The day after the Blue House called Seong-ho Kim to apologize, the special envoy to the North was splashed across the papers in giant type.

[Solar Group President Jeong-eun Lee Named Special Envoy to the North]

[President Jeong-eun Lee Heads North Carrying a Secret Letter from the Blue House]

[President Lee, Visiting the North Early Next Month, Expected to Serve as Bridge Between Seoul and Pyongyang]

The press and the public wondered what President Jeong-eun Lee's trip north meant.

The government had sent envoys at crucial moments before, so everyone was watching to see what this envoy would pull off in the North.

"It's a summit."

"A summit?"

"What else would it be?"

People sitting in bars forgot all about drinking and lost track of time, talking about the news.

"If they hold a summit this time, they might start talking about reunification for real."

"Why wouldn't they? The last joint declaration said right there in writing that next time they met, they'd get down to it for real."

"Reunification, huh…"

The man who'd brought it up gazed into the air for a moment, moved.

"If only my father were alive. He'd have been so happy…"

"Someday you can go to his hometown up north and perform the rites for him in his place. He'd like that."

The man clinked glasses with his friend and downed his drink in one go.

"Ahh~ That hits the spot."

His friend picked up a piece of stir-fried squid and popped it in his mouth.

Chewing the squid, he eyed the man, who was getting carried away at the thought of going north.

"But why Jeong-eun Lee?"

He shook his head. However he looked at it, he couldn't see it.

"Isn't she the one who got herself in trouble and went to the slammer? And didn't her husband run off, and nobody knows where he is now?"

"I hear she's a snake and a scorpion rolled into one."

"A snake and a scorpion? Looking at her, I'd believe it. Ugh. If I were her husband I'd run off too. How could anyone live with…