Chapter 171 – Reunion (2)

We got out of the car in front of the Jeju Provincial Hall and exchanged warm greetings with the people we met again.

“It’s been a while, Governor Yang.”

“Looking at the dates, it hasn’t been that long, but it feels like a really long time.”

Indeed, not much time had passed since we parted ways in Busan.

However, given all that had happened since then, it felt like a long time, just as Governor Yang had said.

We had traveled through the gate to the imperial capital, met a new group of heroes, rescued the heroes who had fallen into a trap in North Korea, went to America to save New York, crossed the gate to save the city of the divine tree, and then returned. It was only natural to feel that a lot of time had passed.

It seemed the same for Governor Yang’s people as well.

“Since I’ve left Yeongdo, I’m no longer the governor. I represent a small group of people, so you can call me Representative Yang.”

Governor Yang’s position had changed, and the aura he exuded was different from before.

From the image of someone stubbornly holding on for the people in Busan, he now seemed more seasoned.

The same was true for Lieutenant Colonel Park, who had stayed in Busan with Governor Yang.

Perhaps because he no longer had to do things he didn’t want to do?

Unlike before, he was dressed in civilian clothes and looked much happier.

“It’s been a while, Lieutenant Colonel.”

“I’ve taken off my rank insignia, so I’m no longer a lieutenant colonel.”

Hearing Lieutenant Colonel Park’s words, I asked the soldiers who had come with the former governor and former lieutenant colonel.

“Then, have the soldiers who came with you joined the military here?”

There were some familiar faces among the soldiers, but I didn’t see any of the soldiers who had fought alongside us.

Of course, they had died in Jodo when we retreated.

“Ah, we’ve all been discharged. Now we’re working as a self-defense force to protect the people.”

The soldiers were all wearing military uniforms without rank insignia.

These were the people who had been abandoned by the Jeju government after boarding the container ship.

Many of the soldiers on the container ship had vowed not to let the politicians in Jeju off the hook, so it seemed unlikely they would return to the military.

But could they just discharge themselves like that?

I glanced at the officers and the general with stars on his shoulders, who seemed to be waiting for the right moment to approach us. They were glaring at us with stern expressions, even after hearing the soldiers’ words.

Their expressions made it clear that factions had formed.

After I finished greeting everyone, the general, who had been watching from the side, quickly approached and offered me a handshake.

I checked that my party members were busy talking with the people from Busan before shaking the general’s hand.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Byung-in, the commander of the Jeju Defense Force.”

The general, who introduced himself as the commander of the Jeju Defense Force, had four stars on his shoulders.

Despite his attire, the stars on his epaulettes looked a bit crude.

They were clearly hastily made in Jeju.

“The defense commander? A one-star who fled from the Nakdong River.”

As I shook his hand, I heard a faint mutter from behind.

It was the vice minister who had brought us here, muttering to himself.

It was a voice so soft that no one else could hear it, but there were at least three people here who could hear it.

Fortunately, my party members didn’t show any reaction, and I pretended not to notice, finishing the handshake with the general.

“Welcome to Jeju. I heard you fought alongside us at the Nakdong River and helped the civilians escape from Busan.

When I heard you were coming to Jeju, I rushed here to see the comrades I fought with.”

As expected, this general was also the leader of a faction, just like Representative Yang.

He must be the leader of the remnants who fled from the Nakdong River front.

And yet, he had the audacity to call himself the commander of the Jeju Defense Force.

The vice minister was the same; it seemed there were many people in Jeju who surprised me.

“Was it tough getting here from America? We’ve prepared a place for you to rest. How about coming with us?”

The self-proclaimed Jeju Defense Force commander made his offer right after the greeting.

And before his offer could even finish, Representative Yang’s urgent voice chimed in.

“There are many people who want to see the knight and the rest of you. Not everyone could come, so how about we go and talk with them? They’re all waiting.”

Yerim, who had been talking with him, looked at him with a bewildered expression, but Representative Yang just raised his voice while looking at me.

“We’ve also prepared accommodations. We’ve prepared meals that you’ll enjoy.”

Seeing Representative Yang’s desperate expression, I couldn’t help but sigh.

Not just because of his attempt to take me with him, but also because seeing him with the people I knew made it clear that Yeongdo’s former governor, now Representative Yang, had fully become a politician.

Bringing those people here was likely just to win my favor.

I wasn’t disappointed by Representative Yang’s behavior.

After all, it’s human nature to do one’s best to survive.

Moreover, as the representative of a faction, it was only natural for him to act in the faction’s interest.

However, Representative Yang’s behavior helped me make a decision.

After all, they were just people I had saved once.

They were doing their best for themselves, so I would do the same.

“I have a prior engagement, so let’s talk after I finish that.”

After all, the reason I came here was to meet with the Korean government.

Although my expectations had already faded, I still wanted to hear what they had to say.

Other factions had their leaders come out to take me with them, so why did only a vice minister come?

Moreover, why did the minister, not the president, want to meet?

Finally, why were they preparing to escape?

The last point was somewhat expected, but I needed to hear it directly.

And since I had some advice to give, I needed to meet the minister.

Hearing my words, the vice minister behind me let out another sigh.

He must have sighed after seeing how I treated Representative Yang’s group.

He must have realized that the new line he thought he had was more fragile than he expected.

But that was just his own delusion.

The idea that Representative Yang was close to me and that we would help Representative Yang was all just his own assumption.

“Then, let’s go together.”

“I’ll come too.”

At my words, both Representative Yang and the general said they would come along as if they had planned it all along.

I had things to say to everyone, so I didn’t stop them from coming.

The vice minister, whose head was already spinning, didn’t even think of stopping them.

The people at the entrance rushed past the parking lot and into the Jeju Provincial Hall.

There were soldiers guarding the entrance, but since the vice minister and the two faction leaders were moving together, they didn’t stop us.

The people in the lobby looked at us with surprised eyes, and some of them quickly ran off somewhere.

Seeing this, the general clicked his tongue.

“With these clowns, the president rarely shows his face, and there are only a few who actually work. No wonder the island is in this state.”

To me, the general seemed like one of the people who had brought the island to this state, but that wasn’t important right now, so I just followed the vice minister, quickening my pace.

No matter what the general said, the interior of the Jeju Provincial Hall was cleaner and more intact than I had expected.

The electricity was on, and the inside was bright. The clothes of the people walking around were also neat.

Since the Korean government had moved here some time ago, the interior map of the provincial hall was not the old one but was drawn according to the current government’s standards.

We headed to the third-floor Foreign Affairs Office as indicated on the map, and shortly after, we entered the Foreign Affairs Office, where only a few desks remained, covered in dust.

The Foreign Minister’s office was inside the Foreign Affairs Office.

It was a small office for the Korean Foreign Minister.

Not everyone could enter, so we left the others in the Foreign Affairs Office and only our party, the vice minister, Representative Yang, and the general entered the minister’s office.

The office was cramped with nine people inside.

The minister, who was sitting behind the desk at the back, frowned as he saw us enter the room.

“Uninvited guests have arrived.”

The Foreign Minister frowned as he looked at Representative Yang and the general.

I couldn’t help but tilt my head as I looked at the frowning minister.

Contrary to expectations, the Foreign Minister looked quite normal.

He looked tired and kept rubbing his temples as if he had a headache, but outwardly, he seemed like an ordinary, hardworking civil servant.

In the past, judging people by their appearance was foolish, but since gaining heightened senses, my intuition had rarely been wrong.

However, the minister’s next words told me that my intuition was off.

“Seeing that they arrived safely, the transport plane must have landed safely. Did you secure the transport plane?”

‘It seems even my senses can’t fully understand people.’

As I clicked my tongue, the vice minister bowed his head and explained to the minister.

“Well… it left before we arrived.”

“Oh, my mistake. We’ll discuss that issue separately later.”

I didn’t know how they would discuss it later, but the vice minister’s face darkened upon hearing the minister’s words.

The vice minister must have realized that the new line he had secured wasn’t great, which made his expression even worse.

And as the vice minister bowed his head, there were others who frowned.

Representative Yang and the general.

“What do you mean by transport plane?”

“That’s none of your concern.”

In response to Representative Yang’s question, the minister casually shook his head, which angered the general.

“What do you mean by that!”

“There’s nothing to discuss about a plane that’s already left. If you have something to say, wait.”

Even as the general grew angry, the Foreign Minister calmly spoke to me.

His calm words sounded like those of a sly fox.

“In exchange for dropping you off here, we planned to secure the transport plane. Since that fell through, it seems you’ll have to repay us instead.”

Just like the vice minister’s words at the airport, the minister’s words left me bewildered.

The problem was that, unlike the vice minister, the minister in front of me was speaking rationally.

Clearly, the other person was speaking logically, but something felt off.

Something was wrong.

The absurd statement left the room silent, and in that silence, an unexpected voice spoke up.

It was Yerim.

“That person’s mind has been corrupted, hasn’t it?”

She was pointing at the minister as she spoke.

“Corrupted? Do you mean he’s been deceived?”

At my question, Yerim tilted her head and answered in a troubled tone.

“No, it’s not that… Someone else did it. How should I put it? Ah, right. Brainwashing?”

At her words, everyone in the room looked at the minister with shocked eyes.

“What nonsense are you spouting now? You ask for a reward and then slander me?”

Even after hearing the word “brainwashing,” the minister’s expression didn’t change, and he simply scolded Yerim.

Seeing this, not only I but everyone else in the room could be sure.

And Yerim spoke up with confidence.

“I think I can undo it with divine power. Should I try?”