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The direct line on Lanok’s desk rang. Exchanging a look with Raphael, Kang Chan picked up the phone.
“Ello?”
-Mr. Kang Chan. It’s me again, Ludwig.
This time, Kang Chan was the one to keep his silence.
Meanwhile, a French agent and Choi Jong-Il’s group left the office with their weapons in hand.
-When you reach my age, you start to make calculations before you make decisions. It’s two in the morning here right now. Anyone would need some time to think if they suddenly received such a request in the middle of their sleep.
Kang Chan remained silent.
Raphael had poured some tea into a cup and was putting it in front of Kang Chan as if he didn’t care about what the German was saying any longer.
-I ordered an emergency decree on the KSK. The European intelligence agencies are probably already watching with sharp eyes. What should I tell the three units that you asked for?
Great. That’s one checked off on the list.
Kang Chan turned his head away from the receiver so Ludwig wouldn’t hear his sigh of relief.
“Thank you, Ludwig. I’ll give my orders to the three units myself, so please just inform them that the God of Blackfield will have command of this entire operation,” Kang Chan stated.
-Understood, Mr. Kang Chan. I never imagined there would come a time in my life when I would be jealous of Lanok. I wish you the best of luck.
The moment the call ended, Kang Chan suddenly had the urge to smoke. As if reading his mind, Raphael brought him an ashtray and a cigarette.
“The ambassador always enjoyed cigars at moments like these,” Raphael explained.
Kang Chan chuckled wryly. He put the cigarette in his mouth and lit it up. Afterward, he asked Raphael to connect him to Vasili. Raphael dialed a number, then handed him the receiver.
Ring.
-Lanok. It’s Vasili.
The bastard picked up almost immediately. What was this guy?
“Vasili. It’s Kang Chan.”
Kang Chan was once again greeted by another deafening silence as he had with Ludwig.
“I heard from the ambassador. Haah… you wanted him to act as an intermediary between South Korea and Russia, is that right?” Kang Chan asked wearily.
-Hmm, is that such an urgent matter that you had to call at four in the morning?
Motherfucker. He picked up on the first ring because he was desperate. Is he trying to pretend like he has the upper hand?
“I need three Spetsnaz units. I’m out to kill a man whom I would go to any lengths to kill. However, this is a personal request, not a matter related to the reparation discussions.”
-Hahaha.
Vasili’s disbelieving laughter carried over the line into Kang Chan’s ear.
-I’ll be generous and listen to your reason, at least. Why?
“China,” Kang Chan responded briefly.
-Ha! Are you trying to start a world war?
“Tempting, but I’m not going that far. I just suddenly developed a sense of hatred overnight. I don’t understand why people are trying to go off with my perfectly intact head.”
Kang Chan felt anger boiling inside him as he spoke. Anne had stopped crying some time ago and was now focusing on Kang Chan’s words.
“It’s hard to deal with them all at once, so I’m trying to beat up one person at a time. What are you going to do, Vasili?”
-Kang Chan, just because I made a mistake in front of you once does not mean that Russia and South Korea are on the same level. That is foolish thinking
“You’ll change your mind on that soon,” Kang Chan announced menacingly.
-Interesting. No one has dared threaten me before.
“I take it you refuse. If so, then I see no need for mediation from France anymore,” Kang Chan curtly declared.
-Where’s Lanok?
The question came in like a surprise attack. However, Kang Chan didn’t intend to hide the truth anyway.
“Why do you think I would consider attacking China, Vasili? Hm?” Kang Chan asked sarcastically.
-Hahaha.
There was something about Vasili’s laughter that Kang Chan couldn’t quite put his finger on.
-That’s a fine idea. So this is why Ludwig moved earlier. Fine. However, to be clear, you will be indebted to me after this, understood?
“Fine, Vasili.”
-Let’s go with the same conditions as you did with Ludwig. An emergency decree ordered on all of the Spetsnatz, and the command of three units. Is that enough for you?
That sinister punk.
The sly Vasili already knew about Kang Chan’s arrangement with Germany.
“Thank you, Vasili,” Kang Chan said genuinely.
-This is the second time in my life I have met someone to be afraid of. Keep this in mind. Once Russia orders an emergency decree following Germany, All of Europe and the United States will be issuing emergency decrees as well. This could really end in a war before you know it. No one knows how this will go down.
“Understood.” Kang Chan hung up the phone and leaned back against the chair.
“Monsieur Kang, did Russia just order an emergency decree?” Raphael seemed anxious. “Emergency decrees from Germany and Russia will leave the DGSE no choice but to give an order to the Foreign Legion as well. Would you like to speak with the official in charge?”
“They don’t know about the ambassador’s kidnapping yet, do they?”
“With the emergency decrees already ordered, I’m sure the DGSE will catch up soon anyway and take their own measures,” Raphael answered with confidence.
Kang Chan nodded.
Not understanding what was being said, Seok Kang-Ho drank his tea with a comedically grave expression.
Raphael dialed another number and handed Kang Chan the receiver again.
“It would be best to tell them that you’re the God of Blackfield,” Raphael suggested.
The moment that Kang Chan held the phone to his ear, someone responded with an “Ello?”
“This is the God of Blackfield.” Kang Chan followed Raphael’s advice.
-Why are you using this number?
The voice that came across the line was a deep baritone.
“Something happened to the ambassador. It’s the reason Germany and Russia ordered emergency decrees on their special forces. I would like for France to take action as well,” Kang Chan said.
-Ah, then that explains why those countries suddenly sprang into action after you checked the ambassador’s location with your phone. What do you need, Monsieur Kang?
“An emergency decree on the Foreign Legion and command of three of their units,” Kang Chan repeated.
-Understood. How would you like to carry out your commands of the special forces?
“Just have them on standby for now,” Kang Chan stated.
-May we know the target location?
“China.”
The person he was talking to grew quiet for a moment, probably just as astounded as the two ambassadors he called earlier.
-I will have that arranged. It will take a minute at most.
“Thank you.”
Kang Chan ended the call, took a sip of his tea, then bit on his cigarette again. When he turned around, he coincidentally met eyes with Anne.
“You’re exactly like my dad when he was younger, Channy,” she said, making Kang Chan smirk. “Once he made up his mind, he never went back. And he enjoyed some tea and cigars when he was done with his calls, just like you are doing now.”
What can I say to that? I don’t know if she’s right or wrong.
Kang Chan lit up his cigarette, choosing silence.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
It was a call from Kim Hyung-Jung.
“Hello?” Kang Chan said.
-Mr. Kang Chan, the First, Third, and Fifth Airborne Forces, the Thirty-fifth Brigade, and the Special Forces Team 606 are all on emergency standby. In about five minutes, the North Korean special forces will also go into emergency standby. Please be informed.
“Thank you, Mr. Kim,” Kang Chan said gratefully.
-I can only hope this affair is beneficial to South Korea.
I see now.
Kang Chan realized something new as he hung up. Whatever the matter was, he should deliberate the interests of those who were involved. Of course, it wasn’t as if he could start doing that immediately.
He had rushed into this plan without thinking, but he thought it wasn’t that bad of an approach. Anne and Raphael also had hope on their faces. Seok Kang-Ho looked like he was fighting against boredom, but that wasn’t important.
This was the same method that Lanok used when Kang Chan was facing the Spetsnaz.
Being willing to go to war if someone dares to touch you.
Kang Chan thought that this was a big gamble—one where he was putting everything he had on the line. If he couldn’t get Lanok back after all this, he would definitely be put in an uncomfortable position.
Who in China was he supposed to attack? It wasn’t as if he could actually start a war with the entire country.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
The bell tone tore down the heavy bubble of nervousness and silence that was building up in the room.
Kang Chan gave a look at Raphael, then answered the phone.
“Ello?”
-This is the DGSE. The White Wolves located in six territories of China have gone into emergency standby.
France’s feedback was immediate.
Find the original at "pawread dot com".
There was a chance that China wasn’t behind Lanok’s kidnapping. However, even if they weren’t, they still had to find the bastards who were. Was it unfair from China’s point of view? Maybe. But why did they collaborate with Huh Ha-Soo and create this whole mess in the first place?
The incident took place while Lanok was returning from meeting the Chinese ambassador and Huh Ha-Soo. Did that mean South Korea was also partly to blame?
Neither China nor Huh Ha-Soo would think that. Therefore, all that was left was for a powerful country like China to cooperate in getting Lanok back. They had two options to choose from. They could find the culprit who kidnapped Lanok or they could kill Kang Chan. There was no going back now.
“Please give me the exact location and the number of people in those six areas,” Kang Chan said firmly.
-Monsieur Kang, please know that we will update you with intel as it enters our hands. However, giving orders to go into mainland Chinese territory isn’t something that can be done on your command.
“Understood. Please give me the information for now,” Kang Chan stated.
When he put the phone back down, Raphael poured him another cup of tea. Kang Chan rested his forehead on his arm that was laid on Lanok’s desk. He suddenly recalled when he had first met the ambassador at the conference hall for Gong Te Automobiles’ event.
It truly was impossible to expect where life would lead a person or how one’s relationships with people would turn out.