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Choi Seong-Geon sat at his office desk as he spoke on the phone.
“I’m not sure about this, but I believe what happened is that the young man acted arrogant and eventually decided to leave because he couldn’t handle the soldiers.”
-Choi Seong-Geon, did you order Code A?
“Sir, even without me having to order Code A, isn’t it only natural in this field to prove your worthiness first if you want to lead a special forces team?”
A long sigh came from the other side of the phone.
-Brigadier General Choi Seong-Geon.
“Yes, sir?”
-I didn’t expect you would become so big-headed just because you earned a star that you would dare offer me advice. This matter is highly classified, so I can’t say more on the matter, but if it meant making Kang Chan return and train the soldiers, Kim Tae-Jin, Kim Hyung-Jung, and I would gladly get on our knees.
Choi Seong-Geon looked at his aide with a curious and surprised expression.
-From this moment on, I will no longer consider you as my junior. You are a soldier of South Korea, a general who is supposed to serve his motherland willingly. I can’t believe you of all people would ruin such a significant event because of your pathetic pride. I’m embarrassed to have proudly recommended you as my junior.
“Sir! The men on standby right now are all strong enough to hold their own against any enemy.”
-You idiot. If Kang Chan wanted to, all the men there would have been dead by now. Let me tell you one thing. Even if Kim Tae-Jin, Kim Hyung-Jung, and I were to attack that man all at once, we wouldn’t be able to defeat him. Don’t think it’s because of our age because even Choi Jong-Il willingly submitted to Kang Chan. Can you confidently say any of the men there are more outstanding than Choi Jong-Il?
“That can’t be possible.”
A resigned sigh came from the other line, making it seem as if the caller was trying to control his temper. The call dropped right after.
In disbelief, Choi Seong-Geon pressed a button on his phone to confirm if he had really been talking to Jeon Dae-Geuk.
“What in the world is going on?”
Choi Seong-Geon scrolled through his contacts and called another number. When the call connected, he heard another suppressed sigh.
“Mr. Kim, this is Choi Seong-Geon. Is that Kang Chan guy that important? Why is Mr. Jeon acting so furious? Mr. Kim, the abilities of my men here are—”
-Choi Seong-Geon.
“Yes, sir!”
-I can’t say much on this matter because this is a classified government secret. However, just know that a single call from Mr. Kang Chan will have France sending their Foreign Legion and Russia dispatching their Spetsnaz’s elite team. That incredible person offered his services for South Korea, but you turned him away because of your stupid pride.
“But he’s still a young child.”
-It seems you now think that I and Mr. Jeon have low standards just because you have gained a star. Brigadier General Choi Seong-Geon, if it ever becomes known that you let Code A happen, it will be the gravest mistake you’ll ever make in your entire life.
“You should have told me something that important in advance, sir!”
-You’ve truly become the definition of a corrupt soldier. The Choi Seong-Geon I knew trusted and put his life at stake with a single command from Mr. Jeon. Where did that man go? Do you think the entire world is now at your mercy just because you have a star and the Third Airborne Forces under you?
Another low sigh echoed across the call before it dropped.
“Just who that bast—that guy for him to be a classified government secret?!” Choi Seong-Geon shouted as he glared at his aide.
“We couldn’t find any other information about him other than that he was with the founder of the railway project at the Eurasian Rail conference event,” the aide replied.
“Well, Mr. Jeon and Mr. Kim aren’t the kind to act like that just so they can try and kiss up to the president. Haah, what the hell is going on?”
Choi Seong-Geon clenched his teeth and stepped over to the window.
‘Damn it!’
It was only at that moment that he realized the look that Kang Chan had in his eyes.
***
“We can’t even stop by a bathroom because of this outfit,” Seok Kang-Ho grumbled.
Kang Chan chuckled.
It wasn’t an exaggeration. They were currently wearing black military wear, military boots, and a South Korean flag on their left sleeve.
“You should’ve at least picked up the phone,” Seok Kang-Ho said.
“Whatever. I think this is for the best. We’re heading into a mission where people could die, so I don’t want to choose men who can’t put their hearts into it. Our team in the past used to be composed of men looking to die, and even with them, things still proved difficult. I won’t be able to take it if I drag men who don’t give two shits about the operation only for their lives to be sacrificed.”
“They just behaved that way because they have no idea who you are. They’ll act differently once they do.”
Kang Chan smirked and looked at his military wear.
“Over half of the soldiers in that barrack have never killed anyone. What could I do with those people?”
“Honestly, when none of them replied, I thought a few of those men’s arms would be broken soon.”
“For what? It didn’t look like anything would change even if I did that.”
Seok Kang-Ho glanced at Kang Chan.
“Even with big heads and bigger egos, those people wouldn’t even be able to do half as much as rookies of the Foreign Legion. When they go into the battlefield, they’ll rely solely on their abilities, and they’ll cause a huge mess before dying. Not backing down and submitting to others doesn’t mean you have a strong will. All that matters is whether or not you follow commands.”
Seok Kang-Ho shook his head. He was reminded of the time Kang Chan beat up an arrogant recruit a long time ago. It was quite obvious how much that incident devastated the recruit.
“What about me? Why did you beat me into shape and take care of me?”
Kang Chan smirked and glanced at Seok Kang-Ho.
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“Because you were just as lonely as I was.”
“Well, I suppose if you didn’t drag me along, I would already be dead in some alley by now.”
As they continued talking, Kang Chan’s phone kept ringing.
“Park the car. Let’s get out of these clothes,” Kang Chan said.
“Alright.”
They reached a resting area about five minutes later. Seok Kang-Ho parked the car, and Choi Jong-Il’s car stopped right behind them.
“Let’s change into something else and have some boiled chicken on the way back before going home.”
Choi Jong-Il was about to say something but quickly went to his car and pulled out a new outfit. Using the wide-open car doors of the sedan as a curtain, they quickly changed into new clothes.
Since they had already stopped, they thought it wouldn’t hurt to have a smoke as well.
Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho bit on a cigarette each as Choi Jong-Il approached them.
“Mr. Jeon wants you to answer his calls, sir.”
“I will probably just get angry if I speak on the phone now. Give him a call once we hit the road again. Tell him I’ll calm myself down and head back for today, then I’ll go see him tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir.”
Kang Chan likely felt even more disappointed because he thought the special forces he saw today would be like Jeon Dae-Geuk, Kim Hyung-Jung, and Choi Jong-Il. However, he did consider the fact that the soldiers probably didn’t take to himself and Seok Kang-Ho all too well because they were chosen to train without knowing anything about the operation.
Those men lived on pride, so Kang Chan understood why they would refuse to take orders from a high school student and a P.E. teacher. However, that was the very issue: they wouldn’t listen to his orders.
Mercenaries were an extremely defiant bunch. They would never submit to anyone unless they had learned that their commander was exceptionally stronger. Nevertheless, they at least knew how to respond when they were spoken to.
That difference in attitude mattered. Would they still follow orders even though doing so would make them feel like shit or would they act up right from the beginning?
If the former type of person requested Kang Chan to demonstrate his capabilities, Kang Chan would have been more than willing to. However, Kang Chan thought there was no reason for him to show his abilities to insubordinate people who would say, “This is how strong I am, so you better listen up,” from the beginning. That was just bullshit.
Kang Chan smirked.
“If you’re fine with it, want to have some maeun-tang[1] for lunch?” Choi Jong-Il asked Kang Chan, approaching him just as he was about to step back into the car.
“Maeun-tang?”
“There is a great maeun-tang place on the way back. It’s near a reservoir in Anseong. Why don’t we have lunch there?”
That sounded like a good idea.
Seok Kang-Ho put the address in the car’s navigation system and immediately drove off.
“Cap, seriously, this is amazing,” Seok Kang-Ho said as he accelerated, leisurely moving the handle. “My injuries
 They’re just itchy now. I’m already curious about what Director Yoo will have to say.”
It was definitely a relief, but if Seok Kang-Ho’s recovery was really as quick as he claimed, Kang Chan couldn’t help but be concerned about word getting out and the possible side effects of this.
They left the expressway after driving on the interstate for about an hour and entered a quiet country road.
“Whoa! What a fantastic view!”
Mountains lined up to their left, a reservoir could be seen to the right.
The occasional fishing rods and parasols set up by fishers made for a picturesque scene.
“Now that I think about it, we’ve never gone fishing,” Seok Kang-Ho remarked.
Kang Chan smiled faintly and rolled down the windows. He stretched out his arm as a refreshing breeze blew inside the car.
Fishing, his ass. Kang Chan's life was anything but idle, and he barely had time to even buy himself some pork cutlets in the past.
“Why don’t we stay the night here before going back?” Seok Kang-Ho asked.
“Mr. Jeon Dae-Geuk and Mr. Kim Hyung-Jung will have a breakdown from all the anxiety,” Kang Chan replied jokingly.
“Phuhuhu. Why not just give them a call then? You can do it after we have lunch.”
“Fine, I will.”
The navigation system announced they were about 100 meters from their destination.
1. Spicy fish stew. ☜