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After a brief greeting, Kang Chan and Lanok sat facing each other at the table in front of the bed.
“It’s impressive that you really have recovered enough to get discharged,” Lanok commented.
“I was told that my body constitution is unique. I got a biopsy done because of it in the past, and it was sent to a research institute in the United States.”
Lanok nodded, then crossed his legs.
Louis prepared a cigar for Lanok, and Kang Chan bit on a cigarette. They both started smoking.
“Vasili has requested for an arbitration,” Lanok started while turning the lit cigar with his fingers. “He offered to give us the bodies of the South Korean agents who joined the most recent operation in Mongolia in exchange for the bodies of the Japanese agents found in Yang Jin-Woo’s house.”
Kang Chan cocked his head while tapping his cigarette on the paper cup, shaking the ashes off. Even though he knew about the operation in Mongolia, Vasili had been pretending as if he didn’t know anything because it was executed in absolute secrecy. Even so, he now blatantly wanted to exchange bodies.
“Vasili has intervened. With Russia mediating, we no longer have to discuss or question things like purpose, result, and nationality. However, that’s not what’s important.” Lanok looked around the patient room, then softly continued, “Vasili isn’t the type to arbitrate things like this, and even if he did want this, he definitely isn’t the type to intervene in the frontline. Vasili likely had to do this to create an excuse to come to South Korea.”
“Can’t he just come to South Korea? People like Vasili can make any kind of excuse, can’t they?”
“Russia and Vasili do have the capabilities to do that. Taking that into consideration, why would he have to make such a lousy excuse to come here? There is a possibility that Vasili was the one who suggested exchanging bodies.”
If even the sly and wily Lanok didn’t know and was unsure about it, then there was no chance Kang Chan would know it.
Extinguishing his cigarette, Kang Chan waited for Lanok to continue.
“Vasili is probably coming here to meet you. No matter how hard I think about it, there is nothing for Vasili or Russia to gain from the South Korean government right now. Considering he’s also bringing over the South Korean agents’ bodies, which were in China’s possession, he has already negotiated with Japan as well,” Lanok said.
“Why do you think Vasili is coming to meet me?”
“Most likely because of the two things that he has requested from me. One was to mediate the body exchange with the South Korean government, and the second was for me to accompany him in meeting you.”
“Vasili said that?”
“A lot of countries currently see you as something similar to my successor.” Lanok looked behind him and nodded at Louis, who then brought them tea in a paper cup.
“Vasili wants an answer by Wednesday. If the South Korean government agrees to this, then he has said that he’ll fly to South Korea using a private plane on Friday. He wants to exchange bodies immediately at the airport,” Lanok added.
“What do you think about this?”
Lanok looked down at the cup for a moment, then looked up. His slim face and fierce eyes, which were distinctive of French people, made him appear extremely tenacious during times like this.
“I’ll go with whatever you decide to do. Since this exchange of bodies is just some kind of excuse that Vasili has made to meet you, this most likely won’t happen if South Korea says that they only want to exchange bodies.”
“Mr. Ambassador,” Kang Chan called.
“Yes, Mr. Kang Chan.”
“You’re skeptical about this, aren’t you?” Kang Chan asked as he picked up a cigarette, certain that Lanok was still hiding something. He couldn’t understand Lanok’s small reactions in the past, but he could now decipher what they meant. This happened much more often since the day he noticed Lanok’s pinky finger trembling.
“I do have my guesses, but I can’t confirm any of them yet. That’s why I personally want to meet Vasili. I want to know why in the world someone so prideful is trying to come to South Korea just to meet you,” Lanok responded.
“Should I tell the South Korean government about this?”
“That’s probably a good idea.”
Lanok’s smile told Kang Chan there was a different scheme behind that answer as well.
Phew! They live such tiring lives.
“Please give me an answer by Wednesday noon. As soon as you do, I’ll plan our schedule with Vasil,” Lanok said, then took a sip of the tea in the paper cup.
“Will the South Korean government even accept the offer?”
“They will be extremely thankful for it.”
“I see.”
Lanok was a cut above Kang Chan in analyzing and predicting the results of information warfare. Hence, he obediently accepted Lanok’s answer.
“Mr. Kang Chan, if Russia intervenes, the South Korean government truly won’t be able to protect you. Since this requires risking the lives of the DGSE and my country’s Intelligence Bureau, this will give Russia, China, the United States, and the United Kingdom the opportunity to stand together as one and look for opportunities to kill you. Moreover, if things go wrong, Japan and North Korea will certainly side with them.”
‘Why would Russia, China, the United States, and the United Kingdom try to kill me?’
Lanok softly exhaled when he saw Kang Chan’s expression. “Let’s meet Vasili. We should discuss this afterward.”
“Mr. Ambassador, are you in a dangerous situation as well because of me?”
Lanok sharply looked at Kang Chan. “There’s a lesson passed down like an ironclad rule in the Intelligence Bureau: if there ever comes a time when you’re drawn to a person, then drop everything and quit.”
“What happens if they don’t?”
“Please give me a response after contacting the South Korean government. I’ll take care of the rest. You have until Wednesday noon.”
Kang Chan knew that Lanok was avoiding his question, but there was no way to force him to answer.
“Alright, Mr. Ambassador.”
Lanok stood up from his seat and left.
Kang Chan looked at the clock. Lanok spent a total of twenty minutes with him.
Kang Chan looked for Seok Kang-Ho’s number and was about to call him when Seok Kang-Ho opened the door and entered.
“What’s going on?” Seok Kang-Ho asked.
“Have a seat.”
Kang Chan didn’t have anything to hide from him, so he told him everything about his conversation with Lanok.
“Ah, those fuckers. Why are they making this so complicated? How good would it be if they just straightforwardly said, ‘This is where we draw the line,’ and, ‘This will happen if we do this, so why don’t we do this instead?’” Seok Kang-Ho commented afterward.
It did sound straightforward, but Kang Chan doubted those in charge of information warfare would ever do that.
“What are you going to do?” Seok Kang-Ho asked.
“I’ll call manager Kim and ask him for an answer first. Lanok told me they won’t refuse.”
“As a matter of fact…” Seok Kang-Ho nodded.
These were the bodies of the agents who sacrificed their lives for the country. Refusing this offer was undesirable, especially for Kang Chan.
Kang Chan called Kim Hyung-Jung and explained the situation.
- I’ll report this to the Director and give you an answer as soon as possible.
“The deadline is until Wednesday noon. The exchange will happen in the airport, and the last condition is that Vasili will come into Seoul.”
- Understood. Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan.
This would allow them to retrieve the agents who went to Mongolia with them.
Hearing the grief in Kim Hyung-Jung’s soft voice, Kang Chan quietly hung up.
“It’s strange, though,” Seok Kang-Ho commented again.
“What is?”
“I mean, what’s in it for Russia to seek you out? You also said that the big countries are all looking for an opportunity to kill you, and France keeps telling you to naturalize to their country to protect you, but they’re not telling you the details. What on earth is going on?”
“Tsk!”
At any rate, they would get some answers if Kang Chan met Vasili.
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It had been a while since he had rested without worry, so Kang Chan had thought to enjoy it a bit, but he was already heavy-hearted even though it was still early in the day.
At times like this, I should eat something delicious.
Kang Chan sharply glared at Seok Kang-Ho.
Having been conditioned to eat all week, Kang Chan thought of eating something as soon as his mood turned foul.
They ordered lunch and enjoyed coffee and cigarettes. Afterward, they relaxed on the bed.
Kang Chan called Yoo Hye-Sook and told her that he would be going home tomorrow. He then called Michelle, who told him that the feedback about the drama were better than they had expected.
- If it wasn’t for the Chairman Yang incident, the drama would’ve done much better.
That son of a bitch had continued to cause trouble even as he died.
He had just finished making calls and had put his phone down on one side of the bed when Yoo Hun-Woo entered.
“Mr. Kang Chan.”
Considering there were no rounds during lunchtime, Yoo Hun-Woo most likely came here to tell them about Shim Su-Jun’s condition.
“Su-Jin has woken up,” Yoo Hun-Woo said.
“Really?”
Startled, Seok Kang-Ho sat up as Yoo Hun-Woo nodded. The latter had a satisfied look on his face.
“She’s been complaining about the pain, but her heartbeat and body temperature, among other things, have all gone back to normal. Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan.”
“That’s good.”
“Of course. As a doctor, moments like this feels really rewarding.”
Yoo Hun-Woo’s expression turned apologetic as he looked at Kang Chan. “However, it seems like she doesn’t remember anything about you. She hasn’t talked about you at all, and it also doesn’t feel right to ask about it, so I pretended not to know.”
“That’s actually better. Getting involved with random strangers is uncomfortable. All I want is for her to recover quickly until she’s healthy enough to get discharged.”
“Her bones were so finely broken that she will be in that state for a year. Moreover, she will be in extreme pain during treatment. Still, you have no idea how pretty she looks whenever she smiles because she survived. Anyway, Su-Jin’s parents will try to thank you once the afternoon visits end, so please spare them some of your time.”
Kang Chan shook his head. Letting it end on this note would be for the best.
“Please tell them that they don’t have to. I just want to relax here and get discharged tomorrow.”
“Alright. Let’s talk about this later during the evening rounds.”
After sharing the good news, Yoo Hun-Woo left the room.
Deep down, Kang Chan felt better.