Chapter 99

EP 17 - The Minister is Too Strong (2)

There wasn't much of a story that came out of what he said in front of others.

"Well, you know, do you remember our time in the government? When I came back alive, that stubborn one shed tears..."

After roughly 18 minutes of proudly boasting about his granddaughter, Yangpansuk reached out for the water bottle and the ginseng fruit, but the ginseng fruit was moved just out of his reach. His hand naturally turned and grabbed the water bottle instead.

"Tsk..."

Yangpansuk gave a sly glance.

"Man, you're really something, aren't you..."

"By the way, why did you ask me to stay?"

"Is it important?"

In response to his light-hearted question, I thought deeply and answered.

"No."

* * *

It wasn't about what he said. The fact that he left me behind was what mattered.

Power is fundamentally the force that moves people, and that force is a subtle one that arises because 'people think it exists.'

While I was lost in thought, Yangpansuk quickly grabbed the ginseng fruit and drank it, and I decided to ask a different question.

Yangpansuk had been giving me more power ever since he became president.

Why did he become president, and what did he want to do?

"Didn't you say you were going to run for governor of Jeonnam last time?"

"Um, I did."

"......Why did you rush to run-"

"And that night, something happened."

"Oh."

The Seoul Gate incident.

He continued, looking at the elegant ink painting hanging on the restaurant wall.

"Maybe... I realized that I or my granddaughter could die at any moment... Maybe one of my friends died that day... Maybe I thought I was getting old... Maybe, seeing Won Ok-bun sell out the country for politics, I thought the country would fall apart..."

None of these reasons were definitive,

"......But does that matter?"

"Upon reflection, no."

"Right."

Nothing mattered.

"Does anyone do politics for a reason? They do it because they want to."

"......"

"Those who are meant to rise will find a way. Everything else is just an excuse."

The only important thing was that Yangpansuk became president. In politics, reasons are unnecessary; only the results remain.

And we were the people who had to make something out of those results.

I decided to ask a productive question.

"What should I do from now on?"

"Well, I'm a new president, and you're a new minister. What advice can I give you...?"

As if it was the question he wanted, Yangpansuk started talking.

"I plan to overhaul the country."

"How?"

"My way."

Survival.

This was the value Yangpansuk held most dear.

"And at the center of the reform will be the Portrait Management Department. That's why I pushed for a coalition cabinet."

"Is there no one to stop the Portrait Management Department?"

"The Defense Party is because of me. The People's Party is because of you. They can't act recklessly against the Portrait Management Department."

This next statement was the most important.

"At least for now."

I began to stroke my chin and tap the calculator as Yangpansuk finished speaking.

The upcoming Portrait Management Department would be invincible. In a democratic society, receiving support from the ruling party, opposition party, and the public means absolute power.

In other words,

"......One mistake, and it's over."

"Right."

This invincible power would end the moment a weakness was shown.

"The driving force of the Portrait Management Department's policies comes from the fact that there is no justification to stop it. The Defense Party and the People's Party have no grounds to oppose it."

"Once a mistake is made, they will have the grounds to oppose it."

"Right. You must never show a weakness."

Yangpansuk laughed.

"You have good ears, which I like. Working with a deaf person is exhausting..."

"Anyway, so what?"

"I want you to cultivate superhumans to obtain magic stones, research those magic stones to advance society, and use the magic stones to boost the domestic economy and international trade. You should also use awakening agents to lead international organizations."

"Is that the Fifth Industrial Revolution?"

"It's also the last survival strategy I thought of."

"Hmm......"

"All the support will be focused on you. Whether it's personnel or budget."

"I can't even use Excel."

"Who asked you to do the work?"

Yangpansuk tapped the table in rhythm with his words.

"Choose people. And use them. That's politics, and Won Ok-bun failed because she couldn't do it."

"......What? What did the acting president do-"

"Anyway, do politics, not administration. And the results of that politics must be perfect. I'll be fine after my five-year term, watching my granddaughter, but you'll be doing politics and being a minister for the next five years, right?"

"I'd like to quit-"

"Don't even dream of resigning before you get sick. Anyway, draw up a hand of cards."

I received the president's blank check.

"I'll give you the position of Special Committee Chairman for the Transition Committee's Special Department. Bring me a rough outline of the Portrait Management Department as soon as possible."

"It doesn't matter how many vice-ministers or departments there are."

*

"......Does that mean we can do whatever we want?"

"The power players in the government are crazy..."

These were the reactions of Lee Ho-jung and Yang Il-ho, in that order.

"......What! Anyway, that's how it is!"

"I don't like the look of satisfaction on your face."

"Maybe you should grab some power if you're annoyed?"

"Bro, I was reflecting on my character last time-"

"Anyway."

I sat on the sofa in my constituency office with my legs crossed, fiddling with a hiking stick, and asked the two prospective congressmen sitting opposite me.

"We need to find some people to set up a new government department. Do you know any lawyers?"

Lee Ho-jung pointed at Yang Il-ho with his finger.

"Besides him."

Tsk.

Lee Ho-jung clicked his tongue and lowered his finger, and Yang Il-ho made a pained expression, looking back and forth between Lee Ho-jung and me.

"What? What's wrong?"

"A part-time lawyer who also works as a secretary is useless."

"That's too harsh."

"Just kidding."

I explained why Yang Il-ho wouldn't be useful.

"You're my left and right arms, so you need to build some influence in the National Assembly, right? How can you help with cabinet affairs?"

"Supervision?"

"Exactly. It might be a bit awkward to say, but you need to manage all the Sungmun faction congressmen."

Lee Ho-jung understood immediately and nodded, but Yang Il-ho still looked a bit confused.

"......Do you know that I have about 100 congressmen under me?"

"Yes..."

"There are many, but their loyalty is weak."

I unfolded a piece of scrap paper and picked up a pen.

I drew a circle and wrote '154' inside it.

"There are 154 People's Party congressmen to start with?"

"Yes..."

"Excluding the followers of Jeong Joon-yeop and the organization leaders of Shin Su-gwang, there are about 113 left?"

I was indeed the leader of a faction of about 113 people within the People's Party, but my power was more like that of a 'coalition leader' rather than a boss.

So I divided the circle into three parts and wrote 'Hunters', 'Poor', and 'Rich' in each section.

"......What is this?"

"Our party's voter base."

"What?"

Lee Ho-jung, unable to bear it, explained to the confused Yang Il-ho.

"The Defense Party is supported by the Democratic Party in Jeolla and the Republican Party in Gyeongsang. They are the middle class with a place to live."

"O, oh..."

"The People's Party is supported by refugees from the capital region, the rich in Jeju, and the pro-democracy liberals in Gangnam among the middle class in Yeongnam and Honam."

"......The Defense Party is the middle class, and the People's Party is the poor and the rich?"

I added to that.

"Plus the hunters."

"Thus, the poor, the rich, and the hunters are the voter base of the People's Party. Okay?"

"O, okay..."

Yang Il-ho's answer wasn't entirely convincing, but I continued my explanation.

"First, 15 retired hunters each from Hong Seon-a and Seol Jin-woon, making a total of 30."

These people were known to me but were basically affiliated with the Apgujeong faction and the Dongdaemun faction.

The Apgujeong faction had more connections with me, and they respected Kim Chun-sik more than Hong Seon-a, so it was fine. However, the Dongdaemun faction had a strong loyalty to Seol Jin-woon, so they needed to be managed carefully.

Still, this group had a relatively high loyalty.

The problem was:

"13 congressmen from constituencies near the Chungcheong defense line. 70 proportional representatives from the lost areas of the capital region."

Their common point was that they were elected with the votes of refugees from the capital region.

In other words,

"It's easy for them to defect to Shin Su-gwang, who represents the refugees from the capital region."

"Oh..."

"And since they are proportional representatives, they will need to move to constituencies in the next election. Who in Korea has the most solid constituency? Jeong Joon-yeop, right? With the population of Jeju exploding, they will elect over ten congressmen. Will they go to Jeong Joon-yeop? Or not?"

This was the biggest problem.

"These people are with me now because I'm the trend. But they will easily defect later."

Shin Su-gwang had a clear identity as a representative of the refugees from the capital region, and Jeong Joon-yeop had a clear identity as a representative of Jeju, but I had no solid base. At best, I had the hunters, but they were more like an alliance than a standing army.

I asked Yang Il-ho.

"I will be busy as a minister. What should you do?"

"Um, um. Prevent them from betraying and keep them...?"

So, how do you do that, you idiot?

If I said that, he would really get upset, so I praised him first.

"Right. So, how do you do that?"

"Um, um..."

Yang Il-ho answered after 6 seconds.

"Make good laws!"

"Right."

"Prepare a smooth path for the minister!"

"Then?"

"They will stick around to leech off your popularity!"

I asked Lee Ho-jung.

"What do you think?"

"Whether it's Shin Su-gwang, Jeong Joon-yeop, or anyone else, we need to crush their heads so they can't crawl out."

"Kuh...!"

Clap. Clap. Clap.

I clapped and marveled.

"My left and right arms are so sharp, it makes me, the minister, feel great."

"Who is the right arm?"

"If I tell you, the left arm will be sad, won't they?"

Anyway.

"Lee Il-ho, you should make good laws in the National Assembly to help me. I think if you become the chair of the Policy Committee and also serve on the Portrait Management Committee and the Special Committee on Budget and Finance, the structure will be set."

"Me...?!"

"You will be my defender and supporter."

I gently coaxed Yang Il-ho and turned to Lee Ho-jung.

"Now, our Ronaldo."

"Meaning an attacker, right?"

"You should stop Shin Su-gwang and Jeong Joon-yeop from making trouble. Even if Jeong Joon-yeop goes into hiding due to the aftereffects of the presidential election, I think it will be impossible to stop Shin Su-gwang from becoming the chair of the emergency committee."

Emergency Committee.

The term of the party leader is two years, but after being hit by Won Ok-bun, the People's Party leadership resigned en masse. The emergency committee is formed until the remaining term of the party leader ends.

It's roughly called the emergency committee, and the chair of the emergency committee becomes the leader of the party. Unlike the party leader, who is usually a multi-term member, the emergency committee can also appoint relatively fresh faces without hesitation.

So it's perfect for Shin Su-gwang.

Public opinion has already half-decided that the next chair of the emergency committee will be Shin Su-gwang. To remove the Kim Jo-in influence and rebrand the party as a representative of the refugees from the capital region, Shin Su-gwang is a must.

The public wants it.

However,

"If Shin Su-gwang becomes the leader, we need to be the second-in-command, right?"

"......The floor leader?"

I nodded.

I will step down as floor leader to join the cabinet, but my position must be taken over by Lee Ho-jung.

However, Lee Ho-jung immediately shook her head.

"......No, this is a bit-"

"Actually, you would be more suitable as a spokesperson."

A 27-year-old female congresswoman with beauty.

It's a perfect fit to be the party's face as the chief spokesperson. Occasionally causing a stir in the National Assembly with a placard would be a bonus. Plus, she has good offensive skills.

But.

"Since you will be playing as an attacker anyway, being the floor leader shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"No, no. The floor leader isn't just about giving interviews!"

"Lack of negotiation skills......"

The role of the floor leader has two main parts.

First, offense.

Second, negotiation.

In fact, to pass laws and win the power games in standing committees, negotiation skills are far more important than offensive skills.

However,

"Let's see. Negotiations will end at the level of me and Yangpansuk, or rather, the president. You won't have to run around forming the National Assembly."

The current situation is one where only offense is needed.

And it's against enemies within the same party.

"......"

"So, will you do it or not?"

"I'll do it."

"Good."

Clap!

I clapped once to change the mood and summarized the small meeting.

"Inside the National Assembly, Ho-jung will be the floor leader and play the role of an attacker, while Il-ho will be the chair of the Policy Committee and move around the key standing committees to make laws and support me."

"Understood."

"Of course, the most important thing is how the Portrait Management Department turns out. If the Portrait Management Department succeeds, our political careers will also succeed. Got it?"

"Understood!"

"Now, we need to carefully design the Portrait Management Department. Our youngest bar exam passer, Lawyer Yang Il-ho, should call all his classmates."

"Wait, hold on."

"Um?"

Lee Ho-jung interrupted with a puzzled look.

"Isn't there something we need to clarify?"

"Um?"

"The Association of Awakened. Its jurisdiction hasn't been decided yet. If there's an overlap, won't it cause problems-"

Ding - Dong

"Did you order jajangmyeon?"

"No."

"......"

I got up from my seat and headed for the front door. There were definitely quite a few security guards on the first floor, so who could be visiting?

I opened the door-

"Baby!"

"Ahh!"

Bang!

- and immediately closed it.

From the other side of the front door, her gentle voice could be heard.

"Minister, please open the door..."

"A, ah...! W, well...!"

The reason I was making a fuss like a debtor chased by a creditor was, well,

It was really, really true.

"Even