I rembered the big events, but I didn’t know exactly what kind of person Bush was.
What I needed now was information about this man called Bush. I asked Han Kyungyeong about his aides, and he gave more than enough answers.
And since Han Kyungyeong had to et Bush together with , I told him about the peace treaty between North Korea and the United States.
“So, then······.”
Perhaps because of the shock, Han Kyungyeong couldn’t even string his words properly and grabbed the glass in front of him, downing it in one go.
He set down the empty glass and t my eyes.
“You’re saying you’ll act as Kim Jongil’s special envoy?”
To be precise, I had been entrusted with full authority. Still, it wasn’t wrong, so I nodded.
“Ha······.”
A heavy sigh escaped Han Kyungyeong, and worry flickered across his face.
“Do you know how big of a deal this is? You’re a South Korean.”
“It just turned out this way. His face when he asked to be an envoy looked desperate. And I did receive help. I need to return the favor.”
Even as I explained, Han Kyungyeong’s expression stayed displeased.
“There are plenty of other ways. Fine, invest in North Korea instead. What we’re good at is investing. Why do you keep interfering in politics, Muhyuk?”
His concern was reasonable. I knew very well that the path of businessn who ddled in politics never ended smoothly, but to show my resolve, I answered firmly.
“Hyung, even if we live in a world where most things can be solved with money, there are still immutable truths. If true national power decides to oppress the wealthy, they’ll be crushed without resistance.”
Even in our own country, thanks to the chaos of the IMF, it was possible to grab the President by the collar.
But if South Korea had been a dictatorship, and if Kim Hakgwon were a dictator? Establishing myself in Korea like I had now might have been impossible.
“Muhyuk, you already have enough wealth. What more do you want?”
“Don’t overthink it. This is just about keeping a promise. And as repaynt for letting see Grandfather in his final monts, I plan to do this properly.”
The mont I ntioned Grandfather, he stopped opposing.
His face still carried displeasure, but he gave direction.
“I don’t know Bush exactly, but if his aides hear about this agenda, they’ll definitely oppose it. For them, leaving North Korea as a common enemy in East Asia is far more advantageous. It’s easier to let the region keep each other in check than for the U.S. to oversee everything alone.”
It wasn’t much different from what I’d already thought, so I nodded lightly.
From their perspective, keeping tension in East Asia by leaving North Korea as an enemy was more beneficial than reconciliation.
I mulled over again Han Kyungyeong’s words—that the U.S. would risk war if another country opposed them.
“Still, I have to try. If it fails, I already have another plan prepared, so it’s fine.”
“I don’t know. You’ll handle it as you see fit.”
Han Kyungyeong nodded, then filled my glass and his with liquor.
“You deal with Dick Cheney and the others. I’ll talk with Bush alone. Of course he’ll eventually consult his aides, but I need to know Bush’s own thoughts—without interference.”
Han Kyungyeong drained his glass in one go, then slowly rubbed his chin.
“All right. I’ll do that. Actually, it might be better for Eric to deal with them than . What about bringing Eric along?”
“Bring Eric too?”
“Eric’s a forr U.S. soldier. His mindset is similar to neoconservatives like Dick Cheney. The conversations will flow better.”
It made sense. Their tendencies aligned, and once they heard he was a U.S. military veteran, they’d instinctively treat him as one of their own.
Compared to Han Kyungyeong, Eric would definitely find it easier to converse with Cheney.
“Fine, let’s do that. Contact him later.”
“All right. But how will you lead the conversation? Did Kim Jongil say he’d give up nuclear weapons? That’s the minimum condition for the U.S. to negotiate.”
Sharp as ever. I set down my glass and replied.
“He does have the will to give them up. I didn’t know either, but things around Kim Jongil are more complicated than we thought. What we know isn’t the whole picture.”
“What? He’ll really give them up? Kim Jongil actually said that?”
Han Kyungyeong, stunned, asked again.
When I first heard that North Korea was willing to abandon its only weapon to threaten other countries, I too had been shocked.
“Yes. Surprising, isn’t it? I was just as shocked.”
“Unbelievable. But they already signed the Geneva Agreent. Do you think the U.S. will be satisfied with sothing similar?”
North Korea had already frozen its nuclear program under the 1994 U.S.–North Korea Geneva Agreent.
In exchange, they were promised cooperation to replace their reactors with light-water plants, but the construction barely progressed.
That was likely why North Korea’s military hardliners were raging now.
Abandoning nuclear weapons completely was different from a freeze. If this negotiation failed, Kim Jongil would be forced to resu nuclear testing.
“He said, in exchange for giving them up entirely, he wants recognition of the regi and economic support.”
“They must be pretty desperate. So, what did you see of North Korea? Did they seem desperate?”
“I don’t know. I only saw Pyongyang. Beyond that, it’s probably hell.”
We talked and drank late into the night.
That drinking session with Han Kyungyeong after so long helped set my future course.
Several days passed after arriving in Washington.
― Boss······.
After days of intensive treatnt, Eva finally erged from her panic.
Her voice sounded weak.
“You okay?”
― Sorry. I’m really sorry, Boss.
“Pull out of Japan. Chairman Kim of Joongwoo can handle the rest.”
I had let Eva take vengeance with her own hands to erase her trauma.
But the experience remained etched in her body. Instead of fading, it seed to have turned into a deeper terror.
― No. It was my job. I want to finish it myself. Please, Boss.
“Are you sure? Your voice still trembles. Don’t push yourself. You’ve already done more than enough.”
― I’m much better now. Really.
Her voice trembled faintly over the receiver.
But her words were {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} unyielding.
― Please. I want to finish it.
“······Fine. But until we know who attacked, don’t step outside the Russian embassy. That’s not a request. It’s an order.”
Silence lingered for a mont before she answered with a weak laugh.
― All right. Don’t worry too much.
“Anyone even remotely involved in this will pay the price. Even if it’s the Japanese governnt.”
― It’s not the Japanese governnt.
There was a strange certainty in Eva’s voice. Curious, I asked.
“Why do you think so, Eva?”
― Because they know killing would bring them more loss than gain.
She wasn’t wrong. At the last stage of negotiations, the Japanese governnt had no reason to make such a reckless move.
And if it had been them, the operation wouldn’t have failed like this.
Then who? The question once again rose in my mind.
At that mont, a knock sounded at the door, and I glanced at my watch.
“Eva, get so rest. I’ll call again once I’m done here.”
― Yes, Boss. I’ll wait.
It was ti to et Bush. I rose from the sofa and hung up.
Outside the door, Chief Ma and the security team filled the hallway.
“Let’s go.”
We left the hotel and headed to the building where Bush’s presidential transition committee was based.
“President Han and Eric have already departed.”
I nodded at Chief Ma’s report and turned my gaze to the window, organizing my thoughts as the scenery flashed by.
Eva, Japan, Ilseong, Bush. Words tangled chaotically in my head.
Soon the car stopped in front of the building housing Bush’s committee.
Chief Ma and the security team got out first, speaking with the White House security outside.
Monts later, Chief Ma returned to open my limousine door.
“Eric and President Han are already inside.”
I stepped out, but the White House security blocked my way.
“We need to search you.”
Knowing it was procedure, I nodded obediently.
Only after they thoroughly searched and confird nothing suspicious did they step aside.
At last, I entered the building. With Chief Ma, I took the elevator to Bush’s office on the top floor.
When the doors opened, Eric and Han Kyungyeong were waiting.
“Boss, you’re here.”
Eric greeted first, and Han Kyungyeong bowed slightly.
I smiled softly, appreciating their consideration in front of others.
“When did you arrive?”
“About an hour ago. Let’s go inside.”
The fact that they had been waiting, not talking, made frown slightly.
Following Eric’s lead, we walked past a corridor lined with security.
Inside the door, two n sat on the sofa. They had been talking, but when the door opened, their gazes turned toward .
“Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld.”
Their faces were familiar from the dia.
Two of the trio who would lead Arica with Bush for the next eight years. Seeing them together stirred sothing in .
But even as I entered, Cheney and Rumsfeld didn’t rise. Their eyes carried the arrogance of n who saw others beneath them.
eting their gaze, I didn’t move an inch.
For a ti neither short nor long, I locked eyes with Cheney. After that silent battle of wills, I turned away first.
“They’re rude n. No reason to et them. Let’s go.”
“What?”
Eric, startled, blurted out, but I turned my back.
Sensing my intent, Chief Ma opened the door.
Without hesitation, I strode out.
Ignoring the wary stares of the White House security, I crossed the hallway toward the elevator.
Han Kyungyeong and Eric glanced back at Cheney and Rumsfeld, then hurried after .
“You sure about this?”
Han asked softly in Korean, but I didn’t answer.
Chief Ma pressed the elevator button, and we waited.
“If you walk away now, you might never et Bush again. You know you’re throwing away tens of millions of dollars, right?”
“Don’t say another word!”
At my hardened face and cold tone, Han Kyungyeong shut his mouth.
I knew he only spoke out of frustration, but I had no ti to explain. Even Eric stood stiff and silent, reading the tension.
The elevator arrived and the doors opened.
We stepped inside, and the doors began to close.
“Wait!”
At that mont, Rumsfeld rushed out of the office, shouting.
A guard held the doors open.
The closing doors opened again, and Rumsfeld’s flustered face ca closer.
“Charlie, if you leave now, it’s the sa as cutting ties with us. You know that, don’t you?”
I only folded my arms and stared. My silence made him sigh.
“Ha······.”
At his deep sigh, I signaled to Eric.
“Eric, stay. Handle this and co after .”
“Yes, Boss.”
Eric stepped out, his face resolute, and spoke first.
“Rumsfeld, why this rudeness? My Boss was the biggest political donor to your camp, back when no one on Wall Street even looked at Bush.”
“Eric, you know as well as I do. Just because we were a bit rude, turning back when the President-elect is waiting—do you realize how······.”
Eric cut him off.
“I know. But the Boss has decided. We follow. So stop adding insult to injury. Otherwise, the honeymoon between Black Bear and the U.S. military is over.”
“Are you threatening ?”
“Do my words sound like a threat? Don’t forget who bleeds in place of the U.S. military.”
Eric’s voice was icy. Startled, Rumsfeld couldn’t reply.
“Enough. Drop the pointless power struggle.”
Then, a voice broke the cold silence of the hallway. It was Bush, walking up behind Rumsfeld.
“You’re Charlie?”
Bush looked up and down as he asked.
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