Chapter 429: Tear Each Other Apart

Huh Tae-min arrived at Song Chan-hyeok’s officetel in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province. When he pressed the bell, Song Chan-hyeok opened the door himself.

Huh Tae-min entered alone without any aides.

Inside, there was no one else except Song Chan-hyeok.

After scanning the interior for any other presence, Huh Tae-min confirmed they were alone and finally extended his hand.

“Good to see you Candidate Song Chan-hyeok.”

“Likewise, Candidate Huh Tae-min.”

Song Chan-hyeok returned the greeting with a smile and shook his hand.

After the greeting, Song Chan-hyeok led Huh Tae-min to the living room.

Instead of sitting down, Song Chan-hyeok went to the kitchen to brew coffee.

Huh Tae-min watched with curiosity. Did he send away all the staff for this?

“You even brew your own coffee? That’s unexpected.”

“Haha. Just because I’m from a chaebol doesn’t mean I leave everything to the staff, Congressman. One should do what they can do themselves. I brew coffee and cook my own meals too.”

Song Chan-hyeok skillfully brewed the coffee and brought the cups to the table.

As he set a cup in front of Huh Tae-min, he said,

“Though I made it myself, the aroma is quite good. Please try it.”

“Coffee brewed by Candidate Song Chan-hyeok himself – I’m honored.”

Song Chan-hyeok sat down and lifted his coffee cup first, savoring the aroma before taking a sip.

Huh Tae-min followed suit and lifted his cup. After just one sip, he set the cup down and wiped away his friendly smile before speaking.

“Let’s get to the point. We’re not people with time to spare, are we?”

Though the atmosphere changed instantly, Song Chan-hyeok simply nodded as if nothing was amiss.

Setting down his cup, he met Huh Tae-min’s eyes.

“Very well. Let’s hear why you proposed this secret meeting, Candidate Huh Tae-min.”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. At this rate neither of us has any chance of winning, do we?”

“I wouldn’t know about that.”

Growing impatient with Song Chan-hyeok’s continued feigned ignorance, Huh Tae-min spoke up.

“Look here, Candidate Song. Let’s have an honest discussion. There’s no time for games. We have less than a month left.”

Huh Tae-min was desperate.

Now that Yoon Chang-ho had claimed the initiative on separating ruling party and Blue House power, they couldn’t take control of that issue even by copying his platform.

Moreover, Huh Tae-min absolutely did not want to give up his party authority.

“Then concede to me.”

Song Chan-hyeok spoke calmly. He already knew Huh Tae-min was the desperate one.

“Look here, Congressman Song.”

“Unifying behind me gives us the best chance of defeating Candidate Yoon Chang-ho. You know this too, don’t you?”

What unfounded confidence, honestly. While internally clicking his tongue, Huh Tae-min maintained his poker face as he spoke.

“Do you think the public will quietly watch a chaebol become president? Don’t be fooled by the approval ratings. It’s all an illusion. Didn’t Chairman Song run for president trusting only in the polls? You know well what happened after that. Surely you don’t want to follow the same path as him?”

The moment Chairman Song Young-ju was mentioned, the smile disappeared from Song Chan-hyeok’s face.

“Choose your words carefully, Congressman Huh Tae-min. Why bring up my father’s name here?”

“I say this out of concern. Politics isn’t something that can be led by approval ratings alone. Even if you were elected president, what could you accomplish without the National Assembly’s support?”

Though it sounded like concern for Song Chan-hyeok on the surface, contempt lurked beneath.

“Do you think you have the capability to gain support from the Moderate Party like President Kim Hak-gwon? That would be hard to guarantee. But I can do it. That’s political skill. Candidate Song, right now you’re so intoxicated by approval ratings that you can’t even see what’s right in front of you.”

“…Never mention my father again. The moment you bring up my father’s name one more time, this deal is off. Understood?”

But Song Chan-hyeok seemed to hear nothing, only glaring at Huh Tae-min.

Reading the anger in Song Chan-hyeok’s eyes, Huh Tae-min raised both hands.

“Calm down. I said it out of concern for you, so don’t get excited. Anyway, you can’t deny what I’m saying is true. Answer me. Can you gain the Moderate Party’s support?”

“Whatever you can do, I can do too. There’s no reason I can’t.”

Song Chan-hyeok spoke confidently, and Huh Tae-min shook his head.

“Me stepping down would require our party members’ understanding. And they won’t understand.”

“Then let’s forget about unification. I see no reason to unify. There’s still a month until the election and no one knows the outcome, right?”

“Look here, Congressman Song.”

Though Huh Tae-min called out in frustration, Song Chan-hyeok calmly corrected him.

“Presidential candidate. Candidate Huh Tae-min.”

“Right, Candidate Song. Let’s not be like this and reach an agreement. Public opinion polls and party member votes – let’s split it fifty-fifty.”

“Talk sense. If we hold a party member vote, I’m guaranteed to lose, aren’t I?”

Song Chan-hyeok scoffed at the transparent suggestion. Though he had founded the party, it was barely established with just the basics in place.

“Then what do you suggest? Should we just lose to the Moderate Party like this?”

“Let’s do public opinion polls. I’ll accept that.”

The current gap between Song Chan-hyeok and Huh Tae-min’s approval ratings was about 5%. Of course, Song Chan-hyeok was ahead.

Determining unification through polls would definitely disadvantage Huh Tae-min.

“What nonsense! Leaving it entirely to polls? That’s unprecedented!”

The two men held firm to their positions as negotiations continued intensely.

After about two hours of parallel discussions, Huh Tae-min was the one who finally backed down.

“We can’t let our country fall into the hands of a loan shark. You agree with that, right?”

“Are you referring to CEO Kim Mu-hyeok?”

“That’s right. That man is truly frightening. He understands and uses the law better than anyone. On top of that, he’s not afraid to use violence when the law doesn’t work.”

Song Chan-hyeok remained silent.

“Daehyeon Group would know better, wouldn’t they? Originally after Chairman Song Young-ju passed away, the siblings should have split up the affiliates and divided the company. But what’s happening now? Chairman Song Chan-woo has a tight grip on Daehyeon. And CEO Kim Mu-hyeok is backing him up.”

“Let’s stop this discussion. It’s irrelevant to the matter at hand.”

Though Song Chan-hyeok cut him off firmly, Huh Tae-min continued undeterred.

“Look here, Candidate Song. Don’t turn away from reality. The more I know about that man, the more frightening he becomes. We absolutely cannot let Yoon Chang-ho take power. If that happens, no one knows where Korea will end up.”

“…You seem quite afraid of CEO Kim Mu-hyeok.”

“Even that fearsome former President Choi Seon-man was trapped because of Kim Mu-hyeok. Even President Kim Hak-gwon is moving according to his wishes.”

Song Chan-hyeok let out a long sigh and looked at Huh Tae-min.

“Then what are you suggesting?”

“Let’s unify. And let’s win. I’ll concede. I’ll accept unification based solely on polls. But regardless of the outcome, whoever wins must pursue a party merger.”

Song Chan-hyeok asked with a surprised expression.

“You’re really saying you’ll proceed with polls alone?”

Huh Tae-min nodded. Then leaning forward and lowering his voice, he continued.

“However…”

* * *

After listening to all the recorded content, I snickered.

“Huh Tae-min, that fellow is plotting something interesting.”

Manager Ma, who had removed the CD from the player, came and stood beside me.

“Haha, seems Congressman Huh really dislikes me. Did I do something to offend him?”

“Indeed. Nothing good will come from leaving him be.”

Song Chan-hyeok eventually agreed to Huh Tae-min’s proposal to secretly investigate me, regardless of who becomes president.

Then came the secret deals.

If Huh Tae-min becomes president, he’ll help Song Chan-hyeok take control of Daehyeon Group.

If Song Chan-hyeok becomes president, he’ll guarantee Huh Tae-min’s nomination rights. Of course, Song Chan-hyeok’s shares would also be guaranteed.

Though unification through polls seemed advantageous to Song Chan-hyeok at first glance, the ultimate winner was Huh Tae-min.

“What should we do…”

I had already used up the leverage I had on Huh Tae-min.

I could use it again, but that would cause backlash.

Those who’d had their weaknesses exposed by me might make desperate moves.

So I couldn’t use it again. A promise had to be kept.

If that trust broke, it was obvious no one would deal with me anymore.

“Edit only the parts where my name appears and leak it to the press. They’ll announce the unification tonight. Let them dream happy dreams for a few days. When news of their backdoor deals starts breaking, they’ll be busy tearing each other apart. The unification will be nullified. Two days later would be good.”

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

Drumming my fingers on the table in thought, I added,

“Make it look like Song Chan-hyeok’s aide leaked it to progressive media outlets, and like Huh Tae-min’s aide leaked it to conservative outlets.”

Tear each other apart.

Kill each other.

And fall into the abyss.

They might have been better off dying now.

Because hell would await them once the presidential election ended.

A sinister smile had crept onto my lips without me realizing.

News of Huh Tae-min and Song Chan-hyeok’s successful unification negotiations shook the presidential race.

At their dawn press conference, they declared they would leave their fate in the hands of the people.

From morning, everyone from suited office workers to laborers in work clothes buzzed with discussion about it.

The news that Huh Tae-min had conceded in the unification negotiations greatly improved his image.

Yoon Chang-ho offered no opinion on the matter, simply continuing his scheduled activities as usual.

He didn’t say a single word about their unification.

And afterward.

Starting with the Goryeo Daily, the dirty backdoor deals they’d made at the negotiating table were exposed.

An hour after the article was published, Party Leader Yoon Chang-ho held a press conference.

– Respected citizens, this is presidential candidate Yoon Chang-ho. Everywhere I went yesterday, people asked me what I thought about the two candidates’ unification. I thought I should simply continue on my path and respected the two candidates’ decision. But after reading today’s Goryeo Daily article, I made a resolution. I will not stand idly by. If these dealings are true, there could be no greater corruption than this. This is a behind-closed-doors collusion that goes against both history and the people.

Yoon Chang-ho held a press conference as if he’d been prepared, and didn’t hesitate to make strong statements.

However, Huh Tae-min and Song Chan-hyeok had no time to worry about Yoon Chang-ho.

The most problematic statement was that if unified under Huh Tae-min and he won, he would use investigative agencies to help Song Chan-hyeok take control of Daehyeon Group.

This meant public power would be used for private gain.

This was absolutely something a presidential candidate should never say.

The two began attacking each other. The unification fell apart and they were busy criticizing one another.

Amidst the chaos, Yoon Chang-ho stopped speaking about this issue.

Even in TV debates, while Yoon Chang-ho didn’t bring up this matter, Huh Tae-min and Song Chan-hyeok continued to attack each other.

The day before polling was banned, most published polls showed Yoon Chang-ho’s support exceeding 50%.

In some polls it approached 60%. This was an impossible approval rating in Korea where regional sentiments and progressive-conservative divides were clear.

Time passed and election day arrived.

Early in the morning, I arrived at the polling station with Manager Ma.

“There aren’t many people here.”

Since it was still early, except for a few elderly people, there weren’t many voters.

After showing my ID and receiving my ballot, I entered the curtained voting booth.

On the ballot listing several candidates’ names, I stamped next to Yoon Chang-ho’s name.

After inserting my ballot in the box, I left the polling station.

The morning sun was slowly rising. I left the polling place with a smile on my face.