Free Web NovelThe current master of the Kremlin was a man who could bolt in any direction at any moment.
Even though Medvedev would later be elected president, he never truly let go of power.
The sitting president became prime minister himself, solidifying his position as the real power holder.
Medvedev, in name only, played the role of a puppet and never properly grasped real authority.
“A true president, huh. You’re friends with the master of the Kremlin. Isn’t it because he doesn’t want to give up power?”
Medvedev, who had been watching my reaction for a while, finally spoke carefully.
Even so, he did not let go of his suspicion.
“That may be so. But you’re my close friend as well, aren’t you? No matter who holds power, it doesn’t pose a problem for me at all.”
“Still...... leaving a sure card on the table and taking an uncertain hand isn’t something I’d expect from you, Chairman Kim.”
At his lack of confidence in himself, I pulled up one corner of my lips.
People like this were all the easier to shake.
“There’s no such thing as a sure card. When I supported the president back then, no one was paying attention to him. You know that better than anyone, Medvedev.”
Medvedev nodded.
“At the time, no one knew he would become the center of power. Not Russia, not the United States or Western European countries watching the movement of Russian power so closely. I moved faster than anyone else to find him. And I backed him.”
From Medvedev’s point of view, it might have looked as if I had made him president by supporting him.
That was how enormous the amount of money I had poured in was. But I hadn’t supported him with money alone.
In my previous life, there had been talk that the siloviki decided the successor to the presidency.
I advised him to stir up competition between the siloviki and the oligarchs so he could wield even greater power than before.
As a result, he seized greater authority faster than in my previous life.
“No matter what, I don’t have the confidence to push the president aside. If I lose in a power struggle, I’d be as good as dead. I’ve watched the president longer than you have, Chairman Kim. He never forgives anyone who challenges him. Chairman Kim, I’m afraid of him.”
Deep fear was clearly visible in Medvedev’s eyes.
I couldn’t understand how someone so weak had managed to clash head-on with that man after he became prime minister. Was it some kind of staged political show between the two?
‘This is where I should stop pressing him.’
The one who had to decide hadn’t made up his mind yet, so there was no reason for me to take a risk.
“Even if the president steps back for a while, I’d like Medvedev to take over and handle the transitional period. Even if the presidency is eventually handed back to that man. Think it over carefully. If you decide, I’ll mobilize everything I have to help Medvedev become a presidential candidate.”
Despite the gentle offer, Medvedev refused to give a firm answer until the very end.
“The meal was excellent. I’ll be getting up now. You need to rest so you can handle tomorrow’s schedule.”
Medvedev nodded and stood up.
“I enjoyed meeting you today.”
As he offered his farewell, he extended his hand first.
I didn’t reply, simply clasping his hand. His cold hand was damp with cold sweat.
* * *
The next day.
Medvedev visited the Joongwoo Refining plant in Ulsan.
Joongwoo Refining’s executives guided Medvedev through the refinery facilities.
“As expected, Joongwoo Refining’s technology really is outstanding.”
Medvedev exclaimed in admiration as he looked around.
“To achieve this level of efficiency refining Dubai crude. It’s truly impressive.”
“Haha, I can guarantee it. Joongwoo Refining’s technological capabilities are the best in the world.”
They spoke with the working-level staff and took a few staged photos meant for the press.
In a friendly atmosphere, Medvedev’s inspection of Joongwoo Refining came to an end.
After finishing the tour, Medvedev got into his car to return to Seoul.
All the way back, his mind was occupied with the proposal he had received from Kim Muhyuk the day before.
“Kokorin.”
Medvedev called out to his subordinate sitting in the passenger seat.
The man immediately turned to look at him.
“Yes, Chairman.”
Medvedev parted his lips as if to say something, then shook his head.
“No. How long do you think it’ll take to reach Seoul?”
“About four hours. Fortunately, we should arrive at the negotiation venue on time.”
Medvedev let out a sigh and nodded.
Sensing something in Medvedev’s demeanor, Kokorin asked carefully.
“Chairman. Are you feeling unwell? Did something go wrong with your meeting with Chairman Kim Muhyuk yesterday?”
“No. It was a good meeting. We restored a relationship that nearly fell apart. The problem is......”
Medvedev trailed off, lost in thought.
If he told Kokorin what he was holding in his heart, would it really not reach the president’s ears?
“Kokorin. You’re my man, right?”
“Yes. I’m on your side, Chairman.”
“Then if the president ordered you to kill me, what would you do?”
“......That won’t happen, but if it did, I would shoot myself in the head.”
“You fool. At times like that, you should at least say you’d tell me.”
“I can’t lie to you, Chairman. I can’t carry words back and forth between the two of you.”
The answer was stubborn and frustrating. But strangely enough, Medvedev found Kokorin’s attitude trustworthy.
“The president has to step down in four years. You know that, right?”
“As long as the constitution limits consecutive terms to two, that should be the case.”
“......Who do you think will be the successor?”
Kokorin’s face stiffened.
Talking about a successor already could be interpreted as harboring other intentions toward the president.
“Don’t worry, just speak. I just want to hear your thoughts. Go on.”
Urged by Medvedev, Kokorin carefully opened his mouth.
“Wouldn’t the president decide that himself?”
“I know that much. I’m asking who the leading candidate is.”
“......Wouldn’t it be you, Chairman?”
“Me? I barely have any support base. If I became the successor, both the siloviki and the oligarchs would try to tear me apart. Even so, would the president really make me his successor?”
Medvedev deliberately spoke in a dejected tone, and Kokorin shook his head.
“The person the president trusts the most in Russia is you, Chairman. If he chose one of the siloviki or oligarchs as his successor instead, all kinds of problems would arise.”
Kokorin continued calmly, laying out his thoughts.
“Right now, the axis of Russian power is divided between the president, who holds absolute authority, and the oligarchs and siloviki beneath him. Neither side has a clear upper hand; they’re locked in a tight power struggle. But you, Chairman, are standing one step removed from that chaos. In the end, rather than choosing one of the two axes, the president has no choice but to choose you.”
It was something Medvedev already knew well.
If Kokorin could articulate it so clearly, most people were probably thinking along similar lines.
Nodding, Medvedev spoke bitterly.
“Sounds right. Even if I became president, I’d just be a scarecrow president, wouldn’t I?”
“.......”
Kokorin couldn’t answer and simply pressed his lips together.
At the silence of his most upright subordinate, Medvedev let out a wry laugh.
“I want to live a long, quiet life. I have no desire to become a puppet president.”
“What did Chairman Kim Muhyuk say to you yesterday?”
“Well. He advised me to think about the future. That it’s not that there are four years left, but that there are only four years left.”
The president he knew was not a man who would ever relinquish absolute power.
After watching him closely for decades, Medvedev was certain of that.
‘Still, in the end, there’s no alternative to the president but me.’
Kim Muhyuk casually tossed out a thought Medvedev himself had avoided.
“Don’t tell anyone about what we discussed today.”
“Yes, understood.”
“I should get some rest now. Wake me up when we arrive.”
Medvedev leaned back into the seat and closed his eyes.
It was meant to organize his thoughts, but instead his mind grew more tangled.
‘A true president.’
Kim Muhyuk’s words seemed to echo endlessly in his ears.
* * *
A few days had passed since I met Medvedev.
After having a simple breakfast with Grandma, I went into the study.
It was time for Medvedev and the Korean government to issue a joint statement.
I turned on the TV and switched to the news channel, just as the related report was coming on.
— The Russian government and the Korean government are about to release a joint statement.
Alongside the anchor’s face, footage of Chuncheongwan appeared on one side of the screen.
— This is the first time Korea and Russia have ever released a joint statement. The entire world is watching closely.
Just then, Medvedev and Lee Jinsik, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, appeared together.
— It looks like it’s finally starting. Chief of Staff Medvedev and Minister Lee Jinsik are entering together.
With that, the anchor disappeared from the screen.
Instead, the image of Chuncheongwan filled the TV.
Standing side by side at the podium, the two greeted the reporters.
Minister Lee Jinsik of Trade, ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ Industry and Energy began by reading the statement.
— Joint Statement on the Construction of Oil and Gas Pipelines Between the Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation.
Minister Lee Jinsik of the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Chief of Staff Medvedev of the Russian Federation have agreed to the construction of oil and gas pipelines connecting Russia and Korea.
This project will become a massive undertaking involving the Republic of Korea, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and Russia.
Korea and Russia have agreed to cooperate in bringing North Korea into the project and to begin the project in the near future.
Minister Lee continued reading the statement for quite some time. freewebnσvel.cѳm
After his announcement ended, Medvedev immediately read the statement in Russian.
What Medvedev announced was identical to what Lee Jinsik had read.
After finishing their statements, the two exchanged documents.
They then clasped hands and smiled at the reporters.
After the photo session, the two returned to the podium.
The press conference began.
— Hello, Chairman. This is reporter Han Jiwoo from Koryeo Daily. I have a question for Chairman Medvedev. What prompted you to undertake this project with Korea?
After receiving the question through the interpreter, Medvedev smiled and answered.
— Russia and Korea are partners who must move toward the future together. Starting with this project, I hope we can work together on many more initiatives.
With that, questions poured in toward Medvedev, and he answered each one kindly.
— Hello. This is reporter Kim Minwoo from Gyeongseong Daily. I have a question for Minister Lee Jinsik. If North Korea opposes this project, what will happen to the agreement? Does the government have a contingency plan?
The focus of the questions began shifting from Medvedev to Lee Jinsik.
— The construction of the oil and gas pipelines will not be halted. Our government and the Russian government intend to spare no effort in bringing North Korea into the project. If North Korea continues to oppose it to the end, we plan to build the pipelines via the East Sea as a second option.
— How many Korean companies will be participating in this project? Given that Chief of Staff Medvedev inspected Joongwoo Refining, has Joongwoo Refining already been designated as the pipeline project’s partner?
— That’s correct. On the Russian side, Gazprom and Yugansk Oil Company will participate, and on the Korean side, Joongwoo Refining will take part. The crude oil brought in through the pipeline will be granted exclusive rights to Joongwoo Refining.
At the word “exclusive,” the reporters began to murmur.
— Isn’t that giving Joongwoo Refining excessive preferential treatment?
— Gazprom and Yugansk selected Joongwoo Refining as their partner. The Korean government has not provided Joongwoo Refining with any preferential treatment whatsoever.
Questions continued to pour in, but the two men stuck to principled answers.
When the press conference ended, I turned off the TV and gave instructions to Manager Ma.
“Manager. Contact the Blue House and coordinate a visit schedule to North Korea.”
It was time to persuade North Korea next.
