Free Web Novel― Mr. Kim, you said there was progress?
“Yes. But it’s difficult to explain properly over the phone. I’ll speak with you in person. I will inform President Kim Hakgwon separately that I intend to visit the North, but making it an official visit would look far better.”
Through the receiver, I could faintly hear Kim Jongil searching for his cigarettes.
― Hoo... then tell me just this. Are you saying the United States accepted my proposal?
“Rather than accepting it... I received a counterproposal. It’s not something I can explain over the phone.”
― Very well, then let us speak in person. I will contact President Kim Hakgwon myself.
“I’ll arrange to visit Pyongyang as soon as possible. And Chairman, right now it is crucial not to provoke the United States in any way.”
Even if a peace treaty was signed, it would take a long time to earn America’s full trust.
That meant every word and every action had to be taken with caution.
Lowering the receiver, I raised my glass. Manager Ma gathered the satellite phone he had given me and asked,
“Boss, are you going to Pyongyang?”
I gave a small nod. Since he didn’t know about my conversation with Dick Cheney, I offered him a short explanation.
“The U.S. is willing to discuss a peace treaty with North Korea. I don’t fully understand their intentions, but for Kim Jongil, it isn’t a bad offer.”
“That’s unexpected. I thought America would completely isolate every hostile state this time. Didn’t you expect the same, Boss?”
Indeed, I had. I had even heard directly about their plan to re-designate state sponsors of terrorism.
Yet Cheney had sought me out, saying the U.S. was willing to negotiate with the North.
“Yes. That’s why my head is complicated. Lately, too many things are straying from my predictions.”
I had already changed much by intervening, but this time, history itself was twisting.
I could not undo what had already occurred. That left me with only one choice—steer it as close as possible to my desired direction.
Slowly swirling the glass, I began to put my tangled thoughts in order.
* * *
After the call, Kim Jongil lit cigarette after cigarette, lost in thought.
“Cheolsu.”
“Yes, General.”
Perched on the bed, pondering for a long time, Kim Jongil called the man standing like a statue nearby.
“Will the Americans truly make a peace treaty?”
“You said yourself, General, it was just a shot in the dark. But it seems President Kim Muhyuk has brought back unexpectedly good results.”
“Yes, that’s true. Hoo...”
Exhaling a long plume of smoke, Kim Jongil fell silent, and Baek Cheolsu quietly watched.
After a heavy sigh, Kim Jongil spoke again.
“Cheolsu, you still haven’t found out who those bastards were that attacked me, have you?”
“No, General. My apologies.”
Baek Cheolsu bowed deeply. At that, Kim Jongil laughed loudly and crushed out his cigarette.
“I’m not blaming you. Do you think it’s easy to catch those who dared to attack me in Pyongyang? And since we must investigate in secret, it’s all the harder.”
Lighting another cigarette, he held it in his lips. Baek Cheolsu quickly flicked his lighter and lit it for him.
“What time is it now?”
“The sun hasn’t risen yet. Just past six.”
Kim Jongil nodded slightly at the reply and rose from the bed with the cigarette still in his mouth.
Baek Cheolsu stepped aside and cautiously asked,
“Won’t you rest a bit longer?”
“Call in Minister Jang. And... no, I should speak with him first.”
“Yes, General.”
Issuing the order, Kim Jongil walked to his office and sat in the chair.
Eyes closed in thought, cigarette smoke curled upward in the silent office.
Time passed. By the time the morning sun began to rise, Jang Songthaek entered.
“Chairman, you called for me?”
“Minister Jang, good. Sit down.”
Never before had he been summoned so early, so Jang Songthaek was tense and stiff.
“Why so nervous, Minister? Did you do something wrong to me?”
“No, Chairman.”
Even at Kim Jongil’s jesting tone, Jang Songthaek answered stiffly.
Kim Jongil held out a cigarette.
“Have one.”
“Thank you.”
Lighting the cigarette without hesitation, Jang Songthaek smoked with him.
Sharing a cigarette with North Korea’s supreme leader showed how much power he wielded.
“Minister Jang, you will have to go to Seoul.”
“Seoul, you say?”
The sudden order forced him to ask back.
“The terrorist attacks in America have shaken our Republic. You must go to Seoul and renew the atmosphere.”
“...I will obey your command.”
“Park Namgi will head the economic inspection team, but you will have other tasks.”
One by one, Kim Jongil explained what Jang Songthaek must do in Seoul.
When the explanations ended, confusion spread across Jang Songthaek’s face.
Kim Jongil noticed it at once.
“What, can’t you do it?”
“No, I will accomplish it.”
“Good. I will speak with President Kim Hakgwon so that Senior Captain Baek may move freely in Seoul. Do not concern yourself with what he does or where.”
“Sir?”
“You’re making me repeat myself.”
Kim Jongil’s voice turned icy.
The change in mood made Jang Songthaek drop to his knees.
“...Forgive me, Chairman.”
“Stand. What are you doing kneeling? We are family, are we not?”
But Jang Songthaek never believed such words from Kim Jongil’s mouth.
He kept his head bowed.
“Stand, Minister Jang.”
At the second command, he finally lifted his head.
Seeing the Chairman’s cold gaze, his body flinched.
“Whatever thoughts you harbor, I do not care. But do not question my orders. Understood?”
“Yes, Chairman.”
Kim Jongil tossed the dead cigarette into the ashtray and lit another.
“It is earlier than planned, but I trust you will handle it well.”
“Yes.”
“Go now. And tell no one of my orders. If you do, not even you will be safe.”
The chilling warning followed him out.
Jang Songthaek backed out of the office, careful not to show his back.
Once he was gone, Kim Jongil called again.
“Cheolsu.”
“Yes, General.”
“There is something you must do.”
“Just give the order.”
Exhaling smoke, Kim Jongil began to tell Baek Cheolsu what was required.
* * *
After fourteen hours of flight, I arrived at Gimpo Airport. Eva was waiting there.
“Boss, you must be tired.”
She rushed up as soon as she saw me. I smiled.
“Tired? Not at all. You’ve had the harder work. Let’s talk on the way.”
We got into the prepared car together and left the airport for Pyeongchang-dong.
“The KOSPI and KOSDAQ are in ruins, aren’t they?”
“Yes. Fear like nothing else. A complete panic.”
She began to recount the market crash of the past week.
“The KOSPI held up somewhat, but KOSDAQ, still weakened from the IT bubble, collapsed. The first day was pure panic. Most listed stocks hit the lower limit.”
KOSDAQ’s daily limit was 12%, set lower than KOSPI’s 15% to maintain stability.
Yet most stocks still crashed—utter pandemonium.
“We suffered heavy losses too, but since you told me not to sell, I held.”
“How about Ilseong Group stock?”
“After our battle with Ilseong Trading, shares in the market were already dried up. No big changes.”
As expected. I nodded and gave an order.
Even when the supply is dried up, squeeze hard enough and something always leaks out.
“Still, buy any shares that appear. Even a single one.”
“We’ve been doing that. But they’re also buying Ilseong Electronics shares...”
“Most of those shares are held by foreign banks. They won’t let go easily. Easier to ruin Ilseong Electronics than to wrest control.”
Most of Ilseong Electronics shares were in the hands of overseas banks.
No matter what, they refused to sell.
Han Kyungyeong had tried to negotiate many times, but they never budged.
“Let’s put our faith in Joongwoo Electronics.”
Talking with Eva, we arrived at Pyeongchang-dong.
“Come to the Myeongdong office tomorrow. Tonight, I’ll rest.”
“Got it, Boss. Don’t overdo it—get some good rest.”
Seeing my fatigue, she gave a quiet word of encouragement before heading back.
I said I would rest, but mountains of tasks awaited me the moment I returned to Korea.
With a deep sigh, I stepped into my study.
Days passed after my arrival.
I quickly handled several important matters, then left for Busan to attend Hyunseong’s wedding.
The night before, I met with friends and drank together after a long time.
With Hyunseong and Myungsoo, the three of us gathered at a pojangmacha in Jagalchi, drinking and reminiscing.
“Never thought Hyunseong would be the first of us to marry.”
Though we only had soju and grilled eel, drinking with friends made it sweeter than the finest liquor.
Myungsoo, drunk, kept bringing up the past. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
“Remember back in high school, when I got cornered in the music room? Then Muhyuk barged in... damn...”
“Enough. Why bring up old wounds?”
Embarrassment cut him off.
Back then, I had only vowed never to repeat the same mistake again.
When Myungsoo’s leg had been broken and he left school.
“Man, you don’t know how moved I was. From that day, I swore I’d follow Muhyuk to the death. Hyunseong, you know it too, right?”
Hyunseong, silent until now, nodded and downed his drink.
“I’ll do whatever Muhyuk says.”
“You’re drunk, Myungsoo. Stop talking.”
Though the «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» tent was empty of other patrons, Myungsoo’s face was known to many.
A politician must always be careful with words.
“I’m not drunk. Oh, right! I ran into Hong Jinpyo in Seoul not long ago. Didn’t I tell you?”
At the mention of Hong Jinpyo, my interest sharpened.
I nodded, and Myungsoo continued.
“It was during a site visit with Centrist Party lawmakers about redevelopment. Turns out the bastard’s a redevelopment association chairman now.”
“Association chairman?”
“Yeah. I was shocked too. He flinched when he saw me. Used to strut around back then...”
Myungsoo grimaced and downed his glass. I poured him more and asked,
“And then?”
“You know how lucrative that position is. Everyone fights for it. And the guy was sucking up to me like crazy, after what he did to me back then... damn.”
Redevelopment association chairmen wielded immense power, especially in selecting construction firms. Those seats were fought over like National Assembly elections.
“Guess he thinks he got the worse end back then. Anyway, after the meeting, he tried to bribe me. Said he’d appreciate quick approval on redevelopment. Handed me cash. I felt sick.”
“He handed you money?”
Naturally, since Myungsoo already received funding from me, he wouldn’t take it.
Sure enough, he said,
“Yeah. I threw it in his face. The look on his face... priceless. I walked away.”
“...I’ll look into it. As long as you didn’t take the money, it’s fine.”
A strange unease made me decide to dig deeper.
Redevelopment associations were often tangled with gangsters. It would be easy to find out.
“Let’s call it a night.”
Though it was only a little past midnight, we had to rest for Hyunseong’s wedding.
The next morning, I woke early to prepare.
Just as I was about to leave for the ceremony, the Blue House called.
“This is Kim Muhyuk.”
― This is the Blue House. The President wishes to speak with you.
