The Returner - Chapter 326

“What did you just say, sir?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

Choi Jeong-Hoon simply couldn’t understand what he heard over the phone.

 

“A coup d’etat??” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

– “That’s right, you fool! It’s a pandemonium right now!” (Defense Minister)

 

“But, sir. It’s really quiet over here.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

– “The ripples haven’t reached that far yet. Besides, we’re all trying to analyse the situation, too. It looks like Park Yong-Hui was behind the move.” (Defense Minister)

 

“Park Yong-Hui?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

Choi Jeong-Hoon’s expression crumpled.

 

“You mean, the Chief of Staff Park Yong-Hui, sir?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

– “That’s right. Him.” (Defense Minister)

 

The Defense Minister shouldn’t be lying here. However, it was impossible to understand why Park Yong-Hui started a coup d’etat. Wasn’t he already the core of political power even if he didn’t do anything?

 

“Sir, I just can’t believe it. The Park Yong-Hui I met didn’t come across as someone who’d partake in such adventures.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

– “You think I know what happened better than you? I only know what can be gleaned from this side. The Unification Ministry and National Intelligence Agency have formed a task force to analyse the situation, so sit tight for now. Also, everything’s okay with your group?” (Defense Minister)

 

“Yes, sir.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

– “Did you cross the border yet?” (Defense Minister)

 

“We did, just now.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

– “That’s a relief. Hurry and return to base.” (Defense Minister)

 

“Return to base…. sir?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

– “That’s right. Why? Do you have something else to do?” (Defense Minister)

 

“No, sir. We shall head to the office right away.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

Choi Jeong-Hoon ended the chat there and dropped the call.

 

‘What on earth is going on here?’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

He found himself swimming in deep confusion.

 

This was too sudden. Way, way too sudden. Even if that side had been planning this for a while, why do it now when everything was still so chaotic?

 

“….No, hang on.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

If one were to start something, now should be perfect to do so.

 

First of all, Pyongyang was currently mired in an unprecedented level of chaos.

 

Secondly, near one hundred thousand elite soldiers had gathered around the capital city. And the authority to command them was with Park Yong-Hui.

 

‘Ah, so there is no reason not to do it.’ (Park Yong-Hui)

 

It now made sense to quickly shoo Yi Ji-Hyuk out of the country, too.

 

If he was still there, no one could have guessed how this variable might start reacting. Indeed, as long as he was not there, the instigators likely believed they had succeeded in seizing the initiative.

 

“Did that man plan this out from the get-go?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

“What are you talking about?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

 

Choi Jeong-Hoon looked back at Yi Ji-Hyuk and spoke in a powerless voice.

 

“A coup d’etat has occurred up north, apparently.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

“A coup?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

 

“It seems that the Chief of Staff, Park Yong-Hui is the main actor.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

“Hah, that dude, really now.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

 

Yi Ji-Hyuk quietly stared at the ‘gift’ box and tutted softly.

 

“Why the rush, though?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

 

“….I wonder myself.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

“It’s nice to have balls, sure, but I kinda think he’s being too hasty here. But then again, he should know about the North’s internal situation much better than us, so….” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

 

“That’s true. A coup d’etat took place in a nation where no such thing have been attempted before after the Kim family established the dictatorship, so that’s what we should focus on. This monster incident must’ve been a huge shock to that closed-off society, with the proof being this coup d’etat.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

“And that’s what I find so weird.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

 

“….What do you mean?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

“You see, the coup d’etat that I know usually takes place during great peril.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

 

“Mmm…” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

“But, well, their peril has been resolved by now, right? Even in history books, it should be really rare to see a coup taking place after the crisis was resolved.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

 

“You studied history?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

“Not that I studied it or anything, I just saw it happen personally.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

 

“Oh….” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

Choi Jeong-Hoon nodded his head. Yi Ji-Hyuk might be clueless about the historical events of Earth, but he personally experienced the rise and fall of many dynasties in the other world for thousands of years.

 

So, his ability to observe history should be on a completely different level compared to regular people.

 

“Sure, it’s a bit weird, but….” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

 

Yi Ji-Hyuk stretched his limbs.

 

“What should we do?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

“About what?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

 

“About this situation.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

Yi Ji-Hyuk smirked.

 

“Do I look like a dokkaebi’s club or something to you?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

 

“….No, well. That’s not it. However….” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

“If you were talking about monster-related crisis, sure. But I’d like not to get involved in events involving humans only. No matter what the end result is, it won’t be pretty for us, that’s why. Just sit back and let it play out.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

 

“I guess you’re right.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

Choi Jeong-Hoon sighed helplessly.

 

Maybe he grew close after spending that short amount of time, because he felt slightly worried for Park Yong-Hui.

 

‘Even though that man is another ruling class elite who leeched off the lifeblood of North Korean citizens.’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

What point was there to differentiate more evil men from lesser evil ones? Whether it was Park Yong-Hui, Jeong Byeong-Seo, or even Kim Ryong-Seong, them climbing up to their current positions in such a political climate was tantamount to declaring that they had driven countless people to the life of despair and pain.

 

“Let’s continue on, then.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

“Mm.” (Jeong In-Su)

 

Jeong In-Su too seemed to be concerned, because his nodding head looked weightier than usual.

 

“It all looked relatively peaceful not too long ago.” (Jeong In-Su)

 

“You’re right.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

“Is it the case of them being a country impossible to decipher, or were we simply too ignorant?” (Jeong In-Su)

 

Jeong In-Su shook his head.

 

According to the phone call, the event must’ve started right after they left Pyongyang.

 

“Let’s return to base for now.” (Jeong In-Su)

 

“Of course.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

For some reason, he felt heavy-hearted. They were in North Korea for less than 24 hours, yet why did they all feel this weirded out?

 

It was unknown if this was because the South also experienced coup d’etat several times before in the past, or because they had witnessed the change in the unchanging system that’s been rotting to the core.

 

“North Korea’s coup d’etat, is it….” (Song Jeong-Su)

 

Choi Jeong-Hoon and Jeong In-Su shifted their heads away after hearing that old, wizened voice. Song Jeong-Su wearing a clean-cut business suit he got from somewhere was sitting at the back of the bus, his legs shaking a little.

 

“It’s no ordinary event, that.” (Song Jeong-Su)

 

“Do you have any related into, sir?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

“Not sure. It’s like there used to be something, but it’s been such a long time and I can’t remember it all too well.” (Song Jeong-Su)

 

Song Jeong-Su spoke glibly and glanced at Yi Ji-Hyuk.

 

“….I see.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

Indeed, him remembering it would be more strange. Not many would remember information twenty years old, anyway; besides, he must’ve been thinking that such a thing was utterly useless to him, too.

 

“That fool Yeong-Min will have to sweat a bit now. Well, it’s none of concern anyways.” (Song Jeong-Su)

 

“….Sir, don’t forget that you’re still the leader of your party.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

“You think I can carry on in that role? A politician with dead political sense can’t even be used as dogsh*t.” (Song Jeong-Su)

 

“But, sir. Someone like our president can be our current president, so….” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

“Uh?” (Song Jeong-Su)

 

Song Jeong-Su spoke in a dumbfounded voice, looking somewhat flustered.

 

“Y-you’re right. Such a fool is still a president and all, too….” (Song Jeong-Su)

 

Jeong In-Su coughed to clear his throat.

 

“Please try to observe at least the minimum level of respect towards the head of our state, sir.” (Jeong In-Su)

 

“You can slag off anyone when they aren’t here. And he’s precisely not here, is he?” (Song Jeong-Su)

 

“That sounds plausible, but, uh….” (Jeong In-Su)

 

It seemed that Jeong In-Su, a soldier through-and-through, couldn’t win against the politician Song Jeong-Su’s slick tongue.

 

“Besides, that’s not the important part.” (Song Jeong-Su)

 

“Excuse me?” (Jeong In-Su)

 

“Coup d’etat itself isn’t important, but who will emerge victorious is. A failed coup will inevitably bring about a bloodbath, and even if it succeeds, considering the unique nature of North Korea, things will not settle down that easily.” (Song Jeong-Su)

 

“Mm….” (Jeong In-Su)

 

“On top of that, monsters made lots of countries feel really prickly about their safety lately, so not a single one would welcome the destabilisation of a dangerous rogue state like North Korea. It’ll be the same story for us, too.” (Song Jeong-Su)

 

“I guess so.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

 

“Even then, can’t we potentially be looking at a better outcome if the Kim family were to be purged during this event?” (Jeong In-Su)

 

Jeong In-Su’s question prompted a rather gentle smile to form on Song Jeong-Su’s face.

 

“I personally like people like you, colonel.” (Song Jeong-Su)

 

“T-thank you, sir?” (Jeong In-Su)

 

“People with a sense of justice, only knowing how to act according to what they had been taught, and filled to the brim with patriotism for our nation. People who’d gladly become meat shields even if they were cast out into the middle of warzones if it was all for the sake of their mother nation. Those types of people.” (Song Jeong-Su)

 

“………”

 

Jeong In-Su’s expression crumpled. Unfortunately, he wasn’t rude enough to shoot back at the much older man who also happened to be the leader of the ruling party.

 

“Do you honestly believe that America, China, and also, us in South Korea didn’t have the means to change the North’s government and had to sit on our as*es doing nothing? No, we simply let them be because they have their uses.” (Song Jeong-Su)

 

“But, how can that be….” (Jeong In-Su)

 

“However, if a problem like this starts happening, it’s eminently possible that a government wishing to interject might appear in the future. No, hang on. Maybe someone has already started doing that.” (Song Jeong-Su)

 

“In that case, what should we do?” (Jeong In-Su)

 

“What do you mean, what? Didn’t you hear him?” (Song Jeong-Su)

 

“Pardon?” (Jeong In-Su)

 

“Go home, man. Home. I want to go home as soon as possible and go to a sauna. Aigo, all my joints feel so heavy and wary right now.” (Song Jeong-Su)

 

Choi Jeong-Hoon’s head dropped low.

 

“Let’s go back to Seoul.” (Jeong In-Su)

 

Jeong In-Su issued an order to the bus driver and pulled his coat tighter.

 

The wind entering from the slightly open window felt especially cold for some reason.

 

*

 

“Just what the hell happened?” (Defense Minister)

 

The Defense Minister pushed open the door to the conference venue and shouted out while rushing inside.

 

“Take a seat first.” (Yun Yeong-Min)

 

He then realised President Yun Yeong-Min was already sitting by the head of the table and hurriedly bowed his head in apology.

 

“I beg your pardon.” (Defense Minister)

 

“It’s fine. I feel the same way as you, anyway. Why did all these events have to happen during my term? Just why?” (Yun Yeong-Min)

 

Yun Yeong-Min rubbed his head as if he was suffering from a serious bout of migraine. Indeed, incidents that would normally be categorised as historically significant kept going off one after the other during his term in the office, so the others could understand his current sentiment rather well.

 

“A d*mn coup d’etat, of all things. Why did it happen out of the blue?” (Yun Yeong-Min)

 

“Sir, we also received the intel just now.” (Unification Minister)

 

The Unification Minister, Choi Seon-Yeong fixed his glasses. His complexion was deathly pale from all the tension he currently felt.

 

“Will it even succeed?” (Yun Yeong-Min)

 

“It is very likely to, sir.” (Unification Minister)

 

“Which will be more advantageous to us, them succeeding or failing?” (Yun Yeong-Min)

 

“Judging from the reputed personality of the Chief of Staff Park Yong-Hui, the ringleader of the coup, there is a very high percentage of him heading towards more open policies and trades once he succeeds in his quest, sir. He might even reach out to us as well, so from the perspective of the country’s economy, it should be seen as a benefit for us.” (Unification Minister)

 

“I see.” (Yun Yeong-Min)

 

“And also, it might decrease tension between us, as well.” (Unification Minister)

 

The Defense Minister shook his head.

 

“It’s too early to draw a conclusion. Didn’t they fire their missiles to South many times under the pretext of cleaning out house every time the leadership changed hands?” (Defense Minister)

 

“Mm….” (Yun Yeong-Min)

 

Yun Yeong-Min couldn’t decide on what to do.

 

During the second change of leadership, there had been a period of time when a potential coup d’etat had been predicted to break out. However, back then, a suitable contingency preparation had already been laid out by a person nicknamed the ‘Hardcore’ who also happened to enjoy overwhelmingly richer knowledge and experience than the current supreme leader.

 

In other words, it would have been impossible for the current folks to make preparations for such a completely unexpected coup d’etat.

 

“We don’t have a choice but to observe the situation, then.”

 

“How are the Americans reacting to this?” (Yun Yeong-Min)

 

“They are currently too busy securing their own borders at the moment, sir. I mean, they are even talking about withdrawing all US troops stationed in Korea, so how can they be interested in North Korea right now? Instead, it’s China and Japan who are getting tenser.” (Defense Minister)

 

“This is no simple matter.” (Yun Yeong-Min)

 

It was then, Park Du-Jin quietly observing the situation offered his opinion.

 

“In the end, there is only one thing we can do under the circumstances, yes?” (Park Du-Jin)

 

“What do you mean?” (Yun Yeong-Min)

 

“If the leadership doesn’t change, it’ll die down soon enough as just another random event. Sure, there might be a bloodbath within North Korea, but it won’t impact other countries. In that case, we just express our sympathy through official channels. What we really need to prepare for is when the leadership changes hands.” (Park Du-Jin)

 

“Mm….” (Yun Yeong-Min)

 

Yun Yeong-Min nodded his head.

 

“We need to gather every scrap of intel on Park Yong-Hui and investigate his personality, since he might end up as the top leader soon. Please, do hurry.” (Yun Yeong-Min)

 

“We’ll get it ready, sir.” (Unification Minister)

 

The Unification Minister didn’t wait for the President’s reply and began calling someone on the phone. Yun Yeong-Min watched that as his body sunk deeper into his seat.

 

‘Complicated.’ (Yun Yeong-Min)

 

The state of affairs was getting more and more complicated with passing time.

 

< 326. I was too foolish -1 > Fin.

 

(TL: I’m thinking of phasing this novel out and replace it with something else. The reader number is just too low to justify me focusing on this novel anymore. I’m still searching for a suitable alternative at the moment, and if I do find one that I like, I’ll most likely either drop this novel or slow down its releases.)