Free Web NovelMost of the agenda items had been settled through backchannel agreements, but discussions over the agenda for the inter-Korean summit dragged on for quite some time.
For another two days after that, Myungsoo kept me updated on the progress.
Feeling that there was nothing more for me to do here, I decided to return to Korea.
“But why do you keep coming every single day, anyway?”
The problem was the man sitting in front of me right now, drinking coffee and reading the newspaper.
“Heh heh, honestly. What a person you are. This old man has nothing to do anymore and just wanted to pass the time, and you scold me just for being a little bothersome.”
From the day after the agreement was reached, Kissinger had come to see me every day for two straight days.
Whether to drink coffee or read the news... in any case, he always came wherever I was and spent time there.
“I’m going back to Korea now.”
“Oh? Then I’ll go with you. It’ll be convenient to get to Korea.”
“.......”
I was momentarily at a loss for words. Just how shameless was this man planning to be?
I looked at Kissinger with a stunned expression, but he merely smiled slyly and folded his newspaper.
“There’s no need to show such open dislike. And there’s no need to be overly wary, either. I’ve simply taken an interest in you. Someone who’s amassed that much wealth and secured such political footing at such a young age—I haven’t seen anyone like that since President Kennedy.”
“President Kennedy?”
Out of nowhere, the name of a U.S. president who’d died decades ago came up.
When I remained silent and looked at him, Kissinger shrugged.
“Well, he was from an illustrious family, so that explains him. But you—here you are, a young Asian man, having reached that position. Not from a prestigious lineage, not even holding U.S. citizenship... yet you’re friends with Russia’s ruler, on familiar terms with China’s Premier Wen Jiabao, and you can even move Jang Songthaek of North Korea. No matter how I look at it, it’s impressive.”
“That’s an overreach.”
“Whether it’s an overreach or not is for me to decide. That’s why I want to watch you. What’s interesting is that someone like you isn’t widely known to the public. In Washington or on Wall Street, quite a few people know of you—but even they don’t seem to have a clear grasp of who you really are.”
Kissinger lifted his glasses. The elderly gentleman looked at me with eyes full of curiosity.
“Charlie, do you want to become the shadow that manipulates the world?”
A shadowy mastermind. I let out a small chuckle and replied.
“That’s an interesting thing to say. I have no interest in that. I happen to meet politicians often through business, and we became acquainted, that’s all.”
“Then why do you hide so carefully behind the curtain? Even in Korea, there aren’t many people who know you, are there?”
“I’ve never hidden. I just don’t particularly like putting myself out there.”
That wasn’t a lie.
There was no need to deliberately reveal myself, nor any need to hide in the shadows.
At my answer, Kissinger nodded.
“I thought you might be dreaming of becoming some aloof Baltiche figure moving gracefully across Europe. If that’s not the case, then all’s well.”
“......You know that organization as well?”
I asked reflexively, and Kissinger burst out laughing.
“Hahaha! My friend, I did once oversee American diplomacy. How could I not know of that organization? I may not know exactly who, or how many, belong to it—but I have a general idea.”
“Is that so? Do you also know who leads it?”
“That I do. You seem to know as well?”
Kissinger met my eyes and cocked one eyebrow.
There was no need to lie here. I nodded frankly.
“Yes. I know the leader and a few of its members. We’ve crossed paths a few times.”
“Of course. You couldn’t help but clash with them. They’re the kind of group that only feels satisfied when they can mold everything to their liking. But your influence in East Asia has grown too large. You accomplished, at such a young age, what even Baltiche couldn’t. Ah, come to think of it, your first appearance was during the Asian financial crisis, wasn’t it? I’ve heard that the hyenas of Wall Street were left gnawing on scraps after you’d taken the real meat.”
Amused by the thought, the corners of Kissinger’s mouth lifted. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
“Isn’t it funny? The people who planned and executed it were the Wall Street hyenas, yet the biggest prize went entirely to Dream High under your control. On top of that, you used it to expand your influence in Korea. In a way, you could say they raised you into what you are now. The world works in mysterious ways. Fascinating. Truly fascinating.”
After talking to himself and answering his own questions, Kissinger stood up and asked,
“So when are you planning to enter Korea? I’ll need to prepare as well. Do you have space for me to stay at your place?”
I couldn’t even bother hiding my expression—my face twisted in disbelief.
What was this man talking about? Staying at my house?
Without giving it a second thought, I replied curtly.
“No. Go stay at a hotel.”
“My, how cold. What if this old man gets lost on Korean soil with no connections at all?”
“Kissinger. With your stature, I’d expect even the commander of U.S. Forces Korea to personally escort you. Why insist on imposing on me?”
I spoke coldly, but Kissinger only replied smoothly.
“Didn’t you say you were curious? I simply want to observe.”
“I’ll book you a nearby hotel. Stay there.”
“So heartless. Well, I suppose that’ll do. Ah—there’s no need to inform the Korean government. If word gets out that I arrived early, I’ll just be flooded with meeting requests, and that’s tiresome. Then I’ll go make my preparations.”
After Kissinger left the hotel room, I called Manager Ma, feeling completely drained.
“Haa... Manager. Please reserve a good room at the Myeongdong Hotel. Make sure they understand there can’t be a single mistake in hosting him.”
“Understood.”
“As soon as we arrive at Incheon Airport, send Kissinger straight to the hotel, and I’ll head directly to the Blue House. Have two cars waiting at the airport.”
After finishing my instructions, I stood up.
“Let’s return to Korea.”
* * *
After a six-hour flight from Singapore, we arrived at Incheon Airport.
In Korea, the sun had long set—it was late at night, with the moon already in the sky.
Despite insisting he was just an ordinary traveler, Kissinger held a diplomatic passport.
Thanks to that, we went through a simple entry process and exited Incheon Airport quickly.
“Then we’ll part ways here. Go in and get some good rest. These gentlemen will escort you.”
“Very well. Shall we have dinner together tomorrow evening?”
“Yes. Let’s do that.”
After sending Kissinger off in the prepared car, I got into the other one.
“Straight to the Blue House.”
The car carrying me left Incheon Airport and headed toward the Blue House.
Perhaps because it was so late, the roads were quiet. Watching the scenery blur past the window, I asked Manager Ma,
“No other calls, right?”
“There was a call from Representative Eva.”
“Oh? I should call her back.”
I took out my phone and called Eva.
Before the ringtone even played twice, she picked up.
—Boss!!
“Where are you? You said you called.”
—Looks like you’re back in Korea. I’m in Switzerland right now.
Eva had gone back on vacation at my order.
She’d been worried up until the moment she left, but it seemed she was enjoying her time off properly now.
“Good. Enjoy your vacation.”
—That’s the plan. By the way, about New Fact—the outlet that reporter belongs to. You got the report, right?
“No. I just got back to Korea. That issue’s been pushed down the priority list for now.”
Eva chuckled softly on the other end and continued.
—Then can I ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) tell you first? We received a report that funds flowed into that company from a paper company on an island called Sint Maarten in the Caribbean—Dutch territory. They said tracing it would be difficult.
“Sint Maarten?”
—It’s a small island next to the Virgin Islands. In Asia, people usually use the Virgin Islands more, so they don’t really use that place. So if money was moved through there... I thought it might be risky, so I called.
If it wasn’t commonly used in Asia, did that mean Europe or the U.S. was involved?
I had a rough idea and let out a deep sigh.
“Is that so? I’ll handle it. You just enjoy the rest of your vacation. Switzerland’s nice, isn’t it?”
—Of course. Makes me wonder why I didn’t come sooner. You should come sometime too and take your time sightseeing.
“If Eva says it’s good, now I’m curious. I’ll visit next time. I’ll hang up for now—we’ll talk again later.”
—Okay, boss!
After ending the call with Eva, I spoke to Manager Ma.
“Manager, have Black Secret send everything they’ve found so far on New Fact to Pyeongchang-dong. And... contact Chairman Yoo of the Cheonha Group and have him meet the reporter who raised the suspicions.”
“I’ll pass that along.”
After that, I leaned back deep into the seat and closed my eyes.
My head throbbed, but I needed a moment to organize my thoughts.
I’m already busy enough as it is, and now this kind of thing pops up too. After stopping by the Blue House, once I get to Pyeongchang-dong, I’ll go over the materials right away...
I wasn’t sure how much time passed when Manager Ma’s voice woke me.
“Boss. We’ve arrived.”
Perhaps the flight had exhausted me—I must have fallen asleep without realizing it.
We were already in front of the Blue House. As soon as I opened my eyes, I checked my watch and spoke to Manager Ma.
“Let’s go in.”
After verifying our identities at the entrance, we drove straight into the Blue House grounds.
Yoon Changho had summoned me not to the residence, but to the presidential office in the main building.
Soon after, the car stopped in front of the main building, and I got out, straightening my clothes.
“The President is waiting on the second floor.”
The Chief of Staff was waiting for me at the entrance.
Following him up the stairs, I arrived in front of the presidential office on the second floor.
“You may go in.”
The Chief of Staff bowed deeply and opened the door.
“Mr. President. This is Kim Muhyuk.”
Inside, I saw Yoon Changho leaning back on the sofa.
He must have dozed off while waiting—his eyes snapped open at my voice.
“President Kim, I’ve been waiting. Come in, have a seat.”
Without saying much, I sat where Yoon Changho gestured.
“You look very tired.”
“Haa... Don’t even ask. I’ve been hounded nonstop over the issue of reducing U.S. forces stationed in Korea. One senior aide after another keeps badgering me.”
Grumbling, Yoon Changho leaned forward from the sofa.
With fatigue heavy on his face, he pressed his eyes with his fingers and spoke first.
“So, you came in with Kissinger?”
Kissinger had asked me not to tell the Korean government, but with someone of his stature entering through Incheon Airport, there was no way it wouldn’t be reported to the Blue House.
Kissinger must have known that too—he’d probably said it offhandedly.
“Yes. I sent him to the Myeongdong Hotel.”
“But why is Kissinger following you around?”
At Yoon Changho’s question, I let out a deep sigh and answered.
“I don’t know either. He’s driving me crazy. He says he’s curious about me. He’s such a heavyweight that I can’t exactly chase him off, so I figured it was better to keep him nearby and just let it be.”
“What? Hahaha!”
Apparently not expecting that response, Yoon Changho burst into loud laughter.
“You really are something else. You might be the only person who talks about Kissinger that way. Everywhere he goes, people welcome him with open arms.”
“Honestly, I’d feel more at ease if he wanted something. Instead, he keeps saying he just wants to know me—it’s maddening.”
“Treat him well. There’s no one with that much influence left in American politics. People call him obsolete, but there’s still a whole Kissinger faction spread throughout Washington.”
“I know that as well. That’s why I can’t just push him away. He’s not interfering with my work, either. If he ever does, though—even if it’s Kissinger, I’ll throw him out.”
Yoon Changho nodded. Apparently, it wasn’t all that important to him, because he immediately changed the subject.
“Let’s talk about something else. How economic cooperation will proceed after the inter-Korean summit.”
“Isn’t that something to discuss with the heads of the major conglomerates?”
“In the current situation, they can’t even lift a spoon toward economic cooperation with the North without your permission. How long do you plan to keep playing coy?”
At Yoon Changho’s blunt remark, I shrugged and smiled.
“I heard you asked the conglomerate chairmen to prepare partner companies to move into the Kaesong Industrial Complex. Is that true?”
“Yes. I figured it would be difficult to gather all the participating companies with just Daehyeon Group and government power alone. This is the first economic cooperation with North Korea, after all. If it stumbles from the start, it won’t look good.”
“Well done. The chaebol don’t move very briskly just because the Blue House tells them to. In the past, they’d flinch at the sound of a single cough...”
Clearly displeased by that reality, Yoon Changho narrowed his brow.
