บท 401: Chapter 401: The President’s Last Sword
I think this is the first time.
I couldn't help but chuckle at Kim Hak-gwon, who was so anxious he skipped greetings and asked me outright.
"This isn't a laughing matter, you know!"
Is he acting like this because of Chief Prosecutor Hyun Seong-taek's arrest? Well, it was a big deal after all.
An incumbent chief prosecutor had never been arrested since the founding of the country.
On top of that, with the Prosecutor General's approval, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's inspection department cuffed the Seoul District Prosecutor's wrists.
Such a thing happened without the President even knowing, and when he realized I was involved, no wonder he was anxious.
"I'd like to move to another place to talk. Everything here has to be recorded."
Every conversation held in the President's office is recorded. It's unavoidable due to the Presidential Records Management Act.
Since today's conversation could involve many problematic topics, we had to relocate.
"Hmm…"
Kim Hak-gwon swallowed hard.
I've been to the Blue House many times, but this was the first time I'd made such a request.
So it's understandable that he's hesitating.
"Seems like it'll be quite an uncomfortable time. If you're being this cautious…"
After some deliberation, he nodded and called his chief secretary through the internal line.
"Cancel all my appointments today. I'm going to rest at the residence and have a drink with Mr. Kim."
"Pardon?"
The chief secretary was flustered by the sudden bombshell of canceling all appointments.
"Do I have to repeat myself? Cancel all my appointments."
"But there's an important meeting today…"
Frowning, Kim Hak-gwon raised his hand.
He stopped the chief secretary, who was sweating profusely.
"Tell Prime Minister Baek to lead the meeting in my stead. Just have them report to me afterward."
After notifying, he stood up and asked me.
"You don't mind having a drink today, do you?"
"Of course not. I kept my schedule open."
"Good. A fine wine came in recently. Let's enjoy it together after so long."
"Understood, Mr. President."
I stood up as well. The chief secretary glanced at me and tried to dissuade him again.
"Sir, you can't just cancel your schedule like this without any plan."
"Do I need your permission?"
"I… I'm sorry."
"And you've been at the Blue House for months now, yet you're still calling me 'Sir'. How many times have I told you not to? Will you keep doing that until I retire?"
"N-no, Mr. President."
The chief secretary hurriedly bowed his head.
Watching him with displeasure, he turned and led the way.
"Follow me. The snacks prepared by the personal chef are excellent."
His voice was much kinder than when he spoke to the chief secretary.
I followed Kim Hak-gwon as he headed toward the residence.
"I let them know we're coming, but it'll probably take some time to prepare the appetizers. Mind taking a walk for a bit?"
"Whatever is comfortable for you, Mr. President."
Nodding, he walked toward the promenade.
It was late summer, and with the heat subsided, it was perfect for a stroll.
"There aren't many days left to walk this path. It feels like just yesterday that I moved in here."
"You've worked hard all this time."
"A lot has happened. I wonder why I was so eager to become President. Looking back now, it all feels futile."
As his retirement approached, he was becoming more sentimental.
Unable to empathize, I just mechanically repeated my responses.
"Mr. Kim, I've been in politics for decades. There were times when I had to risk my life, times when I was pushed to the brink of death. In the end, I sat in this seat. But you know, even sitting here, I couldn't change everything."
I could guess his intentions, so I kept silent and just listened.
"Even before I took office, the foreign exchange crisis hit. The IMF demanded I sign humiliating documents even when I was a candidate. So as soon as I took office, I poured all my efforts into overcoming it."
Of course, the IMF's misdeeds didn't end there.
However, in my memory, he escaped the IMF management system much faster than in my previous life.
"Thanks to your efforts, Mr. President, we were able to repay the IMF's foreign debt quickly. Others wouldn't have been able to do it."
"Hahaha, thank you. Seems luck is on my side in my later years, even hearing such words from you. But it would have taken longer without you, you know that, right?"
Why is he suddenly praising me like this?
Unable to answer readily, I just opened and closed my lips, and he continued.
"Did you know? There were times when I disliked you."
"Is that so?"
He stopped walking for a moment.
I noticed the security personnel following us from a distance also halted.
He turned his head toward me and smiled.
"Come on, don't pretend you don't know. How many times did you threaten me? I thought once I became President, no one would dare look me in the eye. Not the business world, nor the members of the National Assembly. And most did bow their heads. Yes, most of them did. But you were different. You stood tall even in front of me. You pushed forward with what you wanted without ever backing down."
I gave a slight nod. There's no need to deny the truth.
"There were times I felt disheartened because of that."
"…"
"When I had to just let it go after being threatened by you."
"I'm sorry. But… I had no choice at the time."
Even if I could go back, I would make the same choices.
At my apology, he let out a hearty laugh and shook his head.
"It's all in the past now, so what does it matter."
With a smile on his lips, he started walking again.
He didn't say another word until we arrived at the residence.
"I'll be in the residence all day today, so no one disturb us."
After repeatedly reminding the security personnel, he led me inside.
"Honey, I heard you canceled all your appointments today?"
The First Lady took his coat as he entered the living room and asked.
"Yes, I'm planning to have a drink with Mr. Kim."
Lee Sun-kyung, the First Lady, turned to me and smiled.
"Oh my, Mr. Kim, welcome. I think this is the first time I've seen you since the inauguration."
"Yes, Madam First Lady. It's been a while."
"Is it your first time drinking alone with him?"
Have I ever had a drink with him before? I couldn't recall.
In fact, we weren't close enough to share drinks alone.
"I think it's the first time. We've had drinks at banquets, but never just the two of us."
"You two are going to drink alone? I was hoping to get a drink while bringing you some snacks. You know I'm good at cooking, right?"
The First Lady's cooking skills were well-known, though I'd never tried her food.
Since he often brought people home, she frequently ended up preparing snacks and meals late into the night.
"Of course. It would be an honor."
"Oh, come on. Don't interfere today. I'll be alone with Mr. Kim."
He laughed as he gently scolded Lee Sun-kyung.
"Alright. If you need more snacks, let me know. For now, the chef has prepared some appetizers."
Nodding, he watched as she bid me farewell and left.
"Follow me."
He led me to a small dining room in the main building, not the annex.
There, wine and appetizers were already set, and the chef was waiting.
"Good work. You can finish for today and go home."
"It's alright. I'll stay on standby."
"No, it's fine. If we need more, I'll ask my wife to make it. I feel like eating her cooking after a long time. Everyone can leave for the day."
"Understood."
The chef briefly responded, bowed, and left the dining room.
After confirming the empty dining room, he sat down first.
Perhaps because it was attached to the private quarters, the dining table was smaller and more modest than expected.
I also sat down and remarked.
"I didn't know there was a place like this."
"Haha, right? This is the first space I had made after entering the Blue House. It felt awkward to eat in the big dining room every time, especially when it's just me and my wife. So we use this place when it's just the two of us."
Smiling at his explanation, I glanced around.
The humble space seemed to reflect his personality.
He picked up the wine bottle and offered it to me.
"Let me pour you a glass."
I raised my glass with both hands, receiving the wine he poured. He filled his own glass as well.
"Come to think of it, as my wife said, this is the first time we're drinking alone like this."
"That's right."
"Feels strange that we've never had a drink together despite meeting so often. I guess I won't have many chances to see you after I retire; it's a bit regretful."
"Not at all. I'll come to see you whenever I can."
At my polite words, he smiled gently and took a sip of his wine.
I savored the aroma before taking a sip as well.
"The bouquet is wonderful."
"It's a wine the French ambassador gifted me. I've been saving it."
"Please, have some appetizers as well."
The appetizers were impeccably prepared, as expected from the Blue House, and suited my taste perfectly.
"The chef is quite skilled. It's delicious."
"Actually, he's not a specialist in French cuisine, so I was worried, but I'm glad it suits you. Next time, I'll treat you to the chef's jjambbong."
"Jjambbong?"
He nodded.
Speaking of jjambbong, I thought of Park Dong-su.
He had forced his way to my graduation ceremony, and we ended up eating Chinese food together.
"Hey, little bro!"
Even though I pretended not to know him, he kept following me and eventually joined us.
Remembering his cheeky smile, I couldn't help but smile myself.
"Mr. Kim, do you like jjambbong? Or were you thinking about something else?"
"Ah, I was just reminded of the jjambbong I ate when I was young. I must have smiled without realizing."
"Was it a fancy place? For you to recall it like that."
I shook my head slightly and continued.
It wasn't an expensive place. But thinking back on the atmosphere, it was a good place.
"No, it was just a local Chinese restaurant. The taste wasn't particularly special. I think it's because I was with good people that I remember it sometimes."
"That's right. Good company makes any meal memorable. Who you eat with is the most important. You've realized that at such a young age."
He smiled as he finished his wine.
Thanks to the relaxed conversation, it became easier to talk.
Afterwards, we chatted about this and that, finishing off the bottle of wine.
After drinking the last of the wine in his glass, he asked seriously.
"I suppose it's time to get to the point. What's going on? Why did you take down Chief Prosecutor Hyun?"
I also finished the wine in my glass and wiped the smile off my face.
"First, I want to apologize. I acted without your permission, Mr. President."
"That's fine. I'm sure you had your reasons. Let's hear them."
"Chief Prosecutor Hyun was one of former President Choi Seon-man's people. He was preparing to trap me."
"I know about the long relationship between Choi Seon-man and Chief Prosecutor Hyun. But what's that got to do with you?"
Looking puzzled, he stared at me. So he truly didn't know.
I set down the glass I was holding and met his gaze.
"Choi Seon-man is planning a coup."
"What? What are you talking about!"
His eyes widened, and his voice grew louder.
"Just as I said. He's planning to stage another coup."
I took out a sheet of paper, folded several times, from my pocket. Pushing it toward him, I spoke.
"This is a list of Choi Seon-man's people remaining in the military. I'd like you to strip them of their ranks. Please, swing your sword one last time, Mr. President."
Shocked by my words, he was left speechless.
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