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[We welcome everyone to this historic event.]
[Ladies and Gentlemen.]
The sound of camera shutters rang throughout the event venue.
The male and female announcers took turns saying their lines, signaling the start of the event.
Meanwhile, Kang Chan’s eyes met Seok Kang-Ho’s about two times, then he clearly conveyed his intentions to Jeon Dae-Keuk.
The look in their eyes made sense for people who had fought and experienced life on battlefields. Only those who were in a nerve-wracking matter of life or death could understand their gazes.
‘I trust you. Do what has to be done.’
Kang Chan felt reassured, but trust didn’t stop accidents from happening.
“It’s time to announce the Eurasian rail.”
The host’s line made the noisy performance, applause, and camera shutter sounds erupt again.
“Beforehand, we would like to welcome to the stage Lanok Belmonde Pardieu, the chairman of the Eurasian rail establishment, for a congratulatory message.”
While the female host was interpreting, Lanok stood up from his seat and greeted Moon Jae-Hyun with a nod, then turned his head toward Kang Chan.
As Lanok smiled, his glinting eyes conveyed his thoughts to Kang Chan.
‘I trust we’ll win this war, but if we lose, I ask that you take care of Anne.’
Lanok meant that, at the very least, Kang Chan had to survive. His eyes also showed he believed that Kang Chan had the ability to do so.
Kang Chan responded to Lanok’s fake smile with his peculiar smirk.
“Mr. Ambassador,” Kang Chan said after standing up as well.
Being prepared to die wasn’t good. The will to survive until the very end was far more important.
“Do you know my codename?” Kang Chan asked.
The sound of camera shutters rang throughout the event venue.
“God of Blackfield.”
In front of the President, the Prime Minister, numerous cameras, and the countless people watching him on TV, a high schooler was stalling the event while shaking the hand of the Founder of the Eurasian rail.
“My enemies created that codename. It means ‘a god of Africa who brings death.’ I’m going to win the war today, so please take care of Anne yourself,” Kang Chan continued.
An honest smile appeared inside Lanok’s mask, but it disappeared quicker than it appeared.
‘Did you read the look in my eyes?’
‘Of course.’
Things like this didn’t have to be said.
Lanok and Kang Chan smiled brightly at the same time.
“Sounds good. We’ll need to confuse our enemies,” Lanok said.
“We should do that. I have your back.”
***
[This is surprising. South Korea’s high schooler and Lanok are talking to each other before his congratulatory speech. Lanok’s expression is completely different from how he usually looks. I have been working on CNN as a reporter for politics for ten years now, but this is my first time seeing such a smile from him. Considering Lanok always places political meaning in all of his movements, even if he’s just moving a finger, it’s safe to say that his smile is passing on a definite message.]
The foreign reporters beside or in front of the cameras quickly passed on the situation using their microphones.
***
“To the honorable President of South Korea, his fellow citizens, and the representatives of every country connected to the Eurasian rail that has attended this event for this historic moment,” Lanok said, and the female host quickly and accurately interpreted his words into Korean.
Kang Chan’s heart sank coldly.
Badum-badum. Badum-badum. Badum-badum. Badum-badum.
The pulsation of his heart had changed.
This had only ever happened a few times to Kang Chan. It felt as if the enemy’s gun was pointed at his neck or forehead from somewhere.
Theft is never good, try looking at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.
Not even a word of the speech was coming into Kang Chan’s head.
He would die the moment he missed the sound of his own breathing.
Where were they? Who was acting suspiciously around him? Was one of the involved countries’ attending representatives going to take out their gun?
Kang Chan once again scanned his surroundings from left to right, then from close by to the far distance.
At times like this, the one he could trust the most was Dayeru.
‘We’re almost there. Get ready.’
‘Alright.’
‘Kill them no matter what.’
‘No matter what?’
Dayeru briefly nodded after receiving a glance from Kang Chan.
Kang Chan saw everything—from a foreign reporter with a microphone gulping to a reporter’s finger pressing a button on a camera.
Kang Chan exhaled quietly, then tilted the pistol holster to the back.
The security guards instantly looked at Kang Chan.
‘What are you doing?’ Jeon Dae-Geuk glared at Kang Chan as if he was going to draw his gun at any moment.
‘I’m doing what I want to do.’
Jeon Dae-Geuk tightly gritted his teeth, then quickly looked at the nearby security guards.
They were thinking, ‘Figure out their locations. Figure out the situation. Be on the lookout for danger.’
Badum. Badum. Badum. Badum.
“What I’m the happiest about regarding the connection of the Eurasian rail to South Korea is the chance I’ve been given to eat Korean food nonstop,” Lanok commented, causing laughter and applause to erupt.
“South Korea’s President and Prime Minister attended this honorable event today. This is a sudden request, but as the Founder, I would like to ask the President to give us a congratulatory message.” Lanok looked behind him.
Badum. Badum. Badum. Badum.
‘You shouldn’t be standing with the President.’
‘The Prime Minister is far away, so it’ll be fine. We just have to protect the Prime Minister.’
When Moon Jae-Hyun stood up, people clapped again.
There were so many people crowded outside the hotel cheering and applauding that it seemed as if they were listening to a coverage of a soccer game.
Lanok and Moon Jae-Hyun shook hands.
Do it quickly!
Kang Chan’s nerves were so on edge that the pit of his stomach began to feel hot.
Badum. Badum. Badum. Badum.
Lanok and Moon Jae-Hyun patted each other’s shoulders. Lanok then walked to Kang Chan’s side.
As if he had gone crazy, Jeon Dae-Geuk’s gaze alternated between the reporters, the foreign countries’ representatives, and the security guards.
When Lanok sat next to Kang Chan, Moon Jae-Hyun started to speak on the microphone. “To our honorable citizens of South Korea, our foreign guests who visited South Korea for the establishment of the Eurasian rail, and Founder Lanok Belmonde Pardieu, who is responsible for it. Today, I’m
”
Kang Chan examined Lanok after pushing back the pistol holster. Lanok’s right pinky finger was still, but when Lanok walked over, it started trembling again.
“Now, we’re going to be the leader of this great era,” Moon Jae-Hyun said as he held out his right hand to the front, seemingly to emphasize what he was saying. A loud roar and applause were heard from outside the hotel.
Will this event really end so peacefully?
They were in South Korea.
Was something actually going to happen here?
It wasn’t like a missile could be fired from the outside

Kang Chan's cheeks felt as if they were burning. He quickly looked at the right side of the grand ballroom.
It was blocked by a cement wall, yet they could still clearly hear the shouts of the people outside?
Kang Chan raised his left hand and pressed the button on his walkie-talkie.
Chk.
“Mr. Manager, the right side of the grand ballroom is blocked from the inside. Is a wall also blocking it from the outside?”
Jeon Dae-Geuk, the security guards, and Seok Kang-Ho quickly looked at Kang Chan upon hearing him through the walkie-talkie.
Chk.
“I’m in the car of the situation room right now to find out. The grand ballroom’s external wall is a glass window, but panels are blocking it from within to stop any shootings.”
Kang Chan tightly gritted his teeth.
Moon Jae-Hyun’s congratulatory speech was about halfway done.
Chk.
“Is there a building built by Suh Jeong Constructions or owned by Suh Jeong Group across from the hotel?” Kang Chan asked again.
Chk.
“Mr. Kang Chan, all of the buildings across the hotel are being controlled by the 606 and the thirty-fifth brigade.”
Really? Am I overreacting again?
Chk.
“Mr. Manager, does the building behind the one across from the hotel have a clear view of the hotel’s second floor? The Mistral[1] or the Igla[2] has an effective range of up to five kilometers,” Kang Chan questioned.
Jeon Dae-Geuk’s head popped up. He had thought about the possibility of a gunfight, but he didn’t take into consideration that their enemies could launch a surface-to-air missile.
Mistrals and Iglas could fire a missile as long as an arm with a launcher that was as tall as a human.
Kim Hyung-Jung couldn’t answer immediately.
Chk.
“Mr. Kang Chan, we couldn’t calculate that far.”
Badum. Badum. Badum. Badum.
Kang Chan's heart raced like crazy.
People had come in and sat on the second floor of the hotel, so it was now tightly packed.
If there were special operation forces members prepared to die just to fire an Igla, no one would survive, especially considering the situation inside the hotel was being broadcasted on TV.
Kang Chan pressed the button on the walkie-talkie while quickly meeting Jeon Dae-Geuk’s eyes.
Chk.
“It’s the God of Blackfield. The snipers on the roof of the hotel are to check all of the buildings that are on the other side of the event venue. The target is a portable anti-air missile. If you see anything of the sort, you are to shoot on sight. Report afterward.”
Chk.
“It’s the chief officer of security. Follow the orders of the codename God of Blackfield.”
Jeon Dae-Geuk looked at Kang Chan while gritting his teeth.
Moon Jae-Hyun was about to end his congratulatory remarks quicker than Kang Chan had thought.
Where are they going to use the C-4? How can they kill Moon Jae-Hyun and Go Gun-Woo at the same time?
Chk.
“Mr. Manager, what facilities are on the third floor?” Kang Chan asked.
Chk.
“A buffet restaurant and a normal restaurant. We emptied both of them.”
Chk.
“What about the fourth floor?”
Chk.
“Empty guest rooms.”
God damn it!
Chk.
“Send the 606 to check the guests on floors eight to eleven. The enemies can break the glass with the C-4 and rappel down. There’s a chance they’re armed,” Kang Chan commanded.
After listening to Kang Chan’s commands, Jeon Dae-Geuk looked at him with an expression that said, ‘Could it be?’
Moon Jae-Hyun’s speech ended.
There was no answer. Everyone heard Kang Chan’s codename, but they couldn’t follow his command toward the guests.
Badum. Badum. Badum. Badum.
Kang Chan felt as if time had slowed down.
“Mr. Ambassador, if I shout, then please do whatever it takes to run over to that man,” Kang Chan said.
Lanok stood up from his seat. He briefly nodded while looking at Seok Kang-Ho.
France had recognized Kang Chan’s abilities, but South Korea was unaware of it.
When Kang Chan turned his gaze, Jeon Dae-Geuk brought his left hand to his mouth after seeing Lanok nod.
Chk.
“It’s the chief officer of security. 606, search through the hotel immediately! If you keep refusing to follow the God of Blackfield’s orders, I’ll hold everyone accountable.”
Chk.
“The 606 is moving in. We don’t have enough people. Requesting permission to send in the thirty-fifth brigade as well.”
Jeon Dae-Geuk sent a fierce look at Kang Chan.
Chk.
“Send in the thirty-fifth brigade.”
Chk.
“The thirty-fifth brigade is moving in.”
Lanok and Moon Jae-Hyun shook hands in front of the podium, and camera shutters noisily rang out.
Badum-Badum-Badum-Badum. Badum-Badum-Badum-Badum.
Kang Chan gritted his teeth to overcome the warning his heart was telling him.
At that moment

Chk.
“We have discovered the missile. We have discovered the missile. Open fire. I repeat. Open fire,” someone urgently reported on the walkie-talkie.
1. The Mistral, or the Missile Transportable Anti-aĂ©rien LĂ©ger (Transportable lightweight anti-air missile), is a French infrared homing short-range air defense system. ☜
2. the 9K38 Isla is a Russian/Soviet man-portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile system. ☜