Chapter 64

Chapter 64

Jung Juho arrived at the Blue House. His hair looked a little fuller and his face had a healthy sheen of oil, so he seemed to be doing well.

If he gets a promotion on top of this, it'll be Jung Juho's world entirely.

Maybe his hair will get even fuller?

Just one thing to celebrate after another.

"I heard everything from Dahyun. That guy you brought in last time betrayed you? Don't take it too hard. Betrayal's common in this line of work."

"I'm not particularly bothered."

"Right, you don't look like the type to blink no matter what happens. That part of you reminds me of myself."

He went on about how he'd been betrayed more than ten times himself, rattling off his war stories. For someone like that, he sure trembled over the smallest things.

After talking for a while, Jung Juho carefully glanced around and leaned in toward me.

"But why did you suddenly call me all the way to the Blue House? We usually handle everything over the phone."

"I have a gift for you."

"A gift? If it's from you, I'd be a fool to refuse. I'm more than happy. But what is it?"

"You know the Big Bang Series? I received some from the Shinseong Guild, and I'm planning to donate them to the National Guard Bureau."

"Really? I wanted one myself—thank you, truly. Was it such a big gift that you wanted to hand it over in person? Heh heh, figures. You're the only one who thinks of me. Hm? But were you always like this? You'd normally just toss it over without a second thought."

"Ah, that."

I was about to say that Cheon Myeongguk had told me to call him, when suddenly Jung Juho shuddered as if he'd been electrocuted.

"By any chance, was it Director Cheon who told you to call me?"

"How did you know?"

It was like a scene from a drama.

Jung Juho's lively expression went dark in an instant.

"Damn it! I've been had! The moment you told me to come to the Blue House, I should've refused and said my stomach hurt."

"Why are you suddenly like this?"

"I don't care. I'm leaving. If Director Cheon asks, tell him my chronic illness flared up and I went to the hospital—"

But Jung Juho's words never became action. Cheon Myeongguk walked in through the only door.

Impressive timing—as if he'd been listening outside the whole time.

Cheon Myeongguk approached us with a beaming smile, as if he'd just run into a close friend.

"Welcome, Director."

"Haha, I'm honored you called for me. But Director, I think my long-standing illness has suddenly flared up and I should be heading back."

"Oh dear, is it serious?"

Concern settled on Cheon Myeongguk's face. Jung Juho flinched, apparently stung.

"N-not that serious."

"If you're unwell, you should get examined right away. I'll contact your attending physician."

"A-ah, no! There's no need for that. I'll just go to a local clinic and be fine in no time. That man is a truly renowned doctor, you know? He can exchange greetings, diagnose, and prescribe in thirty seconds flat. I'd like to go to the hospital where he works right now, actually."

Jung Juho was struggling desperately to escape the situation.

I wondered if I should give him a recovery potion.

Surely he's not trying to refuse the promotion?

Come on, no way. Once the new Administration is established and he becomes its Administrator, it'll be an honorable post for him too.

If he becomes Administrator, he'll get to see me often—how great is that?

But considering how Jung Juho was trying to send me off so easily, it was true he had little appetite for power.

Still, even so—I know he loves the National Guard Bureau, but he has too little ambition.

Cheon Myeongguk smiled as he watched Jung Juho's desperate struggle.

"Please don't refuse the President's goodwill. Before you leave, I'd like you to receive an examination from your attending physician."

"...I wasn't feeling well earlier, but I'm fine now."

"Is that so? Good to hear."

"Yes?"

From where I stood, Jung Juho had taken the bait.

"As it happens, the President has been looking for you, Director."

"L-looking for me, meaning...?"

"He'd like to have a meal together."

"......"

When the President says let's eat, it's hard for a mere Director to brush that off.

Sure enough, resignation settled over Jung Juho's face.

"Let's go."

"Ah, understood."

Jung Juho followed behind Cheon Myeongguk, shoulders slumped like a man being dragged to the slaughterhouse.

I watched the scene for a moment, then slowly followed.

*

The star of the meal with the President was Jung Juho. I ate quietly, while Cheon Myeongguk listened and chimed in or sang Jung Juho's praises.

The more he did, the more the color drained from Jung Juho's face.

"I consider it a great fortune that South Korea has a talent like Director Jung Juho."

"No, no. I'm still greatly lacking. I mean this sincerely—there are truly many people in South Korea more outstanding than I am. In particular, Director Yeom Gicheol of the Foreign Cooperation Management Bureau has both outstanding character and excellent execution—"

"I heard from Director Cheon here. During the villain subjugation operation, you coordinated so that the three Bureaus could each demonstrate their capabilities. He said that the organizational control and flexibility you possess is unrivaled, Director Jung Juho."

"That's an exaggerated account."

"Not at all. In reality, the major achievements Director Jung Juho has racked up while leading the National Guard Bureau overwhelm the other two Bureaus."

What a strange sight. The man himself was desperately trying to deny the praise, while the one beside him was busy building him up.

But does he really hate promotion that much? The Jung Juho I knew had little ambition, but not to the point of kicking away good fortune that rolled right up to his feet.

For some reason he was struggling desperately, but the President and Cheon Myeongguk's encirclement was closing in tighter and tighter.

Then Cheon Myeongguk drove in the final nail.

"It was also Director Jung Juho who recruited Transcendent Choi Junho into the National Guard Bureau."

"That wasn't me—it was Jung Dahyun."

Jung Juho tried to pass the credit to Jung Dahyun without a moment's hesitation, but—

"Is that true?"

At the President's question, I weighed the situation and nodded.

"Yes."

"Accepting a subordinate's advice is also a virtue of a leader. You have everything, then."

At last, the President spoke plainly.

"A new Administration will be established. I would like Director Jung to take the position."

"...Why me?"

Didn't I already say why?

Apparently the President didn't think so, because he explained patiently.

"This position must stand against the growing power of the large guilds. Sometimes it must keep them in check, sometimes it must join forces with them—and I believe the only man suited to it is Director Jung Juho, who led the three Bureaus without friction despite their competitive relationship."

"......"

"Will you accept?"

He was completely cornered. Now two choices lay before Jung Juho.

[Accept.] and [Accept.]

The President smiled affably every day, but seeing him dribble a slippery character like Jung Juho around like this, it was clear he wasn't called a political grandmaster for nothing.

Then Jung Juho made his final struggle.

"I believe Choi Junho! Transcendent Choi Junho's intentions matter here."

Me? Why am I suddenly involved?

"Once the new Administration is established, there will be many occasions to work in cooperation with Transcendent Choi Junho, won't there? But if Transcendent Choi Junho is uncomfortable with it, I can't accept it either. So if Transcendent Choi Junho's answer is also positive, I'll accept!"

Come to think of it, once the new Administration is created, I'd probably see him often.

I looked at Jung Juho's desperate eyes and fell into thought.

He wants me to say something nice?

Now that I think about it, I hadn't said anything.

I suppose it's been lonely without me lately. Asking for praise so openly like this.

"For my part, of course—if Director Jung Juho is coming, you're more than welcome. I'm confident you'll lead it far better than the President imagines."

"......"

I said what he wanted, so why does he look like he's lost his country?

The President smiled warmly.

"Transcendent Choi Junho is fine with it as well, so there's no longer any objection. I'll be counting on you going forward. From now on, I'll call you Administrator Jung rather than Director Jung."

"Looking forward to working with you, Administrator Jung Juho."

"...Thank you. I'll do my best."

At Cheon Myeongguk's greeting, Jung Juho clenched his teeth.

I offered my congratulations to Jung Juho as well.

"We'll be seeing each other often from now on."

"That's the biggest problem......"

He's dying of happiness while playing hard to get.

*

Once the mood settled, I explained the story of how I'd chased the Heartworker, learned the League had reached out, and clashed with Blackhound.

"......"

Silence fell over the room. In the heavy atmosphere, I reflected a little. I really should have caught him, huh. But Blackhound was no pushover either, so it wasn't easy.

If I'd had Immunity to All Poisons, my chances would've been higher. I hope Berserker opens it soon.

"Blackhound, huh. Heh heh. What does this small country have that's worth eating?"

"That just shows how much the Big Bang Series matters."

"I'd heard the Big Bang Series was making quite a splash."

"The League must be very covetous of that technology."

"Enough for Blackhound to come personally."

The mood seemed quite serious. I could feel that the League was regarded more seriously than I'd thought, and that Blackhound was a formidable villain.

"There's probably a connection to Japan as well."

There'd been talk that League forces were running rampant in Japan right now.

Argos is a thorn in my side—how about annihilating the League forces in Japan?

If I can screw them over, I'll gladly endure the hassle of going to Japan.

But the President shook his head at my words.

"Japan probably wouldn't accept it."

"Even though they're suffering because of the League?"

The mood had been good the whole time the delegation was here.

"It's a form of feigned distress. Even if they say it's hard, they have the capacity to endure. Even if the two countries are on good terms, that's because neither can project force directly. We'll gratefully accept information on the League, but nothing more."

Looked at the other way around, it's easy to understand, he said.

Is it a problem if Japan's transcendent comes to help?

I don't really see what the problem is.

"I see."

"But Japan's stance might differ, so let's put out an inquiry. Don't get your hopes up too high."

"Understood."

"Anyway, we're at ease. Even that Blackhound tucked his tail and ran from our Transcendent Choi Junho, didn't he?"

He grinned, perhaps trying to lighten the mood.

"If I see him again, I'll kill him."

"Excellent. Then let's leave the League discussion there."

The President changed the subject and turned his gaze to Jung Juho.

"Director Jung—no, now that Administrator Jung is part of the family, he should know the truth as well."

"Yes?"

"Director Cheon."

Cheon Myeongguk began whispering into Jung Juho's ear.

Meanwhile, I took the documents the President held out.

"These are materials on the Mayor of Busan."

I began reading, and in the meantime Jung Juho's expression visibly hardened as Cheon Myeongguk relayed the facts to him.

"......"

As I looked through the documents, I felt something off. Yoo Seongsu's crimes were listed, but there were gaps here and there. These documents weren't complete. There was one reason my Intuition was reacting.

"These documents aren't the final version."

"Sharp eye. That's just the framework—we're still narrowing it down. The entire city of Busan can be called Yoo Seongsu's support base, so it'll take more time."

The President paused and looked at me. He seemed to have something he wanted to say, but it must have been a difficult matter to bring up.

I glanced to the side and saw Cheon Myeongguk desperately signaling the President with his eyes, but the man himself ignored it.

"If you have something to say, please feel free."

"Yes, I should speak plainly. I've picked up the habit of refining my wording from being in politics."

The President grinned playfully.

"If it's clearly revealed that Yoo Seongsu and those around him committed crimes... can you kill them all?"

"President!"

Cheon Myeongguk raised his voice, a rare occurrence. Jung Juho, suddenly dragged into the situation, squeezed his eyes shut.

Despite Cheon Myeongguk's restraint, the President stated his thoughts.

"These people deliberately nurtured villains for their own profit. Not only did they use them as political funds, they're inflicting great harm on other countries. Even if we arrest them and pursue legal action, they can't be properly punished. In the end, they'll get a slap on the wrist, and many who see how we handle things will lose trust in us."

The President spoke to Cheon Myeongguk as if nailing it down, and he could no longer dissuade him.

He turned his gaze back to me.

"Can you do it?"

"It's a very easy task."

"I'll trust you."