Free Web NovelLee Myungsoo arrived at Guinea’s Ahmed Sékou Touré Airport leading the special envoy delegation and the press corps.
“Welcome, Assemblyman Lee Myungsoo.”
President Conté himself did not come out to greet him, but the Minister of Defense—the regime’s second most powerful figure—received Lee and the delegation.
Although Guinea used French as its official language, Lee Myungsoo did not speak French.
Naturally, the two exchanged greetings through the accompanying secretary, who was fluent in French.
“The minister himself came out to receive us?”
“Haha. His Excellency intended to come in person, but I persuaded him not to.”
The two men exchanged looks and shook hands.
The reporters snapped photos of the moment.
“Please, let us proceed in the vehicles we prepared.”
The Minister of Defense personally guided Lee to the car.
Lee Myungsoo and his secretary climbed in together, and soon the vehicle carrying them sped toward the hotel.
After arriving, Lee and the rest of the party unpacked in their assigned rooms and took a short rest.
Dropping heavily onto the sofa, Lee loosened his tie and asked his aide,
“Secretary Han Dongju, tired?”
At Lee’s call, the secretary answered,
“Not at all. You must be far more tired than I am, sir.”
“Secretary Han, you’re too stiff—that’s the problem. You’ve been following me around for years already, and you still ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) keep this much distance.”
“......”
A lawmaker’s secretary was a crucial position, always staying by the legislator’s side.
In the political world, they were sometimes mockingly called “bag carriers,” but in reality they handled the lawmaker’s safety, transport, and day-to-day logistics.
Han Dongju was someone Kim Muhyuk had carefully handpicked and assigned to Lee Myungsoo.
Maybe that was why Lee couldn’t help but grin—Han Dongju reminded him of Chief Ma, who was always by Kim Muhyuk’s side.
“You really are no fun. Though I guess that’s also exactly why you’re here with me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“What’s there to apologize for? It’s fine. There’s about an hour until the next schedule, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Lee rose from the sofa and walked to the window.
He pulled back the dreary curtains and stepped onto the terrace, where soft sunlight welcomed him.
Breathing in the warm rays and the cool sea breeze, he looked around.
The clear blue ocean stretched before him, and it felt as though all the exhaustion from the flight had blown away.
“At least the weather is damn good.”
Leaning back into the chair, Myungsoo enjoyed the sunlight and took a brief rest.
That short rest ended with the sound of knocking.
The people who entered the hotel room were the core members of this visit—the diplomats who had come with him.
After spending the remaining time listening to their briefing, Lee headed to the presidential palace right on schedule.
On the way there, he read the documents the diplomats had handed him.
It was detailed material describing how the President of Guinea had come to power, what he liked, and what he disliked.
Muttering to himself, Lee slowly organized his thoughts.
“A politician who’s led Guinea for decades...”
The current president, Lansana Conté, had seized power in a bloodless coup after the previous president died of a heart attack.
The people of Guinea, exhausted by President Touré’s dictatorship, had welcomed him, and he had ruled for decades.
“And they say his health isn’t good.”
Before the end of his term, he had abolished the five-year renewable system, changed the election law to allow seven-year consecutive terms, and had himself reelected.
And he had won with 95 percent of the vote.
“You’ve got to be saying something that actually makes sense.”
Lee chuckled as his eyes stopped on the vote percentage.
“So diplomatic ties with Korea are just one kind of show to break through the chaotic political climate? Hm...”
From Korea’s perspective, it wasn’t a bad proposal at all, which was why President Yoon Changho had appointed him as special envoy and sent him to Guinea.
As he continued reading, Lee paused at the section stating that hundreds of military officers had been arrested.
“This place is a total mess.”
The reason for arresting them was absurd too.
Rumors that there might be a coup had led to the arrest of that many officers, and it even said their fates were unknown.
“So in the end, a dictator is still a dictator. Tsk.”
Clicking his tongue, Lee closed the file and looked outside.
For the capital of a nation, something about it felt off.
There were not many tall buildings, and the expressions of the people on the streets were far from bright.
At last, the presidential palace came into view.
Unlike the streets, it was extravagantly built.
Waiting for him outside the stopped car was the same Minister of Defense who had greeted him earlier.
“Welcome, Assemblyman Lee Myungsoo.”
“Minister!”
Lee smiled brightly, shook his hand once more, and followed him into the palace.
In front of countless reporters, Lee greeted the president on behalf of the envoy delegation.
“Welcome, special envoys from Korea.”
Lee shook hands with the President of Guinea.
His first thought was immediate.
His health really looks terrible.
Sure enough, the president Lee met in person did not look well at all.
The trembling hands, the badly swollen face—none of it could hide his illness.
Even after the formal greeting ended, Lee continued accompanying the president through several events.
At last, the two finally sat down face-to-face alone.
Well, with the secretary present for interpretation.
The more they spoke, the more Lee’s negative image of the Guinean president softened.
He was, genuinely, a statesman worried for Guinea.
“If I step down, Guinea will fall into even greater chaos. That’s why I dragged this sick body back into the presidential race.”
He explained why he had insisted on becoming president again, even going so far as to change the election law.
“The people of Guinea surely understand your heart better than anyone.”
“Wasn’t Korea also once a country where soldiers seized power?”
“That’s true. But in the end, they retreated into the back pages of history. Korea then and Korea now are very different.”
Lee had no intention of defending military coups. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
But neither did he intend to deny that history.
“I heard you’re the second most powerful figure in the current administration. Is that true?”
“No, how could I possibly...”
“I made a direct request to the President of Korea. To send someone with the power to act in his place.”
Though fatigue from illness filled his face, his eyes alone were alive.
Meeting Lee’s gaze, Conté said,
“The people do not understand me. I came to power through an ugly method, yes, but I changed the political system Touré left behind.”
Lee nodded.
During Touré’s rule, the people had not directly elected the president.
Conté, on the other hand, had seized power in a coup, but he had at least returned voting rights to the people—even if the vote counting was riddled with fraud.
“I know. We too have that kind of history.”
“That is why I wanted diplomatic ties with Korea. I want all the people of Guinea to eat well and live well.”
“Yes, Mr. President.”
“If all I wanted was diplomatic ties, I would have summoned your foreign minister. But this time, I intend to tell the people directly. I do not have long to live. Yet I am also in no position where I can simply step down as I please.”
At those words, Lee’s mind spun rapidly.
He had no idea what exactly the president was about to ask.
No matter how much he thought, he couldn’t reach an answer.
“What is it you wish to say?”
Instead of answering, the president asked a question in return.
“Do you know Alpha Condé?”
The moment that name came from the president’s mouth, Lee couldn’t help but be shocked.
Alpha Condé was his only real political rival.
“How could I not? I studied Guinea extensively before visiting.”
“If you know who he is, then this will be easier. I intend to expel him from Guinea. I want Korea to protect him.”
“Protect him?”
“That’s right. If I die, that man too will die at the hands of the military.”
Conté was certain.
Before Lee could even ask why, the president continued.
“I know because I myself came to power that way. If I die and elections proceed as they are, Alpha Condé would likely become president without issue. But the military has no intention of quietly watching that happen. The only reason he remains alive now is because I am still standing.”
As Lee hesitated over what to say, Conté’s voice grew firmer.
“So let the Korean government protect him. And after my death, send him back to Guinea.”
“Mr. President, that’s not something I can decide so easily—”
“In return, I will concede much to Korea. Tell me whatever you want.”
Lee considered what would benefit the national interest.
But his deliberation was short.
“For now, I’ll discuss it with the government.”
“No. That will not do. The reason I requested the government’s second-in-command is because I do not want this information leaking outside. Outside this presidential palace, nowhere is safe. Assume every line of communication is being monitored.”
“...Are you saying even the hotel where we’re staying is bugged? That could create a major diplomatic problem.”
At Lee’s protest, Conté let out a faint laugh.
“Think carefully. I never said I was the one bugging it. I said the military is. Do you truly think becoming president again was my own will?”
The words hit Lee like a shock.
“You mean this wasn’t what you wanted?”
“Hahaha. Death is already closer to me than life. What lingering attachment could I have? I simply do not want the country to return to the past after I die. As long as I remain here, I can at least keep the military under control.”
After a brief hesitation, Lee carefully spoke.
“Do I need to give you an answer immediately?”
“You mean contacting the Korean government?”
“No. I’ll think it through myself and make a judgment. It’s too sudden...”
Conté quietly nodded, as if he understood Lee’s turmoil.
“If not now, there will be no chance to smuggle Condé out. Please give me an answer quickly.”
“Understood. I’ll decide before I leave Guinea and let you know.”
Lee’s head was in chaos, but he did not show it.
At that moment, there was a knock on the office door.
Soon it opened, and the Minister of Defense who had welcomed Lee earlier stepped inside.
“Your Excellency, all preparations are complete.”
“How did the diplomatic talks proceed?”
“We met after most of the agreements had already been made, so there were no major disagreements. However, aid-related matters differed somewhat, so it seems we’ll need a few more days of negotiations.”
“Very well. Let us go out now.”
The president nodded, rose, and said to Lee,
“Special envoy, come with us and honor the occasion.”
“Yes, Mr. President.”
Just as Lee was about to follow him, the Minister of Defense stopped him.
“Assemblyman, a moment.”
The president, who had been about to leave, stopped.
“Minister of Defense, what are you doing?”
“I would like to speak with the envoy privately. It will only take a few minutes, Your Excellency.”
“...Do not make it too long.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
The president sent Lee a look and exited the office first.
The Minister of Defense dismissed even the secretary, then shut the door tightly.
Returning close to Lee, the envoy’s escort suddenly asked in fluent English,
“Assemblyman, what did you discuss with the president?”
“What?”
Lee was momentarily speechless.
It sounded almost like an interrogation.
“I’m asking what was discussed.”
“Minister, what exactly are you trying to do? Why are you asking about the conversation I had with the president as a special envoy?”
“For the sake of Guinea–Korea relations. What did you discuss?”
The friendly face from earlier now seemed like a complete act, replaced by a sharp and dangerous edge.
Thinking that dragging this out would only deepen suspicion, Lee answered,
“We discussed various matters for the sake of relations between Korea and Guinea.”
“...Nothing else?”
“Nothing else?”
Feigning ignorance, Lee instead asked the question back.
The minister searched Lee’s face carefully.
Soon he let out a sigh and turned away first.
“No. Let us go.”
“This was excessive.”
When Lee deliberately let his displeasure show, the minister apologized.
“My apologies.”
“I’ll let it slide this once. I came to Guinea representing the Republic of Korea. To treat me like this is to look down on Korea itself. That will never have a good effect on relations between our countries.”
“Understood. I won’t make this mistake again. Let’s go.”
The minister opened the door, and Lee stepped out first.
But the gaze fixed on Lee’s back was ice-cold.
That very day, the coup erupted, and the presidential palace was seized by the coup forces.
* * *
As soon as I arrived in Freetown, there were people waiting outside the embassy.
“Welcome, President Kim Muhyuk.”
“Yes, hello. You’ve all worked hard in a foreign land. We can exchange greetings properly later—do you have updated information?”
“Yes. Assemblyman Lee Myungsoo and the entire Korean envoy delegation are safe.”
“Ah...”
A deep sigh of relief escaped me on its own.
