On the eve of the Party Congress, Jang Songthaek visited the villa where Kim Jongil was staying, to et him.
The mont he stepped inside, he was t with the sharp glares of Kim Jongil’s family mbers on the first floor.
Ignoring those looks, Jang Songthaek moved up to the second floor, to Kim Jongil’s room.
Standing in front of the door, he took a deep breath and knocked.
“Comrade Chairman, this is Jang Songthaek.”
Soon, Kim Jongil’s voice ca from inside.
“Co in.”
Jang Songthaek opened the door and stepped inside, unconsciously frowning.
The room was filled with a hazy cloud of cigarette smoke.
Empty liquor bottles were lined up across the table, as if they’d been there for quite so ti.
As if that weren’t enough, Kim Jongil greeted Jang Songthaek while holding a glass of alcohol and smoking a cigarette.
“So, Jang Songthaek. What brings you here?”
After bowing slightly in greeting, Jang Songthaek strode toward the window.
He pulled the curtains open and flung the window wide.
Warm air flowed in through the open window.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“The room is full of cigarette smoke. It’s not good for your health, General.”
“And who’s worrying about whom now? Like a cat worrying about a mouse. Damn bastard, honestly...”
Though he scolded him verbally, Kim Jongil pressed the cigarette in his hand into the ashtray and put it out.
Seeing that, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Jang Songthaek’s mouth as he walked over and sat down.
“You’ve lost a lot of weight, General. Pour a drink as well.”
Kim Jongil poured cognac into a fresh glass and slid it over to Jang Songthaek.
Jang Songthaek took the glass, drained about half of it, and set it down.
“So then, why did you co?”
“The Party Congress is being held tomorrow.”
“I know that. Did you co all this way just to tell that?”
“Will you be attending tomorrow’s Party Congress, by any chance?”
Kim Jongil stopped swirling his glass and stared hard at Jang Songthaek.
Jang Songthaek didn’t avoid his gaze and continued.
“At tomorrow’s Party Congress, the Workers’ Party of Korea will proclaim a new set of rules. From that ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) point on, many things in the Republic will change.”
“.......”
“How about attending one last ti and gracing the occasion with your presence?”
At those words, Kim Jongil ground his teeth, drained his glass in one gulp, and slamd it down on the table.
“Listen here. Are you telling to go stand there as a prop?”
“Of course not. This is my courtesy—to make your final appearance a brilliant one. If that makes you uncomfortable, you can simply read the opening address and return.”
The entire populace already knew the Party Congress was being held.
Even now, key party officials from across the country were gathering in Pyongyang.
If Kim Jongil didn’t appear, everyone would find it strange.
Jang Songthaek wanted no confusion. He wanted a peaceful transfer of power.
Though he had already secured real authority by creating the new position of Vice Chairman, he intended to ascend fully as the supre leader through this Party Congress.
“So you want to show everyone myself handing my seat over to you. Does it really have to go that far? Haven’t the party and the army already fallen completely into your grasp, Jang Songthaek?”
“That’s true. Your position no longer exists within the Workers’ Party of Korea or the Korean People’s Army. But the people are different, aren’t they? To them, what they see with their own eyes is everything.”
After a brief silence, Kim Jongil shook his head.
“I have no intention of standing there as a prop. Just go back. I’ll stay here quietly, like a dead mouse.”
When Kim Jongil refused, the smile vanished from Jang Songthaek’s face.
“General. The comrades who carried out this undertaking with are all insisting, with one voice, that you must be killed. They co to several tis a day.”
Kim Jongil raised one eyebrow, grasping the implication of those words.
“I have no intention of killing you. But if you refuse to cooperate, I’ll have no justification to persuade the comrades to hold back.”
“......Are you threatening now? I did everything you told to do! I even asked President Kim Muhyuk to support you. And yet you dare do this to ?!”
Unable to contain his anger, Kim Jongil’s hands trembled as he raised his voice.
Jang Songthaek let out a small sigh and replied calmly.
“This will be the last ti. If you help with this one matter, I’ll send your nephews abroad to live. I’ll also relocate you to a better place. I’ll make arrangents so you can spend the rest of your life enjoying fishing, as you like.”
After finishing, Jang Songthaek lifted his glass and drank the remaining liquor.
Watching him, Kim Jongil took a cigarette, lit it, and smoked it down quickly—then lit another right away.
Jang Songthaek said nothing and waited in silence.
How much ti passed?
Finally, exhaling a deep sigh mixed with cigarette smoke, Kim Jongil spoke.
“Fine. I’ll do it. But you must keep your promises.”
“Thank you, General.”
The words of thanks slipped out reflexively as Jang Songthaek bowed his head.
“Enough. Don’t say things you don’t an.”
“We’ll prepare the opening address ourselves. If you attend just the first day, you won’t need to attend after that.”
Kim Jongil didn’t reply, rely nodding.
“We’ll send soone to escort you tomorrow. Please drink in moderation—and cut back on smoking as well. You should live long enough to watch the Republic grow and prosper, shouldn’t you?”
With that, Jang Songthaek rose from his seat.
“Then I’ll take my leave. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
At that mont, Kim Jongil called out to him.
“Jang Songthaek.”
Jang Songthaek stopped and turned back.
“Don’t trust President Kim Muhyuk too much. Look into other options as well. The Chinese and the Russians aren’t trustworthy either, but it’s better to dig several holes, all the sa. That bastard is far too greedy. Reckless ambition could ruin the Republic. Don’t let yourself be dragged along too much.”
It was impossible to tell whether this was sincere advice or an attempt to sow discord.
Still, eting Kim Jongil’s eyes, Jang Songthaek decided not to dismiss the words lightly.
“I know President Kim Muhyuk is a man of great ambition. But it’s also true that there’s no better partner than him when it cos to growing the Republic.”
“A good partner, huh...”
“I intend to go all the way with that man. For the sake of the Republic—and for my own sake as well.”
“If that’s how you feel, then so be it. Very well. You may go.”
Jang Songthaek bowed once more and turned away.
Soon, the door closed, and silence filled the room.
Left alone, Kim Jongil poured himself another drink and murmured softly.
“For the sake of the Republic...”
Down on the first floor, Jang Songthaek was t by the brothers Kim Jongchul and Kim Jongun, who had been waiting.
Kim Jongun called out to him.
“Uncle.”
Jang Songthaek looked at the two brothers without speaking.
“How long do we have to stay here?”
“Just a little longer. Once things quiet down, I’ll send you abroad.”
“All of our family?”
“Of course not. Jongchul, Jongun, and Yeojong—you three will be sent.”
Kim Jongchul muttered in a hollow voice.
“Father and Mother, then...”
“The General will remain in the Republic. And that woman will have to stay by his side as well. He can’t spend his final years alone, can he?”
Kim Jongun bit his lip hard. Kim Jongchul rely watched Jang Songthaek’s expression.
“I’ll provide you with enough money to live comfortably abroad. But don’t even think about doing anything foolish. If you do, I’ll take back everything I’ve given you.”
Kim Jongchul nodded, but Kim Jongun said nothing.
Jang Songthaek fixed Kim Jongun with a cold gaze.
“Jongun, Jongchul—rember my words well. There’s only one reason I’m letting you live. It’s because of my promise to the General. So don’t harbor any other thoughts. My patience isn’t very long.”
Leaving those words behind, Jang Songthaek walked past the two brothers.
Kim Jongun stared at his retreating back for a long ti.
* * *
The grand banquet hall of the Baekje Hotel.
Within the vast hall, titans of South Korea’s business world began gathering one by one.
Chairn of conglorates ranked within the top twenty of the business world had assembled in a single place.
“Hahaha, Chairman Song! Congratulations. Looks like you’ll finally fulfill Chairman Wang’s long-cherished wish.”
Those gathered created a warm atmosphere, offering congratulatory remarks to Chairman Song Chanwoo.
Song Chanwoo listened calmly, smiling.
“Nothing has been decided yet, but thank you for your words.”
“Well now... Everyone knows North Korea is changing, don’t they? Kim Jongil stepping down and Jang Songthaek taking power—that wind of change is blowing through the North. And the result is the summit President Yoon Changho announced. A lot is going to change now. In the end, it’ll probably co down to economic cooperation. I have ears too, you know. I hear the Blue House is already drawing up a roadmap for economic cooperation. If cooperation with North Korea resus after the summit, who do you think will reap the benefits? Won’t it all go to the Daehyeon Group?”
Chairman Yeo Seungjin of Geumseong Group smiled at Song Chanwoo.
“I don’t know where you heard that, but I haven’t received anything from the Blue House yet.”
“You’ve grown quite slippery since the last ti I saw you. Chairman Wang was always straightforward, you know.”
Yeo Seungjin shook his head, clicking his tongue.
“Chairman Song, it’s too big a business for you to swallow alone. Maybe it’d be different if Chairman Wang were still around. How about sharing so of the business rights with the chairn gathered here?”
“.......”
“They say too much is as bad as too little. Let’s all make a living together, hm? Don’t you agree, gentlen?”
Everyone nodded except Chairman Kim Byungwoo of Joongwoo Group and Chairman Kim Seonghyeok of Hyeonhwa Group.
Chairman Yeo led the mood, with Chairman Seo Jaesang of JC Group backing him up and adding weight to his opinion.
Other chairn chid in as well, pressuring Song Chanwoo.
“Chairman Song. I understand Daehyeon Group holds seven SOC project rights with North Korea. Wouldn’t it be too much for Daehyeon Group alone to handle all of them?”
Song Chanwoo was montarily at a loss for words.
How absurd it was. They didn’t even know whether North Korea-related projects would resu at all, yet here they were, swarming like hyenas.
Kim Byungwoo stepped in to cool the overheated atmosphere.
“Alright, everyone’s gathered, so let’s move on to the main agenda. Chairman Kang Hoseok, please begin.”
Chairman Kang Hoseok of Dongsung Group, who served as head of the Federation of Korean Industries, rose from his seat, and the eting began in earnest.
The Federation consisted of over four hundred large and mid-sized companies, but it was rare for them all to gather.
Aside from the biennial chairman elections, etings were convened flexibly, ranging from the top twenty to the top fifty in the business rankings.
The organization had originally been ford under the leadership of Ilseong Group, but Ilseong Group had since faded into history.
“The agenda for today is...”
Chairman Kang Hoseok presented several prepared items one by one, most of which passed without major objections.
At the end, he brought up the summit.
“The governnt has said it will invite all Federation executives to the welco banquet for the summit. Please adjust your schedules accordingly.”
Yeo Seungjin asked,
“Chairman Kang. Did they say anything else besides telling us to attend?”
“No. They only asked us to participate in the welco banquet.”
“They still treat us like subordinates, it seems—thinking it’s the kind of era where we co when told and leave when told. Chairman Kang, don’t you think we’re being taken too lightly?”
At Yeo Seungjin’s question, Kang Hoseok replied with a smile.
“This isn’t the first ti the Blue House has acted this way. We should be understanding. Depending on the summit’s outco, there will be plenty for our business community to do.”
Still, Yeo Seungjin clicked his tongue and shook his head, clearly displeased.
Words aside, they would have to comply in the end—so Kang Hoseok expected no major disruption.
Thinking that, he looked around and spoke, preparing to adjourn.
“Then, we’ll conclude this eting here—”
At that mont, the doors to the grand hall swung open wide. Everyone’s gaze turned toward the entrance.
“Gentlen, it’s been a while.”
The man who walked in was Kim Muhyuk.
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