Chapter 169: Are You Okay, Elder?

‘Ah······.’

As I opened my eyes, the unfamiliar ceiling of a hotel came into view.

Maybe it was the drinks from last night, but my throat felt dry and scratchy.

After gulping down some water from the bottle on the table, I got up and headed for the bathroom.

Cold water splashed on my face as I recalled my conversation with Jang Seong-taek and Wen Jiabao from yesterday.

‘I can’t believe I actually met leaders from two nations…’

Even after getting out of the shower, my thoughts remained jumbled.

When I returned to the bedroom, Manager Ma was waiting with honey water prepared.

“I completely lost my memory after suddenly getting drunk. Did you carry me up, Manager?”

“Yes, Boss.”

“Was anything significant happening while I was out?”

Receiving the empty cup, Manager Ma nodded lightly and replied.

“We received a message from the U.S. ambassador. He wishes to meet before you return to Korea.”

“The U.S. ambassador?”

Before coming to China, I had given the U.S. Secretary of State a heads-up through Han Gyeong-yeong.

It was practically just a notification, yet I felt that it must be a matter that would concern the U.S. as well.

“Yes, he suggested having dinner together.”

“Then I can just grab a bite before heading to the airport. No word from Wen Jiabao, though?”

“No, not yet.”

Wen Jiabao had collapsed before me during our drinking session yesterday.

Judging by his silence, he either hadn’t regained consciousness, or if he had, he was probably busy with his schedule.

While organizing my thoughts, a wave of nausea hit me, causing me to grimace unintentionally.

“Do you have anything that could help me recover, Manager? Oh! If you have instant noodles, please bring them to me.”

It felt like I craved spicy food after eating greasy dishes and drinking last night.

Noticing my grimace, Manager Ma cautiously asked.

“It’s just cup noodles; would that be okay?”

“Anything will do.”

“I’ll prepare it right away.”

As Manager Ma stepped outside, he quickly returned with a cup of noodles and some kimchi.

The spicy aroma of the noodles mixed with the scent of kimchi tickled my nose.

Just the smell made my stomach feel a bit at ease.

“Absolutely, noodles are the best for hangovers.”

“The bodyguards brought a few because they said Chinese food didn’t sit well with them.”

“Is that so?”

I felt a bit bad for basically stealing their meal.

Still, I finished the broth in one go and smiled at Manager Ma.

“Please tell them how much I appreciate it. I’m going to rest until dinner. If anything urgent comes up, wake me up.”

“Understood, Boss.”

After watching Manager Ma leave with the empty plate, I soon slipped back into slumber.

When it was time for our dinner meeting, I met with the U.S. ambassador at the hotel’s Chinese restaurant.

“Good to see you, Charlie.”

“Good to see you too, John.”

After shaking hands, we sat down and talked about trivial matters while enjoying the served dishes.

However, the warm atmosphere shifted to cold the moment the ambassador, John Ryan, put down his chopsticks.

“Let’s get to the point. Charlie, what did you discuss with Jang Seong-taek?”

“Was I obligated to report that to you, Ambassador?”

“This is a directive from Washington.”

His haughty attitude made my brows furrow instinctively; he was the most condescending U.S. official I had met so far.

“Am I just a pawn for the U.S.?”

“You’re an investor making money in the U.S.”

I had braced myself for the U.S. attitude when meeting Jang Seong-taek, but through his words, I could clearly sense that the mood in the U.S. had changed since Rubin’s time.

When I met the Secretary of State in Russia, the atmosphere had been amiable, but that seemed to have changed.

“During the upcoming inter-Korean summit, I received a request to visit North Korea alongside President Kim Hak-gwon. My connection with Wen Jiabao led to my meeting with Jang Seong-taek. Is there a problem with that?”

“Is that all? I heard someone in the North is looking for you.”

“Are you watching me right now?”

The message I had asked Han Gyeong-yeong to relay was merely that I was coming to China to meet North Korean officials through Wen Jiabao’s introduction.

I had only mentioned bringing someone back but said nothing about Jang Dae-ho’s family.

Only Jang Dae-ho, myself, and Manager Ma know about his family.

Yet the U.S. government was already aware of it.

“Watching? Who would dare watch you, Charlie? This is about protecting you.”

John’s evasive tone irked me.

Yet, I suppressed my anger, knowing that getting entangled here would lead to my downfall.

“······Some family members of an acquaintance are in the North. I just wanted to ask for news about them; is that also a problem?”

As if to mask his earlier haughty demeanor, John waved his hands with a laugh.

“No, of course not. It’s not a problem to search for separated families. The U.S. takes human rights in North Korea very seriously.”

“I understand that.”

“Jang Seong-taek wouldn’t simply hand over their custody for humanitarian reasons. What did you promise him, Charlie?”

“No other terms were discussed. We’ll find out when we visit North Korea.”

I couldn’t bring up Jang Seong-taek’s slush funds at this meeting.

After a moment of silence, John stroked his chin as he scrutinized my face.

“Hmm······. I can’t predict what you might ask for······.”

“I didn’t mention anything there.”

“Charlie, I’ve been in the ambassador position in China for quite some time. I believe I know North Korea better than anyone in the U.S.”

A sly smile appeared on John’s face as he stroked his chin.

“They’re not the kind of people who act without compensation. No matter what you promised, keep in mind that we are always watching you.”

“Is that a threat?”

“Well, whether it’s a threat or advice is up to you to decide, Charlie.”

His tone carried an underlying sharpness.

Checking his wristwatch, John stood up first.

“Time has flown by. I’ll inform Washington that I received a proposal to visit North Korea. Until next time, let’s meet in the U.S.”

After greeting, John extended his hand.

I stood up and shook his hand, forcing a smile.

“I don’t know if I’ll see you again.”

“Haha, you’re an interesting guy. We’ll meet again.”

Laughing heartily, John left the restaurant without looking back.

Once he disappeared from sight, Manager Ma approached me.

“You don’t look well.”

“Contact the U.S. and find out everything you can about John Ryan. I want to know everything from the day he was born until now.”

“Understood, Boss.”

Unpleasant thoughts kept swirling in my mind.

“It seems the U.S. government is no longer friendly towards me. Han Gyeong-yeong mentioned something similar······.”

The dismissal of my close associate, Secretary Rubin, marked a drastic change in the usual course of history.

“Let’s head back to Korea for now. Domestic matters take priority over the U.S. right now.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Ending my short visit to China, I returned to Korea.

The next day after returning, I set off early for Gyeongsan.

“Elder, are you there?”

Manager Ma rang the bell as he did before, and soon Jang Dae-ho came out.

“Aren’t you the subordinate of Boss Kim?”

“That’s right, Elder.”

I could see Jang Dae-ho glancing around as if looking for someone.

I stepped out of the car holding the document envelope I brought from China.

Though it had been a struggle to obtain this document, seeing his welcoming face light up softened my mood.

“Elder, I’m a bit late.”

“What’s the matter, showing up unannounced?”

“I’d like to talk to you inside.”

“Come on in.”

In the study where someone was working, there was a modest teacup that resembled his personality.

As I sat on the sofa, Jang Dae-ho poured me tea.

“So, what brings you here today?”

“I came with news about your family.”

Jang Dae-ho dropped the teapot he was holding.

As the teapot shattered, scalding tea spilled onto his hand, but he seemed oblivious to the heat as he stared at me blankly.

Hastily wiping his hands with a handkerchief, he asked.

“Elder, are you okay?”

“You mean······ don’t tell me this is a lie?”

His voice shook severely.

Sensing his anxiety, I spoke with calm assurance.

“Yes, Elder. I’m not foolish enough to lie about this.”

“Are they all alive? Both Seok-do and Mi-do, right?”

“Fortunately, both are alive. However······ I’ve heard your wife passed away a long time ago.”

“Oh······.”

Jang Dae-ho, who had been listening intently, covered his face with both hands and lowered his head.

He soon lifted his head, as if regaining his composure.

Though he expected this news, a profound loneliness was evident in his face.

“What about the children?”

“Both have married and have children as well. Some of your grandchildren are even married.”

“······So, they’re all alive?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Setting the document envelope onto the table, Jang Dae-ho’s gaze remained glued to it.

I nudged it slightly toward him.

“These are photos of your family. There’s even the last picture your wife took while she was alive. They all endured a lot, but I heard there are no major health issues.”

Jang Dae-ho’s face, after hearing all my explanations, showed surprise this time.

“Honestly······ I didn’t expect much······.”

With trembling hands, Jang Dae-ho began to untie the string binding the document envelope.

As he opened it, the first thing he saw wasn’t the personal details but the photos.

Then······

Tears began to flow from Jang Dae-ho’s eyes.

Tender longing radiated from him as he carefully stroked each photo.

Half a century had passed, but to him, family always remained a precious presence.

Jang Dae-ho, teary-eyed while looking at the last image of his wife, paused.

“Soon-ok······ you’re still······ so beautiful.”

A deep resonance lingered in Jang Dae-ho’s voice.

As he caressed the face in the photo with his fingers, he held onto the document envelope tightly.

“Everyone is safe······.”

“They’re under government surveillance, but there haven’t been any major repercussions. It’s tough to say they’ve lived well, though.”

Feeling sorry after my explanation, Jang Dae-ho stood up and then brought the photo album he had seen earlier.

As he inserted new photos into the family album, he seemed to compose himself.

After looking at the photos for a while, he closed the album and held it close to his chest.

“Thank you······. Thank you, Boss Kim.”

“It’s nothing. I’m just glad to deliver the good news.”

“I did everything I could to learn some news. But it wasn’t easy at all.”

His voice was heavy with nostalgia and moisture.

“After the military regime took power and declared anti-communism as the national policy······. The moment I tried to contact the North, I risked losing everything I had. In fact, with that excuse, I barely managed to gather any information.”

The soldiers in power prioritized the anti-communist stance.

It wasn’t just the social atmosphere; it was also the sole justification they had left.

“Even so, I tried. When I heard the government was promoting family reunions for separated families, I screamed with joy. Yet, not a single piece of information about my family reached me.”

Before I realized it, the trembling in Jang Dae-ho’s voice had faded.

“Right, even when you were so confident in your promises. I thought of it as youthful bravado but hoped at least for a glimmer of hope. You managed to do what I couldn’t in 50 years in just a few months······.”

His face lit up with a calm smile, clearly pleased to finally hear news of his family.

I lightly shook my head.

“I was lucky. The two Koreas are maintaining an unprecedentedly positive relationship right now.”

“Haha, lucky? Do you think I’m unaware of this current atmosphere in the government? Even though I took more proactive steps, nothing came back to me.”

He must have used connections and money to lobby government officials for information.

However, despite his efforts, he likely received no favorable results.

From the government’s perspective, they couldn’t afford to upset North Korea due to Jang Dae-ho’s influence.

“How did you manage to get all of this?”

“I contacted senior officials in North Korea through connections in China.”

Since I had previously mentioned that I would investigate through China, I had nothing to hide.

“It took quite a while, but I received an offer to meet through China. It was at that meeting that I obtained this information.”

“······You took a risk.”

“I made a promise to you. I needed your stocks, but more than that, I wanted to fulfill your long-held wishes.”

“I have no regrets left now. Thank you, Boss Kim.”

Having let go of decades of regret, Jang Dae-ho looked as if he had released everything.

However, I had no intention of finishing it all just there.

“But I want to ask you one more thing. What are you planning to do about Il-sung? Of course, I’ll suupport you in whatever you decide, but still.”

Seeing Jang Dae-ho’s relieved face, I couldn’t help but smile.

“This isn’t the end, Elder.”

“What else is there?”

“What I promised you was just letting you know the fates of your loved ones. You need to meet your family in person.”

Jang Dae-ho swayed unsteadily.

His urgent voice slipped out.

“Is that, is that really possible?”

“It’s tough for now. But if negotiations go well, I should be able to bring them to China at least.”

“······.”

While he couldn’t find the words, Jang Dae-ho kept trembling his lips.

“Really······ is it true?”

“The negotiations are the key issue. For now, I must also go to North Korea during the upcoming inter-Korean summit. I’ll plan to negotiate there.”

“······Oh.”

Letting out a deep groan, Jang Dae-ho closed his eyes tightly.

Perhaps it was a tangled mess of thoughts, he closed his eyes for a long time as I continued.