Power & Sex, and... 95

Two days passed without any special issues. Preparations for the party convention were proceeding smoothly, and encouraged by Tuesday's poll results, Assemblyman Han and Assemblyman Park Seong-hwan ramped up their regional tours, aggressively courting delegates. Even Supreme Committee Member Jeong Sang-won, who had been lagging in fourth place—not just behind Han Seong-su or Park Maru, but slipping further—was spurred into action. The Youth Committee Chair brought the welcome news that Jeong had shed his passive attitude and high-handed demeanor, now bowing repeatedly to delegates as he shored up his support base.

The results of the urgently commissioned internal poll came in, but they weren't much different from the party's own survey. For now, they decided to conduct their own polls at the midpoint ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of the party's weekly surveys. The Youth Committee Chair's update on the phone today meant the effects wouldn't show until next Tuesday's party poll or Thursday's internal one. First things first, they needed to meet Kim Seong-gap, who was scheduled to see Chungbuk delegates in Cheongju that day, so they headed there.

After finishing the morning schedule, he called Kim Seong-gap to set up a meeting and sat down with him at a Japanese restaurant in Sangdang-gu. Despite being in a tight race with Moon Uiwon within the margin of error, Kim's face was full of confidence.

"How's the field vibe?"

"It's good. If it stays like this, we can fight."

"Kim Supreme, 'we can fight' isn't enough. You need to win."

"What do you want me to do? I'm working as hard as I can."

Kim stiffened up. Did he have some ace up his sleeve that Maru didn't know about?

"Kim Supreme, do you have some grudge against me?"

"Why would I have a grudge against you, Assemblyman Park? I'm running my own election."

"Your election? Is that how you see it?"

"What, is this your election or mine?"

They say your mindset changes between going into the bathroom and coming out, and this was exactly that. First, he needed to figure out what had made Kim act this way.

"I see. Then I guess I made a pointless trip all the way to Cheongju."

The sashimi hadn't even arrived yet, but Maru stood up. It seemed Kim had completely forgotten the stunt he'd pulled with SJ Entertainment. First, he had to check what gave Kim the balls to act like this.

"You're busy, Assemblyman. What brings you here?"

"How've you been? Sorry, but I need another favor from Do Sajang."

"Say the word. If it's for you, Assemblyman, I'll drop everything."

"Can you send over a couple of your guys?"

"For what?"

"You remember the SJ thing last time? One of the main players, Supreme Member Kim Seong-gap—he's been meeting someone lately, and I want to know who."

"Got it. They'll be there by tomorrow morning. Where should I send them?"

"My office in the Assembly Members' Office Building."

After hanging up with Cheol-rak, Maru pondered in the car back to Seoul how to break through this situation. There was no one else besides Kim to push for party leader now, but if Kim stayed this cocky, even getting him elected would be useless—or worse, a hindrance.

But dropping Kim here would guarantee Moon Uiwon's win, which was its own problem. If it were still the collective leadership system like before, they could elect Kim first, then force him out or make him step down, and have Han Seong-su or Park Seong-hwan inherit the top spot. But now...

No matter what, they had to get Kim Seong-gap elected party leader. That would at least buy time for other options.

"Back already? Couldn't meet Kim Supreme?"

"We met. But the guy's gotten so stiff, I got scared and bailed."

"Pardon?"

"By the way, how's the vibe around Kim's people lately?"

"No big changes. They don't mingle much with other camps, and they're not exactly buzzing with contact to Kim either."

"Anyway, keep an ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eye on Kim's side for a bit."

Kim Sil-jang followed Maru in, puzzled that he'd returned from Cheongju in less than half a day. Maru asked him to monitor Kim's people. The reason for Kim's sudden bravado would surface from somewhere.

The election camp saw a dozen or so assemblymen visiting daily, and Maru was exhausted handling them one by one. Some were close to Kim Seong-gap or Jeong Sang-won; others from the National Assembly Reform Alliance showed up after hearing he was at campaign HQ. A few rushed over just to make their faces known.

They figured that if Maru's candidates won the convention, he'd be the power behind the new leadership, so most came to get on his radar early. After dealing with visiting assemblymen and delegates late into the evening, he dragged his weary body home—to the precious, cozy space of his modest 10-pyeong officetel that felt more comfortable than anywhere ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠else.

Early the next morning, Do Sajang showed up personally with two underlings.

"Why the rush? Had breakfast?"

"Ate a lunchbox on the train. Where's the guy now?"

"Probably still in Chungbuk. Let me call."

Kim was touring Jeongpyeong, Jincheon, and Goesan. Do Sajang stood up with his men before the coffee even came out.

"At least have a cup before you go."

"Assemblyman, we'll drink when we get back. Unless something unexpected, we'll secure evidence today."

"Today?"

"Yes!"

It was an absurd guarantee. To catch evidence, Kim needed to meet someone, but there was no guarantee he'd do it today. Maru didn't expect much.

Knowing he'd be hounded by more face-showers at HQ, he called Jeong-ah to the office. She rushed over, saying she'd planned to see him today anyway.

"Starting next Monday, as soon as the vans arrive, we'll roll out from Busan."

"Monday?"

"Yeah. Four are already done, and we need local media during the convention, so every other day, pick a region for a donation event."

"Got the groups lined up?"

"Of course. Emailed volunteer groups nationwide; we're targeting replies. Cafe members visit, snap pics, send 'em back. Tomorrow through next week, me and the ops team hit the spots—no Jeju."

"Won't you be swamped?"

"Gotta hype the convention mood."

"You'll catch a cold or something."

Jeong-ah's drive was unmatched. Just days ago, she'd left his office terrified, but now she'd shaken it off, planned everything, and was double-checking. It was a shame she was only high school grad.

"Jeong-ah, why not try college?"

"What's college got for work?"

"Not for work, dummy—go to school."

"Me, college? Maybe later when I'm loaded and got time."

It wasn't urgent, and she was busy, so he sent her off. From next week, he'd sync with her schedule too, so he'd coordinate with Kim Sil-jang.

Knock, knock.

Gu Hyunji peeked in.

"Gu Secretary, what's up?"

"If you're not too busy, Assemblyman, could you spare a moment?"

"Sure. Have a seat."

He gestured her to a chair and moved to the sofa. She brought coffee—her request?—and once the clerk left, Gu spoke.

"Assemblyman, I think I have to quit as secretary."

"Pardon? What'd you say, Gu Secretary?"

"I've been thinking since you last spoke. I concluded I'm not cut out to be a National Assembly secretary."

It was a shocking conclusion. Quitting Han Seong-su's secretary post because of Maru's words risked awkwardness with Han, and wasn't wise for her either.

Why tell me, not the one who hired her?

They say many suicides wait till the last moment for someone to save them, hinting at it to loved ones first. Viewed that way, Gu's visit might be a plea to stop her.

With no real knowledge of her, Maru decided to poke her pride—the Achilles' heel of most women, and those who think highly of themselves—to make her reverse it herself.

"Gu Secretary."

"Yes."

Her voice was meek.

"Don't have the confidence?"

"Pardon?"

It worked; she bristled, meeting his eyes directly.

"No confidence to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠craft a concept imprinting Han Seong-su's image? To produce content introducing him to the public?"

"Assemblyman! Isn't that too much?"

"Too much? I'm just asking if you have the skills."

"I can do that much!"

"Then do it. We're done."

She'd denied her own words without realizing, then bowed her head again, aware.

"Just find one strength of Han's. If none, fake it like me—an amateur expert. Voters only see the surface. In the Assembly, if you don't get caught, it's not a lie. If it's still hard, drop the pride and buddy up with our Hyun Secretary. Hang out, something might click. Brag alert: our Hyun's high school grad. Still pulls her weight."

That was all Maru had to say. She needed to shatter her elitist shell to enter this world.