Chapter 58

Click.

The door to the underground bunker in Busan Metropolitan City shut behind me.

The piercing gazes of National Intelligence Service agents bore into me from behind their sunglasses.

I walked deeper into the bunker, passing between rows of them lined up on both sides of the corridor.

Step. Tap.

Step. Tap.

Step. Tap.

The sound of my cane echoed through the dim hallway.

At the end of the corridor, a steel door came into view. An agent holding a metal detector scanned me lightly, then cautiously unlocked the door with a card key.

And then—

Several people sat around a dimly lit table inside the secure room.

“……Ah, you’re here.”

Yang Pan-seok, dressed in a wrinkled suit without a tie, smiled slyly.

“It’s been a while.”

Commander Kim Doo-sik touched the brim of his service cap and gave a slight nod.

“How long has it been!”

Governor Cheong Joong-yeop of Jeju, fiddling with an elegant tie pin, beamed.

“……Nice to see you.”

Minister of Strategy and Finance Yoo Jae-kyung, looking half-dead from overwork, muttered reluctantly.

And then—

“Have you been well?”

“Long time no see, Acting President.”

“Glad you made it. Take a seat.”

Won Ok-bun offered a gentle smile and gestured to a chair.

Within the old woman’s softened, slurred speech, dulled by age—

There was a finely sharpened blade.

* * *

Minister Yoo Jae-kyung of Strategy and Finance felt extremely uncomfortable in this meeting. More precisely, it felt like his stomach was being poked with a stick. Honestly, he really needed the bathroom.

“……Looks like everyone’s here.”

Acting President Won Ok-bun’s voice rang like metal as she opened the meeting, and Yoo Jae-kyung bit his lip and held his expression, worried he’d lose face if he asked to be excused.

But that wasn’t the only reason he felt out of place.

“I’m glad to see you’re all safe and sound.”

“The world’s not exactly in one piece, though.”

“Ah, that was careless of me, yes.”

Yang Pan-seok and Won Ok-bun exchanged pleasantries. The power play between politicians had already begun.

Yoo Jae-kyung swallowed dryly.

Honestly, this was overwhelming.

He tried to hide his nerves by covering his mouth with his hand and bit down hard on his lower lip.

Of course, he wasn’t someone easily overwhelmed on paper. The Minister of Strategy and Finance also acted as Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs in the absence of a president or prime minister.

He had originally been the Director of the Budget Office. He graduated top of his class from Korea University’s Department of Economics and passed the level 5 civil service exam with the highest score—an elite economic bureaucrat.

Since his early days as an assistant director, he’d stood tall before top-level officials, and as Budget Director, he approved funding with vice ministers and provincial governors lining up to greet him.

Then one day, he blinked, and he was a minister.

Third in the line of succession.

Minister of Strategy and Finance. Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs.

With all the deputy ministers and ministers dead, he’d ended up leading the remaining bureau directors in the Sejong City government complex—and somehow became a cabinet minister.

His mindset was still that of a level-one bureaucrat, but while working himself to the bone trying to save the economy, he’d become one of the top five power players in South Korea.

“Acting President, it’s truly a relief to see you in good health.”

“Thank you.”

“……”

Of course, there were perks. One example: he’d relocated his family from Sejong to Jeju Island. These days, even the rich couldn’t fly freely.

But the people in this room—these were a different breed entirely.

“General Li Chong-bin… If I recall correctly, he was the commander of the Shenyang Military Region before joining the Central Military Commission. A classic political officer…”

Commander Kim Doo-sik muttered vaguely.

He had rescued Assemblyman Han Seung-Moon during the Cha Jae-kyun incident, reorganized the retreating forces during Seoul’s collapse, and established the northern defense line in Chungcheong. In short, he was the de facto head of the Korean military.

“Is this the military’s stance or the Chairman’s? We need to be precise about this.”

Assemblyman Yang Pan-seok asked with a lazy grin.

The so-called Kingmaker. The sly raccoon of Gwangju. Having led both the presidential and general elections to victory with his political machinations, he was all but designated as the next leader of the Democratic Party. He had also led the judicial coup involving Han Seung-Moon’s rebellion charges, and it was widely assumed he now had the judiciary in his pocket.

“The Chairman of the Communist Party’s Military Commission is China’s head of state… so if the Vice Chairman said it, it’s the same as the Chairman speaking through someone else.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“There are a lot of Chinese people in Jeju.”

“I didn’t realize you had informants in China.”

“Haha…”

Governor Cheong Joong-yeop of Jeju chuckled good-naturedly and kept his sources to himself.

He was one of the leading presidential candidates. By relocating conglomerates, corporations, and even government buildings to Jeju, he had come to represent the nation’s elite. Backed by Jeju’s uniquely rock-solid political base, he had grown into a new rising force in Korean politics.

“By the way, Assemblyman Han, was your journey here smooth?”

And that rising star now groveled before someone thirty years his junior. Governor Cheong leaned in toward Assemblyman Han Seung-Moon.

“Ah, yes. Thanks to the helicopter you sent…”

“Haha, we commandeered that from some corporate folks. I heard you were isolated in northern Gangwon. By any chance, would you consider relocating to Jeju…?”

“I need to head back after the meeting. My family—”

“I thought as much. You really do care deeply about the people… My son is two years older than you, but when I see you, I’m just…”

“Haha……”

“Well then, you should use the helicopter. From now on. All yours.”

“Excuse me…?”

“Don’t hesitate. Please take it. I’m just a governor, busy tending to my district, so I never travel anywhere. But you—you’re the backbone of this country now, aren’t you?”

Governor Cheong Joong-yeop grinned, laying it on thick.

He was practically licking boots in public. Without shame.

“You’ll be very busy with state affairs soon. I just want to help out however I can, so I hope you won’t feel too burdened. After all, this is all for the country, isn’t it?”

Though he was youthful-looking for his age and considered one of the more handsome middle-aged politicians, even Yoo Jae-kyung felt slightly uncomfortable watching him shamelessly fawn over someone twenty years younger.

And then suddenly, Yoo Jae-kyung remembered.

Is this bastard really only twenty-eight?

“It’s a meaningful gift, and it’d feel a bit wasteful for me to use it all on my own. Aside from times like this or when I need to visit you for official matters, would it be alright to leave the helicopter for the military to use in refugee rescues, Governor?”

“Ah! Of course! That’s perfectly fine!”

“Thank you as always for your concern, Governor.”

What he meant was, he’d cover it with a military tarp so no one would try to steal it. The military would even handle refueling.

Han Seung-Moon had found the perfect middle ground—showing public-mindedness while keeping his dignity intact, making sure he didn’t look greedy for the gift, keeping a subtle distance from the giver, and expressing gratitude just vaguely enough.

With Commander Kim Doo-sik sitting beside him, he’d also sent a clear signal that the helicopter would be in the military’s hands.

Good positioning.

“……”

Watching this young man, who was the same age as his daughter—probably throwing a fit at her mom back in Jeju—made Yoo Jae-kyung feel a little bitter.

Escaping from Apgujeong, the Han Seung-Moon Foundation, Cha Jae-kyun’s fall, party merger exposé, founding the National Party, developing the Awakening Accelerator, self-experimentation, and leading the Huksan Goat operation…

This guy didn’t need an introduction.

The day Han Seung-Moon, who didn’t even have eligibility to run for office, polled at 19% in the presidential race, Yoo Jae-kyung had spilled his beer all over his thermal shirt at home.

He could still vividly remember Han Seung-Moon telling him to strong-arm the conglomerates. Who would’ve thought that was the blueprint for creating the GS Group?

Yoo Jae-kyung had expected something like insider trading or maybe breaking up the chaebols—not a total overhaul of the entire corporate landscape in Korea.

Why was Governor Cheong Joong-yeop reaching out to the business sector now? Because after those massive internal fights, the conglomerates had become so fractured in structure and shares that they couldn’t unify anymore.

So now, the tycoons living in Jeju had naturally come to rely on Cheong Joong-yeop…

…!!

Wait a minute—both Cheong Joong-yeop and Han Seung-Moon were in the National Party. One was seen as the future party leader, the other as the likely floor leader.

Cheong Joong-yeop was a presidential candidate…!

N-No way…!

Han Seung-Moon… just how far ahead are you planning…?

Yoo Jae-kyung found himself staring at Han Seung-Moon.

“? Is something the matter…?”

“Ah, no. You just looked really tired.”

“Ah, I see… I’ve heard you’ve been working hard too, Minister Yoo.”

What did that mean? Was he suggesting I stop slaving away under Won Ok-bun and join him? Or was he implying that trying to revive the economy was pointless and I was wasting my time?

Yoo Jae-kyung tried to maintain a poker face as cold sweat trickled inside.

“Has everyone had a chance to catch up?”

Won Ok-bun curtly shifted the meeting into its main agenda.

“Japan has sent a representative.”

Creak. The door opened.

And a new figure entered the room.

“Pleased… to meet you.”

The newcomer was Yoshimura, Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan.

And in the post-war history of Japanese politics, the LDP had only been out of power for fewer than ten years total.

In other words, considering Japan had effectively been a one-party state under the LDP, the fact that their second-in-command had come here meant China’s actions were extraordinarily serious.

His pronunciation was clumsy, but he spoke Korean fluently.

“Ah… yes… concerning… the rather… aggressive alliance proposal… from Chunnggook… the Prime Minister believed… the Korean side must be… facing significant political burden. With peace in Northeast Asia and issues of public safety and security at stake, I thought perhaps I could offer some assistance… if I may… Acting President Won Ok-bun gave her permission… and so I humbly take this seat. Hello.”

Translation: Hey there.

For a foreigner, it was quite impressive. Then again, this wasn’t the kind of meeting where one could wear an earpiece or bring a translator.

He smiled broadly and carefully took a seat at the table.

And then,

Won Ok-bun began leading the meeting in earnest.

“So, what China wants is for us to send Hunter Gam Ji-yoon and our other superpowered individuals, right? They said it’s to help defend 56 nuclear power plants, but…”

Commander Kim Doo-sik added,

“The Chinese army isn’t exactly something that gets overrun easily. Of course, the damage will be significant, but if a reactor goes, China’s done for too. They’ll try to stop it, even if it means taking major losses.”

[They’re not gonna let their own backyard explode.]

Yang Pan-seok struck the core of it.

“If this is unavoidable damage—and if it concerns all of Northeast Asia—what they’re really saying is: share the burden.”

[They want us to drown together.]

“Yes.”

Minister Yoo Jae-kyung hesitated as he pointed something out.

“……That might not be their true intent, though. They probably want something else from Korea. I mean, if Gam Ji-yoon can literally move mountains, she could definitely minimize casualties, but…”

[China’s not exactly known for going out of its way to save people.]

“Well, yes. They do tend to prioritize their image.”

[Yeah. Not the kind of country that ruins its reputation to save citizens.]

Cheong Joong-yeop, who had deep China ties, chuckled calmly.

“In my opinion, that message isn’t directed at us.”

“Sorry?”

“They’re talking to their own people.”

Jeju had extensive ties with China, and Governor Cheong had personal connections there, which gave him access to all sorts of background info. He had already pieced together a rough picture.

“In a country like China, massive casualties are inevitable. High population density, extreme urban slums… By now, tens of millions are probably dead. Naturally, public trust in the Communist Party would’ve plummeted.”

The People’s Liberation Army isn’t the national army; it’s the Communist Party’s private army. So the blame falls squarely on the Party.

Cheong Joong-yeop’s calm, low voice dominated the room. The dim, quiet conference space now hung on his words.

“In this situation, the proud and mighty Chinese government—through one of its top generals—humbled itself to a foreign nation and asked for the help of a single child.

Ah, of course, to us she’s not a child but a precious asset and a valued citizen. But from their perspective, that’s how it looks. Assemblyman Han Seung-Moon’s… yes, anyway.”

“……”

“If we refuse this, what kind of narrative do you think will spread among the Chinese public? Their 56 nuclear plants are on the verge of meltdown, and a foreign country wouldn’t send even one little girl.”

“……”

“This is propaganda.”