The Disappointed America (2)
"Excuse me?" For a split second, Ronald Reagan stared at Guster with a blank expression.
"It’s because it’s expensive, sir. You are well aware of the costs involved in launching a spacecraft, aren't you?"
Just like that, it had cost 500 million dollars to send two spacecraft to intercept the meteor. Even then, one of them was a retired vessel that didn't require additional processing fees, so it was effectively 500 million per ship. It was an amount that even Yoon-gi couldn't easily brush off.
"Well, when you put it that way..." Reagan, instantly convinced, let his words trail off.
"I hope you can place a little more trust in my grandson-in-law. Thanks to his plans, hasn't your approval rating risen significantly, sir?"
Reagan’s approval rating had been high to begin with, but he was gaining even more immense support for the fact that he had suppressed the Soviet Union through peaceful means. Of course, in original history, Reagan had begun to implement a policy of appeasement toward the Soviets after Gorbachev took office. This was because Gorbachev was a highly reformist and open-minded politician, making him easy for Reagan to talk to.
But it was currently 1986. Before Ronald Reagan and Gorbachev could meet and confirm that they "spoke the same language," a bridge named "Yoon-gi" had been placed between them. Therefore, the "official" stance Reagan held toward the Soviet Union was still "coercive."
"That... is true." Guster quickly continued as Reagan conceded.
"If my grandson-in-law had betrayed the United States, I would have abandoned him without hesitation. But there hasn't been a single sign that he has betrayed America. You know this as well, don't you, sir?"
In reality, as soon as Yoon-gi entered the Soviet market, Reagan had mobilized the full intelligence capabilities of the CIA to scour his surroundings. The result? Zero suspicious links. Of course, while Yoon-gi had connections to the head of the CIA, there truly were no suspicious points, so the reports didn't contain a single sentence—or even a word—that would give Reagan cause for doubt.
"I know that well, too. *Sigh*, why can't our America develop something like the Soyuz spacecraft..." Reagan muttered to himself, unable to hide his regret. While it was true that American spacecraft could carry dozens of times more cargo, the Soviet ones were undeniably much cheaper for an individual to use on a one-off basis.
"My grandson-in-law is still young, so he tends to prioritize practical benefits. I would be grateful if you could understand with your broad generosity."
At Guster's words, Reagan clicked his tongue and nodded. Regardless, the man was still someone who held the loyalty of American soldiers and possessed the Medal of Honor. There was absolutely no benefit in provoking him.
"I apologize for speaking in such a rush earlier. I certainly didn't have any ill intentions."
"Not at all. That very attitude of yours is the reason why America can maintain its hegemony today, isn't it? You, sir, should never have to read anyone's eyes."
With Guster's well-placed flattery, Reagan’s mood returned to its usual state. Because of that, Reagan decided to say something for Guster’s sake.
"By the way, there must be a reason why Choi Yoon-gi is aligning himself with me, right? I was so happy last time that I didn't think much of it, but thinking about it again, it felt like a weak reason to align with me."
Guster did not offer excuses.
"That is correct." Instead, he followed up with the kind of flattery only an American could pull off. "It is because my grandson-in-law considers himself an American."
"Isn't Choi Yoon-gi Korean?"
Guster nodded, yet said the opposite. "My grandson-in-law is proud of being Korean, but at the same time, he believes he is a citizen of the United States. After all, Colonel Colson is his maternal grandfather. And, though this is top secret, the YK Group detests JD."
"What do you mean by that? Isn't it already common knowledge that the YK Group has a close relationship with JD's military regime?"
Guster shook his head.
"No. It is true that the relationship is close, but that is only something they are maintaining out of necessity. As you have likely already been briefed, the Daehan Group in Korea was crushed this time, wasn't it?"
"Ah, I confirmed that as well." As Reagan nodded, Guster continued.
"Korea is that kind of country. If you offend JD, he will crush your company just like that. The YK Group is merely clinging to JD's side to survive."
"Hmm, that is certainly true."
"I told you before that YK would attribute the credit for the Soviet Union's capitalization to you, didn't I?"
"Ah, yes... yes...!" Reagan began to show genuine interest in Guster's words. At the same time, he could infer what YK wanted from him without Guster having to say it.
"Is that price... safety?"
Guster nodded.
"That is correct."
"Hmm..." The information Guster had just shared was extremely dangerous if it reached JD. However, Yoon-gi had asked Guster to leak this information exclusively to Reagan. Because it was a necessary task.
[Internal Monologue: You want me to leak this to President Reagan? That’s going to be dangerous.]
It was a dangerous move, but it ultimately proved to be the right choice. Because the name "Yoon-gi" had been positively and firmly imprinted in Reagan's mind. He was no longer perceived as a mere tool for anti-Soviet policy, but as a vassal loyal to him. Of course, Yoon-gi would never think of it that way.
"My grandson-in-law is currently sourcing the raw materials for his Soviet business from the United States."
"Is that so?" Reagan showed interest in Guster’s slight shift in topic.
"Yes. Currently, the United States has an overabundance of primary industrial goods. However, you haven't been able to sell them to the Soviets."
Reagan nodded.
"That is certainly true."
"But if the Soviet Union races toward capitalism, wouldn't the story change?"
"That is also true."
"In the future, my grandson-in-law will say this: 'I was able to do this because of the permission and cooperation of President Ronald Reagan.'"
"Indeed...!" From Reagan's perspective, it was a situation where he could reap the benefits without lifting a finger. Thus, Reagan wore a satisfied expression.
"My grandson-in-law knows better than anyone what will happen if he tries anything foolish."
"I, too, hope that Choi Yoon-gi does not make any strange choices."
"Ah, and there is one more item on the agenda."
"What is it?"
"Do you have any policy goals you would like to see from General Secretary Gorbachev of the Soviet Union? If I convey that to my grandson-in-law, I will ensure it is achieved through back-channel work. And you, sir, will be the one in the spotlight."
"Ho-ho..."
Yoon-gi's entry into the Soviet Union could have been quite dangerous. But now, he had received the confident permission of Reagan, the American president of hegemony and the number one president in history.
"You, you dog-like bastard!" Words that were hard to imagine coming from Merrill’s mouth burst forth. And then, the full-speed sprint began. A moment later, Merrill succeeded in delivering a dropkick to Yoon-gi, and Yoon-gi was sent flying by the unexpected blow.
"Ack!"
Yoon-gi rolling across the hotel floor was truly a pitiful sight, but Merrill didn't seem to have any intention of forgiving him easily.
"Do you have any idea! How worried! I was!?"
Along with her words, a barrage of shoe-clad kicks rained down on Yoon-gi’s body. As if to vent all the frustration of not seeing him, Merrill was literally trampling Yoon-gi into the ground.
"Me, Merrill! St, stop!"
If it had been anyone else, he would have countered immediately. But Yoon-gi had committed a sin, so he had no choice but to take the barrage of kicks.
After a long while. Merrill stopped kicking and instead began to tear up.
"Do you... do you have any idea how worried I was?"
"I'm sorry..."
Rather than making excuses, Yoon-gi just repeated that he was sorry. In truth, although he had feigned pain, to the well-trained Yoon-gi, Merrill’s kicks were nothing more than an itch.
"Why did it have to be the Soviet Union! My grandfather said going to the Soviet Union was out of the question, and even when I tried to get in, he pulled strings so I couldn't get an exit permit. Even when I tried to stow away, I couldn't because your bodyguards were stuck to me 24 hours a day! And you came to the States and didn't even contact me once?!"
Merrill, held in Yoon-gi’s arms, shed tears as she poured out her words like a machine gun.
"I'm sorry..."
"And why did you have to be there when a meteor was falling on Earth! If we were going to die anyway, we should have been together when it happened!"
From Yoon-gi’s perspective, it was a "task to be solved," but from Merrill’s perspective, it was literally the "end of the world." To be unable to be with the person she loved in such a situation—it must have felt like the sky was collapsing.
"I'm sorry, I'll never do it again. I just... I wanted you to live a little longer, Merrill. Even if it was just four hours more than me..."
A white lie. But it didn't have much effect.
"Eeeaaaggghhh!"
Because Merrill pinched his thigh with all her might, Yoon-gi had to let out a genuine scream.
"At least give me the choice!"
Yoon-gi screamed and nodded toward the teary-eyed Merrill.
"I, I will! I will! So please...!"
The hitting hadn't hurt, but the pinching was excruciating. However, separate from the physical pain, Yoon-gi felt his mood improving. He knew the term for liking to be abused. He wanted to growl toward wherever Choi Deok-bae was, but given the situation, he had no choice but to endure it.
'Merrill really does love me.'
It was something he had confirmed many times, but it felt good every time he confirmed it. So, Yoon-gi decided to use his ultimate technique. That was to bring his face close to Merrill’s.
"What are you doing!"
Merrill pushed him away, but Yoon-gi began to bring his face toward hers again.
"I said, what are you doing!"
Merrill pushed him away again, but there was no strength in her hands.
"Oh, come on..."
Eventually, Merrill and Yoon-gi’s faces met. *'So this is how that tip I saw on TV back in the day is used.'* The tip to kiss your girlfriend when she’s angry. When he saw it back in his manual labor days, he had thought, 'Is this something I need to know?' but in this life, it had become the most useful tip of all.
"Haa..."
As their faces, which had been one, separated into two, Merrill let out a long breath without realizing it, and Yoon-gi brought his face toward her again.
"Ugh..."
Following the soft sound escaping Merrill’s lips, a brief silence ensued. And a moment later.
"Really... you are..."
Merrill, her face bright red, no longer seemed to have any intention of being angry at Yoon-gi.
"Merrill, the reason I called you today is to share three pieces of news."
Yoon-gi opened his mouth, his lips now the same color as Merrill’s.
"Three pieces of news?"
"Yeah. Here’s the first one."
Yoon-gi turned on the hotel TV. The news appeared immediately, and at the same time, the headline flashed.
Surprisingly, it had surpassed Wall Street's predictions right from the start.