After several rounds of drinks, about one bottle of cognac was gone, and Jessica’s cheeks had begun to flush red.
“Charlie, what on earth are you living for?”
At that sudden question, I stopped twirling my glass and silently looked at her.
“The more I get to know you, the more curious I get. You could live comfortably, but instead, you keep walking such a hard path.”
“?”
“Yes. You already have more than enough wealth. You could just sit back and let your money work for you without diving into all this dirty international politics, couldn’t you?”
“Haha. You know as well as I do that no matter how much money you have, it can all be taken away if those in power decide to. If Washington sets its mind to strip soone bare, they can. The recent audit on Dreamhigh is proof of that.”
“I heard they found nothing. The tax authorities themselves were surprised.”
That’s because I had cleaned everything up beforehand — though I couldn’t exactly say that.
So I gave her the textbook answer.
“Money can be strength, but it can also beco a weakness. Let’s just say it’s a choice to protect myself and those around . Hard to explain in words.”
“Hmm... complicated.”
“The U.S. governnt barely intervenes in private affairs, and yet it’s like that there. So imagine what it’s like in Korea, where the president’s power is still absolute.”
Jessica sighed, took another drink, and spoke again.
“I don’t really get it. The more I learn about you, the more mysterious you beco. The more I learn, the less I understand...”
I only smiled awkwardly and didn’t answer.
“Don’t live so painfully like that, Charlie. You’ll wear yourself out first.”
I couldn’t tell if she was genuinely drunk or just pretending, but her tone had grown uncharacteristically sentintal.
“You seem tipsy. Should we stop here?”
“No, I guess I am a little drunk. I just wanted to drink without thinking for once. Why? Are you uncomfortable being with ?”
I shook my head.
“No, not uncomfortable. You just seem really tired.”
Jessica set her glass down with a deep sigh.
“It’s like a battlefield without gunfire. The internal political fights are bad enough, but the outside pressure’s worse. This isn’t what I signed up for.”
I refilled her glass and said quietly,
“That’s how the world works. Don’t identify yourself too much with your work. Don’t get buried in it.”
“Thank you. Back in Washington, I can’t even talk like this. I feel like I can breathe again.”
She truly did look weary, and though she said she was drunk, she didn’t stop drinking.
How could I pull her in closer?
Whether she noticed my thoughts or not, she kept venting about her situation.
Who knows how long it went on.
At one point, while checking the ti, she suddenly said sothing unexpected.
“I’ll give you a gift, Charlie.”
“A gift?”
Her eyes were glassy from the alcohol, but her voice was steady.
“Jang Songthaek will be reinstated soon.”
“...Are you sure?”
Jessica smirked faintly and nodded.
“Yes. He’s already in Pyongyang. No one knows when he’ll return to power, but the fact he’s back ans Kim Jongil summoned him.”
“...”
“See? It’s a gift, isn’t it?”
“Thank you for telling .”
“Don’t ntion it.”
Jang Songthaek’s return was good news for .
He was the ideal man to push Kim Jongil off his throne.
“And judging by the mood in Washington, the peace negotiations with Kim Jongil are going to be scrapped. You’ll probably hear about it tomorrow.”
“Jessica, why are you telling all this?”
When I looked at her warily, she frowned and muttered irritably,
“I told you — it’s a gift. Don’t be so suspicious. Think of it as paying for the drinks. I just want to be on good terms with you.”
Hard to take a spy’s word at face value.
Still, since she’d given sothing, I decided to hand over a little of my own.
“There will soon be terrorist attacks in Kabul, Afghanistan, and Bali, Indonesia. You should look into it.”
“What?”
Jessica stared at , suddenly sober.
“I don’t know the details either. I only heard that preparations are underway for an attack in Kabul before this year’s World Cup. It’s not confird — but check it.”
“Where do you even get information like that?”
“That’s a secret. Trade secret, can’t share it.”
“Ha. You really are sothing else.”
Jessica picked up her glass, drained the cognac in one shot, and stood up.
“Thank you. I have to go.”
She didn’t look drunk at all now.
So she’d been faking it, after all. What a sly one.
I stood as well, joking lightly.
“So you weren’t drunk after all?”
“Ah...”
Jessica’s face turned red.
“I’m kidding. Try looking into Pakistan — that’s where your answer is.”
“Thanks.”
Jessica leaned in and brushed a light kiss on my cheek before turning away.
As I watched her walk down the hall, I said to Manager Ma,
“Let’s go too.”
The next day.
Because of a scheduled eting, I headed to the U.S. Embassy.
“Did you find anything?”
From the passenger seat, Manager Ma turned and replied,
“No, sir. Nothing’s co through our channels.”
“Jessica wouldn’t have passed unverified information to .”
“I told our intel team to dig further, but even the NIS hasn’t picked up any related signs.”
“Hmm...”
With no data, I couldn’t move recklessly.
“Keep investigating.”
Even if Jang Songthaek was back, it was uncertain whether he still had his forr strength. Most of his allies had already been purged.
Still, among Pyongyang’s higher-ups, he was the only one I could actually talk to — and the only one likely to act as I wished.
“The question is how to bring Jang Songthaek to our side.”
I muttered that to myself and closed my eyes.
When I arrived at the U.S. Embassy, I went through a quick security check and stepped inside.
The Arican ambassador was the first to greet .
“Mr. Kim Muhyuk, welco.”
He spoke in slightly awkward Korean.
“You speak Korean quite well.”
He winked and made a pinching gesture with his thumb and forefinger.
“Jogeum, a little.”
Under the Bush administration, the newly appointed ambassador, Thomas, was the very image of an Arican.
“We can speak in English if you prefer.”
“Ah, good. I’m still not great at Korean — long conversations are tough. Haha. We have a bit of ti before your eting, so let’s chat.”
When Manager Ma left for another room, Thomas gestured for to sit and pressed the switch on an electric kettle.
“You know what surprised most in Korea? This instant coffee. My staff drinks it, and I tried it once — I couldn’t believe how good it was.”
“Really? I’m glad it suits your taste.”
With practiced ease, Thomas tore open two coffee mixes, poured hot water into paper cups, and handed one.
“Try it.”
“Thank you.”
I accepted the cup with a polite smile.
“I was inford Secretary Rumsfeld won’t be joining us today.”
“Oh? Did sothing happen?”
“I’m not sure. I was only notified.”
“So only National Security Advisor Rice will attend?”
“No, I’ve also been told the Secretary of State is coming.”
“Secretary Powell?”
Thomas nodded, sipping his coffee.
“That’s unexpected. I didn’t think Secretary Powell would et personally.”
Colin Powell — the first African-Arican to serve as U.S. Secretary of State.
‘He was one of the moderates.’
Unlike neoconservatives like Dick Cheney and Rumsfeld, Powell was considered more asured. He’d even opposed the Iraq War publicly.
“Is this about Iraq?”
“I don’t know the details.”
Thomas seed deliberately cautious.
“Stop by soti for coffee like this again. I’m quite interested in you, Mr. Kim.”
“Invite anyti; I’ll co.”
It didn’t sound like empty courtesy. We chatted casually, avoiding serious topics.
After about thirty minutes, the phone on his desk rang.
Thomas pressed a button, and a staff mber’s voice ca through the speaker.
— Secretary Powell and Advisor Rice will be arriving shortly.
“Okay. I’m coming.”
Thomas and I stood up together.
From the embassy entrance, I could see a convoy of vehicles pulling in.
Bodyguards stepped out first, then a man and a woman erged.
“Thomas, long ti no see.”
Powell greeted him warmly.
“Yes, it’s been a while, Secretary Powell.”
“Haha. How’s life in Korea? Treating you well?”
“It’s a good country.”
“Good. Keep up the hard work. You’ll be back in Washington before long.”
Powell patted Thomas on the shoulder, then turned to .
“Charlie Kim? Pleasure to et you. I’m Colin Powell.”
“An honor, Secretary.”
“Let’s head inside. We have a lot to discuss.”
Powell shook my hand first and strode in. Thomas followed.
“Nice to et you, I’m Condoleezza Rice.”
She extended her hand.
“I’ve heard much about you. A pleasure.”
As I took her hand, Rice leaned in slightly and whispered,
“I heard there was an unfortunate incident at last night’s banquet. Please don’t take it as our administration’s position.”
Then she smiled brightly, as though she hadn’t said a word, and walked quickly toward Powell.
I followed them inside.
“Alright, let’s sit. We don’t have much ti.”
Powell wasted no ti taking his seat in the ambassador’s office.
“There are three reasons we requested this eting with you, Charlie.”
“Three?”
“Yes. First — to inform you that Vice President Dick Cheney’s proposal for a ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ peace treaty with the North has been nullified.”
“Ah...”
Exactly what Jessica had told yesterday. A sudden policy reversal.
Now that I thought about it, Powell and Cheney never got along.
It was no wonder — Cheney, a vice president in title only, was acting as the administration’s real power broker thanks to Bush’s support.
“An official statent about the summit will be released soon. Presidents Bush and Kim Hakgwon will announce it personally. Expect strong language — don’t be alard.”
“I see...”
“We know how much effort you’ve put in, Charlie — even risking your life. On behalf of the U.S. governnt, you have our gratitude.”
Powell bowed his head slightly.
“Not at all. It was mutual interest that made it possible.”
“We appreciate that.”
As Powell smiled faintly, I asked,
“May I ask the reason behind this sudden reversal?”
“Let’s just say there’s been a shift in internal dynamics within our administration.”
It was a clear attempt to dodge the question. I didn’t press and simply nodded.
Powell lifted his teacup and continued.
“And second... it’s a difficult request, but I hope you’ll accept it.”
I could feel him watching my expression.
“Go ahead. If it’s within my power, I’ll cooperate.”
But Powell hesitated.
Seeing that, Rice spoke up instead.
“Convince Russia for us.”
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