Chapter 77: That Time I Paid Off Debt in South America (2)

TL: Skye

"The key question will be how to get around the economic sanctions on Russia."

"I have some ideas on that front."

"Would you mind sharing them with me first? There might be something I can advise on."

"Of course. We may actually need the Korean government's help."

I began explaining what I had planned, and Moon Seong-mun nodded along, humming low in his throat.

"...That method would certainly get around the sanctions. And it wouldn't be much of a burden on our government, either."

"So it's not completely outlandish, right?"

"But will America really just sit back and watch?"

"Even if they find out, they'll sit back."

"Why's that?"

"Because I've already secured President Drump's blessing."

"Hah... I knew it already, but you really are something else, Mr. President."

"I'd appreciate it if you'd pass our requirements along to the Korean government."

"Understood. I'll ask the government."

"Thank you."

***

Three days later.

Yu-jin and Moon Seong-mun headed, just the two of them, to an SIA safe house on the outskirts of Libertad.

Inside the room at the safe house sat a man built like a bear.

None other than Andrei Sokolov, Russia's Deputy Minister of Finance.

"A pleasure. Andrei Sokolov, of Russia."

An attitude that couldn't have been more galling at first glance.

'Would you look at this asshole?'

Yu-jin deliberately skipped the greeting, sat down across from him, and crossed his legs.

"Choi Yu-jin. President of San Marcos, as you're well aware."

At that, the corner of Andrei's eye twitched.

"Reaching out to repay your debts the moment you take office, did you strike a gold mine or something?"

"Gold mine, my foot. I'm just cleaning up the shit the previous regime left behind."

"I see."

"Let's skip the preamble and get straight to business. According to the books, it's 9.1 billion dollars."

Andrei tossed a worn bundle of documents onto the table.

"Our terms are very generous. Pay a clean thirty percent, 2.7 billion dollars in cash, and we'll write off the rest of the debt. What do you say? Quite the bargain, isn't it?"

"Deputy Minister, let's be honest with each other. If we wire dollars into your accounts right now, can you even spend that money? The moment the dollars land, they'll be frozen, won't they?"

"It's our money. We'll handle it ourselves."

"Why is it your money?"

"???"

Yu-jin folded his arms and leaned back in his chair.

"It only becomes Russia's money once we pay it. If we never pay up, how does it ever become Russia's money?"

"...That sounds like you haven't actually decided whether you intend to pay at all."

"Well, I can't buy something without checking the price tag first."

Faced with this declaration of brinkmanship, Andrei answered firmly.

"Our price tag is 2.7 billion dollars. If you're thinking of anything less, there will be no negotiation."

"Then I suppose that's that. Since you've come all the way to San Marcos, do enjoy some good food before you leave. And spend plenty of money while you're at it. Deputy Director Moon, shall we?"

"You summon a man here and... what is the meaning of this insolence?!"

"You said there'd be no negotiation. So let's stop wasting time and be on our way."

Yu-jin walked out of the safe house, leaving a red-faced Andrei behind.

The man came chasing after him, but Yu-jin simply climbed into the car.

On the way back to the Presidential Palace.

Moon Seong-mun asked, his face heavy with concern.

"I'm not sure this was wise."

"What wasn't?"

"If the negotiations collapse entirely over this..."

"Then we simply can't pay."

"...You certainly know how to wield a debtor's weapons, Mr. President."

"That's right. Paying it back is the correct move in the long run, but it's hardly urgent right now."

Yu-jin said, shifting his gaze out the window.

"Besides, I expect they'll be in touch again within two days."

"......"

*

Yu-jin's prophecy came true in a mere twelve hours.

The very next day, as soon as the sun rose, Andrei's side reached out to Moon Seong-mun expressing a desire to resume negotiations.

This time, Yu-jin met Andrei alone, without Moon Seong-mun at his side.

"I apologize for yesterday. My country's situation is pressing, and I'm afraid my impatience got the better of me."

Andrei, noticeably more courteous than the day before, was the first to offer an apology.

"I was rude as well."

President or not, Yu-jin bowed his head.

Andrei nodded, his eyes betraying a flicker of surprise.

Watching Yu-jin lower his head so readily, he sensed this negotiation would be anything but easy.

"If you tell me first what amount is feasible, I'll give it consideration."

It was Andrei who opened the negotiation.

"We're thinking 800 million dollars."

He frowned at a figure markedly lower than he'd anticipated.

"I'm afraid that won't do. Please meet us at two billion dollars, at minimum."

"As you know, San Marcos is a poor country. Please understand that even 800 million represents our very best effort."

"My understanding is that your finances have improved considerably since you developed that oil field..."

"The country has been run on a shoestring for so long that the bills piling up are anything but small."

"I sympathize, but 800 million is far too little. If you'd prefer, I could consider two billion dollars, paid in installments over five years, interest-free."

"Hmm."

It certainly wasn't a bad offer.

Between the profits from the oil field and the Tortilla Company's operating income, paying down some 400 million a year was entirely doable.

"If you accept, we will immediately announce that San Marcos has repaid its debt to Russia in full."

But.

'Better to haggle it down as far as it'll go.'

Yu-jin had absolutely no intention of spending two billion dollars.

"First, thank you for such a considerate offer."

"......"

"That said, I'd like to make a counterproposal of my own."

"Go ahead."

"From what I hear, conditions inside Russia are rather dire. The long war has gutted your workforce, production has taken a massive hit as a result, and you're suffering runaway inflation. And your supply chains broke down long ago."

"...You're not wrong."

Yu-jin laced his fingers together and leaned forward.

"So what would you say to 800 million dollars' worth of goods? If we supply the things Russia needs, trucks, auto parts and the like, I believe it would be worth no less than two billion dollars."

At the unexpected proposal, Andrei's expression hardened in an instant.

"If you could actually deliver goods, then yes, I might think differently, but every shipment bound for Russia is under surveillance as we speak."

"I have a plan."

Yu-jin said, his eyes gleaming.

"We'll route everything through Korea into China. Once it's there, Russia should have no trouble collecting it... What do you think?"

Andrei's eyes wavered.

Because this was a sitting head of state personally offering to design a smuggling route around the sanctions.

"I doubt... America will simply stand by. If you believe you can slip past American eyes, I suggest you reconsider."

"Don't worry."

Yu-jin replied, his expression brimming with confidence.

"I've already squared things with the Americans."

"...You're telling me America agreed to those terms?"

"When I told them all 800 million dollars' worth of goods would be ordered from American suppliers, they were downright delighted."

"......"

Confronted with something he'd never imagined, Andrei found himself at a loss for words.

He'd already known that the Yu-jin Choi sitting before him had some degree of friendship with Drump.

But he'd never dreamed it ran deep enough to override sanctions America itself had spearheaded.

"It would be strange to refuse someone offering to buy your own country's products, wouldn't it?"

A brief silence filled the meeting room.

Andrei stared hard at Yu-jin for a long while, as if punching numbers into some complicated mental calculator.

The truth was, he knew it all too well.

That what Russia needed right now wasn't a claim as worthless as scrap paper, one it might never collect on, but hard goods.

"Today... I believe I've lost."

Andrei finally let out a hollow laugh and leaned back. It was the rueful chuckle of a man conceding defeat.

"Repayment in goods worth 800 million dollars. And the extinguishment of all of San Marcos's debt. I will secure the Kremlin's final approval on these terms. In exchange, we decide what goods are delivered. And we will be verifying their quality as well."

"Of course. But no semiconductors or ultra-precision components. Those weren't part of the discussion."

"I wouldn't dream of asking for that much."

The two men clasped hands.

It was the moment San Marcos's national debt restructuring came to a close.

***

Three months later.

Screeeeech–!

A massive crane was loading containers packed with American-made cars and auto parts onto an enormous cargo ship.

Once those goods passed through Korea, crossed the Chinese mainland, and landed in Russian hands, the credit default label slapped on San Marcos would finally be peeled off.

"What a sight. I had no idea 800 million dollars' worth of cargo would amount to this much."

Moon Seong-mun, the man most responsible for both the negotiations with Russia and the coordination with the Korean government, marveled at the scene.

"It's all thanks to you, Deputy Director. Truly, thank you."

When I offered my hand with heartfelt gratitude, Moon Seong-mun took it, a curious smile playing on his lips.

"Not at all. I merely did my duty as a public servant. By the way, Mr. President."

"Yes, go ahead."

"Well... I've decided to leave the National Intelligence Service once this job wraps up."

"What? Wait, just like that?"

I stared at him, startled. Deputy Director of the NIS was the kind of senior post other people clawed over each other to reach.

"The kids are mostly grown now, and I'd like to finally settle down somewhere. Honestly, the work's gotten a bit stale, too."

"If you haven't decided where to go, come to San Marcos. I'll keep a seat open for you."

At the sincere offer, Moon Seong-mun broke into a wide grin.

"Oh, I'll be coming to San Marcos. But it seems I'll be arriving under the Korean government's flag."

"...Sorry? What's that supposed to mean?"

Moon Seong-mun drew a crisp business card from his inside jacket pocket and held it out.

"I've just been appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to San Marcos."

The name printed on the card wasn't Moon Seong-mun's.

[Park Munsu, Ambassador to San Marcos]

"...So you've taken back your real name."

"Yes. I've reclaimed my birth name and will be assuming the ambassadorship. I look forward to working with you, Mr. President."

I stared blankly at the card, then burst into a disbelieving laugh.

"The pleasure's all mine, Ambassador Park."

"Being called 'Ambassador' still feels strange."

Park Munsu let out a hearty laugh.

"There's one thing I've been personally curious about. May I ask?"

"By all means."

"I'd like to know why your very first policy as president was paying off old debt."

A sharp question, true to his intelligence background.

"Oh, that?"

I gazed out at the distant horizon and grinned.

"So I can crank the leverage all the way up."

*****

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