Having sunk into thought for a moment, Tak-hyeon gave Do-beom his instructions.

"There's no telling what that fellow might suddenly go and do, so keep a close watch on him."

"Yes, understood."

Do-beom, who'd been thinking the same even without the instruction, answered at once.

Tak-hyeon, figuring that whatever was going on would surface later if he only kept watching, issued his next instruction.

"More to the point—how's the presidential race looking right now?"

As interest in Mun-jong receded and turned back to the election, Do-beom relayed to Tak-hyeon the information the secretariat had gathered so far.

"With the IMF making landfall on the peninsula, the electoral terrain has shifted dramatically. On top of that, your own maneuvering, Chairman, has had an enormous influence on shifting that terrain as well."

"That's what I set out to do, so it's gone just as planned."

"By our current projections, Candidate Dae-sang Kim is leading the ruling-party candidate by a narrow margin."

"So the ruling-party candidate led the whole way, and now it's flipped?"

"Yes. With the election right upon us, it appears Candidate Dae-sang Kim has pulled ahead."

"Good."

Tak-hyeon was satisfied to see things flowing to Dae-sang Kim's advantage, just as he'd intended.

And he meant to hand Dae-sang Kim not merely an advantage, but victory.

"Don't spare any support until the election's over. If a request comes in from the Dae-sang Kim camp, grant all of it."

"Chairman. If this leads to the ruling-party candidate winning after all… wouldn't that put us in a very disadvantageous position?"

"That's exactly why I told you not to spare the support. The candidate we want has to be the one who becomes president."

"Understood. But, Chairman."

Having first given his assent, Do-beom cautiously put a question to Tak-hyeon.

"If the ruling-party candidate comes to us and asks for help, what do you intend to do?"

"The ruling-party candidate, in person?"

"Yes. If he comes himself… would you still intend to back the opposition candidate, Dae-sang Kim?"

The Ilhyeon Group had maintained good relations with the ruling party for generations, going back to Tak-hyeon's…