Free Web NovelAfter thinking for a moment, I asked Kim Cheolgeun again,
“Soldiers are deployed to the site as well, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“How are they at work?”
“They do what they’re told diligently.”
“And their wages?”
“Well... the authorities take all of it.”
“Not paid directly to the soldiers, but taken by the authorities?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
Hearing that, I understood immediately why the soldiers were extorting money from the workers.
They were made to work, but not paid. Of course they would resort to abuse.
“...Tsk. No complaints?”
“Even if there are, no one shows it. This isn’t South Korea.”
True. The moment someone voiced dissatisfaction, they’d likely be dealt with immediately. I nodded and continued,
“Any other issues?”
“Well...”
He hesitated at first, but once he started talking, more complaints followed.
Nothing major—most of it concerned the treatment of North Korean laborers.
“Realistically, we can’t protest to Pyongyang. If we damage relations with the people we deal with directly, the construction schedule will keep getting delayed.”
“I understand. I’ll do what I can.”
“Thank you.”
“Let’s keep going.”
I glanced once more at the soldiers lounging around and staring at us before moving on.
After inspecting several more construction sites, we got back into the car and headed elsewhere. Along the way, I noticed a cluster of temporary buildings.
“What’s that?”
“Oh, that’s a settlement for displaced residents.”
“Displaced residents?”
Wasn’t freedom of movement restricted here?
“Where are they from?”
“They’re locals who originally lived in Nampo. As construction progressed, their homes were demolished...”
As I listened, I observed them closely.
This can’t be left like this.
“Stop the car.”
“Sir, this isn’t something we should get involved in. It could cause trouble later.”
Kim Cheolgeun tried to stop me, but I stepped out anyway.
Ma Seokdae and Kim Cheolgeun followed.
“Who built these temporary structures?”
“We did.”
“That’s good. What about compensation?”
“They were forcibly relocated by the authorities. It wasn’t our place to intervene.”
“Then how are they supposed to survive?”
Kim Cheolgeun hesitated, unable to answer.
“They weren’t even hired at the construction site?”
“No. Most workers are from Pyongyang.”
That had been one of Jang Songthaek’s initial conditions.
Still, leaving the original residents like this would only cause problems later.
“Let’s go.”
“It’s dangerous, sir. If something happens, how am I supposed to show my face?”
Kim Cheolgeun looked pale as he tried to stop me again.
“It’s fine. I have my security, and there are soldiers too. What’s there to worry about?”
“Still...”
I gestured to a soldier who had been following us from a distance.
“You called?”
“I’d like to go into the settlement. That’s not a problem, right?”
The soldier’s expression turned slightly strange.
I crossed my arms and stared at him.
“No problem. We’ve been ordered to let you do as you wish. Please proceed.”
“Good. No need to control the people.”
“That’s...”
“I just want to look around. If anything ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) happens, I’ll take responsibility.”
“...Understood.”
Looks like Jang Songthaek assigned someone reliable to me.
The fact that he didn’t try to stop me meant he had received direct orders.
“Well then, no issues now, Director Kim?”
“...No.”
We headed into the settlement.
As we got closer, I could feel the weight of people’s gazes.
Their eyes were filled with fear.
The buildings were decent for temporary housing, but far from being proper homes.
I walked deeper inside, observing everything.
The settlement was larger than expected.
The more I saw how they lived, the clearer it became—North Korea still had a long way to go.
Still, even here, people had built a marketplace—a jangmadang.
“Let’s just take a look at the market before we leave.”
The market was bigger than I expected.
With the government now tolerating them, market economics had clearly taken root.
There were even quite a few South Korean goods—likely brought in from the construction site.
Despite the number of people, no one tried to approach me.
Probably because of the soldiers behind us.
There were many street kids begging around the market.
They glanced at us, but didn’t come closer.
“Director Kim. You have cash on you, right?”
“Yes.”
“Give it to me.”
“...If you’re planning to give it to the children, I wouldn’t recommend it. The authorities don’t like that.”
“I’ll handle it.”
With a sigh, he handed over all the cash in his wallet.
The children’s eyes immediately lit up with greed.
I walked toward them.
“Who’s the leader here?”
Their gazes shifted to one side.
A scruffy boy sitting on a wooden crate stared at me indifferently.
About fifteen, maybe. Hard to tell.
“Come here.”
“Why?”
Sharp. Like a stray cat.
“I’ll give you this.”
I waved the money.
He didn’t budge.
“No thanks. I’m not begging from South Korean bastards.”
“Hey! What are you saying?!”
The other kids protested loudly.
But the leader snapped back just as fiercely.
“Shut up! Don’t you know why we ended up here? And you still want their money?”
“Don’t talk bullshit!”
The argument escalated instantly.
“We’re about to starve! Who cares whose money it is?!”
“Want to die, you mutt?”
“Fine! Kill me! Starve or get beaten to death—it’s the same!”
The kids all nodded in agreement.
I watched silently.
“...Ha.”
The leader let out a sigh and stood up.
“Is that what you all think?”
“Yes!”
The children rushed him.
I hadn’t expected things to go this far.
He fought back, but there were too many of them.
He held out for a while, but eventually collapsed.
“Ha... ha...”
The boy who had challenged him raised his arms.
“I won!”
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The others cheered.
He turned to me.
“I’m the leader now. Give it to me.”
I handed over the money without a word.
He snatched it and quickly backed away.
The amount was large enough that the kids crowded around him in awe.
“Th-this is a lot...!”
“Leader... we can eat now, right?”
They all clung to their new leader.
I had already lost interest.
I walked past them to the fallen boy.
His body was battered, but his eyes were still alive.
“Why? Why didn’t you take the money?”
“...”
“Pride? Or just stubbornness?”
He slowly sat up.
He glanced at the cheering kids, then looked back at me.
“Greed is poison. Even if we had that money, the adults would take it anyway. Do you even understand what you just did?”
I looked toward the crowd.
Others were watching from afar.
“See? Even here, we’re the lowest of the low. Do you get it now?”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“...What?”
“I just did what I could. I had money, you were there, so I gave it. What happens after isn’t my responsibility. Am I wrong?”
He glared at me like he wanted to kill me.
“They chose money over you. The responsibility is theirs, not mine.”
“...Shut up.”
He ground his teeth.
I don’t know why this one stands out.
“Tsk. What you’re doing is just running away from reality. With that money, they won’t starve for a while. Getting it taken by adults? Then fight like your life depends on it. You refused because you’re afraid.”
His eyes wavered.
Maybe I pushed too far.
Still, I smirked.
“But I like people like you. You know your place. And I like those eyes. What do you say? Want to come with me?”
“To the South?”
“Yeah. Anywhere’s better than here.”
He bit his split lip.
“Choose. I don’t have much time. I’m heading back to Pyongyang.”
“...If I say yes, can I really go?”
“I can make it happen. So decide.”
He looked once at the other kids, then stood up.
“I’ll go. They don’t need me anymore anyway.”
Good resolve. But that alone won’t get you far.
I patted his shoulder.
“First, fix how you speak. Where’d you learn to talk to adults like that?”
“....”
“How old are you?”
“Eighteen...sir.”
He awkwardly added “sir” at the end.
“Eighteen? Really?”
“...I think so. I was abandoned at birth, so I don’t remember.”
He looked smaller—more like fifteen.
Still, there had to be a reason he led them.
I called over a soldier.
“I’m taking this boy.”
“...You’re taking him?”
“Yes. Any problem?”
“I haven’t received such orders...”
“I’ll take responsibility. I’ll bring him to Pyongyang first, then to the South. I’ll handle the approval.”
“...Understood.”
The soldier stepped back.
The boy seemed surprised.
“Let’s go. What’s your name?”
“I don’t have one...sir.”
“No name?”
“No.”
“Then from today, your name is Junho.”
“...Junho.”
He repeated it quietly.
As we walked away—
“Hey!”
“Hyung!”
The other kids called out.
Junho didn’t turn back.
This was his choice. And theirs.
I put him in the car and said to Kim Cheolgeun,
“We’ll cancel the rest of the schedule.”
“Understood.”
“Keep up the good work. You’ll be rewarded later.”
“Haha. Thank you.”
After parting with him, we left.
“Junho.”
“Yes.”
“Once we get to Pyongyang, you’ll wash up and eat.”
“What do I have to do?”
“Nothing for now. Eat, sleep, rest. We’ll figure it out later.”
I turned to Ma Seokdae.
“Prepare some clothes for him when we arrive.”
“Yes, boss.”
At the hotel, Junho looked overwhelmed.
“Go wash. There’ll be food waiting.” ƒгeewёbnovel.com
“...Yes.”
I stepped out and spoke to Ma Seokdae.
“Leave one guard with him.”
“Yes, boss.”
The rest of us headed to the banquet.
As I entered, Jang Songthaek greeted me.
“Welcome, President Kim.”
“It’s been a while, Chairman.”
“Indeed. Unfortunately, there were... complications.”
“The purge is finished?”
“Yes. Everything is settled.”
“Well done.”
Then he looked at me.
“I heard you brought a child from Nampo.”
Word travels fast.
“Yes. I liked him. I plan to take him to South Korea.”
“...Hmm.”
“If it’s a problem, I’ll drop it.”
I shrugged.
After a moment, he nodded.
“No. You may take him.”
“Thank you.”
“Good. Now, come. Let’s speak with Hu Jintao.”
With a warm smile, he led me into an inner room.
