Chapter 171
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: Union and Vertical Alliances, San Francisco (6)
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Such people weren't limited to just one Baeksanho.
[There are others of a similar ilk, though perhaps not to the same degree. So much $100 counterfeit cash flooded out that Secret Service agents were even dispatched. In the end, it was all ruled legitimate currency, so they just left... but judging by the military government's mood, the U.S. government surprisingly seems quite pleased about it.]
The Secret Service was known as the agency protecting the U.S. President, but its main job was actually cracking down on counterfeit bills. Safeguarding the dollar, the core of the American economy.
In other words, the Treasury Department had panicked, thinking counterfeit money was being produced in the refugee zone.
"But the U.S. government likes it?"
[Why wouldn't they? It's free budget money they can spend however they want. They're just handing over contaminated land, so the government loses nothing. It's a way to grease the national coffers while bypassing institutional limits like the debt ceiling or currency issuance caps. The military government's support budget drain will shrink too.]
"I see..."
The deep economic details were beyond Winter. He didn't grasp what "debt ceiling" even meant. But contextually, he got the point Min Wanki was making.
"If the government's happy, the Distribution Bureau can't put the brakes on it easily."
[Exactly. Old man Li Chinjen's been in a good mood lately. Keeps sending gifts.]
Handing over land and buildings was the Distribution Bureau's role. Ri Airing was involved there.
[Collusion between politics and business is a practice Korea, China, and Japan particularly share. As money circulates, even their vicious relationships soften. No more large-scale riots like before.]
"That's good if it's good, but it doesn't feel right."
[Anyway, that Baeksanho guy fancies himself the representative of the so-called capitalists. Not only has he gathered the wealthy within the alliance, but he's also collaborating with parvenus of other nationalities. Seems he's even cozy with Li Chinjen, so we protested to the Triad side...]
"No use, right? You're asking criminals to act rationally."
[They always just say the right words. Ri Airing's the only one who looks embarrassed, but I don't even know if that's genuine. It wore me out. I thought I'd gotten used to the Chinese vague rhetoric, but apparently not.]
"You've had a hard time. I get why you had no choice but to pick Song Yeokyung over someone else."
The overseer had been listening intently up to this point. She was the one who'd openly admitted to CIA and FBI wiretaps. Knowing the backstory gave her insight depth.
[There may be lingering unease, but I believe everything will resolve once the young boss returns.]
Winter tilted his head at Min Wanki's words.
"Really?"
[We'll make it so.]
The scholar declared.
[We must reflect on how nostalgia is rearing its head so soon after the alliance's formation, but in any case, the past so many long for revolves around the young boss at its core. The more we stoke that longing, the greater the impact when the boss returns. Like the king's return.]
"That's too grandiose."
[More like dramatic, wouldn't you say?]
It somehow felt enjoyable.
[The conflict between Director Jang and me will vanish like a lie at that moment too. It'll quell most of the chaos in one go. People will get swept up emotionally before they doubt rationally. That's the nature of the masses. Smart individually, but herd them and they follow the mood.]
"You're still the same in that regard. You see people in a bad light."
They'd had a similar conversation before. Back then, Min Wanki had said politics and religion shared the same roots. And added, "I truly believe in the people I understand." Skepticism and cynicism toward humanity. A firm belief in human limits. That people never surpass them.
[Isn't the boss the same deep down?]
"I think... I'm a bit different."
[You want to believe so?]
"Well..."
A single exception could negate generalizations. Winter had two. One was so exceedingly beautiful that it endured life and persisted after death.
In this world's pre-apocalypse setting, there were even more exceptions. There couldn't be this many good people. He'd once thought it a romanticized past, but now he wasn't so sure. Maybe the physical world's bygone days truly were more beautiful than the current life. Maybe people had hope back then. A suspicion.
"Director Min, aren't you tired?"
Winter asked.
"Dealing with people with that mindset must wear you out. I'm grateful for the help, though."
The briefing loomed. But even with the time limit, he wanted to hear the answer.
[Quite the opposite. I'm satisfied.]
The cynical man from the past said.
[Back then, I was a cog in the machine. One of the swarming extras on a vast stage.]
And added that it was a comedy with no leads to begin with. Like a trash bin, where amid the chaotic clashes, order and laws emerged by chance.
[All the world's irrationality lay beyond my limits. I had no choice but to conform to bad practices and flawed people. I dreamed impossible dreams at times, but age taught me resignation. That was how people lived. Just surviving to survive.]
He reminisced that he was happy in his own way.
[Life's not much, but I never wanted to die. It was even fun sometimes.]
From this, Winter could guess the rest. He empathized with "limits." At least in their feelings about the world, the boy and professor were alike.
"You mean now, building your surroundings yourself, is better?"
[Precisely.]
A satisfied response came.
[It makes me think how great it would've been if the young boss had been my student back when the world was still intact. I've said it many times before. It's not just your sharp intellect—there's this ineffable common ground.]
"Can I take that as praise?"
Min Wanki answered with a laugh.
[You seem to already know, but I'll say it anyway... Yes. I'm happier now. I feel alive, you could say? Others might curse me for it, but I'm even glad the apocalypse came. It smashed all the wrongly built crap and let us start over.]
This was a thought Winter had in his past life too. That everyone was trapped in misfortunes beyond their limits. That people who couldn't empathize with each other—or couldn't—were becoming each other's misery.
If it all crumbled and they started from scratch, wouldn't it be even a little better?
If someone beyond human limits empathized first, reached out first.
He'd wanted to be that first one.
[That's why I like you, young boss. All this is thanks to one inhuman person.]
Winter smiled. Rare candor.
"Thank you. I did have those dreams."
The topic ended there.
Other refugee zone updates followed.
"Looks like Hanbyeol finally did it. She wanted it so badly."
Jang Hanbyeol. Yura's squad designated marksman. Her exceptional shooting skill—and love for it—earned her the nickname Trigger Witch. She'd completed sniper school.
Somehow securing a recommendation above battalion commander level.
"Even if it's east of the blockade, training's still just at Fort Benning. Is she happy? I worried she'd be disappointed. If her motivation drops, it'll be hard to handle."
No empty words. In this world, America was humanity's last bastion. Longing beyond the blockade was universal for refugees. Three weeks at a Georgia base might be like a drop of water to someone lost in the desert.
'She could even get depressed.'
The American instructors all noted the Trigger Witch's eeriness. Her giggling and chuckling while shooting was subtly creepy.
She said she couldn't help it. Felt too good.
Winter suspected her odd affection for guns and shooting was a stress reaction.
Like Jinseok's obsession with discipline as a way to endure fear. Winter saw Yura as more mentally stable than Jinseok.
[No need to worry. She loved it.]
"Yeah?"
[She said she slept like a baby. Food was great, training tough but rewarding. Far from depressed—she bragged so much others got jealous. Park Jinseok said he wasn't sure whether to blame her bragging for ruining the mood or praise it for boosting everyone's shooting zeal.]
"Huh."
[Since it's come up, her scores were decent overall. Lacked in other areas, but her shooting impressed the base commander.]
"Impressive. No medals?"
[She's bragging about those too.]
From the rest, America still seemed keen on forming combat units from refugees. Squad sizes up to hundreds, with officers and NCOs incoming from the mainland.
Hearing about official issuance of the new Centurion armor suits, Winter nodded.
'No wonder. The current president's a Democrat.'
Visible refugee policy success would tilt the election toward Democrats.
"Guess when I get back, I might end up commanding an independent company."
[Is that so?]
"Yeah. I visited Chief O'Connor's office once during the drug den sweep. Saw a map of future development plans. There was an empty lot in the residential area's center—thought it odd then, but now I think that's where the company HQ goes."
He'd noted it as valuable intel.
In a normal city, he'd assume park space. But Fort Roberts. No room for wasteful gaps given base defenses.
"Refugee support troops assisting U.S. forces is worlds apart from all-refugee combat units on solo missions. Given the president's leanings, high chance."
[That'd be great. Elevates our position too.]
Joanna tapped her watch. Silently mouthed.
Timeout.
"Time's up. Have to end here. So much more I want to hear."
[No choice. I'll tip off the officers with phones—next time, call someone else. You'll get the full story from anyone. I recommend Director Jang, but it's your call, young boss.]
"I'll consider it."
[One last thing. How long until you return?]
"...No idea. No timeline yet."
[Year change, maybe?]
"No way it'd drag that long. Keeping me on secret ops is burdensome enough now. Fobbing it off as vital mission has limits too."
Multiple parties burdened; subject omitted. They'd edited unreleased footage and photos to placate public demand, but how much longer?
[True. Then, we'll do our best wishing you safe until then.]
"Yeah. Stay healthy too, Director. Even if work's fun, don't overdo it."
[Thank you.]
Winter ended the call. Joanna took the terminal, stowed it in her bag. With certs, code sheets, manual. Locking it, the overseer spoke.
"Very impressive conversation. Quite different from eavesdropping."
"A bit embarrassing."
"No. It felt exactly like a leader—refreshing. That director seems very wise. Good he's supporting you."
"I think so too. Rare person."
Even reviewing all experiences, Min Wanki was unique, exceptional.
Winter said.
"Shall we go?"
The briefing room wasn't far. Winter walked beside the overseer.
============================ Author's Note ============================
#Q&A
Q. Xenogears: Another figure who keeps distance despite not wanting a different phase... With buildings already secured, will she become an irremovable seed of discord?
A. Who knows. Could just be a minor side character. :)
Q. Balam: @Columbarium Loving it. Personal question about your previous work—I recall you said the hiatus was due to 'priorities.' Once Columbarium finishes, will that one's hiatus lift?
A. For now, 'yes.' But as a full-time writer, priorities are survival. Can't write Sealbreaker if I can't eat. It'll take quite a while to complete.
Q. Kikeross: Winter's story is great, but curious about that monster wearing Winter's skin—its aftermath reaction. Though maybe my slight malicious gaze hopes for it?
A. That'll come gradually. No idea what your malicious gaze wants. Anyway, this novel ends happily. For real.