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“Can you promise me that you’ll become that person?” Moon Jae-Hyun asked.
Kang Chan didn’t even know if he had that kind of power yet, but he was already being asked that question. He smiled instead of answering not only because it was awkward but also because it was embarrassing.
“I can’t let you go if you don’t make that promise.” Moon Jae-Hyun stopped walking and looked at Kang Chan.
“I promise you that I’ll become that person.”
Moon Jae-Hyun smirked, then shook Kang Chan’s hand. “My stay in the office won’t last forever. When my term ends, I’m going to live a comfortable and peaceful life. Unlike me, things will just become more and more difficult for you as time goes by. Even so, please do your best for South Korea.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to do as you said, but I’ll do my best.”
Will I really gain the capabilities to take responsibility for South Korea?
If Kang Chan had a wish, it was to never lose another person with a heart as great as Choi Seong-Geon’s.
Moon Jae-Hyun smiled pleasantly.
***
“Mr. Kang Chan, I hope that once this operation ends, you’ll go to the training that I recommended.” Lanok looked at Kang Chan as he calmly reiterated his suggestion. The car they were in was on the way to the hotel. “You personally going on every operation that has to be done is truly dangerous. I understand that this operation is very important and that it’s still difficult for you to trust the soldiers to carry their own weight without you around, but you have bigger things to tend to.”
Kang Chan was thinking the same thing—he knew South Korea needed someone to not handle only Yang Bum from China and Vasili from Russia but also keep the United States and Japan contained and at bay.
“Understood, Mr. Ambassador.”
“I’ll provide you with as much support as I can.”
When it comes to ability and trust, Kang Chan couldn’t find a better ally than Lanok.
Lanok smiled widely when Kang Chan thanked him.
When they arrived at the hotel, Kang Chan parted ways with Lanok and headed to Samseong-dong with Seok Kang-Ho, who was waiting for him in the lobby.
“Manager Kim sounded quite different than usual. What’s going on?” Seok Kang-Ho asked as soon as the car hit the road. Ever since he had finished talking to Kim Hyung-Jung, he had done nothing but wait for Kang Chan in the lobby.
“Let’s talk when we get there,” Kang Chan responded.
“Alright.”
Kang Chan had no reason to be suspicious of the agents, but he also had no reason to talk about sensitive matters inside the car. What he said was enough for Seok Kang-Ho to fully understand what he wanted to do anyway.
By the time Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho arrived at Kim Hyung-Jung’s office in Samseong-dong, Jeon Dae-Geuk and Hwang Ki-Hyun were already waiting for them.
For some reason, Kang Chan kept meeting people today that he found difficult to smoke with.
Kim Hyung-Jung brought over drinks for everyone.
As soon as Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho sat down, Jeon Dae-Geuk gravely said, “Have you heard what’s going on from the President? How would you like to select the soldiers joining this operation?”
“I’ll go to Jeungpyeong today.”
Jeon Dae-Geuk pursed his lips and nodded.
“Mr. Kang Chan, this has always been the case with all of the operations that you’ve participated in until now, but things are even worse this time. This operation is inside the Korean Peninsula, and you’re up against North Korea. As you have probably already guessed, if this goes wrong, then South Korea and North Korea will both be in deep trouble,” Hwang Ki-Hyun said, his eyes looking unusually sharp. “If there’s a possibility of that happening, then we have no choice but to give up on the soldiers.”
That was probably the reason why Hwang Ki-Hyun’s eyes were so fierce. Kang Chan nodded as he replied, “Alright.”
“The National Intelligence Service will prepare the infiltration route. We’ll contact you every hour through the satellite phone.” After Hwang Ki-Hyun finished saying everything that he wanted to say, he exhaled loudly. “When I look at you, I can’t help but feel old. It also makes me wonder what I’ve done in the past two years as the Director of the National Intelligence Service.”
“Haa!” Jeon Dae-Geuk sighed loudly as if he understood how Hwang Ki-Hyun felt.
“They decided to cancel tomorrow’s event,” Jeon Dae-Geuk said.
“That’s good.”
Kang Chan wasn’t able to smoke, and in return, Kim Hyung-Jung and Seok Kang-Ho weren’t able to say anything.
“All personal data of the soldiers who will go on the operation with you will be erased. As for you, on paper, we’ll make it seem like you flew to Thailand at nine this evening.”
Kang Chan knew they had to take that precaution because people knew what he looked like.
“Have you had lunch yet?” Jeon Dae-Geuk asked Kang Chan.
“Not yet.”
“Yeah? Let’s get something to eat, then,” Jeon Dae-Geuk suggested.
Kim Hyung-Jung took the initiative to order jjampong and tangsuyuk for everyone.
In the National Intelligence Service’s lounge, the chief officer of the President’s security service and the Director of the National Intelligence Service were having jjampong and tangsuyuk across from the manager of the National Intelligence Service, a high school teacher, and a high schooler. It was during moments like this that Kang Chan thought people weren’t that different from each other.
Perhaps it was because they ordered tangsuyuk, but the meal arrived ten minutes later. Kang Chan had already eaten it a few times, but he still hadn’t gotten tired of it.
It took twenty minutes for them to finish eating, at which point Kim Hyung-Jung cleaned up the dishes and brought over coffee.
“On another note, has Wui Min-Gook been found yet?” Jeon Dae-Geuk asked Kim Hyung-Jung after drinking coffee like sungnyung[1]. Let’s be honest among ourselves—do we even have Huh Ha-Soo under constant watch? He’s the only person who seems suspicious anyway, right? He also said that he wanted to meet Kang Chan in private.”
When Kim Hyung-Jung glanced at Hwang Ki-Hyung, the latter looked around the room and softly said, “If Mr. Kang Chan succeeds in this operation, then we’ll be able to arrest not only Wui Min-Gook but everyone who cooperated with him as well. It’ll be like the time we arrested the five people who were leaking information from the National Intelligence Service.”
“You are as cunning as I expected,” Jeon Dae-Geuk said.
Kim Hyung-Jung forcibly held back his laughter since it was unclear whether that was a compliment or an insult.
“The fact China is planning on executing Huh Sang-Soo’s death penalty this afternoon is probably done with the same intention,” Hwang Ki-Hyun added.
“They’re going to execute him?” Jeon Dae-Geuk asked.
“Yes. I’m sure the information is trustworthy. After all, it came from France’s DGSE. Once China gets its hands on its enemies, it will eliminate them one at a time. That’s just how they handle things.”
“What? Are all their enemies stupid? If China plans to purge them one by one, then why would they surrender?”
Hwang Ki-Hyun smiled. “They should pledge their allegiance instead. China will only save those who can provide them with detailed intel on their opponents, though. China is essentially working on two things: relationships and justification. By executing Huh Sang-Soo, Yang Bum will get the justification he needs.”
“Jeez! Those bastards are making my head hurt!”
As Jeon Dae-Geuk shook his head, Hwang Ki-Hyun looked at Kang Chan.
‘Did you understand all that?’
That was important information.
Hwang Ki-Hyun’s eyes clearly showed the reason he talked as if he was an older lady who dropped by a sauna.
Was I seeing things?
Kang Chan looked at Hwang Ki-Hyun, who smiled softly in response. His eyes were still extremely sharp.
***
At dinner time, Kang Chan went to Jeungpyeung. They went past the barricades and around the mountain path, finally arriving before a familiar barrack.
“The men are probably having dinner right now,” Seok Kang-Ho commented.
As Seok Kang-Ho leaned forward and examined their surroundings, the adjutant came out and stood in front of the barracks. The white fabric wrapped around his arm was painful to see.
“Where are the soldiers?” Kang Chan asked.
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“They’re training.”
“Training? Isn’t it time for dinner?”
“I heard that they’re practicing mountain warfare and that they get to decide when it ends,” the adjutant said.
The adjutant looked as if he was about to cry. It seemed seeing Kang Chan reminded him of Choi Seong-Geon.
“Would the two of you like a cup of coffee?” the adjutant asked.
“Sure.”
Kang Chan sat in front of the barrack. A moment later, the adjutant brought over two paper cups and handed them to Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho.
They took a sip of the coffee, then lit up a cigarette.
“Phew,” Kang Chan exhaled. As the wind picked up the cigarette smoke and swept it toward the mountain, he heard footsteps approaching and guns clunking.
When the soldiers saw Kang Chan, their expressions became very complicated.
One by one, they approached him. No one said anything, but they looked at him with eyes full of resentment and anger that they couldn’t release.
Chkk.
Kang Chan put his cigarette into the paper cup. He then said, “Your resident registration will be erased.”
Kwak Cheol-Ho cocked his head but soon tightly gritted his teeth.
“If you die, you won’t even leave the tiniest trace of existence. Only your families will remember you. The same goes for when he fails the operation,” Kang Chan continued.
“Please tell us our target,” Kwak Cheol-Ho said.
“He is a prominent figure.” Kang Chan stood up and dusted off his bum.
The soldiers’ eyes glinted. It was as if they would shoot Kang Chan if he kept stalling.
“It’s Jang Kwang-Taek, the Minister of Defense[2] of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” Kang Chan said.
Kwak Cheol-Ho quickly took a step forward. Before he could even stop, everyone else had already gotten closer to Kang Chan as well.
“You all know exactly where our target is, don’t you?” Kang Chan asked.
Kwak Cheol-Ho grinned as if he was imitating Seok Kang-Ho.
1. Sungnyung is a traditional Korean infusion made from boiled scorched rice ☜
2. It was previously the ‘Ministry of the People's Armed Forces’, but as per the raws, it’s now 'Minister of Defense'. ☜