Free Web Novel“You want me to persuade Russia?”
I couldn’t help but be stunned by that unexpected request.
I never imagined I’d receive the same kind of proposal from the United States that I once made to Putin.
“Yes. We’d like Russia to support the war for Iraq’s liberation, but if that’s impossible, we’d at least hope for an abstention. We believe you are the best person to bridge the United States and Russia.”
A heavy silence filled the ambassador’s office.
Secretary Powell quietly sipped his tea, while Rice stared at me intently.
Ambassador Thomas looked from me to Rice, his face full of surprise.
“Hmm... Do you really think Russia would accept such a proposal?”
“If we were to make it, of course not. But if you do it, they might. At least, that’s what we believe — based on what we know.”
“And what exactly do you know?”
“Charlie, when no one in America or Western Europe cared about Putin, you bet on him. You’re not only his friend — you’re his political partner. Isn’t that right?”
Rice didn’t bother to sugarcoat her words. She just threw them straight out, leaving me to ponder.
‘Well, this is a problem...’
When I’m the one making an offer, it’s a negotiation. But when the U.S. comes to me first, the weight shifts entirely.
If before I could gain one thing, now I could aim for two — or even three.
What the U.S. could or couldn’t accept was something to consider later. For now, I decided to probe a little.
“It’s true that we’re on good terms, but calling me a political partner is a bit much.”
“You’re the only person besides Medvedev, his Chief of Staff, who’s ever had a private drinking session with Putin, Charlie.”
I almost lost my composure at that.
So the U.S. hadn’t taken its eyes off Russia after all, even while pretending to focus on the Middle East.
“Why do you think that?”
“This is America. Of course we monitor everything Putin does. We know when he retreats to his secret villa — and that after he went there, a car carrying you arrived not long after. And that you left at dawn.”
“Hmm...”
So, I’d been under surveillance. Great. And Rice’s blunt tone grated even more.
The best way to protest without words was to act as though I were thinking things over.
The longer I stayed silent, the more uneasy they’d get.
Sure enough, Powell intervened to shift the mood.
“Calm down, Rice. You’re being too aggressive.”
“Mr. Secretary.”
“I’ll handle this. Step back.”
“I still don’t see why we need the UN’s approval.”
“Hey! President Bush already approved it. Are you challenging me too now?”
Maybe because this wasn’t an official setting, neither of them bothered to hide their disagreement.
Powell’s raised voice made Rice shrug and step back reluctantly.
He sighed deeply and turned to me.
“Charlie, we need your help.”
“I understand. I’ve heard that once this East Asia tour ends, the U.S. plans to ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ present a resolution at the UN regarding Iraq.”
“Invasion? No, America is intervening to liberate the Iraqi people.”
At Rice’s sharp tone, I looked at her in disbelief.
“Does the name matter? Whether you call it invasion or liberation, it’s still aggression.”
Rice’s lips parted to retort, but Powell raised his hand to stop her.
“Rice, I said I’d handle this.”
“...Tch.”
She muttered irritably under her breath but stayed quiet.
Powell, looking exhausted, shook his head and spoke.
“You’re right. ‘Invasion,’ ‘liberation war’ — it’s all semantics. What matters is securing legitimacy. And for that, we need the UN’s approval.”
Even America couldn’t ignore the eyes of the international community.
“So, you want UN backing to justify the war. But do you really think China and Russia will support it?”
“China has already agreed to abstain. Now we only need Russia.”
“China agreed to abstain?”
I had suspected as much, but it was still startling.
Given how the future had already shifted, I figured China might abstain or support the move — and I’d even told Putin it was possible.
But to think they had already secured China’s abstention — things were moving faster than I expected.
Powell nodded casually and continued.
“Yes. Once Russia’s on board, the resolution will pass.”
The neocons — Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Rice — had all been pushing hard for the invasion of Iraq. Powell, on the other hand, had been skeptical.
Rumor had it that he’d clashed fiercely with Cheney in Washington — Powell wanted diplomacy; Cheney wanted war. The tension had made the White House atmosphere icy.
“President Bush finally agreed to submit the resolution. Even if it doesn’t pass, the war will still happen. But if it does, it becomes a UN-approved operation, not an invasion. You of all people should understand the weight of that — after all, the Korean War was legitimized by a UN resolution too.”
“Hmm...”
Unlike Rice, Powell’s style was quiet pressure — indirect, but heavy.
He was equating Korea with me.
‘America helped Korea back then — so now Korea should return the favor.’
He used to be a soldier, but now he sounded like a smooth politician. freewёbnoνel.com
“Don’t equate me with Korea.”
“That wasn’t my intention.”
Powell quickly denied it, but I didn’t stop.
“What did you offer China? If they agreed to abstain, there must have been something significant in return. And that something must have been valuable enough to justify abstention. I need to know that to persuade Putin.”
Both Powell’s and Rice’s expressions froze.
Clearly, they hadn’t expected that question.
“You must have offered something big. My guess — it has to do with the sudden change in policy toward North Korea. Am I wrong?”
The moment I hit the mark, their faces shifted.
“Don’t think you can just use me. This is a negotiation, isn’t it? Yesterday you invited me to the banquet, then sent the NSA to threaten me, then Jessica to placate me — and now Rice here says it had nothing to do with you. Do you really take me for a fool?”
“Mr. Kim!”
Thomas called out in Korean, panicked, but I ignored him.
The sudden appearance of the NSA, Jessica’s timely approach, and now this meeting — all part of one well-orchestrated play.
Whether it was confidence or coercion, it left a bad taste in my mouth.
“Wait — what do you mean, the NSA threatened you?”
Powell looked genuinely confused.
“They came to me yesterday and said, ‘We’re watching you. Hand over the information we want.’”
I pulled a business card from my inner pocket and twirled it between my fingers.
Powell turned toward Rice.
“Is that true?”
“...”
“Damn it... What kind of reckless operation are you people running?”
Rice clenched her jaw, glaring at me in silence.
“Explain yourself, Rice. Why would you go that far? I don’t understand it.”
“I only heard about it this morning. Homeland Security contacted me, and when I asked Rumsfeld, he said he didn’t know either.”
“So that’s why Rumsfeld suddenly canceled today’s meeting. Damn it — I feel like a fool.”
Powell’s face hardened with anger as he turned to Rice.
“I know you don’t like me, Rice. But I’m the Secretary of State. Acting behind my back like this is unacceptable.”
“I told you I didn’t know!”
Rice shouted back. I watched the two of them bickering with disbelief.
‘What the hell is this...’
A circus, that’s what. I knew they wouldn’t see eye to eye, but this was ridiculous.
I cleared my throat softly, and Powell met Rice’s eyes. His tone was sharp.
“I won’t let this go, Rice.”
Then he turned back to me.
“Charlie, this was our fault. I’m truly sorry.”
He actually bowed his head. Both Thomas and Rice looked shocked.
“Mr. Secretary!”
“Enough, Rice. Don’t test my patience any further.”
Powell’s warning shut her up. His voice was calm now, serious.
“We did intend to rely on your connection with Putin, but the method was wrong. I apologize on behalf of the United States.”
With Powell handling it like that, I couldn’t stay angry any longer.
“I understand. Let’s consider the matter closed.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
A faint smile returned to Powell’s face.
The tension lingered for a moment, then eased.
“So, will you persuade Putin?”
“You said there were three reasons for this meeting. Let me hear the last one before I answer.”
“Oh, the last one’s simple. We’d like Dreamhigh to acquire Enron.”
“You want us to buy Enron?”
“Yes. There aren’t many firms in the U.S. capable of doing that right now. Dreamhigh would be ideal.”
For a moment, I was at a loss for words.
“Hasn’t Enron already filed for bankruptcy protection?”
“If no one steps in as a firefighter, that bankruptcy will become permanent.”
“And you’re asking us to buy it? The company’s stock is worthless.”
“In return, we’ll offer tax breaks and special considerations.”
Not exactly an enticing proposal. I shook my head.
“Not tempting. Besides, isn’t there more to the accounting fraud than what’s been made public? Like those World Cup telecommunications swaps?”
“...”
For a moment, Powell’s usually stoic face faltered — then returned to calm.
“Yes, that’s true. But those mistakes were made by the executives, not the workers. Thousands will lose their jobs.”
“I’ll review it. But don’t get your hopes up. I’ll discuss it with James and get back to you.”
Powell nodded, retreating a step.
“Alright then, let’s move on to the Russia issue. If I help you, what do I get in return?”
“If you can persuade Russia, whatever you want — as long as it’s legal.”
“You’re awfully confident. You think you know what I want?”
“I believe the risk of granting your request is far smaller than the risk of the resolution failing.”
“Anything I want,” I repeated, smiling faintly.
Then I decided to throw out the biggest card first.
“Fine. Then give me half of Iraq’s postwar reconstruction contracts. That will be my personal compensation. You’ll have to prepare separate rewards for Russia.”
“What?! That’s outrageous!”
Rice couldn’t contain herself and shot to her feet.
“Half of the reconstruction? Do you have any idea how massive that is?”
Powell and I simply stared at her, cold and silent.
Her reaction alone said it all — that the Iraq War wasn’t just about deposing Hussein, but about the enormous profits tied to it.
