Free Web NovelAfter receiving the full report, the Japanese prime minister’s face hardened as he glared at Medvedev.
Medvedev only smiled at the sight, giving no response at all.
At the prime minister’s sharp reaction, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, who hadn’t yet heard the details, looked at him in confusion.
“Are you saying you want war with us?”
The prime minister, who had spoken calmly throughout the meeting, suddenly raised his voice.
“War? What are you talking about, Prime Minister?”
Startled at the mention of war, the Chief Cabinet Secretary asked in alarm.
But instead of explaining the situation to him, the prime minister shouted at Medvedev, demanding an answer.
“Tell me. Do you want war?”
“I don’t quite understand what you mean.”
“Don’t play dumb. We’ve received reports that the Russian navy is approaching the Shishima Islands.”
Grinding his teeth, the prime minister spat out the words, but Medvedev responded nonchalantly.
“And what of it? Under ‘international law,’ there’s nothing wrong with regular exercises on our own territory.”
“Chairman Medvedev!”
Unable to hold back any longer, the prime minister raised his voice.
Japan and Russia had long been locked in a territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands.
It was a conflict that had dragged on since the 1950s. For the prime minister, who had managed to steer talks with Putin in a positive direction not long ago, the current situation was alarming.
“What problem is there with a sovereign nation’s military conducting exercises on its own territory?”
“Are you using these exercises as a pretext to threaten Japan? America won’t stand by.”
“And what does America have to do with a sovereign military exercise?”
Unlike the prime minister, whose face had turned red with fury, Medvedev remained calm and composed.
“Our nation and America are allies bound by a mutual defense treaty.”
“I already said there’s no problem under international law. The U.S. has no reason to interfere.”
The way Medvedev kept hammering on “international law” made the prime minister frown.
He was repeating, word for word, the very logic Japan itself had just used.
An awkward silence briefly settled over the office.
Medvedev unclasped his hands, crossed his arms, and leaned back in his chair, gazing at the Japanese officials.
Confidence radiated from his face.
“Chairman Medvedev, why are you going this far? Are you saying you’ll protect Representative Eva even ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) at the risk of war?”
“Our president made many concessions to Japan in the recent talks. And how did you behave in return?”
“That was... a misunderstanding.”
The Chief Cabinet Secretary hastily tried to explain, but Medvedev shook his head.
“No matter how much weaker Russia has become, we were once the nation that shared global hegemony with America. Even after the Soviet collapse and the currency crisis, we are still Russia.”
The firmness of his words carried deep anger.
Sensing the wrath beneath, the prime minister could only mutter one thing through clenched teeth.
“...Withdraw your troops.”
“And under what authority does the prime minister order the withdrawal of a sovereign nation’s military from exercises on its own land?”
“It’s disputed territory, isn’t it?”
Medvedev snorted at that.
“That’s only Japan’s position. Isn’t the problem with your country? With Korea it’s Dokdo, with China it’s Diaoyudao, and with us it’s the Kurils. Looking back, Japan claims territorial disputes with every neighbor it has.”
Indeed, Japan was embroiled in disputes with all nearby countries. Medvedev had struck a nerve.
“Why bring that up here? And it’s not Dokdo and Diaoyudao, it’s Takeshima and the Senkaku Islands.”
When the prime minister retorted, Medvedev only shrugged with a sly smile.
It was not the decorum expected in diplomatic talks, but Medvedev didn’t care in the least.
The prime minister felt his mind boiling with rage.
“Are you determined to take this to the end?”
“It was Japan that first said it might sever diplomatic ties.”
“I told you, that was a misunderstanding.”
“There are no misunderstandings in international relations. Take responsibility for the words you utter, Prime Minister.”
The meeting dragged on, locked in a stalemate, consuming time with no progress.
Glancing at the clock on the wall, Medvedev suggested ending it.
“It seems neither side is willing to compromise. Let’s end it here.”
“Chairman Medvedev!”
The prime minister called out urgently. Medvedev was unhurried, but the prime minister was desperate.
If the Russian navy truly entered the Kurils, the blow to his political standing would be devastating.
Not long ago, he had even promised to secure two southern islands from Russia—but now all of it was crumbling in an instant.
It was a fight Japan could not possibly win.
“What do you really want?”
At last, the prime minister asked a question tantamount to surrender. A broad smile spread across Medvedev’s lips.
“It’s simple. Send Representative Eva with me to Russia. That’s all. Not such a difficult matter, is it?” ƒгeewebnovёl.com
A deep sigh escaped the prime minister.
“Tell me one thing. Who is Representative Eva to you that you’d go this far? Enough to risk military conflict?”
No matter how much Kim Muhyuk had contributed to Russia’s economy, the prime minister could not fathom Putin being willing to risk a clash with another nation for him.
“Because President Kim Muhyuk asked me.”
“He’s nothing more than a Korean businessman. And you expect me to believe you’d move Russian troops for a man like that?”
At the prime minister’s incredulous reaction, Medvedev laughed heartily.
“Prime Minister, you still think of President Kim as just a businessman. Keep that up, and Japan’s economy may shatter to pieces. Consider this advice. Don’t let useless pride push you into fighting him.”
“What do you...”
Medvedev’s face turned cold again as he cut in.
“That’s all I have to say. What will you do, Prime Minister? Will you permit Representative Eva’s departure, or will you go to the bitter end?”
It was the final ultimatum. Already, the Russian navy had departed Sakhalin and was heading across the sea toward the Kurils.
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, as well as the U.S. forces stationed there, were on emergency alert.
It was a clear display of Russian military power.
While the prime minister hesitated, the Chief Cabinet Secretary bit his lip and asked,
“Is this Russia’s official stance, Chairman Medvedev?”
Hearing the arrogance finally drain from his tone, Medvedev smirked faintly and nodded.
“I cannot move troops without President Putin’s approval. Whatever other countries may do, Russia does not.”
“So this is the Russian government’s official position.”
Upon hearing his reply, the Chief Cabinet Secretary turned to the prime minister.
“Prime Minister, let us rise.”
“Secretary.”
“When has Japan ever yielded to such threats?”
His words were full of national pride, but the prime minister knew it was stubbornness.
“This isn’t worth it. All we need to do is let Representative Eva leave, and it ends.”
“No, Prime Minister!”
Though the Chief Cabinet Secretary objected vehemently, the prime minister seemed already decided.
“If we allow Representative Eva to leave, will you withdraw the navy from the Shishima Islands?”
Ignoring his secretary’s protests, the prime minister asked Medvedev.
“Of course.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do. Call them back immediately.”
The prime minister’s political survival came first. He would not allow anything to endanger his grip on power.
“Prime Minister!”
“Silence!”
At his shouted rebuke, the Chief Cabinet Secretary fell silent. Medvedev inwardly sneered at the scene.
But outwardly, he kept his face cold as he stared at the prime minister.
“If this is just a false promise to douse the flames, you’ll pay a matching price.”
“I don’t go back on my word. Make the call.”
Only after receiving the prime minister’s assurance did Medvedev’s smile return.
He pulled a phone from his inner pocket, while worry darkened the prime minister’s face.
* * *
After receiving Medvedev’s call that the matter was settled, I turned on the TV.
Every channel was reporting the Russian navy’s movements.
“Putin went further than expected, didn’t he?”
“It seems so.”
Manager Ma’s stiff reply came from beside me.
His serious face made me chuckle slightly as I flipped through the channels, all full of stories about the Russian navy.
“It was really dangerous. It could’ve escalated into war...”
It was clear that even for Putin, this had been excessive.
Behind Japan stood the United States. If things had turned into open conflict, it could easily have become a clash between America and Russia.
If it were the Clinton administration, it might have been resolved through dialogue, but with Bush it would be far harder. From what I’d seen of Bush, he was the sort of man who wouldn’t shy away from war.
“Medvedev is returning to Russia with Eva today. From there she’ll head straight to Korea. Once she’s back, Ilseong’s shareholders’ meeting will begin.”
“Understood, Boss.”
Turning off the TV and rising, I added,
“Eva will rest a bit before starting work again. Since I’ll be too busy to focus on her, Manager Ma, see to it personally.”
“Yes, I’ll make the arrangements.”
“Check quickly on President Han’s situation, then be ready for me to head out. I’ll need to move immediately.”
Leaving the study behind, I went into Han Kyungyeong’s room.
“Hyung, how’s it going?”
“Oh, you’re here?”
Han Kyungyeong didn’t even turn around, eyes fixed on his monitors. I smirked and sat beside him.
“The Japanese financial authorities have begun defending the exchange rate. They’re selling dollars and buying yen every day.”
“Really? They’re lasting longer than I thought.”
“Since the dollar’s value was trending down, the yen had been rising. But now that we’re working to drive the yen down, the forex dealers are watching and waiting.”
“So what’s the rate now?”
“110 yen.”
Still far from our target, the number made me raise an eyebrow.
“When do you think the forex dealers will join in?” freewebnσvel.cøm
“Probably soon. They’ll jump in any moment.”
“Throw in all the dollars Eva just secured from the Japanese banks too.”
At that, Han Kyungyeong finally turned his head toward me.
“Even Eva’s funds?”
“Yes. This time we must force Japan to surrender. I’ll show them what money can do, and what happens when I set my mind to something.”
“Got it. The currency attack is just the start. Once we strike at bonds and the stock market too, they won’t last long.”
Like Hong Kong before them, Japan might resort to an extreme rate hike. But unlike Hong Kong, Japan couldn’t afford to—not with the U.S. watching.
“Let Japan taste the suffering Korea went through.”
Standing, I patted his shoulder.
“Just hang in there a little longer.”
“Yeah, you too.”
Without looking away from his monitors, Han Kyungyeong gave his reply.
I left him to his work with a faint smile.
“Let’s go.”
With Manager Ma, I set out for the secret bar to meet Myungsoo.
By the time we arrived, the sun had set and darkness had swallowed the world.
I reached the bar first and waited for Myungsoo. Before long, he came in, immediately shedding his tie and jacket and rolling up his shirt sleeves.
“Ha! I can’t breathe.”
Myungsoo’s accent was now nearly gone. As soon as he arrived, he vented freely, and I smiled faintly.
Pouring whiskey for him as he sat down, I asked,
“Rough day?”
“It’s not the work, it’s meeting people, managing people—that’s the real grind.”
He lifted the glass and drained it in one go.
“Ah... that’s the stuff. I can’t even drink properly with all the old men watching. Those geezers, really...”
Shaking his head, he grumbled while I refilled his glass.
“What about President Yoon?”
“President?”
When I nodded, Myungsoo’s expression dimmed a little.
“Same as ever. Appointing me Secretary-General caused a lot of friction. He’s been working hard to smooth it over.”
Within the party, the Secretary-General was a core post alongside the party president and the floor leader.
Since the position had enormous influence over the party’s funds, both conservative and progressive parties often appointed lawmakers with three or more terms.
“When President Yoon moves on to the Blue House, you’ll have to inherit his power in the party. That’s why you were placed as Secretary-General. Endure it, even if it’s hard.”
“I know. That’s why I only talk like this with you.”
I coaxed him gently and raised my glass. With a sigh, Myungsoo lifted his as well.
The cheerful clink of our glasses filled the room.
