Chapter 1409. Released (4)

—Forgive me, Prime Minister, but I don’t understand what you’re trying to say here.

The Chief of Staff sounded flustered just then.

Kim Myeong-Chan was hardly surprised by that response, however. They all must’ve thought he’d obediently take the fall for everyone, after all.

Their attitude made sense, though, considering how Kim Myeong-Chan kept yapping on about unhesitantly throwing his worthless life away if it was for the sake of this country.

Then again, it wasn’t only him, now was it? Others also said something similar in the past.

Of course, Kim Myeong-Chan wouldn’t mind doing that, even now. His beliefs still remained the same, despite him falling all the way down to the pits of hell. His fall had not changed the worth of the things he wished to protect, after all.

Besides, Kim Myeong-Chan would really have nothing left if his heart fell that low, anyway.

But this and that were different, weren’t they?

“What’s so difficult to understand? Try to kill me if you can. That’s it. I’ll stop humoring your side from now on, so you better find a way to kill me quick. However, if you do that, our country might realize that... Maybe I’m not the only one involved in this event!”

—Prime Minister...! Are you being serious, sir?

Kim Myeong-Chan deeply sucked in a lungful of smoke from the half-burnt cigarette before chewing his words out. “Do you honestly think I’m in a mood to crack jokes with you?”

—But, sir! This... is for the country!

Kim Myeong-Chan guffawed just then. He wanted to hold himself back from doing that, but he couldn’t do it. Not after what he just heard.

For the country? This was for the benefit of this nation?

Kim Myeong-Chan had said that numerous times before, so he knew better than anyone what those words truly meant.

“Rather than the country, it’s to save your own skin, is it not?”

—Prime Minister Kim!

“Let’s be adults here, shall we? Do you think our country will crumble just because its President got kicked out of the office? The entire cabinet, including the Chief of Staff, getting replaced by new people will not destroy this country, okay?”

Kim Myeong-Chan heard only silence coming from the other side. However, he wasn’t looking for a response from the Chief of Staff, anyway.

“You know as well as I do that such a thing won’t happen. This system called the South Korean government isn’t so fragile that the removal of a few people could destroy it. We have plenty of people to replace us, anyway.”

—No, sir. I’m sure no one can replace

him.

“Yes... That might be true. However, so what if

he

is irreplaceable?”

—I beg your pardon?!

“Although unlikely, so what if we can’t replace

him

and our country collapses as the result? What does that have to do with me?”

—Sir, you need to calm down and listen to what you’re saying.

“Calm down?”

Kim Myeong-Chan cackled hollowly.

“Listen here, Mister Chief of Staff.”

—Yes, I’m listening.

“No matter how loyal your dog is, it will eventually bite you back if you keep abusing it.”

—Sir...?!

“What was that?

Voluntarily

turn myself in? So you can do whatever the hell you want while I rot away in some forgotten prison cell, unable to even defend myself?! Listen here, you stinking son of trash!

“Do you take me for a goddamn fool?! Did you honestly think I wouldn’t know it was you who handed over all this damaging information to the media?! And that I wouldn’t know it was you who dug up all the dirt on me?!”

Kim Myeong-Chan roared in anger as his fingers dug into his phone.

“For the country?! For this country?!?! Don’t make me laugh, you son of a b*tch! You think I’m too stupid to not know that you’ve sold me out to save your hide this one time?!”

—P-Prime Minister! Sir!

“I’m Kim Myeong-Chan, okay! Did you forget who I was?! You f*ckers made a fatal mistake this time. I am not going down alone, you hear me! Never! I’m gonna drag you all down with me, okay?!”

Kim Myeong-Chan didn’t wait for the Chief of Staff’s reply and threw the phone to the floor. The device broke apart in half with a loud

thud

, and its broken components scattered about on the floor.

“

Keuh-heuh

...!”

He crumpled on the couch as a strange gasp that could either be a cackle or a whimper left his lips.

I’m scared.

Honestly? He was terrified.

From this moment on, his enemy was not his old comrades. Worse still, it wasn’t his superior, either. No, he must fight against the gigantic

power

called... the Republic of Korea!

“So... This is how it feels?”

Even back in his youth, when he was opposing the dictatorship, he never felt this way. Back then, his opponents controlled the government and military, but he had the righteousness on his side. He was driven by his ideals, his passion. He was ready to set himself on fire if that would usher in free and fair democracy to his country.

But no such things remained in this aged body of his.

His passion had cooled down a long time ago. And he no longer had opponents that required him to become idealistic once more.

Besides, the enemy this time wasn’t “evil.” Actually, they were closer to the good guys the public supported.

Those people I’ve destroyed must’ve felt this way, too.

A helpless chuckle left Kim Myeong-Chan’s lips.

Depending on who was looking, someone might come across as the world’s greatest saint or the history’s worst villain. Some people must have viewed Kim Myeong-Chan as an angel, a hero, in the past. And some people undoubtedly must’ve called him an abominable devil, a terrible villain.

...And now, Kim Myeong-Chan’s devil, the villain, would be the Korean government. It’d be this country. Just like how it was with Kang Jin-Ho until recently.

Kim Myeong-Chan slowly turned his head and stared at the broken phone on the floor. A hollow cackle left his lips.

He found himself so funny for regretting breaking the phone. Why should he regret it when no one would call him, anyway? When the people he believed as friends, allies, and even the family had already abandoned him?

It felt like several pounds of flesh had been ripped away from him.

And so, Kim Myeong-Chan gradually sank lower and lower inside this darkened room.

***

Vrooooom-!

The sleek car carrying Kang Jin-Ho and Choi Yeon-Ha sped down the road.

It had been a long time since he last drove on this coastal road. While gently coaxing the vehicle to behave as he wanted, Kang Jin-Ho subtly turned his head to study Choi Yeon-Ha.

“You know, the wind is blowing our hair around.”

“Are you talking about the window?”

“Yes.”

Choi Yeon-Ha glanced at the wide-open window before grinning meaningfully back at Kang Jin-Ho.

“I saw this in the movies, you see? People who escaped prison or just got released usually leave their windows open like this while driving. I figured they did that because they wanted to feel free. Don’t you think I’m right and this is great?”

“...”

“Annnd? What’s your answer?”

“Y-yes, it’s... great...”

For some reason, it felt like he got taken advantage of just now, but why...?

Choi Yeon-Ha grinned while studying the unconvinced expression on Kang Jin-Ho’s face. “So? How was it? What’s your overall impression after spending time in jail?”

“...I wasn’t in a proper jail, but a holding cell.”

“Same difference, okay?”

Uh... Sure. Let’s just say that’s the case.

Kang Jin-Ho helplessly chuckled while depressing the accelerator a little harder.

I can’t say I don’t feel anything about it, though.

Kang Jin-Ho had never really pondered the concept of his freedom, but this event made him do exactly that. One thing was for certain, though—being imprisoned not out of his own will but because of someone else forcing him to was not a pleasant experience.

Choi Yeon-Ha playfully smirked. “That’s why a man shouldn’t commit crimes, okay? You better reflect on yourself.”

“...Yes, you’re right.”

Despite the simple nature of their conversation, Kang Jin-Ho couldn’t help but chuckle.

Choi Yeon-Ha asked while leaning against her seat. “And... You are not going back in there any time soon, right?”

“Who knows?” Kang Jin-Ho casually shrugged. “If my innocence is proven, then yes, I won’t go back there.”

“But what are the odds of you being found guilty?”

“It should be close to nil, actually.”

Even if Kang Jin-Ho was found guilty, he’d most likely not spend another day inside a prison cell. Because he’d not let them do that to him again.

Besides, the other side wouldn’t try to shove him back in jail unless they had all collectively lost their minds. Or had covered up their necks in reinforced steel.

“Mister Jin-Ho, you didn’t do the thing they accused you of doing, did you?”

“Of course not.”

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled again, although a little awkwardly this time. While answering her, he did feel the subtlest hint of guilt tug at his conscience, but he wasn’t lying here, so it should be fine.

After parking the car in a spot with no other people, Kang Jin-Ho and Choi Yeon-Ha leisurely headed to the shore.

Kang Jin-Ho scanned their surroundings. “It feels like we always come to this exact spot.”

“That’s because I like it here. There are no eyes watching me, you see? Honestly, I’ve never felt comfortable in places with lots of people.”

“

Mm

...”

For sure, that sounded reasonable.

People would pay Kang Jin-Ho attention if he walked down a busy street. But he never was the type to care about such things. But what about Choi Yeon-Ha? She couldn’t do that. She had to care, since she worked in an industry where an individual’s worth was determined by the public’s evaluation.

On top of that, she...

Kang Jin-Ho sighed. “I should apologize to you.”

Choi Yeon-Ha tilted her head. “Why?”

“You had to go through a lot of stressful events because of me.”

“

Ohhh

~?”

Choi Yeon-Ha looked at Kang Jin-Ho with genuine surprise.

He cocked an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?”

“No, nothing’s wrong. It’s just that... I was pleasantly surprised by you actually thinking about such stuff. Didn’t think you had it in you.”

“...”

Again, Kang Jin-Ho felt a bit wronged just then. The saddest part about this interaction, though, was that he couldn’t bring himself to argue back.

Choi Yeon-Ha chuckled cheerily. “Don’t worry about it, Mister Jin-Ho.”

“Still, I...”

“Think of it this way. It’s a type of tax I gotta pay.”

“I’m sorry?”

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head in genuine confusion.

Choi Yeon-Ha grinned and explained herself. “Meeting you has improved my life so much, you see?”

“...?”

Why was she saying that out of the blue?

“But it feels like life has this thing where... where you gotta give up something if you want to acquire what you want. Having lived this long, I... Hang on, maybe I shouldn’t say this in front of a wrinkly old man?”

“...”

Why couldn’t she just keep explaining herself instead of landing subtle jabs meant to inflict emotional damage? And those jabs landed right in his heart, no less.

Choi Yeon-Ha noticed the facial muscles on Kang Jin-Ho’s face twitch ominously and giggled while covering her mouth.

“You’ve become a lot more expressive lately, you know that? You used to be like a stone statue not too long ago.”

Kang Jin-Ho tutted. “Doesn’t that mean I’ve made a lot of progress?”

“Yes. And it’s great to see that. In any case, back to what I was saying. Nothing in life is for free, right? If I want to keep having a good time with you, I gotta pay the price.”

“And what happened to you recently was the price?”

“Bingo,” Choi Yeon-Ha replied with a brief nod. “Life can’t be all plain sailing, right? Sometimes, you gotta roll with the punches. But that’s what makes life so interesting, don’t you think? Because you might hit unexpected jackpots while trying to navigate through the obstacles blocking your way.”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded, a gentle smile spreading on his lips.

Choi Yeon-Ha saw that smile and playfully asked. “So? Are you finally impressed by my wisdom?”

“Well, yes and no. It felt more like a granny was giving me a life lesson, you see.”

“Granny?! Why, you...!”

“...”

Choi Yeon-Ha’s brows rose higher rapidly.

Kang Jin-Ho urgently turned his head away and stared at the distant ocean. “Wow. The ocean looks pretty today, doesn’t it?”

“Oh, so you’ve even learned when to change subjects?”

“...”

“After all I did to turn you into a semi-respectable human being, this is the thanks I get? You’re giving me an attitude, Mister Jin-Ho?”

“I would never.”

“But you just did, calling me a granny! Apologize.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am.”

“Other people can call me a granny and whatnot, but not you, Mister Jin-Ho. When we both know how old you actually are.”

Kang Jin-Ho didn’t have any excuses to defend himself this time.

“Let’s go,” said Choi Yeon-Ha. She grabbed Kang Jin-Ho’s hand and tugged at him.

He didn’t resist and walked along with her on the shore.

Talking didn’t seem necessary, since silently walking next to a calm ocean could be a fulfilling experience in itself. As if the two of them instinctively understood this, they walked without resuming their usual banter.

After strolling in silence for a while, Choi Yeon-Ha stared at the distant horizon and finally said something. “We... went through a memorable experience, didn’t we?”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded. “Yes, let’s think of it that way.”

“I mean, you even went to prison and all.”

“Not a real prison, but a holding cell...”

“

Hnnng

~?”

Choi Yeon-Ha let go of his hand and turned to face the ocean. She observed the vast stretch of the azure water for a while, her back turned toward him.

Kang Jin-Ho remained silent, his eyes observing her back.

The ocean, as the amber sun set over the horizon, was indescribably beautiful. And Choi Yeon-Ha standing before it all proved just as beautiful as well.

She murmured without turning around. “Mister Jin-Ho?”

“Yes?”

“I wanted to ask you about something. Can you give me an honest answer?”

“I’ll try.”

After Kang Jin-Ho replied, Choi Yeon-Ha stared at the ocean in silence for a little while longer. He patiently waited for her, but eventually, began wondering if he should say something.

That was when she finally broke her lengthy silence.

“We’ve gone through a lot this time, haven’t we?”

“Yes, we have.”

“And it was the same story in China, too.”

“

Mm

... Yes, it was.”

“Will something like that happen again?”

“That... well...”

Kang Jin-Ho couldn’t give her a confident reply.

“

Hmm

~, is that so?”

Choi Yeon-Ha finally turned around to face him. The setting sun glowed warmly behind her. Her hair danced gently in the ocean breeze.

“Mister Jin-Ho.”

“Yes?”

“How about...”

“...?”

Choi Yeon-Ha’s red lips cautiously parted.

“...Just leaving everything behind and living like ordinary people?”

Her voice seemed a little more plaintive than usual just then.