The Returner Chapter 324

The feast was quite flashy.
This was rather far removed from the image Choi Jeong-Hoon had of North Korea. The venue’s interior was a bit on the old-fashioned side, but that contributed to the overall atmosphere being a bit more classier, or so he thought.
‘Gimme a freaking break, though.’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
When he thought about how all those flashily-decorated walls and expensive-looking antiques symbolised the blood and sweat of this nation’s citizens, then forget about being classy and whatnot, he felt this compulsion to wreck everything he could see.
‘No, hang on. I should sell them off, instead.’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
After all, wrecking them would be a colossal waste of money.
"Is the food to your liking?" (Park Yong-Hui)
The Chief of Staff Park Yong-Hui carrying a warm smile had approached him in the meantime. Choi Jeong-Hoon immediately reverted back to his usual business smile. The battle might be over, but an even more bloody war was about to commence here.
"Ah, yes. It’s quite delicious. If I could, I wouldn’t mind eating it every chance I get." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"Hahaha. It shouldn’t be too difficult to accommodate that. It’ll be a simple affair of you joining the People’s Democratic Republic." (Park Yong-Hui)
"If I do, will I be able to enjoy such meals everyday?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"Of course you will. The Party highly evaluates your capabilities, Comrade Choi Jeong-Hoon." (Park Yong-Hui)
"That’s an honour." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Choi Jeong-Hoon slightly bowed his head.
"Unfortunately, my family is left back in the country, so I’ll have no choice but to decline the offer." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"Well, now. A man won’t be able to achieve anything grand if he clings on to his family." (Park Yong-Hui)
"Besides, there is a man who can’t be controlled without my presence, as well." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"You mean, Mister Rhee Ji-Hyuk?" (Park Yong-Hui)
"Yes." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Park Yong-Hui formed a mysterious smile.
"That’s also not a difficult problem to solve, wouldn’t you say? It’ll be sorted out by having Mister Rhee Ji-Hyuk join us as well, no?" (Park Yong-Hui)
"But, you’ll end up regretting it." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"What do you mean?" (Park Yong-Hui)
Choi Jeong-Hoon grinned and shifted his gaze over to Yi Ji-Hyuk.
Seeing the latter emptying out one plate after another while sitting on a table over there, the former couldn’t help but chuckle to himself.
"He’s far too uninhabited as a man and he’ll be a poor fit for the Republic." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"Are you saying he fits in well in South Joseon?" (Park Yong-Hui)
"Even our nation’s back is creaking under the intense pressure of having to deal with him." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"Hahaha, you don’t have to exaggerate like that." (Park Yong-Hui)
"Exaggerating, is it?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Choi Jeong-Hoon stared back at Park Yong-Hui.
"I hope you aren’t planning to deny that you have knowledge of what transpired in the Blue House before we entered this country." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"Not sure I follow?" (Park Yong-Hui)
"I trust that your intelligence network is good enough to learn that." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"H-hm." (Park Yong-Hui)
Park Yong-Hui didn’t reply, but silence also worked wonders as a form of tacit agreement.
"Well, we weren’t aware initially. But, we now know after having received a report this time." (Park Yong-Hui)
"Not because your interest in Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk has piqued and you brushed up on all the info related to him?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"Is that distinction important?" (Park Yong-Hui)
"Of course not. No, the important point is…. Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk treats the President of a nation as a neighbourhood ahjussi. No, actually, I’d wish for nothing more if he actually did that. I mean, he’d not be so curt and sarcastic towards a regular neighbourhood uncle, after all." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"H-mm…." (Park Yong-Hui)
"If such a thing occurs in the Republic, then either Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk will die, or the Republic itself will break down…. It’ll be one or the other. Doesn’t matter which end it is, none of them will prove to be advantageous to either one of us, Mister Chief." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Park Yong-Hui immediately changed his words.
"I spoke in jest, but it seems you’re taking it far too seriously." (Park Yong-Hui)
"My apologies. I don’t have much sense of humour, you see." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"Even if it’s not our People’s Democratic Republic, other nations should surely be lusting after Comrade Rhee Ji-Hyuk. Will that be fine?" (Park Yong-Hui)
"Such countries have decreased in number lately, actually." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"How come?" (Park Yong-Hui)
"Because, they can’t handle him, that’s why." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
That sounded understandable, but at the same time, not really.
"The governments that experienced Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk have realised how big the risk is when trying to naturalise him. Everyone was all hands-on trying to lure him away, but now, they all have stepped back." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"But, isn’t it true that they still require his help?" (Park Yong-Hui)
"Yes, it is." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"Nobody will want to give up on someone who they believe is essential even if there is some associated risk. Am I wrong?" (Park Yong-Hui)
"And that’s the role South Korean government have taken on." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"What are you talking about?" (Park Yong-Hui)
"If I am to simplify it, the South Korean government is basically working as a subcontractor management company." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"Sub… contractor?" (Park Yong-Hui)
"Mercenaries, in other words." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"Ah!" (Park Yong-Hui)
Park Yong-Hui nodded his head in understanding.
"We came this time because of us being compatriots, as well as the underlying political reason as well. However, we normally demand the kind of remuneration that will put what the People’s Democratic Republic provided us to shame. Thanks to that, South Korea is enjoying an unprecedented economic boom at the moment." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"Hmm…." (Park Yong-Hui)
"Considering the amount he has earned from America alone, you could even say that Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk is almost on the level of a government all by himself." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"Is it fine to tell me all this?" (Park Yong-Hui)
"You already knew, didn’t you?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Park Yong-Hui smiled vaguely.
"Please don’t overestimate our intelligence network." (Park Yong-Hui)
"Well, it’s not a secret to begin with, anyway. No, rather than that, the Americans are busy advertising how much they have paid us all over the place, ensuring that no other government would just come to us with requests for aid. Their aim is, ‘You gotta pony up this much, so don’t try anything you can’t handle. We’ll be the only ones using him in emergency’." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"The Yankees shouldn’t be doing that." (Park Yong-Hui)
Choi Jeong-Hoon didn’t try to agree nor disagree there.
"In any case, other governments are letting us manage Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk, and in return, are paying us the management fee. And after receiving the portion of that fee, we dispatch him to wherever he’s needed." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"Compared to how much the nation makes, isn’t the amount he gets far too little?" (Park Yong-Hui)
"I couldn’t have imagined that you’d be the one to say such things, Mister Chief." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"Fufufu. Living in our Republic doesn’t automatically mean you have no knowledge of capitalism. Knowing your enemy and yourself is the only way to win, after all." (Park Yong-Hui)
"Indeed, it is small. Very. The problem is, Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk is already content with what he has. Meaning, he doesn’t require any more money than what he gets." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"Is there anyone who doesn’t like having money? They all like it when having some, no?" (Park Yong-Hui)
"That may be true, but well, as you can see, he’s a bit peculiar, so…." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"Hmm, I see." (Park Yong-Hui)
Even to Park Yong-Hui, Yi Ji-Hyuk seemed to be an odd man. A man that, although necessary and very much needed, was way too troublesome to stay close by.
‘How am I supposed to make my report now?’ (Park Yong-Hui)
The higher-ups had already ordered him to make contact with Yi Ji-Hyuk. Not even talking to him didn’t feel right, but Park Yong-Hui could already tell what the answer would be if he tried to lure the young man in.
It was normal for anyone to not be all that enthusiastic when already knowing the likely outcome, even if one was supposed to ask how high after being ordered to jump.
"Comrade Choi, it must be very hard for you." (Park Yong-Hui)
"It’s not actually a hardship. I’ve earned quite a lot in the process, after all." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Park Yong-Hui quietly stared at Choi Jeong-Hoon and smiled.
No one was more sensitive towards analysing the power dynamics than him. Yi Ji-Hyuk may very well be the ‘absolute gab’, but no matter what, the person influencing him the most was none other than Choi Jeong-Hoon.
"By the way…." (Park Yong-Hui)
"Yes?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"Doesn’t South Joseon feed him food?" (Park Yong-Hui)
"……………"
Choi Jeong-Hoon felt his face redden up after witnessing Yi Ji-Hyuk gluttonously shoving food down his throat with crazed fervour.
"W-well, he’s originally like that, so…." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"Originally? Are you telling me he eats like that all the time?" (Park Yong-Hui)
"….Please, don’t misunderstand me. It has nothing to do with governments. It’s all completely his personal preference." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"I too think that way, but…." (Park Yong-Hui)
But, that was a bit too much, wasn’t it?
‘Doesn’t he care about what others think?’ (Park Yong-Hui)
Now normally, you’d still be mindful of other people in occasions like this one, even if you were beset with hunger. Yet, it felt as if Yi Ji-Hyuk didn’t even have such a notion in him.
‘He’s not the kind to quietly endure life in our Republic.’ (Park Yong-Hui)
The moment he thought that, Park Yong-Hui cleanly gave up on all of his lingering attachments on Yi Ji-Hyuk. If Yi Ji-Hyuk was haphazardly brought in and it resulted in him colliding with the Party, then without a doubt, the Republic would be finished regardless of who won in the end.
Even if the explosive was a high-performance model, you couldn’t live alongside it when its detonator was switched on.
"Can you help us next time as well?" (Park Yong-Hui)
Choi Jeong-Hoon formed a meaningful smile just then.
"Of course." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
*
Crunch, crunch….
Yi Ji-Hyuk was preoccupied with hoovering up all the food before his face.
"Can’t you eat more slowly?!" (Jeong Hae-Min)
"Th-thslowly… w-why thshould, I…" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"N-no, never mind. Don’t speak and just eat." (Jeong Hae-Min)
Jeong Hae-Min freaked out when bits of food stuff spewed out from his mouth and backed away in a hurry.
However, Yi Ji-Hyuk was feeling rather aggrieved right now.
‘I can’t afford to eat slowly, though??’ (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Recovering spent Mana might be impossible, but that didn’t mean he shouldn’t recover his stamina or mental strength. And the easiest method to do so was to consume lots of calories.
The thing was, his body’s digestive power was on another realm altogether when compared to other people. Even if he ate ten times more food than what a regular person could handle, all of that would get digested in an instant.
If he were to slowly fill himself up, then he’d probably end up eating for a whole day.
Gulp, gulp.
He took hold of the Cola bottle standing next to the plates like some kind of a tower, and drank it in one go. He loudly burped out and shifted his gaze over to Jeong Hae-Min to protest his innocence.
"It’s not like I enjoy doing this, you know?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"….Sure." (Jeong Hae-Min)
"No, hang on. I’m being serious." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"I get it, really." (Jeong Hae-Min)
Something really felt unfair here.
Step, step.
It was then, someone approached them.
The weighty atmosphere created by Kim Ryong-Seong and Park Yong-Hui ensured that no one dared to get anywhere near Yi Ji-Hyuk, yet someone finally did dare to do exactly that.
"Uh? So you came, too?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
It was a man even Yi Ji-Hyuk remembered well.
Rhee Jin-Cheol pulled a chair and sat before Yi Ji-Hyuk.
"….You’re gorging yourself without a care in the world." (Rhee Jin-Cheol)
"Why don’t you join in, then?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Our compatriots are working their as*es off trying to sort out the messy battle location. How can I eat when knowing that?" (Rhee Jin-Cheol)
"Why should I care about stuff like that?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"….Indeed, you wouldn’t." (Rhee Jin-Cheol)
Chwa-ah-ahk.
Suddenly, Rhee Jin-Cheol pulled out a match and lit the cigarette in his mouth.
"Hul??" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk gasped out in sheer amazement and stared at that sight.
"R-right, that was it!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
This place was North Korea!
The concept of ‘no smoking indoors’ didn't exist in this country!
"Is this heaven?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk rejoiced at this new discovery. He quickly pulled out his own pack of smokes, but Rhee Jin-Cheol was a step faster and had pushed forward a cigarette to him.
"Smoke this." (Rhee Jin-Cheol)
"Why, thank you kindly." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk didn’t decline that and placed the offered cigarette between his lips. Rhee Jin-Cheol used his already-lit cigarette to light Yi Ji-Hyuk’s.
Whitish smoke swirled in the air after Yi Ji-Hyuk exhaled it.
"Hah, so good." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"How can you smoke indoors! You barbarian!" (Jeong Hae-Min)
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk was utterly unfazed.
"Looky here, Rhee Ji-Hyuk." (Rhee Jin-Cheol)
Rhee Jin-Cheol, shrouded in the rising cigarette smoke, asked him.
"What should I do to become crazily strong like you?" (Rhee Jin-Cheol)
"Put in a lot of effort." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Are you implying that my efforts weren’t enough?" (Rhee Jin-Cheol)
"Not that. I can tell you have put in some real hard work." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Then, what’s the difference between you and me?" (Rhee Jin-Cheol)
"It’s time." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Rhee Jin-Cheol’s brows quivered.
"Time?" (Rhee Jin-Cheol)
"Right. An incredible amount of time." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Rhee Jin-Cheol shook his head as if he failed to understand it.
"Don’t try to understand it. You can’t, even if you tried. You should just stop comparing yourself to me." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Meaning, I can never catch up to you?" (Rhee Jin-Cheol)
"Rather than that, mm….." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk scratched his cheek.
"If I was in your shoes, I’d not try to catch up to me. You gotta abandon too many things on the way, you see." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Rhee Jin-Cheol didn’t say anything and quietly glared at Yi Ji-Hyuk. However, the latter didn’t try to meet that gaze. He simply sucked on the cigarette a few more times, stubbed it, and returned to hoovering up the food, instead.
"….I think I get what you’re saying." (Rhee Jin-Cheol)
Rhee Jin-Cheol got up, and bowed to Yi Ji-Hyuk.
"Let me say my thanks." (Rhee Jin-Cheol)
Rhee Jin-Cheol then turned around to leave, allowing Jeong Hae-Min to lean closer to Yi Ji-Hyuk and whisper.
"That ahjussi, what was he trying to say?" (Jeong Hae-Min)
"Mm…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk smirked softly.
"I dunno." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"….My bad. Shouldn’t have asked." (Jeong Hae-Min)
Jeong Hae-Min wordlessly shoved the apple slices inside his mouth.
Fin.
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