Candidate Unification (1)
"No, it's not like I came here just to receive something like this..."
N rubbed the area under his nose with his index finger, looking bashful. It was no wonder, given the high stack of game consoles and game packs piled up next to him. They were the latest models and software that Yoon-gi had brought in through Japan. Currently, Sega was on a roll. If not for the overshadowing success of his investments in the Soviet Union and Microsoft, the profits Yoon-gi was raking in from Japan alone were already beyond imagination.
Especially the land. The Japanese real estate he had purchased long ago was skyrocketing in value to absurd levels. Yoon-gi planned to start disposing of those holdings from the end of 1988. The reason was to prevent a market crash. If he held on until 1990 and dumped all his inventory at once, the panic among real estate traders could cause prices to plummet, and Yoon-gi didn't know the exact moment the bubble would burst. Therefore, he decided on the safer end of 1988. Of course, that was a matter for next year; for now, the present was what mattered most.
"They say, 'Cultivate yourself, regulate your family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world,' don't they? Your Excellency, your body is already prepared, so you must make your home harmonious with these game consoles. Aren't they a huge hit with your grandchildren these days?"
"A huge hit? It's absolutely incredible! They say they like me even more than the celebrities on TV!"
A smile spread across N's face. The consoles and games Yoon-gi provided were items that were difficult to find even in Japan. Because of that, every time N visited, his grandchildren would not only hug him but shower him with kisses. As they say, the joy of playing with grandchildren is greater than the joy of raising one's own children. Raising kids is... incredibly exhausting. It’s not for nothing that grandparents love their grandkids so much. You don't have to raise them. Of course, if your children force you to take care of them, it’s the start of 'Life Hell Season 2.'
"So now that your body and family are prepared, it is time for you to govern the state (治國)."
N's face beamed with delight.
"Hahaha, governing the state. I feel this every time, but you really know how to make me feel good."
"That is why you and I have joined hands, Your Excellency."
Now that JD had been definitively ousted, N could, strictly speaking, stab Yoon-gi in the back. After all, the recording of him calling 'JD a son of a bitch' no longer held the same weight. However, N had no intention of betraying Yoon-gi. The fruits Yoon-gi provided—they were simply too sweet.
'If I just follow Yoon-gi, I can become a president respected by history...!'
In the original history, the slush fund N embezzled amounted to a staggering 200 billion won. While that was less than the 22 trillion won embezzled by the future master of ruin, it was still an amount that defied common sense. Of course, N eventually returned this slush fund. It meant he was, at the very least, overwhelmingly better than JD. That was why Yoon-gi intended to firmly control South Korea with N at the forefront. He was, at the very least, a person whose potential he had verified. In Yoon-gi's version of history, N was actually dreaming of becoming a 'true president.' Yoon-gi provided the money anyway. And he provided a lot of it. Therefore, N had absolutely no reason to be greedy for money.
'I will follow Yoon-gi's words thoroughly. Then wealth and glory will follow.'
Although N had developed a faith that bordered on religion, there was one thing that worried him.
"By the way, can I really become president?"
It was the only worry N had at the moment. People worry even when they have everything. As such, N wasn't worried about anything else, but he was most concerned about whether he could actually become president. Because his value as a human being would change drastically depending on whether he became president or not.
'If I can't become president...'
It was a situation where he couldn't even imagine how much the benefits Yoon-gi provided would shrink. That was why N had been careful about his daily behavior for several years, and for the past few months, he had been extremely cautious.
"Of course you can. I'm going to make it happen."
It was a statement so bold it bordered on arrogance, but N felt a sense of trust in those words.
"Yes, if you say I will become president, I must believe it!"
"And since you have conducted yourself well, your popularity with the public was quite high when you accepted the direct election system this time, wasn't it?"
In the original history, N actually played the role of accepting the direct election system and became a popular politician. And in Yoon-gi's history, he became an even more popular politician. This was because Yoon-gi had been supporting him behind the scenes, and for a ruling party figure, his conduct had been remarkably upright.
"That may be so, but since I am a flawed human being, it's hard to believe it 100 percent. I keep worrying about it."
"Is there a specific reason?"
N nodded without hesitation.
"What if DJ and YS don't run for president separately... but instead agree to a candidate unification?"
Just like N's worry, YS and DJ were actually discussing candidate unification.
"DJ, we have succeeded! Hahaha!"
YS shouted heartily and poured Chivas Regal into DJ's glass.
"Let's eat and punish our nemesis today!"
Chivas Regal was practically an alter ego of P. Perhaps because he was truly in a good mood, DJ gently raised his glass to match YS, who was holding his high.
"Why are you being so reserved on a day like this? Just laugh comfortably. Hahaha!"
However, DJ only smiled and downed his drink; he did not raise his tension like YS.
"I'm not sure if we should be drinking like this."
"Pardon?"
DJ sighed at YS's question.
"Aren't you planning to run for president?"
The drinking party, which had been pretending to be pleasant, suddenly revealed its true nature. Because YS was also fully aware of the reality.
"Ahem...! Did you have to say that here? We could have just enjoyed today..."
"Haven't we already had a few pleasant drinking parties?"
Since that was true, YS cleared his throat and blushed.
"W-well, that is true, but..."
"So, why don't we have a more serious conversation today?"
In the end, YS raised the white flag.
"Understood. Let's do that."
It wasn't that the alcohol disappeared. Instead, the pleasant atmosphere was replaced by a quiet one, and they began to sip their drinks—half a sip at a time—down their throats, adding a serious interest to their conversation.
"I'll be blunt. If we join forces, we can surpass N's approval rating."
DJ nodded at YS's words.
"That is certainly true."
"But if the two of us split, we cannot beat N."
"That... would also be true."
Currently, a gold nugget was placed between YS and DJ. Human strength could not split the gold nugget. Therefore, they had to use the power of a machine to divide it in half. What did that mean? It meant there was inevitably a 'single moment' where one person would hold the gold nugget entirely. And that single moment was none other than the presidency. Furthermore, holding the gold nugget for a moment meant they would also have the authority not to divide it in half. If YS and DJ joined forces and implemented candidate unification in this presidential election? Nine times out of ten, that person would become president. Because even though N had managed his image, he could not surpass YS and DJ. Regardless of the reason, the public perception that he was a close aide to JD was not something that could be easily shed.
'The problem is that the gold nugget is lying between the two of us.'
YS felt his mouth drying up. DJ felt a similar sensation. Both YS and DJ had devoted their entire bodies to the political arena until this day to try and become president. They were now facing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity where they had a very high probability of becoming president. It would be strange if they weren't greedy, being human.
[Maybe they could just draw lots, have one go first, and the other go next?]
Some might think this. But that is never as easy as it sounds. Because the reason people were trying to vote for DJ and YS right now was very simple. It was because they believed they had played a major role in punishing JD. But what if one of them, DJ or YS, became president? The public's interest in thinking about the credit for this event would naturally cool down. When they run for president again after 5 years, will this event be of 'great' help? Absolutely not. It would be of little help, but it would not be a decisive opportunity. Furthermore, what if the one who became president first breaks their promise and pushes their own successor? The problem was that while candidate unification is easy to say, it is too difficult to actually execute.
"Lately, I've been thinking a lot about how old I've gotten. I should grab the opportunity once before more time passes..."
YS threw a direct fastball at DJ, who had tentatively brought up the topic.
"Oh my! Then wouldn't it be better to recuperate at home?"
DJ made a face like he had just eaten dung, but like a seasoned politician, he changed his expression back to normal at a speed that YS could barely notice. Of course, YS, also being a seasoned politician, noticed the change in DJ's expression.
Since the age difference between DJ and YS was less than five years, it wasn't a situation where they could say 'elder brother first, younger brother second.' To put it bluntly, they were in a situation where they didn't know who