/
There were only two things left for Kang Chan to confirm.
“How many personnel are the Foreign Legion’s special forces mobilizing?” Kang Chan questioned.
“Two units for a total of twenty-four men,” Lanok replied.
Rumors were bound to get out regarding operations this large. To make things worse, just a single error could cause this whole situation to explode into a full-scale war.
“Mr. Ambassador, if I told you I wanted to depart now, could you have a flight prepared for me immediately?” Kang Chan asked.
“It’s already waiting for you in Osan,” Lanok responded with ease, seemingly anticipating the question. He then changed the topic, “Mr. Kang Chan, what would you like to have for dinner?”
Kang Chan genuinely wanted to help him and not miss out on this opportunity. However, the soldiers’ lack of experience was holding him back right now. In a way, that was a more important factor than their abilities.
“Mr. Ambassador, I think It’s best that I take my leave early. I have to confirm a few things. Can I call you again at a later time?” Kang Chan requested.
“I’ll always be waiting for your calls, Mr. Kang Chan, especially those related to this particular operation,” Lanok replied.
“Understood, sir. If that’s all we have to talk about, I’ll get going now,” Kang Chan said.
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As Kang Chan got up, Lanok stood up as well.
“Mr. Kang Chan, I’m well aware that asking for your assistance with this operation is a difficult request to accomplish, so I hope you don’t strain yourself any further than you’re already doing. One lost battle won’t mean we lose everything in Europe, but if we lose you, there’s no way to get you back,” Lanok implored.
Kang Chan had never seen Lanok look this concerned before. Lanok could have chosen to put on a mask to hide his emotions, but it seemed he had decided against doing that in front of Kang Chan.
As Kang Chan walked out of the embassy, he took out his phone and checked the time. It was six-thirty in the evening.
Afterward, he immediately searched for Kang Dae-Kyung’s number and called it, but he had more in mind than just postponing their trip.
-Hello? Kang Chan?
“Yes, Father. Where are you?” Kang Chan asked.
-I’m at the office, but I’m just about to leave. Are you back in Seoul now?
“Yes. Do you have time to have dinner with me?”
-What about your mother?
“I was hoping to have dinner with just us today. There’s something I want to discuss with you.”
Kang Dae-Kyung briefly remained silent likely because he was taking a moment to process the situation.
-Where are you? I’ll be done in about ten minutes.
“I’ll go to where you are. It’ll probably take about an hour since it’s rush hour.”
-All right. I’ll be waiting at my office, then. I’ll tell your mother that I have a dinner appointment.
“Got it,” Kang Chan replied.
After hanging up, Kang Chan called Choi Jong-Il. Almost immediately, Lee Doo-Hee drove up to the back alley of the embassy.
“Let’s go to my father’s workplace.” Kang Chan asked for their help getting to his father because getting a taxi during rush hour would be difficult.
Going on this operation with just the South Korean team… If someone told Kang Chan he was being greedy, he wouldn’t have any rebuttal.
However, this was far better than a few minor combat experiences. After all, this made sure their abilities would improve. Seeing the soldiers’ abilities during the live ammo training had a great impact on Kang Chan’s decision as well.
Kang Chan looked out the window in silence as they drove along, creating an awkward atmosphere.
Choi Jong-Il subtly peeked at Kang Chan. He seemed worried that France had rejected the South Korean team’s assistance or that their authorization to participate had been denied at the final stage, which was what happened to countless operations in the past.
There wasn’t anything Kang Chan could say to them right now, however. Amid the continued silence, they soon arrived at Kang Dae-Kyung’s company.
“I’m going to have dinner with my father. He’ll have his guards on him, so you all have dinner in peace without worrying about us. Let’s try to eat whenever we can, got it?”
“Understood, sir.”
Kang Chan stepped out of the car and called his father. Kang Dae-Kyung came down not long after.
“Father!” Kang Chan greeted, to which Kang Dae-Kyung reciprocated with a smile.
“What do you want to eat?” Kang Dae-Kyung asked.
“Since we’re eating without Mother, let’s just have something simple,” Kang Chan responded.
“Are you sure? I was going to treat you to something nice,” Kang Dae-Kyung said, patting Kang Chan’s back as they entered the street next to his office’s building. “Why don’t we have a light meal with ox bone soup?”
“Sounds good,” Kang Chan replied. He followed Kang Dae-Kyung into the ox bone soup restaurant behind the building.
Kang Chan was extremely grateful to have a father he could rely on and confide in whenever he had a difficult decision to make. He obviously couldn’t tell his father everything, and even if he could make up his mind now, the South Korean government would likely disapprove of the mission. Still, his father was a source of comfort.
“This place is actually pretty famous,” Kang Dae-Kyung explained.
The restaurant did seem popular because it was bustling with a lot of people. It hadn’t even been three minutes since they ordered, but they were already served their ox bone soup.
“So, what is it?” Kang Dae-Kyung asked without looking up from the rice and soup he was mixing together. He was obviously attempting to create a casual mood intentionally so Kang Chan could easily tell him what was on his mind.
“I was planning on taking you and Mother to Jeju this weekend, Father,” Kang Chan started.
Kang Dae-Kyung lifted his gaze to look at Kang Chan.
“But something came up, so I don’t think I’ll be able to go. Mother seems to be looking forward to it quite a bit. What should I do?” Kang Chan contemplated.
“Is it something that will take a few days again?” Kang Dae-Kyung asked.
“Yes,” Kang Chan replied.
Kang Dae-Kyung raised his spoon and began to eat.
“Eat up. Let’s think about it while eating,” he said, eating a spoonful of soup, rice, and diced radish kimchi. “Hmm. Let’s just think of this as you sending me and your mother on a trip as a present, okay? That way, the two of us can relax together. Your mother will still be upset, though, so let’s take a day trip somewhere nearby next week.”
“I’m sorry,” Kang Chan apologized.
“I’m more excited since it’ll just be the two of us,” Kang Dae-Kyung said with a smile, showing Kang Chan that he didn’t have to worry.
“Father,” Kang Chan hesitantly called.
“There’s more?” Kang Dae-Kyung joked.
Kang Chan grinned.
“There’s this thing I really want to do, but it’ll be difficult. I don’t have time to do it multiple times, and there won’t be a better opportunity than this. But it’s something I won’t be doing alone, and if I fail, the people joining me will have to sacrifice something great. I don’t know what to do.”
“What did the others say about this?” Kang Dae-Kyung asked.
Kang Chan recalled Cha Dong-Gyun and the other soldiers’ fierce expressions.
“I think they want to do it,” Kang Chan replied.
“Hmmm, then I take it this is something you’ll be taking responsibility for?” Kang Dae-Kyung confirmed.
“Yes, sir.”
Deep in thought, Kang Dae-Kyung slowly swallowed the food in his mouth.
“The person responsible will always find themselves in the toughest spot since he’ll have to accept the outcome of his choices. Remember how hard it was for me when our contract with Chiffre ended? No matter the situation, unexpected variables are bound to arise. If you’re confident and determined to face those unknown odds, then you should push through with it. Otherwise, it would be pointless.”
Kang Chan ate a spoonful of food as he listened to Kang Dae-Kyung.
“How does succeeding in this benefit you?” Kang Dae-Kyung questioned.
“Sorry?”
“Were you planning on doing something that won’t benefit you at all?” Kang Dae-Kyung asked with a grin.
The advantages? The greatest advantage was that he’d be repaying his favor to Lanok. Apart from that, although they would have to put their lives on the line, the South Korean team would obtain valuable experience from this. Moreover, defeating the SBS would proudly display the might of the South Korean special forces to the rest of the world.
After their conversation, they finished the rest of their meal.
“I’m going to go straight home from here,” Kang Dae-Kyung declared.
“By yourself?” Kang Chan asked in surprise.
“It’s written all over your face that you’re busy. Don’t worry about us and come home once you’ve taken care of your business. I’ll pretend not to know anything about the trip to Jeju until the weekend,” Kang Dae-Kyung said.
“Got it.”
They left the restaurant and walked over to where Kang Dae-Kyung’s car was parked.
“Well, see you at home,” Kang Dae-Kyung said.
“Thank you, Father.”
“It’s nothing, son,” Kang Dae-Kyung said as he thumped Kang Chan’s shoulder.
Once Kang Dae-Kyung had driven off, Kang Chan called Kim Hyung-Jung.
-Mr. Kang Chan!
“How are you feeling?” Kang Chan asked.
-I’m a lot better now. To what do I owe the pleasure?
Kim Hyung-Jung seemed to have noticed that Kang Chan sounded different from normal.
“Have you heard that a unit will be going out on an operation as backup?”
-Yes, I’m aware of it.
“Mr. Kim, I want to take two teams.”
-Pardon?
“I’m asking this of you so we can leave immediately. If we leave the day after tomorrow, we might have to cut the mission short and come back without getting to do anything. The flights are already prepared.”
A loud intake of air could be heard over the line.
“We will be going against the SBS. Half of the soldiers we start with won’t be coming back.”
-The SBS? Britain’s SBS?
“Yes, sir.”
It was silent. Kim Hyung-Jung had gone speechless.
“These are the best conditions to gain experience. If things go successfully, the soldiers will be able to obtain ten small operations’ worth of experience with this single mission.”
-Will you be in command?
“Yes, I will.”
-I assume you’ll leave as soon as it’s decided?
“Yes. I informed them to select eight members, so I’ll need twelve more. Each team will need to have two snipers too.”
No one would probably be able to imagine this kind of conversation was taking place in the middle of a street.
-I understand. I will talk this over with the director and call you again. However, I should tell you these types of operations have never been approved in the final stage. Moreover, this operation is for France, so it won’t be easy.
After hanging up, Kang Chan looked around his surroundings.
He had made up his mind, but other people would be making the important decision. It felt strange.