Chương 540: Chapter 540: Now, All I Can Trust Is My Brother-in-Law
Kim Jong-il gathered people in the underground bunker of his secret villa located on the outskirts of Pyongyang.
"What's going on here? Speak up, everyone!"
The appearance of the B-2 bomber made Kim Jong-il uneasy, and his madness only deepened with each passing day.
"Those American bastards have brought the B-2 right over my head, claiming they're going to kill me! And what are you all doing without a plan? Am I the only one who's gonna die? You'll all perish too!"
"...…"
This situation was entirely Kim Jong-il's fault.
He had been the sole decision-maker, acting on his own all this time. Yet, here he was, blaming others.
The people gathered there remained silent, merely observing the mood.
"Why is no one speaking? Are you waiting for me to just die? Hey, Manager Ma!"
With a spark in his eyes, Kim Jong-il called out to Jang Seong-taek.
"Yes, Chairman."
"What do you think, Manager Ma? Should we sit here and do nothing?"
"Our Republic is already on the tiger's back. We can neither get off nor stop moving. If we bend here…"
Jang Seong-taek paused briefly, glancing at the hardliners among the military, before continuing.
"We can't predict what actions the military might take. There have been precedents of the military acting without the Chairman's orders."
Kim Jong-il shot a piercing glare at the military generals gathered nearby.
"Really? Are those bastards thinking about how to kill me right now?"
"Ah, no, that's not the case."
The military generals bowed their heads, denying it under Kim Jong-il's fierce gaze.
"We are only following your leadership, General."
"What if I surrender to the U.S. and give up nuclear weapons in exchange for regime security? What would the military do? Speak up!"
Everyone's gaze turned toward the guard commander, the only one with the title of Marshal, Ri Ul-sul.
"Dear General."
Ri Ul-sul spoke softly. Kim Jong-il was also drawn to his voice and looked at him.
"What is it, Marshal Ri Ul-sul?"
"Everything happening right now is because of your own actions, General. But to pressure our military in such a way… Our venerable leader in heaven would be lamenting."
"What? What did you just say?!"
Kim Jong-il glared at Ri Ul-sul, but he calmly continued speaking.
"Do not pressure the military. I will do my best to protect you, General. If those American bastards invade, I will throw away this life like dust to protect the leader's family. So don't provoke the military any further."
"...…"
Kim Jong-il was left speechless.
After Ri Ul-sul began to speak, the eyes of the military generals gathered there hardened.
"I've fought alongside our respected Leader since the Japanese occupation. Not once have I betrayed him. It's possible because the Leader believed in me and my comrades. But unlike the Leader, you always doubt the people around you, General. This current situation is no different. Didn't you order all the heroes of provocations against the South to be killed? The movements of the Korean People's Army are all for your sake."
"…Marshal Ri Ul-sul, what are you talking about?"
Kim Jong-il's voice trembled with rage as he spoke again.
"Even if I die right now, I must speak the truth. General, do you really think that by surrendering to the U.S., those bastards will leave our Republic alone? No. They'll try to reshape us according to their desires. And the first to be slaughtered will be you, General. So keep your wits about you. If you waver, the Republic wavers. Do you understand, dear General?"
Silence fell over the bunker at Ri Ul-sul's words, but the eyes of the military generals shone brightly.
That old man, the focal point for the military generals, was someone Kim Jong-il couldn't just dismiss.
Even Kim Il-sung, his own father, couldn't treat him lightly.
A first-generation anti-Japanese guerrilla and a comrade of Kim Il-sung.
And the only other person besides Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il to hold the title of Marshal in the Korean People's Army.
"Marshal Ri Ul-sul, are you rebelling?"
"Rebelling…"
"Really? Even during the coup last time, I believed in the Marshal, knowing you wouldn't betray me. But what you're saying now is deception! You could be killed on the spot for this!"
"Go ahead and kill me. I have no more attachments left. I'd rather choose death than watch the Republic fall apart."
"Marshal Ri Ul-sul…"
Kim Jong-il bit his lip so hard that blood shone on his oily lips.
In the tense silence of the bunker, no one dared to speak.
At that moment, Jang Seong-taek spoke up towards Kim Jong-il.
"First, let everyone leave, Chairman."
"...…"
"Marshal Ri Ul-sul is probably saying this for the Chairman's sake. It might be best for everyone to return to their posts and assess the situation."
"Alright, fine. Fine."
Only then did Kim Jong-il nod weakly.
"Maintain a state of emergency throughout the military. Be ready to act whenever I give the order."
"Yes, General!"
"Do not move the military without my orders. If anything like this happens again… I will kill every last one of you!"
"Yes!"
"Everyone, go back."
A resounding response echoed in the bunker. Once Kim Jong-il ended the directive, everyone stood and bowed in respect.
"Manager Ma, stay."
"Understood, Chairman."
Before leaving the bunker, Ri Ul-sul shifted his gaze toward Jang Seong-taek, who was watching them.
The eyes of Jang Seong-taek and Ri Ul-sul met for just an instant in the air.
After a moment, everyone except Ri Ul-sul exited the bunker.
"Sit down, brother-in-law."
As soon as Jang Seong-taek took his seat, Kim Jong-il shouted loudly.
"Bring the alcohol!"
Baek Cheol-soo, who had been standing at a distance, brought a bottle of whiskey and two glasses, placing them in front of the two men.
He opened the bottle of whiskey and set it down next to Kim Jong-il.
"Should I bring some appetizers?"
"No, just eat it as is."
"But…"
"I said no. You just stay outside. If I call, come back in."
"Understood."
Kim Jong-il sent away Baek Cheol-soo, his last line of defense.
He tilted the glass and first offered a full glass of whiskey to Jang Seong-taek.
Then he filled the remaining glass and gulped it down in one go.
With a forceful thud, Kim Jong-il slammed the glass down, his eyes flashing.
"Those damn reactionaries are definitely plotting to kill me. Isn't that right, brother-in-law?"
Jang Seong-taek, with half of the glass emptied, carefully placed it down.
"Regardless of anyone else, Marshal Ri Ul-sul wouldn't do that."
"No, it's Ri Ul-sul…"
As he mentioned Ri Ul-sul's name, frustration mounted, prompting Kim Jong-il to quickly take out a cigarette.
Jang Seong-taek swiftly got up and grabbed a lighter, lighting the cigarette for him.
"Brother-in-law, don't do this. You can handle it yourself."
"Understood."
"That bastard is lecturing on guerrilla warfare related to my father and sharing stories from my childhood. You're aware of that, right?"
Jang Seong-taek nodded slightly.
"I've heard about it."
"Yeah, he's making speeches where he equates himself to my father since he died. Isn't that the typical behavior of a sycophant?"
"...…"
"Why can't you speak? Am I wrong?"
"No, you're right. I've heard similar reports as well. But that's…"
Kim Jong-il raised his hand, interrupting Jang Seong-taek.
Then he exhaled a thick cloud of smoke that blurred his vision.
"I kept ignoring it. Ri Ul-sul is someone who would give up his life for our family. But now he's defying me. Am I wrong? He's siding with those bastards in the military rather than me!"
Overcome with emotion, Kim Jong-il ground his teeth.
At this point, it felt like whatever anyone said wouldn't reach him.
Jang Seong-taek, sipping the remaining drink, focused on Kim Jong-il's words.
"I can only trust my brother-in-law now."
Hearing Kim Jong-il's words of trust, Jang Seong-taek responded with a serious expression.
"I will always devote my life to the Chairman."
"Yeah, yeah. If you have any grievances, just speak up. Aren't we family? Trust doesn't only go one way; it's mutual."
"Yes, Chairman."
As he rubbed out the short cigarette on the table, Kim Jong-il asked.
"What do you think we should do about this? No matter how I look at it, that bomber is terrifying. I think we may need to reveal our nuclear arsenal."
"That absolutely cannot happen. The moment you do that, it may provoke an invasion from Russia instead of the U.S."
Russia was already aware that their nuclear weapons were in Kim Jong-il's hands.
Jang Seong-taek was aware of this as well, but feigned ignorance, finding it easier to manage Kim Jong-il that way.
He instilled fear in Kim Jong-il by mentioning a possible Russian invasion, which successfully deterred him from revealing the nuclear arsenal until now.
"What do those toothless bastards have to scare me? They're still keeping quiet!"
"But we can't underestimate Russia. Now is not the time to create enemies."
"So I should just sit here and take it?"
"For now, we should consult the Chinese government…"
Jang Seong-taek had repeatedly suggested reaching out to the Chinese government, but Kim Jong-il's response remained the same.
"Don't speak nonsense. They abandoned us first. A border blockade? Don't they want to provoke us?"
"Still, without China's help, it will be tough for our Republic to overcome the current situation."
"I don't trust China. I would rather negotiate with the U.S."
"Didn't you see the military generals' reactions earlier? If something like that happens, we don't know what they might do."
As Jang Seong-taek once again tried to persuade him, Kim Jong-il twisted his mouth in displeasure.
"Before that, we should completely eliminate all those bastards."
"...…"
"And that's your job, Manager Ma."
"I will do my best. However, if we don't apprehend all of them at once, it could lead to civil war."
"Yeah, I know."
Until now, Kim Jong-il's political direction had been based on military-first politics.
But now, Kim Jong-il was entirely changing the military leadership.
"Brother-in-law, make contact with the generals below. Let them know that if the top leaders are eliminated, they will be able to take their places and draw them to your side."
"Talking won't solve anything."
"Right. Bring Cheolsu in!"
Nodding, Kim Jong-il loudly called for Baek Cheol-soo.
"Bring the money."
Baek Cheol-soo obeyed Kim Jong-il's orders and took a large bag from deep in the bunker, placing it beside Jang Seong-taek.
"It's ten million dollars. Use this to win over the generals. With position and money, they'll support you. Do you understand what I mean?"
Jang Seong-taek was taken aback, alternating his gaze between the money bag and Kim Jong-il.
"…This should be feasible."
"Yeah, money isn't circulating in the Republic right now. So this amount should definitely attract them to your side. After that, use them to apprehend all the hardliners at once."
"Yes."
"Get going. I need results soon. We don't have time to waste."
Jang Seong-taek stood up and bowed to Kim Jong-il.
He then picked up the heavy money bag, speaking in a firm voice.
"I will bet everything to ensure that what the Chairman desires is achieved."
"I'll count on you."
After Jang Seong-taek left the bunker, Kim Jong-il silently stared at the door he exited and turned to Baek Cheol-soo.
"I can't trust that bastard either. Cheolsu, keep a close watch on Jang Seong-taek's movements. Don't miss a thing."
"Yes, General!"
Kim Jong-il lit another cigarette. The hazy smoke obscured his vision.
Though he said he trusted Jang Seong-taek, he felt he could trust no one right now.
As he stared at the dying cigarette flame, Kim Jong-il slowly closed his eyes.
* * *
After leaving the secret villa, Jang Seong-taek moved directly to the Guard Command Headquarters.
Upon entering the commander's office, he shook hands with Ri Ul-sul.
"Marshal, well done."
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