Before returning to Korea, I went to see Kim Jongil.
“It’s been a while.”
“It has been a while, indeed.”
Kim Jongil looked at with clear displeasure, but he did not refuse the eting.
“You look healthy.”
It wasn’t empty politeness. Compared to the last ti I saw him, his complexion was far better.
“That’s all thanks to President Kim, isn’t it?”
Kim Jongil replied in a sarcastic tone, but I simply answered with a smile.
“Won’t you even offer a cup of tea?”
“What’s so pretty about you that I should give you tea?”
“Hahaha. Are you still angry?”
When I joked with a laugh, Kim Jongil clicked his tongue.
“Ok! Bring two coffees.”
“Yes, General.”
At Kim Jongil’s shout, Kim Ok—his secretary and mistress, who had been standing at a distance—entered the villa.
Watching her disappear, I asked,
“Is Madam still unwell?”
Kim Jongil’s wife, Ko Yonghui, had been receiving treatnt in France after her health deteriorated rapidly.
I already knew her condition, but I asked as if I didn’t.
“You already know, so why ask?”
As if convinced I had been monitoring Ko Yonghui, Kim Jongil replied curtly.
That was another difference from the previous life. Originally, Ko Yonghui should have already been dead by now.
Whether it was because Kim Jongil had stepped down from power or for so other reason, she was still alive.
Of course, she wasn’t healthy.
“Health is everything, Chairman.”
“Enough with the nonsense. Why did you co? You’re not soone who pays attention to . There must be a reason you ca looking for .”
Kim Jongil looked at with narrowed eyes.
There was unmistakable distrust and suspicion in that gaze.
“I just wanted to see your face once before returning to Korea.”
“We’re not the kind of people who sit face to face without a reason.”
Just then, Kim Ok returned with two cups of coffee, placing them on the round table before stepping back again.
Kim Jongil gave a small nod and lifted the cup to his lips.
“Drink. My brother-in-law gifted so good beans. The aroma’s quite nice.”
I also lifted my cup. Just as he said, the coffee had a pleasant fragrance.
After taking a sip of the hot coffee, I spoke.
“Don’t entertain useless thoughts, Chairman.”
The hand holding Kim Jongil’s cup paused.
“Chairman Jang Songthaek didn’t kill you because he believes you’re no longer a threat to him.”
“......”
“If you beco a threat, not just you, but your entire family will be in danger.”
“President Kim. What are you talking about?”
“I already know that Choi Ryunghae and Kim Youngchun ca to see you. Chairman Jang Songthaek knows as well.”
Kim Jongil said nothing and simply stared into my eyes.
“I don’t know what kind of proposal they made, but they probably tempted you by saying they would restore your position. Am I wrong?”
Kim Jongil’s expression did not change. Instead of answering, he calmly took another sip of coffee.
I hadn’t expected an answer anyway, so I continued.
“I already know they’re plotting to drive Chairman Jang Songthaek out, with Choi Ryunghae and Kim Youngchun at the center. And that they intend to reinstall you to gain legitimacy.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, President Kim.”
“Yes. Then continue not knowing. If you’ve already given them a definite answer, it’ll be hard to overlook it. Close your ears and just spend your days fishing. That’s the way to live out your natural life.”
I finished my coffee and placed the cup down.
“This is a warning. I still haven’t forgotten what you did to my people. The only reason you’re alive is because Chairman Jang Songthaek wishes to keep you that way. So don’t cross the line.”
No matter how prepared Jang Songthaek might be, if Kim Jongil personally moved, the military might refuse to follow Jang’s orders.
The indoctrination that had continued since Kim Ilsung’s era still remained throughout North Korea.
That was why I had co here personally to warn him.
“Think about the lives of your son in Switzerland and the children still staying here. Chairman, you’ve lived long enough—but your children haven’t.”
“President Kim...”
Kim Jongil’s voice trembled slightly.
He seed to realize what might happen if sothing went wrong.
“If I killed them, do you think Chairman Jang Songthaek would fight ? No. He could never abandon . The Jiang Zemin who forced you to kneel—I will make him kneel before .”
“Why are you doing this to ? I have no ambition anymore.”
“Even if you don’t, others won’t leave you alone. If you hate that, there’s only one way...”
I deliberately left the sentence unfinished.
Kim Jongil clearly understood what I ant.
He would have to die for it to truly end.
Unlike other communist countries, North Korea functioned almost like a dynasty ruled by the Kim family.
As long as he lived, people would continue trying to use him.
That was also why those who seized power often killed their predecessors.
“Don’t take advantage of Chairman Jang Songthaek’s goodwill. I chose him as my partner, and if he is threatened, I will do everything I can. Even if a coup succeeds and you return to power, nothing good will co of it. Russia, China, and Korea would all move against North Korea.”
The hand holding Kim Jongil’s coffee cup trembled.
Was it anger? Humiliation?
No.
Kim Jongil finally spoke, his eyes filled with fear.
“President Kim... protect Jongnam. That boy Jongnam has fallen into the hands of those vile bastards.”
“......”
“I never said a word. But those bastards tried to use Jongnam.”
Since he wouldn’t cooperate, they had taken Kim Jongnam hostage.
Just as I expected.
“Even if I protect Kim Jongnam, this vicious cycle won’t end.”
“I’ll leave the Republic if I must. Just protect my family. At this rate, they’ll all die.”
The trembling that began in his hands spread through his entire body.
The dictator who had killed countless people was now shaking with fear.
Even this man treasured his own bloodline deeply.
After a mont of thought, I nodded.
“They won’t be able to kill Kim Jongnam. I’ll make sure of that.”
I already knew where Kim Jongnam was ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) staying.
Since he wasn’t imprisoned—rely watched under the pretense of protection—I could retrieve him anyti.
“So promise just one thing. Never desire power again. No matter who tries to sway you. When everything is settled, I’ll arrange everything for you. I’ll buy you a nice estate sowhere in Europe.”
If he left North Korea, there would be no reason to kill him.
“And if the military moves, step forward yourself and support Chairman Jang Songthaek.”
Kim Jongil nodded weakly.
For so reason, seeing him so frail today left unsettled.
“I’ll take my leave. Before I go, I’ll et your children. They need to hear this warning too.”
“......”
No answer ca.
I stood up and walked toward the villa.
“Take good care of the Chairman. Kim Jongchol and Kim Yeojeong are inside, right?”
“......”
I asked Kim Ok, who was standing in front of the villa, but she did not answer.
Ignoring her, I stepped inside.
Behind , I heard the sound of her heels hurrying toward Kim Jongil.
As soon as I entered, the living room ca into view.
Kim Jongchol and Kim Yeojeong were sitting on a large sofa.
Kim Yeojeong, who still looked very young, clutched Kim Jongchol’s hand tightly while watching nervously.
“We’ve t before, haven’t we?”
Kim Jongchol nodded.
“You know who I am, right?”
“......”
“Don’t be so scared. I only ca to tell you not to fall for anyone who tries to tempt you. Your every action could cost not only your lives but everyone connected to you. Do you understand?”
Kim Jongchol nodded but avoided my gaze.
Kim Yeojeong hid halfway behind him.
Suddenly I rembered the Kim Yeojeong of my previous life.
The woman who had spat venomous insults overlapped with this innocent young girl before .
So even that crazy woman had once been this naive.
“If you don’t beco greedy, your uncle will help you live comfortably. But that’s the limit.”
As I slowly approached, Kim Jongchol swallowed nervously.
I stepped close to him and whispered quietly in his ear.
“Never beco greedy. If you do, you’ll die. You can’t live the way you used to. Your father doesn’t have that power anymore. Neither do you. So just live quietly, like a dead mouse.”
I lightly patted his stiff shoulder and straightened up.
Looking at him, still frozen with his head lowered, I smiled warmly.
“But you can still do everything you want. You’re a fan of Eric Clapton, right? Want to introduce you?”
Kim Jongchol looked up in surprise.
“When this is over, co to England. I’ll arrange a eting with him.”
“Really...?”
His honorific sounded awkward, as if he added it belatedly.
I thought he was already grown, but he was still young.
“Of course. It’s not difficult. I can easily arrange that. Your father can’t do it—but I can.”
I knew he liked that guitarist.
And Eric Clapton was quite close to Murdoch.
If I could earn goodwill with sothing trivial like that, it was perfect.
“So listen carefully. Even if soone cos to tempt you... even if your uncle dies—don’t get greedy. Understand?”
Kim Jongchol nodded.
“Good. I’ll be watching. Hopefully we’ll et again with smiles next ti.”
I gave a deep smile to Kim Yeojeong, who was still hiding behind him.
Then I turned and left.
That warning should be enough.
I trusted Jang Songthaek, but he was strangely weak when it ca to Kim Jongil and his family.
Now the rest would be up to him.
It was ti to return to Korea.
* * *
After returning to Beijing, Hu Jintao began moving aggressively.
He summoned all nine mbers of the Standing Committee—including himself—and announced a full eting.
No one dared oppose him.
After ordering that the full eting be convened within fifteen days, Hu Jintao turned toward Luo Gan.
“Luo Gan. Stop spying on . This is not a request—it’s a warning. Otherwise you may find yourself implicated in this assassination attempt.”
“...Understood.”
Luo Gan answered obediently.
He knew now was the ti to bow his head.
If he resisted Hu Jintao—who now held the moral high ground—he would be the first to be purged.
“And I’ve already ordered the Central Military Discipline Commission to arrest everyone in the People’s Liberation Army connected to this assassination attempt.”
Hu Jintao glanced at his secretary behind him.
Receiving the signal, the secretary approached Luo Gan and handed him a docunt.
“Arrest everyone listed there.”
Luo Gan’s face turned pale as he read the list.
The paper contained the nas of high-ranking officials along with their charges.
“There will be heavy resistance during the arrests.”
“Arrest them anyway. That’s an order.”
Luo Gan looked toward the other Standing Committee mbers of the Shanghai faction.
But they all avoided his gaze.
Whether the arrests went smoothly or t resistance, every consequence would fall on Luo Gan.
“...Understood, Chairman.”
Luo Gan decided he would visit Jiang Zemin privately and slipped the docunt into his pocket.
“Don’t even think about going to see Chairman Jiang.”
Hu Jintao spoke as if he had already read Luo Gan’s thoughts.
“Think about who holds the justification now. Focus on fulfilling your duty as Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission.”
Hu Jintao was giving Luo Gan a chance.
“I understand. But I can’t stop others from informing him.”
“Don’t worry about that. No one except those gathered here will know.”
Hu Jintao’s cold gaze swept across the remaining Standing Committee mbers one by one.
Afterward several other agenda items were raised, but no one dared oppose them.
“You may all leave. And until the full eting is convened, no one is to speak of what happened here today.”
One by one, they stood and left the conference room.
But Zeng Qinghong remained seated.
“Vice Chairman, it seems you have business. Why aren’t you leaving?”
“Chairman. I have sothing to discuss privately.”
“I have nothing to say. Speak later.”
Hu Jintao finished coldly and stood up.
Just as he was about to enter his office, Zeng Qinghong spoke.
“It concerns President Kim Muhyuk.”
Hu Jintao stopped, his hand on the doorknob, and turned.
“President Kim Muhyuk? Now that you ntion it, I heard you went to Pyongyang to et him.”
“It will help with what you intend to do.”
Hu Jintao stroked his chin for a mont before nodding.
“Follow .”
Hu Jintao entered first.
Zeng Qinghong followed behind him.
The door soon closed.
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