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Kang Chan didn’t understand what Huh Ha-Soo meant by a power struggle.
“The current president is shamelessly trying to divide the nation and its people so he can maintain power. Since before the Eurasian Rail, he intercepted the efforts of those who have worked for the country, using the excuse that they’re descendants of pro-Japanese collaborators, and he even attempted to confiscate their properties,” Huh Ha-Soo said.
“Isn’t it wrong for the descendants of traitors to live off the fat of the land too?” Kang Chan countered.
Huh Ha-Soo looked at Kang Chan sharply.
“Don’t be swayed by irrelevant talk. Who didn’t ally themselves with Japan back then? And so what? After killing them all, who would step up to maintain public order, and who would stimulate the economy?” Huh Ha-Soo’s eyes sparked angrily like firecrackers.
“Ahem.” He let out a sigh after a short moment of silence, stroking his hair back. “Don’t be swayed by the men who say they’re working for the good of the country. Do you know anyone who claimed to have worked for the country and got a happy ending? To put it bluntly, our failure to achieve independence wasn’t because we couldn’t. It was because of the nuclear bombs that the United States dropped that we achieved it. Nevertheless, those bastards talk as if it’s all thanks to them that we are an independent country today.”
Huh Ha-Soo stood up, finished with what he had to say.
“This is the last chance I’m giving you. If you don’t do as I say, our country will have to give up the Eurasian Rail,” Huh Ha-Soo stated.
Pft.
Seeing Kang Chan’s smirk, the corners of Huh Ha-Soo’s eyes twitched.
“Urgh,” he grunted.
Kang Chan also followed Huh Ha-Soo up.
“Thank you, sir,” Kang Chan said.
Huh Ha-Soo narrowed his eyes at Kang Chan, unable to understand what he meant.
“I was able to make up my mind thanks to you,” Kang Chan continued.
Huh Ha-Soo’s beady eyes looked straight at Kang Chan.
You’re going to die.
Kang Chan had found a new resolve.
Huh Ha-Soo turned around and left the living room.
Kang Chan would have chased after him and twist his neck if he could. A moment later, he also walked outside.
***
Kang Chan returned to the hotel and relayed his conversation with Huh Ha-Soo to the rest of the men. Seok Kang-Ho had shouted “that fucking traitor!” multiple times by the time he had finished.
“What about the prime minister’s resignation?” Kim Hyung-Jung asked.
“It seems he won’t do anything about it for the weekend. He didn’t say it explicitly, but that was the attitude he showed,” Kang Chan replied.
“Have you contacted the director yet?” Kim Hyung-Jung asked again.
“Not yet. His direct line was disconnected,” Kang Chan informed him.
It was Friday night. If they failed to come up with a solution by Saturday or Sunday, they would be done for.
They needed a breakthrough.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Kang Chan’s phone began to ring. He couldn’t have been happier to pick up the phone from this caller.
“Mr. Ambassador, this is Kang Chan,” Kang Chan answered.
- Mr. Kang Chan, do you have time for a cup of tea?
“Yes, I do. Where should I go?”
- I’ll see you at Namsan Hotel in about an hour.
“Got it. See you then, Mr. Ambassador.”
Lanok seemed to know that Kang Chan was at Namsan Hotel, but he didn’t say anything about it.
“Ambassador Lanok and I made arrangements to meet here in an hour,” Kang Chan told the group, who then all rested comfortably in their positions. They didn’t have any sharp solution anyway, so there was no use in talking. They needed some time to think.
***
“Thank you for your service, sir,” Heo Chang-Seon greeted with a deep bow as Huh Ha-Soo walked into the reception room of a place in Samcheong-Dong.
“You can sit. Would you like to have dinner?” Huh Ha-Soo asked.
“I ate before coming here,” Heo Chang-Seon replied.
Huh Ha-Soo sat at the head of the table, and Heo Chang-Seong sat in front of him.
“How was it?” Heo Chang-Seon asked.
“The young punk was full of himself. I can’t believe the men who sent him to stall for time are the ones who want to run the country. Absurd,” Huh Ha-Soo scoffed with dissatisfaction and then turned his gaze. “You have to hurry and find out why the French ambassador is so protective of him.”
“The special force in Samseong-Dong is in charge of that, and I don’t have clearance from my position.”
“The director is probably managing that boy himself. Anyhow, it’ll all be over in two days. The moment we take additional measures on Monday, they won’t even be able to think about holding out.”
“They would never imagine what’s coming to them.”
Huh Ha-Soo nodded, feeling pleased.
***
An hour after Kang Chan received a call from Lanok, he headed to the 19th floor and was guided to a room by an agent who had been waiting for him.
Lanok greeted Kang Chan the moment he walked in.
“You must be having quite the hard time,” Lanok remarked.
“Do I make it that obvious?” Kang Chan asked with a sigh.
Lanok extended his arm toward the sofa. However, his face also seemed a little stiff as well.
“A fight against those in power isn’t easy, is it?” Lanok asked as he offered some tea. He put a cigar in his mouth and lit it up. “I’ve never seen you look so down.”
“To be honest, I can now see my limits. I didn’t even know how to use the oil field developments rights and provocation from North Korea, which you helped me get,” Kang Chan smiled bitterly. It was almost ridiculous how lost he felt.
“That’s because you don’t know what Huh Ha-Soo is really after,” Lanok said.
Kang Chan didn’t have anything to say to that.
“On Monday, Japan will take the same measures that China did,” Lanok added grimly.
“What?” Kang Chan asked in disbelief.
China was already giving them so much trouble, but they now had to deal with Japan too?
“They only have one request,” Lanok said.
“The Eurasian Rail, of course,” Kang Chan stated wryly.
“That’s correct,” Lanok confirmed.
I should destroy that damn underwater tunnel!
“South Korea will have no choice but to surrender if Japan’s economic measures are implemented on Monday. That's where the prime minister comes in. The first document that acknowledges the underwater tunnel and the connection of the Eurasian Railway has to be signed by the prime minister,” Lanok explained.
Kang Chan sighed quietly.
He knew who the enemy was, but he didn’t know how to kill them. It was as if he had jumped onto a battlefield blindfolded.
“Huh Ha-Soo requested the replacement of the prime minister by today, but he actually was going to leave the prime minister untouched until Monday,” Lanok informed him.
Kang Chan couldn’t even laugh in disbelief anymore. If this fight was compared to a battle with guns, it would be like getting shot in the forehead before he could even get his hand on the trigger.
“China’s economic sanctions, Japan’s greed for the Eurasian Rail, and Huh Ha-Soo. You have to solve all three of these matters, Mr. Kang Chan. Before Monday arrives, no less,” Lanok stated.
“I don’t know what to do,” Kang Chan confessed.
Lanok twirled his cigar before speaking again.
“Yang Fan requested help from China,” he said.
“Did he return to China?” Kang Chan asked.
“He re-entered the country after parting ways with you. The situation is intense for both sides, but the opposition party still holds significant power, so Yang Fan doesn’t have any forces he can mobilize. As you already know, France is too far and will take too long to be of any help,” Lanok told him.
“What do I have to do?” Kang Chan asked.
“There's a disguised intelligence agency building in downtown Beijing. The task is to eliminate Rishiquan, who is located there,” Lanok replied.
Kang Chan let out a sigh. However, a part of him felt relieved.
He had never been to Beijing. The chances of success were slim, and success would not guarantee an easy return.
“Even with Yang Fan's help, it won't be easy to handle the aftermath of failure or being captured,” Lanok warned.
Larnock pointed out the worst-case scenario. Of course, that went without saying.
“Rishiquan is the mastermind. He is the one behind Korea's economic measures and the plot to assassinate the President. He's also the one who ordered my kidnapping. If he becomes the head of the intelligence agency, Asia will plunge into great chaos,” Lanok declared.
“How will succeeding in this benefit us?” Kang Chan asked.
“If Yang Fan takes control of the intelligence agency, it will lead to the economic measures being lifted and the location of North Korean special forces that entered South Korea being revealed. It will also result in the arrest of Huh Sang-Soo in China,” Lanok replied.
Kang Chan felt as if a rush of fresh air just entered his suffocated lungs.
“When do I leave?” Kang Chan asked this time.
"Beijing is an hour behind South Korea. Your transportation will be disguised as a cargo plane. Your best window of opportunity is tonight at eleven,” Lanok answered.
Only three hours for Kang Chan to come to a decision and depart?
This was probably why Lanok came all the way to the hotel—to save time.
But there was no other opportunity like this.
“Then Mr. Ambassador, I'll gather information immediately. Should I contact you by phone?”
“That’s fine. You will depart from Osan.”
“Understood,” Kang Chan responded.
After exchanging a brief farewell, Kang Chan left Lanok’s room.
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When he returned to the room where his group was waiting for him, he Kim Tae-Jin and Jeon Dae-Geuk inside.
The atmosphere was as dark as expected.
“You’re here, sir?” Kang Chan greeted Jeon Dae-Geuk.
“It’s tough, isn’t it?” Jeon Dae-Geuk sympathized. His husky voice sounded as if he was soothing Kang Chan.
They were extremely short on time right now.
“Section Chief Jeon,” Kang Chan called, then relayed his conversation with Lanok.
“Whew!” The mighty Jeon Dae-Geuk shook his head as he stepped back.
Kang Chan understood how he felt. The conditions were just that harsh.
“There isn’t enough time. It’ll take at least an hour to get approval from the president even if I rush over there now, and it isn’t like you can mobilize soldiers without permission either. Most importantly, the chances of success are too low,” Jeon Dae-Geuk said with concern.
“Well, there isn’t any other way, is there? It’s not like we can assassinate Huh Ha-Soo with the current state of the nation,” Kang Chan uttered.
Kim Hyung-Jung looked to the ground.
“All right. I’ll get to the president first. Manager Kim, where is the director right now?” Jeon Dae-Geuk asked Kim Hyung-Jung.
“His direct line has been disconnected for a while now,” Kim Hyung-Jung responded.
“Got it. I’ll call him while I’m on the way to Choi Seong-Geon then. Oh, right. How many do you need?” Jeon Dae-Geuk asked, turning to Kang Chan.
“Including me and Seok Kang-Ho, a total of twelve people,” Kang Chan replied.
Jeon Dae-Geuk was already halfway out the door.
They were all feeling similar emotions—the grief of the citizens of a powerless nation.
But Kang Chan was more comfortable doing things this way.
He glanced over at Seok Kang-Ho, feeling at ease when he saw him grinning from ear-to-ear.
“Argh! This is so frustrating. Let’s go out and get some food, We can just come back later,” Seok Kang-Ho urged.
“We shouldn’t leave the hotel. Why don’t we eat on the first floor?” Kang Chan suggested, and the four headed toward the restaurant.