Chapter 64

EP 12 - Those Who Bear the Burden (2)

The first Wednesday of April.

The joint election was approaching.

Many positions would be filled again: 300 National Assembly members, mayors, city councilors, and the president.

No longer would state affairs flow through backroom politics as they do now, and the executive branch would be revitalized under the mutual checks of the two major parties.

The military would no longer rely on field commanders, and the economy would somehow work out, depending on the approval ratings of those who want to eat from it.

In other words,

...it meant that I no longer had to bear everything myself.

* * *

The party convention is literally the party’s general assembly.

Usually, it elects the party leadership, and just before the presidential election, it also selects the presidential candidate.

The power of the party leader varies depending on the timing, but it is usually strongest just before the general election because the party leader holds the nomination power (the authority to decide where National Assembly members will run).

Considering that the joint by-election would begin on the first Wednesday of April, the party leader elected today, March 3rd, could do almost anything in the National Party.

During the 10-day presidential primary, they could support a candidate, decide which National Assembly members would run in which regions, and so on.

Originally, it was expected to be a fierce competition.

Jeju Governor Jeong Juyeop, economic bureaucrat Kim Jo-in, and Seoul Vice Mayor Woo Jeonghwan.

However, Woo Jeonghwan lost his momentum by playing loud music during his campaign, and due to a law that prevents elected local officials from holding party positions.

“Former Representative Kim Jo-in has been elected as the first leader of the National Party!”

Kim Jo-in waved his hand peacefully as he ascended the stage. He was a staunch technocrat who had focused solely on the economy since the Fifth Republic.

Considering that the current Minister of Planning and Finance, Yoo Jae-kyung, took the civil service exam during Kim Jo-in’s tenure as Minister of Finance and Economy, one can imagine how seasoned this old man is.

- Wow!!

I was lost in thought when the sudden cheers startled me. I saw that Kim Jo-in, who was about to ascend the stage, was heading in a different direction and approaching me.

Given that this was only the second time I had met him in person, it was quite a funny sight.

*

The first week of April is the election.

“The Republican Party and the Democratic Party have been playing power games during this tragic time, deceiving the people! If it weren’t for the condemnation of Representative Han Seung-moon, our Republic of Korea would have reached a point of no return, my fellow citizens!”

The presidential candidate registration is 24 days before the election,

and the National Assembly candidate registration is 20 days before the election.

Therefore, the timing for the presidential primary and the nomination management committee formation is now.

“We must put new wine in new wineskins, and innovation and defense must be achieved through the people’s choice! Therefore, we will now begin the primary to select the National Party’s presidential candidate!”

It was now.

Representative Kim Jo-in, with a surprisingly loud voice for his age, announced the start of the 7-day presidential primary.

Of course, it was a formality. One look at the candidates made it clear.

1. Jeju Governor Jeong Juyeop.

The governor of the safest land in South Korea, the new administrative capital, an expert in China relations, and a politician supported by the Federation of Korean Industries.

Since the headquarters of existing conglomerates and their major corporations have moved to Jeju, and the Jeju governor has quasi-presidential authority over the autonomous police, Jeju is the only place where the head of a local government is appointed by the governor, not elected. Therefore, Jeju is Jeong Juyeop’s fiefdom.

Moreover, because this was a presidential primary and not a party leadership election, Jeong Juyeop could participate in the primary while maintaining his position as governor.

2. Gangwon Vice Governor Park Sung-pil.

Gangwon is known for its economic development, and I had never heard of this person before.

3. Self-employed Shin Su-gwang.

Another name I had never heard of. He is the representative of the Seoul metropolitan refugee camp and a 40-year-old man who runs a mart in Siheung.

“......”

Just looking at the candidates, it was clear that there had been some kind of agreement between Kim Jo-in and Jeong Juyeop. I’ll run for president, and you can enjoy being the party leader. Something like that.

Of course, this was only possible due to the special circumstances. Normally, it would have been a bloody war. Internal strife, media leaks, framing.

How did the current situation come about?

The party leader and presidential candidate positions are usually held by people of a certain ‘level.’ And in South Korea, there are very few people of that ‘level.’

There are no heavyweight politicians.

Of course, the times have produced heroes.

Commander Kim Doo-sik of the Chungcheong defense line, Northern Division Commander Yoo Hyun-jong, GS Group CEO Cheon Geum-soon, and, somewhat embarrassingly, me.

Many people are considered heroes. Even the division commanders and PMC guild leaders who defend their regions are treated as heroes in their areas.

But none of them are politicians. Except for me.

The depletion of politicians.

Even to be a member of parliament, one needs experience, and there are only four remaining National Assembly members.

One of them is in a coma in the hospital, and another’s political career is over due to the recordings I released.

In fact, there are no National Assembly members left except for me and Yang Pan-seok.

“The chair of the nomination management committee will be Professor Jeong Seon-guk!”

Professor Jeong Seon-guk’s sour expression was due to this.

Normally, they would just appoint a wandering outside committee member or favor the candidate who pays more deposit in a competitive region, but this time it’s a real mountain of difficulties.

They need to find new people to appoint.

In other words, new faces will be heavily promoted in the central political scene.

Literally, a new era is about to begin.

*

“Brother, are you okay?”

As soon as the party convention ended and I got into the car, Yang Il-ho bombarded me with worried questions.

If I said I was fine, it would be obvious that I was lying.

“......Just, a bit, tired.”

Eui-ho said bluntly.

“Not just a bit. You were swaying even when standing still.”

“......”

“Should we adjust your schedule for a while?”

“......How can we? The general election is just around the corner.”

As I talked with Eui-ho, Yang Il-ho naturally stepped on the gas. The car smoothly moved out of the parking lot.

The car is heading to the hospital where my parents are admitted.

“......Get some sleep.”

“Would you sleep soundly if you were me?”

“Do you know that the representative always sways a little when he walks?”

“I don’t.”

I muttered gloomily and sent a text to Cheon Geum-soon: “Thank you for brightening the place. I hope to see you again soon. Best wishes for your prosperity ^^”

“......Is it funny to wish prosperity to the fifth-largest conglomerate?”

“He might chuckle. It’s not like it’s a barbecue restaurant opening.”

“I’ve already sent it.”

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to comfort myself with such trivial talk.

“......I’ll just rest for a bit.”

“Yes. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”

Life is really tough.

What can I say. Trying to explain it would make my mouth hurt from lack of energy. I don’t know who might jump out and stab me.

I felt guilty towards the hunters, like Kim Chun-sik, who are overworked and dying because I split the guild, and towards the people who started their short lives after taking the awakening agent I distributed.

I was anxious that someone might jump out and hit me from behind, and that journalists might show up tomorrow morning to ask about the terrorism manipulation and the merger manipulation.

I was afraid that another gate might suddenly open in the sky, and that something might go wrong with Gam Ji-yoon, who is fighting flying monsters in the sky over Chungcheong.

I was worried about Yeo Do-yeon, who is somewhere out there, and afraid that my hospitalized parents might escape and spread the Black Plague of Heuk-san.

The fact that there was a plague-infected person in Sokcho, Gangwon, was a huge illegal act.

Moreover, I was disgusted by people who can say one thing and do another, and who can use people’s hearts without any qualms.

“......Ah, Representative. Chae Won sent a message saying that people from Kaesong came to the orphanage.”

“What?”

“They were asking where our children had been taken.”

I found it hard to accept that I had become one of ‘those’ people,

“So, what did you do?”

“Hong Seon-a and the military’s capable people, who were waiting, arrested them all. Except for Ri Chul-jin.”

I felt a deep sorrow knowing that ‘those’ people had no choice but to live like ‘that.’

“Tell him to come and see me.”

*

We had taken away 45 North Korean defector children, including those of the Baekdu bloodline. They were probably in an underground bunker somewhere in Gyeongsangbuk-do by now.

Naturally, the Kaesong rebels came to the orphanage and strongly protested, and we had anticipated this and arrested them.

So, bringing Ri Chul-jin, who could appear anywhere, to the negotiation table was.

“It’s been a while, Mr. Ri Chul-jin.”

“......You knew, didn’t you?”

It was an easy task.

“What do you mean?”

“......”

I smiled and tapped the interrogation room table with my fingernails.

“The Baekdu bloodline?”

“You bastard...!”

Ri Chul-jin glared and clenched his teeth.

I gently advised the boy.

“First, the South Korean government respects the survival rights of the Kaesong rebels and wishes to maintain a mutually cooperative relationship with you, if possible. So, let’s be honest about our intentions-”

“Kidnapping and threatening our compatriots is cooperation!?”

Ri Chul-jin stood up and fiercely retorted.

“Taking away children under 10 and then talking about cooperation!”

“You seem to care a lot about the children.”

“This is not about defending them, but about human decency!”

“It’s hard to call it decency to put 44 people at risk to hide one. Calm down first.”

I told Ri Chul-jin.

“We suspect that Kim Sung-a is Kim Il-sung’s great-granddaughter and the last remaining member of the Baekdu bloodline.”

“......”

“......The phrase ‘suspect’ is a euphemism for ‘already known’ in South Korea, so there’s no point in invoking your right to remain silent.”

Ri Chul-jin bowed his head deeply. A voice filled with anger came out.

“......Are you planning to sell our comrades to Ri Yong-su?”

“They don’t know that we know about Kim Sung-a. They just wonder why South Korea is acting this way, but they don’t have clear information. Chairman Ri Yong-su probably-”

“Stop spouting nonsense!”

Ri Chul-jin interrupted me and questioned. I was a bit annoyed talking to a hot-tempered person when I was tired, but I tried not to lose my smile.

“You’re calling that traitor the chairman!”

“Yes, I understand your loyalty to the Kim family-”

“The legitimate lineage of the Republic is clearly...!”

“Let’s stop. Just.”

I pointed out calmly. They think they’re royalty.

“You know the truth, don’t you? It’s all propaganda to maintain power. From what I’ve seen, you were part of the ruling class. The side that incites shouldn’t be the one brainwashed.”

“......I admit it partially. But listen. The South Korean comrades do not think of Ri Yong-su as the leader of the Republic. How can they think of someone who sacrifices 100,000 people for power as the father of the people?”

“So, who is the current ruler of North Korea?”

“Human decency must be upheld-”

“Did the Kims uphold human decency?”

Finally, Ri Chul-jin fell silent. I carefully jotted down his ideological characteristics on a piece of paper.

I roughly proposed three verbal agreements. Outside the interrogation room, a recorder was running.

“We will stop discussing who the North Korean royalty is. Let’s get to the main point. Our government believes that the actions of the defectors from Kaesong, who have some purpose, may pose a threat to our citizens.”

1. Stop teleporting around our land.

“Sending 100,000 defectors back to the north as per Ri Yong-su’s military regime’s request would also violate humanitarian principles. Since the constitution defines the unification goal and the North Korean people as under the jurisdiction of the South Korean government, we have decided to temporarily accommodate and protect the defectors north of the Civilian Control Line to uphold the constitutional order.”

2. Live in the designated protection area.

“Our government is actively discussing diplomatic and military responses to ensure the future safety and survival of the 100,000 defectors, and we hope that the leadership of the Kaesong rebellion will actively cooperate for mutual coexistence.”

3. Don’t try to play games while we’re setting things up. Just listen.

As expected, someone who has learned enough in North Korea understands what this means.

“......!”

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be blushing and trembling with his lips tightly pressed.

Ri Chul-jin asked in a trembling voice.

“Do... Do we really have to do this...?”

“You can’t pretend to be wronged after infiltrating someone else’s land with the Baekdu bloodline. You might cause a nuclear bomb to fall because of you.”

“Of course, of course, we will apologize a hundred times. But, but, this is a matter of survival for us. Isn’t it strange for the People’s Army to invade north of the Civilian Control Line?”

“South Korea is also in a population saturation state. If you are scattered in our society, it will pose a serious threat to our citizens in terms of national security and diplomacy.”

“...! I, I! I am a benefactor of Representative Han Seung-moon’s parents! South of the Taebaek Mountains. At least move us to a place where Ri Yong-su’s reach doesn’t extend!”

“That depends on how you behave. I am a member of parliament, and the real power lies with the government officials.”

“You don’t know human decency!”

What a ridiculous guy.

“If shooting torpedoes at the Cheonan and killing civilians in Yeonpyeong is human decency, I won’t say anything.”

“......What?”

I calmly provoked him.

I thought it would be hard to work with him.

“Ah, you probably don’t know. Anyway, from the perspective of democracy, which you don’t understand, there’s no difference between you and Ri Yong-su. Why do you think we are on your side?”

“......”

“Of course, I am grateful for taking care of my parents. But I am a public official. I do what other people tell me to do.”

“......”

“I am a somewhat important person here. If I mess up, the country will be in chaos. The fact that I am sitting here is a sign of indirect respect from our government to you.”

I was indeed an important person.

“......”

If Ri Chul-jin kidnapped me through teleportation and negotiated with our government, it would be quite effective.

Ri Chul-jin glared at me with wide eyes, trembling like a leaf. He could have grabbed me if he reached out. He wasn’t handcuffed.

If he grabbed me and teleported, he could kidnap me.

I waited for a moment to see if he would kidnap me.

However,

“......I understand.”

This young man seemed to have some patience.

I smiled and stood up.

“I’m done here. I hope you can be a bit more calm when the next person comes in.”

“......I understand.”

His response lacked soul.

I left the interrogation room without saying goodbye.

His patience saved his life.

Click.

When I came out of the interrogation room and closed the door, four snipers who were attached to the window got into position.

Additionally, two superhumans from GS Aegis were waiting to ensure my safety.

A veteran police negotiator entered the interrogation room, and I left the underground bunker under the protection of the National Intelligence Service.

Tap. Tap.

The sound of a cane tapping on the dark stairs echoed.

*

News of Yeo Do-yeon came the next evening.