Free Web NovelForgetting even to keep up appearances, the president took the watch out of the box and examined it for a long while.
“Good! Very good!”
Seeing how genuinely pleased he was, the vice president suggested,
“Mr. President, why not try it on?”
“Shall I?”
The president removed the watch he had been wearing, set it on the table, and immediately fastened the new one onto his wrist.
“How is it? Does it look good?”
“Yes, Mr. President. It suits you.”
Those two really work well together.
“Kim Muhyuk? Kinmuyeok?”
The president, smiling in satisfaction, called my name.
“If the pronunciation is difficult, you may call me Charlie.”
Sierra Leone used English as an official language.
I already knew my Korean name was fairly difficult for foreigners to pronounce.
“Charlie? That will be easier.”
“Do you like the watch?”
“I like it very much. You said there are only four of these in the world?”
“Four were originally released, but two were lost during the war. This is one of the recovered pieces. At present, only three have known owners.”
The president’s expression brightened even more.
“We’d have to see once it goes to auction, but... it would be valued at at least five hundred thousand dollars, and possibly over one million. ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) It’s not the kind of watch you can simply buy just because you have money.”
Hearing the price, both the president and the vice president were visibly astonished.
“Is that true?”
“Yes. It should be worth that much.”
“Charlie, how much did you pay for it?”
The question was so blunt it almost made me laugh.
“I spent around five hundred thousand dollars.”
“Five hundred thousand dollars...”
The president gazed lovingly at the watch on his wrist, while the vice president stared at it with a mixture of envy and greed.
The president removed the watch, placed it back in the box, and said,
“I heard the rough outline from the vice president after you requested this meeting... You want us to open the border route into Guinea and grant entry permission for mercenaries?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. I maintain good relations with Guinea. When I was forced out of office, I even took refuge there for a while.”
“You are aware that a coup has broken out in Guinea, correct?”
The president nodded.
“And that the Korean special envoy delegation is being detained?”
“I know that as well. I heard the delegation visiting for diplomatic normalization talks got swept up in the coup and was detained. Did you come on behalf of the Korean government?”
“No. My views differ slightly from those of the Korean government. They want to resolve this diplomatically.”
“Of course. No matter how mad Captain Kamara may be, he wouldn’t harm foreigners—especially not an official envoy delegation.”
So the president clearly knew something about Captain Kamara.
“You know Captain Kamara well?”
“To some extent. He was someone the Guinean president trusted. When I took refuge in Guinea, he was one of the men assigned to protect me.”
“What kind of person is he?”
“Hmm. He was a rather quiet man. The sort who simply did his duty in silence. I was surprised myself when I heard he had staged a coup. Though I had heard the Guinean president’s grip over the military was no longer what it used to be...”
Their connection seems deeper than I expected.
“Can you get in touch with Captain Kamara’s side?”
“If I wanted to, yes.”
“In that case, Mr. President, please help the Korean special delegation leave the country.”
“Hmm. I’m not sure Captain Kamara would grant my request. Our positions now are not what they were then.”
“If contact can be made, I will handle the rest.”
“Well...”
The president pretended to look troubled and withheld a firm answer.
So he wants something.
“If you help resolve this matter, there will be much more I can offer in return. I’m sure you’ve heard that I own Black Bear, and I am involved in many other businesses as well. Sierra Leone is a country that must now rise again after the pain of civil war. If I assist, it can grow far faster. And all of it will remain as the achievement of you and the party that supports you.”
The president let out a low hum and fell into thought. I decided to push him a little further.
“The diamond mine transferred to EO, remember? I understand that when they dissolved the company, they sold the mining rights to another country.”
The president nodded.
Before he became president, the Sierra Leone government had been losing ground to the rebels.
What they chose was EO, the largest private military company in Africa.
But the government had no money to pay mercenaries, so instead it handed over the mining rights to the largest diamond mine in Sierra Leone.
At the time, the rebels were occupying that mine.
The diamonds mined there had been used as the rebels’ war funds, so cutting off their money source while simultaneously paying EO made it the perfect deal.
But it was also a poisoned chalice that never should have been accepted.
Even after the civil war ended and peace returned, Sierra Leone received not a single share of the profits from the diamonds produced there.
Because the mining rights had already been handed over to EO.
EO then transferred those rights to De Beers, the largest diamond company in the world.
And the moment the war ended, De Beers moved in as if it had been waiting, occupied the site, and rebuilt the mine.
Most of the facilities had been destroyed during the war.
“De Beers took it. What does that have to do with this matter?”
“I’ll lay the groundwork to have the mining rights currently held by De Beers returned to the government.”
“Would De Beers ever agree to that? We’ve demanded it be returned several times already, and those bastards didn’t even pretend to listen.”
“I’ll take care of that.”
The president sank into even deeper thought.
That kind of reaction meant I was already more than halfway there.
“To begin with, De Beers probably sees that mine as a headache too. If the U.S. and British governments are moved, it won’t be difficult.”
“That’s exactly what makes it difficult.”
“For me, it isn’t. It’s entirely achievable.”
As I continued pressing, the president suddenly asked with open curiosity,
“Hmm. Why are you going this far? I heard you’re a businessman.”
“The man leading the special delegation is my friend. I’m stepping in for a friend.”
At that, the president nodded as if he understood.
But he turned out to be even greedier than I had expected.
“And what do I get?”
“......”
Even if the diamond mine was returned, it would belong to the Sierra Leonean government, meaning he personally gained nothing.
“What is it that you want?”
The president shrugged and smiled.
“Shouldn’t that be for you to tell me, Charlie?”
“I’ll give it some thought.”
“Mr. President.”
At that moment, the vice president spoke up. The president’s gaze turned toward him.
“Please help them.”
Pointing at Chief Ma, the vice president said,
“I’m asking you personally. That man is the friend who saved my life. Shouldn’t I repay a life debt?”
“If the vice president is putting it that way... then I suppose I should step in.”
It looked as though he had been pushed into accepting by the vice president’s request, but that made no difference to me.
“For now, go back and wait. I’ll speak with Guinea’s side and have them contact you separately.”
It was an unexpected gain.
But I couldn’t leave it at that.
“What about entry for the mercenaries?”
The president narrowed his eyes. I quickly continued.
“We could mobilize the military advisory team already inside Sierra Leone, but that would create a major gap in your domestic security. The UN peacekeepers are not exactly people deeply concerned with Sierra Leone’s internal order, are they?”
It was a threat:
if he refused entry for the mercenaries, I would move the advisory force instead.
The advisory team did a great deal in Sierra Leone. They trained soldiers and helped government forces maintain public order.
“Are you threatening me right now?”
“Not at all. I’m only saying the situation is that urgent. If you resolve this smoothly, nothing will happen. But if Guinea refuses, military action will be the only choice left to me.”
“...Two hundred men. No more than that.”
“Thank you. And we will be bringing weapons in with them.”
At the continued demands, the president’s frown deepened.
If I was taking, I had to give something too.
I calmly continued.
“In exchange, I’ll extend the military advisory contract by one more year.”
“For free?”
“Yes. I’ve heard the cost of retaining Black Bear is quite substantial.”
The president nodded.
“I’ll extend the contract free of charge for one year. The UN peacekeepers are withdrawing from Sierra Leone this year, aren’t they? I’m saying the advisory force will fill that vacuum.”
“......”
To the still-hesitating president, I made one final offer.
“Of course, we’ll sign a proper contract. The same funds will still be paid out. But this time, that money will go into your pocket.”
The compensation the Sierra Leone government paid the advisory force was enormous.
I was telling him I would return every cent of it to him personally as his reward.
The tightness in his brow finally relaxed.
“Good. Then let’s do that. I’ll authorize the import of weapons as well. But the condition is that the advisory force remains in place free of charge until the end of my term.”
So one year wasn’t enough for him.
The period had grown longer, but that didn’t matter.
“Agreed.”
“Good. Go back and wait for now.”
Chief Ma and I rose together and bowed.
“If you resolve this smoothly, there will be no need for the mercenaries to move. I leave it in your hands.”
The president waved dismissively, and Chief Ma and I left the office.
“What did you discuss?”
The chief secretary approached us and asked.
I looked at him coldly, irritated by his petty behavior from earlier.
“Ask the president directly.”
“What did you say?”
Just as the chief secretary was about to raise his voice, the office door opened and the vice president stepped out.
At his appearance, the chief secretary hurriedly shut his mouth.
“What’s going on?”
“N-Nothing, sir.”
“It doesn’t look like nothing.”
“......”
The vice president’s face hardened as he strode over and kicked the chief secretary in the shin.
“Don’t cross the line, you bastard! Did you think I wouldn’t notice you’ve been blocking the president’s eyes and ears?”
“T-That’s not...”
“Know your place. The president only has a few years left in office. You should think about what comes after.”
“Y-Yes, understood.”
Leaving the bent-over chief secretary behind, the vice president came over to us.
“So you’re the man Black serves?”
“Yes.”
“You heard about the relationship between Black and me, right?”
I nodded.
“I’ve heard the general story.”
“I’m helping because he saved my life.”
The vice president, flaunting it openly, had the same look in his eyes as the president.
Birds of a feather.
“Chief.”
Chief Ma took an envelope from his coat and slipped it into the vice president’s pocket.
“Black. What’s this?”
“Boss asked me to deliver Solomon a small gift. It would have been improper to offer it in front of the president, so he instructed me to present it separately.”
“Oh, come now, I didn’t do this just to receive something...”
The vice president trailed off, feigning discomfort.
I said,
“Your relationship with Chief Ma is one matter. My expression of gratitude is another. Please don’t feel burdened.”
“Hmm.”
“Chief, then I’ll head back first. Please finish speaking with the vice president and return afterward.” frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
“Yes, Boss.”
Leaving Chief Ma behind, I exited the presidential residence.
With the dazzling presidential compound behind me, so sharply at odds with the stern-faced soldiers guarding it, I got into the car.
* * *
Several days passed after meeting the president.
The embargo was lifted, and news of what had happened in Guinea began appearing in the Korean press. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
The opposition pounced on the opportunity, condemning President Yoon Changho’s government as incompetent, while the ruling party rushed to defend it.
— I’m sorry, President Kim.
President Yoon Changho’s voice came weakly through the receiver.
“It’s all right. It can’t be easy for you either, Mr. President.”
— The Americans opposed sending troops. They said it would only escalate matters.
I heard the Korean government had even considered dispatching troops to rescue the special delegation.
When the U.S. learned of it, they reportedly panicked and immediately sent the ambassador to the Blue House to stop it.
“I’ll resolve it myself.”
— I’m sorry. It seems I always end up asking favors of you.
“I’m just an individual. I don’t need to worry about how other countries might react. I understand.”
— Every diplomat and NIS officer we have in Africa will assist you. Please make every effort to ensure they leave safely. We’ve also spoken separately with the Sierra Leonean government.
“I’ll do everything I can.”
After ending the call with the president, I asked Chief Ma, who sat in front.
“There’s still been no contact, right?”
“No, Boss.”
The coup in Guinea was entering a new phase.
The soldiers who had launched it had established an extralegal body called the National Committee for Democratic Development and placed Captain Kamara at its head.
Captain Kamara justified the coup by presenting evidence that the government had tried to hire foreign mercenaries, claiming he had no choice but to rise up.
Meanwhile, the prime minister, army chief of staff, and parliamentary speaker—who had escaped the capital—insisted Kamara’s claims were lies and that legitimacy belonged to them.
There were growing fears that bloodshed could erupt between the two sharply opposed factions.
“Igor and the mercenaries are still waiting at the border?”
“Yes. The moment your order comes down, they’ll cross the border and head straight for the capital.”
“We can’t wait indefinitely. If no contact comes by tomorrow, deploy the mercenaries. At this rate, Guinea could descend into civil war.”
Looking out the window in the direction of the presidential residence, I spoke quietly.
There was a limit to how long I could keep waiting.
