I Became a Scoundrel of a Chaebol Family-Chapter 398

“Anyway, that’s the decision, so just be aware.”

“Yes, sir... Are you planning to step out into the spotlight? As the President of Independent Incheon—”

“No. Why the hell would I do that? I’m just going to put Jung Mina out front and keep myself busy screwing her from behind the curtain.”

Sure, taking center stage as the official ruler of Incheon comes with certain advantages—but it also attracts way too much attention.

Most of all, it means I’d actually have to work. Even if I tried to avoid it, being a president means I’d be obligated to attend all kinds of events—some even international. That’s not a life of leisure.

What I want is to put assets and land under capable management and kick back while everything runs itself. And for that, ruling from the shadows is the way to go.

“So instead of Mayor-for-Life Jung Mina... she’ll be Dictator Jung Mina.”

“Exactly. Once we declare independence, we’ll rewrite the constitution too. We’ll make sure our dear Mayor Jung Mina can stay in power for fifty, sixty years.”

If, by chance, our beloved family completely loses their minds and starts a world war, turning this into a global conquest scenario, then maybe I’ll reconsider.

But unless something that insane happens, I’m planning to leave it all to her.

“Are you going to tell the mayor?”

“Hm...”

“If it’s something that big, I think you should at least give her a heads-up.”

“You’re right... if we want to sync up properly, she does need to be in the loop. The only problem is—I don’t even know the method myself. I have no idea how we’re actually pulling off Incheon’s independence.”

Surely they’re not planning some kind of full-blown rebellion, right?

...Right?

“Put it on hold for now.”

For the next three days, I mulled it over.

While clearing out some pending work, I kept turning it over in my head—until I made my decision.

“Call Jung Mina. I need to tell her.”

“Yes, Master.”

No matter what, she’s the mayor of Incheon. She has to know.

I’ll tell her—and only her.

Jung Mina arrived at Muyeol Land in less than an hour.

She must’ve had a packed schedule, yet she still rushed over, bowing ninety degrees the moment she walked in.

“Y-You summoned me!!”

“You got here fast.”

“Y-Yes, well, you summoned me, Master...”

“Good job.”

“Th-Thank you...”

I shoved aside the pile of documents cluttering my desk, stretched, and moved to the sofa area.

“How’s work going?”

“Oh... You mean the war on crime? It’s going smoothly.”

“Yeah? You’re a lot tougher than I expected. Are you some kind of split personality?”

“N-No, nothing like that.”

“Sit down.”

“Thank you.”

We both sat on the couch. Seunghee brought us tea.

Jung Mina glanced around, eyeing me nervously as she lifted the cup to take a sip.

“Incheon is going to declare independence from the Republic of Korea.”

“PFFFFT!!”

Tea sprayed out of her mouth.

The ultra-expensive transparent table made of Extreme Glass and the plush luxury sofa across from it got soaked.

Coughing uncontrollably, Jung Mina looked completely thrown.

I, playing the villain from a movie, absentmindedly clenched and unclenched my fist as I continued.

“Like I said before... I have no intention of taking center stage. That kind of thing’s a pain. So I think it’s time we updated your job description, Madam Mayor.”

“Cough! Kkhup! I-In... Independence...???”

“The original plan was for you to keep winning elections and stay in office through re-election, right? But things have changed. Once Incheon goes independent, it’s no longer just a city. It becomes a real nation. Which means... you won’t be a mayor anymore. You’ll be a president.”

“W-What...?!”

“That means our dear Mayor Jung Mina will become President Jung Mina. How’s that sound? Has a nicer ring to it than ‘mayor-for-life,’ don’t you think?”

“W-Wh-What are you even... saying...”

She couldn’t follow my words.

Her whole body was trembling like a leaf, looking up at me like she was silently begging, Please don’t do this to me. But then again, she’s always been a fragile little thing.

Even when I first met her, I thought, How the hell did someone like that become a mayor? That’s how timid and delicate she was.

And now I was telling her not just to be president, but a lifelong dictator?

Her heart must be pounding out of her chest.

But frankly, that’s not my concern.

“It won’t be easy. There’ll be major turbulence. The mainland will have... all kinds of reactions. But don’t worry. My grandfather and aunt will handle it all. You just do as I say, Madam Mayor.”

“H-Hic—”

“First things first...”

I flicked my hand.

Seunghee, already prepared, brought over the proposal.

It was a detailed plan compiled by Chief Secretary Ra Seunghee over the three days I’d been mulling it over—everything necessary to prepare for Incheon’s independence.

“You’ll need to take full control of the military.”

“A-Ah...”

“I’ve got most of the power wrapped up already, but the military’s still a loose end. Technically, I just never saw the need to control it before.

But if we’re forming a new nation, that’s a whole different ballgame. The military needs to be yours—no, Madam President’s—to command completely.”

“P-Please... don’t...”

Jung Mina was seriously about to cry.

She looked like she’d drop to her knees at any moment.

“I’ve already arranged identities for the people on that list. Reinforce their profiles and slot them into key military posts. Pick the deputy ministers from that list too.”

“Aaagh...”

Her trembling hand reached for the document.

Inside was the roster of male members from the Pacific Knight 1st Squadron—which Go Minji had permanently assigned to me.

Technically they belong to Minji, but they obey me now too. Planting them in the right military roles lets me begin privatizing segments of the army.

On top of that, many knights have already been dispatched as generals.

And generals, of course, only hold high-ranking posts.

So really, all it takes is nudging a few pieces in the top command structure and—bam—total control.

‘I’ll need to massage those knight-generals a bit, too. Most of them would probably cum just from seeing me. I’ll invite them over, drop a few kind words, and that’ll do it. The female knights—I’ll pump their wombs full of my genes.’

“And also—”

I continued relaying Seunghee’s recommendations to Jung Mina.

As the scope of the operation grew, her face went sheet white.

Honestly, I don’t get it. Why’s she so desperate to avoid becoming a dictator when most people would kill for the chance?

“This should be enough for now. I mean, we still don’t know when or how this will all happen. Just... keep it in mind for now.”

“....”

Jung Mina nodded blankly.

If you listened closely, you could hear her tiny voice mumbling in response.

“There’s not much time. You did well today. You’ve got a lot on your plate, so you’re free to go.”

“....”

She shuffled to her feet and gave an awkward bow, fidgeting with her hands like a total dork.

Her back as she left the room looked absolutely defeated.

Now that I’d briefed Jung Mina, I decided to summon the core of my political puppet team: Kim Eun-ji and Joo Hyun-ah.

Kim Eun-ji is the Namdong District Mayor and the party leader of ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) the Peaceful Future Incheon Party.

Joo Hyun-ah is the party’s floor leader.

These two are going to shape Incheon’s future super-party and parliament. I’ll be ordering them to start drafting the First Constitution of the Republic of Incheon.

“Master, you should take a look at this.”

“Hm?”

While I sat slouched on the sofa, recharging with some sugar as I waited for the two to arrive, Seunghee walked over and pulled up a screen in front of me.

It was a live broadcast of breaking news.

“I’m currently reporting from the scene of the hostage situation—this is Daedong-A International Universal Elementary School, well-known for enrolling the children of public figures, celebrities, and the upper class—”

“A horrifying hostage crisis has broken out at an elementary school in Seoul. The assailants are demanding full voting rights for Continentals—”

“A puppet group armed with heavy weapons has occupied an elementary school and taken hostages.”

“As you know, in South Korea, the possession of firearms and other weaponry is strictly prohibited. However, in Incheon, those restrictions are much looser. Around 7 PM this evening, a heavily armed group took elementary students hostage in an unprecedented crisis. The group originated from Incheon—”

Apparently, some armed group had taken over an elementary school and was holding students hostage.

“Huh. Sounds like your average day in Incheon.”

“It’s Seoul, Master.”

“Huh? Oh. You’re right. What the hell?”

Across the Korean peninsula—no, across all South Korean territory—Incheon is the only place where the possession of firearms and similar weapons is permitted, precisely because law and order is so utterly broken.

Naturally, carrying those weapons outside of Incheon is a serious criminal offense.

As far as I know, the inspections at the borders are pretty strict.

Someone like me—ultra-high-class—can go wherever I want in an AV, but most people still get scanned. Even AVs get checked, and anyone traveling by car goes through multiple checkpoints.

So something like this happening in Seoul?

That’s at least a life sentence. Could even be capital punishment.

BOOM!!

The screen flashed.

One side of the elementary school classroom on camera exploded in a massive blast.

“Ah! A b-bomb just—!”

The scene instantly devolved into chaos.

Even the crowd of onlookers, who’d only been watching out of curiosity, scattered in full-blown panic.

These guys weren’t just hostage-takers anymore.

They were terrorists.

Blowing up part of an elementary school?

What the actual fuck.

“We are NOT playing games!”

“We are Koreans too! Grant us voting rights in the mainland!!”

“We’ll detonate another bomb every 10 minutes!”