Chapter 577: Make Arrangements First

Jang Seong-taek's face turned as pale as linen upon hearing my words.

Seeing his expression, I picked a grape from the bowl in front of me, trying to lighten the mood, and popped it into my mouth.

But contrary to my expectations, a disagreeable sweetness lingered on my palate.

"…Kim Mu-hyeok, what exactly is going on here?"

Jang Seong-taek asked in a trembling voice, as if striving to keep his emotions in check.

"Please don't misunderstand. It was an action taken to protect your daughter."

"Protect?"

"Yes. What would you do if your daughter were to fall into the hands of Kim Jong-il or a rival of the Vice Chairman?"

At my question, Jang Seong-taek bit his lip tightly.

"If I know the Vice Chairman as I do, I believe he would willingly relinquish his power for his daughter's sake. That's why I mobilized the Black Bear's European branch to secretly keep an eye on her while she is in France."

Both Jang Seong-taek and I understood that while the intent was to protect, other motivations also lurked beneath.

A chill swept through the restaurant as an uncomfortable silence gripped the air.

Breaking the long silence, Jang Seong-taek finally spoke up.

"Mr. Kim Mu-hyeok, if you attempt to threaten me using my daughter, I'll stake everything I have to fight you."

"Don't worry. After all, it's just protection."

Jang Seong-taek's only child was Jang Geum-song.

Though his heart had already drifted from Kim Kyung-hee, his attachment to Jang Geum-song ran deeper than anyone else's.

"Your daughter is not one that needs protection. She has been living incognito while studying abroad. It would be better not to engage in anything that might reveal her identity…"

I shook my head firmly.

"That was before the Vice Chairman gained real power. Now, everyone will be keenly searching for your weaknesses. Perhaps by now, even France might be aware of it?"

France maintained a relatively close relationship with North Korea among the EU nations.

Though they hadn't established formal diplomatic ties, there were instances when they held summits while Kim Il-sung was still alive.

North Korean elites frequently sought medical assistance from French practitioners for their ailments.

At times, they even traveled to France, and when Kim Jong-il or his family fell ill, medical personnel were sent from France.

'Thanks to that, they have more high-level information on North Korea than any other place.'

Whenever North Korean officials stayed at luxurious hotels in France for medical treatment, the French intelligence service would eavesdrop on them, gathering information through various means.

"There's a reason why the children of high-ranking North Korean officials can come and go freely in France. No one knows North Korea better than them. Do you honestly think they wouldn't be aware of this?"

"…So what difference does it make if they know?"

Jang Seong-taek muttered weakly.

There was a reason Kim Jong-il referred to Jang Seong-taek as weak.

"Haven't I already told you? What was true then is not necessarily true now. The leader of a nation, especially of a closed-off one. What do you think it signifies that his only daughter is in France? Someone could exploit her to manipulate you in a nefarious manner."

The first thing I did upon getting involved in Afghanistan was sending the elite members' children to study in the UK.

Ahmad Shah Masoud, who became Afghanistan's leader, agreed with my suggestion and sent not only his own children but also those of other high-ranking officials to study abroad.

This represented a chance for them to receive quality education, but it also served as a means of holding them hostage.

Once their children were held hostage, the high-ranking officials had no choice but to comply with Ahmad Shah Masoud's commands.

Was North Korea any different? No, it would be more intense than that.

"I'm doing this to prevent any potential mishaps. If the Vice Chairman makes the wrong choice, it puts me in a difficult position."

"If that's your concern, I will send a security team from our Republic to protect her."

"That's quite an amusing suggestion. Are you advertising that the only daughter of Jang Seong-taek is studying in France? The movements here in Pyongyang are under intense scrutiny from intelligence agencies worldwide. Can you maneuver under the radar without them noticing?"

He raised a trembling hand and downed the glass of liquor before him in one swift motion.

"You say it's protection, but isn't it essentially taking her hostage? My daughter, who knows nothing…"

It seemed he missed the point when his daughter was involved.

There was nothing more grating than the nonsensical mutterings of an intelligent individual.

I shot him a cold glare, prompting Jang Seong-taek to flinch and fall silent.

"If the Vice Chairman harbors no ill intentions, there's no reason for your daughter to be a hostage. We are partners. Above all, I want your daughter and you to be safe more than anyone else."

"…"

With a gentle smile, Jang Seong-taek relaxed his tense shoulders.

But it was only for a moment; I wiped the smile from my face and continued.

"Do you not trust me? Or do you have other thoughts?"

Once Jang Seong-taek reached out to shake my hand, Jang Geum-song became someone I needed to protect.

"I don't understand why you react so sensitively. If I genuinely intended to take your daughter hostage, I would not be speaking this way. I would simply observe and then disclose the information publicly if things went awry. Am I wrong?"

Instead of responding, Jang Seong-taek closed his eyes.

Perhaps he was finding his thoughts, remaining motionless.

However, granting him time would only serve to provide him with an escape route.

I resolved to press him instead.

Rapping my fingertip on the table, Jang Seong-taek opened his eyes.

"Mr. Vice Chairman, I'd like to share a discovery we've made since we've been protecting your daughter. Do you know how many watchers are keeping an eye on Jang Geum-song?"

Jang Seong-taek's eyes widened, he seemed so shocked that he stuttered his words.

"W-what do you mean by that?"

"It's exactly what it sounds like. There are three teams of watchers around Jang Geum-song. It could be information agencies from different countries, or perhaps organizations looking to exploit her. Since there hasn't been any physical confrontation, we've refrained from taking any hasty measures."

Jang Seong-taek slammed his hand on the table.

"How dare! How dare anyone watch my daughter? No, how do they even know she's my daughter?"

"Isn't it more bizarre if they don't know? You can trace them by following the countries Jang Geum-song has visited. And remember, there was an incident where you got caught with a fake passport while entering Norway to meet her. People must have started talking."

"T-that…"

"Stop pretending you're clueless. Do you believe that someone would kidnap Kim Jong-il's family and think they could let their own daughter live freely as a commoner?"

Jang Seong-taek hung his head. He likely already knew the truth but wished to turn a blind eye.

Such is a parent's heart. I let out a small sigh before speaking up.

"Mr. Vice Chairman, it's going to be a treacherous path from now on. Someone will oppose your reforms, and others will look to seize your position. Even the omnipotent Kim Jong-il faced two coup attempts, right? Do you really think you can keep your seat comfortably?"

Although I could have kept it secret, I deliberately brought up Jang Geum-song's case.

This person still hadn't realized the gravity of his position, so some urgency was necessary.

How desperate must Kim Jong-il have been to ask for my help with Jang Seong-taek?

"You need to be more resolute. If you show weakness to demonstrate that you are different from Kim Jong-il, the wolves will leap on you. Look at the special economic zones. When Kim Jong-il proposed such initiatives, who dared to oppose him? But once you presented those plans, there were now those who dare oppose you. If it were Kim Jong-il, opponents would have been swiftly executed."

Once he firmly secured his grip on power, it was one matter, but now was not the time to display weakness.

"You must act decisively for the time being. Remove those who oppose you, surround yourself with allies, and work together. This is the fate of one who wields power in North Korea."

Jang Seong-taek's eyes shook as if experiencing an earthquake from my cold words.

"How could Kim Jong-il say to me to take good care of him? Mercy? Leniency? That's fine, it's all good. Even if we let Kim Jong-il live, those who needed to be eliminated should have been. Later, they will have to consider international opinion before they kill. So take care of everything now."

It would require him to reflect on his decisions. I braced myself against the table, rising from my seat.

"I plan to take a stroll around Nampo City tomorrow morning. Would that be alright?"

There was no response.

"I'll take that as a yes. Please send someone tomorrow morning. For now, I will take my leave."

I nodded goodbye and turned away, but the dazed Jang Seong-taek made no move to stop me.

Oh, I should mention something else.

"Ah, lastly, I have something to tell you regarding your daughter."

Only then did Jang Seong-taek turn his gaze towards me.

"Your daughter seems to have a French boyfriend. Their relationship looks quite serious."

"What?"

It seemed Jang Seong-taek wasn't aware of Jang Geum-song's boyfriend yet.

"I have no intention of meddling in family affairs, but… Just let them be. I'm aware that the love between you and Kim Kyung-hee hasn't been smooth either. So please, instead of rejecting her because he's foreign, support your daughter."

"…I'll handle it myself."

Now he has one more worry on his shoulders.

But this was well-needed advice. The longer Jang Geum-song lived, the easier it would be to shake Jang Seong-taek off balance.

"Mr. Vice Chairman, if you want your daughter to live a normal life, I advise you to let it be. Well, this is just my unnecessary interference, so feel free to disregard it."

"…"

"However, I sincerely hope you make the right decision. Now is not the time to tremble but to forge ahead."

With that said, I exited the restaurant.

I caught a glimpse of the pensive Jang Seong-taek through the slowly closing door.

* * *

Jang Seong-taek, left alone, raised his glass and fell deep into thought.

'What Mr. Kim Mu-hyeok said isn't entirely wrong.'

The two who moved the militaries had to be killed; they couldn't be left alive.

They led the military directly, aiming their guns.

Had it not been for Kim Jong-il's authority, a lot of blood might have been spilled.

'To prove I'm different from Comrade Chairman, I can't afford to avoid killing people entirely?'

The anxiety of potentially using Jang Geum-song awakened the cruelty hidden deep within Jang Seong-taek.

'…Within the need to consolidate power, I must get my hands dirty.'

Rising from his seat, Jang Seong-taek headed towards his office.

Upon arriving in his office, he picked up the receiver.

"This is Jang Seong-taek speaking."

"Yes, comrade Vice Chairman."

"Right now, place everyone I mention under house arrest. They are not to step even a foot outside."

Jang Seong-taek coldly listed the names of those who opposed his policies.

After mentioning the names of all seven individuals, he said icily,

"Execute it immediately. Understood?"

"Yes! I will follow your orders."

The man who received Jang Seong-taek's commands was Ri Cheol-seung, who had just temporarily assumed the position of the National Security Department.

"Do it stealthily and swiftly."

"Yes! I will handle it."

"And… if they resist even a bit, feel free to kill them."

"Excuse me?"

"I said you can kill them! Do you understand?"

"Ah! Yes, I understand!"

A chilling aura enveloped Jang Seong-taek.

That night, gunfire echoed throughout Pyongyang.