Free Web NovelAfter finishing his visit to South Korea, Bush and his entourage departed for China.
Watching that scene on TV, I called Putin and relayed to him the details of yesterday’s negotiation.
— Haha! Excellent, excellent. As expected of you, Muhyuk. Tell me honestly—if the compensation had been half-hearted, you wouldn’t have been satisfied. The fact that the U.S. agreed not to exercise its veto in return—that’s a tremendous weapon for me.
Putin was expressing his emotions freely. Apart from Medvedev, I was the only person he ever showed genuine emotion to.
He was a man who usually hid everything behind a performance.
“And, as expected, the U.S. showed a negative stance toward the Eurasian Railway project starting in Korea and connecting Russia with Europe.”
— Of course...
Putin’s voice carried restrained anger, though he sounded unsurprised.
— Still, that’s something that must be done. It’s my lifelong dream.
“Yes. And the U.S. won’t be able to oppose it forever.”
— You think so?
“Certainly. Within ten years, China will rise sharply. When that happens, the U.S. will be too busy containing them. Russia will gradually fall out of their focus. Putin, you have to look ten years ahead.”
A sigh came through the receiver.
For Putin, hearing that Russia would be overshadowed by China was bound to sting his pride.
— Huh... Muhyuk, you do realize that what you just said could hurt my pride, don’t you?
“Please, be realistic, Putin. Cheap labor and government incentives will draw the world’s money into China. Of course, Russia will enter a period of growth too, but the scale will be different. China’s performance will exceed all expectations.”
— Hmph. I don’t like the thought of China growing stronger.
Neither did I. But no matter what I did, I couldn’t stop it.
So the best course was to make Russia—where I had influence—grow just as powerfully.
To completely take control of Korea, join hands with Russia, and withstand the full force of American pressure.
That was my goal. It would take time and immense capital, but I could only view it as an investment.
“It’s simply the flow of the times. It won’t be a bad thing for Russia. The rise of emerging nations will cause oil prices to soar, and that will certainly benefit an energy-rich country like yours. But Russia must never rely solely on energy. Investment in infrastructure and future industries such as IT is also necessary.”
— ...I understand. You’ve given me a lot to think about. We’ll talk more in person.
Putin ended the call first, and I put my phone down.
* * *
A villa on the outskirts of Seoul.
“Mr. Chairman, welcome.”
As Yoon Chang-ho entered, everyone inside rose to their feet.
He walked past them and sat naturally at the head of the table.
“Come now, no need to stand. Please, everyone, sit.”
“Yes, Mr. Chairman.”
Even those his age—or older—sat obediently at his words.
He looked around at them one by one before speaking.
“So, members of the Assembly, what exactly is this gathering?”
He had called them together, but he knew nothing about the nature of this meeting attended by all the key figures of the party.
A subtle note of irritation colored his voice.
Floor leader Ahn Gyu-cheol was the first to speak.
“Mr. Chairman, this is Ahn Gyu-cheol.”
Yoon turned his head toward him.
“All right, Assemblyman Ahn. Let’s hear it.”
“Yes, sir. We’ve gathered here to make you President. The members present, as well as senior figures outside the Assembly, all share this goal.”
Yoon’s face hardened in disbelief.
“So what you’re saying is that I can’t become President without help from others?”
“No, not at all. That’s not the intention. It’s purely to ensure a stable administration under your leadership. Everyone here is united in loyalty to you, sir.”
Yoon scanned the room again.
Most were core members of the central party, many of them senior lawmakers serving multiple terms.
‘What are these people plotting?’
They had defected from both conservative and progressive parties to form the Centrist Party—politicians who moved according to their own interests, not ideology.
He couldn’t guess what they were scheming now.
“Loyalty, you say... Forming such a meeting without telling me doesn’t sound like loyalty.”
“I swear it is. We only wish to bring the Centrist Party to power and make you President.”
Yoon cut him off coldly. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
“So what do you expect me to do about it?”
He hated situations that slipped beyond his control. And this was one of them.
Just then, the door opened again and several people entered.
Yoon jumped to his feet in surprise.
“What—what are the advisors doing here...?”
More than half of the party’s senior advisory council had entered—retired but still powerful veterans of Korean politics.
Among them, former National Assembly Speaker Lee In-tae spoke.
“Chairman Yoon, sit down. These old bones can’t stand for long. Are you going to keep us waiting on our feet?”
“N-no, sir. Please, have this seat.”
Yoon stepped aside to vacate the head seat, but Lee shook his head with a genial smile.
“Haha. You’re the representative here, Yoon. We’re just old men lending support. Sit where you are. We’ll sit nearby.”
The lawmakers seated close to Yoon all stood and made room for the advisors.
Once they had all sat, Yoon took his seat again.
“What on earth is going on here?”
“Don’t be so hasty, Chairman Yoon. Let an old man catch his breath.”
Lee lifted a teacup, inhaling its aroma before sipping. Yoon, though frustrated, held his tongue.
After a while, Lee spoke slowly.
“I’ve heard an interesting rumor.”
“A rumor, sir?”
“That you’re someone’s puppet. Is that true?”
“What...?”
“Of course not, right? A man who would be President couldn’t be anyone’s puppet. It must be nonsense, yes?”
His tone was mild, but his eyes were icy.
“...Of course. You know me, Mr. Speaker. I was a prosecutor who refused to be the administration’s hound. I entered politics to answer the call of the people. How could someone like me be anyone’s puppet? It’s false.”
“I believe you. But not everyone does. That’s why I made this difficult trip—to set things right.”
Though smiling, Lee exuded a chilling pressure. Yoon swallowed hard.
“He’ll be here soon. Take his hand—and become our President.”
“...” freeweɓnovel.cøm
Lee then turned to the sitting lawmakers.
“You may all go now. Leave the petition. I’ll be in touch.”
“Yes, sir.”
Without a word from Yoon, they all rose.
Ahn Gyu-cheol handed the petition to Lee and bowed before leaving.
Yoon felt a surge of unease. Those he thought firmly under his control had other loyalties.
“Take a look at this.”
Lee handed him the petition. Yoon unfolded ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) it.
It bore the names of nearly half the Centrist Party’s lawmakers—and numerous regional committee heads.
“See? These are all the people gathered to make you President.”
“What... Since when?”
“What do you mean? Did you really think you alone held this party together? What an arrogant delusion.”
As Yoon stared in shock at the petition, Lee’s lips curved into a thin smile.
A veteran serpent of politics was once again moving to leave his mark.
Then the door opened once more, and a man stepped in.
Yoon tore his gaze from the document and looked up—
Only to freeze in astonishment.
“Y-you... it’s you...?”
His eyes widened in disbelief.
* * *
Time passed swiftly again.
The covert deal between Russia and the United States went smoothly, and before long the Security Council resolution passed.
With the U.S., Europe, and France voting in favor—and China and Russia abstaining—the world was shocked.
For the resolution authorized America’s use of military force.
Now nothing could stop the U.S. from invading Iraq.
Armed with that resolution, America issued an ultimatum: Iraq must accept UN inspections for weapons of mass destruction, and Hussein must resign and leave the country.
Though the U.S. sought to form a multinational force, many Middle Eastern and European nations still opposed the war even after the resolution.
Bush, however, seemed unconcerned.
Instead, the U.S., Britain, and Australia quietly prepared for war together.
And Iraq completely ignored the ultimatum.
Thus, the American invasion of Iraq was being set into motion.
The war had always been inevitable—but in this life, the timing had been moved up, and the UN resolution had passed. Those were the only differences.
“So, the war will happen after all.”
“Yes, boss.”
I turned off the TV broadcasting Bush’s emergency address and shook my head.
The Iraq War would only be the beginning of turning the Middle East into hell.
Of course, that chaos would ultimately become my opportunity.
“By the way, you said Chairman Yoon Chang-ho’s behavior seems odd?”
Director Ma reported to me.
He said the intel team monitoring Yoon had noticed strange movements.
“The atmosphere in the Centrist Party is changing too. Senior lawmakers are quietly excluding the secretary-general from various meetings.”
“Myeong-soo didn’t mention any of that...”
“I think it’s better to investigate further before we act.”
Had Yoon Chang-ho changed his mind? He was an important piece in my plan.
He was the cornerstone I’d prepared to control Korea as I pleased.
“There are only about nine months left until the presidential election. We don’t have enough time to raise a replacement and steer things back our way. Find out exactly who Yoon Chang-ho is meeting.”
Ma bowed and left the room. I picked up my phone.
— Hey, Muhyuk.
“Busy?”
— Not really. I can talk.
“How’s the atmosphere in the party?”
— Same as usual. Chairman Yoon’s about to be nominated as the presidential candidate. Your plan’s finally starting, huh?
So Myeong-soo either didn’t know he was being excluded, or didn’t think it mattered.
His voice sounded calm as ever, hard to read.
“I heard rumors you’re being left out of internal meetings?”
— Those old geezers have hated me forever. Same as always. They’re just scrambling to secure their shares after the election.
“Really? You’re sure?”
— Of course. Don’t you trust me? We’re heading into the election—we can’t fight the elders now. I’ve got the newcomers under control, and Chairman Yoon’s on my side. What can those fossils do?
He spoke with full confidence in Yoon Chang-ho.
I’d warned him never to trust a politician—but maybe he was trusting the man behind Yoon instead: me.
“And if Chairman Yoon doesn’t take your side?”
— Come on. He’s my teammate. With you backing us, that’s impossible.
“But what if he’s having second thoughts?”
— You’ve already bought him and you’ve got leverage on him. He won’t make a move. Why? Did you hear something?
“No. Just checking. If anything happens, call me right away. Don’t try to handle it alone.”
— Got it!
After hanging up, I leaned back on the sofa and closed my eyes.
“Yeah. Chairman Yoon wouldn’t be that stupid.”
After all, I already held in my hands a weakness that could destroy him in an instant.
