Chapter 107: < Protect – Episode 106 – Adult Fight [3] >
Just like how those who hated Koreans were usually Korean, most of Ahn Soo Ho’s anti’s were people of Korea. Most of them just hated the businessman that was Ahn Soo Ho, but there were also ‘anti wizards’ who hated Ahn Soo Ho, the middleman.
The life of Ahn Soo Ho with two faces was just like that of a celebrity. The one that the public remembered was a rich man who was dating a top actress named Jang Seol Hyun, but the impression that left in many others was a complete killing machine.
When Ahn Soo Ho retired, those who didn’t like him very much gave him words of comfort while secretly cheering on the inside. In particular, Prince Hashim of Saudi Arabia clapped like a seal. He had been on bad terms with Ahn Soo Ho for over 10 years.
Prince Hashim, who was smart but c.o.c.ky, went all over the world showing off his wealth. He invited party people every day and threw parties. Since cars and women were his favorite hobbies, he went all over the place from New York to Los Angeles in the States and held events that were ideal for those who sold their bodies for a living.
Hashim wouldn’t agree to this, but the parties he held were no different from Eric Rupi’s escort service. Those who enjoyed having one-night stands with beautiful women waited for the prince to invite him, and those who wanted to change their lives around in just one night willingly stripped their clothes.
“Thirty percent of the capital of mutual funds is owned by Hashim Nagir.”
“Hashim? The Hashim that I know?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Ahn Soo Ho clicked his tongue.
“What a persistent man.”
He didn’t mind the persistence of Robert Aquillan, but Prince Hashim’s persistence offended him deeply.
“So this all happened because of Lila… I don’t know if I’m just unlucky or if this is fate.”
“Indonesia probably had some influence as well. My guess is that Indonesia is the justification and he poured his resentment onto it.”
“Sneaky little b.a.s.t.a.r.d.”
Just like how not all Catholics were Puritans, not all Muslims were fundamentalists. The Muslims of South East Asia was completely different from that of the Middle East. Some said that the Muslims of South East Asia were failures.
“Our plans are progressing in a secretive manner.”
“What are your predictions about the results?”
“Baseless rumors will spread.”
“I know that, too. What I want to know is how much harm it’ll do.”
Kosino went deep into thought. Political schemes and a.s.sa.s.sinations were her specialties.
“The public probably now has negative news on Miss Jang. And the rumors that already spread will probably expand or reproduce into a vicious cycle… In the end, Miss Jang’s image will probably plummet. That’s fatal to any celebrity.”
“Is that a likely scenario with an a.n.a.lyst’s trend alone?”
“Stock tabloids are influential in more markets than you think. a.n.a.lyzing business trends looks cool and fancy in the eyes of those who don’t know much about stocks. I’m guessing Hashim is trying to humiliate Miss Jang to bring down your influence or make things worse for you. With North America and Europe being chaotic, it’s obvious what the Middle East is trying to do.”
“Are you saying it’s not only Hashim that’s the problem?”
“I’ll have to dig further… but yes. If they prepared this much, it’s probably not just Hashim who’s involved.”
Ahn Soo Ho knitted his brows. There was a question that had been bothering him since the beginning.
“Did they really think I wouldn’t know?”
“Oh, are you wondering if this could be a trick Hashim’s playing?”
“That makes more sense to me.”
If Jang Seol Hyun got humiliated, Ahn Soo Ho would look into why things happened the way they did and would figure out that there was a conspiracy. That could either be a real conspiracy or just something to ridicule him with.
“That’s not impossible. Should I look into it further, Soo Ho?”
Ahn Soo Ho nodded and Kosino left the room right afterward. When Ahn Da Sol opened the door, Kosino knitted her brows. Even though she was half j.a.panese, she hated Ahn Da Sol, or more like k.u.miko.
“She glares at me every time she sees me.”
“Then why don’t you go after her and tell her the truth? Tell her that you’re not a j.a.panese but a 100-year-old grandma.”
“Stop making fun of me. If you keep doing that, I might just have to come out of the closet.”
Ahn Soo Ho shrugged and Ahn Da Sol plopped onto the couch.
“Are things not going as planned? Do you want my help?”
“Stop the nonsense. How did it go?”
Ahn Soo Ho turned down Ahn Da Sol’s proposal and asked her a question in response.
“Hey, did you forget who I am? I’m Ahn Da Sol. Yeah, it’s resolved now.”
Ahn Da Sol, Emily, and Rachel transferred to Lee So Hye’s school. It was rare for foreign students to transfer from an international school to a regular school. But Emily and Rachel used their optimism to adjust quickly. Having those three surrounding Lee So Hye put him a little more at ease.
“But your other sibling still hasn’t gotten his act together.”
“Jung Hoon? What did he do this time?”
“There are rumors going around saying he’s fooling around with a female trainee.”
“What about his new girlfriend?”
“Maybe they broke up or something. I don’t know. Are you going to leave it alone?”
“It’s normal for boys his age to be interested in girls.”
“He might end up in handcuffs at this rate.”
“That’s all his responsibility. I can’t meddle in a grown man’s adult life.”
“You’re pretty cold-hearted toward your brother.”
Ahn Da Sol showed a strange expression on her face.
Ahn Soo Ho’s cold att.i.tude towards Lee Jung Hoon was nothing new but after the new girlfriend incident, Soo Ho got rid of all expectations he had for Jung Hoon. The only solution for him was to take his brain apart and put it together properly. He was considering putting him in the h.e.l.l training program that Do Kyung Ho and his underlings went through.
‘Come to think of it, he never went to the military.’
These days, male celebrities would wait until they were thirty before they enlisted in the military as entertainment soldiers. Some entered as active-duty soldiers, but that was rare. As a superior in life, Ahn Soo Ho couldn’t watch him go the easy route. Getting it over with was more convenient in various ways.
‘I’d better send him off soon.’
Many would say that the military sucks but the world viewed those who had gone and those who hadn’t very different.
“I doubt you only came here to rat out Jung Hoon. What is it?”
“Let’s make So Hye into a celebrity.”
“What? I already told you no.”
This was nonsense in Ahn Soo Ho’s ears.
“She has talent.”
“That doesn’t matter if she’s not interested herself.”
“Tsk, tsk. This is why I’m always telling you that you don’t know girls, Soo Ho.”
“I don’t care if you’re a trainee. I’ll beat you up.”
As soon as Ahn Soo Ho raised his fist, Ahn Da Sol hid behind the sofa. She continued.
“She has lots of talent, it’s just that she never had a chance to show it off.”
“Isn’t it too late to start learning?”
“Not at all!”
“Hm. She has to do it on her own will though.”
“Of course! So Hye and I are like honest blood sisters.”
In response to Soo Ho’s protests, Ahn Da Sol softened up her tone.
“Just think about it. There’s no way Ahn Soo Hoo’s little sister can ever live an ordinary life. Trust So Hye with me. I’ll make her into a really cool woman.”
Ahn Soo Ho had no choice but to give in that was because when he wasn’t around, Ahn Da Sol protected Lee So Hye. As soon as the noisy woman left, it wasn’t long before his peace was broken once more. Ahn Soo Ho felt his phone on vibrate so he took it out and answered it.
“Alexa.”
“I found it, Soo Ho.”
“Send me the address.”
“Okay!”
‘Okay?’ Alexa was Korean now.
A few examples of Konglish that Koreans used included “black consumers” and “after service”. But more than that foreigners really didn’t understand Koreans on social media. Koreans’ go-to social media sites were Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and most foreigners didn’t understand Koreans on those sites.
Just how Koreans thought people of South East Asia had horrible English p.r.o.nunciation, Americans felt awkward hearing Koreans speak English. Alexa wasn’t from North American but actually Europe, but her Korean-style English p.r.o.nunciation became much better. Ahn Soo Ho walked out of Star Tower and headed to Buchon Hanok Village. Since it was a popular tourist’s destination, there were many white people dressed in hanboks.
He went and hid in a pretty big hanok house furthest from the entrance. He swept in like smoke, so none of the guards noticed him. He didn’t understand why there were so many guards there. He walked into the library with a smile on his face. There, a familiar face was thinking hard with a serious look on his face.
“Lee Ji Heon.”
Lee Ji Heon was startled by Soo Ho’s calling.
“Gasp!”
“Quiet. No one will come for you no matter how loud you scream. So just shut your mouth and listen to what I have to say.”
Ahn Soo Ho sat back comfortably on the sofa.
“I know you weren’t very happy with me in the Korea National a.s.sociation. Well, I shouldn’t be surprised. But I don’t think this is fair. You guys were the ones that messed with me first. Don’t you agree?”
It didn’t matter if Lee Ji Heon would answer or not.
“You’ll have to read the opposing party.”
“The process of selecting members of the executive committee isn’t smooth.”
No one knew that it was Ahn Soo Ho who split up the executive committee. Ahn Soo Ho grinned.
“How much do you need, Lee Ji Heon? How much do you need to seize the Korea National a.s.sociation?”
Ahn Soo Ho’s way of talking smoothly made Lee Ji Heon felt conflicted. It was Ahn Soo Ho who made Korea National a.s.sociation into what it was today. It was like he was giving medicine to an injury he himself caused. However, Soo Ho couldn’t turn down the offer because after losing the executive committee, Korea National a.s.sociation was on the verge of being disintegrated.
“1 trillion.”
“Okay.”
He boldly called out 1 trillion, and when Ahn Soo Ho immediately accepted, he was very surprised.
“You’re… not kidding.”
“Why would I be? Buying Korea National a.s.sociation for 1 trillion won is a great deal. Oh, don’t misunderstand me. I have no interest in meddling in your operations. But in return, convince the opposing party so that I won’t have to get involved.”
Lee Ji Heon surrendered. Ahn Soo Ho wasn’t someone any of the Lee’s could handle. That might have been why Lee Geun Taek and Lee Kyung Joon disappeared. Ahn Soo Ho then met with the Comradery a.s.sociation, made the same offer, and yielded good results.
His last visit was to the Blue House. The dark Blue House was quiet. Ahn Soo Ho frequently visited the White House, so the security guards of the Blue House was no comparison. President Lee Jong Hyun, who liked to enjoy some tea and meditation in his library, was very surprised by his appearance.
“Yo.”
“Ahn Soo Ho?”
“Don’t look at me like that. It’s not like I’m a ghost.”
Lee Joong Hyun’s face looked like he had just seen a ghost.
“Oh, and no one will hear you no matter how loud you scream, so don’t even waste your energy.”
“Did you seize the security room?”
“No.”
Lee Joong Hyun severely misunderstood. All Ahn Soo Ho did was eliminate their sound.
“Hm, since you’re the president, I’m sure you’ve heard things about me. Like how I’m a supernatural being.”
The president was startled once again.
“Do you really have supernatural powers?”
“Oh! So I guess that rumors going around after all. Since we’ll have to keep working together, I’ll give you a hint. I use a power that you guys call supernatural powers. The States is probably suspicious of it, too.”
“Are you serious?”
Lee Joong Hyun’s att.i.tude changed at the sound of supernatural powers.
“The States already tried to kidnap me and dissect me over 10 years ago. They failed though… But if I let my guard down, they’ll probably pounce again, since that’s how white people are.”
Ahn Soo Ho’s relationship with the States was complicated, and it had its good days and its bad days.
“So I want to hear an answer from you, President Lee Joong Hyun.”
He stressed the word, “President”.
“What if I refuse?”
“I won’t kill you. Don’t worry. I’d just erase your memory of this night.”
“I’m guessing you mean with your powers.”
“I’m glad you understand things quickly, Mr. President.”
As soon as Lee Joong Hyun heard supernatural powers, he understood everything that happened up until this point.
“There isn’t even 3 years left of my term.”
“Then have yourself reappointed.”
“Well, I’m not going to agree until there’s something in it for me.”
The president became very open at this point. Ahn Soo Ho didn’t mind this kind of greed. What determined whether or not a politician succeeded or not all depended on achievements left in history.
“I’ll say you’re an amazing president in an interview.”
“What else?”
“Should I invest 100 trillion won in a new business?”
“Ha! What kind of business would you invest 100 trillion won in?”
“That’s not for you to know.”
When Ahn Soo Ho offered his hand, Lee Joong Hyun thought about it and then made up his mind.
“Let’s do it.”
“Okay.”
They shook hands and smiled. Ahn Soo Ho was satisfied. This agreement took place in the span of a day, but it put him at ease. All that was left was to put it into action.
“Hashim Nagir.”
Whether he was serious or not, he deserved to be tortured.
< Protect – Episode 106 – Adult Fight [3] > The end.