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Kim Hyung-Jung exhaled softly right before he entered the Chinese embassy, having firmly made up his mind.
Even if their country was weak, it didn’t mean that their people were weak as well. Although they recommended that Kang Chan should apologize, as an agent of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, Kim Hyung-Jung didn’t want to be overpowered in spirit. That was especially the case now since there were people who had decided to protect a talented young man to the point where they were willing to put their positions on the line. Some of those people were the President, the National Intelligence Service Director, and Go Gun-Woo, who even decided to resign as the Prime Minister for Kang Chan’s sake.
When Kim Hyung-Jung walked into the embassy, a man in a full suit approached Kim Hyung-Jung.
This novel is available on bit.ly/3iBfjkV.
“What brings you here?” the employee spoke fluent Korean, but he had a Chinese accent.
“I’m here to see Mr. Yang Fan.”
The man stared at Kim Hyung-Jung for a moment, then turned around. “Please follow me.”
The man guided him to the left side of the building and stopped in front of a door. He raised his hand and carefully knocked.
Rattle.
With a sharp look in his eyes, an agent opened the door and examined Kim Hyung-Jung and the man who guided him.
“He came here to see President Yang,” Kim Hyung-Jung’s guide said.
“Please come in,” the agent said after briefly nodding to the guide. He then stepped aside to let Kim Hyung-Jung in.
Kim Hyung-Jung had no plans to back down now. He didn’t know why Kang Chan told him to go to the Chinese embassy. Perhaps it was so he could apologize in Kang Chan’s stead. If he could do that, then he wouldn’t mind bowing over and over again.
However, he would be bowing for his country. He would be following the intentions of the President and the others who wished to protect a very important talent. He would not be bowing just because he was stupid or lacking.
Kim Hyung-Jung softly inhaled, then entered the room. As he did, he remembered the horrible torture that he went through in Mongolia.
Kim Hyung-Jung wanted to smile like Kang Chan.
Come at me—I’ll fight all of you as much as you guys want.
As Kim Hyung-Jung went further inside, he stumbled upon another door that was about three meters in height. People who lacked the courage to do this would have already sunk to their knees as they walked through the doors.
With a grim expression, Kim Hyung-Jung stood in front of the door.
Rattle.
A man with a pointy face opened the door and greeted Kim Hyung-Jung.
“Did Mr. Kang Chan send you here?” the man asked.
“That’s correct.”
“Please come inside.”
Kim Hyung-Jung didn’t know what was going to happen inside the embassy.
He might have to give them a humiliating apology, or he could be disgraced. However, if he could do it instead of Kang Chan, then he would not mind at all.
Kim Hyung-Jung entered the room and immediately noticed a man with a sharp look in his eyes sitting on the sofa. Behind the man were about ten agents standing by, all looking as serious as could be.
The man on the sofa looked somewhat familiar.
Click.
The one who let him in closed the door and held out his hand to him. “I apologize for the late introduction. My name is Yang Bum.”
“I’m Kim Hyung-Jung.”
“Nice to meet you. I’d like to introduce Huh Geuk as well, the one on the sofa.”
Only then did Kim Hyung-Jung remember seeing the guy sitting on the sofa in a document that he had checked yesterday. He didn’t recognize Huh Geuk right away because his hairstyle had changed and he wasn’t wearing glasses. Moreover, Kim Hyung-Jung initially only gave him a quick glance.
“Huh Geuk broke his promise to Mr. Kang Chan and made a cowardly demand to the South Korean government. China’s Intelligence Bureau passes on its deepest apologies to the South Korean government and Mr. Kang Chan about this matter. To hold Huh Geuk accountable, he will be…” Yang Bum trailed off.
The moment Yang Bum sharply turned his head, one of the agents behind Huh Geuk quickly drew a pistol and pointed it at the back of Huh Geuk’s head.
Ting!
Huh Geuk flinched. Blood spurted out from his forehead like water gushing out of a faucet.
Crash!
Huh Geuk violently smashed headfirst into the sofa table, then fell to the floor.
“I apologize if that startled you. Mr. Kang Chan asked me to let you confirm Huh Geuk’s execution. Now, can we take care of his dead body?” Yang Bum asked Kim Hyung-Jung.
What’s going on?
Right in front of Kim Hyung-Jung, who had looked away to get his emotions under control, two agents skillfully put Huh Geuk in a body bag.
“Shall we leave? If you’re okay with it, I’d like to treat you to a cup of tea. Do you smoke?” Yang Bum asked Kim Hyung-Jung again.
“Yes.”
“Great. Mr. Kang Chan was quite hard to handle for some reason—his eyes were so intense.”
“You’ve met with Mr. Kang Chan?” Kim Hyung-Jung asked.
Rattle.
Yang Bum opened the door and guided Kim Hyung-Jung out of the room. Seemingly finding Kim Hyung-Jung funny, Yang Bum smiled as he looked at him. “I had lunch with him. Anyway, I’d like to take this time to discuss a few things with you. It would be best to think of it as China’s present. Our country wants to maintain a friendly relationship with South Korea, after all.”
Kim Hyung-Jung and Yang Bum had to go through three doors before they finally got out of the building. As soon as they exited, Kim Hyung-Jook looked up at the sky. It looked completely normal to him, which meant he wasn’t just dreaming. He had never felt emotions as deep as the ones he was feeling right now—not even when he was being rescued in Mongolia. This moment made Moon Jae-Hyun’s comment about protecting and nurturing talented people pierce through Kim Hyung-Jung’s heart.
“I heard that Mr. Kang Chan isn’t twenty yet,” Yang Bum continued. He stretched out his arm and pointed to the establishment right next to the main building of the embassy. “If he was born in China, he probably would have withered before he even had the chance to bloom. That’s why I commend the judgment of the South Korean government and the National Intelligence Service. After all, they recognized and developed Mr. Kang Chan’s capabilities. Anyway, please come this way.”
Kim Hyung-Jung and Yang-Bum entered the building that Yang Bum pointed to. Inside it was a Chinese-style living room that allowed in a bit of natural lighting. With a gesture from Yang Bum, an employee quickly brought over and put a teapot, teacups, an ashtray, and cigarettes on the table.
“The present that we prepared is…” Yang Bum started.
Should he really be revealing something like this so easily?
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have the power to make decisions,” Kim Hyung-Jung said once Yang Bum finished.
Yang Bum gave Kim Hyung-Jung a pleasant smile. “It’s okay. However, we do hope that you can give us an answer soon so we can start taking all the necessary measures in accordance with your decision.”
“Alright,” Kim Hyung-Jung said, then immediately stood up from his seat.
Why did Yang Bum tell me something like this without even asking about my position?
At the entrance of the embassy, Kim Hyung-Jung shook Yang Bum’s hand. The latter then sent him off.
“Mr. Kang Chan said that he has absolute trust in you. I hope we meet each other often.”
“Likewise.”
Kim Hyung-Jung let go of the handshake and walked away. Not long after, the car that had been waiting for him stopped in front of him.
Click!
“Get me to Naegok-dong[1] as quickly as possible,” Kim Hyung-Jung ordered, then quickly took out his phone. He had no idea what was happening, but he was certain of one thing.
What he just heard was only possible because they had Kang Chan.
***
Huh Ha-Soo ran his fingers through his hair, making it seem as if he was trying to hide his anxiety. He then clenched his fist and looked at his phone. After a while, he sighed softly and wiped his lips. He still hadn’t received the phone call that he had been waiting for.
“Ugh.”
Huh Ha-Soo let out another groan.
He believed in China. He had to believe them. China would never abandon him. Powerful countries didn’t break loyalty easily.
Huh Ha-Soo sighed once more.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
The phone that he had placed on the end table rang.
“Hello?”
- We have received word that Kang Chan held his ground and refused to apologize. They also told us that we should proceed as planned, but they want us to change the schedule a little bit first.
“The schedule?”
- China said that they will completely support you this time.
“Haha, hahaha. And why would they do that?”
- Isn’t that because China recognizes your great capabilities?
“You’re saying nonsense! We have to be more self-deprecating, especially during times like this. We should never be arrogant when others show consideration toward us. Anyway, what’s happening in South Korea?”
- The Director has sprung into action. The manager of the special forces team seems to have been directly summoned to the Chinese embassy as well, but we haven’t been able to confirm that intel yet.
“Hmm! If so, then it seems China is earnestly setting plans in motion. Alright. Make sure to keep me informed about any further updates. I don’t care if you haven’t confirmed whether they’re reliable intel or not.
- Understood.
Huh Ha-Soo hung up. He then loudly inhaled, which was far from how he had been acting lately.
***
“Mr. President, you have to give it your approval,” someone said.
“I can’t.”
“Mr. President!” Hwang Ki-Hyun called Moon Jae-Hyun with an unusually strong tone.
Go Gun-Woo and Kim Hyung-Jung were also in the room with Moon Jae-Hyun and Hwang Ki-Hyun.
“This is political manipulation. They pushed us into a trap that they themselves have set, and they are now blaming us for it. Director, how would you deal with the citizens’ pride if the Chairman of the National Assembly—someone who represents South Korea—falls for China’s trap? What would other countries think of us? This simply cannot happen.”
Hwang Ki-Hyun dropped his head at Moon Jae-Hyun’s firm response.
“I agree that this is an opportunity. However, that does not mean we should push Chairperson Huh Ha-Soo into China’s trap. As South Korea’s president, I believe that there’s something more important than staying in power. And I’m certain that things like that are what makes South Korea grow and develop,” Moon Jae-Hyun added.
Hwang Ki-Hyun raised his head, seemingly at a loss for what to do. Looking at Kim Hyung-Jung, he asked, “Where’s Kang Chan right now?”
“He’s currently at the Namsan Hotel,” Kim Hyung-Jung quickly answered.
1. Naegok-dong is a neighborhood in Seoul, South Korea ☜