Chapter 255: Is That Possible?

As I adjusted my posture, Jang Seong-taek smiled and handed me the alcohol pitcher. Instead of responding, I stared at his outstretched hand offering me a drink.

“What’s the rush? Just take a drink first.”

I raised my glass to accept the drink he poured and then passed the pitcher back to fill his glass.

After we raised our glasses and downed our drinks in one go, I set my glass down.

“This tastes great.”

“…I specially prepared traditional liquor crafted by a master just for your visit.”

When I recounted my prepared response, Jang Seong-taek nodded in satisfaction.

“I’ve been drinking whiskey and wine lately, so having our ethnic drink feels refreshing.”

Although I couldn’t guess what Jang Seong-taek was thinking while he joked, I decided to simply follow his lead.

Feeling good, he poured more liquor into his glass and tilted it back.

“Mmm…”

After letting out a small gasp, Jang Seong-taek set his glass down and began to speak.

“The broker you introduced really cleaned up the money laundering. Now, other than me and that broker, no one knows whose account it is anymore.”

“That’s a relief.”

What Jang Seong-taek wanted was to perfectly launder his slush fund without getting caught. I had introduced him to a reliable broker in that regard.

While it took quite some time to finish the job, in the end, Jang Seong-taek got the result he desired.

“Mr. Kim, have you heard anything about China?”

“China?”

“Yes. I haven’t been able to reach Vice Premier Wen Jiabao. No matter how much I try to contact my sources, no one knows where he’s vanished to.”

“…Is that true?”

I hadn’t kept an eye on China lately. I was planning to look into the matter after wrapping up this situation…

Noticing my expression, Jang Seong-taek raised an eyebrow.

“It seems you were unaware.”

“It’s been a chaotic time for me, so I haven’t been able to focus on China. Does this mean there’s a problem for those who crossed over from the North?”

I had been wondering why it was taking so long to bring Old Man Jang’s family to Korea, and it looked like Wen Jiabao had completely fallen from power.

As I clicked my tongue in annoyance while brainstorming solutions, Jang Seong-taek continued speaking.

“I don’t know about that part. But if something went wrong, wouldn’t they contact Mr. Kim?”

He was right. If something happened to Jang Dae-ho’s family, they would definitely reach out to me.

Fortunately, I hadn’t received any notice. I nodded slightly in agreement with his statement.

“That makes sense. But how can a vice premier just disappear without anyone making a fuss about it? Especially someone who was actively engaging in foreign activities…”

“It seems he’s probably being detained somewhere. The Shanghai faction has been pretty aggressive with their scrutiny.”

Now that I thought about it, Manager Ma had mentioned before that Wen Jiabao had restrictions on his activities. He also brought up the Shanghai faction then.

It seemed that straddling the middle ground without joining any faction had led to this situation.

“Thanks to Mr. Kim’s help, your political influence must have increased compared to before. Perhaps that’s why the Shanghai faction has tightened their grip on you?”

It seemed things had gotten much worse since the last time I heard from them. If even Jang Seong-taek didn’t fully grasp the situation, it must be a fierce power struggle within the Chinese Communist Party.

“Wen Jiabao’s strengths have disappeared. His political influence was adequate, and since he didn’t belong to any faction, he was a strong candidate for the next Premier.”

“…He desired that position himself.”

“Of course, I know that. Wen Jiabao was too greedy. I can’t understand what he was thinking. If he wanted to be anything, he should have aimed for the top leader instead, but he didn’t have to go to such extremes…”

Wen Jiabao had lost the advantages he once possessed because of my intervention.

He rose to the position of vice premier without being tied down to any faction, yet suddenly began to overreach.

Could this also be one of the altered futures because of me?

As my thoughts spiraled, I closed my mouth, and Jang Seong-taek waved his hand dismissively.

“I’m not trying to blame Mr. Kim. I’m just stating that something happened, and I’m trying to find out about it. That’s all you need to know.”

“I’ll look into it as well.”

Jang Seong-taek nodded and poured more liquor into his glass. I followed suit and filled my own.

After downing his drink in one go, Jang Seong-taek fell silent for a moment before finally speaking with a solemn expression.

“My position within the Republic is gradually shaking.”

Hearing that Jang Seong-taek’s position was unstable surprised me. He was one of the few people whom Kim Jong-il trusted.

Noticing the confusion on my face, Jang Seong-taek replied with a faint smile.

“There are eyes watching me within the Republic. No, to be precise, everything I do gets reported to Chairman Kim Jong-il.”

“Why? Isn’t Vice Minister your brother-in-law?”

His continued serious tone made his next words even more bitter to hear.

“Power isn’t something you share with family, is it? Furthermore, after an assassination attempt on the Chairman, they’ve become more distrustful of me. There had been some level of scrutiny before, but now it’s as if they’re making no effort to hide it. It’s quite brazen, actually.”

The more he spoke, the darker his expression grew.

“That’s why I wanted to meet with you, Mr. Kim. I want to know what Chairman Kim Jong-il is planning and why he suddenly seems uninterested in improving relations with China.”

As I swallowed hard and hesitated, Jang Seong-taek immediately fired a question at me.

“Do you think I’m behind the assassination attempt?”

I didn’t respond but fixed my gaze on him; it felt like he had exposed my thoughts.

“I’m not someone so misguided. They call me the second-in-command in foreign lands, yet I’m sitting here with my head on the chopping block with just a word from Kim Jong-il.”

“…That’s just how a second-in-command works, isn’t it?”

Being the second-in-command in a dictatorship was like having a fragile life. It’s a position of power beneath the first leader, yet ultimately subjected to their capriciousness.

When I spoke somewhat coldly, Jang Seong-taek bit his lip.

“To be honest, I dream of a collective leadership in the next generation, like in China. But for that to happen, Chairman Kim Jong-il cannot die now. Do you think I attempted to assassinate him?”

The idea of embracing collective leadership in a North Korea that was akin to a dynastic state made me exhale unaware. It was an incredibly radical thought.

“You dream of collective leadership?”

It was beyond belief, so I had to ask again.

“Yes. My ultimate goal is that. Even if we assume power will be inherited until Chairman Kim Jong-il, is it truly right for this system to continue beyond that?”

This was the key to understanding why Jang Seong-taek had maintained close ties with China. They were the ones most desiring a collective leadership in North Korea.

Additionally, it explained why Kim Jong-un had purged Jang Seong-taek after Kim Jong-il’s death.

“Considering North Korea’s characteristics, is that even possible?”

“Whether it’s possible or not, only time will tell. Nonetheless, transitioning to a collective leadership is the best for the Republic’s future. It can’t drag on like this forever. If we truly care for the people, that’s the right move.”

As he spoke with a serious expression, I couldn’t help but scoff inwardly.

Though he dressed it up as being for the people, he was really just satisfying his own greedy desires for power.

“Caring for the people, you say… Are you sure this isn’t your hunger for power speaking?”

Jang Seong-taek’s gaze flickered, perhaps taken aback that I would confront him so directly.

I seized the moment to press further.

“Devoted to the people, the country, all of those phrases are often just what dictators use to mask their desires for power.”

“…”

“Vice Minister, I wonder why you’re telling me all this. I don’t particularly care who holds power in North Korea. What matters is whether it benefits me or not. Why don’t you just be honest? At least Chairman Kim Jong-il is straightforward when it comes to such matters.”

Unlike Jang Seong-taek, Kim Jong-il had never hidden his desire to cling to power.

Even when broaching peace negotiations with the U.S., he was clear about ensuring the regime’s survival.

“What do you want from me? Do you want me to assure Chairman Kim Jong-il of your innocence?”

“…I just want to understand Chairman Kim Jong-il’s mindset. Only then will I be able to make my decisions.”

Once I urged him to be straightforward, he began to finally speak plainly, and I couldn’t help but smile wryly.

After acting like a weak second-in-command all this time, he was plotting behind my back.

As Jang Seong-taek filled his glass, he continued.

“Could you tell me what he plans?”

I lifted my glass to toast, following his cue. We locked eyes and emptied our cups.

After a couple of awkward moments of silence and downing several more drinks, I broke the ice first.

“Do you truly believe I’ll share that information with you? No way. I won’t say a word. And I won’t relay your grand ambitions to Chairman Kim either. So, Vice Minister, don’t expect to get what you want from me.”

“…”

“I can only assure you that whatever the Chairman is planning, it’s likely beneficial for the people. Please don’t ask me anymore. Just drink up. I’ll call someone over.”

I moved my hand to press the bell next to me. Jang Seong-taek blocked my hand and said.

“Just a moment, Mr. Kim. Just a moment.”

Without answering, I stared at Jang Seong-taek, who had grabbed my hand. He spoke urgently.

“…Is that issue a disadvantage for me?”

“Vice Minister Jang, don’t touch me without permission. This is a warning.”

I spat the words coldly, making him hastily release my hand.

“A warning?”

Our gazes clashed in the air. Jang Seong-taek, who had been staring at me silently for a brief moment, finally spoke slowly.

“A warning…”

Muttering to himself, he asked me.

“Mr. Kim, do you think I’m easy to deal with?”

“Easy? Even Kim Jong-il would have received that attitude from me. If the roles were reversed and I had grabbed your hand, how would you feel? This isn’t me underestimating you; it’s you dismissing me.”

He had treated me like an inferior. When I called him out on it, Jang Seong-taek cleared his throat awkwardly.

“I’m sorry. That was never my intention. I hope you don’t misunderstand.”

I responded to his apology with a soft smile.

Regardless of my rising irritation, he was still a useful card to play.

“Let’s stop with the heavy talk and enjoy our drinks. I’ll call for someone. And… If you truly desire a collective leadership for the people, this won’t turn out badly for you either. That is, if what you told me is the truth.”

If he genuinely aimed for collective leadership for the people, then making peace with the U.S. wouldn’t be harmful to him at all.

As I pressed the bell, the staff opened the door. Jang Seong-taek held his tongue.

That night, the drinking session continued until the early hours of the morning.

The economic inspection team from the North visited various places in just a week.

And it was the day the inspection team, having completed all their schedule, was set to return to Pyongyang.

“Did you find out anything?”

I was on my way to their accommodation to go to Pyongyang with the inspection team.

Manager Ma turned to respond to my question.

“Yes, as you mentioned, we couldn’t trace Wen Jiabao’s whereabouts at all. And Old Man Jang and his family are doing well without any issues.”

“What about the high-ranking officials in China who could help their entry instead of Wen Jiabao? If not, we might have to consider smuggling them in.”

“Just give me the word, and I can contact them anytime. The problem is that it might sour relations with Wen Jiabao.”

The current power holders in China were likely from the Shanghai faction, who probably had Wen Jiabao imprisoned.

So, if I contacted the high-ranking officials, I had to expect the relationship with Wen Jiabao to worsen.

“Let’s wait until after our trip to Pyongyang to discuss this. Keep checking for Wen Jiabao’s whereabouts in the meantime.”

While talking with Manager Ma, we arrived at the hotel where the economic inspection team was staying. After finishing the preparations, we departed for Pyongyang with them.

And there, I would face the first crisis I had experienced since my return.