Chapter 338: Am I So Easy to Handle?

“Are you asking me to persuade Russia?”

I couldn’t help but be taken aback by the unexpected comment.

I had never imagined I would receive the same proposal from the U.S. that I had presented to Putin.

“Yes. It would be great if you could support the war for the liberation of Iraq, but if that’s too difficult, at least abstain from voting. Currently, we believe the ideal person to bridge the gap between the U.S. and Russia is you.”

The ambassador’s office fell into a brief silence.

Secretary Powell was silently sipping his tea, while Rice stared directly at me.

Ambassador Thomas looked back and forth between Rice and me, his face a mask of surprise.

“Hmm… Do you really think Russia will accept that proposal?”

“If we propose it, they likely won’t. But I believe you can make it happen—if what we know is true.”

“What do you know?”

“Charlie, who has backed Putin since the West, including the U.S. and Western Europe, showed no interest in him, is his friend and political partner. Isn’t that right?”

Rice’s blunt remarks plunged me into contemplation immediately.

‘What should I do…?’

It wasn’t just about me suggesting negotiations; the fact that the U.S. was making the first approach held immense weight.

Initially, I thought it would be a negotiation to secure one gain, but now it seemed there could be two, even three.

I needed to contemplate what the U.S. could and couldn’t accept from this point forward.

For now, I decided to lay out a foundation carefully and prod it subtly.

“While it’s true we have some acquaintance, calling it a political partnership seems a bit much.”

“You’re the only person who can share a drink alone with Putin, aside from Medvedev, Charlie.”

I was nearly struck speechless by that statement.

Until now, I had thought the U.S. was entirely focused on the Middle East, ignoring Russia.

Apparently, the U.S. had never once taken its eyes off Russia.

“Why do you think that?”

“We are the United States. Naturally, it’s our duty to keep an eye on Putin’s every move. We know when he entered his secret villa and when Charlie’s car went inside afterward. We also know that Charlie didn’t leave until dawn.”

“Hmm…”

Somehow, I found myself in the scenario of being monitored. Moreover, Rice’s straightforward way of speaking was subtly irritating.

The best way to protest without saying a word was to pretend to ponder deeply and stall.

The longer my contemplation lasted, the more anxious the U.S. became.

Perhaps that was why Powell stepped in to change the atmosphere.

“Calm down, Rice. You’re being too combative.”

“Mr. Secretary of State.”

“I’ll handle this. You just step back for a moment.”

“I still don’t understand why we need the UN’s support.”

“Ah! President Bush has already granted permission. And now you’re putting pressure on me?”

Perhaps because it was not an official setting, the two didn’t hide their differences in opinion.

As Powell raised his voice, Rice shrugged and took a step back.

Powell sighed deeply at that sight.

“Charlie, we need your help.”

“I understand. I’ve heard that there’s talk of putting forth a resolution on the invasion of Iraq at the UN after this East Asia tour.”

“Invasion? No, we’re moving forward to liberate the Iraqi people.”

I incredulously asked in response to Rice’s sharp tone.

“Does it really matter whether you call it an invasion or a liberation war? The act of invading another country remains the same.”

As Rice opened her mouth to retort, Powell raised his hand to stop her.

“Rice, I said I would speak.”

“…That’s irritating.”

Rice muttered to herself in annoyance, but she didn’t interrupt any further.

Looking fatigued, Powell shook his head and said,

“You’re right. Whether it’s an invasion or a liberation war, it’s all just wordplay in the end. We can’t ignore the international community’s gaze, and we must pass the UN resolution to gain legitimacy.”

No matter how powerful the U.S. was, they had to consider the world’s opinions.

“I know you want to gain the justification for war by securing the UN’s support. But will China and Russia actually agree to that?”

“We received confirmation that China will abstain. Now we only need to persuade Russia.”

“China is going to abstain?”

While I had suspected this, it was still shocking news.

I had anticipated that the current China might either abstain or support based on the future I knew, and I had told Putin there was a high chance of that.

But to have already secured an agreement to abstain—it was progressing more rapidly than I had thought.

Powell nodded nonchalantly and continued speaking.

“That’s right. If we convince Russia, the resolution can pass.”

The neocons, including Dick Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Rice, were adamant that the U.S. should invade Iraq, while Powell held a more skeptical stance.

It was rumored that Powell had had heated clashes with Dick Cheney, particularly sparking whispers in Washington.

For some time, a frost had settled in the White House due to the argument between Powell, who advocated for diplomatic solutions, and Cheney, who preferred military actions.

“After asking President Bush one last time, we concluded we’ll present a resolution. Even if the resolution doesn’t pass, a war will still occur. At that point, it’ll no longer be a liberation war, but an invasion of Iraq. But if the resolution passes, that means it’s the will of the UN. Korea should understand well what that means, considering how the UN resolution during the Korean War led to the Combined Forces aiding Korea.”

“Hmm…”

Unlike Rice, who was blunt, Powell had a tendency to apply pressure subtly.

He was framing it as Korea and I being on the same side.

Since Korea had received American support during the Korean War, he implied that Korea should now aid them in return.

I had expected that after years of rolling around the battlefield, he would have reverted to being a sly politician by now.

“Don’t equate Korea and me.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Powell quickly denied it, but I didn’t stop there.

“What did you promise China? The fact that China is willing to abstain means you promised them something of considerable magnitude. You must understand that to persuade Putin.”

Both Powell and Rice’s faces stiffened simultaneously.

Perhaps they hadn’t expected me to ask that, as they exchanged glances without responding.

“Surely you promised something substantial enough to convince China to abstain. Personally, I believe it might be linked to a sudden shift in policy regarding North Korea. Am I wrong?”

It seemed I had hit the nail on the head; signs of change appeared on Powell and Rice’s faces.

“Don’t think you can just use me. Aren’t we supposed to be negotiating now? I was asked to attend a banquet just yesterday and then was threatened by NSA, and now you send Jessica, someone I recognize, to placate me. Moreover, today, Rice distanced herself from the matter. Am I really that easy to manipulate?”

“Kim Mu-hyeok!”

Thomas called my name in Korean, his urgency palpable. I ignored him.

The sudden appearance of the NSA, alongside Jessica showing up, and today’s meeting—it felt like a well-scripted performance.

I couldn’t tell if it was their confidence in manipulating me or if it was a threat, but it left a bad taste in my mouth.

“Wait a moment. What do you mean that the NSA threatened you?”

But Powell seemed oblivious and instead threw the question back at me.

“Yesterday, they came to find me and said, ‘We are watching you. So hand over the information we want.'”

I pulled out a business card from my pocket and flicked it between my fingers.`

At that, Powell turned his head toward Rice.

“Is that true?”

“…”

“Hah… Why are you proceeding with things so recklessly?”

Rice glared at me, her lips firmly pressed together.

“Speak up. Why have you gone this far? I just can’t understand.”

“I just found out today. I was contacted by the Department of Homeland Security this morning, and when I asked Rumsfeld, he said he knew nothing about it.”

“So Rumsfeld suddenly canceled his promise. Damn, and I feel like I’m the only fool for not knowing that.”

Powell shot a furious glance at Rice.

“I know you all dislike me, but I’m the Secretary of State. I cannot allow you to conduct such matters without my involvement.”

“I told you it wasn’t something I knew!”

Rice shouted back without taking it to heart. I watched their silent clash with astonishment.

‘What the hell…?’

There couldn’t be a bigger mess than this. I hadn’t expected smooth proceedings given their differing perspectives, but this was absurdly chaotic.

Clearing my throat lightly, I caught Powell’s gaze and spoke firmly.

“I won’t let this matter just slide by.”

With those words, Powell turned back toward me.

“Charlie, this is our fault. I’m really sorry.”

Powell bowed slightly in apology, and both Thomas and Rice looked astonished.

“Mr. Secretary!”

“Rice. Don’t say another word. Don’t test my patience any further.”

After warning Rice, Powell continued, his voice far calmer and more serious than before.

“We intended to utilize your friendship with Putin. But we’ve clearly gone about it the wrong way. I apologize on behalf of the U.S.”

With Powell addressing it in such terms, I couldn’t remain angry any longer.

“Alright. I won’t make an issue out of this any longer.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

Powell smiled at my words.

A moment of awkward silence passed, but it didn’t last long.

“Then, will you persuade Putin for us?”

“You mentioned that I’m meeting you for three reasons. I’d like to hear the other two before I answer.”

“Ah, the final one is quite simple. We would like you to acquire Enron for Dream High.”

“You want us to acquire Enron?”

“Yes. Currently, there are only a few investment firms in the U.S. capable of doing that, and Dream High is the best fit among them.”

For a moment, I was speechless at the request to acquire Enron.

“But didn’t Enron already file for bankruptcy protection?”

“If someone doesn’t step in as a lifeguard, bankruptcy is a certainty.”

“Yet you want us to acquire a company whose stocks are basically worthless?”

“In return, we’ll offer you tax benefits and various conveniences.”

It was hardly an attractive proposal. I shook my head decisively to reject it.

“That’s not tempting at all. Isn’t there greater accounting fraud than what’s already known? Like the swaps related to the World Cup, for instance?”

“…”

Powell’s stoic expression wavered momentarily before quickly returning to calm.

“Yes, that’s correct. But those issues stem from executive mistakes, not from the staff beneath them. Countless people will be left homeless.”

“I’ll consider it. But don’t have high expectations. I’ll discuss it with James and get back to you.”

It seemed Powell didn’t expect to convince me in one go; he nodded and took a step back.

“Now, let’s talk about the Russian matter more seriously. If I help with this, what will I gain?”

“If you persuade Russia, you can have whatever you wish, as long as it’s legal.”

“…You’re being overly confident. Do you know what I actually want?”

“I believe the risk is less than if the resolution doesn’t pass.”

Hearing that they’d grant any wish made me smile.

Maybe I should throw out the biggest request first.

“Alright. Then I want half of the reconstruction project after the Iraq war. But remember, this is only my personal compensation. You’ll still need to prepare something separate for Russia.”

“What do you mean?! Are you out of your mind?”

Unable to hold back any longer, Rice sprang to her feet.

“You want half of the reconstruction project? Do you know how large that project is?”

I and Powell merely gazed up at Rice with cold looks, saying nothing.

Her reaction was essentially an admission that the war in Iraq was about more than just Hussein’s ousting; it also involved a multitude of interests.