Chapter 59

The core issues of the meeting had narrowed down to three.

“If we’re going to do propaganda, I mean, if we’re going to agitate and promote something, shouldn’t we handle it domestically? Why cause an international stir and make enemies? I mean, sure, creating an enemy can unite the people internally, but do we really need to go this far with such a hardline approach…”

“Hm, I wonder if they actually need help?”

“No, no, I don’t mean to say it’s not propaganda, just… I feel like there’s more going on than just that. That’s what I’m getting at.”

“It’s hard to guess what they’re really after.”

First, why the hell are these bastards making a fuss?

“Requesting allied troops from us is a bit odd. I could understand if it were India or Russia…”

“They did mention Japan, but they didn’t seem too eager about that, right? Chief Secretary Yoshimura, what do you think?”

“Ah, I completely agree.”

“Then… wouldn’t that mean they need Awakeners?”

“They’ve got plenty of Awakeners over there. They’ve got the numbers, and well, the land is pretty big too.”

“I get the feeling they’re treating Gam Ji-yoon like some dangerous strategic weapon…”

Second, why the hell are they dragging us into it?

“……What should we do?”

Third, what the hell do we do now?

“…..Let’s take a short break.”

Just as the meeting was getting into full swing, Minister of Economy and Finance Yoo Jae-kyung, who had been scowling the whole time, excused himself to go to the restroom, and the meeting slipped into a lull.

To be precise, backdoor politicking filled the gap.

Everyone here held some kind of “authority.” They were all people who could sign off on serious documents.

Which meant if you played your cards right, you could land a few big deals here. Everyone started quietly whispering to each other.

“……Sigh.”

My family was missing, and here I was doing politics.

With nothing better to do, I sat there anxiously.

Yang Pan-seok was chatting with Governor Cheong Jung-yeop about the upcoming joint elections in April, and Won Ok-bun was talking with Chief Secretary Yoshimura. Both of them spoke Korean with a strange accent.

Hmm. If I said I was going to the restroom too, I’d probably bump into Minister Yoo Jae-kyung at the urinal, so I just sat there awkwardly.

“It’s been a while, Assemblyman.”

“Oh…! General Kim!”

Kim Doo-sik, the Second Operations Commander, reached out for a handshake.

A tactician from the reformist camp. Currently the national hero of the Chungcheong Defense Line.

He was also the bald general who had saved me from Cha Jae-kyun’s clutches and delivered the news of Cha Jae-kyun’s death that evening.

“I wonder how Chun-sik is doing. He got stuck in Gangwon-do…”

“Oh, in his hospital gown—”

“Still smoking?”

“Yes.”

“That little punk……”

He was also David Kim Chun-sik’s uncle. Both Kim Chun-sik and Kim Doo-sik were from a military family.

He took off his cap and pulled out a handkerchief, then gently dabbed the beads of sweat gathered on his smooth bald head.

Yang Pan-seok used to do the same thing—carefully wiping the sweat from his head. I glanced over at Yang Pan-seok.

“…!”

Sure enough, Yang Pan-seok flinched when he saw Kim Doo-sik, but I pretended not to notice. Commander Kim Doo-sik asked how I was in a voice so cold and mechanical it bordered on emotionless. His expression was the same.

That voice still gave me the creeps.

“I heard you and Chun-sik were both seriously injured. During the Black Goat extermination, right.”

“I drank a potion, so I’m doing a bit better. Healed up pretty fast.”

“I heard those shorten your lifespan…”

“Technically, they accelerate cell regeneration over a short period of time, which uses up the cell division count, but how much it actually shortens it… well, I don’t really know. Still, surviving comes first, right?”

“Should I send you some herbal medicine?”

“Anything but black goat extract.”

“That’s all I had… How about bellflower pear juice?”

We had a brief, calm debate about whether bellflower juice or grape juice was medicine or just sugar water, then moved on to talk about Korean territorial matters.

“Right now, with the northern parts of Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do cut off, what is the military’s response plan?”

“We’re trying to restore the East Sea side of Gangwon-do first and use it as a corridor to reconnect the north and south. And in fact, the areas near the East Sea have been somewhat stabilized. But the Taebaek Mountain Range is so rough, and there are clusters of small Gates everywhere…”

In short, things were somewhat under control but far from completely safe.

Seriously. This isn’t the Joseon Dynasty, and yet we have to worry about wild monsters jumping out while passing through Gangwon-do?

“It’s going to be hard to completely wipe out the monsters.”

“Yes. So depending on the front line, the strategy changes. On the western front, for example—plains and cities—you’ve got large-scale bombardments. But in the east, well, in the Taebaek Mountains, it’s more like partisan warfare, or, well… Viet Cong—”

“Guerrilla warfare?”

“Ah, yes. Rooting out those hiding bastards is no easy task. And we still don’t know how to close the Gates.”

I nodded with a concerned look. They had it tougher than I did, so I refrained from sighing carelessly.

Then Kim Doo-sik suddenly confessed.

“Actually, I’m the one who gave up the north.”

“Wha…!?”

I had sort of suspected it, but still pretended to be shocked, blinking with wide eyes.

Kim Doo-sik continued in a calm, cold voice.

“At the time, there was a prevailing opinion in the military to reestablish a large-scale siege around Seoul. But I overruled it all on my own authority.

I figured if we tried to rebuild a new siege around Seoul under those circumstances, the national forces wouldn’t be able to sustain such a vast front. The basic principle of strategy is to minimize the front lines, isn’t it? If the line breaks, the country really could fall.”

Commander Kim Doo-sik wiped the sweat from his head with a handkerchief and firmly pressed his fingers against the furrow in his brow.

Since I already knew war and politics weren’t all that different, it was a story intense enough to make me tense up too.

“So… I asked Acting President Won Ok-bun for help, and managed to convince her. That’s how I was able to seize full command through emergency authority. And we established the Chungcheong Defense Line. The media inflating my image now? That’s the result of all this.”

This wasn’t the kind of conversation to be had in front of Won Ok-bun. Especially not in a sealed underground bunker where everyone could hear.

Kim Doo-sik’s voice and expression were flat and emotionless, but his actions were sly and calculated. At this point, I was starting to think all generals just came wired this way.

“Yes. That was a long preface. To the point—right now, I hold operational command of the military with the National Defense Party’s tacit approval. And it’s safe to say I’ve executed a very… biased operation.”

It hadn’t gone fully public yet, but as things stood, Kim Doo-sik was the sworn enemy of every refugee stranded in the capital region.

Because it meant the General Staff of the Republic of Korea Army had abandoned everything north of Chungcheong Province.

Of course, it wasn’t something to react to emotionally. The collapse of the Seoul encirclement, the disorganized retreats, the National Army stuck on the North Korean front.

Still, with millions dead, expecting people who lost their families to remain rational was asking too much.

Even I was a mess physically and mentally because of my missing family. I’d just come from getting antidepressants and an IV drip this morning.

Kim Doo-sik muttered in a dull voice.

“Yes. I imagine you’ve already guessed. The defensive line was established based on the assumption that the soldiers stationed on the northern front would be able to rescue the refugees. But politically? That line of thinking will easily be painted as cowardly, depending on how it’s spun.”

If that’s the case…

“If the National Party, led by you, Assemblyman Han Seung-Moon, attacks the National Defense Party over this issue, it could be devastating. Especially with the April joint elections just around the corner.”

“……Is that so?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

He laid his instincts bare to me without hesitation. Since I owed him a debt—almost a life debt—it was hard to treat him coldly.

This was an extremely delicate political issue. And seeing him say all this with a face that looked just like Kim Chun-sik’s made things feel even more awkward.

“The Chungcheong Defense Line was the best strategic option. Because trying to rebuild the Seoul encirclement was impossible, and if the monsters broke through to Chungcheong, Jeolla, or Gyeongsang, it would’ve been total chaos.”

Bringing all this up in front of Japan’s special envoy and the top brass of our nation was more than a little uncomfortable. But he’d saved my life once, so I decided to hear him out.

“I’d like the political circles to refrain from interfering with the military’s operations.”

“Sorry… what was that?”

“……”

Kim Doo-sik took off his cap and scratched his head in silence. I frowned and asked him again.

“I’m sorry, but what exactly do you mean by that?”

“Ah, well…”

“You’re saying the National Assembly shouldn’t hold the government accountable? The Ministry of National Defense is still part of the cabinet.”

He answered again in that same emotionless tone.

“…….As expected, I’m not cut out for persuasion.”

He leaned in, eyes serious. But his voice and expression didn’t change a bit.

“Assemblyman Han Seung-Moon.”

“I’m listening.”

“Please help me keep my position.”

“…Pardon?”

“Don’t rip my rank off.”

Blink. Blink. I had nothing to say, so I just blinked.

“I mean, honestly, I stood up and defended this country while everyone else in politics was throwing around nonsense about the Seoul siege. And now that the elections are coming, I’m about to lose my head. I’m a family man too. I risked my job to protect the country, and it’s looking like I’ll get axed come April.”

“Ah, I see……”

“I thought about asking Assemblyman Yang Pan-seok or Governor Cheong Jung-yeop, but those two wouldn’t hesitate to take my head if it boosts their approval ratings. You’re the only one I have a connection with, Assemblyman Han. And back when I couldn’t stand what Cha Jae-kyun was doing, I helped you out, remember?”

“I remember……”

“My older brother passed away early, and I’ve been sending money every month to raise Kim Chun-sik. I mean, come on, Assemblyman—David Kim isn’t a stranger to you, is he?”

“Uh, well… no, I guess not……”

“Then we’re not strangers either, right? Wouldn’t you say?”

“…Yeah?”

Kim Doo-sik, with the same calm and steady tone, declared to me—how do I put this—

“That’s why I’m trying to lean on the only connection I’ve got: you, Assemblyman Han Seung-Moon.”

And lean he did.

“You’re a patriot, aren’t you? Ah, never mind. I won’t go tossing around words like patriotism to sound pathetic.”

“Ah… yeah……”

You already did though, sir.

“Please just give me one break. Honestly, it’s only us reformists who are fighting this war properly. Everyone else is either a political officer or a corporate soldier. Think back to the early days of the Gates. The 1st Corps, 7th Corps, and Capital Defense Command just sat on their hands until the capital corps got split. No one wanted to take responsibility. They stayed put, claiming they needed to hold their ground in case North Korea invaded. Then when Cha Jae-kyun finally stepped up and took responsibility, that’s when they finally started moving, those bastards. Seriously. Tell me I’m wrong.”

“Uh, well. I had no idea things were like that.”

“If political officers become the ones who survive, then that’s the end. To prevent that, the political world must not use the military as a political tool. Especially nowadays.”

“Right……”

“People are starting to stare a little. I’ll stop here. Sorry for putting you in an awkward spot.”

“No, I, uh… right. Yeah.”

Slurp. Commander Kim Doo-sik casually sipped from his thermos.

And how did I know it was citron tea in that thermos? Because there was a floral sticker on it with the word ‘Citron Tea’ written in cute lettering.

At some point, everyone had started looking at us with strange expressions.

I dropped my gaze out of embarrassment, but Kim Doo-sik calmly closed the thermos lid and put it in his bag. Ziiiip. The sound of the zipper echoed in the enclosed room.

Apparently, this hadn’t been a pre-approved message. Won Ok-bun looked devastated, covering her face with one hand.

“……”

“……”

An awkward silence lingered.

Creeeaaak—!

The heavy iron door made an unnecessarily loud noise.

“Ah, sorry for the delay.”

Minister Yoo Jae-kyung returned from the restroom.

No one said a word.

“……Uh, yeah. Sorry I was late. Haha.”

“……”

“……Was I too late?”

“……”

“Ah, um. My stomach was acting up a bit……”

* * *

The meeting resumed.

Yang Pan-seok asked, and Won Ok-bun answered.

“What’s the Chinese ambassador saying?”

“He said what he had to say during the press conference. Nothing more to add.”

Kim Doo-sik asked, and Cheong Jung-yeop answered.

“Did they coordinate in advance?”

“No, seems like he hasn’t received any directives from his home country. He said he’s just following emergency protocol.”

“And how do you know?”

“We’re… acquainted.”

This time, I spoke.

“If it was just about propaganda, then monsters—well, monsters are the perfect scapegoat, aren’t they? Nothing beats blaming the direct perpetrator. So why take the risk and drag us into it? I feel like there’s more going on than just propaganda.”

“Hmm… maybe they actually do want Awakeners sent over?”

“That’s exactly why it’s even more suspicious.”

Interpretation: They already know we won’t help—so why put on this act?

“If they’re trying to use this as an excuse to say, ‘Hey, we asked for your help back then and you didn’t deliver, so now it’s your turn to listen to us,’ then that only works if diplomacy is still functioning and their economic sanctions still bite. And I’m not talking about nuclear threats. Right now, China has no leverage to—”

“……Ah, just a moment.”

Minister of Economy and Finance Yoo Jae-kyung cut me off.

“……”

He fell silent for quite a while, a serious look on his face.

“……Sanctions. They work.”

“Excuse me…?”

“There’s… that rumor going around that the Han Seung-Moon Foundation and the U.S. have been quietly developing a way to convert mana stones into electricity. Is that true?”

What the hell is this guy doing, saying that with a Japanese official in the room? I looked at him in disbelief, and he flinched—clearly realizing his blunder a second too late.

Beginner mistake.

I answered cautiously.

“……I can’t confirm that, but I can say that research is underway.”

Truth was, it was already complete. What was still in development was efficiency—how much energy could be extracted per mana stone. The technology to convert mana stones into energy was already well advanced.

And we’d developed it using mana stones imported from Japan. Back then, Japan didn’t even realize how valuable they were.

Anyway, Yoo Jae-kyung continued.

“……Right. You know how strategic resources work. Like when countries hold back resources under the pretext of low profitability, just to save them for emergencies. Oil, gold, gas—things like that.”

“……”

“In that regard, the U.S. and China are at the top. The U.S. has oil. China’s got shale gas and rare earth metals.”

He scowled.

“With the seas blockaded, it’s pretty much a given that China will dominate East Asia’s international economy through those strategic resources going forward. At least in my view.

To put it plainly—our stockpiles of crude oil are running dry. And it’s not like we’re going to stop making smartphones.”

Kim Doo-sik added,

“Well, there’s no guarantee China won’t use this opportunity to take over everything. We’re connected by land, after all. And wasn’t the reason we’ve been supporting North Korea’s air force so aggressively to stop China from sending in troops under the pretense of helping them?”

“……That’s right.”

“With the global order in shambles, it wouldn’t be surprising if war breaks out tomorrow. Especially considering how many nukes a country like China might have……”

As the mood turned bleak—

“Ah, shitsurei shimasu.”

Chief Secretary Yoshimura politely excused himself.

“Ano… If I may, I’d like to comment briefly on the issue of nuclear weapons.”

“Go ahead.”

Won Ok-bun gave him permission.

“Hmm. I believe you’re already aware that China has seized control of the Senkaku Islands.”

Senkaku Islands, or Diaoyu Dao, a disputed territory between China and Japan—similar to Dokdo.

“While our Self-Defense Forces were retreating to protect the mainland, China made a rather provocative military move. And in response to our protests, they replied with extreme rudeness.”

For the word “rude” to come up in Japanese diplomacy…

Yeah, that meant it had gone past the point of no return. Chief Secretary Yoshimura frowned.

“If I were to summarize their response—it was essentially, ‘If you’ve got a problem, come fight us.’ I dare say they put their national interest above global stability, even during a worldwide crisis.”

Here it comes.

“……First, allow me to apologize. What I’m about to say may come off as extremely offensive to the Republic of Korea.”

If Japan was apologizing in advance, whatever came next had to be very offensive.

“The U.S. military stationed in Japan had deployed a massive number of nuclear missiles across the Japanese mainland in preparation for war.”

—Bang!

“The fuck!?”

Commander Kim Doo-sik slammed the table, hurling curses, but Chief Secretary Yoshimura continued solemnly.

“The U.S. had kept this hidden from our government. We were unaware and uninformed.”

Whether that was true or not, who could say. But Yoshimura pressed on without flinching.

“Our Self-Defense Forces, fearing unexpected action by the U.S. military, seized those warheads.”

“……How many?”

“Over two hundred.”

“Two hundred?” I asked, holding up two fingers.

Yoshimura nodded.

What the hell.

“……Japan intends to transfer one hundred of those nuclear warheads to South Korea.”

“So you want us to be your meat shield? You realize that could start a nuclear war!”

“If we don’t signal the possibility of mutual destruction to China, we’ll be forced to yield to their tyranny. That’s the conclusion of our government. And we hope to join hands with South Korea to maintain the power balance in Northeast Asia—”

“What the hell! Are you saying we should go to war with China!?”

“Calm down, General.”

“If war breaks out, we’re all dead!”

“That’s not what he’s saying—”

“Then what the hell is this? You’re trying to arm us with nukes against our will!”

“No, that’s not it. We’re simply asking that you help us carry this burden together—”

“We’re right next to China! Tanks could roll into Seoul in under two weeks!”

“In nuclear warfare, distance is irrelevant.”

“So you are pushing us into war, aren’t you!?”

“General, please! Calm down!”

“Good grief……”

“Everyone, let’s all just calm down for a moment.”

Bang—!

A thunderous slam silenced the room.

“……Have you all said your piece?”

Won Ok-bun spoke nonchalantly.

“First, I understand Japan’s proposal. An alliance against a common enemy, and a joint nuclear declaration to warn China. That’s what you’re suggesting, correct?”

We’d share the burden, sure—but we’d be the ones facing greater danger.

We were the country connected to China by land. If we actually accepted Japan’s nuclear warheads, we could end up making enemies of both the U.S. and China.

From the looks of it, Japan had already burned bridges with the U.S. And now they were trying to pick a fight with China too—and wanted us to join in.

Gulp. I swallowed dryly.

Chief Secretary Yoshimura gave a calm nod, and Won Ok-bun asked:

“……Who said we don’t have nukes?”

* * *

……To those who threaten the peace of Northeast Asia!

To those who spread vile propaganda and manipulative lies!

The vanguard warriors of our Songun People’s Army, armed with a spirit of total warfare!

Shall—at any moment!

Open the gates of annihilation!

Upon the demonic wolves who dare endanger the harmony of the world and the safety of our republic!

You will remember this!