The Spokesperson of the People
That wasn't the end of it. "The dirty, pathetic bastard. He’s profited so much, and yet, what does he say to me? He drags me all the way to the Blue House just to say, 'I look forward to your continued support.' He’s got slush funds piled up like a mountain, and he won't even share a slice with me?"
N continued to ramble, as if he were alone in his study, monologuing to the walls. "Hmph... well, it doesn't matter. That guy is going to be kicked to the curb by '87 anyway. Once I succeed him as president in '87, I’ll purge him immediately. And then, I’ll strip him of every last cent he has. Heh heh heh..."
With that, N pressed the button on the recorder to stop it. He removed the tape and handed it to Yoon-gi. "Is this enough to earn your trust?"
N had essentially shown the greatest sincerity he could possibly offer. The news playing on the TV in the background served as proof to estimate *when* the recording was made. Since the news was covering a fire that had occurred just a few days ago, it proved that the recording had been made at least after early December of '85.
"Are you sure you won't regret this?"
When Yoon-gi finally opened his mouth, N nodded with a resolute expression. "I won't regret it."
"Then I shall accept it."
Yoon-gi didn't act the way he had with Ryu Cheon. In front of Ryu Cheon, he had put on a performance by handing over a revolver loaded with blanks, but N was an entity of overwhelmingly higher difficulty compared to Ryu Cheon. Therefore, Yoon-gi chose pragmatism.
"Phew, I'm relieved you accepted it. I was worried that even this might not work." N sank into the sofa and let out a sigh. Regardless, the person across from him was someone who respected him. N knew at least that much—that he could afford this level of comfort.
"Is there a reason you suddenly decided to go to such lengths?"
At Yoon-gi's question, N nodded and straightened his posture. "As you know, the other Chaebols, excluding YK, have formed an anti-YK coalition."
"That they have."
N felt a strange sense of stability at Yoon-gi's calm demeanor. The very reason he had come today was to alleviate his anxiety, and that anxiety had been eased to a certain extent.
"And those guys are currently going around to other National Assembly members, offering bribes. Of course, it's still at the level of light inquiries for now, but still."
"Are you talking about opposition to the upcoming amendment?"
N's face brightened significantly. "Yes...! Yes, that's it! As expected, you already knew!"
"Predicting most things is easy. The important thing is whether the content of that prediction is favorable to oneself, and the difficult part is turning unfavorable predictions into favorable ones."
"As expected... as expected... I’m so glad I came to see you today."
"You were anxious."
N nodded. "Yes, that's right. You promised to make me president. And because of those words, the desire in my heart is burning bright. But if YK were to be defeated in this situation, my dream, which has finally caught fire, would vanish. You might call me selfish, but I am truly desperate for the presidency in '87."
N was truly, very honestly pouring everything out to Yoon-gi.
"Do you remember when we first met here?"
"I do."
"Back then, I thought I was the one in control. I thought you approached me because you needed something. But as time went on, that wasn't the case."
"Is that so?"
N nodded at Yoon-gi's calm attitude. "Yes. Ever since I joined hands with you, my life suddenly started to bloom. The information on Oh Jeongsu you handed over, the fact that people around me started opening more shops in the Mini Department Store, and the way people around me started offering bribes just to get a line to me."
N's words continued. "If it had stopped there, I wouldn't have been that impressed. But then JD called me. *That* JD...!"
N's words, mixed with admiration, were filled with a sense of achievement. "As I said before, JD treated me poorly."
"That is certainly true."
"But because of you, two of the 'Three Heos' were ousted, and I got the feeling that even the Director of the ANSP had suddenly lost JD's trust. I suspect that was your doing as well..."
Yoon-gi didn't answer and just smiled enigmatically. However, this time, N could find the correct answer in that smile.
"If it weren't for you, JD would never have called me. Never."
In fact, in original history, JD *does* call N. With the 'Three Heos' losing public support and JSD not just losing support but being openly reviled, N was one of the few connections JD had who could still reach the people. However, in this history, it was different. It was the same that JD called N, but the process was different.
'As expected, the main current of history is flowing the same way.'
Watching N's reaction, Yoon-gi was able to clearly understand once again how vast the river of history was and what the limits of his own existence were. However, he didn't feel a sense of helplessness. Knowing the limits of what he could do also meant, conversely, that he 'knew what he *could* do.'
"Yes, JD called me..." N, who had been muttering to himself with self-deprecation, pulled himself together and continued. "But I can't like a JD like that. If he was going to call me, he should have called me from the start. To use this person and that person, and only call me when there was absolutely no one else left? Is that even reasonable?"
N's expression and tone were full of distrust. It meant that he had expected that much from JD, and that expectation had been betrayed.
"Did you play with friends when you were young?"
"Of course I did."
"Then you know well. Picking sides through rock-paper-scissors."
When Yoon-gi gave a wry smile, N was convinced that Yoon-gi understood what he was trying to say. "Now I finally understand the feelings of the kid who was picked last back then. How must he have felt being picked last? It wasn't just once or twice; the feelings of the kid who was picked last every single day must have been truly miserable."
'I know that better than anyone.'
Thinking back on his life as Kim Chanyeol, not Choi Yoon-gi, Yoon-gi gave an even deeper, bitter smile.
"JD must firmly believe that I will listen to him well. But no. The moment I become president, I will purge everything about JD."
After that, the denunciation of JD continued for quite a while, and finally, N, who had regained some stability, brought up a slightly different topic.
"I repeat, I have a profound interest in the regime change in '87. But right now, the Chaebols are contacting National Assembly members. And if by any chance they win... JD will fall, and YK will also take a hit."
Finally, N's real concern spilled out. "For me right now, the fall of YK is something that must never happen. So, tell me. Is there a chance of winning in this matter?"
The atmosphere of the conversation had completely changed. Until just a moment ago, the room had been dominated by N's monologues and complaints, but now, a fierce heat for power dominated the space.
"Of course."
However, that heat quickly cooled at Yoon-gi's nonchalant reply.
"Is, is that true?"
Yoon-gi added an explanation for N, who couldn't easily believe him. He judged that there was no need to be excessively unkind in a situation where N had entrusted him with his weakness.
'I already confirmed through Keobeongi that this tape isn't broken, anyway.'
As time passed, Yoon-gi was able to grasp the extent of Keobeongi's abilities. An ability related to computers. Not only that, but Keobeongi also amazingly found the broken parts of mechanical devices. Perhaps because computers are mechanical devices that use algorithms, Keobeongi was a huge help in finding products that looked fine on the outside but were about to break, or products that were already broken.
Even just now, this tape. Normally, it would be correct to check if it was recorded properly, but it was also true that N would be greatly disappointed if he did that. Thanks to Keobeongi, Yoon-gi was able to skip that process.
"Because the President is thinking about the presidential election the year after next, this bill is bound to pass."
"Because JD is thinking about the presidential election the year after next, we win...?"
"Yes. If you think carefully about this amendment, wouldn't you find the answer?"
N hadn't thought much about the amendment. He had only been focusing on the news that a war between YK and the other Chaebols had begun and the flow of events following that news. And now, for the first time, he began to contemplate the bill.
"The content of the amendment was clearly to prevent the Chaebols' expedient gifting and inheritance. Then... ah!"
"That is correct. The moral high ground lies with the President."
"But just because the moral high ground lies with JD doesn't mean the National Assembly vote will change. Because the spokespeople of the people are the National Assembly members themselves."
"Hahahaha!"
For the first time in a long while, Yoon-gi burst into laughter in front of someone else. And this appearance was enough to surprise N. However, it didn't have a negative effect. Rather, what appeared was a positive effect.
'He's showing me his true self. As expected, handing over the recording had an effect.'
Thinking that the risk he took was worth it, N looked at Yoon-gi with a proud feeling.
"Is there something funny?"
"Of course it's funny. National Assembly members are the spokespeople of the people? If you look at the dictionary definition, that would certainly be true. But are the guys who turn a blind eye to the Chaebols' expedient inheritance really the spokespeople of the people?"
"I know what you mean."
Watching N nod, Yoon-gi continued. "At least regarding this matter, the spokesperson of the people will be the President. Because the people are wishing for 'distribution' deep in their hearts. In other words, even if the President throws all the Chaebols and National Assembly members into Namyeong-dong, the people won't say anything."
"The newspapers will also be quiet."
Yoon-gi nodded. "That's right. Of course, it will be a bit noisy at first. Because the Chaebols will spray money as much as they can. But as time passes, public opinion will support the President."
"Listening to you, I realize it once again. I'm certainly not a clean guy, and I belong to the dirty side, but it's pathetic that the guys who set out as spokespeople of the people become spokespeople for the Chaebols once they are elected."
Yoon-gi smiled at N, who was contemplating it himself.
"That is why I don't really trust words like 'the ruling party is bad' or 'the opposition party is bad.' In the end, they will say anything for the sake of 'getting elected.' It means that the actions they take are to gain public support, not actions for the sake of the people."
"To contemplate to that extent at that age. Just what kind of person are you?"
Instead of answering, Yoon-gi finished what he was saying. "In the past, there was a guy who mistook himself for having the support of the entire nation. Do you know who that is?"
"Who is it?"
"It's not a figure from long ago. I'm talking about P."
From Yoon-gi's mouth came the name of a figure from the past, who was also JD's ideal.