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After confirming that the vehicles left the complex, Kang Chan turned around to look elsewhere. The agent who brought him the phone this morning at the coffee shop and around five other agents were standing next to the van.
“It’s dangerous down in the lot!” Kang Chan said.
“The manager asks that you get to safety for now and to leave this to the agents!”
Really? Even though there’s a shoot-out happening underground right now?!
Kang Chan frowned and began to head for the parking lot. Just then, he was interrupted by the crackle of the radio.
“The underground parking lot has been secured. I repeat. The underground parking lot has been secured. All agents should hold their current positions.”
An urgent announcement was made over the radio.
There was no way they would lie about something like this. Kang Chan thought that it was a good idea that his parents left for the hotel ahead of him.
“Please connect me to Manager Kim Hyung-Jung,” Kang Chan requested.
An agent pressed the call button on his phone and then handed the phone to Kang Chan.
- Kim Hyung-Jung speaking.
“Manager Kim, my parents are now on their way to a hotel, and the shoot-out is now under control, but my guts are still telling me something bad is going to happen. Is the president in a safe place right now?” Kang Chan asked anxiously.
- Unfortunately, I have no idea either, Mr. Kang Chan. However, an emergency order has been given to the president’s security detail, so I’m sure Section Chief Jeon has taken all the necessary measures as well.
Hearing that finally made Kang Chan feel a bit relieved.
- Mr. Kang Chan, you should also head to a hotel now. You should stay there for now so you can observe the situation from a safe place before making a move.
Kim Hyung-Jung’s suggestion was reasonable as well.
“I understand. I’ll be taking the agents who are here with me, then,” Kang Chan replied.
After hanging up, Kang Chan glanced around the complex once more and told the agents that they should head to a hotel for now.
Their group consisted of three vans. Kang Chan rode in the van in the middle of the convoy.
The fastest way to put a stop to this issue would be to quickly get rid of Wui Min-Gook. The lunatic, whom not even China could hold by the reins, was currently running free in South Korea.
What if he’s after Ambassador Lanok again?
The chances of that were slim, though. Their enemies were already short on manpower, having dispatched their agents to multiple operations. Moreover, Lanok’s security was tighter than ever since he got kidnapped.
Are they targeting Smithen, then?
Kang Chan couldn’t help but worry.
“Go to Samseong-Dong,” Kang Chan ordered. He would much rather stay with Kim Hyung-Jung at the office than pace back and forth on the floor of a hotel all night. The car turned around to go to where Kim Hyung-Jung was.
It was already past midnight, so the roads were fortunately empty.
Search bit.ly/3iBfjkV for the original.
As soon as they arrived, the agents protecting the building guided them down to the underground parking lot. Once they were parked, Kang Chan went up to the fifth floor.
Click.
The agent who opened the door for them also opened Kim Hyung-Jung’s office for Kang Chan.
“Welcome, Mr. Kang Chan,” Kim Hyung-Jung greeted.
Kim Hyung-Jung had been looking at the map of Seoul spread out in front of him.
As Kang Chan took a seat, Kim Hyung-Jung’s phone began to ring. The latter picked it up.
“Yes. Good work. Hang on a moment,” he commanded.
Kim Hyung-Jung put the receiver down and looked at Kang Chan.
“I just received confirmation that your parents have reached their hotel room. Would you like to talk to them?” Kim Hyung-Jung asked.
“Yes, thank you,” Kang Chan responded.
Kim Hyung-Jung ordered the agent on the phone to give the phone to one of Kang Chan’s parents, then handed the receiver to Kang Chan.
“Hello?” Kang Chan answered.
- Channy!
Yoo Hye-Sook sounded as if she was crying.
“You arrived at the hotel safely, I hope?” Kang Chan asked.
- We’re completely fine! What about you, Channy? Are you okay? Where are you?
“I’m at the building where the agents are. It’s safer here than the hotel since this is also where your security guards stay,” Kang Chan clarified.
-Really? You’re not just saying that to make us feel better, are you?”
Kang Chan was so tense from nervousness that his chest felt tight. Even though he was listening to Yoo Hye-Sook’s voice, his mood didn’t get alleviated.
“Yes, mother. I’m really fine. Don’t worry, okay?” Kang Chan reassured her.
He persuaded and comforted her for a while before Yoo Hye-Sook hung up the phone.
“Can I have Seok Kang-Ho come over here?” Kang Chan asked Kim Hyung-Jung.
“I’ll ask right now,” Kim Hyung-Jung replied.
Kim Hyung-Jung dialed another number. The agent who picked up the call said he would arrive with Seok Kang-Ho in about five minutes.
“Our enemies are probably done for the day. They launched a total of six attacks on us and managed to kill the fourth deputy director and injured two agents. We were as alert as we have always been, but the enemies seemed to be aware of our agents’ movements,” Kim Hyung-Jung stated darkly.
Kang Chan scanned the map. Kim Hyung-Jung had marked some parts of it in red.
“The attacks were pretty much like guerrilla warfare,” Kang Chan grimly remarked.
“I didn’t expect them to provoke us to this extent,” Kim Hyung-Jung agreed.
“They probably have a base somewhere, then.”
“Our special forces team is already on their way to the Hwarang Mountains on the island of Daebudo. The Chinese government was the one who provided us with this intel. Since you’re injured and didn’t have time to join, they left without you,” Kim Hyung-Jung answered.
It was regretful, but it wasn’t as if Kang Chan could insist on going on every single operation.
“What about the suspicious activity that was reported at the apartment complex?”
“We are still analyzing the camera footage. At worst, all the information leaked about you will be crucial intel related to the operations we launched that you were a part of. However, as far as we know, your apartment, your parents’ workplaces, and information about Mr. Seok Kang-Ho were the only ones that have been leaked,” Kim Hyung-Jung replied.
Kang Chan let out a low sigh. His heart was no longer beating as fast.
He took in a huge breath and bit on a cigarette.
Click.
Just as he was lighting it up, the doors opened, and Seok Kang-Ho walked in.
“Welcome, Mr. Seok. I’m sorry for what happened. Your family must have been taken by surprise,” Kim Hyung-Jung apologized.
“They’re fine now. The room that you provided us was so luxurious and I ordered them tons of food from room service. I also promised them that we would eat something tasty tomorrow, so they have already calmed down,” Seok Kang-Ho responded good-naturedly.
Seok Kang-Ho nodded at Kang Chan in greeting and pulled out a cigarette for himself.
“Are your parents all right, Cap?” he asked Kang Chan.
“So you heard already?” Kang Chan answered with surprise.
“They told me on the way here,” Seok Kang-Ho replied.
Kang Chan told him that he had already talked to his parents over the phone.
“Did that bastard Wui Min-Gook do this?” Seok Kang-Ho asked afterward.
“We haven’t been able to confirm that yet, but we are already analyzing camera footage, so we should be able to get our hands on some leads soon,” Kim Hyung-Jung replied.
Kim Hyung-Jung leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh.
“What’s wrong? You think something’s going to happen?” Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan, having the latter’s eyes and expression.
“I’m having a bad feeling about this,” Kang Chan responded gruffly.
“Hm! I wonder what else could be out there,” Seok Kang-Ho mused to himself.
Hearing Seok Kang-Ho’s words, Kim Hyung-Jung got up.
“If that is what your gut is telling you, Mr. Kang Chan, then we can’t let our guard down. Fortunately, the high officials of the National Intelligence Service have already doubled their security, and both of your families have been moved to a hotel. The president’s security detail is on high alert as well. At the moment, I can’t think of anything else that we’re missing,” Kim Hyung-Jung said.
Kang Chan nodded. Since he wasn’t running an operation right now, there was nothing he could do either.
“Maybe it’s because your parents were attacked?” Seok Kang-Ho questioned.
“I’m not sure. I don’t know what to think,” Kang Chan responded.
His right shin throbbed rhythmically, seemingly trying to match his heartbeat.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
“Kim Hyung-Jung speaking. Ah, I see,” Kim Hyung-Jung answered. He extended his arm to pick up the phone from his desk, then spun his wheeled chair toward his workspace. “Yes, good work, sir.”
The sound of him setting the phone down seemed louder due to tension in the room.
“They said they didn’t discover anything in the Hwarang Mountains. The Third Airborne Forces will be examining the area for a little while longer before retreating,” Kim Hyung-Jung stated.
“If so, then our enemies are probably already somewhere in Seoul. Has China figured out how many we’re up against yet?” Kang Chan asked.
“We have not received any information about that yet,” Kim Hyung-Jung replied.
“Ugh. That sucks,” Seok Kang-Ho grumbled, guessing what they were talking about. He poured half of Kang Chan’s coffee into an empty cup.
It was already almost one o’clock. Unless the enemies were out of their minds, they wouldn’t launch another guerilla attack at this time. However, starting Sunday, everyone would have to be so alert that it would seem as if they were constantly walking on thin ice.
Kang Chan glared at the map on the desk.
There was still a small piece of discomfort that he couldn’t shake off.
It wasn’t as if the president would be strolling in the streets alone during this time. Who could be in danger this Saturday—no, this Sunday morning?
Feeling quite tired, Kang Chan rubbed his face and took a sip of his coffee.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
After a while, the phone on the desk began to ring again.
“Kim Hyung-Jung speaking,” Kim Hyung-Jung answered, then quickly glanced at Kang Chan.
“Good work, all of you,” Kim Hyung-Jung said with an upset expression. He then put the phone down. “Three of the agents who were shot underground have passed away. Two of the enemies were killed at the site, and they are currently searching the opposite rooftop building.”
Kang Chan gritted his teeth.
Wui Min-Gook, that son of a bitch!