Translator: Dreamscribe
"Your resolve to retire is stronger than I expected."
The congressn who had tried and failed to persuade Aiden left the Presidential Office alongside Hwang Dae-woon.
"Can you bla him? He's been through a great deal of grief during this term."
"So it seems."
And who wouldn't be? The disgrace of leading what everyone called a La-duck Administration must have been agonizing.
Watching Hwang Dae-woon click his tongue sympathetically, Floor Leader Steve narrowed his brow.
Wasn't Kwangwoon the very reason the administration had beco a la duck in the first place?
But Steve wasn't emotional enough to throw that accusation in soone's face.
"The President himself would find it difficult to simply return. He's already publicly declared his retirent, and preparations for it are well underway. The dia has covered President Aiden's retirent with considerable gravity. For him to suddenly co back under those circumstances? Frankly, it would be embarrassing."
"Are you saying he needs justification?"
"Yes. Justification to swap out the candidate. If that exists, the President won't be able to refuse any longer."
Justification.
If they had that, he could really co back?
"Honestly, is there anyone in the world who would turn down a second term as President of the United States?"
"So even President Aiden...?"
"He may say all that, but if soone gives him a proper reason, he'll co back. I'm sure of it."
So that was how it was.
He'd been wondering why Aiden was refusing so adamantly.
There were scenes just like this in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Ministers would plead for soone to accept the throne, but the person would deliberately pretend to refuse until the proper justification was established.
"Would it be possible for Kwangwoon to create that justification?"
"...Pardon?"
"I have no doubt that Kwangwoon can craft justification compelling enough to bring President Aiden back. And if you truly do bring the President back, the Democratic Party will actively support everything Kwangwoon does going forward."
"......"
Hwang Dae-woon was speechless.
The candidate registration deadline was fast approaching.
And they were telling him to manufacture justification for Aiden's return under these conditions?
"Then I'll be waiting for good news, Chairman-nim. Please rember that the Democratic Party has always maintained a friendly relationship with Kwangwoon. Haha."
Steve left those words behind and departed with the other congressn.
"......"
Hwang Dae-woon stared at Steve's retreating figure and tilted his head.
If they were truly serious about changing Aiden's mind, they should have staged a hunger strike or sothing. Instead, they were asking Kwangwoon to create justification for them.
"What kind of justification would that even be?"
Even Hwang Dae-woon had no answer for that.
* * *
"Hyung... No, wait. Chairman-nim really said that?"
"Yes. Apparently Aiden is vehently opposing the candidate swap. Says he's going to retire."
It seed my hyung had received the report about selling off all the Trump The Stocks and buying up massive quantities of Aiden The Stocks.
He should have been relaxing on what was essentially a vacation, but I'd caused him unnecessary trouble.
Yet despite all his efforts, Aiden had refused.
"Aiden's been going around saying retirent this, retirent that, that he's leaving politics for good. He even drove the point ho saying he'd never make political statents after retiring."
"After saying all that publicly, suddenly coming back as a candidate... He probably thinks the optics would be terrible."
"And that's why the Democratic Floor Leader asked Chairman-nim to create justification."
That part was almost laughable.
How could a re corporation like us possibly manufacture justification for the President of the United States?
From what I'd heard, Democratic congressn had sward the White House en masse trying to stop his retirent.
And despite all that, President Aiden had reportedly thrown them all out, insisting he would never reverse his decision.
"Is there anything that could serve as justification?"
"With the candidate registration deadline so close, there's practically nothing. If Aiden truly had the will, he would've stepped forward shalessly, but since he hasn't, it seems like he genuinely intends to retire."
I simply thought the Democratic congressn lacked the will.
If they truly wanted to win the election, they should have staged a demonstration in front of Aiden, telling him to step over their bodies if he had to.
Instead, they couldn't even manage that, and they were asking us to create justification?
This looked like nothing more than both Aiden and the Democratic Party giving up on this election entirely.
"CEO-nim. Then the Aiden The Stocks we've been buying up..."
That was the problem.
When I'd first held Trump and Hillis side by side and asked my Intuition for an answer, it had clearly chosen Trump.
But when I posed the question again with Aiden and Trump, the answer suddenly changed.
My Intuition pointed straight at Aiden.
'So Trump wins against Hillis, but loses against Aiden.'
On top of that, my Intuition was practically screaming at , blazing like wildfire over Aiden-related The Stocks, urging to buy imdiately.
And yet the gladiator who was supposed to step into the arena was refusing to fight.
"......"
I looked over the Aiden-related The Stocks once more.
Thanks to our massive purchases, prices had risen slightly, but so had actually dropped further.
So should I sell now, before the losses deepened?
I quietly placed my hand over them.
"......"
But my Intuition gave no response whatsoever.
In other words, it was telling to hold.
"For now... leave them."
"B-but CEO-nim. Once the candidate registration closes, Aiden won't be able to enter even if he wants to. And the justification they're talking about is virtually impossible to create."
I knew that.
But my Intuition wasn't reacting to the Aiden The Stocks.
That ant either Aiden would miraculously change his mind and return, or these stocks would rise even without his coback.
"Still, let's just leave them for now."
I had no idea how any of that was possible, but I didn't want to agonize over it.
"What about the other agenda items?"
When I tried to change the subject, the staff stopped pressing the matter.
"Here they are. These are the items to be reported today. Nothing critically important among them. If there's anything you'd like a detailed briefing on, please let us know."
As Departnt Head-nim said, nothing seed particularly critical.
Everyone already knew that the global economy had collapsed because of China.
The silver lining was that things were slowly recovering.
"......"
Then my gaze stopped at one item.
My Intuition, which hadn't reacted at all to the Aiden The Stocks, sent a jolt right here.
China and North Korea.
It was related to those two countries.
"What's the current situation with China and North Korea?"
"China is currently embroiled in Civil War across many regions. A general nad Tian Gang is said to hold the most powerful faction, but whether he can actually unify China remains uncertain. On top of that, quite a few factions haven't joined the fighting yet and are just watching from the sidelines."
A modern-day Three Kingdoms had suddenly erupted.
In reality, three major military factions were wielding significant influence and locked in a power struggle.
From a distance, the unfolding situation might seem riveting, but for a country as close to China as Korea, it was nothing short of terrifying.
The aftershocks of this Civil War could engulf our country.
No. In truth, they already had.
"A large number of Chinese citizens attempted to flee into our country, but the governnt has currently blocked all entry. They're also seriously considering a Refugee Tax."
Seeing Chinese people trying to cross into Korea en masse and overstay illegally, the Korean governnt had rushed to block entry first.
And it was now considering legislation that would only allow entry for those who paid a Refugee Tax.
"We have North Korea right above us. Spies could infiltrate through China, and a sudden flood of Chinese refugees could trigger social chaos."
So only those who paid the substantial Refugee Tax would be allowed in.
"What about North Korea?"
"North Korea is in considerable turmoil as well. They're struggling imnsely with the refugee problem and ard PLA soldiers. Fortunately, UN peacekeeping forces and the US military moved in to hold off the ard factions, but the real problem is internal Coup d'état attempts. Just like China, North Korea's internal surveillance system has essentially collapsed."
The reason certain factions in China and North Korea had been able to maintain unchecked power was precisely because of their surveillance systems.
They had built structures that made coups d'état virtually impossible and sustained their regis that way, but once those systems crumbled, everything that had been building up exploded all at once.
"The lack of infrastructure and communication networks is critical. At least Tisla and our own World Link are providing communications, but accessing news from various sources remains difficult."
"What about the Kim Family?"
"Their status is also unknown. After they reached out to the UN and US military for help, all contact was lost. It's likely they evacuated to a bunker and are waiting for the situation to stabilize."
That was my biggest concern right now.
Now that North Korea had collapsed, if they decided to go down swinging and take everyone with them, the situation would beco dire.
"And what worries most is our Foundation staff. I know they're all passionate and eager to help, but please tell them to stay away from dangerous areas. And contact Sentinel as well, make sure they're providing proper security so none of our Foundation people get hurt."
Currently, Foundation staff had crossed into areas stabilized by peacekeeping forces.
I desperately wanted to stop them, but there was no holding back people ard with hearts like angels.
So I hoped that China and North Korea would calm down as soon as possible.
Because if the countries above us kept fighting like this, a terrible storm was bound to hit our country eventually.
* * *
"Mr. President. Is a return truly out of the question?"
"Steve. How many tis do I have to say it? I'm getting tired of this."
"I apologize. But the candidate registration deadline is tomorrow. As Floor Leader, shouldn't I prioritize the party's victory above all else?"
"Then you should have done a better job from the start. Well, I suppose the biggest reason the Democratic Party is in this ss is my fault."
"But Kwangwoon clearly wants the Democrats in power over the Republicans. You know that, don't you? The majority of Democratic congressn are on Kwangwoon's side."
Even the Trinity Guild alone was packed with figures connected to the Democratic Party.
"So, has Kwangwoon sent an answer?"
"Nothing. I told them we needed sufficient justification to bring President Aiden back, but it seems even the mighty Kwangwoon can't manufacture that kind of justification."
"With Kwangwoon, you never know what kind of crazy stunt they might pull, so I'll admit that's a bit unnerving. But there's no justification that could make co back right now."
His mind was firmly made up, and Aiden was confident he wouldn't waver.
"Kwangwoon won't give up this easily. Word has it they're buying up The Stocks related to you in massive quantities."
"I've heard that too."
"So if you could perhaps reconsider..."
Tsk. "I said I have no intention of going back. If you're going to keep this up, please leave."
"......"
"Instead of wasting ti trying to persuade , think about building a new face for the Democratic Party. Or co up with a master plan to get Hillis elected. There's still ti before the election."
After several failed attempts at persuasion, Steve was about to give up on Aiden entirely.
But that was when it happened.
"M-Mr. President!"
Aiden's Chief of Staff burst into the room in a panic.
"What's so urgent that you barge in without knocking?"
"I-I'm sorry. But the situation is extrely urgent."
"How urgent can it be?"
"The Kim Family of North Korea has been wiped out."
"!?"
At those words, both Aiden and Steve shot to their feet in shock.
"Is that true?"
"That's not all. It's been officially confird that all of Li Jinping's loyalist forces in China have been executed by Tian Gang."
"Mr. President. If that information is accurate... it ans both the Chinese and North Korean regis have completely fallen."
This would plunge both China and North Korea into chaos far worse than anything they'd seen so far.
"...So this was it."
Sothing seed to click for Aiden, and he sank back into his seat.
"Sir?"
"The justification you asked Kwangwoon for."
"!?"
At those words, Steve straightened up formally.
"Mr. President. The justification has now been handed to you. You are the only person who can navigate this chaotic situation. The mont this news hits the dia, your approval ratings will skyrocket."
"......"
"Will you still refuse? If you turn even this away, it would be a betrayal of the people!"
Aiden had nothing to say.
Because everything Steve said was true.
Aiden had always made containing China and North Korea his top priority.
And now, the last remnants of power in those two regis, the rulers who had been their final embers, were dead. The regis had crumbled completely.
"Kwangwoon, those crazy bastards."
This was the equivalent of shoving a gun in his face and demanding he run for reelection.
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