Chapter 559: Everything Is for the Republic

Kim Jong-il turned at the sound of the door opening.

Jang Seong-taek hobbled in, leaning on crutches.

"Comrade Chairman, it's me, Jang Seong-taek."

Jang Seong-taek bowed slightly in greeting before pulling a chair and sitting in front of him.

"Manager Jang—no, brother-in-law. What's going on? What's the situation? What do they want? Tell me."

"Comrade Chairman…"

But Jang Seong-taek only maintained a stern expression, calling out to him.

Noticing the serious look, Kim Jong-il asked with a quiver in his voice.

"Why are you taking so long to speak?"

"They want you to withdraw from the frontline, Comrade Chairman."

"What?!"

With his eyes wide open, Kim Jong-il raised his voice.

"What do you mean? Are they trying to oust me? Do they really think they can do that? Or…"

Interrupting Kim Jong-il, Jang Seong-taek said.

"Comrade Chairman, it's already over."

Caught off guard by Jang Seong-taek cutting him off, Kim Jong-il narrowed his eyes.

Until now, Jang Seong-taek had never interrupted him.

"Your life is already in their hands. To handle this situation, we have no choice but to meet their demands."

"Manager Jang! You can't be serious…"

Kim Jong-il's eyes trembled.

"That's right. I've allied myself with those people. They will spare your life and your family's only under that condition."

"You bastard!"

Jumping from his seat, Kim Jong-il dashed forward and slapped Jang Seong-taek across the face.

With a loud crack, Jang Seong-taek's head turned to the side.

"How dare you!"

Jang Seong-taek slowly turned his head back.

Kim Jong-il swung his hand to slap him again.

Jang Seong-taek caught Kim Jong-il's hand.

"Comrade Chairman, please stop."

Jang Seong-taek's lip was split, blood oozing from the wound.

"What? You bastard! Do you want to die?"

"If I die, not only will you die, but the entire bloodline of Baekdu will perish. Even Jeong-un behind you will die."

Releasing Kim Jong-il's hand, Jang Seong-taek wiped his bloody lips with his hand.

"Who will you trust now? If it weren't me and another person was in charge, do you think you and your family would be safe? Of course not. No one can let you live because as long as you're alive, you can instigate a coup under your name whenever you want."

"…"

Kim Jong-il's face turned crimson, his hands trembling.

"Do not suggest that someone who understands the nature of power does not comprehend its coldness. I too had to make this choice to survive. I am also a branch of the Baekdu bloodline."

"Don't you dare speak nonsense. I am Kim Jong-il. I am the Republic, and the Republic is me!"

"So will we all die together? If we stop here, we will die. They have no plans of halting. Comrade Chairman."

"…Who are they?"

Upon Kim Jong-il's inquiry, Jang Seong-taek responded.

"The U.S., China, and Russia have already reached an agreement. You will resign, I will seize power, and if I give up the nuclear weapons, all economic sanctions will be lifted."

"What?! Is that even possible?"

"Because you chose isolation, countries that can never mix like oil and water have united. The geographic advantages of the Republic should have been utilized to negotiate with them long ago."

This was also something Jang Seong-taek had argued for a long time.

The Republic's geographical advantages were too obvious.

It shared a border with South Korea, which is the U.S.'s blood ally, while China and Russia block it from the north.

Some might have called it the worst location, but Jang Seong-taek didn't think that way.

If it had maintained neutrality without leaning toward either China or Russia and had managed the tightrope of diplomacy…

Then the Republic would have enjoyed a prosperity that rivaled South Korea.

"Why do you think the Great Leader showed gestures of reconciliation to South Korea in his later years? It was for the sake of the Republic."

"I tried to do the same! But those bastards opposed it! Did the bastards not start the coup because of that?"

Jang Seong-taek chuckled at Kim Jong-il, who was desperately shouting in defense.

"The coup was suppressed, and you are the one who chose isolation afterward by adhering to extreme purges. Since then, the Republic has been isolated from the international community and is now on the brink of collapse."

"Manager Jang! No, brother-in-law. Let's reveal the nuclear weapons. If it's my command, that nuke will drop right on those South Korean bastards' heads. Won't they have to assist me by any means necessary?"

As Kim Jong-il still clung to the nuclear weapons, Jang Seong-taek slowly shook his head.

"Comrade Chairman, those nuclear weapons are already in Russia's hands. They're probably being transported to Russia via the East Sea right now."

"What the hell are you talking about!"

"When we were attacked here, the nuclear weapons stored in the guesthouse were also…"

"You bastard!"

Kim Jong-il spat a curse. Only he, Baek Cheol-soo, and Jang Seong-taek knew the location of those nuclear weapons.

"Damn you! Did you expose it?"

"Yes, I did. Russia was already aware of the nuclear weapons that transitioned from the Soviet Union to the Republic."

"What's the point of knowing? How can those jackals do anything if they don't know where it is? You ruined everything! Go die, you bastard!"

Kim Jong-il shouted, throwing items from the desk at Jang Seong-taek.

"Please stop, Comrade Chairman. I too have limits to my patience. For the sake of our past, I have tried to protect you as much as I could…"

"Listen here, Jang Seong-taek."

From behind, Ko Yong-hui called out to Jang Seong-taek.

"Don't you think you're being too harsh to the General? You should maintain some decorum. After all, you are his senior."

Jang Seong-taek glared at Ko Yong-hui.

"Who do you think you are, talking nonsense now?"

"W-What did you just say?"

Ko Yong-hui inhaled sharply.

Since starting to cohabit with Kim Jong-il, she had been recognized as his official wife in North Korea.

Since then, no one had dared to speak to her like this.

"You thought I wouldn't know about your ambitions to use Jeong-un to succeed Comrade Chairman?"

"W-What do you mean?"

"I know you've been meeting not only with party officials but also with military generals. Stop dreaming, keep quiet beside the Chairman, or I will tear your mouth apart and feed it to the dogs."

Ko Yong-hui trembled, biting her lips at the humiliating words.

"I still remember how Seong Hye-rim, the mother of Jeong-nam, died alone in Moscow."

"That wasn't my fault, it was that Kim Yeong-suk!"

"Did you not take over that position? Didn't Comrade Chairman meet you long before he got married? People think you are the third wife, but I know why Seong Hye-rim left Pyongyang for Moscow. Other people may not know, but I do."

Jang Seong-taek personally raised Kim Jong-nam, Kim Jong-il's eldest son. Naturally, he was attached to him.

The marriage between Kim Yeong-suk and Kim Jong-il was one reason for Seong Hye-rim's departure to Moscow, but the bigger reason was Ko Yong-hui.

By then, Kim Jong-il had long lost interest in Seong Hye-rim and was interested in Ko Yong-hui.

"I would love to throw you in a pigsty, but I must let you be since there must be someone to stand by Comrade Chairman, so just stay inconspicuously. Understand?"

"…"

"The hen crows, and misfortune arises. You were not like this before, Comrade Chairman. You changed after meeting this woman. It's all her fault."

Eventually, Ko Yong-hui collapsed in tears.

"Stop it!"

Kim Jong-il slammed his hand on the table. Only then did Jang Seong-taek cease speaking and turn to Kim Jong-il.

"Understood, Comrade Chairman."

"What do you want from me? Why is your tongue so long? Have I wronged you that much, Seong-taek?"

At those words, Jang Seong-taek let out a hollow laugh.

"Even the greatest challenges have their importance. I have worked diligently for you like a servant. I walked when you asked me to walk. I called you brother-in-law, but really, I was your servant. That esteemed Baekdu bloodline belittled me time and time again without any reason, even lecturing me on how to fix my habits."

With his eyes wide open, Jang Seong-taek vented the frustrations he had accumulated over time.

He had been dragged to collective farms and labor re-education camps and endured those harsh days.

"Did you think I wouldn't know? After this is over, your next plan is to kill me, isn't it? Did you think I truly wouldn't understand the close surveillance you put on me?"

"…"

"When the hunt is over, it's natural for the hunting dog to bite its owner if they intend to cook it."

"Hey, Jang Seong-taek!"

Jang Seong-taek pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket and placed it on the table before rising with the aid of his crutch.

"This is a list of people who must be eliminated if you truly care for the Republic. I will give you an hour. Prepare an order to arrest them all. Only then can you continue living as you are now. You will enjoy everything you have until the end. Think well and make your decision. Everything is for the Republic."

With those final words, Jang Seong-taek turned his body.

He then hobbled away on his crutches.

"Jang Seong-taek!"

Kim Jong-il called out, but he did not stop.

"Hey, Jang Seong-taek!"

Calling again, but Jang Seong-taek simply opened the door and exited.

Kim Jong-il stared blankly at the closed door. His own situation was a farce.

The absurdity was that Jang Seong-taek held the lives of him and his family in his hands.

"Get me some liquor!"

"General…"

"Get it now!"

Kim Jong-il shouted angrily.

Ko Yong-hui quickly brought him his favorite whiskey and a glass, pouring it out.

He gulped down two shots in quick succession before nervously bringing a cigarette to his lips.

He stared at the paper on the table until he had burned half of the cigarette.

After a moment, Kim Jong-il picked up the paper.

Opening the repeatedly folded paper, he suddenly burst into laughter.

"Haha!"

The paper was filled with the names of military and labor party officials, as well as cabinet members he had appointed to key positions.

If they were all arrested and killed, there would be no future for him.

After laughing for a while, Kim Jong-il's laughter faded, and he muttered sarcastically.

"How ridiculous my situation has become."

Amid the thick smoke from his cigarette, Kim Jong-il let out a bitter laughter.

* * *

After leaving the Blue House, he returned to Pyeongchang-dong.

He quickly finished breakfast, washed up, changed into comfortable clothes, and sat in his study.

The very first thing he did was turn on the news.

All major broadcasting stations were airing special segments instead of regular programming.

They all explained the reason for the DEFCON 3 alert and its implications.

Yet, not a single truth could be found anywhere in the broadcast; only hypotheses existed.

At that moment, his phone rang. The screen displayed Jang Seong-taek's satellite phone number.

"This is Kim Mu-hyeok."

"It's me, Kim Mu-hyeok, Jang Seong-taek."

I couldn't help but smirk. Look at this guy; he's already talking informally.