Chapter 120 – Intervention [Intervention]

The conversation between Seoul and Moscow, connected via phone, paused for a while, and a heavy silence filled the space.

Siguk sipped his wine without a word, waiting for Ivan Ivanov to speak again.

Around the time Siguk emptied his glass and refilled it with wine, a voice came through the receiver.

• Are you serious?

Siguk answered with a laugh.

“Have you ever seen me joke about such matters?”

• Huh… Haha.

For a while, Ivan Ivanov only let out hollow laughs.

After laughing for a moment, Ivan Ivanov continued in a somewhat more serious tone.

• China is not Korea.

Siguk also slightly erased his smile and responded.

“I know.”

• Knowing that, you still intend to intervene?

“The degree of success or failure will depend on the level of intervention.”

• To what level are you planning?

“I’m considering it. I’m also gathering related materials. But don’t worry. I’m a realist. I know that even if I intervene in the selection of China’s next leadership, I can’t control China like a puppet the way I can with Korea.”

• If you can’t control China like a puppet, then there seems to be no reason to intervene, does there?

“Even if I can’t control it like a puppet, I can at least cause political turmoil across China for a while.”

At that moment, Ivan Ivanov roughly understood the direction Siguk was pursuing.

However, his voice remained serious.

• Do you think it’s possible?

“It’s a matter of shaking a group that shows firm leadership. I may not be able to digest China itself, but establishing cartel branches in Shanghai and Hong Kong should be possible. That’s where we start. Pioneering a huge country like China.”

• Alright. Well, if we can break into the Chinese market, my dividends will increase too. But don’t do anything that leaves a trail.

“Don’t worry. And I have one request.”

• A request?

“Just procure one Skill Paper for me.”

• Skill Paper?

“Yes. There are rumors it’s being traded on the Minsk black market, but that area is Nikolayevich’s territory, after all.”

As Siguk said, Eastern Europe and Central Asia were regions where Ivan Ivanov’s influence was stronger.

It was the same principle that Siguk’s influence was stronger in Korea, Northwest Korea, and the Japanese underworld.

• Well, that shouldn’t be difficult. What Skill Paper are you talking about?

Siguk said with a grin.

“Mask of the Dead.”

Once again, Ivan Ivanov fell silent.

Siguk well understands the symbolism a space possesses.

A specific space has a specific ruler, and the authority of that ruler stems from the fact that, at least within that space, no one surpasses him, or from the natural thinking of his subordinates who believe so.

That’s why Siguk intentionally avoided going to the JH Group headquarters in Samseong-dong after the revolution.

There were occasional visits, but even those were to meet Lee Jeonghoon, and he never stayed long.

He very occasionally went to the vice chairman’s office, but only to see the face of Park Seongjun, who does nothing but enjoys high salary benefits.

It was a decision and consideration made entirely out of respect for Lee Jeonghoon’s exclusive dominion over the space that is the JH Group headquarters.

Similarly, Siguk did not officially go to the Blue House either.

It was out of respect and consideration for the authority of Nam Hanseok, the owner of the Prime Minister’s residence located in the main building of the Blue House, and Lee Dongseok, the Chairman of the National Policy Advisory Council located in the west annex.

He had even less reason to go to the Superhuman Association building in Gwanghwamun.

The reason Siguk respected their authority was simple.

Even though every decision made in Korea passed through his hands, he needed those right below him to handle the majority of the practical work.

Intelligence and Villain organization management were Yeo Jeongyeon’s tasks; policy decisions and media control were the tasks of Nam Hanseok and Lee Dongseok.

Siguk only needed to exercise the final decision-making power, and since his high-ranking executives needed appropriate authority, Siguk did not invade their spaces.

Instead, Siguk went to work in Yeouido almost every day.

The building of the National Hunter Federation, facing the National Assembly directly, and the Secretary-General’s office on its 50th floor—that was his space.

There, he controlled and managed everything happening in Korea, both overtly and covertly.

“Here it is.”

The time Zhou Peiling secretly visited there was 20:00 on July 26, 2031.

She respectfully handed a document to Siguk.

Siguk took the somewhat thick document and alternately glanced at the cover written in Chinese, <Analysis Report on Factions of the Communist Party of the People’s Republic of China>, and Zhou Peiling’s apologetic expression.

He asked in a nonchalant tone.

“Why go through the trouble of making a physical copy? You could have just brought it on a tablet PC.”

For a moment, she was startled, wondering if Siguk was offended.

Glancing at Siguk once with slightly trembling eyes, Zhou Peiling conveyed her intention in a subdued but firm voice.

“In case of possible hacking….”

At her words, Siguk nodded as if understanding and lowered his gaze to the document.

Seeing this, Zhou Peiling secretly let out a sigh of relief and looked at Siguk with a moved expression.

‘The side effects are too severe….’

Ignoring that burdensome gaze with effort, Siguk resolved to just use torture rather than Dragon Fear from now on, and began reading the document.

The document contained a brief explanation of the major factions within the current Chinese Communist Party, the relationships and hierarchy among their members, their positions, and their scheduled positions within the next leadership.

<The Beijing Faction, also known as the Beijing Faction, has its origins in the 5th generation leadership. They advocate nationalism, the Chinese Dream, and a socialist market economy with Chinese characteristics as their ideology, which are characteristics of the 5th generation leadership, and mainly receive support from those in their 50s and 60s.>

<The de facto leader of the Beijing Faction is the current Vice President Dong Xian, and the person supporting him from behind and gathering the Beijing Faction members around him is the 4th generation Communist Party leader and elder Li Xiangguo.>

<The Shanghai Faction, also known as the Shanghai Faction, has its origins in the 3rd and 4th generation leadership. Composed of the political successors of the old Shanghai Faction, the core force of the 3rd generation leadership, and the political successors of the Communist Youth League, the main force of the 4th generation leadership, they advocate pragmatism, foreign-friendly cooperation, and isolationism as their platform.>

<They mainly receive support from those in their 30s and 40s, and some in their 50s. The leader of this Shanghai Faction is the current Premier of the State Council, Li Kebao. They are not under the guidance of a separate elder politician; only the former premier, a member of the 4th generation leadership who is currently ill, occasionally meets with Li Kebao.>

After spending about ten minutes reading and understanding the entire document, Siguk placed it in a drawer and looked at Zhou Peiling.

“Nothing omitted or presumed to be omitted?”

“Yes. It may not be perfectly detailed, but there are no leading figures other than those mentioned in the document.”

“Hmm… Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Alright. Good work.”

“Th-thank you.”

Overly admiring praise that isn’t much, and overly nervous about criticism that isn’t much.

The sight of Zhou Peiling, who shows religious worship towards him due to the side effects of Dragon Fear, was grating to Siguk, but he didn’t express that feeling.

‘The organization called the Dragon Phoenix Society is probably a gathering of Superhumans from the upper class, similar to the NAC in the Western world. She may not know of their existence, but the Ministry of State Security must be aware.’

The NAC (North Atlantic Club), composed of Superhumans from upper-class families in the US and Europe, and China’s Dragon Phoenix Society, believed to be a similar group.

Neither directly conflicts with Siguk for now, but they were entities he would eventually clash with as his plans gradually expanded and the cartel’s domain stretched beyond Asia to the world.

‘The upper classes have commonalities that transcend borders. First, I need to appropriately appease the Dragon Phoenix Society. That way, even if a conflict with the NAC arises, they won’t stab me in the back.’

Even after three years, the NAC has not made any significant attempts to contact Siguk, let alone Lee Dongseok or Bae Hyeonil.

Given that there are no prominent Hunter rights promotion movements in the US or Europe either, Siguk thought they were currently observing the world’s trends. But he always anticipated that he would clash with them someday.

‘No need to have two fronts.’

Cause chaos in China, use that chaos to establish cartel branches in Shanghai and Hong Kong. And use Zhou Peiling to mobilize Ministry of State Security assets to gather information on the Dragon Phoenix Society.

That was why Siguk intended to intervene in the selection of the Chinese Communist Party’s next leadership.

‘Unless a suitable replacement appears, I’ll just have to tolerate that burdensome demeanor for now.’

Thinking so, Siguk gave a grin to Zhou Peiling.

At that sight, she looked as if she would burst into tears and confess her faith any moment, and Siguk, unable to bear that sight, had to send her away.

“For now, Operation D-day is August 9th, when the Beidaihe Conference ends this year. The operation will start from that day, so prepare thoroughly. Understood?”

“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“You may go.”

“Yes.”

Zhou Peiling bowed deeply towards Siguk with her hands clasped together, then backed out of the Secretary-General’s office.

Siguk, who had been watching that sight with a bewildered expression, finally let out a hollow laugh after she disappeared.

The National Intelligence Service coup plot case concluded with the indictment of all participants and the arrest of the key participants, agents Choi and Park.

The court battle was merely a formal procedural act, and although everyone living in South Korea didn’t discuss what fate they would meet, they knew well.

After the secret visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Hong in mid-July, the Korean government no longer protested to China through official channels.

The media also reported on the matter with somewhat restrained expressions, and the rallies of the anti-China protest groups composed of labor unions and civic organizations disappeared.

The Chinese Embassy in Korea quietly returned to a charge d’affaires system, and Korea also did not designate the remaining Chinese diplomats for expulsion or declare them persona non grata.

Thus, July passed quietly.

“Dad!”

Polina ran to Ivan Ivanov with a bright smile and hugged him.

Ivan Ivanov smiled contentedly and gently patted her back.

Watching that sight with an equally content expression, Siguk slowly walked over and exchanged a nod with Ivan Ivanov.

“Our daughter, have you been well?”

“Yes. Kook took good care of me, so I’ve been well. But Dad, you seem to have gained more weight? Did you get Botox?”

“Where would I have time for that? I just got some skin care.”

Siguk quietly listened to the affectionate conversation between father and daughter.

Ivan Ivanov extended his hand towards him.

Siguk shook his hand.

“Thank you for helping Polya with her life in Korea.”

“Not at all. Thanks to Polya, I haven’t been bored.”

“Hahaha. Since we’re at it, wouldn’t it be nice to never be bored forever?”

At Ivan Ivanov’s words, Polina just smiled happily as if she didn’t mind, and Siguk just smiled an inscrutable smile and kept his mouth shut.

“Now, let’s go inside.”

Leading the two, Ivan Ivanov entered the Kremlin presidential office.

A simple tea party for three, including Polina, ensued, and after about 30 minutes, Polina tactfully left the room, finally allowing the bilateral meeting between Siguk and Ivan Ivanov to take place.

“What you mentioned is ready.”

First, Ivan Ivanov took out a rolled-up piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Siguk.

Siguk received it with words of thanks and carefully unrolled it.

<Mask of the Dead>

Looking at the Skill Paper with the skill name and description written in Russian, Siguk grinned.