While Lynch was listening to the president’s speech, in another room, the chairman of the Conservative Party committee and the former president were also watching.
The people in the room weren’t flashy. They wore mid-to-high-end clothes, no luxurious jewelry—just like well-off middle class.
But any politically savvy person there would recognize them instantly.
The Conservative Party chairman, vice chairman, party leader, whip, head of the Conservative Development Office…
Plus the former president who was impeached and lost his position. This small room held the most important and highest-ranking Conservatives.
They sat or stood, all focused on the president’s speech on TV.
When he mentioned not avoiding history and the past, a faint smile appeared on the chairman’s face.
The serious expressions on everyone else softened somewhat.
“The people aren’t rejecting this message. You can see it from their faces,” the Conservative leader said, pointing at the president’s fans on TV who knew when to be quiet and when to be wild.
If this had been earlier, right after the former president’s impeachment, anyone calling not to avoid the past would have been branded a staunch escapism lackey.
Back then, anger, self-hatred for weakness, and public disdain for short-sightedness formed an overwhelming tide of opinion.
Defeating escapism was the only correct political stance; anyone challenging it was against the entire Federation.
Fortunately, in just two years, the issue faded.
People’s forgetfulness calmed them. Improving economy and rising employment made the public more tolerant.
Only when life is good can people act like humans.
When life is bad, and even food is scarce, humans can become anything.
In recent years, escapism became almost synonymous with the Conservative Party, a terrible association. If this stuck, the Conservatives would struggle to regain power.
Because it left the impression they always avoided problems, even if that wasn’t their true intent.
Now they had a chance to clean up their image. Even if they couldn’t erase escapism, they wanted it to be seen as the former president’s personal issue, not the whole party’s.
“Who wrote this speech?” the chairman asked. “Well written. We should give him more work.”
“Next, we must mobilize our strength to reverse the current situation. Remember, we’re not the escapism party. We’re just cautious in facing the world. That concept is important.”
In the Federation, whether Conservative or Progressive, the true leader isn’t the party leader, even though by party rules the leader is the top figure.
In reality, party leaders are replaceable. Every generation, every 20 or 30 years, leadership changes.
The times progress; old leaders can’t remain forever. Parties need to evolve.
But the committee chairman is different. As long as he’s fit to work, he’s rarely replaced. The chairman position tends to be hereditary.
When the old chairman retires due to age, they nominate a successor, and the committee votes. Usually, nominees face little opposition.
The committee’s power surpasses the party leader’s. Many committee members are parliamentarians or officials. The leader can’t control the committee, but the committee can vote to remove the leader.
If you ask who really rules the country after capitalists, it’s the big party committee chairmen—the real power behind the scenes.
The former president, sitting nearby, couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. “Is it my turn again?”
The chairman nodded. “You’ll have to take some hits for us. I spoke with Fitch. You might disappear from the public eye for a while.”
The Fitch the chairman mentioned was the Progressive Party committee chairman, a short, unassuming old man who was actually the real ruler of the political world.
The former president was silent for a moment. “Am I going to jail?”
The chairman nodded casually. To him, that was the best outcome.
Without the deals between him and Fitch, the impeached former president now under investigation would likely be serving a long sentence.
“Your son is already the third-ranking official in the State Department, still young, with a future chance to reach your level.”
“We appreciate your service to the Conservative Party. We know you shouldn’t bear all the blame.”
“Of course, you can refuse. This isn’t a demand, just a discussion.”
The chairman’s tone was gentle, calming, encouraging patience.
But what he said was hard to accept.
Saying serve a few years in prison like it was just a short break—no matter the arrangements, it meant loss of freedom.
Everyone desires freedom. The Federation is a world where freedom flourishes. Last year, nearly 20% of suicides were by people losing or about to lose their freedom.
Putting a president in jail for years was never a good idea.
Yet, the former president couldn’t refuse. As the chairman said, though he lost some things, his political legacy continued through his son.
If nothing unexpected happens, his son will at least be the State Department’s top minister, maybe even a future president.
Trading his own limited freedom for a bright future, while solving some threats—this was a fair deal.
The president quickly made up his mind. “What should I do?”
Hearing this, the chairman glanced at the others. Some returned his look.
The whip cleared his throat. “You don’t need to do anything. We’ll handle everything.”
“When you face court, just plead guilty. Leave the rest to us.”
The former president’s lips twitched. “How many years am I looking at?”
He sighed, “I need some time to prepare.”
“It won’t be more than five years, and those five years won’t be unbearable. Trust us…”
The president continued his speech on TV, reflecting on the past and envisioning the future. The men in the room watched politely.
The chairman’s thoughts drifted far away.
Last weekend, he played a game with Fitch, the Progressive Party committee chairman. They discussed the upcoming political landscape.
Though the Progressives and Conservatives appeared opposed, with clashes between supporters during election years, their top leaders had a good personal relationship. Playing sports and fishing together was normal.
This was natural—there’s left and right, but few stand in the middle.
When society needs a left-leaning government, the left steps up. When it needs a right-leaning one, the right does.
Who governs is indeed decided by the people.
But this time was unexpected. The former president’s governance caused incidents that, if mishandled, could give the Socialists an opening.
People only need two choices—no third option.
That night, the former president locked himself in his study. The investigation continued, but before the final verdict, he still had his freedom.
It was normal. Minor issues wouldn’t imprison him, major ones lacked evidence, and the investigation served as protection. His impeachment wasn’t as harsh as people imagined.
Now, for the Conservative Party’s sake and his child’s future, he had to decide.
He once thought he wouldn’t be afraid. When he won the presidency, he often said, The Conservative Party’s interests come first.
But now, facing it himself, he struggled.
Why… me?
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