Chapter 96

EP 16 - Minister of Portraits, Han Seung-moon (2)

They say that affection grows through conversation, and once the banter started, the conversation began to brim with energy.

How many times had they fought and how many schemes had they carried out together? As fellow legal professionals, they had known each other since before entering politics, as political prosecutors and movement leaders. By the count of years, they had been acquaintances for over 30 years.

The two old men continued their conversation, laced with curses, forgetting all about their dignity.

So.

"Actually, I was the one who gave the tablet to Mr. Son."

"Oh, I didn't recognize my benefactor..."

All sorts of stories began to emerge.

* * *

"Anyway, because Geun-hye supported MB, she's trying to bury me."

"Ha ha ha ha...!"

When the secret he had hidden for 10 years was revealed, Yang Pan-seok forgot his dignity, clapped, and burst into laughter. Although Won Ok-bun's laughter was somewhat strange, she still managed to grin and continue the conversation.

The fact that a person who usually avoids talking suddenly became talkative only happened when the conversation was interesting.

She spoke slowly, her pronunciation unstable.

"I didn't even dream that you were holding a grudge from six years ago. When I heard that the prosecution was investigating me, I was so shocked..."

"Didn't you turn your back on Kim Ki-chun, a pro-Park senior, and switch to MB?"

"You did come back later. Still, women politicians should stick together regardless of party, right?"

"Hey, didn't you bury my sister Myeong-suk in 2009? I almost got buried myself, you know? As a first-term representative, I got on the wrong line..."

"When I do it, it's romance."

"Me? I've seen all kinds of funny people."

Won Ok-bun smiled confidently. Though her wrinkles were deep and half her face was stiff, it was a clear masterpiece of her years.

"Still, I lived until I became the Minister of Justice under Yoo Jae-gwang. Let's see. Except for the time I lost during Roh's administration..."

Won Ok-bun counted the presidents on her fingers.

"Kim, Kim, Lee, Park, Moon, Yoo. I've lived through five presidential changes."

"You're a remarkable person."

"Survival is the key."

She recited her political life.

"I helped YS with the Choywon restaurant project. I played the mediator between DJ and JP. I lost the election due to a bad connection with Lee Hoi-chang, but I climbed back up through the Kim Ki-chun line and joined MB. I enjoyed the sweet life with the tablet during Moon's administration, and recently, I helped split our party and became a minister."

"Really, there was a kingmaker all along."

"Even if I lose this election, I'll still make another president, won't I?"

"......"

Caught off guard, Yang Pan-seok fell silent, and Won Ok-bun chuckled.

"Our country isn't full of communists. Isn't a single candidate a bit ridiculous?"

"That's true."

"Is that why you came here to talk?"

"......You're sharp."

Winning the presidential election.

It was the biggest weapon Won Ok-bun had.

With the election tilted, Yang Pan-seok's victory was almost certain. Moreover, if Yang Pan-seok revealed the nuclear bomb-related secret contract, Won Ok-bun's downfall would be certain.

In that case, Won Ok-bun would have to either kill Yang Pan-seok or stage a military coup, but she didn't want to become president that badly.

She was half-disgusted with politics after being involved in so many deaths.

In this ambiguous situation, the biggest card Won Ok-bun could play against Yang Pan-seok was—

"Isn't it right not to engage in a losing battle?"

"......"

"Hmm?"

Withdrawing from the presidential race.

The authority of the president comes from democratic legitimacy. If Yang Pan-seok wins the election as the sole candidate, he won't have the overwhelming power to govern the country.

Because the 30% support rate Won Ok-bun still has would spread like a large oil fire with her withdrawal.

"......"

Therefore, Yang Pan-seok needed a figurehead.

"So, senior, are you willing to help me a bit?"

"What will you give me?"

"Tell me."

"Protesters are like this because..."

Yang Pan-seok mentioned how much he had investigated, and Won Ok-bun's expression quickly turned grim. Yang Pan-seok had hit a nerve.

"To be honest, I thought about becoming the Prime Minister."

"You're sending me to my death."

If Won Ok-bun became the Prime Minister, both she and Yang Pan-seok would face all sorts of criticism. People would ask why they held an election in the first place.

There might be some who would support it, but the losses would outweigh the gains.

Yang Pan-seok knew this.

"Senior, you choose."

"......What? Prime Minister?"

"Or you do it."

Won Ok-bun looked into Yang Pan-seok's eyes. There was a brief silence, but it wasn't long.

Won Ok-bun's judgment was very quick.

"......I, really."

Yang Pan-seok was favorable to the big deal—there was a high possibility he would renege on the deal later. To ensure his safety, he needed Yang Pan-seok's continuous help, so he shouldn't make a deal. He needed to leave Yang Pan-seok in debt.

"Do you think I'm someone who will eat anything you feed me?"

"You're not stupid enough to not eat."

"Fine. I'm someone who takes what's mine."

"Old people's temper, really..."

No matter what Yang Pan-seok said, Won Ok-bun smiled crookedly.

"Running for the country's sake. Whatever."

"......Really, you."

"In return, I'll give you something."

"Annoying guy..."

It was the moment when the long election ended in a small room.

*

"By the way, didn't we pass the buck to the North?"

"Hmm?"

"I mean, the Seoul gangsters."

Yang Pan-seok, who was preparing to leave, suddenly asked.

"I heard 700,000 people died in Kaesong and Hwanghae. What did the North say?"

"They were happy about it."

"......What?"

Won Ok-bun, buried in an old one-person sofa, flipping through the channels of an old TV, answered calmly.

"About 124,700 defectors came over gradually. When a large-scale rebellion broke out in Kaesong, 30,000 people came down in four days. They were Kim's followers."

Kaesong is at the southernmost point of the Demilitarized Zone, bordering Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Most of the refugees in southern North Korea want to escape to South Korea.

So.

"To Lee Yong-su, Kaesong is a paradise for reactionaries. Since we killed them for him, he was grateful."

"......Is that so?"

Some countries become more stable as fear spreads.

"Lee probably knew that too."

"No, I think he flipped out trying to save his bloodline."

"What a lunatic."

"Still, it's done."

Yang Pan-seok finished preparing to leave.

"By the way, what will you do now, senior?"

"Normally, at this point, people go abroad and come back..."

"Will you get shot?"

"That's the problem."

It was a dangerous world. Yang Pan-seok advised Won Ok-bun.

"Too old to aim for the next term. Then, are you not thinking of coming back to the National Defense Party and aiming for the party leadership? People are scarce these days, and public sentiment is a bit softer. I also feel a bit unstable doing politics alone. There are so many crazy people in the world, aren't there? I'd prefer to work with someone who can communicate—"

"I'm a prosecutor."

The prosecution has a strict seniority system. When a colleague or junior is promoted, you have to step down. This is why several high-ranking prosecutors resign when a new Chief Prosecutor is appointed. It's an effort to prevent the collapse of the hierarchical system and also means you can't work under a junior.

In other words, I won't work under Yang Pan-seok, who is my junior from the Judicial Research and Training Institute.

"Damn. Why are you being stubborn now?"

"I have my own rules."

"I'm not really curious."

"Who told you that?"

Won Ok-bun added.

"......And, I'm half-disgusted."

"......"

Yang Pan-seok stood up silently.

Just before leaving the room,

"Tsk......"

He stopped, holding the doorknob.

There was a moment of silence in the dim room.

"......Oh dear."

Heaving a small sigh,

He said goodbye without turning around.

It was a rather complicated farewell.

"......Thank you for all your hard work, senior."

"Look at you. Who said they were quitting politics?"

"What?"

Only then did Yang Pan-seok turn around with a bewildered look.

Won Ok-bun's expression was the same as always.

Yang Pan-seok asked her.

"You said you were disgusted?"

"No, I am, but..."

Of course, it was an undeniable fact that Won Ok-bun was half-disgusted with politics.

In other words—

"Isn't there a local election next year?"

—she still had some lingering attachment.

*

It was a glorious morning.

The short, middle-aged Yoo Jae-kyung walked into the living room leisurely and bit into a victorious morning toast. The combination of egg and ham was fantastic. Even the milk splashing on his glasses made him happy.

He stood behind the sofa and watched the TV.

[At around 3 AM yesterday, the election of candidate Yang Pan-seok was confirmed...]

"Wow......"

Someone was lying on the sofa. Since he had just gotten up from beside his wife, it must have been his daughter.

"Are you up?"

"Yeah... No, I couldn't sleep..."

Judging by her haggard appearance and the way she clung to the remote control, she had probably stayed up all night watching the vote counting.

She couldn't hide her gloomy expression.

"Dad......"

"Yeah?"

"Yang Pan-seok, he won..."

"That's right."

"......This won't do."

The daughter jumped up from her seat. The sound of a crack could be heard from her back, indicating she was in her late 20s.

"I need to find a job quickly...!"

"As a graduate student? Without a degree?"

"I have one!"

"If I were you, I wouldn't have given you a Master's in Political Science if I were the Minister of Strategy and Finance."

"Still, what can I do! Dad isn't a minister anymore!"

Yoo Jae-kyung barely suppressed a burst of laughter. His daughter looked as if the sky had fallen.

She sighed with a pained expression.

"Dad is a Won Ok-bun supporter, but Yang Pan-seok won! Is there a way to keep your position? As a political appointee, you'll be fired by Yang Pan-seok for sure!"

"...Ahem! Still, you know. I have a pension. Can't I use my connections—"

"Dad! Please don't delude yourself! People like your power, not you!"

Yoo Jae-kyung felt a dagger pierce his heart.

He gritted his teeth and answered with a bleeding heart. Just to teach her a lesson.

"......Okay. If that's the case, try to find a job."

"Phew... Politics is scary. How can someone become the head of a household overnight..."

"I'm really sorry to