The World Cup opening ceremony was held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Support Committee Head Hyeong-sik U, his face bright with delight, was pointing out the details of the ceremony to Mun-jong Lee.

"Vice-Chairman. That over there — that's an Ilhyeon Electronics LCD television. The performers around it are holding Ilhyeon Electronics mobile phones. The theme of the opening ceremony is IT, and we made a point of putting Ilhyeon Electronics front and center."

Hyeong-sik U happily walked him through every way in which the opening ceremony was tied back to Ilhyeon, then glanced back at Seong-ho Kim.

"I wanted to repay Ilhyeon, in whatever small way, for its wholehearted support of the World Cup."

Hyeong-sik U gave Seong-ho Kim a nod of acknowledgment, then turned back to Vice-Chairman Mun-jong Lee.

"Do you find it satisfactory?"

"Well… it looks respectable enough."

Mun-jong Lee answered the Committee Head's question and turned his head.

His gaze traveled to where President Dae-sang Kim was seated beside Chairman Tak-hyeon Lee, with the Japanese Prime Minister and heads of state from several other countries arrayed around them, all watching the opening ceremony together.

Mun-jong Lee watched President Dae-sang Kim and Tak-hyeon Lee exchanging whispered words for a moment, then called Seong-ho Kim over.

"Come here a moment."

Recognizing that Mun-jong Lee wanted to speak privately with Seong-ho Kim, Committee Head U stepped quietly back.

Seong-ho Kim moved into the space Hyeong-sik U had vacated.

Mun-jong Lee's eyes were still on President Dae-sang Kim as he spoke.

"With a picture like this getting picked up by the cameras, isn't the Shinpyeong Party going to take a dim view of it?"

Mun-jong Lee was thinking of the next big event after the World Cup — the presidential election.

"They're going to come at us with the fire of hunting for any weakness they can find. And when they sweep the Mincheong Party out, I worry we're going to get swept out along with them."

"That won't happen."

"How can you be so sure?"

Mun-jong Lee turned from President Dae-sang Kim to look at Seong-ho Kim.

Seong-ho…