Free Web NovelThe Blue House briefing room.
“Must be an announcement about the special delegation, right?”
The reporters who had been waiting since early morning exchanged opinions.
“Well, what else could it be?”
“I seriously can’t tell how things are unfolding. You guys haven’t heard anything from your side either, right?”
“Guinea is completely sealed off. All we can do is rewrite foreign wire reports. What about you?”
“Same here. It’s already been two weeks. Are they even still alive?”
Just as the reporters’ voices were starting to rise, the Blue House spokesperson appeared.
“A lot of you came.”
The spokesperson, a former anchor, seemed close enough to the reporters to open with a joke.
“Mr. Spokesperson. What are you briefing us on today?”
“Reporter Kim, why are you in such a hurry?”
“This administration leaks nothing from inside the Blue House! Let us make a living too, sunbae!”
“The fact that nothing leaks out of the Blue House only means the Blue House is that tightly united, doesn’t it? Don’t be too upset.”
With practiced ease, the spokesperson soothed the reporters’ complaints and stepped up to the microphone.
After taking a sip of the water set in front of him, he began the announcement immediately.
“Dear citizens, good day. Our government acts immediately in any situation where the safety of our people is threatened. Regarding the recent incident in Guinea, the government has...”
After briefing them in detail on the situation that had occurred in Guinea, the spokesperson moved to the main point.
“The detention of the special delegation has come as a great shock to us. They are diplomatic envoys who went to Guinea on behalf of our nation, and they are important people to our government. The fact that they are facing such grave circumstances has brought deep grief and anger not only to the government, but to the entire people.”
The spokesperson subtly let his anger toward the coup forces holding the delegation show before continuing.
“Our government’s position on this matter is clear. We value the principles of peace and negotiation, but for the safety of our people and the national interest, there is nothing we will not do. Our government has worked on multiple fronts in coordination with the international community to secure the delegation’s release, but...”
The spokesperson paused for a moment and looked over the reporters with a hardened expression.
“Unfortunately, the door to negotiations for the safe return of the special delegation has ultimately closed. Therefore, as we can no longer stand by while the lives and safety of both the delegation and our citizens in Guinea remain under threat, we have decided to express our support for the revolution that has taken place in Guinea.”
The reporters who had been listening quietly immediately began murmuring.
“We will overcome this situation together with the people. We will mobilize every means available and work even harder for the safe return of the delegation and our citizens.”
There was firm resolve in the spokesperson’s voice.
“Citizens, in this difficult time, we must unite. Only when the nation and its people stand as one can this issue be resolved. Thank you.”
Having finished the announcement, the spokesperson drank the rest of the water in his glass.
“I will not be taking questions.”
Even though he said he would not take questions, there was no way the reporters would stay quiet.
“Mr. Spokesperson! Mr. Spokesperson!”
The reporters desperately called after him, but the spokesperson disappeared from the briefing room with a stern face.
The Blue House’s announcement sent society into a massive shock.
The opposition, in particular, seized the opportunity and launched a fierce attack against both the Blue House and the ruling party.
The opposition spokesperson strongly condemned the government in front of the cameras.
“We express dissatisfaction and deep concern regarding the government’s current position. The government’s support for a coup is being seen as a decision that threatens the safety of both our citizens and our nation.”
Looking straight into the camera, the spokesperson continued.
“In addition, there are serious questions regarding the transparency and accountability our government is showing in regard to the special delegation’s situation. The people expect accurate and transparent information from the government and have the right to know the truth through it. However, the current statement from the Blue House does not satisfy those expectations.”
The opposition did not bother hiding its blade as it turned toward the Blue House.
“We know better than anyone the dangers of military rule, having lived through two coups ourselves. Even if the coup happened in another country, recognizing and supporting it can be read as acknowledging the misfortunes of our own past as well. For that reason, we cannot accept the government’s announcement. We will use every means available to stop this outrage. Thank you.”
Not only the ruling and opposition parties, but the public as well split sharply into opposing opinions.
President Yoon Changho’s once-solid approval rating fell below 50 percent.
Even so, the Blue House and the government brushed aside the opposition’s demands and continued negotiations for the delegation’s return.
* * *
The government sent dozens of Foreign Ministry staff members to Sierra Leone to assist in bringing the delegation and the citizens home.
Several buses the government had hastily gathered from all over were lined up at the border between Sierra Leone and Guinea.
The moment approval came from Guinea’s coup government, they intended to bring the delegation and the citizens into Sierra Leone by bus first.
I was busy moving as well.
Now that the Korean government had stepped forward aggressively, Captain Kamara no longer had any justification to keep the special delegation detained.
If he continued holding them, no one would recognize Captain Kamara’s coup.
Going forward, I spoke with Captain Kamara’s side, while behind the scenes I made contact with the government forces.
“What did the prime minister say?”
“He says that with the president’s life or death still unconfirmed, starting a civil war with the coup forces would be a disastrous move...”
“Even when food is spoon-fed to them, they still refuse. Seriously.”
“It seems worse because there isn’t just one head making decisions. The prime minister and several ministers can’t unify their opinions.”
At Chief Ma’s report, I clicked my tongue without realizing it.
As always, every last one of them was full of greed.
“At this rate, it’s already a foregone conclusion that Captain Kamara will take power. They’re talking as if they’ve got all the time in the world. So?”
“They want to meet in person and talk.”
“In person?”
“Yes. They want to hear directly, from someone in a position to take responsibility, exactly how far Black Bear is willing to go.”
The difference in strength between the two sides was overwhelming.
For the side being pushed back, it was only natural to want a clear answer from the person in charge.
“Fine. Tell them to send the person handling negotiations here. Let’s meet and talk directly.”
“Boss, if they find out we made contact with the government forces, the delegation’s safety could be at risk.”
“I know. But once we’ve coordinated opinions to a certain extent, the delegation can get out and retaliation can begin immediately, so set the schedule in advance. It’ll be resolved within a week at most.”
Several more days passed after that.
At last, the negotiations ended, and the buses waiting in Sierra Leone departed for Guinea.
I watched them through the small window as I waited for the representative of the Guinean government.
About thirty minutes after the buses left, two men appeared on behalf of the Guinean government.
One was fairly young, and the other looked considerably older.
“I’m Keita, Minister of Resources.”
The older man extended his hand to me.
“I’m Kim Muhyuk. A pleasure to meet you, Minister.”
“And this is the prime minister’s secretary. He has no speaking authority and is only here as an observer, so you needn’t pay him much mind.”
I shook hands with the man introduced as the secretary as well.
“Yangé.”
“Yangé.”
After the brief greetings, we sat facing each other.
The moment he sat down, Minister Keita got straight to the point.
“Are you in a position to make promises to us on behalf of Black Bear? That is the most important matter to us.”
“I am the owner of Black Bear. Once I decide, Black Bear will walk into that place even if it is certain death. So don’t worry about that.”
At my calm answer, Keita’s eyes widened.
“You’re the owner of Black Bear? Is that true?”
I nodded at the man who clearly found it impossible to believe.
“What would I gain by lying to a minister? Great powers like the United States and China already know my identity to some extent. It just hasn’t reached Africa yet.”
At the mention that the major powers already knew, Keita shut his mouth tightly.
“I’ll speak frankly. I can send Black Bear into Guinea even without the help of the government forces. But if I do that, too many people stand to lose. What I want from the government forces and the prime minister is not manpower, but legitimacy.”
“Most of the military has already lined up behind Kamara’s side. No matter how much we shout, it’ll be an empty cry.”
Do they still not know about the unrest in the capital?
“Are you perhaps unaware?”
“Unaware of what?”
That was a gaze that genuinely knew nothing.
I let out a deep sigh and began to explain.
“Captain Kamara opened fire on protesters in the football stadium who were demanding the president’s release. Quite a lot of people were injured and killed.”
“What? That’s absurd... No matter how blinded that man Kamara may be by power, how could he kill peacefully protesting citizens? Aren’t you mistaken?”
“No. This is fresh intelligence secured from the United States. The U.S. intended to make the situation public, but because the special delegation and our citizens still inside Guinea hadn’t gotten out yet, it was delayed by one day.” freewebnσvel.cѳm
Minister Keita’s face turned vicious.
His gentle impression twisted so completely that he looked almost monstrous.
“That insane bastard! What the hell is the defense minister doing? He can’t even control one captain...”
“Is the defense minister the real power?”
Keita took a long breath to steady himself, then slowly shook ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ his head.
“At first, we thought so too. Once the defense minister turned to their side, the balance of power swung sharply toward Captain Kamara and the coup forces. But Captain Kamara is the real mastermind.”
“That’s what we’ve concluded as well.” fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
“Even so, if it were the defense minister, he never would have permitted gunfire against the people.”
I shrugged at his words.
“It may have been Captain Kamara acting alone. When someone is blinded by power, they stop seeing everything else.”
“No matter what... how do you fire on your own people...”
“The moment the Korean special delegation enters Sierra Leone safely, denounce the coup forces’ massacre of civilians in the name of the government forces. The United States will accept that.”
At my words, Keita let out a small gasp as if something had clicked.
“And after that, demand neutrality from the generals who have joined the coup forces and are stationed throughout the country. Tell them only the capital will be seized, and that no one else will be held accountable.”
“Will they accept our demands?”
“Korea may have supported the Guinean coup, but great powers like the United States and China haven’t shown any reaction at all.”
At the words that the major powers had remained silent, Keita nodded bitterly.
“Yes. That is what we know as well. We contacted the United Nations several times, but...”
“The reason is probably that they don’t have the capacity to pay attention to Guinea. There’s too much intermittent fighting in the Middle East. The United States considers that region far more important than Africa.”
“Ha...”
Would Minister Keita not know that too?
Africa was always an afterthought in the international community.
I decided to throw him a carrot as he sat there looking bitter.
“I’ll make you one promise. Until Captain Kamara is erased from this world, Black Bear will not withdraw.”
I spoke with a faint smile and a chilling tone, and I could see Keita swallow dryly.
I had every intention of erasing Captain Kamara from this world completely.
