Racial Discrimination? Ethnic Discrimination? (3)

The Japanese Prime Minister had appeared at a Korean airport. In this situation, what action should the Korean government take? There was no choice. Truly, there was no other way. They had no choice but to protect the Prime Minister. Why? Because if the Japanese Prime Minister were to die on Korean soil, it would become an absolutely massive incident. It wasn't that they were protecting him because they liked him. What if the Prime Minister were assassinated in Korea? Certainly, the Japanese Prime Minister was at fault for showing up in Korea without an appointment. However, because it could leave a severely negative perception of "Korea's public safety" internationally, they absolutely could not let the Prime Minister die on Korean land.

"That son of a bitch, seriously!"

N ground his teeth inside the car as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he headed toward the hastily arranged meeting venue. As soon as he heard the news that the Japanese Prime Minister had appeared at the airport, N had deployed airport security to prevent him from wandering around. In truth, he wanted to deport him immediately, but that was realistically impossible. Therefore, he had placed him under temporary detention, but the Prime Minister had been demanding a meeting from the very beginning. Thus, even though N was busy with the closing ceremony coming up soon, he had no choice but to accept the Prime Minister's demand for a meeting. Otherwise, the Prime Minister wouldn't return to Japan.

'If I had my way, I'd put a lead bullet in his face.'

While N was lost in such thoughts, the vehicle finally arrived at the meeting venue. It was a place hastily prepared in a neutral zone because he didn't want to drag the Prime Minister all the way to Seoul. As a result, it was quite lackluster for a meeting between heads of state.

'Even a cheap inn is too good for that guy.'

That was N's impression as he entered the meeting room and looked at the Prime Minister's face.

"Sit down."

The Prime Minister spoke to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠N with a stiff face, as if he were the host. It was an act that completely ignored basic etiquette. However, N was more dumbfounded by something else than the Prime Minister's behavior right now.

'Is this guy insane?'

There was filming ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠equipment spread all over the meeting room. In short, it meant the Prime Minister hadn't just brought himself and his security detail; he had dragged Japanese media along with him.

"What are you trying to do right now?"

At N's question, the Prime Minister opened his mouth with a puzzled expression. "Isn't it common for reporters to be present at a summit?"

"In that case, I will call our reporters as well."

At N's words, the Prime Minister shook his head. "I am a busy man. I don't have time to wait until your reporters arrive."

Interpreted, this meant he intended to film the meeting and then distort the footage to use it for his own purposes. Therefore, N sneered inwardly and retorted immediately.

"Then, the meeting ends here."

As N stood up without hesitation to leave, the Prime Minister shouted urgently.

"Jo, chotto matte!"

The shout to wait a moment was conveyed to N through an interpreter, yet N did not look back.

"He says it's fine to call the reporters."

At the new words heard through the interpreter, N finally turned his body. He called for reporters, filling the meeting room with both Korean and Japanese journalists.

"Can't we start now?"

At the Prime Minister's question, N shook his head. "They haven't all arrived yet."

Time was on N's side anyway. Of course, in terms of value, N's time was far more valuable. However, since he was forced to proceed with the meeting, N deliberately grated on the Prime Minister's nerves. If the Prime Minister died in Korea, it would cause problems, but that was only if he died. With the meeting already underway, there was no reason for N to bow to the Prime Minister.

"Are they all here now?"

The Prime Minister's face was filled with annoyance again. At that expression, N gave a slight, sharp nod instead of an answer. The Prime Minister's face crumpled once more. And then, silence followed. N didn't even ask the Prime Minister "why he came." Just silence. Unable to endure it, the Prime Minister spoke first.

"We, Japan, strongly protest the rudeness Korea showed at the Olympics."

The Prime Minister's purpose was stated somewhat indirectly. However, N, while knowing the Prime Minister's intent, deliberately acted as if he didn't know.

"What kind of rudeness are you referring to?"

N's expression was one of genuine confusion. Having lived while hiding all his ambitions to survive under JD, this level of acting was nothing to him.

"No, do you really not know?!"

The Prime Minister roared. It was similar to how the Japanese Foreign Minister Kono Taro acted in 2019.

"If you continue to commit such discourtesy, I will terminate the meeting here."

When N played his trump card, the Prime Minister had no choice but to tuck his tail. N was a person with political skills far beyond expectations, having survived under JD. That such a person would be pushed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠around by a Japanese Prime Minister who had lived comfortably through a hereditary system? It was absolutely impossible.

'You should be grateful that it's not YS sitting in this seat. Damn it.'

That was N's honest sentiment. N was seriously thinking, 'Since the opponent is a Prime Minister, should I have sent a Prime Minister as well?'

"If you really don't know, I'll tell you. Why did you damage the Rising Sun Flag?"

"It was an event to announce that the Olympics are a festival for the victorious nations."

It is a very interesting fact, but the Japanese government consistently maintained the stance that "the Rising Sun Flag is not a symbol of militarism." However, paradoxically, the Japanese military was consistently using the Rising Sun Flag. There were people who claimed that the term "war criminal flag" was used in 2012, and that people hated the Rising Sun Flag due to incorrect common knowledge. No. They just didn't know until then. The Rising Sun Flag was used as a Japanese military flag from its inception in the 1870s, and the Republic of Korea suffered countless damages by the Japanese military from that time on. And until the end of World War II, the Rising Sun Flag was consistently used as a Japanese military flag, and it was used again as soon as the Self-Defense Forces were revived. If this isn't a symbol of war, what is?

Sometimes, people argued that the Nazi Hakenkreuz and the Rising Sun Flag were different, claiming that the Hakenkreuz was a problem because it contained racism. However, the Rising Sun Flag also contains "discrimination against non-Japanese." When Japan occupied Joseon, the discrimination against Koreans was truly immense. After the Sino-Japanese War began, they even used terms like "second-class citizens" and "third-class citizens" to discriminate against Koreans and Chinese. In short, it means that de facto racism occurred under the Rising Sun Flag. Why do people think of discrimination against Jews as racism, but not discrimination against Koreans? Ultimately, this could also be seen as a problem stemming from the deep roots of "white supremacy."

"The Rising Sun Flag is not a symbol of war, but a flag used during a good catch! It is a symbol of the Japanese people!"

Sure enough, the Prime Minister attempted to deceive everyone.

"If a flag created by the Japanese military and used by the Japanese army isn't a military flag, what is it?"

"That was only used that way in the past!"

"Yes, that is why I simply cut the Rising Sun Flag, which is a symbol of the past."

The Japanese Prime Minister continued to get angry, and N calmly explained his logic in response. N thought it was a very good thing that he had studied the Rising Sun Flag in detail according to Yoon-gi's advice.

'This guy must have thought I would shrink if he just bluffed roughly. It's highly likely that even this guy doesn't know properly about the Rising Sun Flag.'

It was indeed the case. The Prime Minister was just protesting to N while thinking only of the impression he usually had of the Rising Sun Flag.

"Ggggrrrr..."

This is why it is so important to come prepared. Thanks to this, the Korean reporters couldn't hide their smiles while filming, while the Japanese reporters were filming half-heartedly with faces like they had eaten poop. How many minutes of silence passed like that?

"The Korean government will regret this!"

Although the Prime Minister had lost, he refused to admit it, stood up abruptly, and walked out of the meeting room.

And the next day. A very grand headline appeared in the Japanese newspapers.

"Idiots..."

There was YS's simple but certain evaluation after checking the headline.

Ultimately, Japan's six attempts to interfere with Korea all failed. Of course, it was true that the Prime Minister and his ministers were not the type of people to stop here. Therefore, the Prime Minister tried to think of a seventh plan. However, he wouldn't be able to do so for a while. Because a warning from Reagan had come through a secret line.

Of course, Reagan also sent a "nominal warning" to N, and based on this, the Prime Minister and his ministers engaged in mental gymnastics.

The Japanese public was enthusiastic.

Naturally, it wasn't true, but the Japanese people felt pride in the fact that America was on their side and began to look down on Korea even more. 'Wind of the Empire'? Before they knew it, 'Wind of the Empire' had become a movie that was a massive hit, though almost no one had seen it. There were no longer any people criticizing 'Wind of the Empire'. In a sense, was it a storm in a teacup? Even though anti-Korean sentiment was becoming extremely severe, it had become difficult for the Japanese government to use any more tricks against Korea.

However, Korea was different. Yoon-gi was a person who believed that if you receive a blow, you must pay it back with interest. Therefore, Yoon-gi was determined to properly screw Japan over. From the beginning, cutting the Rising Sun Flag at the opening ceremony was just the prologue to the build-up. Yoon-gi was finally starting the main story. The first step of the main story was none other than the worldwide screening of 'Admiral Yi Sun-sin'. Because 'Admiral Yi Sun-sin' had been marketed properly to the whole world during the Olympics, film industry officials from countless countries came running to sign contracts for 'Admiral Yi Sun-sin'.

Of course, Japan's contract fell through. It wasn't that there were no companies wanting to sign, but they gave up on the contract, biting the bullet, as they were in danger of being branded as "non-citizens." But it didn't matter. Because Japan didn't have to watch it.

"Yoon-gi, the contracts are all finished perfectly."

Thanks to the expectation of tremendous results, Choi Cheol-jun's face was blooming with joy.

"You've worked hard. However, we have to work hard one more time. Because we have to shoot one more movie."

"Shoot another movie? Are you going to shoot 'Admiral Yi Sun-sin 2'? No, that doesn't seem to make sense. First of all, it's true that it's an extension of 'Admiral Yi Sun-sin', right?"

"Yes, that's right."

As Yoon-gi nodded, Choi Cheol-jun racked his brain.

"Are you going to shoot a movie related to the Japanese colonial period?"

"It's similar, but a bit different."

"Huh?"

Yoon-gi gave the correct answer to the puzzled Choi Cheol-jun.

"We are going to shoot a movie related to Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor."