POV: Ryu Ha Joon
President Choi stands. Everyone else follows quickly and they bow deeply. "Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"
Hajoon always finds this statement absurd. It further infuriates him.
President Choi is still bold and cunning. He doesn't let anything stop him. With his head lowered, he speaks with utmost respect.
"Your Majesty, I only have the country's welfare at heart. O ur people know that and that's why they voted for me." The cunning snake is reminding Hajoon that the public stands behind him. "We live in a democracy and everyone present here has the right to voice what they deem the most suitable for our people."
President Choi's voice is the only sound in the room. Everyone stands still as a statue, head still down in a bow.
"Raise your head!" Hajoon commands coldly and they follow. He leans forward, one eyebrow arched۔ "Did I say your opinion doesn't count? I only told you to have your tea? What's with the overreaction?" He mocks the President.
He pauses, letting his words send another ripple of fear through the room.
"Vote, go ahead. However, you must remember that I am the Supreme Military Commander here. I decide all military matters." His tone changes suddenly as if the traitorous idea just occurred to him, voice rising as he moves to his feet. "Or do you mean you want to take command of the military?!"
"I dare not, Your Majesty!" President Choi falls to his knees, his chair sliding back. His nose is almost touching the ground. The sight doesn't please Hajoon in the least.
President Choi opens his mouth again but fails to utter anything.
Hajoon addresses everyone this time. "I respect your opinions. Your judgement is what helps maintain national stability and diplomatic relations. Our people rely on you. Therefore, you must think of those people first. Do you really want to send our precious troops to fight and die in someone else's war? They were trained day and night to protect our country, not to kill innocent people in another country."
The silence is thick with tension. It slowly breaks as murmurs rise in agreement. It's not morals or empathy that appealed to them. That appeals to the public. It's fear that got them.
"We have not been involved in a war for a long time," PM Shin says. "I would prefer for us to maintain that record."
"Our forces aren't afraid of death. But I would rather they die doing something great for our country than killing civilians." It's the Air Force Chief.
After a few more such comments and counter arguments, Hajoon speaks in his clear, deep voice.
"Take your seats, we will cast our votes."
President Choi gets up. His face is now tinted red. He is burning with humiliation and fury and holding it back. Although Hajoon has failed to find any evidence for it, he suspects that President Choi is going to receive some financial gain from this deal. Some personal financial gain.
Or perhaps he has some other traitorous motive.
Hajoon glances at Sunwoo. She nods and says, "Raise your hand if you agree that we should provide Karswell with military assistance."
President Choi, Minister of Economy and Minister of Justice raise their hands. Shameless. But outnumbered. Everyone else, including raising their hands in 'no' afterwards.
Actually, their votes really don't count. Hajoon holds the power over the military as the monarch has always been the Supreme Military Commander. It doesn't really matter what they vote for.
Nonetheless, they need to remember their place. Even the illusion they hold that they can make such decisions, it should be crushed brutally. Otherwise, it would not be long before they start believing themselves capable of pulling Hajoon off his throne.
The meeting is soon dismissed. The press would be waiting outside. Sunwoo hands him his tablet, with his briefing script written on it. His eyes quickly skim it as everyone greets him and takes their leave.
"Your Majesty," PM Shin greets him and stops. Everyone else has left. It's only Hajoon, Sunwoo and his royal guards. "May I ask you something daring?"
Hajoon stares at him, intentionally pokerfaced. "What is it, Prime Minister Shin?"
"Is that tea special?" He glances at the President's Choi tea cup, still full. He sounds purely curious.
Hajoon wouldn't have entertained such a question from anyone ordinary. But it's PM Shin.
"What do you think?" He asks in return, amused.
"I think it's a 50-50 chance."
Hajoon chuckles, hands back the tablet to Sunwoo and smoothes out his dark blue vest. The blazer feels a little loose. He makes a mental note to tell Mrs. Kang later.
"Yes, it was a 50-50 chance," he says. PM Shin seems to understand. His calm face has a serene smile.
Their Prime Minister would definitely be very happy if President Choi was served the special tea.
★★☆☆★★☆☆★★
POV: Hae Na Ri
I visit that same internet cafe again. I don't trust the cellphone they have provided me. What if they are tracking my search history?
Better be careful.
The first thing I search for is Ryu Hajoon and I learn quite a lot of interesting things about him.
He controls military command, intelligence agencies, emergency powers, royal security forces, foreign diplomacy & defense alliances and the power to dissolve parliament during crises. He also controls the appointment or removal of the Prime Minister and President, though under certain conditions.
My head spins a little.
I also find an article titled "One of the Most Powerful Leaders in the World Right Now." There is some Saudi King, some Prime Minister from France, and some other people. But Ryu Hajoon is third on the list. His major power is total military command.
He is called the Supreme Military Commander.
He can deploy military anywhere, anytime. It moves with his orders. He has also taken military training for five years. He's got a PhD in Political Science and he has passed NLE, some exam equivalent of passing the bar exam I think.
Aiyo, jincha! Is it possible to achieve all that while simultaneously ruling a country?!
It leaves me breathless. I fidget with the collar of my sweater. The extent of his power is far greater than a securely guarded palace. He can literally command an army. Such incredible power in the hands of a single man.
And it baffles me.
It baffles the hell out of me!
Searching him on MeTube shows edits, MVs, press conferences and other videos with millions of views. There is a video with 2 billion views. I play it. It's about Hajoon rescuing people personally during an earthquake four years ago. He even got injured; A fractured arm.
No wonder people love him.