Chapter 155: Night of Korea-US (2)

Calm music began to flow inside the banquet hall.

The silver candlesticks placed on the table sparkled and wavered.

At the table where I sat, the US President and his wife, the South Korean President and his wife, and Lim Hye-seon were seated.

The US President lightly lifted his wine glass and spoke.

“I am very glad to meet such a young and excellent talent up close today. There are many young entrepreneurs in our country as well, but someone who has achieved this much success on the global stage like Representative Lim is rare.”

I smiled at the embarrassing shower of praise and answered calmly.

“Those are more words than I deserve. I was simply lucky. Because I have the team members of HJ Partners, I was able to turn luck into opportunity.”

The President laughed with joy.

“To think you are even humble. A talent like you is precisely what becomes the strength of a nation. South Korea is truly blessed. How wonderful it must be to have such a young leader.”

His gaze naturally moved to the South Korean President.

“Mr. President, because there is someone like Representative Lim, South Korea’s future is very bright. I am envious.”

As he praised me, the South Korean President also wore a pleasant smile and lifted his wine glass.

“As a representative of our younger generation, I am proud that Representative Lim is in this position.”

Lim Hye-seon spoke while maintaining a quiet smile.

“I also think very proudly of Representative Lim, both as family and as a businessperson. If HJ Partners and Taeseong Group can grow together, that would be the true image of an alliance.”

the US President's wife also continued softly.

“Even though you are still young, you have many amazing aspects. I am truly happy to be here with you today.”

I bowed my head to express my gratitude.

“Thank you. I also consider it an honor to be invited to this place. I hope today’s meeting becomes an opportunity to understand each other and broaden the scope of cooperation.”

Clear sounds rang out as glasses clinked over the table.

In a fleeting moment, the US President looked at me and spoke to the aide standing nearby.

After some time passed and the conversation in the banquet hall matured, the Presidents of each country left their seats.

Me and Hye-seon also stood up from our seats when someone approached me.

It was the aide who had been by the US President’s side.

He bowed his head toward me with a polite attitude.

“Representative Lim Hyunjun, the President wishes to see you for a moment.”

As soon as those words were dropped, the air around the table wavered slightly.

The person more surprised than me was Lim Hye-seon.

“The President wants to see Hyunjun?”

Even she, who always maintained her composure, showed it plainly on her expression.

When Hye-seon tried to go with me out of concern, the aide shook his hand and blocked the way.

“I am sorry. The one the President mentioned is only Representative Lim Hyunjun.”

A brief silence flowed.

Hye-seon looked at me with worried eyes.

“Will you be okay?”

I smiled and answered quietly.

“I will be fine, Aunt. I will be back soon. Please go back and rest first.”

As I left the spot, Hong Jang-gun, Choi Seo-jun, and Cho Hana, who were watching nearby, moved simultaneously.

The three people naturally attached themselves to my left and right and moved their steps as if escorting me.

The hallway leading to the inside of the White House was silent.

It was a completely different story from the banquet hall.

Famous artworks were lined up on every wall.

The lighting, which emitted a soft glow, settled the tension a little.

The aide walking ahead spoke calmly.

“It is this way. The President is waiting.”

At those words, Choi Seo-jun asked quietly.

“Representative, for what reason could he have called you?”

I took a short breath and smiled.

“Well. I am not sure either.”

However, behind that short answer, one word came to the minds of the four people at the same time.

Onyx Crow.

A heavy tension lingered.

They stopped in front of a thick door.

Beyond that door, another matter would surely unfold.

The aide pointed at the door for me and spoke.

“You may enter.”

Choi Seo-jun took a natural step forward and spoke.

“We will enter together as well.”

However, the aide immediately raised his hand and blocked them.

“I am sorry. The President desires a private meeting with Representative Lim Hyunjun alone.”

It was a short but firm tone.

Hong Jang-gun’s gaze turned sharp for a moment, but I lightly shook my head.

“It is fine. It will only be for a moment.”

When I spoke as if it were no big deal, the three people stepped back.

Choi Seo-jun spoke with some concern.

“We will be waiting here. You know, just in case?”

“…You want me to scream or something?”

At my words, Choi Seo-jun laughed briefly.

Then I spoke with a comfortable smile.

“Do not worry.”

The aide opened the thick door.

The moment the door opened, the scenery I had seen last time entered my eyes.

Under the soft lighting, the President was sitting in his seat drinking wine.

Just like before, an aide was waiting quietly by his side.

When I entered, the President smiled.

This time, he was different from the formal appearance seen in official settings.

He had a comfortable expression as if meeting an old acquaintance.

“Sit down, Representative Lim.”

The aide poured warm tea and handed it to me.

I naturally drank the tea and savored it.

“It is herbal tea.”

“Since you are still young and cannot drink alcohol… I am sorry that I am drinking alone.”

“It is fine.”

I lifted the teacup I was drinking from and smiled.

“This is also delicious.”

“I am glad then. Let’s have a drink together one year later.”

“Yes, I will be looking forward to it.”

The President lightly shook his wine glass and looked at the red light before turning his gaze to look at me.

“Then, I should get to the main point. Since you must be curious about the reason I called you separately like this.”

I also put down my cup and asked calmly.

“Please speak.”

The expression of the smiling President turned serious.

He put down his wine glass on the table and spoke.

“You must be guessing what I am about to say but… about Onyx Crow. As you said, it was the funding source for Al-Jahad.”

At those words, my eyes flashed sharply.

It was as I expected.

“I did expect it. However, hearing it from you, Mr. President, makes it feel different.”

The President also nodded.

“It stands to reason. Did you not almost die at their hands.”

At that sound, I recalled past events and felt as if my chest area suddenly became tight.

However, this must be a trick of the mind.

The President’s expression stiffened.

“However, there was a problem. It is much deeper and wider than the level we perceived.”

He slowly exhaled and continued speaking.

“Onyx Crow was not just a simple money laundering network. It had stretched its hands into global finance, logistics, and even defense. The same goes for what happened in Paris, France this time.”

As the words continued, the air became heavier.

I listened silently.

“Completely eliminating them does not seem like it will be easy. They are spread too wide.”

The President let out a sigh and moved his gaze to the window.

The place where darkness had settled was even eerie.

I, who had been listening quietly, spoke.

“I do not think there is no hope. Onyx Crow is like the head of Al-Jahad. If the funding source is cut off, the organization will collapse on its own. After all, weapons and personnel move by money in the end.”

At my words, the President let out a sigh and spoke in a low voice.

“The problem is that the funding source is also connected to South Korea.”

My gaze looked at the President.

“If it is South Korea….”

“What do you think is the reason I called you? I did not do it to just lament like this.”

When the President’s words ended, a short silence flowed.

I put down the teacup without a word.

My gaze wavered.

‘Then it means it is related to my family.’

A strange hunch felt deep within my heart.

I had expected it to some extent even before entering this place.

However, the moment that was revealed as reality, it felt as if a coldness hard to explain in words was flowing through my body.

The President looked at me quietly and continued speaking.

“There is also someone connected to Onyx Crow within Taeseong Group.”

That one sentence cut through the air.

My fingertips trembled minutely.

I tried to maintain a calm expression, but a swirling wind was already rising in my heart.

A firm voice flowed out from me.

“Who is that person!”

The President looked at me for a moment and then drank the wine in gulps.

Only after that did he put down the glass and open his mouth.

“President Lim Do-hyun of Taeseong Construction.”

The moment that name came out of his mouth, my eyes wavered slightly.

I had expected it, but hearing it directly, the shock came back doubled.

I became dazed as if I had been hit on the head with a stone.

“Are you certain?”

“You might not want to believe it, but it is certain. Because we found the money he sent to Onyx Crow. Of course, we have not yet secured clear evidence that it is the money of that person Lim Do-hyun. However, that will be soon as well.”

The President stared into my eyes.

“As you well know, that matter back then was Lim Do-hyun’s doing.”

I took a breath and closed my eyes for a moment.

What rose before my eyes was the gaze of my father’s younger brother and my uncle, Lim Do-hyun.

That desire-filled gaze hidden behind his composure.

The President added in a low voice.

“This is not simple corporate corruption. Providing a funding source to Onyx Crow is already the same as making the whole world an enemy. And because of them, Al-Jahad is running wild.”

My gaze gradually settled down.

I picked up the teacup without a word, but my fingertips trembled slightly.

I also knew.

From the moment Lim Do-hyun sent money to Onyx Crow, he had already crossed the river of no return.

Whether it was family or an acquaintance, I understood with my head that a person who crossed that line could no longer be turned back.

However, my heart was different.

If the family finds out about this fact, especially if my grandfather, Chairman Lim Man-seok, finds out….

I did not even want to imagine how big that shock would be.

Silence flowed for a while.

I took a deep breath and barely managed to speak.

“How much time is left?”

“We cannot wait very long. Because even now, they are committing crimes while scattering money to them.”

I realized the President’s intention.

This was not just for the sake of providing simple information.

The President was notifying in advance that he would no longer leave alone those who participated in Onyx Crow within South Korea, including Lim Do-hyun.

So to speak, it was also a sign that he would not back down as the head of a nation and as a human being.

I put down the glass and bowed my head.

“I have understood what you mean. Mr. President.”

The aide poured wine into the glass.

The President took a sip after lifting the glass and opened his mouth.

“It is a relief that you are here. Representative Lim, a storm will arise from now on, but do not be shaken.”

I answered with a steady voice.

“I have no intention of being shaken anymore.”

I was speaking calmly, but my eyes were already filled with resolve.

I could never go back to the way it was before.