Chapter 522: Will They Follow My Instructions?

Wait. Hold on a second!"

It seemed the shock was considerable, as he raised his hand to halt my words.

"Let's refrain from talking for a moment."

He looked like he needed time to think. I nodded quietly.

My throat felt dry, so I grabbed a glass of water and quietly waited for his response.

"So, let's clarify this. Mu-hyeok, are you saying that Jang Seong-taek will remove Kim Jong-il and seize power?"

"Yes. That's correct."

"…Do you really think that's possible? It won't be easy."

"This is where I need your help."

"Help? What tricky task are you planning to ask of me this time?"

He said it playfully, and I smiled as I replied.

"I plan to send mercenaries into North Korea, along with Dollars. But I hear I can't move without Russia's assistance."

"Mercenaries? Are you really thinking of using them to eliminate Kim Jong-il? Is that feasible?"

"If Jang Seong-taek can provide the exact location of Kim Jong-il, we can secure him before the support arrives. After that, Jang Seong-taek can take action. Right now, North Korea can't mobilize any troops without Kim Jong-il's orders."

Kim Jong-il probably never considered that his actions to secure his safety would endanger him instead. Thus, I intended to exploit that.

If we could take down the forces guarding him, everything else would fall into place.

If Jang Seong-taek mobilizes the Security Bureau to subdue key figures, no one would dare to rebel.

"Hmm…"

I delivered the decisive blow to his lingering doubts.

"We've confirmed the location of the nuclear weapons that passed to Kim Jong-il when the Soviet Union collapsed. Jang Seong-taek said that if the coup succeeds, he would hand them over to Russia, without any other countries knowing."

If it became known that nuclear weapons had entered North Korea from Russia, it could lead to a devastating scandal.

Recovering the weapons without other countries knowing was the Kremlin's objective.

"Is that true?"

"Yes, Jang Seong-taek confirmed it."

"Then we must aid him. We can't afford to fail, so let's ensure our special forces join in."

His decisions were as swift as his contemplations.

Russian special forces. Ordinarily, I would have welcomed this, but the situation was different.

Accepting this would come with too much risk.

"If it becomes known that Russia interfered in North Korea's internal affairs, there could be backlash. They would question the reason for deploying troops, and eventually, news about the nuclear weapons would leak."

"I don't care. Retrieving the nuclear weapons is our primary goal. If we get caught, we'll just claim it was a special operation to eradicate drug lords."

How could I persuade a person so accustomed to suppressing others and imposing his will?

Perhaps sensing my struggle, he continued speaking.

"Send about 100 Spetsnaz along with the mercenaries. Adding that many people won't be a huge issue. But how do you plan to get them in?"

"…I've heard there's a smuggling route connected to North Korea in Vladivostok."

"Really? A smuggling route to North Korea exists in Vladivostok? I had no idea."

A smile crept across his face, intrigued.

"Mr. President, smuggling 200 armed personnel into North Korea without Kim Jong-il noticing is itself a gamble."

"That's up to you. I'll separately inform the commander in the Far East."

"…There might be a confusion in the command structure."

"That too, I'll delegate to you. And no one will know they're Spetsnaz."

Spetsnaz is a term that encompasses all Russian special forces.

Each of these units belonged to different agencies, resulting in completely different characteristics and areas of operation.

"Are you perhaps considering sending soldiers from the Zaslon unit under the SVR?"

"Yes. They've kept a low profile. They have no identifying marks on them. Only the commander in charge of Zaslon knows the faces of all the unit members… They are the perfect unit for this kind of operation."

I nodded.

Zaslon was a special unit whose members were carefully selected, loyal to the country.

They were indeed suited for such a task, but they were also known for their strong pride.

"But will they follow my orders?"

"That's for you to figure out. I can give the orders, but subduing them will be your subordinates' responsibility. Am I right?"

"So you're saying I should handle the hierarchy?"

"That's right. Isn't it amusing? The world's best mercenaries, the Black Bear, and Russia's Spetsnaz sorting out their ranks."

I nearly chuckled at his enjoyment in this crucial matter.

But I managed to suppress it and spoke again.

"Mr. President, this is genuinely important to me. This needs to be resolved for me to proceed with the North project I want. The construction project for the oil pipeline from Yugansk to Korea and the railroad connecting the Korean Peninsula to Siberia. This will not only benefit me but also be a significant achievement for Russia. No, specifically, it will be your legacy."

Once I finished speaking, he met my gaze and smiled.

"That's correct. I'm aware. The best way for both you and me to achieve a win-win is for the North Korean regime to change. That's why I'm supporting you with special forces."

"I appreciate the intent, but if there are issues with the command structure, the chances of failure increase."

"Don't you trust your subordinates?"

He subtly provoked me. I couldn't appear weak here.

"Not at all. I trust them."

"Then that's good. Don't waste time worrying about things that haven't even happened yet. It's not like you."

I let out a sigh internally. It was futile to convince him further; he had already made up his mind.

"The real issue lies elsewhere. Can Jang Seong-taek truly succeed? Isn't that the problem? What are your odds, Mu-hyeok?"

The success rate. Honestly, it wasn't very high.

"Assuming everything aligns perfectly, I estimate about 50%. If variables occur, it'll drop further. To increase the chances of success, we'll need a training location. I'll set up a camp in Vladivostok and conduct specialized training until we're ready for the operation there. It'll be good for your troops to train alongside us as well."

"I'll take care of that. But half… You're actually planning to topple a state with only a 50% chance? Of all people, you, Mu-hyeok?"

He seemed quite surprised and widened his eyes.

I could have taken the safe route. But if I kept only seeking safe methods, I would inevitably become complacent.

The moment I let my guard down, I could lose everything I had.

"The risks are great, but the rewards could be just as significant. Sometimes you have to take a gamble, even if the odds are slim. That's why I've come this far."

"Right, you bet on me when I was nothing. A 50% chance? When you compare it with that time, it seems high, doesn't it?"

As he said, when we first met, I was indeed an individual with nothing to my name.

I boldly placed a bet on a politician with a former KGB background, and the gamble paid off.

Of course, that was only possible because I already knew he would become Russia's tsar.

But this task was truly uncertain, even to me. It was a future I didn't know; it was a future I would change.

"You were a lottery ticket awaiting to be scratched. I saw that potential in you, which is why I chose to befriend you. And I can prove my judgment was right by sharing drinks with you, Mr. President."

How many foreigners could enjoy a drink so casually with him inside the Kremlin?

"In hindsight, I thought initially you were insane."

Caught off guard by his confession, I burst into laughter.

"Insane?"

"Showing up out of nowhere, saying you'd sponsor me, and wanting to be friends… I was curious as to what a successful person like you saw in a no-name like me. Honestly, I still am."

It was an obvious decision, knowing the future. But I couldn't say that out loud.

If I did, they would think I was truly insane.

"Well, you could say I was exploring options to invest in Russia. Strangely, you kept catching my eye, so I requested a meeting. Once we met, my instinct screamed to invest. That's why I decided to invest so quickly."

Even with my vague excuse about instinct, he nodded in satisfaction, subtly lifting one corner of his mouth.

From that point, our conversation veered from the topic as we reminisced about our journey together from that first meeting to now.

However, this was not the time for sentimental discussions.

After exchanging a few drinks, I redirected the conversation toward what I desired.

"Will you support the sanctions?"

"Of course. Kim Jong-il has crossed the line. He should have known better. No matter how special our position makes us sympathize with North Korea, it's still wrong. I will definitely support the sanctions. It won't be abstention; I'm all in."

The other member states of the Security Council would be persuaded by the U.S., and I had convinced China and Russia.

This implied a unanimous passage of sanctions against North Korea.

It was satisfying, but there was a slight concern, so I preemptively informed him.

"Alright. Just to let you know in advance, joint drills between the U.S. and Korea are on the agenda. This isn't a training exercise aimed at threatening Russia, but rather a routine exercise to put pressure on North Korea, so please bear with it."

"I've already received the report. They notified me from the U.S. Embassy."

It seemed America had already notified Russia. Yet he shrugged it off nonchalantly.

"I don't really care. After all, the U.S. won't dare to wage war against us. If they did, it would lead to mutual destruction."

His expression overflowed with confidence. Well, he wasn't entirely wrong.

"Thank you. Then, I will handle everything related to North Korea as I mentioned earlier. Let's support Jang Seong-taek in removing Kim Jong-il."

"Does the U.S. or China know about this?"

"No. I only mentioned it to you, Mr. President. Such major matters should only be discussed with friends, right?"

"Haha! Indeed, friend."

While he wasn't unaware that it sounded nice, he laughed heartily.

"Oh, and I've heard that discussions regarding the oil pipeline project with China have been sluggish."

"Hmm, that's true. There are various issues, but the biggest problem is China's attitude. They want to lead the oil pipeline project. Honestly, that bothers me. I don't trust China."

It was amusing how these same types would despise one another.

But, masking my true feelings, I cautiously broached the subject.

"So, Mr. President, may I take over that project?"

"You? The oil pipeline construction is national infrastructure. You won't gain anything by investing in it."

"As a Russian oil company owner, I have the need to solidify national infrastructure as well. Of course, I'm not saying I'd do it for free. I'll create a consortium in the middle to ensure both Chinese and Russian companies can participate without unnecessary fighting. Naturally, we'll handle the construction."

He looked interested, though he seemed curious why I was so keen.

"If it's you, I can trust you to handle it. But is there really a need for you to be directly involved? You don't have to connect it with China… You can delay it."

"The Chinese government wants that. They asked me to resolve that for the sanctions."

I relayed the details of my negotiations with China.

"Haha! The Chinese are amusing. Alright, discuss with Medvedev for the details and get the ball rolling. I'll make sure to mention it myself."

"Thank you."

He agreed readily. The master of the Kremlin was generally agreeable unless it risked him significantly.

Because of the connections we had before his rise, things went smoothly.

"By the way, Mr. President, I've been hearing strange rumors lately. Is there truth to them?"

"What rumors are you talking about?"

"The rumors that, as the construction of the oil pipeline into China encounters difficulties, there are plans to build a pipeline to Japan."