Novel Bin Chapter 317: Burden of Determination (2)
Chapter 317: Burden of Determination (2)
Moon Jae-Hyun and Hwang Ki-Hyun were waiting in the conference room. The two rose from their seats to greet Kang Chan.
"Hello, sir."
"Welcome, Assistant Director."
"Let\'s sit down," Moon Jae-Hyun offered.
‘Is he unwell?’ Kang Chan wondered.
Moon Jae-Hyun looked as if he had just been soaked in a jar full of fatigue.
Once everyone was seated, Moon Jae-Hyun began, "Assistant Director, I believe you are already aware of the situation. I have also heard about your request from Manager Kim. The reason I wanted to see you in person is to discuss one thing I\'m curious about and another that concerns me."
He briefly paused to take a sip of the water in front of him.
"I\'ve noticed the flow of the war. We are holding a next-generation energy conference next week and have joined hands with Japan to try to prevent the worst-case scenario. Unfortunately, the director and I are lacking in capability."
Kang Chan was surprised by how feeble the president sounded.
After glancing at Hwang Ki-Hyun, Moon Jae-Hyun continued, "It may seem irresponsible to say this since it would sound as if we\'ve guaranteed the safety of the nation and its people, but I can\'t let go of this opportunity now that we’ve seized it."
Moon Jae-Hyun seemed to be granting Kang Chan the authority to declare war.
"Assistant Director," he called.
"Sir."
"What do you plan to do?"
Kang Chan hadn’t even caught his breath when the question came flying at him.
"Mr. President, I..."
"Please feel free to speak your mind."
Hwang Ki-Hyun and Kim Hyung-Jung looked at Kang Chan with tense expressions.
"I met Ambassador Lanok yesterday. After careful consideration, I plan to gather the people I consider allies. To that end, I’ll be setting up a meeting with Vasili, Yang Bum, Ludwig, and Vant to check if we’re missing anything and to request their cooperation."
Hwang Ki-Hyun\'s eyes twitched. Kang Chan listed incredibly powerful figures as if they were friendly neighbors.
"There are currently two figures in the intelligence world who are definitely hostile to this matter. One is DGSE Director-General Romain. The other is Josh, the Deputy Director-Generals of the British intelligence bureau."
So the bigwigs are the ones trying to start a war, after all! DGSE Director-General? Deputy Director-General of the British Intelligence Bureau?
Moon Jae-Hyun and Hwang Ki-Hyun turned pale.
"I intend to eliminate them," Kang Chan firmly declared.
Hwang Ki-Hyun\'s face stiffened. As Moon Jae-Hyun leaned over, Kim Hyung-Jung turned to Hwang Ki-Hyun.
"I don\'t always have the time to report and get approvals. Security is also an issue. If you are not going to abandon the next-generation energy project, please grant me the authority I requested."
Moon Jae-Hyun exhaled a sigh-like breath. He then asked, "Have you received any hints or heard anything more?"
"I\'ve heard that assassinations will soon become rampant in the world of intelligence."
Moon Jae-Hyun twiddled his fingers before taking another sip of water.
"Assistant Director, could you ask Director Yang Bum to arrange a meeting with North Korea\'s supreme leader? If that isn’t possible, Director Hwang would just have to make a secret visit to North Korea."
Right! That\'s definitely an option!
"North Korea has been cutting off all its unofficial channels. We will try to adjust our differences with them ourselves."
Kang Chan nodded. There was nothing wrong with the parties meeting directly.
"Can I check now?" he asked.
Moon Jae-Hyun looked at Hwang Ki-Hyun with a startled expression.
"Of course. Please do,” Hwang Ki-Hyun responded.
Kang Chan took out his phone and then looked at Kim Hyung-Jung. He had done this before. Kim Hyung-Jung pulled out a cable from the table and handed it over.
Tring, tring, tring.
After a brief silence, a skilled Korean greeting echoed from the conference room speaker.
- It\'s been a while, Mr. Kang Chan.
"How have you been?" Kang Chan replied.
- It seems neither of us are in the best circumstances.
A laugh tinged the reply.
- To what do I owe the pleasure? Is there something I can help you with?
Kim Hyung-Jung gulped dryly as Kang Chan said, “I apologize for the inconvenience, but could you arrange a meeting between our president and North Korea\'s supreme leader? If not, getting permission for NIS Director Hwang to secretly visit North Korea would suffice."
Sharp tension pressed down the conference room.
What will it be?
Hwang Ki-Hyun and Kim Hyung-Jung exchanged glances.
Knowing that he would try his best would be enough...
- When would be a good time?
Hwang Ki-Hyun tightly pressed his lips together. Arranging a flight to Mongolia was one thing and another for the head of China’s intelligence bureau to promise to facilitate this mission.
How much had South Korea wished for a person with such influence? How much had the National Intelligence Service hoped to be able to negotiate directly with major global powers?
Every time they saw the nameless stars at the entrance of the National Intelligence Service, their determination rose again and again. Kim Hyung-Jung spread both his hands wide.
"Would ten days be possible?" Kang Chan asked.
- Hmmm...
Hwang Ki-Hyun and Kim Hyung-Jung looked stunned. Could they really get a leeway of ten days?
- Mr. Kang Chan, I will call you back immediately.
"Thank you. I\'ll wait."
As Kang Chan ended the call, quiet excitement swirled around the conference room.
After a moment, Moon Jae-Hyun brought up the concern that he had mentioned earlier.
"I’ll be honest and straightforward, Assistant Director. The biggest concern with giving you an independent organization is that an innocent person could be sacrificed due to a wrong judgment. Moreover, if decisions were made based on personal intentions, the situation could spiral out of control."
This man, Kang Chan, also wavers. I can see his nervousness and desperation.
However, he certainly had to be credited for his ability to quickly regain composure and make unemotional judgments. He also had the passion and the poise to not be intimidated by major powers.
"Mr. President, I will provide interim reports as you wish. However, I will do so verbally to you, the director, and Manager Kim. More importantly, if you ever tell me to dismantle the organization, I will comply."
Moon Jae-Hyun was intensely looking at Kang Chan.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
All four eyes darted to the phone.
‘This is unexpected,’ Kang Chan thought.
Just as Kang Chan, heart pounding with a warning, was about to hang up, he decided to answer.
"Hello?" Kang Chan said.
- Where are you?
There was no time to protest or respond.
- Let\'s have bossam for lunch.
This guy is such a glutton!
Moon Jae-Hyun and Hwang Ki-Hyun tried to hold back their laughter. Kim Hyung-Jung hung his head.
"I\'ll come by in the evening."
Kang Chan quickly hung up.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
However, before he could put the phone down, it rang again. The three men looked at Kang Chan with curiosity and anticipation.
"Hello?"
- It\'s Yang Bum.
"Yes, sir."
- We have secured you an unofficial meeting with North Korea’s supreme leader. In five days, the Director of the National Intelligence Service will travel through China by train, accompanied by no more than two attachés. In return, please transfer ten billion won to a secret account.
This guy wants monetary payment? It’s like we’re going to a celebrity fan meeting or something.
Hwang Ki-Hyun mouthed his reply to Kang Chan.
"Would you accept the payment in dollars?" Kang Chan asked.
Hwang Ki-Hyun then nodded as if to confirm that his message had been properly conveyed.
- Of course.
"Thank you for your help."
A light laugh came from the other end of the phone.
- What do you plan to do next?
"Pardon?"
- Your next plan, Mr. Kang Chan.
Kang Chan stared at the phone for a moment.
Can I trust this person?
"I\'m planning to meet Vasili."
He didn\'t want to doubt someone Lanok had introduced.
- Excellent choice. Perhaps you could also stop by to see me on your way back from Russia?
"I’ll do my best."
- I look forward to it. See you later, Mr. Kang Chan.
The call ended.
In a short period, the discussion about the organization, the call with Yang Bum, and the trip to North Korea were intertwined, creating a disorderly feeling.
"Assistant Director,” Moon Jae-Hyun softly called.
"Sir,” Kang Chan firmly responded.
"You gave us the opportunity, and you are the only person we can ask to help resolve this matter."
Moon Jae-Hyun\'s determination shone through his fatigue.
"I will put the National Intelligence Service\'s counter-terrorism team directly under my office. As the President of South Korea, I grant you the authority to conduct operations without prior reports."
"Thank you."
Kang Chan felt as though Moon Jae-Hyun had just given him everything he needed.
"For the sake of our nation, please do your best,” Moon Jae-Hyun said as if to formally start the operation.
***
After three rounds of training, everyone returned to base. Except for Kang Chul-Gyu, they all looked like they had been rolling in mud.
Click-clack, click-clack.
The fatigued soldiers sat down, their rifles and weapons clattering as they did. Every day, they conducted their deadly exhausting training twice in the morning and then once more right after lunch.
"Good work," Oh Gwang-Taek said.
Completely drained, he sat down on the ground and stretched out his legs. In total, they had sprinted three kilometers while carrying rifles, magazines, handguns, and knives.
"Yang Dong-Sik,” Kang Chul-Gyu called.
Yang Dong-Sik stood up and loudly replied, "Sir!"
"We\'re laying an ambush tonight. Form a platoon, take command, and submit a list of the men you’d choose."
"Yes, sir!"
Kang Chul-Gyu had captivating charisma. His single command brought a sharp tension among the soldiers who were resting.
"Nam Il-Gyu."
"Sir!" Nam Il-Gyu firmly responded.
"Form a squad to support Dong-Sik. Prepare a list and pass it to Tae-Jin."
"Yes, sir."
Kang Chul-Gyu turned his head.
"Snipers! I want you to pair up. Change shifts every six hours."
"Yes, sir!" the four shouted in unison.
"Captain Cha."
"Sir!"
"Divide the rest of our men into three groups for support."
"Yes, sir!"
The dust made the soldiers’ eyes look even more intense.
"President Oh."
"Sir."
Clank.
Oh Gwang-Taek stood up, leaving everyone wondering where he got such energy.
"I\'d like you to join Captain Cha\'s team. Is that okay?"
"Yes, sir!"
Cha Dong-Gyun looked at him as if he were seeing a steadfast ally.
‘Daddy? Banana!’
Yes! I’ll buy a bunch. A mountain of them.
For some reason, the last thing his daughter had said kept echoing in Oh Gwang-Taek’s ears.
‘We have two bunches of bananas at home, but she says the ones you buy taste better.’
He didn’t even know how to describe the emotion he felt whenever he was hugged tightly around the neck by those little fennel-like hands, so how could he possibly explain the exhilaration of seeing his daughter, perhaps initially shy after a long absence, racing toward him and diving into his arms while shouting, ‘Daddy! Daddy!’
The surge of strength he felt as he sprinted with the national flag, giving it his all, stemmed from his desire and pride to become a father his daughter could look up to.
"We\'ll take a break to form the squads. Afterward, before dinner, we’re running one more adaptation training."
Damn it!
Oh Gwang-Taek’s emotions and gratitude shattered and scattered with the wind.
***
Seok Kang-Ho shoved a fist-sized piece of meat topped with kimchi into his mouth.
"Hey! Slow down! It\'s just the two of us," Kang Chan said.
"I am eating slowly."
"Filthy bastard!"
As Kang Chan pulled out tissue paper from a box, Seok Kang-Ho wiped his mouth with his palm. After leaving the National Intelligence Service, Kang Chan had called Seok Kang-Ho only for the latter to continue ranting about bossam.
With the sick guy shouting about the same food over and over, what else could he do except go get it for him? In thirty minutes, they cleanly finished three servings of bossam, leaving not even a trace.
"Aaahh, I feel alive again!"
As Kang Chan was making coffee, Seok Kang-Ho swept the wrappers into a paper bag.
"Here! Careful; it\'s hot."
"Ah! Nice! A sugary or twisted donut would be perfect for dessert right about now."
Kang Chan exhaled softly as he drank his coffee. It was getting dark outside.
"Has Gerard eaten dinner yet?"
"He\'s with Michelle, no need to worry about him."
"Why is that kid fussing so much about learning Korean? It’s not like he could learn it in a day."
That’s funny.
Listening to Seok Kang-Ho grumbling, Kang Chan felt the day peacefully settling down. He told Seok Kang-Ho about his meeting with Song Chang-Wook and Kim Gwan-Sik and what transpired at the National Intelligence Service.
"What? So Mi-Young’s father already knows about everything?"
"That\'s right."
"Wow! That man’s got a scary side. Does that mean he approves of you becoming his son-in-law?"
With just one sentence, Seok Kang-Ho quickly undermined Kim Gwan-Sik’s patriotism.
Darkness had fully enveloped the streets. The lights of cars, buildings, shops, and signs tried to resist, but it still perfectly coiled itself around them.
"What’s wrong? Got a bad feeling or something?"
Seok Kang-Ho gave Kang Chan a serious look before turning his gaze back outside.
***
The settling dusk had cast a solemn darkness over all of Mongolia. The stars in the sky blazed awake, and the moonlight faintly illuminated the ridges and the horizons. Dust whirled in the racing wind.
Atop the barracks stood Kang Chul-Gyu. Below him, Nam Il-Gyu and Yang Dong-Sik led their men out to prepare an ambush along with Oh Gwang-Taek and the special forces team from Jeungpyeong. This strategy was all too familiar, reminiscent of their operations in the DMZ.
There was still some time before the day Kang Chan was anticipating. Under normal circumstances, they would have focused on tightening their security and rotating their men for rest. However, Kang Chul-Gyu\'s instincts cautioned him against letting their guard down.
Surprisingly, Kang Chan also felt uneasy about the situation. Although Kang Chul-Gyu had casually responded back then, he had actually been taken aback.
He had been thinking of treating Kang Chan to some meat the next time they met. While it might not be as fancy as what Kang Chan had bought him, he was also considering buying him a cozy sweater or something similar.
Kang Chul-Gyu’s lips curved into a faint smile. Was this what happiness felt like?
Chk.
A radio transmission cut through the silence.
“Armed hostiles on sight.”
Kang Chul-Gyu turned to the side.
“There are... too many of them.”
Nam Il-Gyu’s voice, tinged with panic, crackled over the radio.