Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: Blocking the Oncoming Disaster (3)
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Cheongwadae, main building. The President's office.
Policy Director Park Dong-hee poked his head into the room with a knock.
"Your Excellency, may I come in for a moment?"
"Ah, Park. Sure, what's up?"
"I just... wanted to understand your intentions before making any judgments."
Park Dong-hee, who always prided himself on being the President's right-hand man. He was a master at flattering his superiors like a human bidet, but he was slow to judge on major diplomatic issues.
This was especially true with the current Dokdo tensions between Korea and Japan. And he simply couldn't wrap his head around the appointment of Professor Kim as the special envoy with full powers.
"You're talking about Professor Kim. Wondering why I put that guy on the delegation?"
It was like he could read his mind.
The President stared at Park Dong-hee as if he had placed him right on his palm.
Oblivious that he was like Sun Wukong being watched by the Buddha, Park laid out his own logic. Desperately clinging to the hope of being remembered as a capable aide.
"Ahem, I judged he wasn't the right person to turn the tide in Korea-Japan relations... but this is such a grave matter."
Professor Kim.
A friend from the President's hometown and a thoroughly mediocre political scientist.
Park's point was valid enough. Putting an unqualified man in charge of the delegation meant the outcome would be predictably dismal.
But the President's next words were utterly nonchalant.
"Ever think that it's because it's not that important that I sent Professor Kim?"
"Your Excellency...?"
"Park. Man, even after all that time in politics, your math is still fuzzy."
The President let out a chuckle, half mocking, half amused.
*You sly raccoon bastard. If there's anyone who schemes as complicated as you, tell them to step up.*
Though his inner thoughts were shockingly irreverent, Park Dong-hee could only bow deeply and rub his palms together.
"Aigoo, how could a worm like me presume to fathom Your Excellency's profound intentions?"
"God, you... Listen up."
The President rose from his seat.
He stretched languidly, turned toward the east-facing window, and began to explain.
"No matter how Japan plays it, it all works in my favor. If they send conciliatory gestures on Dokdo..."
Sunlight poured in through the window.
The unusually warm winter rays for the season filtered through the glass and hit what looked like armor from centuries ago.
Likely from the Imjin War era—a medieval Japanese samurai suit.
"Then I'm the President who untangles the knotted Korea-Japan ties while securing Dokdo. And if they do the opposite..."
One step, another. The President stood before the glossy black leather armor, lacquered to shine.
He stroked its rough surface with callused palms and flashed his usual grin.
"I get to play supreme commander in this fake Korea-Japan war—with no gunshots or declarations of war."
"Kuh... As expected of Your Excellency. I'm utterly awestruck by how you see several moves ahead."
"Ha ha. Flatterer."
As always, it was a stroke of genius worthy of the political demon President.
*That guy's got a real talent for rolling rice balls... Wonder who he takes after with those petty tricks.*
Park barely suppressed the words that begged to spill out, swallowing them down.
Though he inwardly seethed at the President's cunning, it didn't seem like there was much cause for real worry.
Not until a secretary burst into the office without knocking.
"Your Excellency, urgent report from the Foreign Ministry!"
"Ha ha, what's so urgent you barge in like this?"
The secretary's face was pale as a ghost.
The President's impatience showed as he snatched the briefing folder from his hand.
Moments later, deep furrows creased his brow.
"Ha! Looks like Japan's LDP is in quite the hurry. Pulling stunts this cute."
Japan's cabinet had notified the expulsion of Korea's ambassador to Japan.
It was such a breach of protocol—so far removed from diplomatic norms—that Park couldn't hide his gut reaction.
"Damn it. Expelling the ambassador ain't cute at all..."
"Hm? What was that you just said?"
"N-No, nothing, Your Excellency. Anyway, they say this'll hit the business world hard."
He quickly changed the subject, and it seemed to work well enough.
The President forgot the near-insolence and began to ponder.
"Hmm, business sector. Yeah, it'll be tough."
Then, a face popped into his mind. The young man he'd slipped into Japan's delegation... didn't seem destined for an easy ride.
"Ha. Poor Han Seo-jun, Chairman of Ammunition Group. He's in for some real hardship there."
* * *
The moment we arrived in Japan, we were hit with the expulsion notice for our ambassador.
The entire delegation, myself included, was dumbfounded and could do nothing but check into a Tokyo hotel.
As expected, the biggest blame falls on the loudest mouth. In the hotel suite turned conference room, I confronted Professor Kim about what the hell was going on.
"Professor Kim, what is this situation? Explain."
"Haa... This is mighty embarrassing to talk about..."
He looked genuinely ashamed, avoiding my gaze and counting patterns on the floor.
Even if he was an unexpected pick with no great expectations, he was still the President's special envoy.
Any hope I had for a Zhuge Liang-level solution... shattered.
"W-Well, let's see how things play out first? Anyway, there's a great sushi spot nearby. Wanna grab a bite? With some sake."
"...I'll pass."
No competence, not even the will to try. Talking to this guy was pointless.
I left the hotel immediately and headed to a quiet nearby park for a deep breath.
"Hoo... Useless. Completely useless. Anyway."
Flakes of late February snow fell ironically. If we couldn't wrap this up during the visit as planned... soon, the snowflakes landing on my palm would be spewing radiation.
Spreading from Japan across the world.
"This is bad if it keeps going like this..."
"Chairman?"
I turned to see Aide Yoo Se-na, who had followed me.
She seemed a bit flustered by my sudden dash out. Her cheeks flushed from the cold, she spoke up.
"Professor Kim's looking for you... What should we do?"
"Forget it. No need. He'll probably just want to drown in sake. Let's walk instead. Clear my head."
One step, another. I crossed the wide intersection's crosswalk, leaving footprints in silence.
My current mess... I had to push forward somehow. I'd glimpsed the future—I couldn't just stand by.
I needed some unexpected, plausible solution.
And that solution sprouted from a single offhand remark by Aide Yoo Se-na walking beside me.
"Chairman. If I may... If you're stuck on this issue, shouldn't you go to someone who can break through it?"
"Someone who can break through...?"
"Yes. How about calling in an expert in this field?"
She listed options from other university professors—not Kim—to Ammunition Group's veteran Japan staff.
Experts, experts... Someone who grasped this crisis perfectly and could meet without hassle right now.
Did such a person exist?
"Yeah. And right nearby."
"Chairman?"
"No need to call anyone. Thanks for the advice first off."
They did exist. So obvious I couldn't believe I hadn't thought of it sooner.
I grabbed Aide Yoo Se-na's wrist and bolted off the crosswalk.
"That guy's probably packing to head home tomorrow. Taxi! Taxi!"
Japan's cabinet expulsion order.
Korea's ambassador to Japan, getting kicked out tomorrow.
"Ch-Chairman...!"
I stuffed Aide Yoo Se-na into the back seat like supplies into a duffel and yelled at the driver, waving a wad of yen.
"To the Korean ambassador's residence! Right now! Double fare!"
* * *
Korean ambassador's residence in Japan.
The diplomat expelled—a so-called 'persona non grata.'
Even nearing sixty, he seemed on good terms with his wife, fielding her worried call.
"Yeah, it's nothing. Don't worry."
*-What if those right-wing nuts throw a bomb at you? Oh god, scary.*
"Ah, I said it's fine. This ain't Africa—what bomb? Cut the nonsense and relax."
Click. The call ended abruptly.
He inhaled deeply on his cigarette as usual, slumped in his chair, and let out a sigh laced with lament.
"Sigh. What a life. A diplomat's career—nothing but tenant farming in someone else's country."
From passing the foreign service exam to entering the ministry and climbing to this post: over thirty years.
Proud Japan expert, he knew. His fate today stemmed purely from internal LDP power struggles.
"Hoo... Those LDP mainstream faction hacks and our President, both red-eyed over poll numbers."
The Korean President held all the cards anyway, so no big deal.
But Japan's LDP internal mess. Thinking of the mainstream faction borrowing right-wing hands, he muttered worriedly.
"Who'll fix these wrecked Korea-Japan ties? Mountains of worry."
"I'll fix those ties."
The office door flew open.
A huge question mark over the ambassador's head. Then the residence housekeeper's voice rang out.
"Aigoo, wait in the reception room! Barging up like this gets me in trouble with the ambassador!"
Tall, youthful man.
Not yet thirty, by the looks. The ambassador cautiously spoke.
"Who might you be? You look familiar... Ah! Chairman Han Seo-jun of Ammunition Group? The one with the visiting delegation?"
"Ambassador, I'm in a rush. Skip the formalities and etiquette—forgive my rudeness."
He stuck out his hand for a shake and dove straight into the point, shamelessly direct.
The ambassador couldn't make sense of this whirlwind. But his expression turned deadly serious at the next words.
It was like... someone here to solve his exact dilemma.
"The shattered Korea-Japan relations right now. Tell me how to patch it up in ten days. Even a sloppy glue job's fine."