Free Web NovelI thought about what kind of matter could make President Kim Hakgwon ask me for help right now.
The answer burst from Kim Hakgwon’s mouth.
— Convince the Centrist Party.
“The Centrist Party?”
— Yes. Do you think this is something I can decide alone? We are talking about burying Chairman Song Youngjoo of Daehyeon Group in North Korean soil. The political burden is immense.
“So you’ve already decided to go through with it?”
I had vaguely suspected that Kim Hakgwon wouldn’t be able to refuse this. No—more precisely, that he wouldn’t refuse it.
The greatest goal of the Kim Hakgwon administration was the normalization of North-South relations.
So there was no way he would turn down the chance to establish the first South Korean grave on North Korean soil since division.
— Of course. My senior secretaries and aides are split down the middle. The Foreign Minister’s opposition was especially fierce.
“And yet, in the end, you chose to do it.”
— If Chairman Song Youngjoo is buried in North Korean soil, wouldn’t that naturally become an opportunity for South and North to become one?
“Perhaps.”
In a normal country, that logic would hold...
But North Korea under Kim Jongil was not a nation where common sense applied.
If they used Chairman Song’s grave as leverage, Daehyeon would have no choice but to be dragged around.
— I know what you’re thinking. It may look suspicious. But I don’t want to miss this opportunity.
I felt a wave of disgust at the sight of him exploiting even Chairman Song Youngjoo’s death for his politics.
My voice came out cold, naturally.
“You don’t want to take responsibility, but you do want the fruit. Something like that?”
— ...
“If I help you persuade the Centrist Party and ease your political burden, what do I get in return?”
Asked outright, Kim Hakgwon was momentarily struck dumb, unable to answer right away.
I didn’t wait and continued.
“I’m an investor, Mr. President. I never do business at a loss. If you want to deal with me, it has to be give-and-take. What will you give me?”
— Is there something you want?
“Maybe not right now, but someday. Helping without getting anything in return is just alms. That wouldn’t be showing you proper respect, either.”
At the moment there was nothing I needed to demand from him.
But someday, the time to collect would come. Insurance is something you can never have too much of.
— Hoo... Can you have the Centrist Party spokesman release a statement of support by this evening?
“Yes. That much I can do.”
I answered lightly, and Kim Hakgwon let out a deep sigh.
That sigh seemed to hold the weight of his worries.
— Then do it. Just this once. If it’s something within my power, I’ll grant you what you want.
“Understood. Then I’ll bring you good news.”
— I’ll be counting on you. I’ll hang up now.
Kim Hakgwon ended the call. As I put down the receiver, I turned to Manager Ma.
“Call President Yoon and ask him to come to Pyeongchang-dong. And also get Myungsoo... no. I’ll call Myungsoo myself. Just contact President Yoon.”
“Yes, Boss.”
After Manager Ma left, I took out my phone and called Myungsoo.
— Oh, Muhyuk. What’s going on?
“Busy?”
— Not really. Though it looks like I’m about to get busy. Did you hear? They’re planning to make Chairman Song Youngjoo’s grave in North Korea. Our party is in an uproar over it.
“That’s exactly why I’m calling. # Nоvеlight # Come over to my house.”
— Huh? Your house? Pyeongchang-dong?
“Yeah. I’ve called President Yoon, too.”
There was a short silence, then Myungsoo spoke again.
— No wonder he suddenly cut off talking to me to take a call. Must’ve been Manager Ma.
“You’re with him now?”
— We were discussing the party’s stance. We have to decide how to announce our position through the spokesman.
I glanced at the clock during the call. It was still morning, just past dawn.
Well, for the Centrist Party to be meeting this early in the morning, it showed how weighty this issue was for them too.
“Perfect. Then come together.”
— All right. Then at least get me some food ready. I rushed straight to headquarters at the crack of dawn and haven’t had breakfast.
“Really? Got it. I’ll have it prepared. We’ll talk over a meal.”
After ending the call with Myungsoo, I put my phone away.
‘Is there anything I can collect from Kim Hakgwon...?’
Just then Manager Ma returned, opening the study door.
“Boss, they said they’ll be here within an hour.”
“Good. They’re together. He said he hasn’t eaten, so tell the housekeeper to prepare plenty of food so we can all eat.”
“Yes, understood.”
After saying that, I sat down at my desk and turned on the computer.
I browsed through various community boards to check the public sentiment about Chairman Song Youngjoo’s grave.
Online, too, things were ablaze. The public was fiercely divided between support and opposition.
“Boss, President Yoon has arrived.”
At Manager Ma’s voice, I checked the clock and got up.
I had been so absorbed in watching the heated debates that an hour had flown by.
“Already? Time passed fast. Let’s go.”
When I stepped out of the study, President Yoon and Myungsoo were coming in.
“Welcome, Mr. President.” freēwēbnovel.com
“President Kim, it’s been a while.”
Behind him, Myungsoo waved his hand. His face looked tired, but the joy of seeing me was clear.
“I heard you hadn’t eaten, so breakfast has been prepared. Let’s eat first, then talk.”
“Good idea.”
I led President Yoon and Myungsoo to the dining table.
“Please sit.”
I took the head seat at the table first.
It was the seat my grandfather always sat in. From this spot, he had looked down on countless chairmen and politicians.
President Yoon must have recognized the meaning of that seat, because his face stiffened. But without a word, he eventually sat to my left.
Noticing the mood, Myungsoo took the right seat.
“The lady here has a very good hand for cooking. Please, fill your stomachs first.”
I picked up my spoon and smiled as I encouraged them. Only then did President Yoon’s stiff face relax.
“Really? Then I’ll try.”
He laughed good-naturedly and picked up his spoon.
At Pyeongchang-dong, conversations during meals were kept to a minimum.
President Yoon knew that custom, and Myungsoo also knew it from the few days he had once stayed here as a child.
When President Yoon set his spoon down first, I followed and asked.
“Finished?”
He nodded, and with a chuckle, said,
“The food is delicious. I want to take your cook home. My wife is good in every way, but her cooking... well...”
Myungsoo picked it up deftly.
“That I can attest to. I’ve eaten at your house a few times, and I can’t say it was delicious. Still, you love your wife, don’t you, Mr. President?”
“Haha, of course. You’re so honest. The other lawmakers flatter me and say it’s good when it isn’t.”
“I’d like to try it sometime too. Well then, shall we move?”
After finishing the meal, we moved into the study.
Again, I sat at the head, with the two seated across from me.
“Coffee for you, Mr. President? Or something else?”
“I’ll have coffee.”
“You?”
“Me too. Coffee.”
“Manager, three coffees please.”
We chatted idly until the servant brought the coffee, then withdrew with Manager Ma.
I studied President Yoon’s face as I lifted my cup. He looked no less weary than Myungsoo.
“Drink. By the way, how’s the party atmosphere about Chairman Song Youngjoo’s case?”
He picked up his cup too. Before he covered his lips with it, I caught the bitter smile flickering there.
“There are those who call it madness, and those who welcome it with open arms. Isn’t that always the way?”
The Centrist Party leaned neither left nor right.
So its lawmakers were a mix of progressives and conservatives alike.
Not just the seniors, but the newcomers too—a jumble of left and right.
It was a monstrous structure born of Yoon Changho’s charisma and my funding combined.
And precisely because of that, it earned fervent public support.
Even though it wasn’t the ruling party, it never opposed for opposition’s sake. If a policy was right, they backed it. If it wasn’t, they voted against.
So they fought more viciously among themselves than with the government in the Assembly.
“You’re doing well, Mr. President.”
“Don’t say that. I’m struggling, and your friend here is practically dying from the work.”
“It’s that bad?”
“Ha... you wouldn’t know unless you went through it. The old geezers act like old geezers, and the young rookies—well, they’ve got spirit, but no brakes.”
Myungsoo sighed deeply, pouring out his grievances to me.
It was pitiful to see how much his face had aged.
“You need some tonic. Your face looks...”
“...You think so too? Should I just quit?”
President Yoon smiled at our playful banter, even with himself sitting there.
“You two really are close. President Kim as well. When men rise high, they usually change. I wish I had a friend like that.”
“Ah... I apologize, Mr. President.”
Myungsoo hurriedly apologized.
“No need. I said it out of envy. Don’t worry about it.”
The lightened mood quickly sank again, and we returned to the main topic.
“So, Mr. President, what’s your stance?”
“I want to oppose this.”
“Why?”
“Because North Korea can’t be trusted. If Chairman Song Youngjoo’s grave is there, Daehyeon might end up moving as Kim Jongil wants. Daehyeon is one of Korea’s top corporate groups. Can we let it be dragged along by North Korea?”
I agreed with him. I nodded naturally.
“I think the same. But it was also Chairman Song’s lifelong wish. And I’ll keep watch to make sure Daehyeon doesn’t go astray. So I ask that you release a statement in support.”
“...”
President Yoon’s lips moved, but he didn’t answer.
“Is there a problem? Is this too difficult a request?”
He still didn’t reply, so I pressed again.
“If it’s hard, just say it’s hard.”
I instantly wiped the smile off my face. I saw his expression harden.
“If it’s beyond your ability, then so be it. Myungsoo, what about you?”
I turned my gaze to Myungsoo instead.
“I...”
He glanced once at President Yoon, about to speak, but the president was quicker.
“No. I’ll do it.”
He cleared his throat softly, perhaps to hide the tremor in his voice. I shifted my gaze back to him.
“If it’s burdensome, you don’t have to force yourself.”
“No. I was just thinking of something else.”
“...”
I locked eyes with him in silence. He didn’t look away.
“Let’s not waste time with power games, Mr. President. I consider you a good partner.”
“I think the same.”
“I will make you president, without fail. Are you worried I might make requests like this even after you become president?”
“...I can’t say no to that.”
That answer revealed his thoughts.
So now that the presidency was within reach, the greed was surfacing.
“Have I ever once asked you for anything that harmed you? I believe I’ve treated you even better than President Kim Hakgwon has...”
Trailing off, I rubbed my chin, still staring straight at him.
A long, awkward silence stretched, then I spoke again.
“I don’t think of you as a puppet. I think of you as a comrade, walking the same road with the same purpose. But if you still can’t trust me, then let go of my hand whenever you wish. I won’t force you.”
