Most of what had to be done in the United States was finished.
Arica was a country that never hesitated to use military force against other nations. But within its own borders, it was different.
Here, they had thoroughly excluded the use of force and fought with money and politics instead.
The battle that was about to begin would be no different.
Bush wanted to weaken the neocons.
And that was sothing I wanted as well.
At first, I had co rely to deliver a warning. But now that I had confird our interests aligned, it was no longer that simple.
It was enough to conclude by asking Bush not to interfere with what I was about to do.
While reviewing the report Chief Ma had submitted, I asked Han Kyungyeong,
“Who did you assign to handle Wilson and Pla’s defense?”
“I retained Cravath, Swaine & Moore. I told them to assemble a defense team made up of their very best attorneys.”
Cravath, Swaine & Moore was not one of those massive law firms boasting a huge number of partners.
However, among the countless law firms in the United States, it was one of the most prestigious—competing for first or second place.
“That’s good, but isn’t Cravath’s main focus M&A?”
“Yeah, that’s true. Since they’re based in London and New York, they handle most of those kinds of cases. But they’ve also won against the governnt several tis.”
I nodded at Han Kyungyeong’s explanation.
As long as they were competent, I didn’t care which firm we used.
Arican law firms take on anything that makes money. They would handle it well enough. Just like the many firms on Wall Street.
“If you chose them, you must have your reasons.”
“It’ll be enough to block the neocons’ movents. Even if we can’t win outright, we can drag things out and grind it down. Maybe we’ll even win.”
He said it like that, but in reality, we didn’t yet have decisive evidence that could guarantee a victory.
No matter how much we mobilized Black Bear, we couldn’t secure any video or audio recordings.
If we resorted to illegal thods, perhaps we might obtain sothing.
But the risk was too great.
We couldn’t afford to take actions that might later beco weaknesses. So that option was being held in reserve.
“Right. We drag it out and pull them into the mud.”
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
It was ti to et another blade that would keep the neocons in check.
“I should get moving. Soone’s waiting for in Washington.”
As I stood, Han Kyungyeong waved his hand without even looking up.
“Try not to suffer too much.”
I let out a faint laugh, patted his shoulder, and left the room.
* * *
Washington at night was brighter than during the day.
As senators, representatives, and countless lobbyists moved about, the deeper the night grew, the stronger the lights of Washington burned.
“It’s been a while, Obama.”
There, I was eting Democratic Senator Barack Obama.
“It has been a while, Charlie.”
I took the hand Obama extended. As we shook hands, he spoke first.
“I heard you attended President Bush’s reelection celebration.”
“I did. No one donated more to President Bush than we did.”
“I also heard you had a private eting.”
“You seem to know everything.”
“There are countless eyes and ears in Washington.”
The reelection celebration had been a public event.
With that many people gathered in one place, it was only natural that nothing remained secret.
“Will today’s eting reach soone’s ears as well?”
“No one is trying to check . So there probably won’t be anyone paying attention to my movents.”
Obama answered bitterly.
I understood the aning behind his words and gave a small smile.
At once, he was saying that he was not yet a politician worth watching—and that this eting would not leak.
Barack Obama was still, for now, just another senator.
He had gained popularity and risen as a star politician through a single keynote speech at the convention.
But his political career was still lacking.
There was still ti before the next presidential race, but most people said the next Democratic candidate would be Hillary.
That was Barack Obama’s current position.
“Let’s sit.”
This was one of the Washington safe houses Han Kyungyeong had prepared.
No one knew who truly owned this place, making it an ideal location to et Obama discreetly.
Of course, after tonight, it would no longer be usable for that purpose.
We finished shaking hands and sat facing each other. The mont I sat down, I studied Obama’s face.
“Your party lost, but you don’t look too upset.”
“It was a defeat everyone expected. But I didn’t expect it to be this overwhelming.”
“At least in the Senate, House, and gubernatorial races held alongside the presidential election, you didn’t do too badly.”
The Republican Party had won a landslide in the presidential race.
But in the Senate elections for thirty-four seats, Republicans took nineteen while Democrats secured fifteen.
In the House, Republicans won 232 seats and Democrats 202.
For governorships, Republicans claid twenty-eight while Democrats won twenty-two.
The people had given President Bush strength in the presidential race.
But it seed they did not want the Republican Party to run unchecked.
They had placed enough tools in the hands of the Democrats to act as a counterbalance.
“Even so, a loss is still a loss.”
“What’s the mood within the Democratic Party?”
“They think we at least saved face.”
The victorious Republicans were rationalizing the results in their own way, and the defeated Democrats were doing the sa.
“Would you like a beer?”
Obama nodded.
I signaled to Chief Ma with my eyes. He brought over bottles of beer from an ice bucket.
I took out two, opened them, and handed one to Obama.
“They say this is the best-selling beer in Arica.”
“I drank a lot of this when I was younger. These days I drink more whiskey than beer...”
“Isn’t it nice sotis to savor old mories like this? To return to your original resolve.”
I recalled the soju-and-beer mixtures I had shared with college friends.
Obama seed to be rembering the beer he used to drink in his university days as well. His expression turned distant.
Now he likely drank whiskey or wine more often.
But sotis, the alcohol from those earlier days was what one missed the most.
“Original resolve. That’s a good phrase.”
When I extended my bottle, Obama clinked his against it.
Beer spilled over our hands, but we simply looked at each other and smiled.
After taking a sip, we began the real conversation.
“Obama. Have you gathered many comrades to dream with you?”
I offered him advice about what would be necessary to beco president.
The presidency of the United States was a throne drenched in honeyed power and entangled in countless interests.
The path to it was never paved with silk.
And no one could reach it through their own strength alone.
“It hasn’t been easy.”
“Of course not. Hillary is a towering wall. But you still have four years. You, Barack Obama, will be the next president.”
At my firm statent, a strange smile appeared on Obama’s face.
“I felt this before, but Charlie seems to believe in more than I believe in myself.”
“I have a good eye for people.”
I returned his smile.
We talked as we emptied one bottle of beer.
I pulled two more from the ice bucket and handed one to Obama.
But this ti, I gave him sothing else as well.
From the briefcase Chief Ma had brought, I took out docunts and divided them into three stacks, placing them on the table.
Holding the beer I had handed him, Obama looked back and forth between the bundles of docunts and . Confusion was written on his face.
“What are these?”
“What do you think you lack right now? Among the things needed to beco president.”
“Hmm...”
Obama let out a low sound as he pondered. Silence lingered for quite so ti.
Given how much he lacked, such a reaction was only natural.
I broke the silence with a smile.
“These are weapons that will fill what you lack.”
I pushed the first bundle toward him.
“Files containing the dirty secrets of Democratic lawmakers.”
Obama’s eyes shook violently. He looked between the docunts and again and again.
Being intelligent, he seed to imdiately understand why I was handing them ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) over.
To use those weaknesses to recruit lawmakers who would support him.
I imdiately pushed the second bundle forward.
“This ti, it’s a list of people who will be helpful to you. If you bring them in early, they will certainly be of use.”
The docunts listed individuals who would stand by his side and support him.
Then I pushed forward the final bundle.
“And this is the core. This will fill what you lack the most.”
Obama had gained nationwide recognition with a single speech.
But in Washington, he was still little more than a rookie.
He lifted the third stack. No—the weapon.
And slowly began to read.
I drank my beer and waited for him to finish.
It was only after four empty bottles sat before that Obama finally opened his mouth.
“I-Is all of this true?”
Instead of answering, I nodded.
As if his throat were parched, Obama downed the flat beer in front of him in one go.
I pushed a new bottle toward him.
“Well? How is the weapon I’ve placed in your hands?”
“...If this is true, then what was the blood the U.S. military shed for?”
“Well. I don’t think that’s for to answer.”
The docunts in his hands contained the filthy truth of the Iraq War.
Obama covered his face with both hands. Soon, a faint voice leaked out from behind them.
“God... do not forgive us...”
It was a sorrowful prayer.
At the sa ti, it was a bitter apology to the countless soldiers who had fallen in Iraq.
So dismissed him as an idealist.
So praised him as a leader fit to guide Arica.
But this was Obama’s true self.
A man who loved Arica more than anyone.
A man who valued human lives more than anyone.
“You won’t be able to use that weapon imdiately. There’s no concrete evidence. But I believe you’ll find it soon.”
I had handed him truths known from my previous life.
For now, without evidence, they were nothing more than conspiracy.
But I knew they were true.
And Obama would know it too. Because in the future, he would be the one to uncover that truth.
He still couldn’t lower his hands from his face.
Perhaps he didn’t want to reveal his expression.
“Truth without power is easily extinguished. So let’s start with what we can do. With the classified leak case currently under special investigation.”
We had to begin by rolling the still-unstained Obama into the mud.
A pristine and noble crane was always a target of envy.
“Be the first to call for hearings on the Pla affair. And et Mrs. Pla in person. Persuade her directly.”
I could step in myself.
But I wanted him to move.
“Through those hearings, make the na Barack Obama known throughout Washington. Show them who you are. What kind of politician you are. Let everyone know.”
No matter how dirty the road to the presidency might be, this work was necessary to walk it.
“And once you beco president, restore everything to its rightful place.”
What I was giving him now was justification.
What he lacked most was not fa.
Not money.
But firm resolve.
I don’t know why the Barack Obama of my previous life dread of becoming president.
I don’t know what drove him to that position.
But this life would be different.
In this life, I would forge his resolve myself.
“The path to the presidency will be filthy and grueling. But you must walk it.”
I added one final sentence.
“I will use every ounce of power I have to pave that road for you. So walk it.”
I had said everything I needed to say.
From here on, the choice belonged entirely to Obama.
After a long silence, he lowered his hands from his face.
His revealed eyes burned brightly.
“I know about the Pla case. What I need to do is help them.”
He would no longer hesitate.
“That’s right.”
“And this benefits you as well.”
“I won’t hide it. It benefits too.”
Obama t my gaze. There was firm resolve in his eyes.
“I understand now what I must do. And why I must beco president.”
At his bold words, I smiled and nodded.
“Persuade Pla to leave the CIA. Give her a reason to move.”
“Yes. I’ll do it myself.”
We drank and talked until deep into the night.
And there, in that Washington safe house, Obama’s first step toward the presidency began.
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