Free Web NovelIt was a deep night beneath a waning crescent moon.
A man stepped out of his car.
After glancing around, he pressed the doorbell beside the wooden gate of a traditional Korean house.
A moment later, a middle-aged woman dressed neatly in hanbok opened the door.
“Welcome. You must be Secretary-General Lee Myungsoo?”
With a practiced smile, she greeted him warmly.
“Yes. I have an appointment here tonight. By any chance...”
“Yes, the guest has already arrived and is waiting for you. I’ll guide you myself. Please, this way.”
The woman started walking first, and Lee Myungsoo followed her.
As he walked, he carefully looked around the hanok interior.
He hadn’t expected to find such a well-preserved traditional house in the middle of Seoul.
The old-style residence clearly showed signs of meticulous maintenance.
Along the walkway, there was a beautifully arranged pond meant for guests to admire, and around it stood aged stone sculptures.
‘Charming place.’
If this weren’t a business visit, he would’ve liked to look around longer.
The woman moved almost silently, and then stopped in front of a door, gesturing toward it with both hands.
“This way. He’s waiting inside. If you need anything, please ring the bell.”
The building she indicated was a cozy annex separated from the main house.
“Thank you.”
“Oh my, it’s been a while since anyone’s bothered to thank me. Hoho, thank you.”
Covering her mouth with a hand, she laughed softly and slid the door open.
“Please, go in.”
Lee Myungsoo nodded lightly and stepped inside.
Just as she had said, there was a man waiting for him.
“Oh ho, Secretary-General Lee! Come in, come in.”
The elderly man, whose hair had turned completely white, rose from his seat with a drink in hand and offered his hand for a shake.
“It’s the first time the two of us have met privately, isn’t it?”
“Yes, sir. It’s the first time.”
“Haha, ‘sir,’ you say. I’m an old fossil now.”
He laughed and patted Lee’s shoulder in a friendly yet unmistakably superior manner.
Lee simply smiled politely, without resistance.
“So, what brings you to an old man like me? I can’t imagine what this meeting’s about.”
“Please, have a seat first, Mr. Speaker.”
The man sitting across from Lee Myungsoo was none other than Yoo Nakhyun, former Speaker of the National Assembly.
He might have called himself a washed-up old man, but Yoo was still a political heavyweight.
“Ha-ha, fine, let’s sit.”
Chuckling, Yoo poured from the kettle in front of him and handed Lee a drink.
“Here, have a glass.”
“Thank you.”
Holding the cup with both hands, Lee received it respectfully.
He turned his head slightly as he took a sip, then picked up the kettle himself.
“This time, allow me, Mr. Speaker.”
Yoo accepted the refill and drank while studying Lee’s face.
Though his expression was light and easygoing, his eyes were sharp.
After finishing his drink, Yoo set the cup down and spoke.
“It’s fascinating, you know. How did you manage, upon entering the National Assembly, to immediately secure the position of Secretary-General for the ruling party? Forgive the bluntness, but that’s unprecedented. I had to ask.”
“Haha, Chairman Yoon Changho values me a great deal. That’s why he entrusted me with the post. But handling the party’s finances is no small headache, sir. I was hoping to get your advice.”
“Hoho, advice, is it? You already know how crucial money is in politics. Don’t play humble with me. And that post isn’t just about managing money.”
Yoo gave a mild rebuke, then continued. freёwebnovel.com
“The Secretary-General holds the purse strings and also wields the nomination blade for the party leader. You audit and vet candidates, and what you write in your reports decides whether someone’s nominated or not. The job’s difficult, yes—but it puts you right next to the seat of power. You’re not pretending ignorance, are you? You’re quite the politician now. Your act of modesty is impressive.”
His words carried a teasing tone, despite the scolding.
“Ah, you flatter me too much, sir. The Chairman doesn’t have many people he can truly trust in politics. That’s why he brought me over from the prosecution and put me in that seat.”
“There you go again—still pretending.”
Yoo pouted playfully and poured himself another drink.
Lee smiled awkwardly and tried to lighten the mood with a change of topic.
“By the way, sir, how did you find this place? I didn’t even know something like this existed in Seoul.”
“What? It’s your first time here?”
When Lee nodded slightly, Yoo burst into laughter.
“Ha-ha, then I take back what I said earlier. You’re still green. Need more time to season. This place has been a high-class gisaeng house since the Japanese colonial period. The woman who greeted you owns it. All the others have closed down—this is the last one left.”
“......Is there really any reason for such a place to still exist?”
“When you’re in politics, sometimes you need places like this. The times change, but some things don’t. These days the younger lawmakers go to fancy rooms in Gangnam. Same idea.”
Lee recalled hearing that after Gangnam’s development, politicians had abandoned traditional houses like this for luxury nightlife venues.
Though a politician himself, he couldn’t help frowning at the thought of pleasure-seeking officials.
“Yes, most do these days.”
“What’s with that look? You pretending you don’t go?”
“Ah, apologies. I just don’t enjoy such places.”
“Young man, you think politicians only go where they enjoy?”
The elder’s condescending tone irked Lee, but he remained composed.
“I never said I don’t go, sir. I said I don’t enjoy it. But given my position, I have to attend often enough.”
“Hah, fair enough. Still, an old man like me prefers places like this. Quiet, peaceful—no one to bother us. We can share a drink in peace.”
Yoo chuckled as he lifted his glass.
“You’re right. It’s quiet and pleasant.”
“Exactly. Hardly anyone comes here now. The owner’s been struggling, but she keeps it running out of pride in tradition.”
Lee nodded slightly. On the way in, he hadn’t seen another soul, and most of the rooms were dark.
A fading establishment clinging to its heritage—it somehow mirrored the man sitting before him.
After finishing another cup, Yoo refilled his glass and spoke in a lowered voice.
“Enough small talk.”
The smile vanished from his face.
“The presidential election’s coming soon. A Secretary-General from the Centrist Party wouldn’t be seeking out an old relic like me without reason. Are you here to persuade me to join your party? If so, don’t waste your breath. I have no intention of leaving the Conservative Party.”
“Of course not. How could I dare to recruit someone once known as the former President’s right hand?”
“Oh? Then what brings you here?”
Lee didn’t answer right away. He took a slow sip, then said,
“Mr. Speaker, I propose that the Centrist Party and the Conservative Party merge.”
“What...?”
Yoo’s eyes widened in complete surprise.
“As you know, the Conservatives are already on the brink of collapse. It’s uncertain whether they can even put forth a presidential candidate, and even if they do...”
Lee trailed off as Yoo cut him short in a sharp tone.
“Enough. That’s the most absurd thing I’ve heard all year. Do you even understand how the Centrist Party came to be?”
“I do. It was created to break the two-party gridlock between Conservatives and Progressives. But reality doesn’t follow ideals.”
“That’s true. Elections are about how many networks and organizations you control.”
Yoo’s statement was unassailable. Lee pressed steadily on, exploiting that opening.
“Yet the Centrist Party has already become the largest party in the Assembly. You know what that means, sir.”
“......”
“The times are changing. We intend to preserve the Conservative values that have lasted for decades.”
“You mean Yoon Changho, that obedient dog of Kim Hakgwon? Don’t make me laugh.”
Yoo scoffed, but Lee calmly continued.
“The Conservatives may not crumble so easily, but there’s precedent, isn’t there? You yourself joined the Conservatives through a merger and eventually rose to become Speaker of the Assembly.”
“Huh... are you lecturing me now?”
The air turned cold. Gone was the genial old man—what remained was the seasoned veteran who had survived the blood-soaked political arena.
“I wouldn’t dare lecture you, sir. That wasn’t my intention.”
The atmosphere froze. After a long, silent stare, Yoo finally spoke.
“Secretary-General Lee.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Would you choose to die forever just to live a little longer? I wouldn’t.”
He echoed a line once spoken by the president he had served under.
“Holding on to a dying party leaves nothing in the end. A party that fails to field a candidate has no reason to exist, sir.”
“You...! Who told you to say that? Are you claiming we can’t field a presidential candidate?”
Yoo’s voice rose as he ground his teeth.
“Whose idea is this?”
“It’s Chairman Yoon Changho’s will.”
“Not Yoon Changho. Kim Muhyuk, your friend.”
At the mention of that name, Lee’s expression stiffened.
“You think I don’t know? The Centrist Party’s just Kim Muhyuk’s puppet. Politicians—men dreaming of the presidency—being led around by a mere moneyman? It’s disgraceful.”
“Mr. Speaker, please mind your words.”
“Mind my words? You think proposing a merger like this is respectful?”
Seething, Yoo’s hands trembled as he downed another cup in one gulp.
He slammed the glass down hard and said coldly,
“Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that. I have no intention of spending the rest of my life as Kim Muhyuk’s puppet.”
“You’re misunderstanding, sir.”
Yoo’s lips twisted.
“Misunderstanding? I’ve spent decades in Yeouido. I even served as Speaker. You think I don’t see how things are moving? Retired or not, I’m not senile. You’re trying to deceive me.”
“How could I deceive you? You’ve got the wrong idea about Muhyuk. He’s not particularly interested in politics.”
“You... still defending him...”
Yoo’s face turned red with fury, distorted like a wrathful god, but Lee remained composed.
“It’s true he was deeply involved in the founding of the Centrist Party. But since then, he hasn’t interfered in party affairs.”
“Bullshit. Everyone knows Kim Muhyuk’s the one pulling the strings—working with Kim Hakgwon, making the Centrists act like the ruling party. People in Yeouido hear everything.”
“......Is opposing for the sake of opposition really what politics is supposed to be?”
Yoo fell silent, struck by the pointed question. After a pause, he shook his head.
“Enough. No matter what you say, there’ll be no merger. Give up that foolish notion. Let’s just drink.”
Lee exhaled a long, quiet sigh.
He’d known this would be difficult.
But the old man’s complete refusal to even entertain discussion was frustrating.
“Will you truly let yourself become a criminal in history, then?”
“Criminal? Did you just call me that?”
“Will you stand by and watch the Conservative Party vanish after fifty years of history? Join us, sir—let’s create a new fifty years together.”
Yoo said nothing, only drinking cup after cup.
“I understand why you once merged with the Conservatives under the former president’s leadership. ‘To catch a tiger, you enter its den.’ But in the end, you couldn’t clean up the past and got caught by it, didn’t you?”
“If you’re going to keep this up, I’ll be taking my leave.”
Yoo suddenly stood from «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» his seat.
At that same moment, the tightly closed door slid open.
Both men turned their heads toward it.
“Speaker Yoo Nakhyun. I’m Kim Muhyuk.”
The man entering through the open door was Kim Muhyuk himself.
