing I do know."
"What?"
"That if a patient doesn't listen to the doctor, they'll get a more painful injection."
At those words, Park Je-hwang's expression shifted.
"……Are you out of your mind? You're starting to get cocky."
"Get a grip, Park Je-hwang. This might all be because you've been consuming too much of that medicine."
"What do you mean?"
Park Je-hwang frowned and asked.
"The medicine you've been getting from me all this time. It's medicine whose effects haven't been fully verified yet. This might have caused the wound to worsen."
"You son of a—! You said there were no issues—."
"One or two doses are fine! Did I tell you to live with it in your mouth every day!"
Cheon Sa-in shouted.
Park Je-hwang then glanced around at those nearby.
"Hey. Keep it down. People are listening."
"Now you're finally coming to your senses, it seems."
"……Hell. I had my senses all along."
Park Je-hwang ran a hand over his forehead.
Cheon Sa-in asked,
"Does Master Hwangbo know?"
"He probably does. That old man doesn't miss a thing."
"Sigh. How did it come to this……."
Cheon Sa-in clicked his tongue and leaned toward him.
"First priority is getting you to heal. Bear with it. You can get plastic surgery later for the scar."
"Cheon Sa-in, will you do it for me?"
Cheon Sa-in shrugged his shoulders as if the question was absurd.
"I'm in pediatrics. Cheon Sa-in the angel. Pediatrics suits me perfectly, doesn't it?"
"You lunatic……. The same guy who used to sell medicine out the back door."
"And who was it that bought that medicine?"
"Ah! You like kids, don't you? Back in school you were always going after middle schoolers—."
"Shut your mouth!"
Cheon Sa-in's eyes went wide, but Park Je-hwang laughed as if it was pathetic.
Cheon Sa-in sighed and said,
"Stop saying pointless things and use that precious internal energy of yours to recover."
"Hey!"
"Going to swear again? Let's stop."
Cheon Sa-in said in an irritated voice.
"That's not it."
Park Je-hwang let out a short sigh and looked at Cheon Sa-in as he asked,
"That Nameless Hero bastard."
"Stop swearing, I said."
"Doesn't he seem like someone I've seen somewhere?"
"Where would you have seen a geezer like that."
"No. There was something strangely familiar about him. Something about what he said too."
"What did he say?"
"Bangmyeong—."
Just then, the door opened and Ye Bo-yeong walked in.
"Honey, are you feeling better?"
"Coming early, aren't you. It's been quite a while since I was admitted."
"I was a bit busy. Cheon Sa-in, been well?"
"I've been busy too. Well anyway, you two enjoy your quality time together. I'm off."
Cheon Sa-in closed the door behind him, clearly glad for the excuse.
Ye Bo-yeong set a flower basket beside Park Je-hwang and looked at him with a sigh.
"Does it hurt a lot?"
"I'm fine."
"Take this chance to rest a little."
Ye Bo-yeong sat on the sofa and pulled out her phone, tap-tap-tapping out some message.
Park Je-hwang watched her quietly before speaking.
"Bo-yeong."
"Yes?"
Still looking only at her phone.
"About that Maldives trip we talked about. Should we go get some rest after I'm discharged?"
"……."
"The media has been making such a fuss about me lately. Taking a short break might not be a bad idea."
"Hm? What did you say?"
Ye Bo-yeong turned only her head, phone still in hand, as though she hadn't caught it.
"I said let's go to the Maldives."
"Ah, that place."
She looked at Park Je-hwang quietly for a moment, then smiled softly and answered.
"Sure, let's."
"……."
It was somehow a different smile from before. Park Je-hwang opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again.
***
[Shameless France. We urge the Republic of Korea to promptly return Ghost and the Nameless Hero to their homeland!]
The Korean government fiercely condemned France.
Without making it clear why they were condemning them, Korea made a scene demanding the immediate return of Ghost and the Nameless Hero, claiming France had not been granted permission for their naturalization.
But France didn't budge an inch.
If anything, the more Korea pushed, the more France aired broadcasts touting their mild climate and history, welcoming Ghost and the Nameless Hero with open arms.
And they began to completely ignore the Republic of Korea.
[The Republic of Korea, which fired upon and drove away its own national heroes. But France, in the spirit of tolerance, is ready to embrace the heroes.]
The broadcasts went further.
Far-right panelists began spewing all manner of remarks against Koreans—racial slurs, the dog meat issue, and more.
It was an arrogant and excessive display, but—
The French president's approval ratings surged sharply as a result.
In the meantime, immense pressure was bearing down on the Republic of Korea.
Following Chief Han's interview, calls for Park Jae-yeol's resignation came flooding in relentlessly.
China and Japan began joining that momentum.
[The Chinese government announces it hopes the Republic of Korea will join a One China framework even now.]
[Japanese Prime Minister declares that 'Japan is prepared to generously embrace Korea', announcing plans to pursue a summit with the Korean government.]
Day by day, Korea's national standing—once leading the world with the Golden Tower—was plunging through the floor and straight into the basement.
"These damn bastards!"
Park Jae-yeol read the articles and began raging with fury.
Pyeon Jae-yeong said to him.
"You must restrain yourself. If we issue another critical statement like last time, we'll only keep absorbing counterattacks."
"Damn it!"
"The conduct of the assembly members is also looking troubling."
Park Jae-yeol looked at Pyeon Jae-yeong.
"What do you mean?"
"They are…… Said to be preparing an impeachment."
"These crazy bastards!"
"Do not worry. We hold the majority. No matter how much the opposition stirs, they won't reach the quorum needed for impeachment."
"The eyes of our own ruling party members haven't been friendly either, lately."
"I will handle them carefully."
"There are even rumors that you've been stirring up the ruling party members yourself."
At those words, Pyeon Jae-yeong's eyes flickered slightly.
"That is a false rumor. I met with the members only to protect Your Excellency."
"……Hmm."
Park Jae-yeol glared at Pyeon Jae-yeong and lit a cigarette.
Pyeon Jae-yeong quickly offered him a light. Park Jae-yeol drew harshly from the cigarette.
"Have they caught Chief Han?"
"She has gone into hiding again."
"Idiots! How can you not catch one woman!"
"She was once Korea's foremost climber. She's difficult to chase with police forces."
"What about the Gukmubon? What on earth is Minister Kim Mu-ok doing?"
"Apparently the Gukmubon is rebelling against Minister Kim. Even maintaining control is said to be difficult."
"Hell!"
Park Jae-yeol puffed and puffed on his cigarette, blowing out smoke.
"Minister Pyeon, is there no way?"
"I will find one."
***
Another day passed.
I spent until evening making elixir pills while circulating my energy, then went to meet Omar.
"Boss."
"Oh, where's Kim Han-yang?"
"He's coming over there."
Kim Han-yang came struggling under the weight of a bag on his back.
His face bore bruise marks.
"Boss Kim Tae-yang……."
"Omar, did you hit him?"
"Yes. Ugh, this guy really doesn't listen. Total hardhead."
"Boss. Sob sob…… You don't know how much Omar torments me……."
Kim Han-yang grabbed my leg and wept pitifully.
"This really won't do."
I pulled Kim Han-yang upright. He looked at me with tearful eyes, silently begging me to scold Omar.
Omar lowered his gaze, apparently afraid I'd give him an earful.
"Omar."
"Yes. Boss……."
"How have you been managing your subordinate?"
"Sorry?"
"You have to train him properly. He's been calling you by your name without any respect!"
"Ah! You are right."
Omar's expression brightened, and Kim Han-yang's face turned ash-grey again.
"Train him properly! Hit him harder. The nerve of this punk, calling the commander by his name so casually."
"B-Boss!"
Kim Han-yang bit his lip tightly and protested.
"Fellow countrymen…… Is this really okay to do?"
"Are you a man of the martial world?"
"……Pardon?"
"Then it's fine to treat you like this. Worthless punk."
A parasite like him who had lived by sucking the marrow out of his own countrymen had the nerve to invoke the word countrymen.
Kim Han-yang shot me a sharp glare then averted his eyes.
"Give me the bag. This is a list of items to purchase additionally."
"……Yes."
"Omar, you can run this guy ragged, so make it count."
"Yes!"
"See you again. Come back in 3 days."
【Omar thinks he should go find himself a club somewhere. +1,000 Happiness】
***
The next day.
Bo-reum was still eating the breakfast buffet and filming her vlog—
And I grabbed some fruit and a few slices of cake and sat at her table.
"You're not eating a baguette?"
"It's too hard."
"Then why did you buy one last time?"
"Because it's pretty. A baguette suits Paris."
"Give me a break."
"Did you take Boss Kim to the hospital alright?"
"Yeah."
"Did they say he'll be okay?"
"Probably."
‘Hopefully.’
After a light breakfast, she said she had some things from yesterday's shopping to give me and came to my room.
"Why did you buy so much?"
"It seemed like it would suit you."
"I thought you were hesitant since it was Boss Kim's card."
"Honestly, I got a little revenge. The way he usually looks at me felt a bit creepy."
"Then why did you treat him so warmly?"
"What choice do I have. I've come all the way to the ends of the earth—I need someone to lean on."
"……I see."
It seemed I'd need to move around with her after all.
"Bo-reum, come with me today."
"Where to?"
"Just follow and you'll find out."
I went down to the parking lot and started up Kim Han-yang's car.
"That's Boss Kim's car."
"He told me to drive it."
"Really? Did I misjudge him? Was he actually a good person?"
As I was driving, we ended up passing near Versailles.
Bo-reum gazed at the French Murim Tower and said.
"The French Murim Tower looks exactly the same as the one in Korea."
"Still, since it's not as close to the city center as Korea's, it feels a bit different, don't you think."
"That's true. How is it that even the Murim Tower in France looks like a work of art."
"That's excessive cultural idolization. Have you forgotten the status of Korean K-pop?"
"That's a separate matter. Oh, it's the equestrian statue of Louis XIV!"
Bo-reum marveled at the equestrian statue in front of the Palace of Versailles.
"Who is that?"
"You don't know? That's Louis XIV."
"What are you, a middle schooler?"
"Are you dumb, oppa?"
Hearing her words and thinking quietly about it, memories of Kim Tae-yang surfaced and I recalled who Louis XIV was.
"Ah."
"Right, dummy. The Sun King! Louis XIV. France's greatest king."
"As expected from our Napoleon. Quite knowledgeable about French history."
Bo-reum launched her counterattack.
"Then oppa is Louis XIV. Look at that, you've got the same greedy face."
"Thank you."
"Hm?"
She stared at me strangely, finding me completely unscathed.
"Why would I be unhappy being called a king. And the names match too. The Sun King."
Kim Bo-reum went completely silent, struck dumb as if she'd swallowed honey.
We arrived at our destination.
Bo-reum looked surprised to arrive at such an unexpected place.
"This is École de Cuisine!"
"You know it?"
"Of course. The pinnacle of Parisian desserts. All the graduates from here become master chocolatiers."
"Right."
"Why are we here?"
"There's someone I need to meet."
"Who?"
"The Daejanggeum of chocolate."