Chapter 36

EP 7 - North Wind (7)

As Pichaeon sensed the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the infected urged a quick escape, she said, "Wait a moment."

"There's no time for that! We have to hurry before they catch us!"

"No, just a moment..."

Pichaeon clearly said the NIS was nearby.

That means they've detected and started tracking us.

We can't possibly escape.

The infected seems to think differently, though, as he urgently shouted, "We're going into the city! Would they dare to commit murder in the middle of a crowd?"

"Let's at least get some insurance."

Ignoring the infected's urging, I selected the key parts of the biological experiment evidence and handed them to Yedoyeon.

"......What are you doing, you?"

"Take this to Councilor Yangpansuk."

"What?"

The situation is getting more and more entangled. We need to protect the most important thing first.

"......You want me to run alone? Are you crazy?"

"Didn't you eat a lot of magic stones on the Shinbundang Line? You can run faster than a car, so you'll be fine."

"Would I do that?"

"Councilor Yangpansuk will help you once you give him this. It's safer for you to do this than to stay by my side and protect me."

"......"

"Impeachment requires evidence."

You absorbed a lot of magic stones on the Shinbundang Line, so you'll be able to escape. So, I handed the brown envelope to Yedoyeon and sent it to Yangpansuk.

......To protect the most important thing.

Of course, I didn't know that there would be a test subject on the 4th floor of Homeplus, or that I would be captured by the NIS disguised as police at the same time as the sniper attack.

* * *

Anyway, I made a bestseller out of the infected's novel.

"The current disaster is not the work of North Korea but the result of Vice Minister Chajaejun's biological experiments."

It will sell so well that it will set the country on fire. The mad flames will spread through the cameras and burn the nation.

"The military faction led by Chajaejun conducted biological experiments to create a superhuman army."

The whole country will be in flames.

Now, it's time to call the southeast wind.

"Chajaejun's faction instructed me to incite the public by blaming North Korea for the current situation."

Chajaejun's 'faction'.

First, I used the chain stratagem in reverse. I warned Chajaejun that if he stayed by my side, we would both end up as ashes. Emphasizing the term 'faction' was a warning for him not to stick with me.

The beginning of division.

The textbook way to frame someone.

"Monsters that were once human, transformed by Chajaejun and his cronies' biological experiments, have escaped, causing the current situation."

I thought Chajaejun was a tough person.

He wasn't.

"......Chajaejun's faction tried to brainwash ordinary people into becoming awakened beings to create a secret organization of superhumans.

However, their experiments only turned humans into monsters, and the result of their escape is the current disaster."

He didn't consider others' feelings and repeatedly made the most rational and objective choices.

That's the core of this brilliant move.

He took control of the entire situation from the beginning and placed the National Assembly, NIS, government, and Joint Chiefs of Staff under his influence.

Perhaps this is the mindset of a soldier. It could be seen as following orders. However, from a politician's perspective, this was a very dangerous move.

He could control but not contain them.

In other words, Chajaejun didn't cater to the old guard.

And this country,

was theirs.

*

In the most critical situations, one must try to understand and empathize with the other party.

So, I tried to understand the perspectives of others.

First, from the National Assembly's perspective.

Politicians live to survive. The next election, factional primaries, the prosecutor's wild dance of swords with each change of government, etc.

Politicians struggle for survival at every moment.

Here, the first reason the National Assembly would help me is 'survival.'

Chajaejun detained them to prevent their political antics.

Of course, it was the right decision.

"Why hasn't the military recaptured Seoul yet?"

"We need to declare war on North Korea!"

"We need to take swift action!"

"Resign!"

"Oh, I don't know about that! Resign!"

This chaos in front of the cameras is vivid. The military could wield unlimited power at the beginning of the crisis because there was no political oversight.

However, his mistake was making them feel 'threatened.'

And they are not a species that keeps potential threats alive.

Now, the second reason.

Politicians are 'elected officials.'

They are powerful in a democratic society because they can claim that what they do is what the 'people' want.

We are representatives of the people.

But is the current National Assembly truly a representative of the people?

11 out of 300, and even Won Okbun is missing, leaving only 11.

The National Assembly inevitably has to dilute public opinion.

In other words,

moving public opinion means moving the National Assembly.

"I request that the National Assembly initiate impeachment proceedings and a motion for the dismissal of Chajaejun."

I set the public opinion on fire.

In a situation where the 11-member National Assembly is already being criticized, if it fails to uphold the basic principles of representative democracy, its legitimacy will be irreparably damaged.

That's why it can be forced to initiate the core impeachment proceedings.

If the evidence provided by Yedoyeon is properly received by Yangpansuk, and if Yangpansuk doesn't betray me, we can immediately halt Chajaejun's military command.

This is 'impeachment.'

The next step is the motion for dismissal. Literally, it's a request to the president to dismiss Chajaejun.

Now, let's consider the government's perspective.

The government was actually quite close to Chajaejun. Won Okbun, for instance, became the acting president with Chajaejun's tacit approval.

However, there were clear reasons for the government to take action against Chajaejun.

Why?

Chajaejun sought excessive power to prevent his strategy from being hindered by the greed of the entrenched interests.

It was a defensive power grab. At least, assuming Chajaejun didn't deceive me.

The problem was,

to others, it looked no different from being blinded by power,

and in politics, that's what matters.

Even Won Okbun, the half-president, would surely feel threatened by him.

With the right opportunity, the government would be willing to cooperate in taking down Chajaejun.

However, the biggest obstacle is that Won Okbun was indirectly involved in the cleanup process of the biological experiments.

"Chajaejun deceived the Won Okbun government and tried to cover up the situation."

That's a problem I can solve.

"This is a clear act of treason. I expect the swift and decisive leadership of Acting President Won Okbun in response to the motion for dismissal initiated by the National Assembly."

Okbun, please, just get rid of this guy.

Alright.

'Impeachment' to halt the acting Minister of National Defense's authority.

'Motion for dismissal' to give Won Okbun a reason.

If the acting president dismisses State Minister Chajaejun, Chajaejun will almost become a civilian.

From now on, it's a real fight.

Chajaejun, without legal authority,

will try to move the military.

Commanding without legal basis is a private organization and a military coup.

So, to prepare for that future,

I send a strong message to the military.

"Chajaejun usurped military command without going through Acting President Won Okbun. The Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Operations Command, the Martial Law Command, and all the military units were deceived by just one appointed official."

'I'm only after one guy.'

I'll give you immunity, so act accordingly.

With Prosecutor-in-Chief Won Okbun in control of the organization, the media can't speak out.

In other words, what I say now becomes the fact.

Of course, media control will eventually shift to Won Okbun.

However, Won Okbun is, after all, an elected official, and in this situation, it's clear that taking down Chajaejun is the better choice.

We are, after all, beasts bound by public opinion.

......Now, I've done everything a human can do.

In politics, there are no set formulas, and there's no guarantee that the 'likely' events I anticipated will actually happen.

A nuclear bomb could suddenly explode in Seoul, or the gate could go berserk and monsters could pour out uncontrollably.

Chajaejun could quickly capture Busan and take over the country, or Yangpansuk could have been on Chajaejun's side from the beginning.

The world is unpredictable.

I thought it was possible and acted, but someone else might think it's not. Well, that's politics.

I closed my eyes and recalled a line from Zhuge Liang.

"Exhaust all human efforts and await the will of heaven."

The rest is up to heaven.

*

The whole country is engulfed in fierce flames.

The southeast wind is blowing.

The Fire Demon is advancing toward the Martial Law Command in Gangbuk.

The National Assembly, the government, the military, and the NIS.

The balance of power, their positions, public opinion, and Chajaejun's breathing are all in turmoil.

No,

I made it that way.

Whether they ride the favorable wind or fight against the headwind is up to them. No one knows who will burn.

Politics is like a flame. No one knows who will burn first.

So, I can only calmly wait for the results.

The end.

"......With this, I wish boundless glory for the free and just Republic of Korea and its people."

The speech that set the country ablaze was about a minute and a half long.

Political messages are more effective when they are short.

I walked to the side of the podium and bowed deeply. I stayed bowed for a long time. It was a kind of condolence.

......A bloodbath is coming.

Hunters will raise their banners against the state that abandoned them, and there will be a battle over responsibility and honor within the NIS.

In the worst-case scenario, a civil war could break out between the Martial Law Command in Gangbuk and the temporary Joint Chiefs of Staff in Busan.

However, the outcome is already decided.

The fundamental of supply is the rear, and in this day and age, would soldiers shoot at their own?

In fact, it's safe to say that Chajaejun is finished. In a democratic society, a ruler who has lost the people's support is already finished.

This fight is already won.

Chajaejun will fall, and while I don't know how much blood will be shed, the uncertain morality has triumphed, and the breath of the unprincipled evil has been cut off.

And I will die soon.

Chajaejun is not a hesitant person.

I walked back to the car with a calm expression, limping. It's not like I didn't get shot by a sniper during the speech.

A bitter laugh escaped me.

I could have bought time by answering questions from reporters and fled to a nearby cafe, but I didn't want to drag it out in front of the public.

Of course, that would have had a better media effect, but what's the point of being that meticulous? This is enough.

The soldier who brought me here was frozen and didn't even open the car door. Yeah, I did cause a big explosion.

Reporters chased after me, but I smiled bitterly and remained silent. Only then did the soldiers hurriedly chase them away.

I'm tired.

I closed my eyes and leaned back in the leather seat.

The car started moving slowly.

A laugh escaped me.

Perhaps this car was heading to some secluded cliff where I would be declared missing, but now that the situation has come to this, I'm not really scared.

"......Why would I enjoy wealth and glory......"

Even in the back seat, I habitually fastened my seatbelt. I always do, as it once saved my life.

I watched the scenery pass by and was lost in thought.

Perhaps I will end up killing more people than Chajaejun.

Is human conscience something that must be protected at all costs?

Is my sister safe?

I was supposed to go fishing with Yangpansuk tomorrow, but I can't now.

What will happen to the fate of the Earth?

Sweet and sour pork is best when it's crispy, but why doesn't my sister know that? She's a tasteless person.

What is the standard for dictatorship?

What does it feel like to have a bullet in your head?

Does a state that sustains itself on the blood of the innocent have any right to exist?

Am I being too morally clean?

I haven't had lunch. I'm hungry.

Perhaps I'm just afraid to endure the sacrifice of the few for the many.

I stared out the window, lost in thought, for a long time.

Then, I suddenly realized the car was not heading to the Martial Law Command.

Am I really going to be buried in some secluded mountain?

I asked the driver dejectedly.

That's strange. There's only one driver. Should I try to strangle him from behind?

"......Excuse me, we're not going to the Martial Law Command, are we-"

Hmm. I stopped talking and frowned.

The driver was holding the steering wheel with only his right hand.

I'm a survivor of a car accident,

I used to drive for a politician,

and I don't think I need to watch my tongue in this situation.

Anyway, I have a slight obsession with driving, so I told him,

"Sorry, but shouldn't you drive with both hands?"

"I don't have a left hand, what do you want me to do?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, ...."

The driver was an amputee.

And his voice was familiar.

"Hi?"

Kimsunshik in Korean, David Kim in English. Looks like a foreigner, talks like a local. The guild leader.

David Kim looked at me in the rearview mirror and smiled.

I stared at him blankly.

David Kim chuckled for a while, then turned to me and tilted his one remaining eye.

"Boo!"

*

"......I'm going to lose my mind, really!"

"Were you looking at the last leaf? What was that mournful expression for?"

"Ahh...!"

My face turned red with embarrassment, but I couldn't stop the corners of my mouth from turning up, and I managed a strange smile.

"Wow, s...! Really, how...?"

"Seona had a speaker in her pocket. Since the moment we met."

"......What?"

"Didn't I suddenly take her away to use her for something secret? The world was so chaotic. I just wanted to know what I could make her do."

Look at this.

"That's eavesdropping-"

"Hey, thanks to that, I had a rough idea of the situation until just before Seona was captured. We lost contact after that, but we dealt with it as best we could. Got it?"

"......Thanks to that, I'm alive. Thank you."

David Kim drove the car not toward the Martial Law Command but toward Gangwon Province.

How long had it been? We arrived at a coastal cliff overlooking the East Sea.

There were two cars and one soldier standing there.

My tense body relaxed, and I stumbled slightly as I got out of the car. The sea breeze today was particularly sweet.

Whew! David Kim whistled and lit a cigarette leisurely, calling me over.

"How does it feel to come back from the dead?"

Just as I was about to answer, a familiar voice spoke.

"Watch how you talk to the congressman. Put that out right now?"

A well-dressed Tusta grabbed the cigarette from Kimsunshik's mouth and threw it on the ground.

David Kim raised his eyebrows in annoyance and introduced him to me.

"Ah, this is, um, hmm. What's the English word for uncle?"

"Uncle."

"This is Director Kimsunshik. My uncle."

Kimsunshik's uncle, Kimsunshik, approached me expressionlessly and saluted.

"At your service, Brigadier General Kimsunshik, Deputy Chief of Staff of the 2nd Operations Command. Nice to meet you, Congressman Han Seungmoon."

His tone was dry, but he seemed more human than Chajaejun. However, his expression was even drier than Chajaejun's.

Chajaejun kept coming to mind, making me feel a bit uneasy.

Anyway, the 2nd Operations Command. It oversees the military in the region south of Chungcheong Province.

His military cap revealed a neatly bald head. Unlike Yangpansuk, who had a partial bald spot, this was a perfect bald head.

Brigadier General Kimsunshik held his cap to his chest and offered his hand to me.

And he said calmly,

"He's been abroad a lot, so he has no manners. I apologize."

"No, no. I owe my life to David twice."

"I'm grateful to hear that. Please follow me. I'll take you to a safe place."

He supported me and guided me to a prepared car.

Creak, crunch!

David Kim threw the car he had been driving over the cliff with one hand.

Splash! The car flew far and fell into the sea, sending a high water column into the air.

Kimsunshik, with a furrowed brow, clicked his tongue at David Kim, who was wiping his hands on his pants.

"That's also made with tax money, you know."