Chapter 87 – Revolution [Revolution Ⅱ]

“That’s why it must change. The National Assembly, politics itself.”

Siguk raised his glass. Kwon Jeongyong also raised his. The two men emptied their glasses without a toast, and soon the glasses were refilled.

“The parliamentary investigation is merely a gateway. And there, Assemblyman Kwon, you must perform as the top striker, firmly imprinting your presence on the public.”

As he spoke, Siguk handed a USB drive to Kwon Jeongyong.

Kwon Jeongyong took it and asked.

“What is this…?”

“It contains additional materials for exposure. You’ll find them useful during the parliamentary investigation.”

At Siguk’s words, Kwon Jeongyong’s expression brightened momentarily.

“The end of the parliamentary investigation should be impeachment.”

At Siguk’s words, Kwon Jeongyong nodded again with a serious expression.

“That should not be merely the impeachment of an individual named Hyeon Woongryeol. It should be the impeachment of this country’s political structure that allowed such a man to engage in politics, to become the highest leader.”

Kwon Jeongyong nodded.

Siguk raised his glass. Kwon Jeongyong followed suit.

“In impeaching this corrupt political structure that has persisted for over 40 years and creating a new political structure to open a new era, Assemblyman Kwon’s role will likely be very significant.”

Siguk extended his glass. Kwon Jeongyong, struggling to suppress a smile, extended his.

The glasses clinked, producing a clear sound.

Savoring the resonance of that sound, Siguk emptied his glass.

In the <Parliamentary Investigation into the Interference of NIS External Organizations in the 2027 23rd Presidential Election>, held by agreement between the non-mainstream faction of the ruling party and the opposition, the person who undoubtedly showed the best performance was Kwon Jeongyong.

“Listen here, witness! Aren’t you going to answer properly! How on earth could this happen!”

From conglomerate chairmen to former and current NIS directors and agents, and military and police officials.

Before people who considered themselves influential in society, Kwon Jeongyong consistently and confidently continued his statements, targeting their weak points with evidence.

“Hyeon Woongryeol, step down!”

“Impeach Hyeon Woongryeol!”

Meanwhile, in Gwanghwamun Square, a rally demanding Hyeon Woongryeol’s impeachment began.

The rally, mobilizing nationwide unions and various civic groups, gained media attention, and gradually the number of general participants began to surpass the number of members.

『According to Real Gallup’s regular opinion poll for the fourth week of September, 13% of respondents support President Hyeon Woongryeol, while 81% do not.』

『As President Hyeon Woongryeol and the ruling party’s approval ratings fall together, entering the low 10% range, cautious talk of President Hyeon Woongryeol’s resignation is emerging from some within the ruling party’s mainstream faction.』

『According to materials obtained by our News Table reporting team, the source of Wolyeong Mutual Aid Association funds that flowed into the Hyeon Woongryeol election camp in 2027 has been revealed to be the Signiel Group and Yangseon Group.』

The media, regardless of public broadcasting, general programming channels, news channels, or conservative/liberal leanings, were busy attacking the Hyeon Woongryeol administration and NIS external organizations.

“Assemblyman Jeong, we must somehow block the impeachment motion.”

“Of course we should. But the current atmosphere isn’t one that can block an impeachment motion. The Chief of Staff for Political Affairs knows this well too, doesn’t he?”

The Blue House Chief of Staff for Political Affairs visited the ruling party’s emergency committee chairman with Hyeon Woongryeol’s message, but he, being from the mainstream faction, could do nothing.

Visiting the head of the non-mainstream faction or the opposition party leader yielded the same result.

“Block it, block it, you sons of bitches! Who do you think put you in those seats so you could act all high and mighty! You should pay back the favor now!”

At every Blue House senior staff meeting, Hyeon Woongryeol raged like a madman, pressuring the chiefs to block the impeachment, but even the chiefs had no particular solutions, so meetings generally began with Hyeon Woongryeol’s unilateral outbursts of madness and ended with unrealistic delusional ramblings.

“Please share your thoughts on the recent political situation.”

“We simply do our best at what we must do. As stipulated in the Constitution, sovereignty of the Republic of Korea resides with the people. We believe the public will exercise wise collective intelligence.”

Some reporters asked National Hunter Federation President Lee Dongseok for his opinion on the recent political turmoil, but he only gave principled answers, avoiding specific mentions.

The same was true for Bae Hyeonil, and for Siguk as well.

“I think the country will run well on its own if Hunters do Raids, politicians do politics, and businesspeople do management.”

That was the best answer reporters could get from Siguk’s mouth.

Of course, Siguk was only sparing with his words in front of reporters or in public places.

September 28, 2029, 20:30.

Cheongdam-dong Mercury Apartment Penthouse.

Siguk was sipping champagne while looking at the night view of Yeongdong Bridge, Cheongdam Bridge, and Ttukseom.

Keeping a slight distance from Siguk, Yeo Jeongyeon was also holding a champagne glass, gazing at the night view.

“Association President Gu Seongguk is persuading ruling party lawmakers…”

At Siguk’s words, Yeo Jeongyeon nodded.

“That’s right. These days, the Association President’s daily routine is making calls to ruling party lawmakers or their aides.”

“Why is he going to such lengths?”

At Siguk’s question, Yeo Jeongyeon closed her mouth for a moment and sank into thought.

Beside her, Siguk silently tilted his champagne glass.

After a while, Yeo Jeongyeon took a sip of champagne and opened her mouth.

“The Association President is a consistent person. He always acts for a single purpose.”

Yeo Jeongyeon looked at Siguk. Siguk ignored her gaze, still looking at the scenery outside the window.

Yeo Jeongyeon continued.

“Keeping Hunters under a democratic system, that is the Association President’s sole purpose and the reason he remains in the Association to help the administration.”

Siguk sneered and downed his champagne.

“But why is he looking at me?”

“The Association President thinks you might perhaps destroy democratic control. Because you have more than enough power to do so.”

“Association President Gu Seongguk, he’s an impressive man. His insight is really good. He grasped me at a glance.”

At Siguk’s sarcastic remark, Yeo Jeongyeon’s expression stiffened momentarily.

She let out a light sigh, downed her champagne, and turned her gaze outside the window.

“Just know that the Association President helping Hyeon Woongryeol isn’t due to personal feelings.”

“What meaning does it have for me to know that?”

“Of course it does. After this situation ends, you will become this country’s de facto sole sovereign.”

At the words ‘sole sovereign’ from Yeo Jeongyeon’s mouth, Siguk let out a short laugh.

He picked up the champagne bottle from the living room table, refilled his glass, and filled Yeo Jeongyeon’s.

“De facto sole sovereign… You really use difficult words. You could just say something like the sole ruler.”

“Even now, sovereignty resides with the people. No matter how much Hyeon Woongryeol has NIS external organizations, no matter how he manipulates the National Assembly and conglomerates based on vast connections and funds, ultimately it’s the people’s votes that choose them.”

Listening to Yeo Jeongyeon’s words, Siguk took a sip of champagne.

Yeo Jeongyeon continued.

“But after this situation passes, after everything is accomplished according to your will, all power of choice will be concentrated solely on you.”

As she spoke, Yeo Jeongyeon looked at Siguk.

Siguk just smiled and shrugged his shoulders, neither affirming nor denying her words.

Yeo Jeongyeon looked at Siguk and spoke.

“The protests are becoming more radical. The slogans are gradually changing from impeaching Hyeon Woongryeol to expressions of primal hatred toward the world.”

Yeo Jeongyeon took a step closer to Siguk.

“Incel, involuntary celibates are gradually raising their voices among the protesters. Their anger and hatred toward the world and women, expressed online, are now being expressed offline, triggered by the Hyeon Woongryeol impeachment protests.”

Siguk looked at Yeo Jeongyeon.

Yeo Jeongyeon slowly finished her words.

“At the end of unprecedented chaos, when you become the sole sovereign… how will you resolve this situation?”

At a distance where they could feel each other’s scent and breath, the two faced each other in silence for a while.

Outside the window, a streak of lightning flashed across the dark sky. A few seconds later, a heavy thunderclap echoed, and soon heavy rain began to pour.

Around that time, Siguk broke the silence and opened his mouth.

“That’s a matter for me and the Federation to handle.”

Siguk downed his champagne.

“Rather, what exactly do you plan to do, and how?”

At Siguk’s question, Yeo Jeongyeon couldn’t answer immediately.

“Are you really going to side with me, or something like that?”

“……”

“If you maintain this ambiguous attitude, from my position, I can’t just stand by and watch. You know that, right?”

“……”

Knowing what Yeo Jeongyeon’s silence meant, Siguk didn’t press her further.

‘Should I see it as the aftermath of Dragon Fear combined with an explosion of emotions she had suppressed herself?’

Pouring champagne into his glass and taking a sip, Siguk thought.

‘The shock must have been great because he was both the enemy who violated her for many years and the being who was like a father to her. She was defiled by his hands, and she defiled her own hands with his blood.’

Back at Yeo Jeongyeon’s house, when he used Dragon Fear on her after applying psychological pressure, Siguk hadn’t even anticipated things would turn out like this.

His goal had merely been to hear about the internal dynamics of the Superhuman Association from Yeo Jeongyeon and to grasp the extent of collusion between the Superhuman Association and Hyeon Woongryeol.

Using her to control the Superhuman Association also only meant keeping her as a compliant puppet by holding her weaknesses and threatening her.

But the situation flowed in a direction Siguk hadn’t expected.

That day, throughout the night, Yeo Jeongyeon poured out to Siguk the negative emotions she had accumulated in a corner of her heart over the years.

It continued even after Siguk withdrew the Dragon Fear. And since that day, Yeo Jeongyeon began to take a rather ambiguous attitude toward Siguk.

‘Well, for now, as long as she doesn’t leak our information to Gu Seongguk or Hyeon Woongryeol… But if this continues, it’ll be troublesome.’

Even if she were to talk about him or the National Hunter Federation to Gu Seongguk or Hyeon Woongryeol, it wouldn’t change the overall trend.

Because even if it were revealed that the National Hunter Federation and Siguk were behind exposing the NIS external organizations and mobilizing various players including Kwon Jeongyong to make it an issue, the already exposed criminal acts of Hyeon Woongryeol and the NIS external organizations wouldn’t be hidden.

‘The problem is after that. To fundamentally shake up this country afterward, anyway, for the time being, I and the National Hunter Federation need to show distance from politics.’

For the National Hunter Federation to step forward like a white knight on a white horse when the masses find no hope amidst great chaos and distrust, such a process was necessary.

In that respect, Yeo Jeongyeon’s ambiguous attitude was something that needed to be definitively resolved in the long term.

“I wish you’d clarify your position. That way, I can also respond clearly.”

At Siguk’s words, Yeo Jeongyeon looked at him and opened her mouth.

“If I were to… side with the Association President… would you kill me?”

At that question, Siguk gazed intently at Yeo Jeongyeon and answered.

“In the past, I would have.”

“…Then now?”

At Yeo Jeongyeon’s question, Siguk remained silent for a while.

A woman hurt by a man.

In that respect, Yeo Jeongyeon was similar to Nayeon from his past life.

One couldn’t determine which of the two was more extreme and tragic, but at least in Siguk’s judgment, the two were comparable.

If he hadn’t known Yeo Jeongyeon had such a story, it might have been different, but now that he knew, from Siguk’s position, he couldn’t easily kill her.

“Now… I won’t kill you. Instead, I’d resolve it by confining you somewhere quiet for a few months, since I have the ability to do so.”

At Siguk’s words, Yeo Jeongyeon smiled slightly.

“Being by the side of someone who listened to my story would be more valuable than being by the side of someone who used me or someone who joins hands with that person to protect their ideals.”

As she spoke, Yeo Jeongyeon turned her gaze outside the window.

Siguk also looked outside the window, a subtle smile forming at the corner of his mouth.