Somebody Stop the Pope – 108



Episode 108

3.

30 minutes after picking up the demonstration.

“I don’t know if tteokbokki suits your taste. Is it edible?”

“It’s delicious! Thank you Mr. President.”

“Yes eat a lot. At that age it’s good to eat a lot of anything.”

President Seo looked at Siyeon eating tteokbokki with a pleased look.

I picked up the tteokbokki he had personally prepared for me with a fork and put it in my mouth.

There was a clear difference in taste compared to the tteokbokki we usually buy for delivery. The tteok was very chewy and the flavor of the seasonings including the gochujang poured out with every bite.

It was definitely delicious tteokbokki.

“How does it taste?”

“It’s very delicious.”

“Haha! Our Korean chef is really good at making snacks. He’s also good at making snacks so I always get a lot of help from him. He’s much better than my wife.”

“I never dreamed that the nearby place the President was talking about would be here.”

I thought it was a restaurant because they said I could bring Siyeon too.

But the address the president gave was right here at the district office building.

I heard that this place which was once the residence of the presidents was completely closed after the opening of Dimension but when I actually went there it wasn’t like that.

Although there were traces of poor management here and there a lot of manpower was being invested to renovate it.

“We are planning to hold the official event of the upcoming Northeast Asia Exchange here. So we are in the process of urgently renovating the facility.”

“okay.”

“Isn’t it Siwoo who gave this place back to us? That’s why I wanted to invite Siwoo first.”

This place was located quite close to Ground Zero. If Limen hadn’t dismantled the Ark the black barrier would still be visible through the window here.

“Then should we move here now?”

“Haha it’s hard to move your office during your term. I’m still planning to use the Sejong City building. Most of the government agencies are already located there. I think I’ll only use it for national events.”

Certainly there was no better place for an outside event.

It was once the heart of South Korea’s power and now it has become a place that symbolizes South Korea overcoming the wound of Dimension Opening.

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Gyeongbokgung Palace spread out right in front of you and the sacred site of the Limen sect located to its left.

It was definitely a place that came into contact with many symbols of the Republic of Korea.

After that President Seo and I continued our meal while chatting lightly.

As the meal was slowly coming to an end.

Siyeon who was eating with a lot of sauce on her mouth put down her fork and said.

“I ate well!”

“Was it delicious Siyeon Yang?”

“Yes! Mr. President! Can I ask you one favor?”

You’ve only been meeting for about an hour and you’re asking the President for a favor?

I never thought Siyeon would have this much shamelessness.

President Seo did not lose his kind smile even though it was a sudden question.

“I can definitely grant any request our lovely lady makes.”

“Can I take a look around this building with Uncle Leo? I’ve only seen it on TV so I’m really curious!”

“Since there aren’t many people in the main building you can run around and play to your heart’s content. Secretary Lee? Please show our little lady and Archbishop Leo around here.”

“Yes Mr. President.”

In this way Siyeon started her adventure to the Blue House with exciting steps and quickly left with Leo.

President Seo let out a small exclamation of admiration as he looked at the back of Siyeon’s body.

“…You deliberately avoided my seat. Ms. Siyeon really seems unusual for her age. She’s really smart.”

“He’s a kid who’s quick-witted by nature. Sometimes I think it would be nice if he were like his peers.”

Siyeon probably thought that I was having a hard time talking comfortably with President Seo because of her.

If it was a demonstration he was a child who would do that and still have others.

Sometimes it’s okay for her to throw tantrums and act spoiled by me but I don’t think she’s ever cried since the last time she saw me.

“Sometimes I feel like it’s not the adults who care about the children but the children who care about the adults.”

President Seo smiled as he offered me the tea the chef had brought out.

“Isn’t that right Kim Siwoo Awakened?”

“I agree.”

I nodded and took a sip of the tea which had a faint chrysanthemum scent.

The warmth of the tea spread through my body. I felt like my tension was being released.

“Now that mealtime is over let’s start talking about work.”

“great.”

“During the exchange period there will be behind-the-scenes talks with the Chinese side. The Lost Land or the former North Korean region will likely be the main topic of discussion. As I said at the time it has been confirmed.”

If they are moving even the irregulars that they have kept tightly shut it is not right to do so without keeping a clear profit in mind.

This makes much more sense than the vague goal of comparing skills.

“Ultimately the direction of the conversation will change depending on the outcome of the exchange. Anyway you guys are like punks.”

It’s not that strange anymore because it’s not just a day or two.

In international relations there is no relationship that is not gangster-like but if you look at their actions they have been very consistent since ancient times.

If those who break into other people’s houses cause trouble and then take money aren’t gangsters then what are they?

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“The format of the exchange battle has not been decided yet but it seems likely that each country will select 10 Awakened people and then divide them into groups of 5 to compete. All 10 people on the list will be at least S-rank Hunters or higher.”

Ten S-class hunters from Korea China and Japan gather together to compete in battle?

“It’s going to be a mess.”

“The match with the Japanese side is not really that important. It will be adjusted to a level where promising fighters compete against each other. It is not the main event.”

“I heard from Director Kim that the President pushed for Japan’s participation….”

“There is no business more profitable than lending money to someone in need. You can think of it as a kind of usury. My interest rate is high.”

They ask for more in return for saving face.

At this point he seems more like a loan shark than a president. I realized once again why this guy is called a businessman.

“I would like the Limen Church to support a total of three people including the awakened Kim Si-woo.”

I can roughly guess what this man is thinking.

“I can confirm that I will participate in the exchange but I can’t confirm that other people will participate. Even though we look like this we are religious people….”

“We’re not asking you to fight for us. We’re just asking for a little help for peace.”

The people President Seo has in mind are probably Leo and Luna. This is a bit different from last time when he only asked me to participate.

That is what President Seo wants to make clear on this occasion.

But there’s a huge difference between just me participating and including Leo and Luna…

“Please go back to the temple and read it once and then give me your answer at your leisure. We have compiled a list of things that we can legally provide to the Limen Sect.”

With those words he handed me a neatly organized file of documents and looked me straight in the eye.

I looked at the file and sighed deeply.

“I told you you’re a businessman.”

“Thank you for the best compliment.”

I wonder if this guy eats snakes instead of rice.

4.

On the way home after dinner with the President.

I asked Siyeon who was hugging Baekseol tightly in a casual manner.

“Was the tteokbokki delicious?”

“Yeah! But I think the coin tteokbokki tastes better.”

Even the tteokbokki made by a chef with 22 years of experience in cooking Korean food could not beat the tteokbokki made by a franchise.

It was truly a shame. It should have been kept a secret from the President.

“Still I saw a lot of pretty buildings. I want to build a building like that later.”

“Do you want to build a building?”

“Yeah. We’ll build it really pretty and big and live together. I’ll give the biggest room to my eldest brother. Grandma’s room will be the next biggest and my youngest brother’s room will be the third.”

“After all Korea is a blood relationship. Our Siyeon has grown up grown up.”

“lol.”

I smiled contentedly as I stroked Siyeon’s head. Then I briefly recalled the last words the President had said to me.

– We have dispatched a group of Awakened people to China for a preliminary investigation. They were confirmed to have entered the country this morning. Please be aware that they may come to visit.

The feeling was a little strong.

According to the big data accumulated since returning to Earth most of the time when you say something like that problems occur.

That’s why it was much more comfortable to just assume that problems would arise.

The important thing is when the problem occurs….

“Your Majesty. I have arrived.”

“I’ll just take Siyeon home and come back.”

“yes.”

I went down to the first floor and took Siyeon home. Then I handed Siyeon over to Inwook and returned to the first floor.

I wanted to just leave work like this but there were a lot of things I had to check when I got back to the office.

I had to review the documents the President had given me and more than anything this strong feeling was weighing on my mind.

“let’s go.”

“yes.”

It takes about 5 minutes to get to the shrine by car. However the shrine was still full of people from all over the country so it was impossible to get to the shrine by car.

So as a second choice I had no choice but to park my car in the parking lot closest to the temple and walk there.

Normally people who recognized Leo and me would be excited but for some reason the atmosphere in the holy place was a bit strange. Should I say it was chaotic?

Maybe it’s because a cold wave warning has been issued or maybe it feels that way because there are fewer people than usual.

“The atmosphere is a bit strange Your Majesty.”

“I guess I’m not the only one who felt that way.”

Seeing that Leo was also suspicious it seemed like it wasn’t just a feeling.

We walked a little faster and soon reached the place where the entrance to the temple was in sight.

Unlike the outskirts there were quite a few people around the temple. However they were all looking at something and talking.

“What are they?”

“Suddenly appearing….”

“I heard you speaking Chinese earlier.”

Beyond the crowd of people a magical force of about a dozen people began to be detected.

Leo and I quietly made our way through the crowd and soon came face to face with a strange standoff unfolding in front of the temple.

Archbishop Lapart wearing white priestly robes was looking down with his hands behind his back on the steps of the temple and below him a group of men who looked obviously to be Chinese Awakened were glaring at Archbishop Lapart.

From what I’ve heard the standoff didn’t seem to last very long.

“I say it again. You cannot enter the temple with a blade without the permission of His Holiness the Pope. We will not force our doctrines on you but we will not tolerate disrespect in the sacred place.”

Archbishop Laparte’s voice was soft yet powerful.

The Chinese Awakened were all on guard against Archbishop Laparte their hands on their weapons due to the aura of intimidation he radiated.

And the woman who seemed to be the leader of them said with a frown on her face.

“I just came to see your Pope.”

“If you wish to see His Majesty disarm immediately and cooperate obediently.”

“Nonsense! You have no right to disarm us. Call the Pope. Our patience is not very deep.”

Somehow as soon as I heard the president’s words earlier I felt a chill down the back of my head. I guess my body had already sensed that something like this would happen.

“Your Majesty. I will solve it….”

I raised my hand to stop Leo from stepping forward. Then I smirked.

“You came to see me didn’t you? Since you came all the way to the temple let me hear your story.”

Come to think of it wasn’t he the first Awakened person affiliated with the Chinese government that I encountered since returning?

I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of nonsense he’ll babble about.

I said as I walked forward slowly.

“Why are you making Archbishop Lapart suffer? Don’t you even know what respect for elders is? Archbishop Lapart must have explained it clearly and in an easy-to-understand way. Well… if you didn’t understand then there’s nothing we can do.”

The Chinese Awakened all turned their gazes toward me and I smiled at them.

“I have no choice but to let you understand.”