Free Web NovelI felt the eyes of everyone gathered in the conference hall turning toward me.
“Charlie. Can you speak on behalf of the Republic of Korea?”
Rumsfeld asked me. I turned my head toward Myungsoo and said,
“Mr. Secretary-General. May I speak?”
“Yes. Go ahead.”
Since this was an official setting, we spoke to each other using formal honorifics.
Myungsoo’s expression, sagging with exhaustion, made me feel sorry for him.
“Mr. Kim Muhyuk has joined our government as an advisory member. First, listen to what he has to say.”
Rumsfeld also seemed to expect that I would speak, and he nodded readily.
“Right now, anti-American sentiment in South Korea is quite strong. The reason is the two schoolgirls crushed to death last year by a U.S. military armored vehicle. They were sent back to the United States without facing any punishment. And you’re saying that in this situation we should help the U.S. and dispatch our young men to Iraq? Under current domestic public opinion, that is absolutely impossible.”
As soon as the unpleasant topic arose, Rumsfeld’s face hardened.
“Why bring that up now? Under the SOFA agreement between the U.S. and South Korea, we have the right to handle their case. We followed the agreement. Domestic political issues should be handled in Korea.”
“Yes. SOFA. A one-sided agreement unfavorable to South Korea. South Korean citizens never cared about such things. If not for this case. Now citizens who learned about this unfair agreement are protesting every day. That’s the domestic situation.”
“So you want us to hand them over? Come on, Charlie. Do you think that’s possible?”
Even Rumsfeld and Powell both looked at me with stiff expressions.
“It happened on South Korean soil. If the exception clause is applied, they can be tried in South Korean courts.”
“That exception clause has never been applied. Not once...”
“Right now, beyond the Iraq deployment issue, starting with sanctions against North Korea, there are many things the U.S. and Korea must do together. It cannot be allowed for the relationship between our countries to deteriorate because of something so small. Close your eyes just once and send them back to Korea. Then South Korea will dispatch combat troops.”
Rumsfeld looked toward Myungsoo and asked,
“...Is what he’s saying true?”
I had already spoken with Myungsoo beforehand.
“...Yes. The President said that any proposal Mr. Kim Muhyuk makes can be regarded as an official presidential proposal.”
“So Korea’s demand is not to revise the agreement, but to hand them over and put them on trial in Korean courts?”
In place of the stiff Rumsfeld, Powell asked.
“That’s correct. Revising the SOFA agreement can be done slowly. But for now, this is the top priority. The same applies to ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) the United States, doesn’t it? Citizens of your country died because of foreign soldiers. At the very least, let us properly determine whether there was negligence.”
“We’ve already investigated.”
“In our country, there’s a saying: ‘The arm bends inward.’ If the U.S. investigated, naturally the conclusion would favor your own citizens.”
“...Wouldn’t the same apply to Korea?”
I nodded. Stating the obvious.
“Of course. But this wasn’t a simple personal incident. If it had been personal, anti-American sentiment wouldn’t have grown this severe. This incident occurred while U.S. Forces in Korea — a special-status military unit — was relocating troops. Even if there was no intent, at minimum negligence should have been examined. In Korea, not the U.S. But the U.S. quickly repatriated them.”
Rumsfeld and Powell both exhaled at the same time.
After that, several discussions went back and forth, but no decision came easily.
“Let’s take a short break. We need to consult among ourselves as well.”
Powell said, and Myungsoo checked the time and replied.
“Alright. Looks like we can resume the conference after lunch.”
A brief recess was given after the long negotiations. We each dispersed to eat.
Leaving the special envoys heading toward the hotel restaurant, Myungsoo and I entered a separate private room.
Eating the food already prepared, we continued our discussion.
“How do you think the U.S. will respond?”
“In the end, they’ll hand them over. This solves the Iraq deployment issue immediately. The U.S. isn’t stupid enough to reject that.”
“Really? Since there’s no precedent, I’m not sure.”
Myungsoo murmured with a worried expression.
“Don’t worry too much. They’ll accept it. They paused the talks because they need to coordinate with the people in the White House.”
When I spoke with such confidence, Myungsoo finally relaxed his stiff face.
If I was speaking this firmly, he knew it would absolutely happen.
Even though he nodded, there was still gloom on his face.
“Why do you look so down? Is it because of the combat troop deployment? Are you worried we’ll have to send them into a place where blood will spill if the U.S. accepts our conditions?”
“Of course. That’s what the U.S. wants. But I don’t want to send our young men to such a place.”
Myungsoo’s voice sank low. Seeing him like that, I set down my fork and wiped my mouth.
“Then let’s do it this way. South Korea will deploy to the southern region. Instead, hire Black Bear mercenaries and send them into Baghdad and the north-central areas where the fighting is fierce.”
“Hire mercenaries? Is that even possible? Will the U.S. allow that?”
Myungsoo asked with wide-open eyes.
“Since Korea will also send troops, simultaneously hiring mercenaries won’t be a big problem. The U.S. will accept it. But you need to propose it — not me. They know I’m the real owner of Black Bear.”
“Hmm...”
“Don’t worry too much. The U.S. itself hires mercenaries to fight. In the Middle East, mercenary combat capability is far superior. Not to insult the Korean military — that’s just reality.”
Myungsoo also set down his fork and drank water. His throat must have been dry; he emptied the large glass in one go before speaking again.
“So the U.S. will accept that, right?”
“Yes. They’ll approve it unconditionally.”
“Hiring Black Bear mercenaries will cost a fortune, won’t it?”
“It’s not cheap. But if Korean companies can participate in the post-war reconstruction projects afterward, it won’t be a losing deal. And politically, it reduces a lot of burden. The choice is yours.”
Hiring elite mercenaries like Black Bear obviously required a massive budget.
Black Bear was the top private military contractor in existence.
They employed numerous former special forces personnel from around the world, hardened by real combat, equipped and trained at near–U.S.-military levels, possessing capabilities not inferior to regular army units.
“It’s not a bad idea, but the budget is the problem.”
“Still, it’s better than Korean soldiers dying after the deployment. And to take the lead in Iraq’s reconstruction projects, we must participate in combat. The government plan was to send troops to the northern Kurdish autonomous region, right?”
“Yes. Since that area is separated from the war entirely.”
“I oppose that. Once Hussein’s regime collapses, whoever seizes power won’t be friendly to the Kurds. As I said before, sending troops there would be worse than not sending any at all.”
In my previous life, Korea — and every coalition country — failed to secure any oil development rights, gaining no real benefit.
But in this life, the war began under the legitimacy of the UN.
Iraq’s oil fields and Afghanistan’s underground resources.
Securing just those two stably would bring enormous profit.
The biggest issue was the eventual rise of ISIS, but I was already steadily preparing to block that, so it wasn’t a major concern.
“Okay. Let’s float it first. If the U.S. accepts, I’ll push it through somehow.”
“Good. Let’s do that. Shall we get up?”
Myungsoo weighed the pros and cons within that short moment and nodded.
He really has become a proper politician. I nodded with satisfaction and checked the time.
There was still a little time left before the talks resumed.
“Let’s go. I should speak with the people who came with us and coordinate positions.”
“Go ahead. They’ll feel uncomfortable if I’m there, so I’ll come out when I can.”
Myungsoo left the room, and Manager Ma entered.
“We secured an appointment with China. You will meet Premier Wen Jiabao in three days.”
“Good. Did you explain the reason for the visit?”
“I told them it is because of the upcoming UN resolution.”
“What about Russia?”
“Russia replied that your visit is welcome anytime.”
I nodded. This time, I hoped everything would proceed without unusual incidents.
“No other issues?”
“No. Ah, one thing... The director of Ilseong Hospital contacted us. Seo Jaehun will soon be returned to the detention center. He asked what to do about the matter you mentioned earlier.”
“That man really is vicious. Father and son at the same time...”
“How should I answer him?”
I organized my thoughts for a moment at Manager Ma’s question. To make him alive but not alive — that is, to turn him into a living corpse...
“Tell him to go ahead. Make sure he handles it properly so no problems arise. Also tell him I’ll visit when I return to Korea.”
“Understood. I will deliver the message.”
“What about Cheon Jisoo? Did she contact Executive Director Lee Seokmin?”
“Yes. She asked to meet, but Executive Director Lee refused.” freeweɓnøvel.com
He must have given her a warning. She isn’t even stupid, yet she sometimes acts without knowing her place — it was just ridiculous.
“From Executive Director Lee’s perspective, he has no reason to give up that money. Still, Cheon Jisoo ignored my warning. Greed must have made her forget who I am.”
“What should we do, Boss?”
“For now, let’s leave it. This matter is more important. We’ll think about it after we finish this.”
“As you wish.”
“But tighten Executive Director Lee Seokmin’s security. We don’t know what that crazy woman might attempt.”
Manager Ma reported several more issues, and I gave corresponding orders.
“And tell Eric to come to my hotel tonight.”
“Yes, sir.”
Only after giving the last instruction did I rise from my seat.
“Let’s go.”
Manager Ma and I left the room.
At almost the same time, the door to the envoys’ room opened, and we all returned to the conference hall together.
We were the first to arrive. After a little more time, the U.S. delegation entered.
Rumsfeld spoke first.
“If we hand over the individuals related to that incident to Korea, is the deployment of combat troops guaranteed? Can you pass it through your National Assembly?”
Just as I expected, the U.S. had accepted our proposal.
Myungsoo glanced at me briefly, then answered Rumsfeld.
“Yes. We will do so.”
“What level of deployment?”
“We will need to discuss details, but we are planning a division-level scale.”
“A division...”
Rumsfeld trailed off, perhaps thinking it insufficient.
“We already have many non-combat personnel deployed. With this deployment included, our total scale would not fall behind other nations except for the British.”
“That may be true. Then where will Korea deploy? Will you take responsibility for the north-central region of Kirkuk, as requested?”
“...”
Myungsoo could not answer immediately. Rumsfeld raised an eyebrow and asked,
“You aren’t seriously thinking of going to the northern region, are you? That’s not a deployment — that’s a vacation.”
“No. We plan to deploy to the multinational division in the south.”
“That area is already under British stabilization operations. Korean troops are not needed there. Meanwhile, the western region and Baghdad are where the U.S. is fighting fiercely. The north-central region is the real problem.”
Currently, the fiercest fighting in Iraq was in the U.S.-controlled western region and Baghdad.
Battles occurred constantly — according to soldiers, it was hell itself.
The next was the north-central region — the so-called Sunni Triangle.
“Hmm. Deploying there would be politically too burdensome. It’s too dangerous.”
“We yielded to Korea’s request. As an ally joining the war, choosing the safest region?”
Rumsfeld’s voice rose.
Myungsoo glanced at me with a troubled expression. I simply nodded slowly.
Taking a deep breath, Myungsoo turned back to Rumsfeld.
“Instead, we will hire mercenaries and deploy them to the north-central Kirkuk region.”
“Mercenaries?”
“Yes. We will hire Black Bear to take responsibility for security in that area.”
As soon as the word “Black Bear” came out of Myungsoo’s mouth, both Rumsfeld and Powell looked directly at me.
I simply shrugged and smiled.
