"I recommended Second Brother to the Chairman."

"Why would you?"

"Because I don't believe the Shinpyeong Party will win this election. And the Chairman agreed with me."

Mun-jong had regarded the Shinpyeong Party matter as his own.

The problem had been Tak-hyeon's distaste for dealing with them, and once that was resolved, Mun-jong had intended to step forward and close the deal himself.

So hearing that Sang-jong would handle it had bred displeasure, and with it, resentment toward Seong-ho.

He'd found himself thinking that it was Seong-ho's advice to have Sang-jong persuade the Chairman that had brought things to this pass.

But at the claim that Shinpyeong wouldn't take power, Mun-jong looked briefly thrown and asked again, to confirm.

"Shinpyeong won't take power in this election? What are you talking about?"

"Brother."

Seong-ho raised a hand, gesturing for him to lower his rising voice.

"Having seen Sang-hoe Lee yourself, do you still believe Shinpyeong can win this election?"

Recalling the man who hadn't said a word, Mun-jong frowned.

"He certainly… didn't look the part of a president."

"Exactly. Unlike the presidents before him, who weren't afraid of getting their hands dirty, he still won't put down that lofty posture."

Mun-jong nodded.

Seeing the man so entirely unchanged, it had occurred to him too that the same result might follow.

"But isn't that rather thin grounds for saying they'll lose?"

A few exchanges had dissolved Mun-jong's irritation and anger entirely, leaving only questions.

"It's still Shinpyeong. Last time they lost because Dae-sang Kim existed, but the Mincheong Party has no such figure this time, as far as I know."

"There's a full year left. No one knows when such a figure might emerge."

"There's only a year left."

Seong-ho said a full year; Mun-jong said only a year.

The same span, seen entirely differently.

"Brother — even if Shinpyeong does win, there's nothing to worry about."

"Why?"

"Would you be able to say the Chairman's judgment was wrong and yours was right? The greenbelt release we'd obtain is, from your position, a matter of indifference either way, isn't it?"

Mun-jong didn't…