The Final Struggle (1)
"Yes. I don't care about anything else, but I must have a promise for the Prime Minister position. And it must be in writing. If you promise me that, I, this YS, will support you, Assemblyman."
If YS had offered his support without any conditions, DJ would have certainly been suspicious. But because he had set the Prime Minister position as a condition, DJ finally stepped into the arena of the main agenda.
"You aren't just looking for that one thing, are you?"
"Yes, I will need you to guarantee positions for my aides in several departments as well. That is the only way I can control them. As for the presidential election five years from now, to be honest, neither I nor you, Assemblyman, know how politics will turn out. Isn't that right?"
"That is certainly true."
"So, please distribute a few ministerial positions, including the Prime Ministership, and some other posts to my side. Wouldn't that be fair? I am making a very significant concession. How about it? Shall we dive into the details?"
Finally, DJ smiled. A faint smile, a mixture of his characteristic bitter smile and a bright one. DJ thought he had won, but in reality, it was YS who had achieved his goal. Perhaps there was a reason why YS was the victor in original history.
"Mr. President, it is time to eat."
In the small dining room of the Blue House, JD stared at the steaming galbi (short ribs) placed before him, while steam was metaphorically rising from his own head as well.
"Grrr..."
Even though his favorite food, galbi, was right in front of him, JD did not pick up his chopsticks.
"Mr. President, the food is getting cold."
The quiet urging of the ANSP agent. JD glared at the agent as if he wanted to kill him. But that was all he could do—just glare. JD was currently a tiger without teeth. There was absolutely no reason for the ANSP agents, who were fiercely loyal to JSD, to be afraid of the current JD. After all, it was JSD who had given the current orders.
'Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!'
Where on earth did things go so wrong? JD could not understand the current situation at all. No, to be precise, he didn't want to understand it. Just a short while ago, he could do anything with just a flick of his finger. The chairmen of major conglomerates would tremble before him, and members of the National Assembly would bow their heads. But now? He was being watched by a lowly ANSP 'agent'—someone he would never have even seen the face of in the past.
'This shouldn't be happening! Absolutely not! I am the number one man of the Republic of Korea!'
JD lifted his head and looked toward the North. Pyongyang, where only Kim Il-sung enjoyed a paradise on earth. JD felt rage, wondering why Kim Il-sung, the number one man of North Korea, was fine while he had to be like this. No, this anger was not directed solely at Kim Il-sung. It was just anger toward the world. Because of this, JD became increasingly unable to make rational judgments. When he thought one way, that thought felt reasonable, and when he thought another, that thought also felt reasonable—even if they were absurd, nonsensical stories that a third party would find completely insane. And so, JD began his final, highly unrealistic struggle.
"Mr. President, it is time to eat."
If lunch was galbi, dinner was bibimbap. Unlike at lunch, JD received his meal with a very stable voice. The place where he received his meal this time was none other than his bedroom. Since his de facto removal from power was decided, JD no longer had any reason to go to his office. The Chief of Staff stamped the seals that JD was supposed to stamp, and the Chief of Staff also practiced diligently to sign the documents that JSD was supposed to sign. The Chief of Staff prioritized his own survival, so he followed JSD's orders thoroughly. Thus, JD was even more isolated in the official residence.
"Hmm, it tastes good."
JD complimented the taste of the food, but no one was happy. Because, other than the three ANSP agents, there was only JD here. Of course, JD's wife could have been at the residence. However, perhaps she couldn't stand being confined like JD, so she didn't live a life stuck only in the residence, and JSD allowed JD's wife to leave the residence. In any case, as long as JD himself didn't leave, it would be difficult for him to exert influence on anyone.
As soon as JD was effectively ousted, N's wife was liberated from JD's wife. JD's wife was a soldier's wife, and N's wife was also a soldier's wife. As such, N's wife had been bullied by JD's wife just as much as N had been bullied by JD. It wasn't for nothing that the wives of subordinate officers were treated like maids when making kimchi at the division commander's house. If the opponent was the wife of a former soldier who had been president? That was a level of suffering hard to express in words. However, because the current JD was like a bucket with a broken rope, JD's wife also completely lost her power. So JSD turned a blind eye. But for JD, there was no such leniency. Leaving the residence was absolutely not tolerated. Of course, JD didn't think about leaving the residence either. His behavior had just changed a little.
"Mr. President, it is time to eat."
"Hmm, it tastes good."
Until the galbi was served, JD had shown unbearable anger toward the ANSP agents at every meal. But from the following meals on, he never showed any anger at all. He even went as far as to greet the ANSP agents daily or try to build a rapport with them somehow. About a week passed like that. JSD received a report from one of the ANSP agents.
"Director, it seems the President is planning an escape."
"Pfft!"
JSD showed his mockery without restraint. In the past, this would have been unimaginable behavior. But to JSD now, the existence of JD was worth less than a bug. Therefore, JSD had no hesitation in acting this way.
"What should we do? It is obviously something we must stop, but I am reporting it just in case."
The ANSP was fundamentally an intelligence organization. Therefore, they did not care about the means or methods when carrying out a task. The surveillance of JD was the same. Since JD's escape could potentially be leveraged for some benefit, they didn't decide at the lower level but reported the matter directly to JSD. Regardless of the reason, the treatment of JD was not something to be decided by those below.
"Well, obviously..."
Just as he was about to say to stop it, JSD thought of Choi Ki-hyun.
"For now, create an atmosphere where it is naturally difficult to escape. I will give you an answer soon."
"Understood."
As soon as the ANSP agent left, JSD called Choi Ki-hyun.
"Are you saying I should let him escape?"
At JSD's question, Choi Ki-hyun nodded.
"If JD escapes, where would he go?"
"He would go to someone he can trust. Of course, he has no one he can trust right now."
Choi Ki-hyun shook his head lightly at JSD, who was sneering.
"Of course, there is no one he can trust. But finding someone to 'join him' will not be very difficult."
"Someone to join him?"
"Yes. What would JD do if he escaped? Flee overseas? Absolutely not. JD has already tasted the fruit of being the number one dictator. It is unimaginable for such a person to go abroad and live in hiding."
"That is certainly a plausible story."
At JSD's agreement, Choi Ki-hyun continued.
"So, the moment JD escapes the Blue House, he will look for people to join him. And he will declare martial law."
"Ah...!"
"Martial law is the only thing JD has left."
The people of South Korea held a very negative perception of martial law. This was because, among the past presidents, none who declared martial law were normal. Since it was routine to define protests as rebellions, declare martial law, and then beat everyone to death, the people of modern South Korea would literally have a fit at the mention of martial law. It is not for nothing that the 'immunity privilege' of National Assembly members is maintained in the 2010s in South Korea. If martial law is invoked and the martial law troops occupy the National Assembly, there is no way for the National Assembly to lift it. However, there was one Achilles' heel if JD intended to regroup his forces and declare martial law.
"How does JD intend to handle the State Council?"
At JSD's question, Choi Ki-hyun gave a bitter smile.
"Isn't it obvious? JD will stage a second rebellion. A second 12.12 Military Insurrection. And he will replace all the members of the State Council and declare martial law with them at the center."
"But the backlash from the citizens will be significant, won't it?"
"Chief of the Presidential Security Service, I would prefer not to say this, but do you not remember May 18th?"
"Ugh...!"
This was a significant Achilles' heel for JSD as well.
"JD sees nothing right now. Because the moment Assemblyman N takes power, he will have to bear all the responsibility related to the military rebellion alone and die."
The reason JSD was cooperating with N quite actively. It was because of the sin he inevitably acquired while cooperating with JD in the past. It wasn't that JSD followed JD's words because he enjoyed murder itself while smiling. But the fact that he didn't kill while smiling didn't erase the sin of killing innocent citizens. If someone were to take issue with this, he would be trapped without a way out, so he was cooperating with N, the leading presidential candidate, just to avoid this trap.
"Then, shouldn't we prevent JD from escaping even more?"
Choi Ki-hyun shook his head at the reasonably logical deduction.
"No. If JD stages a second military rebellion, it will be a great help to you, Chief."
"Is that so...?"
JSD looked at Choi Ki-hyun with a skeptical expression.
"If a second military rebellion occurs, you can pin the sins of the military era on them. In other words, since you are pinning the karma that is difficult for JD to handle alone onto many others, your responsibility will naturally be diluted."
"Indeed... I can certainly think of it that way. Thank you very much, Chairman Choi. As expected, I, this JSD, will consider my connection with you a lifelong blessing."
"No, how can you say such things. I, too, consider this conversation with you, Chief, a lifelong stroke of luck."
As they gilded each other's faces, laughter bloomed in the office.
"Chairman Choi, then what should I do now? I could act on my own, but please give me guidance to prevent mistakes."
"I don't know if this old man should dare to speak of the details."
"Please."
Choi Ki-hyun nodded calmly as if he had no choice.
"Understood. Then, loosen the perimeter so that JD can escape, and have the ANSP agents tail him. And you can place surveillance on the figures you think JD has contacted."
"Aha... You mean to allow JD's rebellion, but wipe them all out the moment they start it?"
"Exactly!"
JSD smiled at Choi Ki-hyun, who was pretending to be impressed.
"Then, I will proceed as you said."
Four days after the conversation between JSD and Choi Ki-hyun took place, JD, celebrating his escape from the Blue House with his own brilliant strategy, headed toward the Capital Defense Command.