Captain Kamara stared at blankly as if he had fallen into profound shock, unable to say a single word.
For a man who had once nearly held all of Guinea in his hands, he looked pathetically small.
“I’m disappointed. I was hoping for at least so dignity from you. What’s with those eyes that look like you’ve already given up on everything?”
“...Why are you doing this to ? I kept my promise.”
When he finally forced the words out, his voice carried a sense of grievance.
Even his once-confident tone had turned pitifully servile.
“Do you feel wronged?”
“What exactly do you want from ?”
“You’re the one who called to Guinea, Captain Kamara. Didn’t you say we could have a productive conversation? What could I possibly want from you?”
At my words, Captain Kamara—no, Kamara—pressed his lips tightly shut.
“You’ve already lost all your power. What could you possibly do for now? Go on, tell . Who knows? Maybe I’ll help you seize power again.”
At those words, the dead look in Kamara’s eyes suddenly flashed.
“You’re saying you can help ?”
“Wouldn’t that depend on what you can offer? I’m a businessman. I’m the kind of man who’ll do anything if there’s money in it.”
“...If you help , I’ll give you the mining rights to every mine in Guinea.”
In a country like Guinea, mines were the only real source of wealth.
To offer all those mining rights to ...
That was no different from selling out the entire nation.
“This is insane. Didn’t you claim you rose up for the people? And now you’re saying you’d hand over the country’s only real source of inco just to regain power. ‘Traitor to the nation’ is too generous a title for you.”
“......”
“You didn’t actually think I’d help you, did you? The only ones I feel sorry for are the people who trusted a man like you enough to move the military with you.”
At my deliberate mockery, Kamara’s face hardened.
Of course, I had never intended to help him from the very beginning.
“I’ll say this one last ti. No matter what you offered , I never had any intention of letting you live. Did you really believe I’d spare you? Don’t be ridiculous.”
The color drained from Kamara’s face as he finally realized I had been playing with him from the start.
That expression satisfied enough to curl one corner of my lips upward.
“If I had any intention of helping you, why would I have brought you here? I would have approached this in an entirely different way. No matter how obsessed with money I may be, I haven’t fallen so low that I’d join hands with soone like you. And more than anything, I have even less reason to help the trash who threatened using my friend’s safety as leverage.”
That was the mont the last thread of hope collapsed.
To Kamara, it was no different from a death sentence.
If he had shown the resolve to throw away his life until the very end, I might have thought differently.
But I knew n like him better than anyone.
The kind who could overturn promises as easily as flipping over a hand.
I leaned closer toward him.
“Kamara. Your biggest mistake was making an enemy out of . If not for that, you wouldn’t be running around with a hole in your stomach.”
From Kamara’s point of view, it had been a low-risk choice.
He had probably intended to use Korea’s backing to secure legitimacy, hold power, and then win the presidential election.
If everything had gone according to plan, Pri Minister Soueri and the remaining officials who fled the capital would soon have surrendered.
But every part of that plan collapsed because he failed to realize I was standing behind Myungsoo.
Once Black Bear decided to support the governnt forces, Pri Minister Soueri chose a final showdown instead of surrender.
That, in turn, caused infighting within the cornered coup forces, and Kamara was eventually shot before fleeing the capital.
“Die like this, Kamara.”
Kamara’s lips trembled in shock, but no words ca out.
Having said everything I wanted, I rose from my seat without hesitation.
“Igor.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“Finish it. Feed the body to the animals.”
“Understood.”
I turned one last ti, engraving Kamara’s despairing expression into my mory, then walked out of the tent.
Bang.
The mont I stepped outside, a single gunshot echoed across the silent clearing.
* * *
There was soone waiting for when I returned to the hotel.
“Greetings. I am Alpha Condé.”
It was Alpha Condé, the democratic activist of Guinea who had run for president twice and lost both tis.
“Hello. I’m Kim Muhyuk. But what brings you here?”
There was no reason at all for him to co looking for .
“Secretary Rice advised to seek you out.”
“Secretary Rice?”
“Yes. I was told you already spoke. Is that not the case?”
“......”
What I had promised Rice was to keep Black Bear stationed in Guinea until the next governnt could securely take control of the military.
That alone wasn’t enough reason for Alpha Condé to co to .
“What exactly did Secretary Rice tell you?”
“She said that if I ca to you, you would protect .”
“Ha...”
So Arica was asking to protect him now?
“? And why exactly should I protect you?”
“I don’t know either. Secretary Rice simply said that. If that isn’t the case, I’ll leave.”
Condé turned as if he had nothing to lose.
That reaction only made him more interesting.
“Let’s hear you out first. Would you like to co to my room?”
Alpha Condé turned back toward and nodded.
I led him straight to my suite.
“Would you like a drink?”
“No. I ca only to talk, so I’ll decline.”
eting him in person, Alpha Condé ca across as solemn and serious.
To the man who had politely declined the drink, I asked,
“What exactly do you need from ?”
“Protect until the presidential election is over.”
“I have no intention of interfering in Guinea’s internal affairs. If Black Bear escorts you, the military could interpret that in all kinds of ways.”
“That’s not what Secretary Rice said.”
Did he think I was Arica’s dog?
I lifted one eyebrow and answered firmly.
“That’s Arica’s position. What I promised Secretary Rice was to station Black Bear in Guinea until the next governnt could stably assu power. It may be at Arica’s request, but the cost won’t be paid by Arica. It will be paid by Guinea’s next governnt.”
“......”
“Tell why we should protect you, Alpha Condé. Convince .”
After saying that, I crossed my arms and looked at him in a guarded posture.
“Hoo. Then I’ll be honest.”
With a deep sigh, Alpha Condé slowly began.
“At this rate, the chances of surviving until the election are extrely low. That’s why the president was planning to smuggle overseas. He requested it from the Korean special envoy, but Captain Kamara learned of it and moved the presidential guard to seize and imprison the president.”
This was sothing even Myungsoo had never told .
The president had tried to use the envoy mission to smuggle Condé overseas?
“Is that true?”
“Yes. The president said he would personally speak to the Korean envoy and told to lie low for a while. But then the coup happened.”
“......”
Only now did every piece of what had happened in Guinea finally click into place.
The president’s health had worsened, and he had been planning to hand power to Condé, who had effectively been his political rival.
“The coup failed, and the president has to leave Guinea for treatnt. Which ans I absolutely cannot leave now.”
For a long while, he tried to persuade that he had important work to do by staying in Guinea.
But the most important thing was still missing.
My compensation.
“The most important part is missing.”
Condé clearly knew what I ant.
“Secretary Rice told . She said you’re not the kind of man who moves without compensation.”
“Well, I take losses more often than people think. But we’re not close enough for to take one for your sake.”
“There is nothing I can personally promise. I cannot hand over state assets at a discount. I can’t do that for my own advancent.”
If there was nothing to gain, there was no reason for to continue this conversation.
As I uncrossed my arms and raised both hands as if there was nothing left to discuss, Condé continued.
“However, I can ensure that the National Investnt Committee gives first-priority negotiations to any company you designate. If the terms are reasonable, I will make sure the contract proceeds.”
The National Investnt Committee was the body that initially reviewed foreign proposals.
Granting first-priority negotiation rights to any company I nad was practically the sa as handing real authority.
Even if it ca with the caveat of “reasonable terms.”
“Would this be enough to satisfy you?”
Guinea was famous for holding roughly a quarter of the world’s bauxite reserves.
And bauxite was a resource that only grew more important with ti.
If I could influence mining rights there, it would beco a significant source of leverage.
I pretended to think for a mont, then nodded.
“You’d better keep your promise.”
“I will not break my word.”
“Good. Black Bear will protect you, Alpha Condé. Please wait here for a mont.”
I had Chief Ma call Igor from the encampnt to the hotel.
“I’ve called the person in charge of Black Bear. We’ll arrange for your protection starting today.”
Condé dipped his head lightly.
Watching the top of his bowed head, I added,
“And I’ve already agreed to guarantee Pri Minister Soueri’s safety. After the presidential election concludes safely, do not interfere with Pri Minister Soueri and Energy Minister Keita leaving Guinea.”
“That...”
“Black Bear intends to escort them out. That promise was made before the one with you. It ca ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) first, so it must be honored. I won’t concern myself with anything beyond that.”
Condé did not answer imdiately.
“If I keep my promise to them, wouldn’t that make my promise to you even stronger? Those n have already lost all power. What can they possibly do now?”
“They are the two most representative n who fed on power and hollowed out the nation. They deserve legal judgnt. Please reconsider.”
“If I change my words depending on the situation, that would an I could just as easily change my promise to you depending on circumstances. Is that what you want?”
Faced with the logic of that argunt, Condé could only bite his lip.
“It’s only two people. If their safety is guaranteed, they too will do everything possible to ensure the election is transparent and fair.”
“Haa... those two really do have thick faces. Fine. I won’t stop them from leaving quietly.”
Hearing his firm answer, I smiled and nodded.
“You made the right choice.”
Until Igor arrived, Condé and I spoke at length.
He was far more devoted to the country than I had expected.
To the point where I found myself thinking that if Alpha Condé beca president, perhaps Guinea really might change.
How much ti had passed?
Eventually, Igor arrived.
“Igor. This is Alpha Condé.”
After the introduction, Igor greeted him.
“Igor.”
“Alpha Condé.”
“From today onward, Black Bear will escort Alpha Condé.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“Even after the presidential election ends, do everything possible to ensure his safety.”
After giving Igor the order, I extended my hand to Condé.
“It was a good eting.”
Shaking my hand, Alpha Condé smiled.
“It was good eting you as well. I’m pleased we understood each other better than I expected. I hope we can et again after I beco president.”
“If you invite , I’ll consider it.”
With my eting with Alpha Condé, everything I had to do in Guinea was finally complete.
At last, it was ti to return to Korea.
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