A Gate Opened On My First Day As A Politician - Chapter 10: A Surefire Strategy for the New Era (2)

The accommodations provided by the military were surprisingly well-equipped.

The room had beds, a TV, and a desk with chairs in the middle. Most of our group was already sprawled around the place.

Yeo Do-yeon stood by the window, talking on her phone.

“Wow, the military really stepped up. They even have beds here?”

“Quit bragging about your service and keep it down.”

“Hey! I was in Special Forces! You hear me?”

Yang Il-ho and Lee Ho-jung were seated on a bed, teasing each other.

Gam Chul lay on a bed, looking pale, while Chun Hwa-ran held Ji-yoon and her baby close, particularly making sure Ji-yoon didn’t start floating around again.

As for Pi Chae-won, the student we rescued last, she quietly wiped her tears away with a military blanket, her face set with determination.

Two soldiers helped me to sit on a bed, and Yang Pan-seok, sitting beside me, gave a small smile.

“Assemblyman Han.”

“Yes?”

“Shall we do some politicking?”

* * *

The rest of the group waved at us in greeting, but Yang Pan-seok and I barely acknowledged them, continuing to whisper back and forth.

Destroying Seoul to wipe out the monsters.

The Ground Operations Command was adamantly against it.

“If we can get them to bend, Deputy Minister Cha will owe us big.”

“But abandoning Seoul is an extreme move.”

Yang Pan-seok gave me a seasoned piece of advice as I hesitated.

“Whether or not the operation is right isn’t what matters.”

He was correct.

That was the military’s concern, not the politician’s.

“What matters is that the public would hate it. If we push this forward, we’ll be the ones getting covered in dirt.”

“Your choice of words is a bit crude, sir.”

“Quiet, now.”

Yang Pan-seok was the type to avoid making enemies, even if it meant sacrificing his own interests.

Yet, he wasn’t someone who’d get trampled over blindly.

He always kept an eye on the bigger picture.

“What matters isn’t forcing the Ground Operations Command’s hand. We don’t have to endorse the operation ourselves.”

“…They’re resisting Deputy Minister Cha’s orders because they’re afraid of public backlash, so…”

“Stir up the public, then?”

I nodded slightly.

Yang Pan-seok didn’t seem to disagree. A sly grin spread across his face.

“I have a script in mind…”

“I’ve got a rather bold idea myself…”

The two of us leaned in, brainstorming our next moves.

* * *

After about an hour of planning, Yang Pan-seok left to brief Deputy Minister Cha on our “political” strategy. We’d need the commander’s approval before we could drop any bombs, so to speak.

I called over one of the soldiers guarding the room.

“Um…”

“Yes, sir! Sergeant Han Yong-geun!”

“I’m missing a leg, so could you bring me a pair of crutches?”

“Right away, sir!”

The soldier left, looking more nervous than necessary. Yang Il-ho sidled up to me, grinning.

“First time in a military barracks?”

“Keep that military pride in check. Are you seriously harassing a disabled person right now?”

“Heh heh, civilian, civilian.”

Lee Ho-jung smacked the back of his head, then dragged over a chair, crossing her legs. Her stockings were completely torn.

“Assemblyman. Feels weird calling you that. Anyway, where’d you go?”

“I met with the Deputy Defense Minister. He’s practically running the country now. Can’t say much more.”

Ho-jung didn’t pry further. Instead, she filled me in on the current situation.

“This isn’t just happening in Korea.”

“What?”

“They said gates have opened worldwide. They don’t have all the details, but cities like Beijing, New York, Tokyo… practically every major city has gates now.”

Hell.

“So it’s the end of the world?”

“I don’t know about other countries, but our citizens are moving southward.”

“Must be gridlock on the roads.”

Ho-jung showed me some online news articles on her phone.

“The news is a mess. Every outlet’s reporting something different, so people are panicking. Rumors are flying about a North Korean invasion, 1.5 million deaths, the president’s death, the military abandoning Seoul, aliens, the Rapture…”

It seemed the media was at least partially responsible for the chaos.

Tap, tap. Someone tapped my shoulder.

“Hey, phone.”

Yeo Do-yeon suddenly held a phone to my ear. A familiar voice crackled with emotion.

-You little brat! You said you’d call first…!

“Oh, Aunt…! I’m so sorry. I didn’t have a chance to…”

-Oh, really? You were too busy surviving to think of the woman who raised you? Hmm? Blood is thicker than water, is it? Am I not your family!?

“Auntie, you and I share the same blood…”

What could I even say? I looked helplessly at Yeo Do-yeon, but she just grinned and kept holding the phone.

Honestly, it was my fault. I hadn’t even left a single text. I was a piece of trash.

“Uh, no…! The signal’s been on and off…”

-Oh, excuses, huh? My heart’s breaking, and you’re giving me excuses! Huh!?

“Sorry…”

Ugh. With a loud huff, my uncle took over the phone.

-Seung-moon! Are you alright!?

“Yes, I’m at the military’s martial law command center.”

-No injuries?

“Well… I lost my left leg…”

-You little rascal! This is no time for jokes!

My uncle let out a wail.

-Where are you exactly?

“I told you, I’m at the martial law command center.”

-Oh, right. Anyway! Why are you still there?

“I’m here because they rescued us.”

-Oh, that makes sense.

“You’re out of things to say, aren’t you?”

-…Kid! Be grateful you’re alive! What more could you want?

Hearing his familiar scolding, I handed the phone back to Yeo Do-yeon. She gave me a rough smile, took the phone, and disappeared somewhere to continue the call.

“Assemblyman Han?”

“Oh, thank you.”

“No problem, sir!”

The soldier handed me a pair of crutches. Just then, Yang Pan-seok returned to the room.

“It’s approved.”

“Oh! Thank goodness!”

“Nice crutches, too. Shall we get going? Oh, and by the way…”

He flashed a sly smile.

“Can you do a bit of crying on cue?”

“I was the ace of my university’s drama club.”

* * *

The martial law command center was a bustling hive of people. Soldiers rushed everywhere, each with their assigned roles.

We wove through the crowd in the hallway.

“No need to gather the press—they’re already waiting outside the building.”

“That’s fortunate.”

Leading the way, Yang Pan-seok explained.

“So far, the government hasn’t made any official announcements. Besides bits and pieces, we’ll be the first.”

“This will certainly draw attention.”

“What?”

“Attention.”

“Don’t throw English around. Makes an old man feel left out.”

Yang Pan-seok and I were heading to hold a press conference.

“Deputy Minister Cha seemed pleased. Have you memorized the script?”

“I used to draft your speeches back when I was your aide.”

“That’s true. I’m sure you’ll do well.”

“Pardon?”

Originally, Yang Pan-seok was supposed to lead the press conference.

He looked at me with a broad grin.

“You’re going to do it.”

“Oh, but… are you sure?”

“Just a minute ago, you were brimming with charisma. Nice to see your usual self.”

Laughing, Yang Pan-seok strode ahead.

Politicians thrive on attention. And this press conference was something any politician would kill for.

This would be a historic moment for South Korea. This footage might be played as archival material for decades.

“Well, if I went out there, they’d just say some old guy survived. But if you go out limping on crutches, it’ll make a better impression.”

“Uh, well…”

“I’ll be right behind you.”

Image, influence, and credibility.

I’m sure Yang Pan-seok had done all the calculations, but that wasn’t the point.

He was giving me an opportunity. He was helping me grow politically. This was a rare chance.

Before I could even thank him, we stepped outside the command center. In the distance, journalists crowded behind a metal barrier.

I took a deep breath, cooling my nerves.

I continued taking slow, deep breaths as we approached the podium. Cameras and microphones were already in place, waiting.

The journalists spotted us and started pressing their shutters. The flurry of noise pounded in my chest.

“Is it true the President has passed away?”

“What’s the military’s evacuation plan?”

“What are these monsters?”

“Just one comment, please! How many have died?”

Reporters surged forward, bombarding us with questions, as soldiers held them back.

I exchanged one last look with Yang Pan-seok. He nodded firmly.

With his help, I hobbled up to the podium on my crutches, his reassuring presence at my back. Taking a somber expression, I gripped the microphone.

* * *

– “…Good afternoon, citizens. I am Assemblyman Han Seung-moon.”

As I bowed my head, camera flashes poured down like a storm. I lifted my head, tears welling in my eyes.

– “Countless citizens have lost their lives. Before I proceed, I would like to express my condolences to the victims and my apologies as a public official.”

I took a shaky step to the side of the podium, bowing deeply with a mournful expression. Steeling myself, I began.

– “A large number of our legislators have perished, and the surviving ones have been scattered.”

This wasn’t what they wanted to hear, though. Time to drop the bombshell.

– “And, President Yoo Jae-gwang has passed away.”

I paused, giving them a moment for the headline.

– “The Prime Minister, the Minister of Strategy and Finance, the Defense Minister, the Martial Law Commander, and the 1st Corps Commander—many of our ministers and generals have lost their lives or are missing.”

The journalists furiously typed on their laptops.

– “Currently, the lawful leader of the South Korean military in this crisis is Deputy Defense Minister Cha Jae-kyun.”

This was the result of our strategizing.

If they refused orders due to fear of public backlash, then we’d light a fire under them.

– “However, ‘certain members of the military.’”

From this moment on, anyone,

– “are committing insubordination for political reasons.”

would want to avoid being seen as one of those “certain members of the military.”

– “This is preventing Deputy Minister Cha’s directive for the evacuation of Seoul residents from being executed.”

If they valued their lives,

– “Anyone who leads troops without the military commander’s orders is essentially using personal militia.”

they would know how to behave.

I raised my voice, emphasizing each word with severity.

– “As a representative elected by the people, I express my genuine concern about the threat of a military coup amid this national crisis.”

I took another pause, allowing the photographers time for more shots.

– “The military has prioritized saving lives over property damage, and they will use every available resource to prevent the spread of these monsters.”

And, as Deputy Minister Cha had requested, I added,

– “As of now, monsters have spread among civilians in central Seoul.

Residents north of the river should evacuate northward, and residents south of the river should evacuate southward. The military is encircling Seoul.

– Additionally, as the monsters possess abilities that overwhelmingly surpass human capabilities, I urge everyone to seek shelter in narrow, enclosed spaces rather than engaging directly.”

And,

– “To my fellow legislators who have survived, I implore you. Setting aside party affiliations, I propose the swift establishment of a ‘Special Committee on Monster Response.’”

With so many seats vacant due to the deaths of other members, the number of representatives had drastically decreased.

– “Please make contact with the military and gather at the wartime session of the National Assembly.”

South Korea has a top-secret underground National Assembly for use during wartime.

– “Though the National Assembly building has collapsed, the Assembly will continue to safeguard the nation from a military coup, deliberate on measures against the monsters, and most importantly, ensure the safety of our citizens.”

To avoid being mere figureheads, legislators needed to convene as soon as possible. Alone, a single legislator could do little,

– “Any force that disregards the authority of the constitutional military commander to serve its own interests will face the severe judgment of the people.”

but together, with aligned purpose, they could pass any legislation and pursue impeachment.

– “For the freedom and justice of South Korea, and for the boundless glory of its people, I sincerely hope. That is all.”

(TL Note: I’m pretty sure the last few sentences are confusing, so to give some clarity, it seems like Seung-Moon is addressing the nation at the same time narrating inside his head on what he truly meant about his speech. I hope that clears stuff up.)