"Welcome."

Once again Deok-su Hong came out to meet him and opened Seong-ho Kim's car door.

"You came out again?"

Seong-ho stepped out, smiling.

Deok-su shut the car door and answered, smiling back.

"When you're coming, Vice-Chairman, of course I should be out here."

They went through the gate of a restaurant on the quiet edge of the city and into a wide courtyard. There, Deok-su spoke carefully.

"Our candidate has given this a great deal of thought. Please be sure to understand that."

"I understand."

Seong-ho knew why Deok-su was saying this.

He's going to turn me down.

Deok-su had come all the way out to the gate to deliver the refusal ahead of time. Seong-ho could see that.

Deok-su glanced at Seong-ho's eyes, looking apologetic.

Turning someone down to his face made Deok-su uncomfortable, even ashamed.

That was also why Yeong-gyu Lee had sent Deok-su out ahead.

If Deok-su delivered the message first, Yeong-gyu could avoid an awkward scene.

Seong-ho only gave Deok-su a slight smile.

You can't refuse.

Once Seong-ho had brought it up, refusing wasn't an option Yeong-gyu actually had.

Seong-ho went into the restaurant smiling and was shown to the room that had been prepared.

Rattle.

The sliding door opened onto the room.

Unlike last time, the two of them were meeting at a traditional Korean set-course restaurant.

"Welcome."

Yeong-gyu was already on his feet, and he greeted Seong-ho warmly as he came in.

"You've been well?"

"I've been fine. Have you been well too, Vice-Chairman?"

"Yes. I've been well too."

After a few brief greetings, they sat down.

"Have you seen the news? Have those Mincheong people lost their minds? Why would they take group heads along to an inter-Korean summit?"

Once again, Seong-ho answered with a smile.

Yeong-gyu studied Seong-ho's face for a moment, then started in again.

"What on earth do they mean to do, taking the group heads to North Korea? It's an administration on its way out, padding its record, and lining up the group heads as a backdrop."

Yeong-gyu's voice had risen as if in anger, but now he…