After the South Korean special envoy delegation crossed into Sierra Leone, the existing Guinean government forces began an all-out battle for public opinion.

Their narrative was that the provisional government led by Kamara had opened fire on peacefully gathered demonstrators, causing the deaths of countless civilians who had attended the protest.

It was disastrous news at a moment when the coup had seemed to be wrapping up successfully.

Chairman Kamara established an extralegal body called the National Democratic Development Committee and seated himself at its head after forming a provisional cabinet of thirty-two people who had joined the coup.

In response, Prime Minister Soueri, who had fled outside the capital, personally stepped forward and appealed to international opinion, and the news spread rapidly through the global community.

The U.S. State Department warned that if the military faction did not hand power back to the previous government, it would suspend the fifteen million dollars in annual aid it provided each year, and the UN also demanded that power be returned to the legitimate government.

Prime Minister Soueri did not stop at the public opinion campaign. He reached out to every warlord and armed faction he could contact, pleading with them not to take any action.

In return, he promised that no responsibility would be pursued afterward.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Black Bear mercenaries, requested by the government forces, crossed the Sierra Leone border and joined up with them.

Together with the government troops, they advanced toward the capital, and the battle was now right in front of them.

But then, the day before the expected clash, news came that Kamara had been shot by one of his own subordinates in Conakry and had fled.

“What now?”

Even after hearing Igor’s report, I could not hide my disbelief.

“Who on earth did something like that?”

—It happened at a military base he visited before the battle with the government forces. But it’s believed that the ministers of the provisional government were behind it. The provisional government has already contacted Prime Minister Soueri saying they wish to surrender.

“How does something like this even happen...? The man seized power in a coup, and he still didn’t even secure his own safety?”

—We’ll be arriving in Conakry soon. Do we go in as planned, Boss?

I shoved aside the hollow disbelief for the moment. Right now, this was what mattered.

After thinking for a moment, I spoke.

“Go into Conakry with them for now and gather more information. Find out where he ran.”

—Understood. I’ll proceed that way.

When Igor’s report ended, all that came out of me was an empty laugh.

“What kind of idiot is this?”

“What happened, Boss?”

“It seems that once the situation started turning against them, the provisional ministers who launched the coup alongside him betrayed Kamara. They want to dump all the blame on him.”

“That’s more than plausible in Africa.”

Chief Ma nodded calmly.

Seeing that reaction, it suddenly struck me that it really was possible.

This was exactly why it paid to keep calm people close.

“If the Guinean government retakes power, make preparations so we can fly to Conakry immediately.”

“Yes, understood, Boss.”

* * *

The government forces led by Prime Minister Soueri entered Conakry without bloodshed.

The ministers of the provisional government surrendered, and all of them were arrested.

The very first thing Soueri did was confirm whether the President was alive.

Fortunately, he was.

But his condition had deteriorated so badly that it no longer seemed possible for him to govern.

As a result, Prime Minister Soueri and the cabinet entrusted Soueri with the role of acting president and announced the fact to the public.

The United States immediately issued a statement supporting Soueri and asking to meet as soon as possible.

At Soueri’s invitation, I entered Conakry by land.

“I am Prime Minister Soueri.”

“Kim Muhyuk.”

As I shook his hand, I greeted Minister Keita, whom I already knew, with a look.

He returned the greeting in the same way.

Even though Soueri had temporarily taken the presidency, the foundation of his power was extremely weak.

“The U.S. Secretary of State arrives in Conakry tomorrow.”

“I heard.”

“I understand you’re acquainted?”

“Yes. I met her a few times in Washington.”

“Then would you be able to help our side in this meeting?”

“The Guinean government’s side?”

Unable to hide his concern, Soueri answered,

“Yes. What the Americans want is the President’s return. But the President’s health has worsened too much. In this condition, it looks like he may pass away within a few months.”

“Really? The special envoy delegation said he didn’t look that unwell.”

“His original illness worsened during the coup. We plan to send him to France for treatment first, but frankly, expectations are low.”

I let out a thoughtful hum, nodded, and asked,

“What is it that you and your government want?”

“If the President becomes incapacitated, I am supposed to govern as acting president. But unlike the President, I do not come from the military.”

“So without military support, you can’t hold your position.”

“Yes. That’s why I need American recognition, but the Americans do not seem inclined to grant it. If the President cannot return, they are demanding that a presidential election be held as soon as possible.”

The American demand was simple.

Either restore the original President, or hold a new presidential election and transfer power back to civilian rule.

“I understand what you mean. But I don’t see any reason I should help you. I already sent Black Bear into this civil war without receiving any compensation. Even though no battle ultimately broke out, that still consumed enormous costs. And I ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) have no intention of asking for repayment. Because there was only one thing I wanted. Captain Kamara’s life. And I still haven’t gotten it.”

When I replied coldly, Prime Minister Soueri shut his mouth tight.

“And yet now you’re asking me for something again. Don’t you think that’s a bit shameless?”

“We will definitely catch Kamara and make him face legal justice—” 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

“Do you think legal justice is what I want right now? I heard that when Igor, who commands the mercenaries, asked you where Captain Kamara fled, you refused to answer.”

After entering Conakry to capture Kamara, Igor had immediately asked Soueri’s side for information on Kamara’s movements.

But they kept delaying and concealing his whereabouts.

“There are hundreds of mercenaries deployed in this operation alone. Do you know how much it costs per day just to keep them in the field?”

“...I have a rough idea.”

“If this is how it’s going to be, I don’t see any reason to keep working with you. And now you want to go even further and ask for my help? Do I look like a philanthropist?”

Prime Minister Soueri’s face turned bright red as he chewed on his lip.

At least he knew enough to feel ashamed.

“Where is Captain Kamara?”

“That is...”

As Soueri hesitated, the man standing beside him finally spoke.

“I’ll explain that.”

I turned to look at him, and he gave a light salute before introducing himself.

“I am General Konate. I currently command the government forces.”

I gave a small nod, and General Konate continued.

“Although Captain Kamara fled, there are still quite a few soldiers loyal to him.”

“I know that. That’s how he managed to pull off the coup.”

“We have confirmed that he is hiding with a unit stationed near the border close to Côte d’Ivoire. But if we move the army to arrest him, we’ll face fierce resistance. Worse, the entire military could rise up, deepening the civil war.”

“So you’re saying we should just leave him alone?”

That was a very long-winded way of saying they were too afraid of civil war to touch him.

“I have no intention of doing that. Even if the Guinean government intends to leave him alone, we’ll arrest him ourselves.”

“That won’t be possible.”

“Ha....”

I pressed a hand to my forehead.

So this was what they meant when they said people think differently going into the bathroom than coming out.

You really said no that quickly? I couldn’t even laugh.

“Is that so? Then go ahead and try to stop us. Igor.”

“Yes, Boss.”

“Tell all mercenaries to finish preparations and stand by for deployment.”

“They’re already waiting for your order, Boss.”

I looked at General Konate, whose face had gone rigid as he silently watched the situation unfold.

“Can you stop us? With only the government forces in the capital?”

“......”

“I don’t want to fight the government troops. So hand over the location of the unit he’s hiding in, along with every bit of information related to him. We’ll quietly eliminate only Captain Kamara and disappear.”

At that moment, Prime Minister Soueri stepped in.

“Charlie. Please don’t get worked up, and try to understand our situation as well. Without military support, we cannot maintain the government.”

“That’s exactly why we said we’d resolve it independently, isn’t it? You should have said this from the beginning when I offered to help you and the government forces. Or did you think you could retake power without my help?”

“That’s not what I mean, but....”

“Then hand over Captain Kamara’s head as promised. Then there’d be no reason for us to sour relations like this.”

Prime Minister Soueri looked troubled, glanced toward General Konate, then let out a sigh.

“Let’s discuss this again tomorrow.”

“If you don’t give me an answer by tomorrow, we’ll proceed in our own way.”

I turned away without even saying goodbye. I heard a low sigh behind me, but it was none of my concern.

Only after leaving the presidential palace did I ask Igor,

“Igor.”

“Yes, Boss.”

“Does General Konate have more influence than Prime Minister Soueri?”

“Most likely. He controls the military.”

“Haah. It’s a complete mess here just like everywhere else. Forget the hotel. Let’s go where Black Bear is stationed.”

To avoid any unforeseen trouble, I decided to spend the night not at the hotel, but where Black Bear’s forces were stationed.

The next day.

Secretary Rice, who had arrived in Conakry, came first not to the presidential palace, but directly to the Black Bear encampment where I was staying.

“It’s been a while, Charlie.”

Rice extended her hand with a bright smile.

I returned the smile and shook it.

“Congratulations on becoming Secretary of State.”

“It’s all thanks to your help, Charlie.”

“Not at all. Even without my help, your reelection would have gone smoothly.”

“It’s true that winning by a landslide gave the second administration much greater momentum from the start.”

Rice was far too ambitious to lower herself like this without a reason.

The thought that she clearly had an ulterior motive crossed my mind, so I casually shifted the conversation.

“But is it really fine for you to come here first instead of going to the presidential palace?”

“Well, compared to the acting president of a small country like this, Charlie is far more important. And Washington is worried Black Bear might go out of control.”

“Worried about going out of control?”

I tilted my head.

“Depending on which side Black Bear supports after entering Guinea, you could overturn the regime.”

“Ah, I have no intention of interfering in the internal affairs of a country like this. I only want one thing. Captain Kamara’s life. If I get just that, I’ll withdraw Black Bear immediately.”

At my words, Rice’s expression shifted subtly.

“That’s the problem. We’re worried you might overreach in order to take his life.”

“Is that the White House’s view? Or your personal view, Rice?”

“My thoughts are the White House’s thoughts.”

The answer was so transparent I let out a scoff.

“I did exactly what I promised. Was the reason Prime Minister Soueri tried to leave Kamara alone because of American pressure?”

Honestly, it had been strange.

There was absolutely no reason for them to risk antagonizing Black Bear over one man’s life.

If the United States had intervened, everything made sense.

“Well. The Guinean government likely has its own perspective.”

“Don’t play word games. If this continues, I’ll have no choice but to do things my own way. If relations sour over the life of one man, who loses more? Me? Or the United States, which is already stuck in the Middle Eastern quagmire?”

At present, Black Bear’s influence in the chaotic Middle East was considerable.

Knowing that, Rice’s face darkened.

“Then why doesn’t the United States take his throat itself?”

“That’s a bit....”

“Then don’t try to stop me. I’ll handle it.”

“We don’t want Guinea to fall into greater chaos. If Captain Kamara dies, no one knows how far the situation could spiral.”

“It was already a failed coup. How many people would really keep supporting him?”

“No. The military faction that backed the coup might see his death and make a terrible decision.”

The argument between Rice and me dragged on for quite a while.

After a long, tense back-and-forth, I finally spoke first.

“So what does the United States really want? Say it.”

In the end, they had to want something from me. Rice answered as if she had been waiting.

“If a presidential election is held, Alpha Condé of the Guinean People’s Union will probably win. But we believe that if he takes office, the probability of another coup becomes extremely high.”

“So?”

“Station Black Bear in Conakry after he takes office, until he can stabilize control over the military.”

“For free? Surely you haven’t forgotten that I’m a businessman.”

Rice let out a faint laugh.

“If it’s Charlie, I’m sure you can extract more than enough compensation from the new president.”

“Fine. But in return, no matter what I secure from him, the United States doesn’t get to dip in a spoon.”

“Agreed. Just make sure all of this is framed as something we requested from Black Bear.”

I nodded in agreement.

She rose from her seat and extended her hand.

“It was a good meeting, Charlie.”

“For me too, Rice.”

Unlike before, the hand I clasped now felt cold.