Chapter 82

EP 14 - Clams are originally for fools to eat (1)

Presidential Election D - 26

Won Okbun. Acting President. 53%

Han Seungmoon. National Party Floor Leader. 13%

Kim Doo-sik. Commander of the Chungcheong Defense Line. 9%

Jeong Jungyeop. Governor of Jeju Island. 7%

Yoo Jae-kyung. Minister of Planning and Finance and Deputy Prime Minister for the Economy. 3%

* * *

Sirens wailed, and screams could be heard. The collective screams of countless people were genuinely bone-chilling when heard in person.

"Th-That...! Damn, that's a clam market...!"

This place, Tongyeong Port, was indeed a situation fitting the term "clam market."

What is a clam market? There are various explanations based on grammatical origins and Buddhist usage, but to put it simply, synonyms for a clam market include chaos, pandemonium, and a scene of utter confusion.

“Squeee!”

It was a fitting description for the scene where a silver mackerel had climbed up the breakwater and flattened the entire live fish market. The silver mackerel had ten pairs of tentacles, making the situation even more chaotic.

That, "Th-That...! Damn, that's a clam market," was not a problematic statement in itself. The problem was that it was said by a kid who hadn't even graduated from elementary school.

“Hey, where did you learn that line!”

“Right now, the monster is more important than that!”

The kid, who had only six months of experience in manual labor, shot back sharply. I clicked my tongue while hugging Gam Ji-yoon.

Indeed, it wasn't the time for trivial talk. I scanned the surroundings with my eyes. Since I was floating high in the sky, I had a clear view of the area.

This place is Tongyeong Port, located in Tongyeong City, the southernmost part of Gyeongsangnam-do. The coastline is complex due to the numerous islands, and the currents are very strong, which is why people often say the sea is a real pain. Our great-grandfather probably passed away in these waters.

This was my hometown and, by extension, my constituency.

I knew it well.

Just how much of a pain this sea was can be seen from the fact that it was here that Admiral Yi Sun-sin used the reverse current to trap and defeat the Japanese with his turtle ships at the Battle of Hansan Island. The island where the admiral hid his ambush, Hansan Island, could be seen in the distance.

In any case, this sea was indeed complex and had very strong currents.

“Squeee!”

So, the monster must have broken through the navy, coast guard, and mines to reach Tongyeong Port. The numerous islands made it difficult for the navy to cover everything. As a result, the silver mackerel had climbed up the breakwater and was rolling around, destroying the fishermen's livelihood.

The monster had crushed a sushi restaurant.

“Ah, that was a good one...”

“Do you know it?”

“Over there, beyond the mountain, is where the uncle lives, and that elementary school is my alma mater.”

“I want to go!”

“Let’s catch that first.”

We casually surveyed the terrain and assessed the situation. Thanks to the coast guard's efforts, the evacuation of residents had already been completed.

A few warships could be seen entering the inner harbor, and some boats were being tossed around. We needed to minimize the destruction of buildings and ensure a clean aftermath. The last time I carelessly tore apart a monster, the civil servants responsible for cleaning up the remains were in tears.

We carefully positioned ourselves like billiard players aiming for a shot.

I said to Gam Ji-yoon,

“First, I’ll go to that island, and you wrap up the tentacles—”

“Die!”

Gam Ji-yoon, who was hugging me, flailed her limbs, causing the monster's neck to twist 180 degrees.

Of course, it didn't die, so it was placed on a nearby rock and crushed for a while.

The concept of a vertebrate is a common sense that only applies on Earth.

*

With 25 days left until the general and presidential elections, the National Defense Party was in a relaxed position with Won Okbun at the forefront. That was until Jeong Jungyeop stabbed her in the back.

The 'Cha Jae-gyun collaborator' controversy is heating up the Republic of Korea. It's a negative campaign arguing that Won Okbun was a puppet set up by Cha Jae-gyun's military regime.

It was an attack aimed at exposing and undermining Won Okbun's weaknesses. Won Okbun had succeeded in her role as a minister after breaking the precedent of an MP resigning to become a minister, and this process involved a secret agreement between Won Okbun and Cha Jae-gyun.

And, as far as I know, the mediator of that secret agreement was Yang Pan-seok.

In any case, the country is in turmoil.

The impact was also significant in the backrooms. Immediately, Minister Yoo Jae-kyung, Won Okbun's right-hand man, was in a tug-of-war with Cheon Geum-soon, and began pressuring the Federation of Korean Industries, which was aligned with Jeong Jungyeop, through the Financial Services Commission.

On the other hand, Jeong Jungyeop, who had been suppressed by Won Okbun, was freeing the media and releasing all kinds of information, setting fires in all directions. The media, which had a lot of pent-up frustration, began to hit Won Okbun hard.

Of course, Jeong Jungyeop was not the National Party's presidential candidate but was running in the primary to become one, while Won Okbun was officially an independent but was recognized as the National Defense Party's presidential candidate.

In other words, the National Party's presidential candidate had struck the first blow at the National Defense Party's presidential candidate. As a result, the media, which Won Okbun had controlled, turned against her, and the negative campaigns of the two major parties began in earnest.

A sudden ambush, and the start of a full-scale war.

This was the landscape of the presidential election.

And since the general election was being held alongside the presidential election, the general election was also heavily influenced by the presidential election.

In other words, they were also quickly caught up in the 'Cha Jae-gyun collaborator' controversy. Everyone's interests were entangled in this massive controversy, and all politicians entered the Colosseum with a dagger in their pajamas.

It's as if a huge tornado had formed in the center of the political arena, and it was impossible not to be swept up, whether one wanted to or not.

However, speaking of the controversy, to be honest, as someone who experienced that era,

it's half true.

However, Cha Jae-gyun himself was not a power-hungry person, and at that time, the National Assembly and the military were so intertwined that everyone was on the same page.

They all worked together to promote national pride, dealt with the chaos caused by North Korea detonating a nuclear bomb on Baekdu Mountain, and then the chaos caused by the bio-experiment scandal...

In any case.

I often think that in politics, what is true is not important. What matters is what is perceived as true. That's democracy.

That's why all politicians were shouting their claims, insisting that they were the truth.

And I,

“Ah, it's true!”

“No way!”

I was playfully offering Gam Ji-yoon a live octopus with a mischievous smile.

“N-No! It's moving!”

“Rather die!”

I deliberately made a big fuss and gasped.

“Ugh...!”

“Is it fun to do this to a kid!”

We had just successfully hunted the monster and were having a celebratory sushi dinner. Of course, I didn't bring a elementary school student to a live octopus restaurant; it was just a bit of mischief with a sashimi dish that happened to be served.

Gam Ji-yoon, who was good at eating sashimi, picked up a piece of tuna and dipped it in soy sauce. She then ate it with a pout.

“...Sigh.”

“Why?”

“I feel like I’m going to get sick...”

Gam Ji-yoon pointed outside the sushi restaurant, where people were clinging to the windows like zombies, taking pictures of us with their cameras.

I smiled and waved, while Ji-yoon mumbled with a cold stare.

“Can’t you make those people go away...?”

“They came here because they like you.”

“To see me!”

I glanced at the window. My picture was on a placard. I smiled and dipped a flatfish in soy sauce.

“Ah, this is belly fat.”

“...Uncle.”

Ji-yoon pointed to the TV in the corner of the shop. In an emergency 100-minute debate, well-known political figures were engaged in a heated discussion.

“Uncle, don’t you appear on such shows?”

“Hmm?”

“Politicians these days are very busy.”

Ji-yoon asked me.

“Can you still go around with me like this, Uncle?”

“Ji-yoon.”

I smiled meaningfully.

“I’m in hiding, you see.”

*

When Jeong Jungyeop first raised the suspicion, it was just a suspicion. It only carried weight because it was an official announcement from a potential presidential candidate (who was still in the primary).

The problem arose after the first rebuttal from Won Okbun's side.

What was initially thought to be just a show of teeth began to produce evidence.

“What’s the current support rate?”

“About 45%.”

“Are you sure?”

“It’s the average of the three major broadcasters, 45.3%.”

Lee Ho-jung continued to report, flipping through a yellow notebook.

“Governor Jeong Jungyeop’s support rate has jumped to 20%.”

“Won Okbun has gained some anti-voters. I don’t think it’s a very meaningful number.”

“No.”

Lee Ho-jung continued, and while it could sound sharp to some, I was used to it and didn’t find it uncomfortable.

“People who dislike Won Okbun are generally those who have lost family members. While the haters may not be very meaningful, this time it’s a bit special.”

“Deep-seated grudges?”

Lee Ho-jung nodded sharply. He’s a straightforward guy, so it’s easy to talk to him. I asked without hesitation.

“Can Jeong Jungyeop take down Won Okbun with this?”

“He can’t. But it will be a significant variable.”

“That’s what everyone is saying.”

“I think it will take a while for Jeong Jungyeop to run out of steam.”

Lee Ho-jung tilted his head slightly and smiled. It was a smile that revealed his intentions clearly. Oh, it seems this guy is getting back to his old self.

“Everyone says that Governor Jeong Jungyeop, frustrated by Won Okbun’s smooth sailing, struck first. But this is a very risky move. What if he fails and Won Okbun wins? It would be the end of the line.”

“That’s true.”

“So, he must have made this move based on the judgment that Won Okbun won’t win. He pulled out his sword after preparing for the fight.”

Lee Ho-jung concluded.

“Jeong Jungyeop hasn’t even started yet.”

“...”

“Or this could all be a smokescreen.”

It aligned with my thoughts. That’s why I’m not rushing and am keeping a low profile.

“How’s your campaign preparation going?”

“We’re keeping it low-key. Il-ho is too.”

In such a situation, just having your name in the news can lower your support rate. This is all because of my size. These small guys can’t even campaign properly because of me.

I smiled and encouraged them.

“Good. Thanks. Any other contacts?”

“I handled them as administrative matters, not political ones.”

“Send me a summary file tonight. I’ll be out with Ji-yoon, hunting monsters. Cut off contact with the media. Anything from the association?”

“Guild Master Seol Jin-won refused the deputy chairman position.”

“...Why?”

“I’m looking into it.”

“I hope there’s nothing serious...”

“Are you hiding too much?”

“If I were you, would you be bold in this situation?”

“No.”

Lee Ho-jung answered sharply, and I nodded immediately. After he walked out, I lay half-reclined on the office sofa and sighed deeply.

“Phew...”

I’m in hiding. Of course, I go out every day and hunt monsters with Ji-yoon, but politically, I’m in complete seclusion.

Why? Because it’s better not to participate in negative campaigns. Even if you win, your image takes a hit, and if you lose, you might have to retire from politics. Negative campaigns often end with both sides heavily damaged.

While other political issues are usually resolved peacefully through bilateral talks between floor leaders near the National Assembly, negative campaigns inevitably involve bloodshed. The animosity and ruthlessness rise to a fever pitch.

And that animosity is passed on to the voters. Negative energy is overlaid with a negative image, and even the winner ends up with a very dishonorable image.

In other words, everyone caught in this storm is gradually taking damage. The loser of the war is the one who runs out of energy in the storm, but the winner is the one outside the storm.

And it’s obvious who created this storm.

During Cha Jae-gyun’s military rule, the mediator who freed the MPs from detention and connected Won Okbun and Cha Jae-gyun. In his own words, a bat.

...Yang Pan-seok.

*

Presidential Election D - 25

Won Okbun. Acting President. 45%

Jeong Jungyeop. Governor of Jeju Island. 20%

Han Seungmoon. National Party Floor Leader. 18%

Kim Doo-sik. Commander of the Chungcheong Defense Line. 5%

Yoo Jae-kyung. Minister of Planning and Finance and Deputy Prime Minister for the Economy. 3%