/
On Monday afternoon, Kang Chan came home, had dinner with his family, and spent time with them watching TV. If he had to insist on picking something special that happened, then it would be the phone call that Yoo Hye-Sook received about their application to launch a Foundation having been approved. In his spare time, he looked at all the materials about Yang Jin-Woo that were on the USB, then checked the important parts.
But even if he could understand the other things, he really couldn’t understand how Yang Jin-Woo could provide monetary support to six separate women.
‘He’s a weird fucker.’
Cha Yang-Woon only saw them once every two months at most. He didn’t even sleep with them often, yet he was still providing them with the best apartments and paying their enormous living expenses.
Compared to his short height, he had a solid build, small eyes, and a big nose. He had a strange expression that made him look as if he was looking down on others.
‘Just you wait.’
Kang Chan slowly examined the materials as his eyes shone.
Kang Dae-Kyung had decided to rest until Tuesday. He looked like he was itching to go out after he had breakfast, but he couldn’t win over Yoo Hye-Sook’s determined eyes. Kang Chan was greatly relieved when he saw Kang Dae-Kyung acting that way.
On Tuesday afternoon, Kang Chan headed to the meeting place in Bang bae-dong.
They were meeting at a restaurant that specialized in French cuisine, but it was much smaller than he had expected.
“This way, monsieur Kang.” An agent personally led Kang Chan from the entrance.
“Channy!” Anne got up first, and Lanok followed after her.
Kang Chan didn’t expect them to be here already.
“You’re here early,” Kang Chan commented.
“I needed time to speak with Anne privately.”
“Did I intrude into that conversation?”
“Not at all. You’re right on time. Now! Should we have a simple drink before the meal?”
With Lanok’s suggestion, Kang Chan and Anne held up their glasses. After Lanok drank the wine, he gestured for the food to be served.
Anne was the star of the day. It was great to see her going on about the handful of stories that she had about her school days, the absurd driver shot that Kang Chan had shown at the golf club, and the change she went through since that day, all with a bright face.
Lanok looked delighted, and Kang Chan enjoyed listening to her as well.
The dinner lasted two hours, during which no other customers entered the restaurant. When Lanok gestured with his eyes, a server brought over cigars and cigarettes, an ashtray, and a lighter on a silver tray.
“This is today’s foremost service,” Lanok commented.
Kang Chan smiled satisfyingly, and the three of them leisurely enjoyed the cigarettes.
“Mr. Kang Chan, Anne has decided to act as a hostess of the embassy from now on,” Lanok said.
“Really? That’s amazing.”
When Kang Chan looked back at Anne, she brought her face closer to him while smiling widely.
Damn it! I shouldn’t have pretended to be happy. Left with no other choice, Kang Chan quickly kissed her. The smooch was loud but passionless.
“I have to go in a little bit, Channy. There’s a social gathering with special guests from Africa, and I have to join them for tea,” Anne said afterward, wanting to be praised by him. Kang Chan told her that she was incredible, then gave her a thumbs-up several times. True to her word, Anne got up from her seat thirty minutes later.
Anne hugged Kang Chan and lightly kissed him. He had been worried about her, but at this rate, it seemed she’d be able to swiftly pull herself together.
Those who wanted to be recognized followed the person that recognized them. If someone stood by her, continuously watched over her, and consoled her, then she would soon grow attached to them instead. When Lanok looked around their surroundings, all of the agents went outside of the restaurant.
“Mr. Kang Chan, as a result of France’s Intelligence Bureau directing all of their strengths into your request, it’s been confirmed that the mission’s target location is at a hill near Sükhbaatar[1] and the Selenga river[2],” Lanok said.
“Thank you, Mr. Ambassador.”
Lanok offered a cigarette to Kang Chan, then lit up another cigar again. “This is reckless, Mr. Kang Chan. Please rethink your decision.”
“I heard there were thirty North Korean special forces soldiers in Mongolia. If we eliminate them, the surrounding countries, including Japan and those that oppose South Korea, would have no choice but to slow down and observe our behavior for a while.”
Lanok shook his head. “There’s really no reason for you to go there in person for that.”
Kang Chan breathed deeply, then looked at Lanok. “This is my fight, Mr. Ambassador. It happened because I asked you to include South Korea in the ‘Unicorn’ and because we decided to move up the announcement date. If I look the other way, who knows how many people will die this time? Our enemies this time don’t care who they kill for their goals as well, which is the reason why you and my current parents got mixed into this in the first place.”
“Didn’t you say that the specialized team is leaving for Mongolia from South Korea? If needed, I’ll look into a way to help them escape.”
“Considering there are thirty North Korean soldiers in Mongolia, then we’ll be deploying around the same number of people as well, Mr. Ambassador,” Kang Chan replied. “The gun is aimed at me and you. I can't let those men die just because they're trying to buy us time or prevent us from getting killed.”
Lanok deeply inhaled the cigar, then slowly exhaled. He appeared to be stalling on purpose.
“Everyone has their own duty to take care of. As far as I can tell, your current role isn’t to go and fight in Mongolia. Rather, it’s to take center stage and ensure the ‘Unicorn’ project can be achieved.”
It seemed like Lanok had already made up his mind, seeing as how he didn’t say anything else and just glared at the wine glass on the table. Kang Chan also didn’t plan on backing off, but he didn’t plan on begging either.
“Thank you for providing me with the mission’s accurate location. I’ll join the Korean team, and I’ll contact you when I come back,” Kang Chan told Lanok.
There was a limit on how much Lanok could do. Help like this couldn’t be given by force.
“Mr. Kang Chan.” Lanok had raised his gaze from the wine glass to Kang Chan. “If things go south, this situation can escalate into a war.”
“Mr. Ambassador, the enemy country ran rampant in South Korea with guns blazing. If we just fall behind them, even the agents around you will keep being sacrificed. Battles like this will never end unless the opponent gives up or achieves their purpose.”
“Hmm.”
Lanok straightened his cigar, then rubbed it on the ashtray. “I know your secret, and I trust you, so I’ll disclose something to you. The Intelligence Bureaus of each country are assessing you as a secret agent that’s created by France and the Korean government.”
Kang Chan had already heard that, but Lanok likely had a reason to tell him about it again.
“Mr. Kang Chan, all of my friends whom you met a while back in Loriam are the head of their country’s Intelligence Bureaus.”
Damn it! That meeting was only composed of big shots?
“I might not be a director of any Intelligence Bureau, but if by chance things go wrong and you, God forbid, get captured by the enemies in Mongolia, or if you leave evidence behind, then Europe as a whole won’t be able to free itself from taking responsibility for that.”
Why is this conversation suddenly heading that way?
“You and the team will have to infiltrate Mongolia and kill the members of a specialized team. However, there’s a high chance that doing so would cause this to develop into a world war. After all, China and Japan would do whatever it takes to stop the ‘Unicorn’ from happening, even if it meant fighting another war.”
Kang Chan bit on a cigarette while laughing feebly. In the end, there was no way to save Kim Hyung-Jung.
“Mr. Kang Chan, we’ll cooperate as much as possible to help them get back home. We’ve got plenty of ways to help since Mongolia receives nearly all of its resources from Canada and the United States. Plus a European company is producing and selling goods there.”
Kang Chan was frustrated, but it was difficult to force Lanok not to interfere in this anymore.
“I’ll be leaving now, Mr. Ambassador, ” Kang Chan said and deeply inhaled. He was frustrated and felt like he’d explode if anyone messed with him. When he got outside the restaurant, the French agents urgently went inside.
“Phew!”
Kang Chan slowly walked along the street.
“Phuhu.”
Kang Chan wanted to sigh, but he laughed instead. Why was he this angry? There have already been too many deaths, and now more than twenty people will go to Mongolia just to add to that number. He was angry for having to just stand by and watch that happen despite being completely aware of their fate.
It was currently around 10 pm, so the roads were crowded. If he bumped shoulders with someone like this, it would become hard to handle. To avoid that situation, Kang Chan walked around and looked a secluded place.
This novel is available on "pawread dot com".
It took him quite a while before finding an underpass that was only big enough for one car to barely go through. It also had a sign that stated he’d reach the riverside of the Hangang river if he went across.
When Kang Chan headed to the underpass, the Hangang river swiftly came into view.
There were quite a lot of people since it was summer, but the riverside was big enough to accommodate them.
Kang Chan perched next to the stairs that went down to the river. He got angry, his pride got hurt, and he was ashamed.
Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—. Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—. Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—.
Lanok was calling him.
“Yes, Mr. Ambassador.”
- Mr. Kang Chan, let’s take the time to rest tomorrow, then meet again two days from now.
“Understood.”
- A person on center stage has to b capable of enduring a bit of pain.
“I’m not sure about that yet.”
- Please don’t be in too much distress. You have much greater things ahead of you.
“Thank you for saying that.”
After he ended the call, Kang Chan took out a cigarette and bit it.
Chk chk. Chk chk.
“Whoo-oo.”
1. Sükhbaatar is one of the twenty-one aimags (provinces) of Mongolia ☜
2. the Selenga or Selenge is a major river in Mongolia and Buryatia, a mountainous Russian republic in eastern Siberia ☜